Caught Red Handed

Chapter Fifty-One, Desperate for Love

Tom's Perspective

I desperately pushed past soldiers that were either fighting or fleeing, trying my best to get to the large beast pinned to the broken medical lab. I rushed towards the dying creature, attempting to change forms quickly. My powers weren't working. Something wasn't right. It's like the type of magic I was used to had been corrupted by Tord's demonic blood. I have to get to him. I have to save him. The bleeding creature weakly gurgled before closing his eyes, signaling the end of his pain. No. No. No he can't be gone. I quickly approached the fallen beast as the attacker flew away, placing my hand on his large body. I couldn't feel his pulse. It was gone. My hand tightened on the deteriorating skin of the dead beast, warm tears finding their way down my cheeks. I couldn't save him. With all of this power I have, even the power from him, I couldn't save him. He died before my very eyes. I'm the most powerful being on this planet right now, and I couldn't save a single person.

The background noises seemed to drown out as I broke into a sob. I did this to him, in my own way. He decided to resurrect me, as payback for his own actions. Yet he gave me much more than that, and I couldn't even save him like he did to me. I can't bring him back. I barely felt the pair of arms pulling me into a hug. I didn't feel anything but deep sorrow. We were getting to know each other, our real selves. And now he's gone before I can tell him half of what I wanted to. I thought that I would get to go to bed tonight holding him, and maybe listen to him snore. Or just hear his voice again. See him smile with these new human emotions he's never shown to anyone else. I can't hold him again. I can't tell him I love him. I can't even see his face again. All I have is this huge dead corpse that doesn't even look like him anymore. It's just a twisted mass of flesh and bone, slathered in blood. "Tom- hey- hey shh.. C'mon we have to get you to a safe place. Tom please listen. Tom.." Edd's voice softly coaxed.

I made a weak attempt to hold onto the male comforting me. "Let's get you safe Tom, walk with me." He gently spoke and slowly guided me away. Away from that decaying body that was once my.. Partner. My lover maybe, if we had continued our lives together. Edd helped me to walk every shaky step, holding me up to keep me stable. I couldn't see straight with the tears streaming down my face. Once I was carefully lead down into a bunker, Edd held me close while sitting. I relished his warmth and pressed my face into the soft material of his clothing. "I know how much you're hurting Tom, just relax here with me. You'll be okay." He whispered reassuringly and rubbed my back. I was shaking so much. "Can you say something Tom? It's okay if you can't. I just want to help bring you out of this shock." He asked and I closed my eyes, taking a few shaky and choked up breaths. "Y-yeah-." I responded and choked again, clinging to Edd for any comfort.

"Alright, alright.. Good. Just try to breathe with me Tom, alright? We can't be having a heart attack right now." He told me and helped me to slowly even out my breathing. Eventually I was breathing at a fairly normal rate, still extremely disturbed and upset. And still crying, of course. "Now we can just relax here until it's over Tom, just relax.. Matt's got a blanket for you too, if you want it." He offered and gestured to the ginger who was hunkered down next to us. I looked over at his concerned expression. "Yes.. Please." I politely requested and tried to relax as Matt wrapped a warm blanket around me. I can't tell you how grateful I am to have these two right now. I settled in Edd's arms and tried to calm down, but my mind was still racing with thoughts about Tord. I listened to Edd soothe me while I attempted to relax my mind. This would be a day I'll remember forever.

One (and a half) Year Later

Now that my army and I have finally taken over the world, it's been rough to force pedestrians to adjust to the new life style we're enforcing. It's worth the trouble though, because our system will help make the world a better place. And no, it's not communism. It's something better.