A Second Chance

Part 45 - You're awful

I don't know how long I sat there for. 

The door was shut tight, but it's clear what happened after the explosion. Not only did I lack the strength to open it, but the temperature inside the room was over 400 Celsius. There was absolutely no way that Mark or Spartan survived the blast. 

My mind still couldn't believe it, not nearly as fast as reality shaped it.

Was he really dead?

Mark was the first person I met when I came here. He helped shape a huge part of who I was, and now, I lost him. He was supposed to retire and live the life he wanted to live, but he never got that in the end. The Vipers, once again, took a good, broken soul out of this life. 

I didn't even feel any vengeance or feelings to burn The Vipers down. One, I couldn't by myself, and two - I just... feel so numb. 

Once you're exposed to something so much, you just become numb to it, in both good and bad ways. I've lost so many people: Master Wu, the ninja, Cole, my parents... Nya. And now, Mark was on that list as well, as a permanent one. 

It's kind of like when Nya sacrificed herself for me when we were in Prime Empire, but this time, I couldn't get anyoneback. It was over... his life. He was gone, forever. 

A couple tears came out, but that was all. Damn, the old me would have bawled his eyes out. I'm not going to insult anyone by calling him soft, but it's hard to believe how much harder my intrinsic shell became. 

Just... why?

Why do the good guys have to suffer this much? Like, I get it, anyone can suffer, but why did I have to go through all this? 

What do I even tell Mark's parents? I never visited them, but I can't imagine the looks on their faces once they hear that he's dead. In a way, that would probably be like how my adoptive parents felt this entire time. 

I got a call from Mr. Parker. 

"Hello?"

"Hello, Jay. Congratulations and sorry for your loss,"

"Yeah... it sucks. I... I never thought I'd lose Mark,"

"He died true to who he was. Someone who will always fight for justice. That's what he told me,"

That gave me a bit more relief. "Yeah,"

"I'll text you the details for the flight to Moscow. Rest all you need. Just make sure to register,"

"Will do,"

With that, he hung up, and I sat down. A part of me still wanted to grieve, and I would, but the police would be here soon. I would also have to get ready for what was to come. 

I got up and put my hand on the door. 

"Mark, I want you to know that I'm truly proud of you. You died a hero... no, you died a legend. I promise I'll make sure your name isn't forgotten. You took down an executive, Mark! One of the most powerful fighters in The Vipers! And best of all, you took me in. Even after everything you went through, you still had the heart to give me a chance, and it's the best thing that's ever happened to me after being banished. It is so sad that you died like this, and I hope you fly high. Wherever you went, I promise you that your actions won't be unnoticed. I hope you reunited with Billy and in the next life, the two of you be the best brothers or best friends in a world without The Vipers,"

I let another tear drop down my right eye, and I turned around, going back up that desolate stairwell. 

I slowly walked outside and was met with a bunch of SWAT members.