Chapter 44: Demise

                                    

                                          
"Give her back!" Levi screamed, being the closest one to Violet. He was one who stood in front of the rest, wearing an expression of absolute hatred, his gaze like knives, knuckles white, fingers coiled tightly around his blades. "You damn bitch, you—"
                          
Violet cut him off by tugging on Chi's hair, drawing a small yelp from her. "Talk a bit longer, why don't you? Let's see what will happen to your friends when you do."
                          
"Unhand me, you fiend!" Chi spat, doing everything in her power to loosen the woman's grasp, but every time she scratched Violet or struck at her, it was futile. Her strikes ricochetted and resulted in sore knuckles.
                          
"Fiend?" Violet repeated, throwing her head back in laughter. "You're the one calling me a fiend? Look at yourself! Your pupils are like that of an animal's. Your eyes show the color of fool's gold. You regrow your limbs like a titan, and you've the audacity to call me a fiend?" The woman shook, cackling. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!"
                          
"Screw—you!" Clare choked, pounding her fist against the woman's wrist. "You'll n—never win, you bastard!"
                          
"Shut up, little girl," Violet smirked, her fingers tightening around Clare's windpipe. The girl was barely able to cry out before she was cut off, her eyes widening in shock. Her face began to pale; if Chi didn't do something soon, she would lose a dear friend.
                          
"Why do you even try?" Violet asked the crowd, tilting her head sympathetically. "You think you can take out your enemy with guerilla warfare? Why do you stand so, even when you know it is all for naught? All of your efforts are nothing but an utter waste... and I truly, truly hate to see such talent get wasted."
                          
"It's because we have people we want to see again!" Chi exploded, her voice carrying over the army of comrades. "We have people we care for! It's that passion and hope that drives us on!"
                          
"Wrong answer," Violet tittered, but her smirk was gone now. She twisted her wrist, tightening her hold on Chi's hair. She cried out in pain. "It's because you're all fools. You're all complete and utter morons, believing in nothing but mere fallacies! It's outrageous; you're driven by nothing but hallucinations."
                          
"No!" Chi roared, fighting back against Violet's hold. "I won't lie; it isn't only because of love and friendship that I fight. It's also because of hate—I'll admit that I am driven by hatred. My hatred for all of you FADE bastards, the people who slaughtered my family, and allowed that onslaught to kill so many people! I will avenge my friends! By the end of this battle, I will avenge those who have fallen to the wretched titans!"
                          
"Absurd!" Violet screeched, glowering with malice etched into every inch of her perfect face. Chi stiffened when the tone of her voice melted into one she recognized. It became velvety and soft, its texture like swirled honey. "You, there. Levi, darling. Why don't you raise your blades against this monster? She is composed of the very predators that plague this earth—so come, and kill Subject Cero. Reduce her to nothingness. That is an order."
                          
Chi's mouth fell agape when the shade of Levi's irises seemed to darken, morphing into a deep cement color as his stature fell limp, then went rigid again, one hand gripping a sword. His movements were robotic as he slowly stepped forward, his face blank. Chi had forgotten about Violet's ability to move anyone to do what she wanted.
                          
"No!" Chi screamed, thrashing against Violet's hold. "Levi, don't listen to her! You're being tricked!" Levi froze for a brief moment, clarity dawning upon his face, but it reverted back to that same still expression.
                          
"I want the entire lot of you to laugh as you watch the demise of two lovers!" Violet demanded, the faces of the army falling blank before being replaced with forced smiles. Violet was gaining the advantage... but Chi refused to give up now.