HA\LF: Dead nor Alive

Everyone was staring at Ruby and Eve silently while Ruby looked at her sword shattered into pieces. She looked so angry but knowing she wouldn’t be able to win against Eve made her irritated.

“You know the risk, but you took it anyway,” Eve said while she leaned on the chair. “Don’t blame me for your recklessness,” she continued.

“I should’ve killed you back then,” Ruby mumbled as she gritted her teeth.

Vincent grabbed Ruby and pulled her off of the table. “That’s enough, Bub, we are no match for her, and don’t dwell on the past,” he said calmly. “She’s here because of Archie, that alone is enough for both of us to not meddle with their affair,” he continued as he tried to calm him down.

“Good evening,” A man in his mid forty with his shining black hair and muscular body came inside the room. He looked at the mess on the table and saw the pieces of a sword on it. “What’s going on here? Did something happen?” he asked.

Faye stood up and gave him a salutation. “Evening, Marshall Gard,” she said and everyone immediately stood up except for Eve who stayed in her seat. “Nothing to be worried about, sir,” she continued as she kept looking at Gard.

“Is that so? It seems there’s a quarrel between Ruby and that lady over there by the look of her gaze,” Gard said as he sat down and looked at both of them. “Looking at this makes me remember the old times. Anyway, if you have other business with each other, I request you to do it later and outside. For now, I want to congratulate you all for passing the tests,” he continued as he rested his arms on the chair.

“You all can sit, just make yourself comfortable,” Gard said as he pointed at the chair. All of them sat down and looked at him. “I’m not going to take your time so I will keep it short and simple,” he continued.

“Congratulation and welcome to the Valor special force, I have done some research with all the candidates. The only ones that I have no information on were Archie Lancaster and Eve, you both came from the Eastern Nation with Ruby and Vincent, correct?” Gard said as he looked at Archie and Eve.

“No, I came from the Western Nation and then ended up in the Eastern Nation. For her, I’m not sure,” Archie answered.

“I have been in many places but I’m not from around here,” Eve answered.

Gard raised his eyebrows a bit confused. “I see, but that’s not necessary to tell me your background since it’s not important,” he said.

“Faye, you have finally found your match. These people over here, I want you to put them in the main team with you so you can immediately go out there and find more information about the parasite around the world,” Gard said.

“Yes, I have thought about it and I’m planning to bring them to the main team,” Faye answered as she nodded her head.

“Alright, you all have become the first division of the Valor special force. Your existence is already above the others but that doesn’t mean you can use it for whatever you like, be responsible,” Gard said as he looked at them. “That’s it from me, and I will see you guys around. Everyone is dismissed,” he continued as he stood up and then left the room.

“Alright, you all can get some rest in the barrack. Tomorrow will be a long day because there are so many things that need to be done before you can officially become a part of the Valor special force. You guys can leave,” Faye said and looked at them.

Ruby and Vincent were the ones to leave the room after Ruby collected all the pieces of her sword.

“You know your way back to the barrack, right? Can you show Nova the way? I still have an important matter that needs to be done,” Faye asked as she looked at Archie and Eve.

“We know, we will bring her there,” Archie answered.

“Alright, I will see you all tomorrow morning. Good night,” Faye said and then left the room.

The three of them went back to the barrack, Nova put all her belongings on the floor while she looked at how spacious the barrack was. She already tagged one of the beds for herself and then she went to the other room to take a shower.

“Oh? It seems that we are not the only ones who are going to live here,” Eve said as she stared at Ruby and Vincent who just entered the barrack.

“Archie, what’s the meaning of this?! Can you explain it to me?” Ruby asked.

Archie explained to both of them about his encounter with Eve. He didn’t tell the details since they already knew the whole truth about her existence.

“So you let her next to you even though she could kill you anytime?” Ruby asked with disbelief.

“Yes but it’s not that simple and for now, she said that she won’t kill me because she just wants to stay by my side,” Archie answered and looked at Eve who says on the bed.

“And you believe her words that easily, Archie?” Vincent asked with a weird look on his face.

“I don’t at first until she told me she couldn’t lie to me because if she lied, she will be punished by them,” Archie answered.

“Prove it,” Ruby said as she glared at Eve.

“Ask me,” Eve said as she looked at Archie.

Archie looked at Eve for quite a while to think of a question that he wanted to ask.

“Have you ever thought about killing me?” Archie asked as she stared at Eve.

“No, never,” Eve said and they knew that it could be a lie.

Eve started to breathe heavily and her face turned red as if she was being burned. She fell to her knees and immediately coughed blood they could see the black blood on the ground and it was steaming hot.

The three of them looked at Eve with disbelief and shock at the same time. She collapsed and her eyes went red, and her nose started to bleed which made Archie feel a bit guilty for asking her to tell a lie.

Archie ran and immediately put Eve in his arms. “Are you okay? Eve?!” He asked with a bit of panicking in his voice.

Eve couldn’t say or do anything as her body started to get hot. It went like that for almost a whole five minutes Ruby had to stand in the next room to prevent Nova from coming in.

“Do you believe me now,” Eve asked weakly with a smile on her face while she stared Archie in the eyes? “Even though I lied, right now I have no thoughts of killing you or doing you any harm. I just want to be by your side and live in the world that you’re living in,” she explained as she closed her eyes and then fell asleep.

“That should be enough, right?” Archie asked as she stared at Ruby from the corner of his eyes.

“Yes, that would be enough,” Ruby said as she looked at Eve’s body was steaming. “I will clean the mess,” she continued as she grabbed a towel from the other room.

“Sorry about all that, I never thought that something like that would happen to her,” Ruby said as she cleaned the blood and she could feel the black blood on the floor boiling.

“It’s called a divine punishment, that’s what she told me. I believe no matter how strong she is, she won’t be able to escape from her fate like Eve who will have to serve Adam. If you were in her shoes, would you rebel and do whatever you want until you had your fun or would you obey them and do as they said?” Archie asked as he stared at Ruby.

“I don’t know but I started to understand why she’s like that,” Ruby answered. “I guess there’s no such a thing as right and wrong when you’re in her shoes,” she continued as she looked at the white towel that became black.

“Yes, we never know because we are not in her shoes. I think it’s better to let her do what she wants as long as she’s not trying to hurt someone. It’s also better if you don’t do that again because it will only raise suspicion to those who are paying attention to her,” Archie replied as he looked at Eve.

“I will apologize to her tomorrow when she wakes up,” Ruby said. “Let’s get some rest,” she said as she looked at Archie, and he nodded in agreement.

Nova came back and looked at Ruby and Vincent. “Oh?! You guys are here as well?” She asked in excitement. “I’m not going to lie, but I like what I’m seeing right now,” she continued as she looked at Eve sleeping with Archie sitting next to her while Ruby and Vincent shared the same bed.