RAIN

Chapter twenty one

The raindrops grew heavier. Jet pushed himself to his feet, still latched onto Anya's hand. He drove the children behind him and tried to aim at the grandfather. The other man pointed his shotgun at Jet, ready to fire if given the authority. The grandfather's eyes dropped to look at Rain's cargo. A mocking grin crossed his face and he chuckled.

"I see you found him."

"You didn't even care enough to put him in the bog. You just left him there like he was nothing but garbage."

"And he was."

The rustle of the leaves in the trees stole Jet's attention. The sun was coming up behind the dense clouds, lifting the gloom slightly. The drizzle had become a downpour, beating the surface of the water that had surged onto the roadway.

"Jet, take my cousins with you and go. Don't look back. Just get them out of this place."

Jet stared at him. His sanity was being tested. It had hurt when he thought that Rain had died, it had left an emptiness in Jet's heart. He had longed for nothing more than to see Rain one last time and there he was. So how did he now just walk away and leave him here to die?

"Rain come with us please," Anya said as though she could read Jet's mind.

"I can't. Now don't be stubborn. Not here. Go!"

"Rain!" she cried out. Her eyebrows furrowed and her tears started trickling down her face. The pain that she felt was perceptible. These children had lived an unusual life and the only thing that had been a constant to them was Rain and they feared to live without him.

"Rain I can't leave you. The kids can leave. I already told them where to go."

"Go Jet! This is not your fight. I promised you that you're going home to your family. I will not let you die because of me."

He frowned at Jet, those frigid eyes had turned into a raging fire of emotions. Looking into them, Jet could feel all the pain and defeat that Rain had borne in his life. A heaviness crushed him. The burden was difficult to bear and yet Rain had done so every day of his life. Tears manifested in those burning eyes as he stared at Jet. A deep longing surfaced in them and Jet realized with a clear apprehension that Rain didn't want to die here. He wanted to come with Jet and continue where they had left off but faith had chosen differently. This bond that had consumed them both would be broken here, either by death or by Jet walking away. His heart broke in his chest, he didn't want to let go. Rain was a part of him, a part of his soul.

"I can't."

"You have to. Please Jet..." he said as tears trickled down his mucky face. "Please help them. I love you so much. Never forget me and tell your grandchildren about me." 

"I will."

"Rain, the world has forgotten you long ago. What makes you think, he'll remember you? Are you something so special? You're just a little lost boy who sells vegetables in a rickety shed with his grandmother. It's all you ever were and all you will ever be," the grandfather said and then he chuckled. Rain turned to face the old man. The sound of footsteps made its way to them. Light, floating footsteps that were difficulty to trace.

"Maybe so but at least my little cousins will have a chance to become something better than your slave."

The old man twisted his mouth into a sinister grin and then he lifted his shotgun and aimed.

"NO!" Rain's voice echoed as he dove forward and grabbed the gun.

The bullet exploded in the ground next to Jet's feet. The man who had attempted to drag Anya off lunged forward in an attempt to take Rain hostage. Jet threw himself on him. They tumbled to the ground. Jet balled his hand and slammed it into the side of the man's head. In front of him, Rain was wrestling with his grandfather for the gun.