In a dim room, a figure lay on the bed in deep sleep, the stillness of the night only interrupted by the faint creak of the window as it slowly slid open. A shadow slipped in unnoticed, silent as death.
The intruder's presence radiated pure, seething anger as he glared at the figure on the bed, his breathing uneven with suppressed rage.
"It's because of you! If you hadn't interfered, I wouldn't have been busted. He angrily whispered. "I won't spare you," he spat venomously, pulling a dagger from his cloak. His movements were sharp, each one fueled by resentment.
The bed dipped slightly under his weight as he climbed onto it, his knees bracketing the sleeping figure in a straddling position. With the dagger raised high, he prepared to plunge it down. However, the figure on the bed startled awake, his reflexes sharp as he caught the intruder's wrist in midair.
"The fuck!. Who the fuck are you?" he demanded, his voice thick with confusion and irritation as he strained against the intruder's grip. The dim light prevented him from seeing the man's face, concealed beneath a hooded cloak.
"I'm going to kill you," the hooded figure growled, his tone brimming with malice. He pushed against the resistance, determined to drive the blade down. Yet, the man in bed held firm, his strength preventing the fatal strike and recognition dawned in his eyes as he heard the voice.
"Ortho?!" he exclaimed, mustering all his strength to shove the hooded figure back, yanking the hood down to reveal the assailant's face.
"Yes, it's me, Jordan. And I won't spare you today. You ruined all my plans. Because of you, Dark Water has fallen!" Ortho's voice was laced with bitterness as he lunged forward again, the dagger still clutched tightly in his hand. Jordan, quick to react, dodged the attack and reversed their positions, pinning Ortho to the bed.
"Let me go! Leave me! I won't spare you!" Ortho shouted, thrashing beneath him, his anger flaring wildly.
"Hey. Hey!" Jordan yelled, trying to command Ortho's attention to him.
"Look at the state you're in," Jordan said, his voice firm yet tinged with concern. "You're covered in wounds. Shouldn't you be tending to that first instead of wanting to kill me?"
"Are you kidding me? Acting like you care?" Ortho spat, his words dripping with sarcasm. "Get the fuck off me! If you hadn't spied on me, I wouldn't be in this mess. I wouldn't have lost my home, my boss, my clan, and become a nobody because of your meddling... Argh! Get the fuck off me!" He thrashed harder, but Jordan didn't relent.
"I did what I had to because you would've killed Dave or Kelvin. Did you seriously think I'd just sit back and let you ruin them? You could've been so much more instead of destroying lives," Jordan countered, his voice steady yet laced with disappointment.
"You think you're some kind of hero now?" Ortho scoffed bitterly. "Me doing my job—ruining lives—is none of your business. I don't remember asking for your interference. This was Kelvin's fight, and you should've let him handle it. I was this close—this close—to becoming a commander. You ruined it. You ruined everything!" His voice cracked with anguish and fury.
"So you expect me to stand by and let you continue after I uncovered the truth?" Jordan asked, his expression softening slightly. "What kind of friend would I be? Maybe you should see this as a second chance, a sign to turn over a new leaf."
"Turn a new leaf? Spare me the sermon, Jordan!" Ortho snapped, his glare icy. "Just surrender already and let me kill you in peace."
Jordan laughed, a short, dry chuckle. "Kill me? You've lost your powers, right?" he taunted, his gaze steady.
"So? That doesn't change anything. I'm still stronger than you," Ortho retorted, his pride refusing to waver.
"Really?" Jordan smirked, shifting his grip to pin Ortho's hands with one of his own. He pressed his free hand against a wound on Ortho's lap, making him wince in pain.
"Stop it! Don't fucking touch me!" Ortho yelled, his struggles weakening as the pain coursed through him.
"I'm not touching you," Jordan said mockingly. "I'm just reminding you who has the upper hand here."
"You bastard! If not for what happened, do you think you could even stand beside me, let alone overpower me? This is all just—"
"Because you lost your powers, right?" Jordan interrupted, finishing his sentence. "But that's the past. Right now, you're powerless. And do you know what you should be doing? You should be begging me, on your knees to spare your life. If I wanted to end you, I could, and no one would question me."
Jordan leaned closer, his tone soft yet firm. "So act like the good boy you need to be and accept the little hospitality I'm offering. Right now, you can't even touch a strand of my hair talk less of killing me."
Ortho glared at him, his jaw tightening in frustration. He turned his face away, unwilling to admit the truth in Jordan's words. His wounds had drained him, and his strength was a mere shadow of what it once was.
If he hadn't fled Dark Water that night, he'd likely be dead by now. Kelvin had slaughtered Arthur, so who was he to believe he'd be spared? For now, the best option was to accept Jordan's begrudging offer and keep a low profile. If Kelvin discovered he was alive, death would be certain.
"Hey!" Jordan called, drawing Ortho's reluctant gaze. "You should take my advice. You're no longer the predator; you're the prey. Stay here, let me patch you up, and then I'll decide what to do with you," he said, finally releasing Ortho's hands and moving off him.
"You literally just jumped into my room to ruin my peaceful sleep. I doubt I can get back to sleep now," Jordan muttered, shaking his head.
Ortho rolled his eyes in irritation. How could the person responsible for his downfall sleep peacefully? If he had to stay here, he'd ensure Jordan's life became a nightmare.
As Ortho lay back, his wounds aching and his pride shattered, one thought burned in his mind: if Jordan wanted to play savior, he'd show him the cost.