Their Solitary Way by JN Chaney

Cain.
    “And why not?”
    “Lilith is his oldest friend. They went to the academy together. He’d lose his mind. Don’t you see that? It would crush him, Abel.”
    He shrugged. “If that’s what it takes for you to finally grown up, then maybe it needs to happen.”
    “I’m not telling him.”
    “If you don’t, then I will,” said Abel. “We’re family, and it’s my job to look after you. I’ll be damned if your stupidity ends up getting you thrown into the brig. The last thing you need is to be alienated from the rest of the crew.”
    Cain squeezed the soldering pen. His heart raced as a swell of heat rose in his stomach and chest. He didn’t know what to do. If his brother told their father the truth, something horrible might happen. Adam and Lilith had been romantically involved at one point, when they were young, and it was clear the old man still had cared for her in some way. He might not see the situation objectively. “Stop it,” begged Cain. “Abel, please. I know you hate me, but telling Father would destroy this family. Don’t you understand? You’d hurt more than just me.”
    “If you weren’t so stupid, this wouldn’t be happening. You’re a mess, Cain. Everything you do. It’s like you don’t understand how to be a normal person. I refuse to have people mock our family, all because you refuse to fix your life.” He turned away. “I won’t let your arrogance and shortsightedness infect the rest of us.”
    Cain couldn’t believe the words his own brother was saying. What the hell was wrong with him? Abel always gave him a hard time, but never like this. Abel hated him. He probably had since the start. “What the hell did I ever do to deserve this?” he asked. “Why do you hate me so much?”
    Abel said nothing. Instead, he began to leave.
    Cain ran to him, grabbing his shoulder. “Wait a second!” he snapped.
    Abel swung around and grabbed Cain’s wrist, tossing it aside. “Don’t touch me!”
    “Promise me you won’t—”
    Abel punched him in the shoulder, causing him to stagger. “Have fun with your cyberbrain girlfriend, freak.”
    Cain clenched his teeth. His lungs heaved, deep and fast, and it took everything in him not to scream. He hated Abel all at once, there in that moment, not because of this, and not because of his words, but for everything—all the years of torment and ridicule, all the judgmental looks.
    A lifetime of rage unleashed itself at once, flooding out of him like water from a mountain, and he lunged forward with everything he had.
    They clashed together, falling to the floor.
    Abel hit him in the arm, but it did nothing. He grabbed Cain’s neck and squeezed, pushing him away.
    Cain gagged, suddenly afraid. He gripped his brother’s wrist, clawing his skin, but Abel wouldn’t stop. He wouldn’t let go.
    I can’t breathe, Cain thought, trying to speak the words and failing. Let me go! Then, with the soldering pen in his hand, Cain jabbed his brother’s arm with the metal end, forcing him to let go.
    Abel screamed, quick and sharp, pulling back his hand as blood poured from his wound. With his other fist, he punched Cain across the cheek, sending him to the floor again.
    Before Cain could react, Abel got on top of him, his other palm on Cain’s neck.
    Cain wheezed in shock, not knowing what to do. His brother was going to kill him. After all this time, this is how it would end.
    Abel raised his bleeding hand, dripping blood onto Cain’s face and mouth, and prepared to strike again.
    But before the blow could come, and without another thought, Cain drove the metal pen deep into Abel’s neck and pulled it out, all in one fluid motion.
    Blood erupted from the wound, oozing down Abel’s neck and onto his chest. He gagged, staggering back on the floor, gripping his wound with his hand. “He-lp,” he managed to say.
    Cain’s eyes widened, and he watched in horror as his brother choked on his own blood. He reached for a nearby towel, then rushed