Chapter 12 – Now… We Fight!

~ ARWAN ~ I stared at the unconscious figure of Melonie. She was scared to fight until I was thrown to the ground by dark walkers, she looks just like her birth mother, I can only hope she doesn't act like her and end up dying. I picked her up and carried her to her room, with Clara and Arlo following behind. “Is she fine?” Clara asked worriedly. “She must have exhausted her strength. She passed out after transformation," I explained. Arlo nodded in understanding, “It would have been weird if that didn't happen. She literally saved us all.” A warm smile spread across my face. “She saved me.” It took hours before Melonie calmly opened her eyes. “Where am I?” She asked, looking around. A teasing smirk appeared on my face. “In heaven, you died a while ago.” She scoffed out loud, struggling to get up, “Joke's on you.” **🥀** ~ MELONIE ~ I could barely feel myself, my body ached from the fight and overuse of power. “Can you stand?” Arwan asked calmly. I nodded in approval, “Yes. How about the dark walkers?” Arwan inhaled sharply, “You killed two, the rest ran off in fear.” “Do you think we are safe for now?" “No, I think we are in even bigger trouble. Those who ran off would share the gospel of you being alive and here. We are in more danger not only with the dark walkers but many more, including your father. I'm sure he has heard the news.” “Ohh,” I responded shortly. Arwan looked at me with a gentle grin, “Why did you save me, Melonie?” he asked calmly, “You knew the risks.” “Because I like you,” I retorted. He gawked at me, anxious, “Sorry?” I stared back at him with a serious face, “I said I love you.” His expression turned intense. “You are joking, right?” “Yes, I'm joking.” I voiced out, laughing sarcastically to ease the awkward situation, “It's just… if you had died, you would have died for nothing. Those dark walkers would still attack the building after they had killed you. I can't watch everyone die, and I simply started with you.” The soft grin on his face vanished, and he stood up to leave. “Ohh, okay.” Arwan walked out of the room to address the people while Arlo walked in with a laughing face. “Hey baby girl… You good?” Arlo's happy voice echoed out. I sent him a smirk, “Hey.” “Wow, you are glowing,” he teased, “You should use that power more.” “Just get out, man,” I retorted, throwing the blanket at him while he laughed out, unbothered. I walked towards the sitting room, everyone concentrated on Arwan as he gave an announcement. “As you all know, the fight has just started. Melonie saved us all today, and I seemed to grasp their weakness from the last fight. You all should thank Melonie for saving you,” Arwan declared. Murmurs drove through the crowd, and for once, I felt useful and protective. Their eyes, once filled with fear, now changed into admiration as their applause vibrated through the building. “Fire!” Arwan yelled out. “They are beings that can blend into the Shadows so fire gets them open to sight. I plead with you all to work on your lycanthropic abilities. As a soldier, if you have issues with mastering your lycanthropic abilities, pick a partner who has no issues and work together. Enough of being scared, now… we stand and fight! Let's work together — those of you in this building can leave for your different rooms since this case is settled. But don't get relaxed, they are coming back, with even more force.” “Training and attendance should be taken more seriously from now on. Anyone who misses training should be ready to face the consequences,” Arwan added. Arlo came closer and whispered in my ear, “Would you like to be my fighting partner?” “Fuck, bro!” I staggered in fear. “What do you want now, Arlo?” “You, I mean… I am an Apex predator. I am different from you all,” He blurted out, “I have zero fire skills, so I'd be killed by that thing.” “Okay, so?” I retorted uninterestedly. “Okay, so?” He asked and scoffed, “Did your sudden misuse of power also affect your eardrums? Didn't you hear the announcement? Okay, I'll tell you. Arwan announced that if you have issues with your lycanthropic abilities, you should work with someone who doesn't. I don't even have a lycanthropic ability — so I need a partner.” “Well — there's Clara.” I retorted, walking towards Arwan. “Hi,” I called, and he stared at me. “I'm sorry about what happened earlier. I was joking about it.” He sent me an innocent face, “Earlier, what?” “You know — The I love you thing,” I explained. He paused, “That's irrelevant. If you divert this energy into training, you'll become unstoppable." My face turned sour, "If it's irrelevant, why is he pissed about it?" Arlo also chased after me, “Melonie, please…” I snapped my head back furiously, “What now?” “Yoo, why are you yelling at me? I only need you as my fighting partner,” Arlo cried out desperately. “But I already told you no,” I responded calmly. He thought about it for a while, “Exactly, why would you tell me no?” “Because she has to be with me,” Arwan interrupted. “Don't tell me…” Arlo rolled his eyes, “You have a great and wonderful Lycanthropic ability and a very adorable fighting skill. There's nothing you don't have, so what else do you want, man?” “Her,” Arwan responded shortly. Arlo sent us a suspicious gaze, “Are you two…” “God no!” Arwan defended promptly. “I need to keep her safe, that's all. She might pass out again, I'll protect her.” Arlo still wasn't satisfied with the excuse, “But I can do all that.” “No, you can't,” Arwan explained, laughing awkwardly. “If she passes out in the middle of a fight, how would you protect her from what you cannot see? Exactly, you both would end up dying. Go to Clara.” Arwan turned towards me, “Training starts tomorrow, you should take some rest before dawn,” he stated, and I nodded in understanding. Arlo looked at our disappearing figure in frustration, “I thought everyone liked me?” I laughed out mockingly, "You were definitely wrong, man."