STRANGULATE | Markicest

11 | GOODBYES

Hello, dears! Hope you're liking the story so far ;) Today's chapter will be a filler, so please stick with me til the next updates! Love yall <3

As Mark loaded the body into the trunk, a silence hung over the air. Ethan waited in the driver's seat, chest tight and knuckles white on the wheel.

Everything felt like a goodbye.

Once the trunk snapped to a close, Mark clambered into the Tesla, gazing over at Ethan to meet his crestfallen features. He hit his arm, smiling.

"Hey, quit brooding!" he laughed, trying to push aside that his chest felt tight, too. "This is a time for celebration, Aaron."

Ethan cracked a smile at that, and he shook his head, pulling out of the alleyway and onto the main road.

"I know, it's just... this might be the last time I see you, is all," he said, sending him a glance. Mark quieted at that, gnawing the inside of his cheek. He glanced out the window, watching the houses flit by.

"I know," he said. "But, I mean—we got to kill with each other again, didn't we?"
Ethan's smile widened. "And we'll have dinner again," he chuckled. "I can't complain with that, I guess."

They shared a smile and lapsed once more into silence, enjoying each other's company.

After a few minutes, they pulled up to Mark's house, loaded everything inside, and began preparing and cooking. Still, despite the laughs they shared and the quips they threw at each other, that vague wave of goodbye dragged in the air.

"So," said Ethan, pulling the pan off the heat, "how are you going to do it?"

Mark rose a brow and hummed in question, pulling out two plates from the cupboard. He set them down by the stove, and Ethan plated the meat.

"Killing him," said Ethan. "What'd you come up with?"

Mark hummed, sprinkling some salt on the meat and picking up both plates. They headed towards the dinner table.

"I'm gonna sneak in," he said. "Tomorrow night, where I can't be seen."

"What if an Evolved has night vision or something?" Ethan pointed out. "You'd be caught without question."

Mark shook his head, setting the plates down. They sat down across from each other.
"I'll be careful," he said. "Plus, even if I die, it won't be so bad." When Ethan rose a brow, he continued. "I have amazing friends, a good life, and I do what I love."

"Killing people," murmured Ethan, cutting off a piece of what used to be a man's arm. Mark made sure to gaze pointedly at Ethan.

"I appreciate you, Ethan," he said firmly. "I know I don't listen to you a lot, but you really are so great to me."

Ethan gaze at him, his smile growing and lip lightly quivering. "I—" He chuckled, shaking his head and wiping at his eyes. "Don't make me cry like a baby, man."

Mark chuckled. "I mean it."

"Dude, if you die," said Ethan, bringing back the lighter atmosphere, "I'm gonna kill you."

"How does that even work?" he laughed, and Ethan shrugged, laughing too.

"It just does, don't question me!"

They lapsed out of their fit of laughter, and Ethan rested a hand on the table as if to reach out to Mark. "Hey," he said tentatively, adding a solemn lilt to the energetic air. "I appreciate you, too, Mark."

He smiled, eyes glittering. He waved his fork at Ethan's plate, trying not to get emotional. "Your human's getting cold," he said, and Ethan gave a chuckle.

"Yours, too," he said softly.

They gazed at each other, reveling in the silence, and continued with their meal.

———

Fifteen minutes away from Centauri park stood a tall mansion, dark, old, and sheltered in dense forestry. It was significantly smaller than Antinstine's mansion—housing only fifteen bedrooms. Its white brick had been blackened by history, ivory mantelpieces faded with years. The mansion spoke of medieval times.

Through the lancet window of the highest conical spire stood the Tear Stealer, gazing over the trees and out at the nearby Community. People roamed through Centauri Park, and the roads gathered a fair amount of traffic.

Behind him, the door creaked, but he didn't break his gaze.

"He's coming tomorrow night," said Dark faintly, hands behind his back. A young woman, stature regal and carried to utmost perfection, joined his side, gazing calmly at his focused features.

"Everyone's ready for the human," she said quietly, blinking with thick lashes. Her straight black hair pooled down her face like quiet water. "Emery and Lux are to capture him."

"Good," he said. "And should anything go wrong, you'll be there to give us time."
The woman, Equinox, smiled with black lips, gazing out the window like the High Evolved beside her. "It's beautiful, isn't it," she said. "All of those people, the abilities they harness... they're living in peace with one another. Happy."

The Tear Stealer allowed a slight smile, eyes trailing from the park to the neighborhoods beyond—the human domiciles. "We're faring better than Antinstine's city, I'd say." He tilted his chin up in the slightest. "While he strives for utter power over the weak, we strive for union between us."

Equinox nodded, the steel beads around her neck clinking ever so softly. She returned her red-eyed gaze back to Dark, standing up straighter.

"If I may ask," she said softly, "what will you do with the human?" Her medieval gown rustled as she shifted in place. "Will you kill him?"

The Tear Stealer hummed, glancing over at Equinox, whose pale face glowed despite the lack of light in the room.

"I'll let him live for as long as I see fit," he said with a thoughtful tone. "I want to get to know him. See how I can bend him to my benefit."

The favor rang in the back of his head, but he pushed it aside, unwilling to tell any of his people of what was to come yet.

"I'll take his tears and see who he really is."

Equinox nodded, flattening the strings on the front of her corset. "We're all waiting in anticipation," she said with a smile. "I can't wait to see what plays out."

The Tear Stealer returned the smile, and Equinox exited the room, leaving Dark to his own thoughts. He gazed into the horizon, fingers twitching behind his back.

He wanted to see the human now.

Thank you so much for reading!

Have a great day!
Kassian