Children of Blood ✔️

Chapter Twenty

"How are you feeling?" Luke pulls me behind an large set of trees away from the men I've just push out of my path.

I shake my head and gasp for air. "No... we have more important matters to talk about."

Luke scoffs and turns away. "Jean you had a panic attack in public. Right now you should be focusing on getting better and not running after me in a crowd of soldiers."

"Luke," I gasp once more. "You don't understand. You're mother, she wants you back. She's willing to massacre everyone I love to get you back."

Luke sits down on a rock road and runs his fingers through his hair. "Does it ever occur to you that I care about the same people you do?"

This can't be what he's taking away from this conversation. Lady is coming!

I squint and clear my throat in agitation. Luke doesn't understand, but anger coats my heart and shouts. "You don't care about the Immunis like I do."

What am I doing? This isn't important but I feel the need to push him in the dirt so he knows how it feels to be an outcast.

Luke freezes and stares daggers. "Are you joking? I sat rotting in prisons for them- for you!"

"No one asked you to Luke! You could have came with me but you tried to play hero and failed!" I instantly regret it.

Luke stands up and shakes his head. "You're right, I should've just followed you and abandoned by people. They need me too you know, not everything is about you. Stop playing the victim when we are all victims."

My mouth drops before it clenches. "You're people killed Roxy. They forced me out of my home and are they're torturing the Immunis. They are starving them, and using them as pawns in Lady's sick, cruel game. Pardon me if I am not so fond of them."

"They are forced to do those things! Lady is manipulating them."

"Like she is to you? Or did you just willingly walk back into her arms?"

"Wow," Luke shakes his head and turns away from me. "You are a terrible person. What happened to you? I can't believe I risked everything for a girl like you."

Tears burn my eyes. Not in anger or sadness, but the fact that what he is saying is true.

"You aren't a knight in shining armour either. Just a coward hiding behind a stupid black hood."

"I saved your life countless times. I am no more of a coward then the girl who shouts hollow threats at someone who cares about her. At least I don't push people away." Luke turns back and breathes heavily. "Sometimes you make me regret loving you."

His words hits the chip in my heart causing it to explode into a fine dust.

"I regret thinking I loved you when I didn't." I whisper lowly as tears pinch my eyes. My anger and frustration masks my pain and devastation, I can't show weakness beyond my strained eyes.

Luke lets a sharp, short breath past his lips. "That's it, I'm done with your games. I'm tired of being caught in this riptide of yours. I'm breaking up with you. You're on your own."

"I would've been better off on my own in the first place."

Luke shakes his head and chuckles disbelief. "I can't believe you. You always have to get the last word in."

I close my eyes and sniffle. "You should go."

"Yeah I should. When you get the chance, tell Jean her family needs her. Not this disease pretending to be a cure." Luke turns away and walks, fuming of heartbreak.