The Guardsmen

Chapter 12: Weeding Them Out

Once night falls, everyone gathers outside of Delia's door. The sound of her voice changing tones emanates from her room.

Suddenly, Delia screams "I can't! I can't go on living knowing that I will never see him again! He was my last hope to feel normal. He was the only person that didn't treat me like I'm a freak...I just.... Can't..."

"Leave her alone," says Acacius, "I'll handle this tomorrow"

Acacius softly knocks on her door and says "Please, be outside tomorrow around noon" then leaves.

Morning rises and everyone is back in formation. "You all have the day off!" Shouts Acacius, "Now you can prepare and know what to expect from Guardsmen"

The recruits simply walk back to the barracks. "All of you, follow me" Acacius demands everyone.

The group slowly walks into the forest.

"Stand over there," he says to Delia as he points several yards in front of him.

Hesitantly, she does. Everyone looks at Acacius in confusion. Acacius takes off his trench coat and throws it to the side. Confusion and fear spread across Delia's face. She starts to back away as Acacius walks towards her.

Out of fear, she screams "Get back!!!"

Acacius keeps walking towards her. She grabs her head and screams. Suddenly a cloud of purple smoke surrounds Delia and all 6 clones burst out, charging at Acacius. Insanity is the first to reach Acacius. He dodges her swipe, grabs her forearm, and does a full spin, and slams her into Rage. There was so much force that they both slam into a tree and fall to the ground with a loud thud. Acacius continues forward. Happiness and Shyness attack him from the sides. He swings his palms upwards into their jaws; knocking both of them back. They groan in pain as they roll on the ground holding their faces.

Greed holds up her hands, sits down, and says "This won't benefit me whatsoever. I forfeit"

Harmony glares at Greed in anger. Acacius keeps approaching. Harmony charges and throws two needles. He catches those and throws them back at her. Both hit her in the left arm. She runs up screaming at him. He sidesteps, kicks in the back of her knee, grabs her hair, and throws her straight into the ground. Then he looks at Delia and continues walking. Her face is covered with fear.

"Stay away!!" She continues to scream.

She throws needles at him, but he avoids every single one. Suddenly, she starts screaming and charges at him with a needle in her hand. When she reaches him, she swings the needle at his side. A look of surprise goes over everyone else's faces. Delia's needle is stabbed halfway through Acacius's side, but instead of dodging, he tightly embraces Delia. She looks up and sees him completely in tears.

He lets her go, looks her in the eyes, and says "I feel just as much pain as you do, but it will all be alright" She smiles.

Suddenly, Harmony tackles Acacius to the side and punches him in the face. He kicks her off. He quickly gets up, runs to Delia, and stands in front of her.

He extends his arms to the side and shouts "It's not too late Delia! We can live on in his honor!"

Harmony becomes enraged. Needles zoom through the air, but Acacius doesn't move. Each needle stabs through his arms and legs. Harmony runs up and swings another punch; knocking Acacius to the ground. He quickly gets back up and extends his arms again.

He says to her "Nobody will hurt my team as long as I'm still breathing. Akahito would not want this"

Harmony walks up to Acacius, ready to stab a needle into his head, but she jerks back a bit and freezes. She looks down to see blood dripping out of her neck. A needle sticks out of both sides. Delia stands behind them, her arm extended. Harmony glances at Delia and gets a look of betrayal. Harmony falls to the floor. Acacius smiles at Delia, then falls face-first into the ground. The rest of the day is spent taking Acacius to the mansion for medical treatment.