The Enhanced

Chapter Fifty Four

It is as if I am running to him in slow motion, he is miles away from me, so far from reach. And then, form the shadows two men apprehend Aiden and hold him still.

Aiden's eyes widen in fear and uncertainty as they draw him to his knees and hold him there. Hands on each of his shoulders, barring him any opportunity to escape. 

I glance to my right and Jones is still fighting strong. Bodies began to build around him as he picked off the guards converging on him. But then, out of nowhere, he motions for them to stop and holds his gun towards the sky. And he bargains.

"I'll put my weapons down if you let him go," he calls out, towards Aiden.

Aiden's gaze snaps to Jones, someone he had never met, bargaining for his life. I find an unlikely smile come to my lips as I watch it unfold, a smile of a million unsaid words and memories, a bond that would stand the test of the time, and a man that could never be broken. A man that would leave his legacy like no one else in this place.

The guards look at each other before there is an agreement and I feel a weight being lifted off of my chest. But I knew better to trust anyone here, I knew better than to assume there wasn't ulterior motive. I watch carefully, as Jones slowly lowers his weapon to the ground, unarmed and vulnerable, a single shot hits him in the chest, it seems it is much louder than the others. It cuts through the air like a knife, slicing at my eardrums, sending a jolt through my chest.

Without missing a beat, I reach behind me and do the same to Aiden's captors. One each, they were not silent like Jones, they grunt and gurgle as they fall to their knees at Aiden's side. His eye widen and he looks to me, before standing slowly, he looks down at the men still twitching and feel his fear and horror. 

I turn my attention from him to Jones' body, it had fallen just as every man's had today. I wasn't sure if I was crying or not, I wasn't even sure if I was screaming over the rainfall. But in that moment, I had already realised I would lose more tonight than ever, I could feel the pieces of my chest being ripped away with every offence, every attack, every time someone moved, another died. They had found their way into my chest and ripped my heart out, peice by piece. 

I find the courage to rip my eyes from Jones and sprint over to Aiden, collapsing in his arms, barely missing the floor. From the side, guards stand assembled, waiting for an opportunity, almost as if they were waiting for our embrace to end. His arms hold me tight, desperate and I return the sentiment, pressing myself against him. And then, he pulls away and holds my face in his hands, holding my eyes for a moment, a precious moment.

A single gunshot sounds and an immense pain radiates throughout my left shoulder, a deep, horrible ache. I glance down, checking for the gunshot wound, moving my shirt, looking for the blood. I look up in confusion and meet Aiden's eyes full of pain.

Blood seeped through his shirt quicker than imaginable. His eyes don't leave mine as I tell him to apply pressure. As I tell him to be brave. None of this was worth it if Aiden couldn't make it through with me. None of it.

I turn to the wall of armed men and throw my hands in the air and step towards them slowly.

Aiden calls out behind me and I turn to him with a smile. "Trust me," I tell him, before walking further and further away.

"Don't hurt him," I call, "I'll surrender, I'll give myself up." The guards immediately lower their weapons and I lower my hands in response. Within a second, I hit three men, each with deadly precision.

Their guns become raised again, but not at me. I glance behind me to see Aiden is glued in place, staring at the hundreds of men pointing a gun at him, threatening his life. I look at him, meeting his eyes carefully.

And in that moment, its as if we share a lifetime of happiness, a lifetime of bliss. Through his eyes, I see my entire future, the kids, the house, the perfect life. I see a happily ever after with my soulmate.

And then just like that, I am back in the rain, making the hardest decision of my life.

No one moves a muscle as we sit in a strangely long stand off, as if no one is really syre what to do next. 

"I love you," Aiden screams at me, a smile plastered on his face, droplets of water streaming all over his skin.

My own lips curve in an involuntary smile. "I'll always love you. I'll always be there." I scream back.

He nods and we refuse to break the eye contact. Maybe because we were both scared of what came next, what needed to happen once this exchange was over. He could feel it as well as I could. The end. The end of all our suffering and pain, all placed on his shoulders.

He could feel that this was the beginning of the legacy. A new era, a sadder one. One that may not be tainted with the past, but decorated with reminders to warn us of those that suffered before us. Those that made sacrifice and were dealt loss.

And finally, I am ready.

"Run," I mouth to him, my eyes wet with tears, my lip quivering and my legs trembling.

They needed me alive I tell myself, they couldn't kill me. I turn away from Aiden, he didn't need to remember how I looked when I died, he didn't need to sense the uncertainty in my eyes as it had happened. He didn't need to know I was more scared than I had ever been. 

I take a moment to cast a look over every person I cared about, dead on the ground, for me, for my cause. For our legacy.

I smile as I look up to the sky and tighten my grip on my handgun, raising it to my head as I knew would be best. The metal seemed comforting now, yes, a deadly weapon, but one that would bring reprieve for me, a solution. It would tie up all the loose ends so that we might live on in a peaceful way. I shy away from the metal for a second, just a second. 

I was scared, terrified, I knew that now. My smile does not falter, I embrace it and thank God that the last thing I may feel is human. 

There is a shift in the air and I know all eyes are on me. I would imagine that Aiden had made it to the edge of the hill by now, falling towards safety, getting further away from me. It was time. 

I cock the gun, and press it against my temple, the cold touching my skin. There was nothing left to do. 

In front of me, I hear shouts of objection, I hear men telling me to put my gun down. But it's too late.

When it happens I think I hear the gun, I think I hear the deafening bang, but maybe its just my imagination. There is no sense of fear anymore, there is no pain, there is no sense of falling.

It is just darkness.