We Live Forever

Chapter 34: Family Is Forever

Crimson's POV:

We finally put the military uniforms on and manage to resist the urge to rip them right back off. With a calming deep breath, we exited the closet and emerged back into the terrible real world we lived in. 

For no reason in particular we headed down the right side of the hallway we found ourselves in. Clearly, we were headed towards the action because we found quite a few soldiers unconscious, but alive on the floor. There wasn't much evidence of gunfire and there was a distinct lack of blood. 

We continued on, following the path made up of unconscious soldiers. Suddenly I heard something, I reached my hand out and stopped Hank. He looked at me confused and I gestured toward my ear. It sounded like someone was crying. 

Confused, but determined we silently counted down for turning the corner toward the noise. What I say made my heart shatter instantly. 

Cortes was sitting down on the floor with Den's head cradled in his lap. Cortes was crying and gently brushing the hair out of Den's eyes. 

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It should've been me. I'm sorry," Cortes muttered.

Den's limp body was littered with bullet holes. Both and Den and Cortes were coated with blood. Cortes slowly looked away and looked at me and Hank. Tears were streaming down his bruised face. 

"They killed him. They killed my little brother."

They were brothers? It certainly explains a lot. 

I walked to Cortes and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Who did this to him?"

"The other soldiers. Den- he was trying to help the other mutants and our men turned on us and- and they gunned him down. He was just trying to do the right thing and they slaughtered him."

"I'm sorry Cortes, he is a hero. He deserves better."

"I- I should've protected him, I'm his big brother. Shit, he only took this job to spend more time with me. He's dead because of me..."

"No, no you can't blame yourself for this. You, you made him a good man, a hero."

"I- I can help us guys get out of here. Those other mutants were looking for you, I can take you to them and finish what my brother started," Cortes was practically begging us.

I looked over to Hank and he nodded. Cortes gave us the smallest of grins. I stood back up fully and watched Cortes. He slowly moved Den's head off his lap. Then he pulled Den up onto his shoulders in a fireman's carry.  Blood dripped off Den's body and onto Cortes and the floor. Numb to the situation, Cortes reached to his side and pulled a small pistol out from its holster. 

"Family is forever. You don't leave your family in a place like this and with men like these."

Cortes turned and started to walk down the hallway, effortlessly carrying Den with him the whole way. Hank and I started to follow him. Hank stuck his hand out and I took it. 

"Forever."

We continued through the halls with Cortes ruthlessly clearing a path for us. He didn't hesitate at all to shoot any soldier we saw, it was slightly terrifying. 

That was until he heard a large group of footsteps coming our way. Cortes put a fresh magazine in his gun and readied himself. Hank's skin started to tint blue and I balled up my fists. 

But when the group turned the corner they weren't threats. 

They were family. 

Our family.