Apocalyse: Marked by Chaos
Chapter 95 - 94 The Apology Before the Fall

Chapter 95: Chapter 94 The Apology Before the Fall

He gave a small, crooked smile. "That’s progress."

She shook her head. "This isn’t progress. This is a mess."

Olivia slowly stepped back. "I need time." Her head buzzed with confusion, uncertainty. She didn’t know what these feelings were. She needed time to sort it out.

Lucian nodded once. "Then I’ll wait."

And with that, she turned and walked away, never once looking back.

But Lucian stayed rooted to the spot, watching until her figure disappeared into the shadows. He knew she was slipping through his fingers—and yet, for some reason, it felt like fate had only just begun to drag them toward each other.

...

Olivia’s shoulders slumped as she walked down the cobblestone pathway. ’How could someone like him be very dangerous? Could it be that Diana is wrong? I mean, he had saved me a couple of times, he even took a blade for me. Who else would do that for me?’

She sighed, huffing out air. She wanted to tell him that she trusted him... Okay, maybe not fully, and she wasn’t trying to be rude.

If only she could remember the memory she had seen earlier in Professor Vaelis’ library, then she would have known what to believe now. But right now, it was like she was standing on a thin rope.

As she continued walking, lost in her thoughts, she bumped into someone.

"Sorry..." As she raised her head, her breath left her. Her heart skittered in her chest.

"Alexa!" she called out, her tone a little high. Her eyes widened. Now that she had come face to face with Alexa, she could feel her conscience biting back at her.

She swallowed hard before letting out a nervous chuckle. "I’m so sorry for that," she said quickly, trying to swiftly walk away from her presence.

"Stop." Alexa’s voice felt like a cold steel command, stopping Olivia in her tracks.

Olivia’s heart thundered in her ears. ’Did she find out that I was the one that broadcast her secret? No, there is no way she would know. You are overthinking, Olivia.’ But her trembling fingers betrayed her thoughts.

"Come with me," Alexa added, her eyes vacant. She didn’t check to see if Olivia was following. She began to walk the way Olivia was coming from.

Olivia felt like she was poured cold water. Her body jerked from the goosebumps, the déjà vu. This was exactly what happened the last time—she was nearly beaten into a pulp.

"Should I follow her or not?" Olivia’s lips stretched into a silent cry. She wiped off the invisible tears from her face. Not following is like a death wish, but if she follows her, who can guarantee she would not end up six feet under?

Her legs hesitantly walked after Alexa. She only had her fate to blame for this. She doubted if she would get old enough to tell her kids the tale of this.

They walked further into the northern wing of the school. Alexa stopped momentarily in front of the bushes. She turned her head to check if she was coming. When she saw Olivia, she parted the bushes, walking further down.

Olivia’s feet trembled. ’She is going to kill me this time, and she is not leaving a trace,’ she cried inwardly. Her eyes darted back to where they were coming from. If she heads back now, maybe she would live to see another day.

"Olivia." Alexa’s voice rang from the other side of the tall bushes.

Olivia bit her lips. She steeled her heart before taking a leap of faith. "I’m coming," her shaking voice answered back.

Olivia parted the bushes apart, just like how Alexa did earlier. She was shocked when she saw a narrow path in the midst of the bushes. Olivia followed the path and came out into a wide open terrain with rocks protruding out. The ground was a little rocky, but the sight before her was what made her jaw drop.

She expected blood, not blossoms. A final scream, not a waterfall’s gentle hum. The serenity of the scene only made her fear worse, like death had dressed itself in a disguise.

In front of them was a cliff, and on the other side was a waterfall. The sunrise and the little yellow, red, white, and purplish-blue flowers made the scene look so breathtaking that Olivia couldn’t help but forget for a moment about her death sentence.

"It’s so beautiful," Olivia muttered, totally unaware of what she was saying.

"Come closer," Alexa said, her icy blue eyes piercing through the last will of Olivia not to break down in front of her and beg for her mercy.

Olivia swallowed, cold beads of sweat dripping from her face. ’Is she going to push me off the cliff?’ She forced a smile on her face.

She hesitantly walked towards her, standing beside her. Her body tensed, her heart pounding so hard that her chest hurt.

Olivia tensed more when Alexa placed her arms around her shoulder, pulling her closer to the edge of the cliff. "Do you know if you were to fall from here, your bones would be shattered, your lungs collapsed, blood pooling into your brain. That is one hell of a painful way to die," Alexa mused, as they stared down at the end of the cliff.

Dew covered the air, preventing one from seeing the bottom of the cliff. Fear and guilt contorted Olivia’s face. "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to," she whispered, tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

Alexa was taken aback by her sudden behaviour. She smiled, but it didn’t reach her icy eyes.

"What are you apologising for?" Alexa asked, her arms tightening around Olivia’s shoulder.

Olivia swallowed, her blurry eyes staring down at her future resting place. Her lips quivered, but she could not bring herself to say anything. ’Maybe if I explain everything to her—that it was the system that made me do it... that it was the mission. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I just... I just needed to survive. Then maybe I would only be hospitalised... and I get to keep my life,’ her thoughts clawed at the back of her mind.

"I’m so sorry for everything you have been through..." the words managed to leave her trembling lips.

Alexa’s eyes flickered with an unexplainable emotion.