Apocalypse: The Dead Lives
Chapter 59: Another Excuse

Chapter 59: Another Excuse

MARCO

Everything felt different now.

I wasn’t sure if it was just in my head, but I could feel it. The way people looked at me. The way they whispered when I walked past. Like they were waiting for me to break again. Like they thought I was weak.

I wasn’t weak.

I just needed to prove it.

So I pushed myself harder. Training longer, moving faster, hitting stronger. My wounds had already healed, but the pain in my chest?

That was still there.

My body had fixed itself in seconds, but my pride? That would take longer.

"You’re gonna pass out, you know."

I turned and found August watching me from the edge of the training ground, arms crossed, eyebrow raised. He was like my shadow, these days.

Annoying, but always around.

"I’m fine, kid," I muttered, throwing another punch at the sandbag. My power surged through me, fire up my veins heating me up in the process.

Strength. Control. Power. That was what I needed.

"You sure? ’Cause you look like you’re trying to murder that thing," August said, stepping closer.

I didn’t answer. I just kept hitting. Kept moving. Kept trying to drown out the memory of that fight. Of Ronan standing over me like I was nothing. Like I hadn’t been strong enough to stop him.

August sighed. "Look, I get it. Everyone’s talking. But who cares? You’re Marco Voss. The guy who doesn’t lose."

I clenched my jaw. "I did lose."

"Only this time," he shot back. "So what? You’re still breathing. You’re still here."

I exhaled sharply, shaking out my fists. He wasn’t wrong, but it didn’t help. Nothing did.

Before I could respond, I saw her.

Kiara.

Standing a few feet away, arms wrapped around herself, like she wasn’t sure if she should come closer. She had that look on her face. The one she always wore when she knew she’d done something wrong.

I wiped the sweat off my face with the back of my hand and turned away, already done with this conversation before it could even start.

"Marco, wait."

I didn’t.

"Please," she said, stepping in front of me before I could leave. "Just listen."

I leveled her with a stare. "For what? Another excuse?"

She winced but held her ground. "No. I just- I just want to say I’m sorry."

I laughed. A bitter, humorless sound. "You’re sorry?"

"Yes."

"For what exactly?" I asked, crossing my arms. "For running away? For leaving me with him? Or for acting like everything can just go back to how it was?"

Her face twisted with guilt. "I never wanted to leave you with him, Marco. You have to believe me."

I shook my head. "I don’t have to believe anything."

"Please," she whispered, voice breaking. "I was young, I was scared, I-"

"I was young too," I cut her off. "And I didn’t get a choice. You left. And I had to deal with him on my own. You knew what he was like. You knew what he’d do to me. And you still left."

Tears filled her eyes, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t care.

Not anymore.

She reached for me, but I took a step back.

"Marco," she pleaded.

I exhaled. "We’re done here."

I turned to walk away from her but stopped dead in my tracks when she spoke again.

"Speaking of Dad," she said carefully.

I turned my head just enough to glance at her. She looked nervous. That wasn’t a good sign.

"He contacted me," she admitted. "Told me to relay a message."

I crossed my arms. "And?"

She hesitated. "He’s coming for you, Marco."

A slow, cold anger settled in my chest.

"He’s pissed," she continued, shifting on her feet. "Says you humiliated him. That you’ve turned your back on the family. He wants to make an example out of you."

I let out a humorless laugh. "Yeah? He’s a little late for that, don’t you think?"

"Marco, I’m serious," she insisted. "He’s not going to let this go. You dropped your title. Walked away from everything he built. And now you’re fighting against him? You know he sees that as treason."

I clenched my jaw. "What do you expect me to do, Kiara? Run? Hide?" I shook my head. "I’m not scared of him anymore."

"You should be," she whispered.

I exhaled, forcing myself to stay calm. "If he wants a fight, he knows where to find me."

Kiara flinched. "Marco-"

I cut her off. "I don’t need your warnings. Or your concern. You stopped being my sister the day you left me with him."

Something shattered in her expression. But I didn’t let myself care.

I turned on my heel and walked away, leaving her standing there, carrying the weight of a past I refused to forgive.

I wasn’t sure where I was going. I just knew I needed space. I needed air.

And that’s when I saw her.

Hailey-Jade.

She was curled up against the wall, tucked away where no one could see her, shoulders shaking.

Crying.

I frowned. "Hailey?"

Her head snapped up, eyes red and puffy. She looked at me, then quickly wiped at her face like that would erase the evidence.

"Go away, Marco," she mumbled.

I didn’t.

Instead, I crouched in front of her. "What happened?"

She sniffed. "Nothing."

"Doesn’t look like nothing."

She swallowed hard, looking away. Her hands were clenched in her lap, fingers trembling.

"Ronan broke up with me," she admitted, voice small.

My jaw locked.

That bastard.

I knew Ronan was an asshole. That wasn’t news. But Hailey? She wasn’t just some girl. She was Hailey. Strong, stubborn, sharp-tongued Hailey. And Ronan just- just threw her away?

"Idiot," I muttered.

She let out a shaky laugh. "Yeah. I guess."

Silence stretched between us.

Then, she looked at me. Really looked at me.

Her eyes were glassy, sad- but there was something else too.

Something desperate.

Before I could say anything, she reached for me.

Her fingers curled into my shirt, pulling me closer.

"Make me feel something else," she whispered.

And then she kissed me.

Fire. Electricity. Something dangerous crackled between us.

Her lips were soft but urgent, her hands gripping me like I was the only thing keeping her grounded.

For a second, I didn’t think. I just felt.

And damn, did she feel good.

But then she pulled away, eyes wide, breath shaky.

"I-"

She didn’t finish.

She just turned and stormed off, leaving me standing there, heart pounding, lips still tingling, and brain completely, utterly wrecked.

What the hell just happened?