233. THE RESET
233. THE RESET
~DAHLIA
"Cassius, please don't say that," Orion cried.
But Cassius flashed him that smirk of his— The same one he always flashed whenever he was hurt...
The same one he held as his armor while protecting everyone but dying inside...
And even in this temple, he still chose to hide his pain behind that smirk and act like all was well!
"Please, guys— you should leave. Break free from Azarel," he casually let out like it wasn't his blood filling the damned rivers of blood outside!
"Cassius, you can't be serious!" Vladimir growled. "We need to fight Azarel together!"
"I know, Vlad and that's why I have to die," he replied and I felt a ringing of rage start in my ears.
"What?" I blurted in a slow tone that still managed to shake my core.
His eyes met mine and his mask cracked. "I promise you that once I— once I finally succeed in staying dead, everyone will be free... You wouldn't even need me—"
"Enough!" I suddenly screamed, my emotions exploding. "How dare you say that Cassius? How dare you!?"
His eyes finally resumed dropping tears, yet he still tried to flash me his smirk. But I wasn't taking it—
"No, Cassius, no! You don't get to die and abandon us!" I yelled, pointing a finger at him.
"But, Dahlia... I have to..." His voice cracked. "I have to die for you... For my people... for my family... That's what true love does—"
"No, Cassius! That is not love!" I screamed. "That is cowardice!"
"What about my sins?" He countered back and my heart felt like it was snatched from my very chest.
"What about everything I did to my brothers... Won't I atone for them?"
My lips trembled as I lacked a reply for him and I felt like I was losing him...
"Cassius, we already forgave you..." Vladimir slowly countered. "You were only a child and you couldn't have known better."
"I have forgiven you too, Cassius..." Orion sniffled. "You don't have to die for anything or anyone..."
He sniffled again, trying so hard to stay strong. But his broken voice and tears kept failing him.
"Listen, I— I have always looked up to you... For guidance... For everything. What will happen if you go?"
"Orion, you have always been too good," Cassius whispered, his voice drowning, yet that determination still lingered. "How can a monster like me be of any use?"
Tears just flowed down my eyes as I held on tighter to Orion and Vladimir for balance. Without them, hearing Cassius say those words would have sent me to the ground.
"If any one of us should be called a monster, it's not you." Vladimir replied, his voice wavering over a sad chuckle. "You are the only reason why any of us have made it this far—"
My head bobbed in agreement, but words failed me. All I could do was listen and pray that he heard us...
"—You are smart, Cassius." Vladimir continued. "You alone held us together ever since the tragedy befell us..."
"I am not... I am not," Cassius cried, his masked strength finally breaking.
But Vladimir wasn't done.
"Cassius, you are not the reason why we are all broken..."
His voice cracked and I saw the tears that shone in his eyes.
"Instead, you are the reason we are still here... And the only way you can fix it all is by getting out of here. ALIVE. Because we still need you!"
"Yes, Cassius, we still need you!!" Orion chorused.
I was so struck with overflowing emotions that I could only watch as they both tried to pull Cassius out. He tried to argue, and tried to take the blame all over again...
But Vladimir and Orion wouldn't let him. Their words sank so deep, Cassius broke down in fresh tears.
His body shook violently with tremors as the dagger finally dropped from his hand.
Yet, as soon as it dropped, the atmosphere in the temple instantly shifted into a dark aura.
The room became colder than before and I could sense evil rising from Cassius' side of the barrier long before it appeared.
It was a darker version of him and his eyes let out sparks of anger as he grabbed the dagger from our Cassius.
My heart jumped to my throat as I watched the scene.
He was going to kill him!
Every sound became distant as Vladimir and Orion roared at the evil Cassius not to dare touch their brother but I couldn't move.
Everything seemed to be racing to end our Cassius when suddenly, he got to his feet;
"It's not time for me to die yet— my brothers need me!" He roared and then he moved with the speed of light.
Everything blurred before us and when it eventually stilled again...
Evil Cassius was on the ground. Dead.
Instantly, the prison fell apart and darkness covered everywhere. In seconds, we all gasped awake.
It was over. We were back in the withered land with Lyon.
Vladimir and Orion hugged Cassius as he cried against them.
"I'm so sorry... I'm sorry..." He whimpered over and over as they consoled him.
I just stood there, not knowing how to feel. My eyes moved to Lyon and he nodded in approval.
We did it. We rescued everyone...
"Dahlia," Orion called, beckoning me over.
I joined them and all four of us wrapped ourselves in a big hug— but I knew it was complete.
My eyes searched for Lyon and I called him over.
As he started coming towards us, that was when I smiled, cried and laughed all at once. Because finally, it all seemed like victory.
But my joy was short-lived. Because the moment Lyon got close enough, the ground started shaking.
The walls of the temple began to fall apart and the ground started to cave in.
"We need to run!" Lyon let out. We all got on our feet, pumped with adrenaline.
But I remembered, Odette's warning;
'No matter what happens, do not separate from one another or the prisons will all reset...'
"No!" I gasped as I grabbed Orion's hands. "Don't let go!"
Darkness started piercing through the already grey world of Azarel's mind.
We held each other, trying to get away despite the darkness. But the earthquake grew more violent as if its sole aim was to swallow us.
We fought our way through but the ground suddenly gave way and we got separated…
The darkness finally won…