Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Becoming the Hunted

Everyone sat in the back of the Silver Arrow. Harrison sat near the closed ramp, handcuffed and legs chained to the chair in which he sat. Eve was picking at the calluses on her palms, watching David from afar as he cleaned his blood-dried hand. Looking down at his fingers, David thought about his actions. Was there anything that would keep the dreams from affecting him the way they were? He thought to himself, raising his head. Catching Eve staring at him from afar. Though they had just saved those in captivity, he couldn't help but feel shame. Eve looked away from him, looking towards the back of the osprey, thinking to herself. Knowing that he needed help, he was standing right in front of her but might as well have been on a different planet.

"No midflight snack?" Harrison said, looking around, even he could feel the tension in the bay. "This is the worst service I've had on a flight." Gabriel looked at him, sitting across. Rolling neck cracking it, Gabriel stood up and walked over to him. "Finally, some service." Gabriel took no brake, hesitating, to deliver a swift punch to Harrison's mouth. It had filled with blood quickly.

"Gabe!" Allison jumped from her seat, leaning over to him. Putting herself between the two of them, "He's already going to get his." She said, shoving Gabriel back away.

"He deserves everything coming to him, David. Why don't we spare the Order the time and just put him down like the dog he is?" Gabriel shouted to his brother. "He disgraces the Silver Arrow and the Earth's air."

"He has answers that we need," David said, walking over to his brother to make him relax.

Gabriel pulled out his sword, "We can get the answers from him now. All I need is for his mind to break, and we can learn everything." Gabriel said, "You should hear the disgusting thoughts he's thinking of the girls in here." David looked back at the man. Watching his smug smile filled David with anger.

"Virg," David called up to the cockpit.

"What's up?" Virgil asked.

"Drop everyone off at home," David said.

Richard walked over to David, speaking into his ear. "You can't be possibly serious. What you are considering is wrong."

"He lost his rights the moment he deprived others of theirs," David said in contempt. "Plus, the Order will just wait until he's ready to speak. I'm not waiting for others to be hurt while we wait for him to talk."

"I will follow you anywhere, David, but maybe this is too far."

"Then you can go home," David told Richard.

"You’re not the David I know,” Richard told him as he walked away, sitting back down in his chair. David looked at his friend from afar. Feeling as if he was in the right, Gabriel and he will have to do the dirty work.

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David, Gabriel, Kevin, and Virgil had left with their prisoner, dropping off the others at the Locklear house. Eve was sitting on the front porch with Richard, Jasmine, and Allison. Ethan and Chris had left back home. Stephen had run home alone. The night was quiet. A slight overcast was forming overhead—a blanket of grey filling the sky full of stars.

‘Think it’s going to rain?” Eve asked, trying to break the silence in the group. Everyone remained quiet. There was definitely fear in the air around each of them.

“We need to get David away from here,” Richard said.

“He won’t leave,” Jasmine told him, looking up at the sky.

“Gabe won’t make it easy either,” Allison said she had been weaving Eve’s hair into a braid.

Eve felt a pit in her throat. “He’s not the same.” She said, “Something is seriously wrong with him. I started to notice weeks ago when we were on watch together. He stares into the nothingness and spaces out.”

“I’ve caught him talking to himself. Actually, that wouldn’t be the word for it. He seems like he’s having a conversation with someone who isn’t there.” Richard admitted. “He told me not to tell anyone. Now I think his pride is less important than his mental health.”

Eve pulled out her phone, trying to call David. The phone kept ringing, there was no answer. She wanted to do something, but he had blocked her out. Wanting to save him from this spiral down to the darkness, she could feel him falling.

“There’s no use in waiting for them to change their minds. Go home everyone, I’ll talk with David in the morning.” Richard pushed off the fence, turning towards the group. “Does anyone want a ride?” He asked.

“Yeah, I just want to get home and go to sleep,” Eve said, “I don’t feel like existing right now.”

“Don’t say things like that,” Jasmine said, lifting herself off of the grass. “Tomorrow can always be better.”

“Let’s hope so,” Eve said as she followed Richard to his car. Climbing into the back seat with Allison following behind her.

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David walked over, pressing a button lowering the ramp, a fire in his eyes. Just above the tree line, the Silver Arrow hovered. Gabriel grabbed Harrison from his chair, undoing the chains on his legs. David held him, lifting him swiftly from the chair. Harrison struggled against them. Despite his effort, David was both physically and spiritually more assertive than he. Harrison headbutted David’s jaw, only to be met with Gabriel lifting him in the air. Slamming his back against the grip on the ramp. His head ricocheted from the impact.

“You kids have no idea who you’re messing with.” Harrisons said David recovered. Placing his knee against his open palm. Grinding his knuckles against the ground. Harrison gritted his teeth in pain. Gabriel grabbed the man by his throat.

“You’re going to tell me everything,” Gabe said. Harrison spat in the teen’s face. Gabriel now with blood on his cheek. David slammed his fist into Harrison’s stomach. Gabriel pulled him to the edge of the ramp. His head hanging off the ramp, Kevin came out from the cockpit. A small smile from the corner of his cheek.

“Do whatever you want. I’m not telling you a damned thing.” Harrison yelled out to the two of them.

Kevin took the pommel of his sword, slamming it into the man’s calves, breaking his shins. Harrison let out a blood-hurtling cry. These were no ordinary kids that he had thought. David grabbed his legs, shoving him off the edge, holding his grip as Kevin joined him. Each holding on a portion. The pain was excruciating; Gabriel jumped onto the ledge, looking at Harrison scream in pain. “Break!” Gabriel called out, his eyes glowing a bright blue. Harrison reached over, grabbing onto Gabriel. The weight was too heavy for both Kevin and David. Gabriel yanked his weight forward as David and Kevin released Harrison to the forest floor. Gabriel rotated, throwing Harrison off of him. Gabriel landed on the ground, falling to a roll. Harrison plummeted into the ground, his back taking the blow from the Earth.

Virgil lowered the Silver Arrow as David was comfortable to leap down. Harrison was attempting to crawl away, not knowing how much more he could take. “What do you want?” He called out as Gabriel ambled over to his body. “Money? I can make you all rich beyond your imagination.”

“I want to break your will,” Gabriel said, his voice rattled in Harrison’s mind. Harrison’s eyes widened, the voice repeated as an echo in a cave. David stood over Harrison, looking down at the broken man. Drawing his sword.

“I will give you anything you want!”

“Good.” David extended his blade, stabbing it into his palm, sticking it into the soil beneath, pinning Harrison in place.

At his breaking point, Harrison could not focus on feeling Gabriel out of his mind with his body in extreme pain. Gabriel knelt down next to him. “You know, I would feel sorry for him if he wasn’t such a terrible person.”

“Get it over with,” David told his brother.

“Right.” Gabriel grabbed his head, transferring his consciousness into Harrison’s mind. Harrison screamed at first, soon fell to silence. Gabe was now in control of his very being.

Flashing images, men, women, and children being beaten. Words of a horrible fate met with selfish terrible men. Pictures that will never leave Gabriel’s mind. Fates met worse than death, Gabriel mustered in absolute anger. Images of boats in a harbor, slaves being stored in shipping containers, people who will never see their homes again. Gabriel bringing all these dark memories to light. Absolute Evil that plagued the world. Scenes of Sakura blossoms on a mountain. A beach in the distance, a dense city on the other side. More flashing trauma into his mind, Harrison had committed to women and children.

Gabriel released himself from Harrison’s head. Sweat covered his face, rolling down off his chin. “What did you see?” David asked. Gabriel screamed out in anguish, slamming his boot against the man’s face. Breaking his nose.

“You monster!” Gabriel screamed out, slamming his boot again. Harrison was now broken, “I’m going to kill you!” David pushed Gabriel back, holding onto his brother. Gabriel shoved his face into David’s shoulder, tears rolling down his face. Wrapping his arms around his brother, screaming into his armored chest plate.

“It’s okay.” David said, “It’s okay.” He repeated, trying to calm his brother down. “Leave him to suffer.” David released his brother, returning to Harrison to grab his sword. Both began to walk away to where the Silver Arrow had landed.

Harrison coughed out blood, “Evelyn Taylor.” David and Gabriel stopped in their tracks. “She will be the death of the world.” David had heard Liam tell him the same thing. David would not dare look at Harrison. Gabriel showed the same judgment. “That is why she will die tonight.”

“What did you just say?” Gabriel asked him. Turning around, David reached out his arm to stop his brother’s advances.

“The plan was already in motion,” Harrison laughed between his blood-filled coughs. “All I needed to know where she was. And you brought her to me.” He looked at David, “She might already be dead-“

Gabriel charged at him with lightning speed, removing his head from his shoulders. His eyes were red. “Gabriel!” David called out. “Breathe!” Gabriel took in a deep breath and released it through his nose. Eyes shifting back to a blue. “Hurry up. We need to get to Eve and Allison.” David sprinted back to the Silver Arrow, with Gabriel following closely behind.

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Eve laid in her bed, looking at the roof, questioning all things that had been going on recently. A single light from the streetlamps shined through her open window. Her chest hurt, feeling like she was losing David like he had lost Liam. Is this what it felt to be hopeless of something out of her control? She had done her best to fight her fear, but this was impossible. She had talked him out of using corruption on his body, but was this inevitable? David was always strong with his philosophy and spirituality. What was making him sink into his madness?

The wind outside picked up, blowing her curtains sporadically. Knocking over an oak acoustic guitar. Eve pulled herself out of bed, becoming aggravated by the gusts. She walked over to the window, feeling the breeze against her face. Her blue hair blew behind herself, some getting caught in her mouth. She spat them out as she slammed the window shut against the wall. Locking it. Turning around to pick the guitar off of the ground. As she grabbed it, she remembered having asked David if she could borrow it. He was reluctant at first, then allowed her after her negotiation. Holding onto the neck, she smiled. It was more like her begging; David just wanted to hear her stop. Taking a seat on the ground, gripping the guitar, holding it as if she was going to play. Pressing her fingers against the strings with her left hand, plucking softly with her right. The sound was horrible to her ears. Nonetheless, she continued as if she was playing what was in her heart. A single tear kissed her cheek.

Eve continued to play until she heard a small creek on the floor from across her room. She looked up. In an instant, a hand reached from the darkness. Wrapping around her throat before she had a chance to react. Attempting to scream, but the grip was as tight as a snake. Lifting her from the ground, slamming her head against the window. Doing nothing but struggle, flailing her legs against the figure. Looking in front of her was a man with black eyes. Half of his face was visible from the ridge of his nose and up. Veins purple around his face. He was full of corruption. Eve yelped with a bit left of her breath, tucking in her legs. Lifting her core to his arms, wrapped her knees around his arm. Gripping tightly, swinging her body to the left into her closet. Breaking the door off its rail, sending a crash through the house. Eve fell to the ground, trying to regain her breath. Coughing heavily into the carpet. Forcing herself up to find her sword. The man forced the broken door off of himself. Eve grabbed her sword from the edge of her bed, swinging it behind herself, blocking the two knives. He dropped one lower, regaining his grip. He turned at Eve’s waist, she jumped back in desperation.

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Allison swung the door open, her sword in hand shining green. Striking at the man before he rotated backward. Eve looked at him, leaping forward at him. Feeling a sharp pain in her stomach, she looked down at herself. A jagged dagger had pierced her just below her lung. Gasping, not having seen him retaliate. He took no time in a swift kick to Allison’s face, breaking her nose.

Eve mustered in absolute anger. This was not how she was going to die. Not here, not now. She screamed out, a great shake in the earth below her as the spirits flowed inside of her. Releasing a shattering pulse of energy against him. Sending the Assassin flying into the wall, along with the furniture in her room. Eve collapsed to her knees; Allison had hidden behind the wall, grabbed onto Eve’s arm. Allison had no chance of defeating him alone. Lifting Eve, raising her arm around her neck to support her. “Common baby girl,” She said in desperation. Pulling her to the hallway, Allison’s mother was standing in the hallway.

“What is going on?” She asked in a panic.

“Mom, get to the car, hurry!” Allison yelled. Dragging Eve with her down the stairs. “C’mon, Eve, don’t do this to me right now.”

Eve full of adrenaline was trying to pick up her pace but felt herself becoming more and more unbalanced as she walked. The pain in her stomach grew as her pain tolerance was relieved from her body. Stumbling as the blood ran down to her leg. Leaving a trail behind herself. Her vision was shaky. Everything was hazed.

Allison felt her ponytail being pulled. The man forced her back, slamming Allison into the ground behind herself. Eve collapsed without Allison’s support, tumbling down the stairs. Allison rolled her body to the right, missing the stab with his dagger. Pushing him back into the counter, a vase crashed down next to himself. Allison took no time in jumping over the loft railing into the ground below. Eve had been crawling up the stairs, her sword in hand. “I’m right here, Eve.”

Eve took a sigh in relief, followed with heavy gargled breathing. Allison picked her up in her arms, rushing out the door. Her mom was waiting with the car started in the street. Her mom, seeing her daughter carrying a weakened Eve. She got out of the car, quickly opening the back door for Allison. Taking no time, Allison shoved Eve into the backseat. Allison jumped in the back with her, placing the seatbelt on her friend.

“Mom, go!” She screamed before a hand smashed through the window, grabbing Allison’s neck. He looked at her in the eyes before he could drive his dagger forward into her face. Her mom slammed on the gas, knocking off his grip on the teenaged girl. Catching her breath. Conjuering an electric current in his arms. “Sharp right! Or Left!” Allison screamed as her mom kept a serpentine movement away from his shot.

He was now charged, sending a storm of lightning from his arms towards the car, missing. He grunted, charging up again. This time he understood the pattern in which they were driving. He was prepared to fire his next burst. His ear’s tingled, jumping forward as Ethan swung his blade from behind the man, he leaped into the air. “Too slow.” He said before being tackled midair. Stephen had launched himself from the roof of Allison’s house, slamming him into the ground below. Swinging Stephen off of his body, he threw one of his daggers. Ethan blocked it with his sword. The Assassin was left with his blade on his hip and his dagger. The odds were not looking well for him. “You got anything better to do than fight little girls?” Ethan taunted him.

“She has a high price on her head.” The Assassin said. Stephen had recovered, having no ounce of patience to talk. Charging swiftly at him as Ethan joined him on his flank. He was agile, not an average dark user. His skill was precise and trained intensely. Locking his blade against Stephen’s. Looking deep into his eyes. “Regardless, any head of a Watcher is enough to last me a few years.”

Eve was staring out the window, agonizing pain filling her stomach. Blood and green energy covered Allison’s hand. Struggling to heal her friend. “Eve, hold onto me.” She looked at her head. Eve looked at Allison, seeing double. Her skin was growing cold, two heavy drops of blood dripped from the corners of her lips. Eve’s teeth were a bright red. “I got you, hold on,” Allison said. Eve turned her head, looking at the overcast ahead. A car passed by, Richard was driving with Chris and Jasmine.

“Tell them I am sorry, I failed,” Eve said in her gargled breath.

Allison slapped her in the face. “You are not dying on me!” Allison screamed out. Lifting her shirt to expose the wound. It was black. The blade must have been poisoned with corruption. “I need David here.” She prayed, “Where the hell are you two?”

The Assassin dodged the oncoming car. Jasmine leaped from the sunroof, landing on her feet on the man’s other flank. Drawing her Katana, a bright yellow in the darkness. He was going to miss a chance to escape. Severely overestimating the Watcher’s ability to react. Richard was now in the circle, Chris as well. Completely surrounded, understanding he was going to lose this battle. Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled a pin on a grenade. Popping smoke all around himself. Stephen had jumped out of it with lightning speeds. The Assassin had jumped onto the roof, running from the fray. Hoping to catch back to his target. Stephen hesitated, was it best to wait for the others or pursue the attacker. Not wanting to risk him catching Eve and Allison, he sprinted to the roof. Chasing after him.

The smoke settled, the Watchers stood in a circle, running to their cars. Richard, Chris, and Jasmine ran back to his car. Ethan joined them, not having the keys to Stephen’s van. “Stephen, where are you?” Richard asked as they peeled off to catch up to Allison.

“I’m in pursuit. Update when I can. Hard to breathe,” Stephen was running as fast as he could. The man was quick as well. Though Stephen could run faster, the leaps between buildings slowed him down.

“Can we get ahold of the Silver Arrow?” Richard asked Ethan.

“I tried to call a dozen times on the way over, they didn’t answer.”

“Looks like we’re on our own,” Richard said as he pulled up behind Allison. Pulling next to them and rolling down the windows.

“Is she okay?” Jasmine called out to her, fearful.

“Do you have purity on you?” Allison screamed out.

“In the trunk,” Richard said.

“Move,” Jasmine commanded Ethan, grabbing onto the latch pulling down the seat.

“Black bag,” Richard said.

“They’re all black. It’s dark!” Jasmine yelled as she searched.

“Pull over!” Allison yelled.

“No!” Chris yelled, “That dude is chasing us!”

“Find that bag!” Richard yelled.

“I think I got it!” Jasmine replied.

“Shit!” Richard slowed down, falling behind the other car. An oncoming vehicle passed, honking his horn.

“Can you keep the damned car still!” Jasmine screamed at Richard.

“I’m trying!” Richard yelled back.

“Found it!” She said, pulling out a flask with a cross on it. Jasmine took a deep breath. Blinking herself inside Allison’s car. Looking at Eve’s head resting on the inside of the door. Blood everywhere, black and red.

“David?” Eve asked, looking over.

“Not this time,” Jasmine said, handing the flask over to Allison.

“No, tell him I’m sorry,” Eve said softly, feeling her life fade from her body.

“How about you tell him that yourself.”

Stephen kept running. If he didn’t catch up soon, the Assassin would catch up to them. Reaching onto the back of his belt, drawing a small throwing knife. Swinging his arm, throwing. Completely missing the target. Two more. Stephen focused his energy into his feet, striding himself ever further to him. Throwing the second knife, barely missing his legs. Last one. Stephen’s vision became foggy, stressing his spirit. Closing his eyes, remembering what his late Master Eleazar had told him. Never to overexert himself unless he was prepared to die. Opening his eyes, a deep blue stream followed from his eyes like a fighter jet broke the air in the sky. Gaining onto the chase. Closing the gap even more than before.

Leaping onto a tree trunk, squatting horizontally on the side. Pushing himself off like a rocket, Stephen flew through the air just above the rooftops. Breaking the bark off the tree. Grabbing onto his last throwing knife, sending it true in front of himself. Stabbing into the leg of the Assassin. The man tumbled on the roof, pulling the blade from the back of his thigh. Dropping it to the ground. Continuing his run as Stephen fell to the ground, not having any more energy left in his body. Gasping for air.

“We can’t keep up this chase,” Richard said.

“If we stop, he can kill Eve,” Ethan said. “We can trap him.”

“Ms. Barber!” Richard called out to the other car. “Stop!”

“Are you crazy!” She was full of panic.

“I know you’re scared,” Richard yelled out. “But we can’t let him get away.”

Eve screamed in pain; the purity began its battle inside of her body. Kicking her legs in agony. Allison did her best to stay on of Eve, assisting with the purification. A jolt of electricity hit the street beneath the car. The blast lifted the vehicle into the air as it rolled into an empty intersection. Eve was thrown from the car with Allison at her side. Jasmine managed to blink herself and Ms. Barber from the impact, tumbling them both across the street. Richard pulled over in desperation. Chris hopped out of the car, engaging the man in a battle from a distance. Jolts of electricity passed each other. Chris leaped around to dodge each attack.

“I’m finished playing these games.” The Assassin leaped onto the street below. His eyes glowing black, shadows from the ground lifted from the darkness. Multiple figures, taking different shapes. Empty abysses of darkness.

Richard drew his sword with Ethan and Chris. They were outnumbered. Never had seen the power of necromancy. Looking back, Allison was bleeding from her head. On her knees healing Eve. No tears from her eyes dissociated from the situation. Gritting his teeth, he formed a defense around the four. The shadows drew in closer. The Assassin drew his sword from his sheath. A katana made of black steel; smoke radiated off of its blade.

Richard attacked. First, the shadow parried his attack. Leaping backward, dodging the second’s attack. Their speed was unprecedented. Ethan blocked heavily, failing as one slashed at his leg. He stumbled backward. Chris sent a jolt of electricity passing through the shadow without an effect. It was hopeless. Richard’s body radiated high energy. The fear in his body took shape. His spirits projected themselves.

A transparent blue scorpion leaped from where his heart sat onto the floor in front of himself. Was this what Carlos had told him about. His eyes were a bright blue, the spirits lifting around him. Richard bellowed out his scream of encouragement. They were not going to die here. Forming a massive shield around himself and the others. A tail grew from the back of the scorpion. He was motivated to keep his guard impenetrable.

Along with the tail on his spirit animal, one formed from behind the shield, along with a large stinger. His most outstanding defense was now his most significant offense. The stinger struck at the shadows. Filling one with blue light as it swung its sword at the shield. Richard’s protection was now retaliating. He held firm against the shadows. But for how long?

“How are you doing that?” Ethan asked. Looking back, the cut in his leg was closing. A stream of blue energy fell from the top of the shield into his body, as well as the others who had taken injury. Eve was now breathing steadily. Allison sighed in relief.

“Gabriel, please,” Allison said softly. “Where are you guys?”

More and more shadows were being summoned, attempting to overwhelm the shield faster than the tail could strike. The Silver Arrow lowered to the intersection. Out the ramp, David, Gabriel, and Kevin leaped into the fray. David struck down two shadows immediately; Kevin and Gabriel engaged the rest. Wave after wave.

David looked over at Eve; he could see her covered in blood along with Allison. His heart was full of malice once again. This time, David had lost all sense of reason. Eyes glowing red, he waked over the Assassin, the ground cracking under each foot. Fearing that the woman he loved was now passed from the Earth.

The Assassin saw how quickly David was advancing, his shadows having no effect on the armored man. Not knowing which was more apparent, his power or his hatred. Attempting to flee from the battle, he jumped to the roof of the building. David reached out, pulling his leg back down the ground. The Assassin’s body fell with it. Drawing his Katana once more, attempting to duel David. Only to be met with a perfect parry.

David said no words. His eyes spoke enough to drive fear into the Assassin’s heart. “You’re the light-bringer!” He said, trying to distance himself from David. “Look, I can tell you everything.” He swung again; David dodged. The duel began, “So be it.” He said, attacking David again. David continued to step forward. Parrying once more, kicking him square in the cavity. The Assassin jumped backward, feeling the wind being knocked from his lungs. His rips cracked from the energy David had placed into the kick. The two traded swings and dodges. Neither of them landed a strike with their respective weapons.

Once all the shadows were gone, Gabriel charged into the shield. Patting Richard on the shoulder, “We got here as fast as we could.” Running past and dropping to a knee near Allison. “How is she?” He looked at the bloodied Eve.

“Stable,” Allison said. “I need David to help with the purification.”

“Right,” Gabriel said, looking back at his brother, knowing he was toying with the Assassin. Eve opened her eyes, lying on her side. She could see David, her eyes full of tears. She could see the shift in his energy tracing. He was red, no longer green that she had known.

David dodged the stab from the Assassin by taking a step to the side. Bringing his sword up, cutting off the hand of the man. He cried out in pain. David kicked him again, jumping on top of him. The Assassin was now fighting for his life. Placing his hand against David’s face. Pushing against his face, sending tiny shocks through his palm. David grabbed his wrist, locking the Assassin’s elbow out. Pushing harder backward. “No, please!” He begged. David snapped his arm backward, falling into a ragdoll. David grabbed his sword. Looking at the string doll covered in blood that wrapped around his grip. Looking to his side, seeing Eve lying on the ground. He could feel her pain, everything that had happened to her. David’s stomach hurt as well. As if there was corruption in his very own body.

Eve looked at David, no strength was left in her body to stop him.

The Assassin chuckled, smiling at David. “There will be more of me.” He said, “Just you wait, I will be avenged!” David frowned heavily. Looking down on him and back at the string doll.

“So, will she,” David said to him, grabbing the hilt of his sword like a baton. Bashing the handguard against the man’s face. Breaking his skull, repeated again and again. The strikes continued, breaking the man’s face apart. Shattering every bone in his face. Eve reached her hand out to David, tears rolling down her face.

“Please, stop.” She said under her breath. “Stop.”

David continued, screaming in absolute anger. Wrath and rage-filled his mind, lusted by the violence. The Assassin’s face was now unrecognizable as if a jar of jelly had splattered onto the ground. Skull fragments left of the pavement blood-covered David’s face as it splashed back onto him.

“Stop.” Liam’s voice broke out.

“Stop it!” Gabriel grabbed onto his brother, pulling him away from the scene. Kicking David’s sword from his hand. David rolled on top of Gabriel, grabbing his collar. Roaring into his little brother’s face. Tears broke from the shells of his eyes. Gabriel shouted back into his brother’s face. Embracing him with his arms around his brother’s armor. David cried into Gabriel’s shoulder, screaming in pain.

“Kill me,” David muttered. “Please.”

“Shut up!” Gabriel yelled at him, “Don’t you ever say that again!” Gabriel released his brother. “Not while I still love you, and she does too.”

Eve was starring at David from afar, her face scrunched into sadness. Her face was red, and her mouth could no longer contain her desperation. Reaching her hand out to David still.

“We need to get out of here. The sun is starting to rise.” Kevin told Richard. “Where is Stephen?”

“On the roof.” Richard could barely talk; the new defense had taken everything out of him.

“Load the wounded, fall back to the sanctuary!” Kevin yelled out as the Silver Arrow began to prepare for departure. Virgil sat in the cockpit, hand on his head. Had seen the entire ordeal through the rearview camera. Grabbing his phone to call the cleanup crew.

Gabriel picked up his brother, who had passed out from his exertion. Loading him inside the bay of the Silver Arrow. Richard laid Eve next to him. Eve did nothing but stare at him, wishing that they had met in a different life. This one was filled with too much pain.