Apocalyse: Marked by Chaos
Chapter 130 - 129 Wrong Answer

Chapter 130: Chapter 129 Wrong Answer

"You seem to know Lucian very well..." his fingers began to play with the rope of her cloak.

Olivia’s eyes widened. His hand was far too close to her chest.

She tried to pull away, her instincts screaming at her, but his grip tightened around the rope, yanking her roughly against him. Her body collided with his chest, and the force of the crash made her heart skitter painfully.

"What are you doing?!" she snapped, trying to push him away, but it was like pushing against a wall.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he lowered his head slightly, his eyes examining her with slow, deliberate calculation.

"Tell me..." his voice was low, laced with a dark amusement. "What is he like? That version of me? The one you cling to so much."

Olivia’s breath hitched. "I don’t owe you anything," she spat.

The smirk on his lips vanished in an instant. His expression turned cold, his eyes narrowing.

"You won’t answer me?" he asked quietly.

"No."

"Wrong answer."

Before she could react, his hand moved like a shadow—wrapping around her throat.

Olivia gasped, her hands flying to his wrist, trying to pry it off. But his grip only tightened.

Her nails dug into his skin, but he didn’t flinch. The world around her began to blur. Her lungs screamed for air.

She kicked at him, using her entire body weight to break free—but he was too strong.

"You should learn to obey," he said, his tone cold as ice. "You may not know it yet, but I am the real threat. The other version of me? A watered-down dream."

Her vision started to darken at the edges.

Panic took over. This wasn’t Lucian. This was something else. A monster wearing his face.

Fueled by desperation, she bent her knees slightly—and slammed her forehead against his.

A loud crack filled the air. Pain shot through her skull.

He let out a sharp groan and stumbled back, releasing her.

Olivia dropped to her knees, coughing violently as air rushed back into her lungs. Her throat burned, but she didn’t care—she was breathing.

She wiped her mouth and looked up. The ancient Lucian was holding his head, groaning again, his expression twisted in pain.

Then, without warning, he collapsed to the ground.

Olivia blinked.

What...?

She stared at his still body, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Did she knock him out? No way. That couldn’t be it.

Cautiously, she inched closer. Her fingers hovered above his chest. She needed to know if he was breathing.

Her hand moved, but before she could touch him... His eyes snapped open.

Olivia scrambled back in shock, her heels skidding against the dirt.

She turned to run, but then...

"Olivia?" he called out.

She froze.That voice, that tone. Slowly, she turned back. "Lucian?"

He blinked, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings in confusion. "Where... are we? Why does everything feel so heavy?"

He sat up, rubbing the side of his head, his brows furrowing.

"I—what happened? I remember going to meet Stefan, and then... nothing. Wait..." His eyes landed on her. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Olivia didn’t answer. Her lips parted, but no words came out.

It was him. The real Lucian. She took a shaky step forward. "Lucian...?"

He nodded slowly, confused. "Yes... it’s me. You’re scaring me a bit right now..."

Before he could finish, Olivia lunged at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his shoulders.

Lucian stiffened, surprised.

"I thought you were gone," she whispered, burying her face in the crook of his neck.

His arms slowly came up, holding her gently. "Gone? Olivia, what happened?"

She pulled back slightly, her eyes wet with unshed tears.

"You... weren’t yourself. You acted like someone else. Cold. Violent. You nearly..." her voice caught in her throat, "...you nearly killed me."

Lucian’s eyes widened. "What? No. I would never..."

"I know." She lowered her gaze. "That’s how I knew it wasn’t you."

He cupped her cheek, his touch gentle. "Tell me everything."

She shook her head. "Not now. Let’s just... leave this place. Please."

He nodded, standing up and offering her his hand.

As they walked away from the northern path, silence fell between them. But it wasn’t the heavy kind. It was quiet, warm, filled with unspoken emotions.

Then Lucian suddenly stopped. "What is it?" Olivia asked, scared of the other side of him coming out again.

"I remember writing a note to you. Since you got it, I believe that’s the reason why you are here."

"You are the one who sent me the note?... why?"

"I have a surprise for you, come with me," Lucian grabbed her hand, walking her back further into the dark night.

Olivia glanced now and then at his shoulder frame and the direction he was taking her to. A part of her mind was screaming at her to turn back and run away. But he was the real Lucian? Or were they able to get his real personality?

Meanwhile, Lucian jaws clenched, anger and fear dancing in his dark grey eyes. He was mad at himself that he had lay a hand on Olivia, and was afraid of losing himself to the other side of him... then he would be erased from existence.

His grip tightened over Olivia’s hand.

"Lucian... you are hurting me," Olivia swallowed the pain in her voice.

Lucian quickly snapped back to reality, his grip loosened around her wrist. "I’m sorry Olivia... I didn’t mean to," he said, gently caressing her hand.

Olivia’s heart warmed from his simple gesture, she couldn’t explain it, but something in her heart had changed.

Even with the danger still looming, even with the fear that this other version might return... but seeing him like this she wasn’t afraid anymore.

"Does it hurt?"

"No, not that much," she quickly retracted her hand back, as if his touch was burning her.

"What is the surprise? We have been walking for quite a long time now," she asked, her gaze scanning her surroundings.