[A/N: Chapter song recommendation: Last One Standing Ft. Polo G, Mozzy, & Eminem]
As the girl continued to rant about how she didn't ask to be saved, Aybel looked at the two for a while, thinking about something:
...As expected, she didn't want to be saved. That's why I figured things would go this way. I suppose I've had more than enough experience dealing with a particular girl like her...
"Dying here won't make an ounce of difference... You two should really learn not to meddle with the lives of others."
Reaching into his pockets, Aybel approached her. "Is that so...? You seem to want to die so badly. Perhaps I should kick you off now."
Caine's smile slowly faded away. He seemed dumbfounded by the words he just heard. "H-Hold on now."
Though he was quick to pick himself back up, giving a sharp look towards Aybel. "Just what the hell are you trying to pull?"
Without taking his eyes off her, Aybel replied: "Her desire was to accept her fate, and we took that from her... It would be best to rectify our mistake."
The blond haired girl looked at him, almost like she was trying to size him up before offering a half-hearted smile in acknowledgement.
"I'll rather walk."
"Can you both hear yourselves? Don't you see how ridiculous this all is!?"
Turning her back on both boys. Her face hadn't changed, it was still expressionless.
"Finally, someone with common sense." She muttered.
"Excuse you?" Caine replied, face turning into a scowl.
Amused, Aybel stared at her without so much as blinking.
Now at the edge of the platform the girl sighed. She glanced down towards the abyss.
Caine froze in disbelief. "...You're not going to actually jump, are you?"
"Mind you're own business." She replied nonchalantly, not even turning to look at him.
"It's quite funny how you think I gave you the option of walking." Aybel said, taking a few steps closer to her.
"Wha-?!"
Turning around to face him, she had been met with a vicious kick to the backside.
Calmly, Aybel looked over the side of the floating platform watching her fall.
He could see the shock, and pain, in her wide open eyes as they met his.
Without knowing what hit her, she disappeared alongside the torrent of bodies into the darkness beneath.
And then, there were two...
"Are you insane!?"
With an angry scowl, Caine rushed forward, grabbing Aybel by the collar. "You can't just go around kicking a lady like that!"
Aybel was absolutely bewildered. "Why not? It's the right thing to do, isn't it?" He asked calmly, unfazed by Caine's grip on his shirt while facing him with his hands in his pockets.
"Right thing to... Did mother forget to teach you manners!?" Caine yelled, his strong grip causing Aybel's body to jerk backwards.
I've never seen him quite this angry before... I know I'm acting dumb. But I'm curious, what does he have to say?
"Calm down, I'm just fixing our earlier mistake. It's only fair, right?"
"Oh, please. Stop with that crap. She was obviously bluffing! The girl had a death wish! You were supposed to call her out on her bluff, why the hell would you actually grant it for her!?"
"Bluffing...?" Aybel tried to process the word before giving a simple shrug. "I don't understand that."
"What? Of course she was bluffing! Use your damn head! For all we know, you just killed her you psychopath!" Caine screamed, his hand beginning to clench even tighter at the fabric of Aybel's shirt.
Aybel didn't appreciate that.
His sharp gaze locked into Caine's. His eyes cold, and emotionless as ever. No remorse of what he had done whatsoever.
"She's not dead... Yet. But to be honest, I couldn't care less if she was. I did exactly as I said I would do. If anything, I'd say it was quite benevolent of me."
Caine scoffed. "Don't joke around... We're on board a floating chandelier in the middle of a bloody death storm. And you're just like, 'well, I simply helped her along.' For crying out loud, where's your tact?"
Why don't you stop with these stupid and useless questions. Aybel wanted to say, but he held back, prepared to give an answer:
"About that... we do have a tendency to be - for the lack of a better word... callous. Just like the man you kicked off earlier. You showed no ounce of remorse... It seems hypocritical now, doesn't it?"
Caine's reply was instant.
"What hypocrisy? The difference is that I'm perfectly aware of the gravity of my actions. I have no moral qualms about kicking someone off just because they don't meet my standards."
"I see, well, that is exactly the kind of hypocrisy I was referring to..."
"Remember the brief moment of empathy you showed for the lady in the wedding gown? I kept thinking: 'how was he capable of it'. But now, seeing your willingness to save this random girl, it all makes sense... your standards along with your empathy seems particularly... selective."
With a sudden jerk, Caine yanked Aybel closer, their faces inches apart.
He balled his empty fist.
The two stared at each other.
To Be Continued...