June closed her eyes as Ulrich's finger descended. Beg. She should beg. No matter how much she hated him.
"Wait! I'll—"
Something tugged at her violently and a heavy thud echoed. She cracked open her eyes apprehensively, then her fear evaporated completely.
Horus.
There in all his glory. Unscathed like he hadn't just fought two of the best killers in their generation.
She hoped he'd be angry for her. Enough to murder that crazy bastard Ulrich. But she shook those thoughts away.
"Thanks for coming."
Horus' eyes resembled celestial colors only meant to be seen by the deserving. Normally she'd think he was just studying her, but she understood his expressions now.
Ever since she felt that lightning in her veins.
He was worried. Horus Twilight was actually worried about her. Maybe pigs would fly tomorrow.
"Are you okay?" Horus asked, before cursing. "What am I saying, of course you aren't."
June shrugged eyes fixed on the pyschotic killer. Horus had thrown him onto the dining table, eviserating the strong mahogany that survived the fucking roof that just fell on it.
And yet Ulrich was still rising to his feet.
Steeling monsters.
"Where's Shiv and Randall," Ulrich asked nonchantly. The injuries on his face and the crimson blood made June sick. She did that?
"They're dead." Horus stated like it was nothing.
Silence choked both June and Ulrich. It couldn't be. She looked up to Horus' face hoping to read his expressions again.
But he seemed resolute.
Ulrich was frozen, black eyes wide with disbelief. "N-no, you wouldn't—"
"They were too hard to beat. So i drew my sword."
Ulrich lowered his head, his long white hair falling over his face for a moment of acceptance.
Or that was what June thought.
Ulrich suddenly exploded forward, screaming bloody murder. He exchanged blows with Horus so fast that June fliched and slid back.
The two monsters chained attacks so casually that it all felt like one smooth motion. Horus moved so gracefully he looked less like he was fighting and more like he was playing a game.
But Ulrich seemed to be a better fighter with just their hands. Their moves read like the rhythm of a song and Ulrich was the drums.
Why isn't Horus using his sword?
He was the best swordsman in their generation. What he did when he was fourteen years old proved he might even be better than Twilight's seasoned swordsmen.
Wait… Was that why I couldn't read his expression that time? Because he was purposely hiding it.
Because he lied. He didn't kill Randall or Shiv.
She suddenly understood Horus' intentions and the fight's rhythm looked far different.
Yes, Ulrich was the drum, his open palm strikes split the very air with their force, he leapt off the walls and threw dazzling spinning kicks, and he was roaring the whole time.
But Horus was the conductor, he was leading Ulrich with minimal moves, waiting.
Until he finally struck.
One of Ulrich's swinging kicks got caught on the walls of the dilapidated house.
Horus' fist shot forward without delay. Ulrich tried to block the blow in front of his jaw, but then Horus' fist phased through his guard.
Both June and Ulrich gaped. What the hell?
The fist rocked Ulrich jaw, and in quick succesion, Horus threw two more punches that slumped Ulrich completely.
The fight lasted only thirty seconds.
And as if nothing happened, he walked to June and lifted her off the ground. Her shock didn't let the feeling of his strong hands on her waist register.
"We have to move," He said, pulling her out the house.
Shaking off her shock, she remembered. "I have something."
He turned to her as she pulled out car keys, eyebrows raising. "How'd you afford a car?"
I could have worked for it, dummy.
But she dismissed her affronted feelings. "As you already guessed, I'm too poor for all that. I stole this from Ulrich when we were upstairs."
Horus was taken back by this. "Um… quick hands."
They found Ulrich's grey, sleek jeep parked outside. June threw Horus the keys.
"I don't know how to drive."
She regretted that.
They were off soon after, zooming through the streets far too quickly. Jane swallowed, her stomach felt like it was trying to climb up her throat.
"So we meet at the Lightning tree?" June reiterated. "That won't be easy. Soldiers will be roaming to find people avoiding the broadcast."
She wasn't really the stealthiest or fastest person. System knows she couldn't run for more than a couple seconds. Escaping soldiers would be impossible.
"This is the first time a Lord Selection has happened in fifty years," Horus clarified, swerving down a corner so hard June almost flew out of the car.
"The highest echelons of command will be checked first. The system is most likely to choose them as lords. Then soldiers and Slayers will be checked. The chain of command is broken, and the warriors are scattered. As long as we aren't revealed, we can reach the border… probably."
June hurriedly clipped her seat belt, but nodded with wide eyes. "Um, y-yeah, cool. What about your friends? I'm glad you didn't kill them, but they could report you."
"Destroyed their phones, but they can still send messages with the system. It'll take a while for anyone to accept friend requests."
"We still have to get Wally and some supplies. That's enough time," she countered worriedly.
Horus turned to her—Keep your eyes on the steeling road!—he shrugged a little.
"I don't think they'll report me."
June couldn't argue with that, and she certainly wasn't advising him to kill his friends, but the paranoia monster in her chest was unbearable.
"They have their delusions about why i'm doing this," Horus murmured. "But they're still my oldest friends."
June stared into his fluttering black hair, his eyes were back on the road, and they looked sure as concrete.
She bit her lip and nodded. Her paranoia monster had the dignity to shut up.