Walking With Giants (Completed)

Chapter 21

Cobalt was not really concerned about Aurum as much as he was about Horus.

Even if Aurum didn't come back, Cobalt didn't really see a problem in not having him. Aurum was the arrogant, headstrong, dependant type who had... tantrums. But, Aurum will probably come back.

The group was arguing about going to Sam's Island or the swamp. They had insisted Horus and Cobalt stay out of the debate to keep it as democratic as possible.

Unfortunately, they had not sent them separate directions.

Cobalt tried to keep his mind off of Horus, but it was hard with Horus fidgeting his hands about and tapping his foot and looking in bushes, and... tying his shoes.

Cobalt heard a crash near the beach, and saw a helicopter fly away from dropping a heavy metal crate on the ground. Cobalt was still wondering why they - the soldiers on the beach - hadn't advanced to them yet.

"Do you know why I wanted to go to the swamp, Cobalt?" Horus startled him.

Cobalt felt like he should know the answer, but he didn't. For once he spoke his mind.

"I feel like I should," he said, "but I don't."

"It's because going to Elipse's is an obvious trap. I wanted an excuse to get away from there."

"Then why were you so persistent when we were on the mountain to head to Elipse's camp?"

"I've had some time to think about what I said in the last few hours, and decided that since I'm the only one that Elipse wants, I should just go and divert you guys to the swamp. But, if they know that you are all a friend of me, I knew they'd just kill you anyways."

"You mean Sam's group? At the island?"

"Exactly."

"They aren't killers though, Horus. You are."

"Rage can blind the most just of men."

"I wouldn't be talking, Horus."

Surprisingly, he shut up and turned his gaze towards the construction.

"I'm sorry, Cobalt. About what happened at the island." Horus seemed genuine, but there was that hollow, emotionless tone locked away in his voice that was as heartless as death itself. It wasn't a majority, but Cobalt noticed it in everything that Horus said. It stuck out like a sore thumb when Horus said that.

"You can't apologize about killing Ryan. You know that. And I hope it haunts you for the rest of your life and keeps you from sleeping at night." Tears entered Cobalt's eyes, and he struggled to pull them back in and keep his voice stern.

"It already does." That hollow voice again.

"Yeah, like that's genuine."

"Can I help it if I sound a bit Spock-ish, Cobalt? Maybe a few years of serving in GCSL will make you sound like an old grandpa like me."

"I won't even ask what that is." Cobalt knew that it struck as bitter, but he didn't care.

"What, an old grandpa or the GCSL?"

"At least I'm not an idiot who doesn't know what an old grandpa was."

"Oh. Well, I was just checking." There was a sarcastic, angry, and sassy tone in his voice now.

"Yeah, shut up and die in a hole, old turtle." Cobalt spat.

"You mean a tortoise?"

"I repeat previous statement." There was a long silence of both of them looking at the soldiers on the beach, waiting for one another to speak. Cobalt felt a bit of regret for at least not even acknowledging the apology Horus had said a minute ago. But, he still felt like murder could never be forgiven, and he could never trust Horus again.

Ever.

"I guess it's a bit too late for an apology for what I made you do that first day, isn't it?"

"At least you got one thing right. I'm gonna go check on the group to see if they finally made their minds up." It was really just an excuse, mainly to get away from Horus. It was obvious.

"You know I've changed since then, Cobalt."

Cobalt didn't even look back when he walked away.

But what disturbed him more about Horus was the fact that he was a potential danger to all of them. Not of an accidental danger... but of betrayal.

Cobalt had a secret about Horus that it was time to tell the group.