Page 65 of He Will Always Love Me

I feel pride swell my chest, and I turn to look at my fierce woman.

Elyzin spots his chance, kicking out with his boot and almost taking me down.

Libby screams and dives for cover. I automatically step between them in order to shield her retreat, giving Elyzin the chance to scramble to his feet.

“Fuck,” I curse. “I don’t want to kill you Elyzin,” I say. “Please, fight whatever powers are controlling you!”

Elyzin bares his teeth in a feral grin. “Go fuck yourself, Hyx,” he replies.

CHAPTER 34

LIBBY

Ihad hoped that between Hyx and I and all the memories of our past lives, we could take on the Bargaron easily enough. Surely, he couldn’t take both of us on.

It turns out, he most certainly can. Elyzin moves with a speed and ferocity like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Like something out of a nightmare. And then I realize that he really kind of is.

He’s the reason we’ve been torn apart from each other so often. Why we keep meeting such brutal ends.

It makes my blood boil, and I charge at him with a scream and launch myself at him. He’s busy trying to fight off Hyx and can’t stop me from landing on his back and jamming my elbow into his head.

“Ow!” I shout as my elbow hits cybernetic parts. Right, he’s made of metal. Hitting him is not going to do the trick.

Elyzin manages to kick Hyx away and then throws me off his back. I hit the ground hard but nothing feels broken.

Hyx rushes over to me. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. But how are we supposed to stop him?”

The Bargaron doesn’t give us a moment to think about it and charges us. Hyx runs right at him, and they begin to punch and kick at each other.

“You’re the brains between the two of us!” Hyx calls out between punches. “If you’ve got an idea, I’m all ears.”

Right. I’m a scientist, I can figure this out. I just need to dissect this like I would anything else.

Think, think, think. He’s made of metal and organic parts. What will make him break down?

I rule out throwing water at him as his metallic parts are probably high quality and very water resistant. For a time, at least. There are tree branches around here that could pierce his organic half, at least. But there seems to be more metal than man at this point.

Elyzin delivers another swift punch across Hyx’s face. Hyx growls and starts attacking him wildly.

I need to hurry. Unlike Elyzin, Hyx is fully organic. His adrenaline can and will run out and then he’ll be too tired to fight.

Why couldn’t I be one of those cool scientists who’s always going on adventures and carries a gun?

Then I spot a ravine that drops down into a lake. And while the drop isn’t too far, it gives me an idea.

I could use the Bargaron’s metallic and organic parts against it. If we could tie something heavy to it, it would sink. It would probably be too heavy to just swim up.

And the organic half wouldn’t be able to survive long underwater. I highly doubt the Bargaron has system backups to keep him online if the organic part of him dies. And the metallic half will short-circuit if we can keep him down there long enough.

Elyzin throws Hyx and I run towards him.

“Lure him to the ravine,” I hiss, and then I keep running for the trees where I see a log.

Using all my strength, I push the log to the cliff. Hyx is doing exactly as I ask, and he and Elyzin are coming closer.

When the Bargaron is close enough, Hyx knocks him off balance and I shove him over the edge. As he begins to fall, I push the log after him. It falls on top of him and sinks under the waves.

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