Gray Feathers

The End Of The Beginning

Slowly, Linda walked towards the tree line, swinging her gun around with a firm hold. She kept her eyes peeled, looking. She entered the greatly damaged forest, her guard up. She jumped at any branches that snapped, and pointed her gun wildly about. Only until she spotted a spot in the ground, where two trees crossed to form a small barrier out of view, she breathed.

"I know you're here, Nex," she called out. "Come out, with Jessica, please."

Silence met her answer. It was so silent, Linda, for the first time, began to doubt her antennae's abilities. Fortunately, Linda heard, with her muted human hearing, a rustle within the enclosed area.

"I'll ask you once more, Nex. Come out, now," Linda said firmly. "I will help your friends, should you surrender. But if I have to force you out, I will not help your friends, and they might die. They looked in bad condition, last I left them."

Quietly, leaves rustled, and a head slowly poked out. Linda smiled triumphantly while Nex slid out of their hiding spot, with a bloodied body behind them. Their eyes were downcast, as they carefully held the body of Jess, lovingly. "Please," they said quietly. "Please keep your promise. Don't let her, or any of my friends die."

Nex looked awful, their wings were cut at the tips and blood was bleeding out from multiple places, their side, their head, their wings, it was everywhere.

"I won't, I promise," Linda smiled, despite the bloody body, and the defeated person in front of her. She had won. "Now, come along." She gestured Nex forward, and they walked in front, with Linda right behind with the gun.

They marched out of the forest, and into view of the van of the others. When they saw Nex's tears and the bloody body in their hands, they all gasped.

Cathay pounded on the van door, desperately trying to get it open.

"Enough of that!" one of the guards shouted, pointing his gun at them, causing Jake to suck a breath in and Ethan to growl. But Cathay continued struggling, ignoring the guard.

"Cathay, that is enough," Linda said, calmly, grabbing Nex, lifting the gun, and setting it against their head. "Sit back in your seat, or I shoot them." Cathay immediately stopped trying to open the door, turning paler. "Good, thank you."

"Let them go," the Mogadorian growled, showing his teeth, despite the blood running down his face and his wheezing breath.

"Not yet. Nex, please slowly open the car and set Jess next to Cathay. If you make any sudden movements I will shoot," Linda shoved Nex forward, they stumbled and almost fell over. They righted themself, shaking but okay.

They opened the van door and carefully set Jess' bloody form on the seat. They took off their own, torn, bloody overcoat, and covered Jess' cold body. Nex quietly checked to make sure that Jess was still breathing before they backed up and closed the door.

Quietly, before the door closed, Cathay could hear Nex whisper, "I'm sorry," and the door slammed shut. Nex raised their blood covered hands above their head and surrendered to a smug looking Linda.