Chapter 58: Upon Dawn

"I don't know what afflicts me now. Indecisiveness? Reluctance? Fear of being vulnerable? I am not a coward, at least. Fear isn't equivalent to cowardice. Even a soldier deployed at the border fears bullets, which is exactly why he is able to dodge the enemy and eliminate them." —Abhaidev, The World's Most Frustrated Man

"Now is definitely the best time to start, though Yesterday would have beaten it easily." —Kalpesh Jain

"If you have ever felt inadequate, paralyzed between options, and unable to decide, you are not an indecisive person. You are a person who lacks decisive skill sets!" —Emiljano Citaku, What If? Your Guide to Making the Best Decisions Ever

***

Pack and Lakambini do not care anymore who wins or loses between Xenia and Arlan. They were just waiting for their inevitable death but of course, Pack was still hoping that they could all survive through the harsh end.

On the ground, lying on his back, Xenia prevented Arlan from his attack by kicking Arlan in time before he could ever stab Xenia. The kid slightly flew and fell on his back on the ground whilst Xenia prepared himself to stand back up.

Arlan, of course, instantly gathered himself up again. He does not want to be bested by his former best friend who killed his brother even after their sacrifices for him.

But does Arlan realize his mistakes? He previously commanded Thaniel to save Xenia from Grenoble, which, if we are gonna mention it, placed his brother at risk. A greater risk. He endangered his own brother's life yet when Thaniel was killed he was enraged when he could have thought of the same when he ordered his brother. However, his feelings and anger are valid. No one was invalidating his feelings.

"He is badly injured, yet he still has reserved energy! How long till he breaks?!"

At the thought of Xenia's fall, Arlan's mind triumphed and the elation overflowed, thus giving him the motivation he needed. He felt tired and beat up but he had to get up once again to attain vengeance on his best friend whom he trusted with everything.

"It doesn't matter! I'm just gonna beat him until he gives up! I can't die while he is dying!"

Relishing the sight of his best friend gradually losing his life would be the first thing Arlan would do.

"Actions speak louder than words. This fight is nonnegotiable and the only way to settle this is when one of us dies."

Xenia glanced over to the side. He saw the warm position Lakambini and Pack were in and suddenly wished he was there too in their arms at that moment, succumbing to the gentleness given by both of the ladies.

"The more I try to explain my side or try to talk my way out, the more I'll enrage Arlan. I dislike and regret everything I did. I deserve every hate I'm receiving from my best friend but he must know that I only did what I did because I wished to live another day."

Endless tapping with his foot annoyed the fact that Arlan was sorting out his thoughts. His body aches and none of his words were understood. Sure, they were listening to it.

"Certainly annoying!"

Above all else, Arlan prioritizes his revenge plot against Xenia and goes full throttle on his former friend. This instantaneously closed the gap between him and Xenia, now facing each other. An inch away from touching skin to skin.

How easily their friendship is ruined by an irredeemable act of sin. A bond that is impossible to be forged back together once again after being struck by a destructive event.

"This is for Thaniel!"

Just before he flung all the way to Xenia's location, Arlan had pulled a punch together and it struck Xenia on his chin. A graze on the chin would have instantly knocked Xenia out. However, the kid was built differently among the kids on the island and hassled himself to sustain and adapt to the beastly life.

Still, his head shook from the blunt force, losing a footing against Arlan, wherefore the kid took advantage and pulled a dangerous attack. Blood spilled from Xenia's hand when Arlan tried to stab him directly to where it was easy to do, but he blocked it with his hand.

With his right hand propped on the ground, down on one knee, and suffering from his multiple injuries, Xenia's depleting strength was getting in his way of fighting back. His gradual exhaustion brought him negative conclusions of his sacrifice, but he harbors no evil thoughts against Arlan for bringing him down on his knees.

"Even after all the good things you received from us, you still found the audacity to betray my brother and even took his life!"

"I have no words to say to you, Arlan. I know my transgressions and I won't deny them. If my death ever becomes my salvation and redemption, then so be it. My only regret is that we won't remain the best of friends..."

Seeing that Xenia had completely surrendered himself to Arlan, the latter prepared himself for the greatest and hardest choice of his life. The decision to take the life of his best friend. The same person he holds so many memories with and spent his days in good and bad times.

Just for that moment, Arlan fell silent for a second and was feeling teary eyed but he suppressed any sort of sympathetic emotions from him. He already went as far as stabbing his best friend. There was no going back.

"Enough trying to make me pity you, Xenia! The moment you raised your weapon against my brother and took his life, you ruined our lifelong friendship! I despise you down to my core!"

Words that could not be swallowed were meant to be spit. And that's why Arlan said what he just said, where his words weighed heavier than the burden Xenia was carrying.

No more words needed to be said, therefore, Arlan raised Xenia's obsidian knife in the air to finally put an end to their strife. His decisions were made and cleared off his mind. His hands descended upon Xenia, who had his eyes on the ground with his right hand still clenched tight and propped near his knee.

"It's fine this way, Pack. This bloodshed needs to be finished."

Pack was against it but Lakambini convinced her to step aside and let things transpire as fate wanted, where she immediately backed down and eventually became a spectator just like Lakambini.

When things were set to go Arlan's way, Xenia pulled the last trick he had up his sleeve.

~