Chapter 64: Natural Selection

The training hall was already alive before Markus entered. The sound of footsteps echoed across the arena.

Gloves struck reinforced targets and crystals scraped against the floor.

Wind moved through the room in short, violent bursts.

Everyone was training again.

Markus walked onto the arena floor and rolled his shoulders.

Ash stood across from him, his mask was already on.

A faint hiss escaped through the filters.

Markus smiled, "Ready?"

Ash raised his hands, "Always."

Victor stood at the edge of the arena, "Begin."

Markus moved first.

Ash inhaled and the first diamond formed.

Markus stepped left. Ash threw the diamond shard. The diamond shot past Markus’s shoulder.

Markus ducked beneath another and Ash created three more.

They spread apart, one went high, one went low and the other one came directly toward Markus.

Markus raised his diamond arm and the diamond struck his forearm as it bounced off.

Markus barely recorded that information, "Again."

Ash inhaled and another wave came. Around them, everyone else continued training.

Blade fought three opponents simultaneously.

Vire moved between them, his blade flashing with every turn.

Kael was working on controlling his movements while Reina was just watching their interactions.

Nobody paid attention to the doors as they opened quietly.

Markus’s mother stepped inside, she smiled at the sight of Markus.

She carried nothing this time, she simply stood near the entrance watching Markus and them train.

Nobody noticed her...it was as if she was a ghost.

She folded her hands together, her eyes stayed on her son.

Markus lunged torwads Ash this time but Ash released his diamond shards as he jumped backwards to create distance.

Markus blocked the attack with his hand. The diamond struck his forearm and instead of shattering, it ricocheted.

Markus didn’t see where it went but Ash did.

His eyes widened as he barked, "Markus!"

The diamond had changed direction. It flew across the arena. Straight toward the entrance.

His mother’s eyes widened as she saw a glowing object rush forwards her.

She turned to the side in an attempt to dodge but she was too slow. The shard struck her.

A small wet chock escaped her throat, she stumbled backward.

The entire arena stopped.

Markus froze his heart hammering in his chest.

Blade stopped mid-step at this scene.

Vire lowered his sword.

The diamond fell to the floor covered in blood.

His mother looked down, her hands moved toward her stomach.

Blood stained her clothes as it only spread further with time.

Markus stared at her for a second. For a second, his mind refused to understand what he was seeing.

"Motheerrr..!" he screamed

She looked up at her son who called for her. Her mouth opened slowly, no words came out.

She coughed.

Markus’s face changed, "Mother!"

He ran towards her in a panic.

Ash tore the mask from his face...the tubes in his chest still collecting diamond shards each time his chest expanded, "No." he mumbled under his breath.

Markus dropped beside her and he caught her before she could fall to the ground.

"Mother!" he said with a sorrowful expression.

She struggled to breathe.

Markus looked at the blood on his hands still spilling from his mother.

His hands began shaking at the sight of it, "No, no, no."

He looked around, "Help!" his voice broke free.

Nobody moved when they heard his acclimation, not because they didn’t want to but because they didn’t know how.

Markus held her tighter, "Someone help her!"

Ash stumbled forward...his face had gone completely pale, "I..."

He looked at the diamond shard that was laced with blood lying on the floor.

His breathing became uneven, "I did that."

Markus looked at him, his eyes flaring.

Ash’s eyes were wide, his breathing increased...more and more, "I did that."

"Get a medic!" Markus barked.

Ash didn’t move as every sound around him was blurred by a high pitch ringing in his ears, "I did that."

"Ash!" Markus said.

Ash didn’t he it, it was covered by his heart beat that was sounding in his ears.

"Ashell!" Markus screamed at the top of his lungs.

"I blocked it."

Markus looked down at his mother, "She was just standing there."

Ash backed away, "I didn’t see her...i promise" he said as flash backs of his father flashed before him.

His breathing became faster, "I didn’t see her."

Markus shouted, "Get help!"

Ash turned toward the door, "MEDIC!" His voice echoed through the hall.

He ran toward the entrance, "Somebody get a medic!"

Markus held his mother tightly, "Stay with me."

She looked at him, her eyes were still conscious, still searching.

Markus’s voice cracked, "Please."

She tried to speak but she coughed blood instead.

Markus shook his head, "No. Don’t talk."

He pressed one hand against her, "Just stay with me."

Her fingers moved until they found his wrist.

Markus grabbed her hand, "I’m here."

She squeezed his wrists weakly.

Markus’s eyes filled with tears, "You’re okay." He said it again, "You’re okay."

He didn’t know if he was saying it to her or himself.

Ash stood near the doorway, he was trembling, his hands were shaking violently, ’i did that to her.’

Blade looked at him, "Ash..."

"I hurt her." he said out loud

"You didn’t mean to."

"It doesn’t matter." Ash responded.

Ash stared at Markus, "If she dies I would have killed his mother."

Markus didn’t respond, he couldn’t. His entire world had narrowed down to the woman in his arms.

His mother looked at him, her breathing becoming weaker with each breath she drew.

Markus shook his head, "No."

He touched her face...it was cold to touch, "Stay awake."

Her eyes slowly focused on him.

Markus forced a smile, "You remember yesterday?"

She blinked once and said weakly, "The cake." A tiny smile appeared on her face.

Markus laughed through his tears, "Yeah."

His voice broke, "The cake."

She tried to breathe once more.

Markus squeezed her hand, "You came into the training hall."

He laughed again with tears falling down his face, "You interrupted everything."

Her eyes softened, "You were so embarrassed."

Markus wiped his face, "You made everyone stop training."

A faint smile appeared on her face, "Even your father."

Markus laughed, "Father shot the cake."

She coughed again, this time it was harsher.

Markus immediately looked frightened, "Don’t."

Her fingers tightened around his.

Markus shook his head in diffiance, "Don’t leave."

The words came out quietly, "Please."

Footsteps echoed from the hallway. Victor entered the room. He stopped mid-step.

His eyes immediately went to the blood, then to his wife, then to Markus.

Markus looked up, "Father!"

Victor walked toward them.

Markus reached toward him, "Help her."

Victor crouched down. He placed two fingers against her neck, he checked her pulse and looked at were she had gotten pierced it was her stomach. Victors hand rummaged around the stabbed part.

His expression didn’t change.

Markus watched his father’s face, "What’s wrong?"

Victor remained silent.

"Father?"

Victor looked at his wife then at Markus.

Markus’s voice became desperate, "Help her!"

Victor slowly stood.

Markus stared at him, "Do something!"

Victor’s face remained cold, "She is going to die either way plud there is no hope for...."

Markus shook his head, "No."

"She is." Victor said.

"No!" Markus held his mother tighter, "She’s going to be fine."

Victor looked at him, "Markus."

"No." Markus’s voice cracked, "You’re Victor Cain."

He gestured desperately, "You can fix this."

Victor said nothing.

"You’ve fixed everything so far...why not this."

His father remained still.

"Do something!" Markus shouted.

Victor looked down at his wife, then he said the words, "Its a part of life son "

Markus stopped breathing for a second.

Victor continued, "It was her time to go."

The room became silent. Markus stared at him, "What?"

Victor didn’t repeat himself.

Markus’s eyes widened. His mother’s hand was still in his, her fingers were becoming weaker.

Markus looked down, "Mother?"

She looked at him, her eyes were fading.

"No." Markus shook his head, "No, no, no."

He pulled her closer, "You’re not going anywhere."

Her breathing became shallow.

Markus pressed his forehead against hers, "Please."

His tears fell onto her face, "Please stay."

She looked at him, for one final moment, her eyes were clear.

She saw her son, not the fighter, not the person Mark 8 had changed.

Not the man who could crystallize another human being with a touch.

Just Markus her son.

Her hand slowly moved, she touched his cheek.

Markus closed his eyes, "Mother..."

Her lips moved, " You would have been a great ol.."

Markus leaned closer, he couldn’t hear her, "What?"

Her fingers slipped. Markus caught her hand, "Mother?"

Nothing.

He looked at her face, "Mom?"

Her eyes remained open but the warmth inside them was gone.

Markus froze, "No."

He shook her gently, "Mother?"

His voice became smaller, "Mom?" He pulled her against his chest, "No."

His arms tightened around her, "No."

Ash stood frozen near the doorway. Tears had begun running down his face.

He looked at his hands, ’ I am the same person that had created the diamonds.

The same hands that had learned to control them.

The same power that was supposed to make me stronger.

Now someone was dead because of it.’

"I did this." he mumbled.

Blade stepped toward him.

Ash backed away, "Don’t."

Blade stopped.

Ash looked at Markus, "I did this."

Markus didn’t look at him. He was still holding his mother.

"I was fighting." His voice shook, "I didn’t see her."

Ash dropped to his knees, "I didn’t see her."

Vire stood silently, Kael lowered his head and Reina just sat still.

Nobody knew what to say.

Markus rocked his mother gently, "You were supposed to come back tomorrow."

His voice cracked, "You were supposed to bother me again."

He laughed once. A broken, empty sound, "You were supposed to bring more cake."

His face collapsed, "You were supposed to tell Father he was being an asshole."

Nothing.

Markus buried his face against her shoulder, "You weren’t supposed to die."

Victor stood behind him.

Markus slowly looked up, his face was wet with tears, "You said it was her time."

Victor looked at him.

Markus stared, "You said it was a part of life."

Victor didn’t respond.

Markus’s hands tightened around his mother.

Victor’s expression remained unchanged, "She was already beyond saving."

"That isn’t what I asked." Markus said.

Victor looked at his son.

Markus’s voice became bitter, "You didn’t even care."

Victor remained silent.

Markus stared at him, something inside him cracked.

Not his body, not his power. Something much deeper, something human.

He looked down at his mother.

She had been the one person who could walk into the training hall without fear.

The one person who could interrupt Victor. The one person who could bring cake into a room filled with weapons and somehow make everyone laugh and now she was gone.

Markus held her tighter.

Ash lowered his head, "I’m sorry."

Markus didn’t answer.

"I’m so sorry." Ash repeated.

Still nothing.

Ash’s voice broke, "I didn’t mean to."

Markus finally looked at him.

Ash flinched.

Markus’s eyes were filled with grief, "I know."

Ash stared at him.

Markus looked back down at his mother, "I know you didn’t."

Ash’s shoulders shook, "But she’s still gone."

Ash closed his eyes.

Markus looked at the blood on his hands. He remembered the first day he had learned what Mark 8 could do.

He remembered being afraid of touching people. He remembered being told that his power could change the human body.

Now he understood something else. Power didn’t need to be evil to destroy something. It only needed one mistake.

One movement, one second and that was enough.

Markus held his mother in silence.

Victor eventually turned away, "Training is suspended."

Nobody moved.

Victor walked toward the exit.

Markus looked at his back, "Father."

Victor stopped.

Markus’s voice was barely audible, "Was that really all you had to say?"

Victor didn’t turn around, "Yes."

Markus stared at him.

Victor walked away. The doors closed behind him.

Markus looked down again, his mother’s face was still. He closed her eyes with his fingers.

Then he held her close.

Outside, morning light continued shining through the windows. The same light that had filled the room when they began training.

The same morning, the same building, the same people but nothing was the same anymore.

Markus’s eyes remained fixed on his mother’s face and his father’s words remained trapped inside his mind.

’It is was a part of life. It was her time to go...it’s as if it was natural selection.’

Markus would remember those words for the rest of his life, not because they were true but because they were the last words his father gave him when the person he loved most was dying in his arms.