Chapter 23: Episode 22 - Separation
–– RED TEAM POV ––
Both captains were perplexed. They didn't know what the robotic voice was talking about at all about them not being what they seemed. Luna and Regina looked at each other for a few seconds. No one knew what to do or say. Ethan looked at Necole. She just nodded and both exited the coliseum together. Luna took a few steps forwards, but couldn't keep going. She looked down. It was obvious they would doubt her since they were from different regions.
– Necole…
– We need to talk to Regina, urgently.
Ethan punched the wall with force.
– I knew we couldn't trust that Luna kid. What is that about coming from another "dimension" or whatever she called it? It was obvious she put us all into this mess! What makes me angrier is that I can't do anything since she's in my team…
– Don't worry, Ethan. I have an idea. But we need to trust in Regina.
– Idea? What idea?
Back at the coliseum, the silence was so thick it could be cut down with a knife. Sophie gets closer to Luna and lays down her hand on Luna's shoulder, letting her know she can count on her. She promised herself that she would win at any cost, for Elise and Zacharie.
–– PURPLE TEAM POV ––
Dominik looked sideways to Regina and, without saying a single word, he walks away.
– Tch.
Luke sighed exasperatedly. He decided that, after everything, he would trust Regina. Logically, for him, Luna was the most suspicious since she was the one he's never seen before, contrary to Regina, whom he's known for a long time, just never interacted with. He started to slowly make his way to the warehouse. Raphael already knew how Luke thought. He knew that there were many things on his head, so he made his way to him.
In the coliseum only Regina, Agatha, Zorn, Sophie and Luna were left.
– R-Regina, l-let's go, yeah?
Agatha approached her and interlocked their arms. Walking slowly forward to see how Regina reacted. Regina just looked at her and, with no expression, nodded and let herself get walked away. Leaving just 3 people from the Red Team there, standing.
Inside the warehouse, Luke punched one of the walls. He was starting to despair. Their only clue left was that Luna was the most suspicious out of them all. In this round he needed to find the truth at any cost. It was his last chance.
– You're frustrated, aren't you?
– What do you want, Raphael?
– Well… maybe this is the last time for us to talk like this. I suggest that we spy Luna like last time.
– … you do know that that was a waste of time, right?
– Well, that was because we had the wrong person! Now we know Luna is the culprit.
Luke couldn't deny that the evidence was pointing at Luna, and honestly, at this point he didn't have anything else to lose, so he agreed. Both were going to spy on Luna at night. The last two nights of their lives.
–– RED TEAM POV ––
Half of the Red Team were inside the warehouse. Only Ethan and Necole were missing. Luna was on her bed, with no mood to get up or eat. Zorn approached her and sat down by her side.
– Luna, I'll protect you, okay? You don't have anything to fear.
Luna looked at Zorn. Felt how tears accumulated on her eyes. She got up and hugged him tightly. Zorn hugged her back, lightly caressing her hair.
– Don't worry. We'll win this round. I promise.
Luna couldn't stop crying. Sophie sat down behind them and caressed Luna's back. Luna still couldn't believe the situation she was in. That was nothing like the book she loved so much. She started to question where everything went wrong. She knew she went to fight but not that real lives were going to be taken away. In that moment she just wanted to go back home, on her bed, with her parents and sister.
Meanwhile Ethan and Necole were in the training center. They wanted to train more now that this could be their last round alive.
– I'll go out for a bit to get some fresh air.
Necole nodded and kept training with the dagger. Ethan went out and encountered a slight gust of wind which made him cover his eyes with his arm. At the end of it, he let his arm down and saw Regina in front of him. Regina tried to smile, but it was difficult to maintain her normal semblance.
In front of them was a small bench. Ethan made his way to it and sat down. Regina followed him and did the same.
– So… how's everything in your team? —asked Regina, barely inaudible—.
– Regina. I want you to know that Necole and I are on your side. We don't trust Luna at all.
– O-oh yea? —she said trying not to sob—. W-what a relief… I t-think my team hates me. —she shrugged and couldn't take it anymore, her tears started to flow down her cheeks—.
– Regina. —Ethan turned around slowly and took her hands— You'll keep going, for our region.
– W-what?
– You're the candidate to be the next leader of Gaeva. You can't die here.
– W-what are you trying to s-say, Ethan?
Ethan got closer to her. Whispering the idea Necole had said to him.
– We'll do it tonight.
– Y-you can't do that! It's our only chance, Regina. We'll do it for our region.
– I-it isn't r-right for her…
– Nothing is right here.
–– PURPLE TEAM POV ––
The night was nearing and Luke and Raphael were ready for their espionage. The next day it would be the last day of their lives. They were behind the warehouse, waiting for the perfect moment.
Luke was still trying to communicate with his father, but it was impossible. The communication had simply been cut.
– It's time, Luke, let's go.
Raphael got up the floor, cleaning his pants.
– I hope this isn't another waste of time.
Luke and Raphael slowly made their way to Red Team's warehouse.
–– RED TEAM POV ––
Everyone was asleep, except Ethan and Necole. Ethan got closer to ger and whispered "it's time". Necole nodded and got up her bed, trying to make as little noise as possible. Ethan took Luna on his arms. Luna felt the movement and scarily opened her eyes but Ethan signaled her to stay quiet. Luna was quite confused. On one side her heart started to beat rapidly, on the other she knew Ethan wasn't on her side.
The 3 of them exited the warehouse. Sophie was still sleeping, but Zorn heard the movement.
They made their way to the back of the warehouse. Luke and Raphael were present but rapidly hid behind a tree, seeing how they were carrying Luna.
– What are they planning to do? —asked Raphael in a low voice—.
– Shhh, let's follow them.
Ethan put Luna down. On her face was a very confused expression, she was looking everywhere but there was only darkness around.
– E-Ethan? What's wrong? —she asked nervously—.
– We're sorry, Luna. —said Necole—.
Ethan then proceeded to punch Luna in the face, leaving her unconscious. Raphael gasped lightly. Necole looked around. Luke noticed and smacked Raphael for it, they couldn't get caught in that moment.
Necole crouched down by Luna's side and pulled out a pocket knife. She raised it and, with force, stabbed it in Luna's leg. To avoid the others from hearing her screams, she covered her face with a pillow she brought with her from the warehouse.
Luke and Raphael couldn't believe what they were witnessing.
TO BE CONTINUED.
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