Part 1935 – Shattered Trust

LM’s head reeled.

Jeff smacked the stake out of Carthage’s hand and launched into his attack.

I don’t understand.

He said.

Carthage ducked a couple of the former hunter’s blows. Only to get a solid punch to the gut.

He said that…that he…

But.

Why would he lie to me?

Carthage doubled over, wheezing for air.

But Jeff didn’t let up. A strange sort of serenity settled on his face as he punched and kicked him.

I should stop this, but.

He lied to me.

I don’t understand why.

Carthage fumbled down to his knees and raised his hands in surrender. “Stop! Stop!”

Jeff stopped, but he stayed in an offensive position. “Get out of here and don’t you ever come back.” He shot a sharp glare at LM. “As for you—”

“Please I.”

“You led him in here. Don’t you dare tell me that you didn’t know what he was up to.”

LM closed his mouth.

“Get out of here. Both of you.”

LM saw no reason to argue the point. He pulled Carthage’s arm around his neck and helped him out of the room.

I understand.

Now, I understand.

Capernaum knew. Somehow he figured it out. Somehow he knew that Carthage was going to do this. That’s why he tried to stop me.

He released Carthage and sat against the wall.

I knew that he was going to do this and I let him sway me into believing otherwise.

He watched the human struggle to regain his breath.

So.

So, I was both right and wrong about him. And now I know the truth. I can’t trust him. He lied to me. How can I ever trust him again?

LM bowed his head. “You no longer deserve my trust.” He fixed his gaze on a small wrinkle on his slacks, but he didn’t try to flatten it. “I don’t know where I’m going to go or what I’m going to do with my life. I only know—” He raised his head. “—-I can’t be with you anymore.”

Carthage sat hard on his bottom. “What? What are you talking about? This was just a minor setback. We can wait until—”

LM stood. His eyes turned white. His magic swirled around his hands in blue flames. “No. You will not go near that girl again.”

Carthage grunted as he rose to his feet. “What are you going to do, LM? Are you going to finish what he started? You going to beat me up? You going to kill me?”

“Neither of us wants to know that answer. Go. Just go away.”

“LM, we are all that we have left of The Institute. It’s just you and me. Stay with me.”

LM’s throat tightened up.

He is all that is left of my home. I have no one else.

But he lied to me.

I can’t trust him.

I will not trust his words again.

“I can’t. Go or I will hurt you.” He raised his hands and the flames turned to a darker shade of blue.

Disappointment crossed Carthage’s face. “I will miss you.” He turned and walked away, leaving LM alone.