Page 49 of The Jaguar's Flower

The jaguar's breath hitched as he turned. His eyes widened as the jaguar stepped forward. “Mica?” Mac’s throat tightened with emotions as he caught his brother’s scent in the air. “How is this possible?”

Mica shrugged with a wide grin. When Mac caught his bright gray eyes, his heart broke as his brother spoke. “Life hasn’t been kind to you.” When Mac turned away, he reached out to grab his arm. “Don’t lie. I can see it in your eyes, brother.”

“I rather not speak about my life, Mica.” Mac sighed. “I am curious how this is all possible. Does this mean you are alive?”

“Nah.” The phantom brother smirked. “Means I am stuck in purgatory. I am not entirely sure what this place is. Honestly, it goes by many names. A nightmarish heaven, the beginning of life, or a purgatory of souls that can’t cross over.” The jaguars gazed around the open space.

“From what I understand, it’s the primordial pool.” Mica continued. They walked around the murky substance. The sounds of dripping water and faint whispers surrounded them. However, they were completely alone in this part of the pool.

“Then am I?”

Mica shook his head. “You are very much alive, but not for long if you remain in the pool. We will need to get you out soon.”

Before Mica walked further away, Mac grabbed his arm. “And what about you? Why are you here, Mica?”

The unscarred jaguar grew solemn. “My path differs from yours. Always has been.” When he smiled, Mac refused to accept it. “I know why I remained here. For a while, I didn’t understand it either. I was meant to see you one last time.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“Sure it does.” Mica smiled. “Mac, I’m going to ask you a few questions, and I want you to be honest. Remember, we can smell a lie.” He chuckled with a finger tap to his nose. When Mac nodded, he continued. “Do you blame yourself?”

Mac froze. When he didn’t answer, Mica continued to ask questions. “Do you hate yourself?” The jaguar turned away. “Don’t walk away, Mac. I asked you to kill me that day. I don’t blame you at all for it. So, why do you?”

“Because I killed you, Mica.” The silence between the brothers grew until it became suffocating. “I never forgave myself. It shouldn’t have happened, but it did, and I must live with that.”

“Did you get tortured? Lose more than you gained? Taken to the back rooms?” Mica asked.

“What’s that got to do with it?”

“I would have been taken to the back rooms, Mac. I wouldn’t have made it two weeks if I killed you instead. Avel would be alone, and whatever leverage we had before the fighting matches would have died.Perfectus miles, Mac, or did you forget?” Mica frowned.

Mac paced. “I didn’t forget.” He ran a hand through his short hair. “I remember everything, down to when you stopped breathing. I can’t get that out of my head, Mica. You died because of me. You’re right, I survived, but I was breaking every minute, and no one knew.”

“No one knew?” Mica raised a brow. “Avel? 009? They didn’t know you were broken inside?”

The jaguar walked away from Mica. He refused to talk about it. When his brother continued to push, Mac relented. “Stop.” Mac thought about Avel. Their brother never blamed him. “Just stop.” The voices in his mind returned.A monster. You are worthless. Nothing will ever be yours! You lose, Mac!

“Is that what you think of yourself?”

Mac glanced at his brother. When Mica’s brows drew together with concern, the jaguar looked away. “I don’t need your pity.”

“No one needs that pain, either. Mac, do you really think you are worthless? A monster?” Mica swallowed. “Is this what happened after my death?”

“How can you hear my thoughts?” Mac ignored the other questions.

“Don’t do that. Don’t change the topic.” Mica sighed. “We need to talk, brother. This can’t go on further.”

Mac inhaled. “At the end of the day, Mica.” He turned to his brother. “I still live, and you are still gone. In what world will I ever be okay? I live with this, and I can’t let it go.”

“You need to.” Mica caught his eyes. “I’m gone, Mac. I am not coming back. Once my soul goes through this place, Mica is gone. I know you don’t want to hear it because I don’t want to admit it. I died, and we need to move on.” Mac noticed the unshed tears in his eyes.

“And what if we can’t?”

“Then I guess I better find someone to make a deal to come back.” He gave a half-hearted chuckle. “If anything like that exists.”

“I’m sorry I killed you, Mica.”

Mica shrugged. “I’m sorry I asked you to kill me.” He smirked. “I thought we had a good plan. It was a good plan, right?”

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