River of Thames

Part Five

In the mess of the rubble of the heart of the war, my arms pump as my sides. The hot splash of blood nips at my ankles, as I zip and zag to avoid the plethora of bodies on the floor.

I pause for a moment, to catch my breath. My lungs are burning and the calluses on my hand, grip tighter around my sword.

I look around hopelessly. I look for a way out of my self-fulfilling prophecy. I would have kept running, however, towards my right-hand side. Down the bloody, cobblestone path that leads to the capital, Cassius.

Golden-haired Cassius.

Cassius with eyes like a snake.

Cassius.

"Cassius!" I yell out, trying to get his attention. From behind him, Pindarus, that bastard man.

Pindarus ran up from behind Cassius, as I charged towards them, sword drawn.

I wasn't fast enough.

Pindarus already delivered a fatal stab to Cassius's abdomen from behind. Cassius barely had time to react. As I got within a meter of them, Cassius's hand was resting on the point of the sword.

I manically yelled out an anguished cry, taking my sword and rising it above my head. I let it plunge into Pindarus's shoulder before I removed it and stabbed again.

Pindarus removed his sword from the belly of Cassius.

I was seeing red- too blind to see Cassius spitting out blood and hacking up deep-scarlet clots as he brought himself to the flood.

My adrenaline gives me enough strength, sanity, and power to slay that bastard who killed Cassius.

I leave my sword in the body of Pindarus. I watch him fall, no remorse left in my body to care.
I take Pindarus's sword and slip it into my scabbard, the blood of Cassius drips onto the cobblestone beneath me.

I kneel to Cassius, placing my hands on his cheeks.

"Cassius-" I gasp, my eyes looking into the fading light of his chartreuse eyes.

"Brutus-" he calls out weakly.
He has a somber smile on his lips, like the one Sir Caesar had.

"I'll take you out of here," I promise to him. "I'll take you somewhere safe."

I bring Cassius to his feet, taking his arm around my shoulder and I lead him, and his limping, dying body the long walk to the River of Thames.

...

I set him down next to the bank, near the area we met before.
The light in his ambitious eyes was fading fast.

My adrenaline was running out and I had no energy left. No energy to move, no energy to think.

I lie down next to Cassius, my head resting on his chest.

I hear his rasping, dying breath. Deep inhales, winces, and small curses leave his ruby-stained lips.

"Brutus-" Cassius weakly groans.

I tilt my head to look at Cassius.

"You have to run, Brutus. Get out of London. Get out of England," he requests of me.

"Cassius, not without you. I won't go without you."

"You're mad." He told me, a deep cough leaving his heaving chest.

"I know."

...

We lay on the muddy ground in silence. I listen to his dying breaths as I reminisce on the mornings we awoke together. My head pressed to his chest, listening to the thump of his steady heart and the beautiful sound of his breath.

Our silent moment was interrupted by the drumming of unified footsteps

"Brutus..." Cassius rasps out. He sounded weaker than before, resembling the sound of the winter's merciless wind.

"Cassius? What is it?" I lift my head off his chest, adrenaline coursing through my veins once more. In the distance, a troop of soldiers and cavalry came our way.

"You're the only person I've loved." He told me. He deeply grunted as he used the last of our strength to sit up.

He places his pale, shaking hand, behind my head right at my nape. He pushed my head into it, so our lips could meet one last time. His lukewarm blood stains my lips like his.

"Cassius- " I shake my head, placing both of my aching hands on the sides of his face.

"Tell me you love me, Brutus."

"I love you, Cassius."

"I love you too, Brutus."

I peck him on the lips once more, as the final living breath fizzles out of his lugs.
His body goes limp and I lay him down to rest. In anguish, I grab the sword that took the life of Cassius.

Golden-haired Cassius.

Cassius.

Cassius with the most ambitious, chartreuse eye that no one could dare pull off.

I bring myself to my feet, the army growing closer.

This is what I wanted in my last living moments.

To die a free man.

I plunge the bloody sword into my chest in one swift motion.
As I topple to the ground, in immense pain. The sounds of war and bloodshed are around me. But all my mind is able to focus on is the gently rushing of the River of Thames, playful lapping at the banks, and lulling me into my final moments.

So many extraordinary things were brought to me from the River of Thames. Love. Hate. Arguments.

Resolution.

And death. Death of my own being. Death of my soldiers.

Death of my dear, dear Cassius brings me back to simpler times.