The cold sensation of a blade of a razor on his neck awoke Lilo.
He was not startled, he barely moved. But a flutter of his eyelids was all Chalant needed to see to know Lilo was awake.
"I have questions." Soda's menacing older brother had Lilo pinned, and although Lilo had not opened his eyes yet, he deduced the dangerous predicament he was in through what he felt around him.
Chalant's weight was heavy on his chest and the sharp blade was nearly digging through his skin. This was not out of character for the sinister older brother, but Lilo had hoped this moment of confrontation between his malicious roommate would not happen so soon.
But of course he would have questions. There were too many things to be suspicious of.
His brother whom he had attempted to kill was not only miraculously alive, but also seemingly a totally different person than what Chalant knew.
Soda had been a prodigy, a favorite of their mother, but had nothing of merit to show for it other than a vision his mother received from the gods.
He was timid, weak, gullible, and a victim to Chalant's antics as a child. Not until recently did Soda have enough courage to speak for himself and develop a witty character of his own.
For the longest time he was set apart on a pedistool but with no legs under him to support the favoritism he received... and when Chalant deviously pulled that stool from under him, nobody hesitated to stomp Soda into the dirt.
To see such a frail and easily manipulated little brother transform into the warrior that Lilo was... was unnerving for Chalant to witness.
It threatened his fragile existence in the spire of peace and all of his anxiety led to this moment.
"Speak up bitch." Lilo spoke in a calm and even tone, making sure not to make any sudden movements or press the razor into his neck.
Even while Lilo was being helplessly held down, he could read that Chalant was nervous. Lilo was a Craver, he was not afraid of a blade slicing his throat; and he was certainly not afraid of his cowardly roomate.
"You... you've changed. No. You're different. Somethings... off about you." Chalant's deep voice shook as his sweaty palms trembled.
"Okay. And?" Lilo was thinking of what to do next.
Should he beat the shit out of him like he had promised Soda?
Should he negate and discharge the situation and resume on his journey to letting Chalant's guard down?
No. It was too late for that. It was time to set the record strait.
"E-explain yourself!" Chalant grew more and more anxious; accidentally nicking Lilo's neck in the process of speaking, causing a single drop of blood to trickle down the blade.
"You can fight now? And you're close friends with the most powerful cohort of shepherds? You should be dead! I saw you get buried alive. You're a craver! You could turn into a glutton any second and put everyone here in danger!" Chalant wasn't even attempting to keep his voice down now.
Lilo's hand reached for Chalant's crotch and in the next instant he squeezed the most vital male organ with all his might; causing Chalant to cry out in pain while having his neck sliced open immediately following the retaliating blow.
He had long blocked his pain receptors so the moment of the blade cutting into his neck did not catch him off guard. He also stopped the bleeding immediately, allowing the wound to heal itself.
But most importantly, he never let go of his evil roommate's pain. Like a nutcracker, with all the memories of Soda's traumatic past rushing into his mind, he crushed his target with all his might.
The guttural moan that escaped Soda's malicious older brother was brutal to listen to, but it was like a melodious song of angel's to Lilo's ears.
"Not enough. More pain." Soda's voice was oddly full of murderous wrath.
Lilo was reluctant, but barely. He knew of Chalant's true intent. There was merit to Soda's distain, and Lilo shared that interest.
As his neck completely healed from the lethal slice, Chalant's eyes grew wide from witnessing the miraculous ability.
A crooked grin grew on Lilo's lips and he picked up the dagger that Chalant had held up to his throat just moments ago.
A gust of wind blew open the windows, and sunlight spilled into the room, painting the atmosphere red with the dawning of the crescent suns.
"Do you remember how our spire fell?" Lilo's voice was cold and stern.
Chalant was still clutching his crotch, in a fetal position on the ground as Lilo let go of his death grip.
He looked up at his younger brother and shook his head with tears brimming his eyes.
"Do you remember the kids who hung to your ever word? The mass genocide you incited? The heartless betrayal of my trust? How you forced me to drink poison and turned me into a monster before our own parent's eyes?" Lilo took a heavy step towards Soda's brother and knelt to meet his eyes level.
There was fear written all over the cowards face and a reflection of his true character in his eyes.
"Gods... It really is you. How? I thought you were different... someone - no - something else!" Chalant's voice creaked as the pain in his jewels still remained.
"We are." Lilo held the dagger up to Chalant's throat, causing his evil brother to remain deathly still. "We are different."
Lilo slapped Chalant across the face with the flat slide of the blade, causing a bruise to immediately swell up.
"We aren't a coward."
Another brutal slap.
"We aren't manipulative."
Another savage slap.
"We aren't jealous."
Another cruel slap.
"We aren't psychotic."
A final vicious slap across the face of his evil brother made blood splatter from his swollen cheek, opening up a cut from the sheer impact of the flat hard surface of the metal blade.
Both sides of Chalant's face were purple and puffy, and his face was unrecognizable except for his steady malicious eyes.
He spat out teeth and swallowed a raspy breath.
Everything was hazy and his consciousness dipped in and out like a strobe. He felt as if he was in a paralyzing nightmare, unable to escape the pain and yearning to go back to the comfort of being unconscious.
The cold sensation of a blade of a razor on his neck brought Chalant back to his senses.
He was not startled, he barely moved. But a flutter of his eyelids was all Lilo needed to see to know Chalant was present in the moment.
"I only have one question." Lilo tilted his head as he leaned in close to his barely breathing brother.
"Why shouldn't I just kill you right now." His voice showed no sign of humor or falsehood.
"You should. DO IT!" Soda's voice was desperate, as if wanting this release of emotions like an insatiable desire.
Through raspy breaths and the wheezing of broken teeth, Chalant's voice came out in a chilling tone.
"You... are... different" A devious smile littered with bloody teeth spread across his evil brother's face. "You aren't evil. You aren't a murderer... That's why you aren't going to kill me."
Heart beats passed in silence. Lilo's hand trembled and his mind wrestled the thought of ending it here...
But he was right. Lilo was not a murderer. He never was and he was not one in this moment either.
Lilo lowered the blade and allowed his roommate to slump onto the floor.
The small room that was once covered in the red light of the rising sun was now flooded with the golden radiance of the full might of the suns... but the walls still remained stained red with the glistening liquid of is wounded brother.
A shadow grew from his window, and an outline of a curvy figure was cast onto the walls.
"Hey kiddo." A muffled voice came from the source of the casted shadow.
Lilo turned to face a pair of large round dark eyes. She wore her muzzle today and her cloak of colorful glutton leather was draped over her skin tight bubble gum suit.
"Tactics class was canceled. We have an emergency in the outskirts. Even the cadet herders are called to have an early field day. They need everyone available." She explained with an aloof tone.
She didn't even glance at the violent scene he had made in his room. Not a brow or question was raised. Instead she simply motioned out of his three story high window.
"Come. Follow me. I'll lead you to our cohort's shepherd." With those parting words she hopped off the windowsill, leaving no time for Lilo to have closure with his badly beaten brother.