Apocalyse: Marked by Chaos-Chapter 45 - The Fortress

As the fortress gates loomed in the distance, Olivia's heart pounded with a mix of anticipation and unease. The towering walls, lined with sentries, stood as an imposing reminder of the reality she had been forced to return to.

Klaus walked beside her, his hands lazily tucked into his pockets, his presence as overwhelming as ever. The elite squad followed closely behind, their silence heavy. Olivia's mind, however, was elsewhere—on Diana and the others.

She had spent the entire trek back debating how to escape. But Klaus was smart, too smart, and with him constantly watching her like a predator, any reckless move could cost her more than just her freedom.

As they approached the entrance, a commotion ahead caught her attention. The heavy gates, reinforced with steel and runes, groaned open just as another squad arrived—dragging along a group of battered figures.

Her breath hitched.

"Diana...?"

Her voice was barely above a whisper, but her legs moved on their own. She pushed past the soldiers, her heart racing as she recognized the familiar faces among the captives.

Diana, Tyler, and two other survivors from their team stood there, restrained and disheveled, their faces filled with exhaustion and barely concealed defiance. Diana's usually sharp gaze flickered with relief when she saw Olivia, but it was quickly replaced by something else, anger, guilt and fear.

Tyler was tending to the team, Luke lay unconscious, his injuries severe. Liam had burned his life essence and remained motionless. Both would need time, and cores, to recover. Ellie had woken up earlier before the squad came to take them back.

She stood by her brother's unconscious body. Tears streamed down her eyes as panic surged through her chest. Now she regrets ever deciding to merge with him, it was a bad idea... a very bad idea.

Meanwhile Henrik and Bella were busy shooting daggers at Olivia, surprise flickered through their faces as they were shocked to the point of being speechless. They really couldn't believe their eyes. They couldn't believe that she had survived.

Jealousy burned within Bella's chest. Her eyes staring at her with malicious intent.

"What the hell are you doing with him?" Diana snapped, her eyes darting from Olivia to Klaus, suspicion lacing her voice. Her heart raced in her chest as she low key eyed Olivia, 'How did she survive the fall?' A lump formed in her throat. Her fist clenched, why didn't she die and save her the trouble?

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Diana took a deep breath before sighing, she would deal with that later, but right now she had to deal with the problem at hand.

Before Olivia could respond, Klaus chuckled, stepping forward with that ever-present smirk. "Now, now, is that any way to greet your savior?" he drawled, his tone mocking.

Diana scowled. "Savior? You kidnapped us."

"No," Klaus corrected, his smirk widening. "I rescued you. There's a difference."

Diana scoffed, her hands balling into fists. "Rescue, my ass. We were doing just fine on our own until your men showed up. If anything, you just made things worse."

Olivia's stomach twisted. "You sent a squad after them?" she asked Klaus, her voice laced with accusation.

He turned to her, tilting his head slightly. "Of course. Did you think I would just let them wander around like lost sheep?" His smirk faded, replaced by something unreadable. "You should be thanking me. They're alive, aren't they?"

Olivia clenched her jaw. "And what now? Are you going to keep us all locked up here?"

Klaus sighed, running a hand through his well combed hair. "Olivia, why do you always assume the worst of me?" He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper only she could hear. "You have no idea what's coming. The fortress is the only safe place right now."

Something in his tone sent a chill down her spine. Her brows furrowed 'What did he mean by that?' She could feel that he was not lying. Before she could linger on the thought, Diana disrupted her trail of thoughts.

Diana, who had been watching their exchange closely, narrowed her eyes. "What are you planning, Klaus?"

Klaus only grinned. "That, my dear, is for another time."

Before Olivia could press further, a commanding voice cut through the tension.

"Bring them in."

At Klaus' signal, the soldiers began marching Diana and the others past the gates. Olivia's hands curled into fists. This wasn't how things were supposed to go.

And for the first time since regaining consciousness, an eerie feeling settled in her gut.

Something was wrong. Very wrong but she couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was.

Her eyes landed on the unconscious body of Luke and Liam, a sense of guilt gnawed in her chest. Ellie's eyes immediately met with hers, but Olivia quickly averted her gaze. She could not handle her hatred and accusations right now. Her fist clenched, ' It seems like I'm really a recipe for trouble.' She thought bitterly.

Her shoulders slumped, as she heavily walked inside the fortress. A sense of relief washed over her, she was home again.

Her gaze landed on Alexa, who had a fierce and deadly look. Olivia's steps quickly faltered, she tried to hide in the crowd, but Alexa's hawk-like eyes had already locked on her.

"Trying to run away?" Her calm and powerful voice resonated in hair, stopping other students in their tracks.

Olivia's heart plummeted in her chest. She didn't know what to say, and the craziest part is, she doesn't even know why she had run away. An empty feeling washed over her like a cold waterfall. Her fingers clutched at her chest, brows drawing together in frustration.

" Don't think that you can play games with me." Alexa hissed, her nose flared up.

" I didn't.... " her words vanished into thin air. A searing agonizing pain shot up from her skull down to her soul, why couldn't she remember no matter how hard she tried, it always felt as if she was trying to get hold of smoke.

Gradually her environment became disoriented, she couldn't even hear what Alexa was saying. The ground became closer and closer, a weird sound ringing in her ears.

The view of boots running towards her was all she could see, as her face landed on the ground, her brain shutting her from consciousness, saving her from the pain.