Ash is an actual Sourwolf (ash_cdj) wrote in ficcin_a, @ 2022-06-29 01:31:00 |
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The whole thing had really been a trap, just like Felix warned him. And sure, he knew but what kind of person would he be if he let anyone suffer? Especially someone he'd been so close to. He was thinking about Elisabeth as he entered the basement alone. He and Felix scuffled over it, but Marc made the other Alpha promise to go see to everyone else, that this he'd deal with. He might have also said if it was a trap and if he died, Felix could take over the whole area. Apparently, that had been enough motivation and Felix had bolted. Marc didn't miss the smirk he gave either. He knew the other's goal would egg him on. "I can't believe you came," he heard Sandra say through a laugh. She stepped out from the shadows, behind where Marc spotted Elisabeth and Felix's pack member, Ken, strung up to some shoddy looking restraints. He noticed all the electrical cords, the mountain ash, the blood... "Will you also beg on your knees?" "Enough," he grit out. There wasn't a lot he could do, considering the line of mountain ash at the bottom of the stairs preventing him from moving forward. He listened closely, and could hear multiple heartbeats. Elisabeth and Ken were okay for the time. But then he noticed the dark lines along Elisabeth's face. Wolfsbane poisoning. And by the looks of it, he needed to act fast. "What do you want? Name it and let them go." "You dead. All your friends would be great too, but just you would do actually." It made him uncomfortable how even toned and calm she sounded asking for these things. Hunters really were the worst sort of people on the earth. "Pass. How about money?" She laughed at him, shook her head and watched him then as she moved over to a small table. The red-haired hunter picked up a small crossbow and aimed it at Marc's feet. The arrow flew out once she pulled the trigger and it threatened to ricochet, but Marc snatched it. "Slow and painful. Stab yourself with that. I want your suffering to be like theirs." Marc stared at the tip - which was fractured from hitting the ground - and grimaced. "Like who?" A rage filled scream came from Sandra as she loaded another bolt and fired it at Marc. The stairway into the basement was so narrow there wasn't much room to move, and it caught the edge of Marc's arm. It looked odd, how it stuck out of his arm so loosely, like if he tugged it a little it might just rip through a few layers of skin and leave a strange gap. Considering her laughter though, he guessed this bolt had been laced. She really liked wolfsbane poisoning. Marc looked up at her and then back down to the bolt in his arm as he heard another zoom through the air. That one he didn't dodge so well. The bolt lodged into his shoulder. Looking at it made Marc feel dizzy. He heard her gleeful shouts and stumbled back, half sitting on the stairs and wondering if he could outlast her. Maybe she would get bored or think she won. Or maybe she'd get close enough. Either way, he had time. These were flesh wounds on a time limit, at best. He was stupid. He completely dropped his guard. And he really hadn't expected her to throw a knife at him. The world seemed to stop as he glanced down to his chest and stared at the object. Blood was seeping around it into his shirt. Sandra sighed, hissed out a 'yes' and broke the line of mountain ash with her foot as she approached him. Pain and ringing in his ears were taking over, along with the complete inability to breath right. There was nothing else he could do. No fight, no words, nothing. One of the steps dug into his spine and he leaned back, slumping and his head lolling back. As he blinked, someone leaped over him in Sandra's direction. It all happened too fast. He lifted his head enough to look in her direction and watched what could only be described as a massacre. And the wild green hair that stuck up wildly made him realize who it was. "Cath." A sigh of relief and he let his head fall back again, thumping against the wood. He closed his eyes for a second and felt hands on him. It sounded like Cathal was talking to him too. Marc opened his eyes and focused enough to hear Cath shouting at him. The green haired beta looked terrified, blood splatters painting the side of his face. "Keep yer eyes open, Marc." His voice cracked, clearly shaken up. Marc opened his mouth and was brought with new pain, watching Cath yank the bolts from his chest. He used the remainder of his energy to grab Cath's wrist before it would touch the knife. Wide eyes he hoped would tell him enough, to not pull it out and to stop. But then, Cath shifted his wrist so he could hold Marc's too and he started to feel the faintest relief from the pain and burning sensations blooming in his arms and fingertips. He was trying to take his pain. "Stop. It'll be worse," Marc managed. "Get them. Go." "No! Yer not m'boss." Even though Cath was cringing, face screwed up in pain. There was too much to take. And that told Marc it was too late. "Shoulda had more time with you," Marc mumbled. "Stop it," Cath hissed. It got his attention enough that he stopped trying to pull Marc's pain. "Yer gonna be fine. Yer mates'll fix it." Marc wasn't that stupid. And neither was Cath. It's why he had to spend the last few moments of his life watching Cathal break down in tears. What a shit way to go. The blade had been laced too - apparently - because the flames erupted in Marc's chest and he screamed. Howled. Cath's hands were on him and he tried to knock them away but all he did was practically swat gently as he let his eyes fall shut. Lips pressed roughly to his, it forced the screaming to stop. Cath was trying desperately to take his pain again. Marc's last thought was 'that little shit'. The transition was hard. Felix took a lot of blame from the Williford pack. It didn't matter that he cleaned up the mess and made sure no hunters survived. It didn't matter that he personally saw to nursing Elisabeth and Ken back to health. Or that he formally apologized in person at Marc's cremation to his closest friends and family. Bryant was the one who found himself indued with new power. The new pack Alpha. They knew this would happen but it didn't prepare him any for the shock. He didn't want it at the price it came with. Elisabeth found herself in a state of grief. Her and Ken gravitated to each other, feeling most at fault. They were the first to leave Blackburn. Together. Slowly the rest of the packs left. Kono and Bryant moved the Williford pack east. Felix got his pack settled in the next major city. But Cathal wouldn't leave. "Cath, c'mon man. This isn't good for you." Felix stood in Marc's bedroom. He'd never seen it before so close but he had no choice. His best friend had all but moved into the dead man's home the second after the Williford pack said they were leaving. No one told him to get out or that it was weird. "I'm leaving tonight to join the others." "So go." The green hair was faded to the lightest green it had even gotten. He was curled up in what looked to be one of Marc's sweaters, sitting in the center of the bed. There were faint bags under his eyes. Cathal was a mess. Felix sighed. "Not without you bud. I can't let you just...eternally grieve. Not alone, at least." He stepped closer and sat on the very edge of the bed. Cathal looked as if he was going to get feral and tell him to get off the bed, but Felix spoke in hopes of distracting him. "Look, I know he wouldn't have liked me in here or sitting, but he would've hated you doing this over him more." Cathal didn't have a response for that. He just tugged the sweater over his hands better and brought the edges of the sleeves to his face. He whispered something inaudible for Felix to hear. "You don't have to forget him. I know I sure as shit won't. But you can't stop everything." Felix sighed and looked around, adding, "Let's bring some of his books since he had so damn many. You can read what he liked and keep him alive that way." The green haired beta peeked over the sleeves before hiding his face again. Felix heard him sob and watched his friend and packmate get up slowly. He went to the two large bookshelves in the room and pulled some books. He held them in his arms and turned around, tears running down his face as he managed the smallest smile. "I'll take care o' all 'is books." "All?" Felix stopped himself from asking about the logistics, shaking his head. "I guess I'll get a truck..." |