Chapter 30: Labyrinth, IV

Elias Ayla POV:

Shit, that really took a turn for the worst… Well, it was to be expected, panicking in these situations is a normal part of being a human.

Though considering that these people didn't have life-threatening experiences, I was surprised to see how they could kill each other without hesitation.

Even I hesitate to kill a person, and I have yet to do… or so I thought.

Mai Sakaguchi POV:

The black-haired boy, whose head was resting on my lap, suddenly jolted up from the position he was laying in and started to puke, gastric juices getting all over the ground.

The smell was also quite strong, but who wouldn't be able to resist this after witnessing all that carnage?

"Ah, you woke up," I said calmly, trying to make a smile while patting his back, "It's all good, Elias, you weren't stabbed in any vitals that could prove a risk of death."

Huh? He's shivering.

"F-fuck…"

He started holding his head, I moved from my former spot, trying to get a look at his face.

"W-what's wrong?!" I sputtered through my words.

"Ah," he looked back as if to realize I was here, "No, it's nothing…" he put his right hand up to his neck as if shy. "It's kind of pathetic, isn't it?" He mustered up a weak smile, not reaching his eyes.

"First, we get here, and then everyone starts betraying, butchering each other, and then… I just had to become a killer from so early on…" He got a look of acceptance on his face, screaming that 'He expected to dirty his hands sooner or later'.

"Humph!" I karate chopped his head, though with not a lot of force, "Listen here, you idiot! First, you didn't become a killer, second, it was self-defense--" He cut my words off.

"But I could've done more," he sighed, looking down to the ground, "I could've saved more people, if only I incapacitated Elijah from the moment he eliminated Michael…" He trailed off.

"Listen," I started talking with a resolute tone "Yes, you could have saved more, but, don't forget, everyone here came with resolve and knowing of the danger there was."

This isn't like me… I thought to myself. I can't speak words like this to people, my hands started shaking a little, my nose started to run a little, my insides started to tighten, and my eyes got blurry.

"But, please, please…" My voice pitching up and down, "Don't feel responsible, at least you didn't flee the battlefield with your tail between your legs. Do you know…" I choked, "… how frustrated I am that I was so useless? how frustrated I am at my cowardice?!"

Tears streaming down my face wouldn't stop, neither did the dead that I abandoned and left to die, would come back.

He looked at me, and his eyes downcast again, a smile showed on his well-featured face, looking even more beautiful from the rays of the setting sun.

He got up slowly, because of the wound, now both of us sitting with our butts resting on our heels, basically lap-sitting.

He embraced me slowly, quietly saying, "You've had it rough, hadn't you?", that was what brought another wave of my emotions out…

I know I was selfish, lashing out with my emotions like that… but sometimes, being consoled by someone isn't half bad.

"Isn't Elias quite the womanizer, it's that Mai we're talking about!" I heard a female's voice from behind, "I know right, that guy's really something!" I heard a man's voice too, I whipped my head back growling at them.

"Eek," Haruka Maki was there, next to Sean gossiping about us.

Looking down, seeing how I was embracing Elias too, my face suddenly got hot, and unconsciously I punched him "Get away!" I received a 'Buhaa' sound from him, I got up and walked towards Haruka and Sean.

"And Haruka, aren't you getting quite well with Sean? Acting all chummy together!" I chastised her. In return, I also got a womanly reaction from that cute Haruka.

"Eh, you think so…" she fidgeted with her fingers acting all embarrassed.

"Uhm…" Sean acted awkwardly and just approached Elias and helped him get back up.

After helping Elias back to his feet, Elias released a breath and said "Let's see, thirteen participants were back in the start,

Valen Weis-Confirmed dead,

Michael Donovan-Confirmed dead,

Elijah Langston…" he trailed off, and soon after picked his tone up again, counting all over the members.

"Elijah Langston-Confirmed dead,

Aoi Akihiko-Confirmed dead,

Ren Uemura-Injured severely,

Sho Dae-Hyun-Confirmed dead,

Li Hae-Won-Confirmed dead,

Qo Soo-bin-Injured severely,

And lastly, Elias Ayla, Sean Dayward, Luke Crimson, Haruka Maki, and Mai Sakaguchi… are alive and well." He finished.

***

Soon after, Elias asked us all to go to sleep right now. It's currently nine pm, and the two suns in the sky have already set. He asked us to let the injured ones in his care.

Though I insisted to stay with him and take care of the wounded ones, yet, here I am in the tent laying and thinking.

The thought I kept pushing in the back of my head finally gushed forward, Why? Why did he jump in front of a sword for me? Did he perhaps… fall in love at first sight?! I could feel my face flushing, getting red, and my ears were burning too.

No no, Elias, we can't we're in the middle of the desert, we can't do anything, yet…

Muwhihihi… "Um, Mai, is something wrong? You're making such a weird laugh."

Oops, I must've let that out without meaning to, I must be careful.

"Huh? Ah, no don't worry about it… By the way," a grin showed up on my face, I pushed my elbow to her ribs, "You, you like Sean already, don't you? Mwahehe, you thought I wouldn't notice you."

Her cute face and plump cheeks started to bounce around as she kept moving her head inside our tent, she brought her index finger to his lips saying "Shhh, shhh," what's this creature, so cute.

"Well, He's just my type… like, he's the boy I've always dreamt of, having the same taste in the shows, watching anime, playing video games, being kind, having a nice body, and when he protected me today, he was just too cool…" she brought her hands up to cover her face.

***

And so, with talks like this, we fell asleep, not knowing if tomorrow is promised.