Felicity's Beast World Apocalypse-Chapter 98: Deal with it

Emma’s scream tore through the orchard.

It was loud in her own skull and thin in the world.

Blood streamed steadily from both of her ears, dark against her skin as it ran down her neck. Her red panda ears were flattened tight to her head. Her mouth stretched wide as she forced sound out of a body that no longer knew how to hear itself.

She could not hear Snow Team shift into formation.

She could not hear the low rustle of wings or the faint scrape of boots across the dirt.

She could not hear her own voice breaking.

But she could see.

She saw Josh’s body on the ground.

She saw Robert beside him.

She saw Sarge standing between her and Felicity.

And she saw Felicity watching.

Emma staggered upright, her balance uneven. The silence pressed against her from all sides. Her throat strained again as she screamed, but the sound was distorted and hollow.

"She is pretending," she shouted, unaware of how it landed.

Her finger lifted and pointed directly at Felicity.

"The glow. The softness. The helpless act."

Snow Team did not move.

Emma saw their stillness and mistook it for hesitation.

"She collects you," she continued. "Not because she wants you. Because she needs you."

Felicity flinched.

Emma saw it and leaned into the moment.

"She didn’t claim you," Emma pushed. "She built a team so she wouldn’t have to choose."

Victor watched the way Sarge’s posture changed at those words.

Not outwardly.

Not enough for anyone else to notice.

His shoulders tightened slightly.

His jaw flexed once.

His eyes flicked back toward Felicity before returning to Emma.

Victor did not intervene.

Emma’s mouth moved again.

"You think she picked you because you’re special."

Her voice broke on the effort.

"She picked all of you because she’s afraid to stand alone."

Snow Team remained exactly where they were.

Emma’s breathing grew harsher.

"You aren’t hers," she said. "You are convenient."

The accusation hung in the air.

It did not fracture the line.

It did not make anyone step away.

Emma’s eyes flicked between their faces and found no uncertainty.

Only alignment.

Only quiet.

She swallowed hard and turned her focus back to Felicity.

"You needed them," she said. "You built something so you would never have to admit that."

Felicity did not argue.

She did not step forward.

She simply stood and watched Emma unravel.

Victor saw Sarge look at her again.

Quick.

Silent.

Not seeking instruction.

Not asking permission.

Just checking.

Victor did not intervene.

Emma took another step forward despite the way her legs trembled.

"They will leave when something better comes," she insisted. "Because they are not yours."

Felicity’s voice came soft but steady.

"I know."

Emma blinked.

Thrown by the lack of denial.

Snow Team did not shift.

They did not step back.

They did not correct her.

They stood.

Emma’s hands shook.

"You are nothing without them."

Her words came out raw.

Felicity did not deny that either.

Victor stepped forward then.

Emma saw the movement.

Her breath caught.

She did not hear the command.

She only saw Snow Team move.

Shadow forced her down.

Draco held her still.

Sarge secured her wrists behind her back with practiced efficiency.

Emma screamed again.

She heard nothing.

She saw Felicity one last time as the ropes tightened.

Not crying.

Not angry.

Simply present.

Victor’s gaze moved from Emma to Sarge and back.

He saw the tension still living in Sarge’s stance.

He saw the way he angled himself slightly toward Felicity even now.

Victor did not intervene.

Emma struggled against the bindings.

Her mouth moved around one last accusation.

You needed them.

Victor spoke calmly.

"Sorry," he said. "I have no mercy for people who speak badly of my woman."

Josh did not stay down.

The moment Sarge stepped back from binding Emma’s wrists, Josh sucked in a ragged breath and pushed himself upright.

Blood ran from the split at his lip and dripped onto his chin. His eyes were unfocused for a second before they snapped back into place and landed on Felicity.

His chest rose too fast.

His jaw clenched so tightly the muscle jumped along the side of his face.

"You think this ends because you tied her up," he said.

His voice came out rough.

Emma could not hear it.

She saw his mouth move and tried to turn toward him, but Shadow’s grip on her shoulders kept her pinned.

Josh took a step forward.

Snow Team shifted without speaking.

Sarge moved first not aggressive.

Not dramatic.

He simply stepped into the space between Josh and Felicity again.

Josh’s gaze flicked to him and held.

There was a second where nothing happened.

Then Josh smiled it was not a pleasant expression "You are all standing there like she owns you," he said.

His eyes slid past Sarge to Felicity.

"She does not even claim you."

Sarge did not respond.

Josh’s nostrils flared.

"She builds you into something so she does not have to choose."

Emma’s head lifted.

She could not hear him.

But she could see the shape of his mouth forming the same arguments she had made.

Robert let out a thin laugh behind him.

"You were not chosen either," Marx said flatly.

Robert’s grin widened.

"I was promised sticks," he replied.

His eyes flicked to Felicity.

"Maybe she would promise you something too," he added to Josh.

Josh did not laugh.

His breathing was still too fast.

He took another step forward.

Sarge did not move aside.

Josh’s hand twitched at his side "You do not even realise what she is doing to you," he said.

His gaze stayed locked on Felicity.

"You think she needs you because she is weak."

Felicity’s fingers tightened at her sides.

Josh’s voice dropped "She needs you because she cannot stand alone."

The silence pressed tighter.

Josh’s shoulders squared "You are not hers," he said. "You are just close enough."

Emma watched their faces.

She saw the tension ripple through Snow Team.

She saw the way Sarge’s jaw tightened again.

Josh’s hand lifted slightly.

Not quite reaching.

"You think she would choose any of you if she had to." He swallowed.

"You think she would keep you."

No one answered.

Josh’s lips curled.

"She would not."

The words sat there.

Sarge moved it was fast, his fist drove forward with no windup.

Josh’s head snapped sideways with a sharp crack.

He hit the ground hard.

He did not get back up.

Robert stared at him.

Then at Sarge.

Then back at Felicity.

His grin wavered.

"Now there is space," he said quietly.

Snow Team looked at him.

His eyes flicked between Felicity and the empty ground where Josh lay.

"You said she does not claim," he continued his fingers tightened around the sticks still clutched in his hand, "Maybe she trades."

Felicity recoiled slightly.

Damien’s scales shifted along his throat.

Ivan’s gaze dropped a fraction.

Robert’s grin returned.

"You could give me something instead."

His eyes did not leave her.

"Something soft."

Sarge did not step back.

Victor’s wings shifted once.

Robert’s breathing quickened.

"You do not have to keep all of them," he added.

His gaze lingered on her.

"You could share."

Damien’s fingers tightened around Felicity’s arm.

Ivan’s breath slowed deliberately.

Voss’s ears flattened.

Someone inhaled sharply.

They did not leave.

Robert’s throat worked.

He looked from Felicity to the line of Snow Team.

"You are all pretending," he said.

His voice lost certainty.

Felicity shook her head.

Not at Robert.

At Emma.

Then she turned away.

She did not look at Josh’s body.

She did not look at Robert.

She moved toward Sam.

He stood rigid.

His hands were still trembling slightly from the earlier use of his power his eyes lifted when she approached.

She took his hands without hesitation.

He flinched.

Not pulling away.

"I am impressed," she said quietly.

His jaw tightened.

Her fingers closed around his.

"You have gotten stronger since the Supreme."

He did not answer.

"You handled Emma well," she continued.

Her voice stayed calm, "It is okay."

The tremor in his hands eased slightly.

"I am proud of you," she added.

His breathing steadied.

Emma watched.

She could not hear.

Saw the way Sam’s posture shifted.

Felicity squeezed his hands once.

Then she let go.

She turned to Victor.

"Handle it," she said.

Her voice was soft.

Final.

Damien stepped closer.

She moved with him they left.

Emma’s eyes followed.

Her mouth moved again.

Victor waited until Felicity disappeared beyond the trees.

The silence stretched.

Robert shifted.

His grip on the sticks loosened.

Damien’s earlier restraint lingered in the air.

Victor stepped forward.

Robert’s breath caught.

He did not move.

Victor did not rush.

He did not raise his voice.

He simply walked until he stood over Emma.

She looked up at him.

Her mouth opened.

She tried to speak.

He crouched his gaze did not soften.

Robert shifted behind him.

Ash’s fingers tightened around the rope.

Kai watched without blinking.

Sarge remained where he stood.

Victor reached for the blade.

Emma saw it.

Her body jerked once, her breath came fast her mouth opened wider.

She tried to form words.

Victor lifted the knife and he did not hesitate.

He brought the blade toward her mouth and paused just short as she inhaled sharply and began to.