Darling Wildfire (Red Rabbit #2)

62

THERON

Atlas dropped to his knees. The devastation and hopelessness on his face was so complete I was already moving towards him as he slowly raised the gun to his head. I watched as the barrel drew even with his temple and his finger gripped the trigger. His eyes landed on me with an apology and the empty look of a man at the end of his rope.

I wouldn’t reach him in time.

Then Nyx was there.

He tackled him to the ground and they rolled through the mud as Nyx fought to gain control of the weapon. He finally pinned Atlas, straddling him as rain pummeled the ground around them. He yanked the gun away from him, quickly unloaded it and threw it out of his reach. Nyx climbed off of him and Atlas staggered to his feet. He turned and came at Nyx, throwing a punch that landed on his jaw. Nyx’s head snapped to the side.

“Do it!”

Nyx hissed, taking a step forward, glaring at Atlas with fire in his eyes.

Atlas hit him twice more and Nyx went down on his knees in the mud.

Blood ran from his lip and his eyes were wild as they looked up at Atlas. He bared his teeth in a bloody grin.

“That’s it—take it out on me!”

He slammed his fists against his chest, trying to provoke Atlas who was pacing in front of him like a wounded animal. Atlas’ chest was heaving, fists clenched at his sides. His hair had come unbound and stuck wildly to his face and neck. They were both covered in mud.

Atlas hit Nyx again.

Preacher stepped forward as though to intervene but I put a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

“Don’t,”

I said quietly.

They both needed this.

Nyx stretched his arms out wide in surrender and Atlas hit him again, sending Nyx backwards into the mud. Atlas fell on top of him, punching him again and again until he realized what he was doing and staggered off him with an appalled look on his face. He went to storm away but Nyx rolled to his knees, supporting himself with an arm as he surged to his feet.

“Don’t walk away from me!”

Nyx demanded hoarsely.

Atlas’ shoulders heaved as he stopped with his back to Nyx, fists clenched tightly at his sides. Nyx got the rest of the way to his feet.

“You think you can just leave us?”

Nyx fumed. “Leave me?”

Atlas whirled around and took a few steps towards Nyx.

“Don’t you get it?”

Atlas scoffed. He threw up his hands. “There is no getting out of this fucking place! I’m done!”

“So what, you’re giving up?”

Blood ran down Nyx’s face from several cuts and the look on his face was deadly. “I didn’t take you for a fucking coward!”

Atlas took another step towards Nyx, his jaw clenched and rage flashed through his eyes in tandem to the lightning going off around us.

“You’re a lot of things, Atlas,”

Nyx continued. “But a coward isn’t one of them.”

Atlas shook his head and went to turn again but Nyx snarled and stepped forward. His hand lashed out and grabbed Atlas by the shirt.

“I said don’t fucking walk away from me,”

he growled. “Don’t let him win goddamn it!”

Atlas whirled on him, his fist flying towards his face but Nyx let his rage get the best of him. He grabbed Atlas, and sent him to his knees. Nyx grabbed a fistful of Atlas’ shirt and yanked him forward as he brought his face close to his, a snarl on his lips and fury in his eyes.

“I am not dying here,”

Nyx said fiercely as he blinked the rain away. He jerked Atlas forward harshly again. “Do you hear me? We’ll get out of this—together—that’s what you said right?”

“I was wrong—”

“Fuck you—”

Nyx snapped as he emphasized each word.

“That’s enough!”

I said, stepping forward finally. “Let him go, Nyx.”

They glared at each other, each of them trying to calm their surging emotions. Nyx shoved Atlas away.

“So your word means nothing then?”

Nyx snapped.

The tension was heavy as the air crackled with electricity. Atlas didn’t speak, the look of blank despair back on his face. Nyx bared his teeth in disappointment and this time it was he who turned away. I saw the anguish and rage on his face as he headed towards the doors leading inside.

I stood where I was, looking out at the rain swept landscape. We were fracturing and I couldn’t do a damn thing about it.