Shudders: Reclamation Day

Chapter 57 - The End

    She hasn't felt this much relief in so long.

    The glowing yellow of her eyes dimmed as her hands slowly pulled away from the two demons' heads.

     It wasn't like 6 years ago. It wasn't like the theatre, where she ran and didn't see the bomb take their lives away. But now she sees them, no life in their bodies, not even a single breath in them. This was what she needed all along. To see them truly dead.

     To see them finally out of her life for good.

"(Y/N)- oh my god!"

     She felt a body drop down to hers and pull her away from the corpses as arms wrapped around and held her close. It took her some time to be brought back to reality but when she turned her head and her eyes met those of her husband who cried tears of relief, her own started to build up, and soon she was diving on top of him as they both embraced each other tightly. Afraid to let each other go in fear of losing the other again.

      She looked up when she heard the sound of a gun dropping and saw Axel rushing towards them before dropping to his knees and joining the embrace. He was laughing hard but felt like breaking down. So many days of dread, stress, anger, and sadness finally crashed down on him and he finally let it all out with his close friend back in his arms. "Oh fuck- you're alive! Holy fuck you're alive!"

      (Y/N) sniffed back her tears and shook her head as she held them both tightly. She was fully convinced she would never see them again. She felt ashamed for even believing it. For giving up on them. Giving up on herself.

"H-How-" She pulled back and rested her hands on their faces she had missed so much. "How did you-"

"You told me to find your husband."

     She turned around at the voice and her eyes rested on the tall figure that was Yama who stared down at the corpse at his feet. "So I did."

'He found them?' That's why he was gone for so long? How Tuca and Vam somehow manage to find her first? He went and told them where she was. Having to prove to them that he was her friend and not an enemy to them. It took some convincing but soon Jules agreed to listen to them while Tuca and Vam went to get a head start to confirm for themselves if it was true. Jules had given them radios to contact them and upon seeing her alive with the two demons, the whole team picked up speed and raced over.

     (Y/N) pitifully watched Yama look down at his brother and lower to his knees. His hand reached out to Akai's face and gently closed his eyes, finally putting his brother at peace.

"I'm sorry." She whispered. Even after everything Akai did, he was still Yama's brother. His twin brother.

"Don't apologize. It had to be done." He sighed. "It makes me feel better knowing he's at peace now."

     Jules and Axel helped pull (Y/N) to her feet before Jules slinked his arm underneath her legs and lifted her up into his arms. She silently thanked him, having no energy left in her body to move.

     The Chief turned to the rest of their team and once they saw their Head Keeper safe and sound they all erupted into applause. Some even shooting their guns in the air which made (Y/N) tiredly chuckle.

"Fuck this mission. We're going home." Jules grunted as he started carrying his wife out of the stables. There was no way in hell he was continuing the job after all of this. After being without his wife for weeks and finding her on some farm injured and almost killed. He didn't care how much trouble they were going to get from this. This was his wife they were talking about.

     Axel wiped away his tears and went to pick his gun back up before turning to the team. "Make sure everyone is alright and treated for their wounds. Salvage the vehicles and prepare for a long trip home."