SEVEN: Cursed Souls

CHAPTER 44: SIN OF WRATH

The land started shaking. Ryder is then suspended in mid-air with smoke coming out of his palms. The white in his eyes turned as dark as the night. Few members fled in shock, many remained frozen in place, still processing what they were witnessing.

"MAYA!" Ryder's voice changed, its deep and roaring. "My mother is in grave danger and you thought that it was the best time to let the Witch go?" the land shook more.

Hope, although terrified, tried to get near but she fell due to the shaking. She continued to crawl towards Ryder. 

The members knew of Ryder's power to revive the dead, he witnessed him float mid-air and cast smoke during their altercation with the One-Eyed. But they never knew that his power was this intense, after some seconds of the land shaking, the wind also reacted. The windows are banging from the rage of the wind outside. The sky came next when the previously blue sky turned dark with bolts of lightning lighting up portions of the heavy cloud that was about to pour down, the sounds of thunder is heard next.

Hope finally reached Ryder and held him by the foot. She begged him to stop and reminded him that his mother is indeed in danger, more reason for him to stop. Ryder ignored her so she showed him the locket that she was able to pull from her pocket. "Maya left this with us! Let us heal your mother."

The door came open and two familiar figures appeared. The still injured James carried Victoria towards Ryder.

"You must stop this or we won't be able to heal her!"

Ryder was finally snapped back to his senses when he saw his mother. He fell to the ground and the shaking also stopped. The storm that was about to pour also vanished with the raging wind.

"Hope, give me the locket and let me heal Victoria!" James said.

"I can not allow you to do that," Hope replied, shocking everyone. "That locket was the reason why we were not able to heal Lazaro, remember? Let her drink this instead."

James was shocked to see the vial in Hope's hands but he did not stop her from letting Victoria drink the vial's content.

"Did the Witch instruct you how to use the Miracle?" James said.

"Instructions were not needed, she gave this to me hours before she was released. All she said was that it could do what she could."

Victoria finally awakened, but not for long. She was shocked to see one of his dead sons, so shocked that she fainted again when Ryder hugged her.

Ryder instructed everyone to attend to the injured. They then found out that some of them were cornered and are now held captive by the Anonymous.

Ryder knew that someone would betray him, the foundations of Skull were not strong after all. But he did not expect that the greatest betrayal would come from Maya who also lost a brother.

Although still enraged, Ryder composed himself and opened the letter from the charred envelope. He found himself puzzled to why words slowly reveal in the empty sheet of paper. The letter was never for her mother, but rather for him as he now reads of a fate that he may truly face.

"Ryder Cruz

Sin of Wrath

35, Carmine Street, Bahaghari, Bukangliwayway, Corazon

Anger is like a flame that when never extinguished would grow until uncontrolled. 

The fury within you puts others in danger, because a self righteous person can never empathize when their heart is filled with Wrath. 

A body that is now driven with wrath shall soon burn ablaze.

Death be upon you!"

Ryder wiped the tear that had tumbled down his face. It is like the world's slap of reality in his true intentions when he formed Skull. His problems in whom to save should have never occurred because he understands that despite of the sins of people is that we should try to look within and understand that they may just be victims of circumstances, even if they were not victims then he thought that it is still better that they serve their sins in this world first.

"It was Sins, not crimes, I should've never weighed my decision from right or wrong, but rather into finding the good within them and understanding their circumstances," Ryder said, "James, let's end this. Assemble everyone, I believe that even the leaders deserves a final chance. Let us confront them but instead of their death in our minds, let's consider their chance to live anew," Ryder added.

"Ryder, it's impossible. If we end that group then you know well that it would be bloodshed," Hope said.

"I know, but death is just plan B now, everyone's salvation should be considered," Ryder smiled.

A few moments later, James had gathered Skull and Fangs' members. An ally that Ryder never thought to be alive appeared in the distance.

"The Phoenix had risen."

END OF PART II: DARK