Chapter 2: At the Edge of the Abyss

Instantly, Guinevere scurried away.

Anthony dropped to his knees, crawling toward the narrow passage with speed by the time he got to the opening. He tried to squeeze through, but the hole was far too small.

“Fucking stupid hole.”

Frustration flared in his chest, sharp and hot, and with a growl, he turned back.

By the time he reached the car, the rain had finally ceased, leaving the world slick and glistening under the dim light. He slid into the driver’s seat, the engine’s hum a low growl in the quiet night.

“Ahhh—blood!” Guinevere shrieked, the scream ripping from her throat.

Anthony’s eyes darted across the scene, his hands trembling as he inspected every detail.

“It’s not mine,” he muttered. “It’s hers; she must have gone through that weep hole.”

He bit the inside of his jaw.

“We need to find her. Now!”

“Not through that weep hole!” she protested. “It’s too dangerous.”

“We’ll find another way,” he said, jaw clenched, eyes blazing with unwavering resolve. “I won’t let her slip away. I have to get my hands on her.”

He started the engine.

“That weep leads to the sea, and this route leads to the sea.”

He stepped on the accelerator and surged forward.

Meanwhile, Cleopatra kept running, her feet pounding against the ground until the vast ocean stretched out before her. Her freezing clothes clung to her skin as she dashed to its edge, crouching low to dip her hand into the water.

The chill bit into her skin.

“Salt water,” she hissed sharply, jerking her hand back as pain flared from her wound.

Trembling, she tore a strip of fabric from her clothes and bound the injury. She tried to move forward, but her knees refused to cooperate; her gaze dropped towards her knees.

“My unlucky day.”

Instantly a stray tear escaped her eyes; she pressed her lips together.

“How deep does her hatred run?” She whispered softly. “How deep?”

Her chest tightened, and her throat burned, making it difficult to swallow the thought.

She stared at the ocean, the silence broken only by the waves. She lifted her gaze; the dark clouds loomed, hiding any sign of dawn.

“The clouds, they’re as dark as the life I’m living,” a laugh trembling on the edge of despair escaped her lips. “I’m useless… just discarded junk, thrown away before anyone ever tried to mend me.”

Her mind lingered on his gentle devotion, his smile, his care, and his loyalty.

“Why couldn’t you just think of yourself, Cal?”

A low sob escaped her lips as she brushed away every tear escaping her eyes.

“You give me everything: your love, your life, your will, everything without ever sparing a thought for yourself! How… how can someone be so damned selfless?!”

Her lips trembled.

“Calvin died because of me, because of my debt,” she clutched her chest, “I am a j-jinx.”

Tears continued to cascade down her face as she buried it in her trembling hands.

“I need to find evidence, Anthony; my Cal’s will not be in vain.”

Instantly she turned towards the cliff, dragging her weak knees.

At the same time, Anthony and Guinevere crept toward the ocean’s edge. The waves crashed like distant warnings as they scanned the shoreline, their hearts pounding, desperately searching for any sign of her in the fading light.

Suddenly, they spotted a solitary figure moving in the distance.

“Hush… stay silent,” Anthony said under his breath, eyes locked on the figure ahead. “There she is.”

“Heaven is on our side,” Guinevere smirked. “Let’s catch her unaware.”

As Guinevere stepped forward, she stumbled and crashed to the ground. Failing to notice the rock ahead, pain shot through her body as she let out a scream.

“Ow! My leg!”

“Just shut up for once!” Anthony thundered, his voice cutting through the roar of the ocean.

Startled by the sudden noise, Cleopatra turned back toward its source; her gaze landed on them.

Without hesitation, she bolted towards the only open path right before her, which led straight to a cliff.

Anthony chased after her, not sparing Guinevere a glance as she lay on the ground.

Cleopatra ran until she reached the edge; her movement stopped, and her eyes widened in fear.

“Dead end.”

Trapped, she searched frantically for an escape as Anthony caught up.

She turned at the edge of the cliff, uncertainty written across her face.

"Stay the hell away from me, you monster!”

“Come here,” Anthony said, eyes locked on her like a predator’s. “I said come here, you little shit!”

And with a reluctant step, she drew back, carefully avoiding Anthony.

“Stay back!”

Anthony took a step.

Fury instantly blazed in her eyes.

“I said stay back!”

“Why are you just standing there?!”

Guinevere's voice echoed from behind as she staggered to stabilize herself, her chest heaving as ragged breaths tore in and out of her lungs.

“Go catch her!”

Cleopatra moved back again, but loose rocks tumbled into the sea below, forcing her to steady herself immediately.

“No, don’t move!” Anthony cried, fear flooding his eyes. “Please… please come back!”

“You crazy fuck!” Guinevere screamed, grabbing his shirt. “Why are you telling her to come back? Just let her fall!”

The moment that word left Guinevere’s mouth, rage flared within him. With a sharp shove, Anthony sent her tumbling to the ground.

“Shut up!” he snarled. “I can’t lose her; I own her. She’s mine!”

Guinevere bit her lips; tears gathered in her eyes. She searched on the rough surface, grabbing a rock.

“Damn it,” she muttered under her breath, “it sticks to the ground.”

She stood up, holding Anthony's gaze.

“You’re terrified of losing control because domination is all you crave, not love.”

She let out a humorless laugh.

“You truly are pathetic. This is not love!”

Cleopatra raised her voice, cutting through them both.

“Over my dead body will I be your plaything. You fear losing me out of selfishness. That’s why I’d choose Calvin over you a hundred times.”

At the mention of Calvin, jealousy flared in Anthony’s veins, heat twisting through him as fists clenched instinctively.

“And you think he’s better than I?” he snapped. “If he was so great, why’s he six feet under? Just a fool playing hero—”

Cleopatra cut him off.

“This is where you’re wrong. He wasn’t just a hero. He was a leader, someone who would do anything to protect those he loved. That isn’t weakness; that’s real love, something you’ll never understand. He was a courageous soul who fought for love itself. I’d rather plunge into the abyss than spend another moment with you!”

She spun around at once, her gaze locking onto Guinevere.

“And you… you’re utterly despicable. No wonder you never excel at anything. Your heart is poisoned with hate and bitterness, and even in another lifetime, Calvin would never love you.”

“Shut the hell up, you trollop!” Guinevere screamed, her voice shaking.

Cleopatra shook her head.

“Guinevere, look at yourself just once,” she whispered, exhaustion and grief weighing down her words. “You’re beyond saving, beyond even being called human.”

She inhaled deeply, pressing her palm against her nose bridge.

“I never thought the girl I grew up with would become this… this monster.”

Her voice mixed with sobs as tears spilled freely from her eyes.

“We were best friends. We shared our childhood, our laughter, our tears. What happened to those years? What happened to the bond we had as sisters?”

She paused, struggling to stabilize herself.

“As… as our mother’s daughters?”

Right then, her voice broke finally

“Was it all so insignificant?”

A hollow laugh escaped her lips. “Was I just being delusional, thinking we would always be together forever?”

Her laughter faded into silence.

“I suppose… I was alone in this thing called friendship.”

Cleopatra whispered weakly.

“Guin, I’m still in denial that you hated me; it hurts so much. It really does—”

“Enough!” Guinevere snapped, cutting her off sharply.

“If you had truly cared about me, why did you keep stealing the things I loved most?!”

Guinevere held her gaze, her voice unhinged, madness flashing in her eyes.

“Guinevere, you’re deranged!” Cleopatra shouted, her voice shaking with fury. “I never stole anything from you!”

“Woe unto you and unto Anthony,” Cleopatra said calmly. “Do you both truly lack a conscience to take a human life without a shred of pity?

Her hands clenched tightly at her side, and her voice filled with determination.

“Calvin may be dead, but he will always be the one. I love my selfless, unyielding shield.”

"Hahahaha."

She burst into laughter as she stepped back.

“I would rather die than let you have me.”

A bittersweet smile flickered across her lips; she spread her arms.

Anthony surged forward, stretching out his hand.

“No!”

She fell on her back; her body tumbled down the cliff and plunged into the sea with a violent sound

SPLASH.

The deeper she sank, the quieter the world became. Time seemed to freeze as saltwater filled her lungs and darkness closed in.

Her eyes widened in fear, feeling her breath choke and fade, she muttered an earnest wish.

“If fate could be kinder, if there’s a next life. Let me meet him again, I—”

Her eyes slowly narrowed as her breath finally seized.

Then everything went silent.