The Selection of Prince Creed

CREED

It was a little freeing to know one was going to his death.

I wasn't scared of death. I wasn't scared of the pain.

I was scared of all that I was leaving behind.

Stepping down from the plane, I could make out Fraser and Chadwick. Axl was a steady presence behind me.

Once my feet touched the ground, Chadwick brought out Sebastian. Or the shell of Sebastian.

My brother was even thinner than Dad was, his body covered in dried blood. I didn't want to think about whose it was.

But he was alive.

And walking towards me.

We met halfway.

"What are you doing, Creed?" He wheezed, his body trembling with the effort to stay standing.

I pulled him into a hug, wincing at the frailness of him.

I didn't answer his question, "Sean and Axl are waiting for you at the plane. Dad and Tristan are at home waiting for you."

Relief lit in his eyes.

I let go of him and send him in the direction where I know Sean and Axl are waiting.

And turning back to Fraser, I squared my shoulders. As predicted, when I reached him, the soldiers around him forced me to my knees.

And as the first fist hit my jaw, all I could think of was of a certain girl back home.