Chapter 57: Unfriended

"People who claim that they're evil are usually no worse than the rest of us... It's people who claim that they're good, or any way better than the rest of us, that you have to be wary of." —Gregory Maguire, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (The Wicked Years, #1)

"If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it was necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?" —Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago 1918–1956

"But would you kindly ponder this question: What would your good do if evil didn't exist, and what would the earth look like if all the shadows disappeared? After all, shadows are cast by things and people. Here is the shadow of my sword. But shadows also come from trees and living beings. Do you want to strip the earth of all trees and living things just because of your fantasy of enjoying naked light? You're stupid." —Mikhail Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita

***

On their scuffle, one trying to stab his enemy whilst the other was trying to defend him, Arlan lost hold of the obsidian knife. It dropped a bit far from them. But they didn't try to grab it back. Instead, they continued exchanging blows, receiving every punch all over their bodies. They were not even trying to cover themselves or block the attacks.

Both kids were fighting head-on, engaging in a brutal exchange of blood and sweat.

"There is no need for explanation, Xenia!"

"I'm not trying to... explain anything."

Stubbornly, Arlan convinced Xenia not to give up his life and just hand it over to pay for his sins. Arlan instructed Xenia to fight him with everything he's got. He was complacent that he would not lose in a fistfight, despite knowing the artistry of Xenia's combative skills.

The two of them were out of breath, huffing heavily, heaving their chest with every inhale. They then grabbed each other's collar. However, Xenia's grip was slightly loose because of his injured left arm. If he used his right arm to grab Arlan instead of his left, he would not exert that much power in his punch, thus rendering his attacks futile.

"Keep going! Don't stop!"

Again, they showered each other with their provocative punches, each strike packing a force enough to put both of them down on their knees.

No words were spoken after that. They both let their fists do the talking, taking each blow directly to their bodies. None of the two ever tried to avoid the other, especially Xenia.

"I know that even if I take every punch Arlan throws, it won't bring Thaniel back nor redeem myself from my transgressions. I know all of it. Still, I'm allowing it to make me feel good. To lift some of that heavy burden I am currently carrying."

Looking back, Xenia felt the grievous guilt eating away at him. Whenever he tries to close his eyes, he would see the image of Thaniel dying on his hands. Then, the shocked expression on Arlan's face flashed before him. His voice was raspy and filled with engulfing rage.

"Argh!"

Painfully, Xenia received a blow on his injury— his hanging arm that was on the verge of ripping off. He let out a groan and retaliated in response to Arlan's attack.

It was the turning point of their fight, realizing that it was coming to an end. Gradually, Xenia was losing strength and rhythm. He began to resort to defense, unable to fight back as Arlan pushed him to an edge. Arlan's attacks were becoming heavier.

"Stop it! Arlan... Please... Enough of this!"

Pack could only watch after having been told to stand back by Xenia. The latter explained everything to her and she still would not believe him.

"Is there really no way... to solve this? Maybe... Just maybe there is another way for all of us to survive."

Another footstep occurred inside. It was none other than Lakambini. She was wearing her casual clothes without her mask covering her face. Her long hair that hasn't been cut since she was born was swept up into the air. Its color flashed and her eyes were dazzling. Despite the details given, they could not, of course, see every feature she has. However, everything about her was beautiful. It was like she was created solely to be pretty. Lakambini was the embodiment of a goddess, reflecting beauty each second.

"Our fates are already sealed and set in stone, Pack. Only one of the four of us will leave this island alive. If two people try to leave the island be it at the same time or by interval, the ocean will just bring you back here."

"You are the queen of the tribe..."

Xenia and Arlan stopped fighting because of the uninvited guest.

"Oh, pay no mind to me. Continue your fight. I'm merely a spectator."

Lakambini walked towards the weeping Pack. Like a mother to her crying child, Lakambini caressed her back and shushed her. She pulled Pack's head closer to her and gave the kid an embrace.

"From the very beginning, the day we are born, we are meant to die by the hands of each other. I know it's absurd. It's utterly outrageous. But can we really do anything about it?"

"It's unfair! How come it's us when there should have been others? My parents told me that people outside exist. Why not them? Why us?!"

"It's the god that chose everything. Our fate, our lives, all of it. Even I am complaining. Even I wished to live a happy life, create a family, and bond with people I love."

"But..."

Pack soon stopped crying. Lakambini's warmth reminded her of her mother. And she felt safe in her arms.

"Say, Pack, do you wish to survive? If you decide to leave this island, Xenia and Arlan and I have to all die. So, do you want to see your future? Isn't it exhilarating, thinking about the life you'll have in the future?"

But Pack does not see a bright light at the end of this dark tunnel. If she becomes the sole survivor on the island, Pack would not know how to adjust and adapt to her new life that lost all of its meaning. When Xenia helped her achieve her revenge, Pack became ready to give her life to Xenia.

Therefore, Pack lightly shook her head.

"Unn, I exist only to witness that Xenia lives. I am offering my life if it meant saving him from death. Arlan is my friend but I just—"

"You're being biased. Is it because you like Xenia? You know that Arlan won't die, right?"

"My head's all fuzzy and my thoughts are jumbled. I actually don't know what to do anymore."

Xenia fell on the ground and Arlan walked to pick up the obsidian knife to stab his former friend.

"Will you believe it if I tell you that the only way for Arlan to die is by suicide?"

~