Page 113 of Once A Villain

“One more climb,” I say.

Lucas groans, shaking his head. “I’m done. My arms are wrecked.”

He’ll follow me. He always does.

“Don’t be a pussy.” I nudge him.

This cliff—this climb—it’s more than just a game. It’s freedom. It’s escape. Every second we climb is another where his belt doesn’t hit, where we don’t have to be perfect soldiers.

“I’m not scared.”

“Then prove it.” My smirk hides the desperation threatening to choke me. I need this. I need to feel the rush again, to feel something other than the endless pounding of fists.

“Axe, come on. Let’s just go back to Griff’s house.” His voice wavers, and I hate hearing that crack in it. I hate how it makes me feel.

“One more.” I’m already moving toward the edge, adrenaline surging as I glance down. The rocks below look sharper in the dark. But I shove the fear away. Fear is weakness. That’s what he always said. You don’t survive by running—you survive by pushing through it, by taking what you want, no matter the cost.

“Don’t be stupid!” Lucas yells, but I’m already descending, blood slicking my hands from earlier scrapes.

Each step feels more dangerous, but I don’t slow down. I can’t.

“It’s too dangerous!” His voice trembles, louder now, panic starting to creep in.

“It’s fine!” I snap, pushing myself faster, trying to drown out his fear, trying to drown out my own.

I reach for a handhold, but my bloody fingers slip, sending me stumbling.

“Axe, stop!”

“Shut up!” I bark, teeth gritted, angry—angry at him, at myself, at the whole fucking world. But then I hear it—his scream—cutting through everything. My heart stops.

I whip my head up just in time to see Lucas lose his grip, his body falling, plunging toward the rocks.

“No! Lucas!” His body slams against the jagged rocks below with a sickening crack.

This isn’t happening.

I scramble down the cliff. Everything blurs—rocks, water, sky—until all I see is him, broken and motionless, the waves already dragging him under.

“Lucas!” I dive into the freezing water, the cold seizing my muscles, but I don’t care. I fight against the tide, against the pain ripping through me.

His body floats, lifeless, his eyes dull, his mouth slack. “No, no, no.”

I grab him, dragging his limp body to the shore and collapsing onto the sand. My hands shake as I pound on his chest, desperate to force him back to life.

“Come on, Lucas! Don’t do this! You can’t fucking leave me!” I scream, voice cracking and eyes blurring with tears—but he doesn’t respond. I press my ear to his chest—nothing.

In the distance, Zeus barks, a hollow sound swallowed by the endless roar of the ocean.

“Help! Someone, help!”

No one’s coming. It’s just me. Alone.

I pound his chest again, over and over, but it’s no use.

“I’m so sorry, Lucas. I’m so fucking sorry,” I sob, cradling his body, tears streaming down my face.

I killed him. My best friend. My brother. Gone. And it’s all my fault.

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