The Changed

Chapter 34- Tess

I saw Ed's eyes widen and his lips shape a warning. Everything seemed to slow down as I turned around to face Frost as the knife in his hand descended towards my heart. I knew it was over. I couldn't move or do anything. There just wasn't any time. I stared into Frost's eyes which were blazing with anger. The glinting knife was fifty centimetres away. Forty centimetres. Thirty... I closed my eyes, waiting for the sting of the knife to hit my chest...but it never came.

I felt a hands on my shoulders pushing me to the side. I tumbled to the ground, rolling over in the dirt. What happened? I scrambled to my feet as quickly as I could. What I saw made me scream. Nick stood in front Frost with the knife sticking out from his chest. Scarlett blood was all over Frost's hands and spilling out of Nick's wound. Nick sank to his knees, staring in shock at the knife. Edward was frozen to the spot, his mouth gaping. Caleb's face had gone deathly pale. Cain was expressionless but knowing him, that meant he was angry. Nick's eyes were wide. He was gasping for breath. Everyone was silent until Frost started laughing. It was a cruel, piercing laugh that penetrated my very skull.

"I don't think you'll be saving anyone now, Captain Garland," he growled. "You got yourself stabbed in the heart for a stupid little girl of no relation to you. You are such an idiot!" Nick glared up at him.

"At least I have a heart," Nick rasped. "I love her and that was enough." He collapsed on his back, unable to say more. I felt heat rise up in my palms and face. How dare Frost laugh.

How.

Dare.

He.

I screamed, fire exploding in my palms. I saw fear in Frost's eyes. He turned and ran but tripped up on his trouser leg. I stalked after him and shot a fire ball at his back as he was getting up. His jacket was set on fire instantly. He screamed and shook it off but not before kicked him in the stomach. He groaned and rolled over, stumbling to his feet. "Now Tess," he said, his voice shaking. "Let's be reasonable now. I was only trying to help the world." I punched him in the nose with my hands still on fire. He held his nose, cursing as it blistered.

"Don't you dare talk to me!" I yelled. He held on his hands to try and protect himself but then I kicked him where I know it will hurt. He moaned, collapsing to his knees. I raised my flaming hand, ready to finish him off but a hand on my shoulder stopped me. "Tess," Edwards soothing voice said in my ear. "You don't have to do this. Be the better person. This is what Frost would do. Show him something he doesn't have. Mercy." I listened to him because he was right. Could I kill a man in cold blood? No. This wasn't who I am. I lowered hand and extinguished my fire. "Thank you," Frost grovelled. "Thank you, thank you, thank-"

"Save it," I growled at him. "I don't want your 'thank you'." I turned away but Frost caught my wrist.

"Don't you turn your back on me, Tess Halister," he said. "We could do great things, you know, with that fire power of yours. We could do anything. All you have to do is-" He never finished his sentence. There was a gunshot and a splatter of blood. Frost fell backwards. Dead. I turned to see Cain, holding a gun in his hand. He nodded at me, letting me know that we had seen the last of Frost.

"Nick," I said to Edward and we both turned and ran back to him. He was lying on the ground, his chest moving up and down slowly. "Nick!" I cried, falling to my knees opposite Caleb who was trying to put some pressure on the deep gash in Nick chest. The blood was pooling around his body. Way too much blood.

I pulled Nick's head onto my lap. "Your going to be OK," I told him. "You are not going die and leave me. Not now. I order you."

"I might have to disobey that order, ma'am," Nick gasped. Edward had knelt beside me now and gave Caleb a worrying glance as he helped him. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Cain trying to signal some more of the Changed to come over. "Permission to be honourably discharged, ma'am," Nick rasped.

"No!" I cried, no longer able to hold back the tears. "Please Nick! You've been there for me and Edward since the start. You can't leave us now! I love you Nick! You're like another older brother to me! I need you to look after Ed and I like you always have since the day I met you. Please..." Nick held up a hand covered in blood and stroked my cheek.

"It's OK, Tess," he whispered. "I'll always be there for you to talk to. I'll always watch over you and Edward and Caleb. I love you guys too. You're my family. Remember that." His eyes fluttered shut. "Thank you for being my family." And his chest came to a stop.

"Nick!" I cried. "Nick! Please!" I cried over his body. Edward held me as the sobs racked me in painful waves. Caleb bowed his head, tears pouring out of his eyes. I bent over and kissed Nick's forehead, wetting his face with my tears. I couldn't believe he was gone. He had been there since the very start and he had given his life for me. Now he was gone. Edward rocked me gently and kissed my head. "He completed his mission," he whispered in my ear. "He is at peace now. Let him go." We stayed like that until Commander Palmer came and ordered Nick's body to be taken away for his funeral. She, herself, had a tear in her eye as the body was taken away. I stood up, holding both Caleb's and Ed's hands, and we made our way to the truck to be taken back to the base.

***
I sat at the big business table in the Commander's office, tracing circles on my hand a couple of days later. I had just got in from Nick's funeral. They had buried him with full honours and more. They had also built a huge memorial to remember all who died that day. Nick had a special monument at the spot where he died, claiming him to be a hero, which I knew he was. Caleb and Edward had stayed behind to pay their respects alone. I knew that Nick's death affected Edward more than anyone, maybe even me. Nick had always helped Edward, no matter what.

I heard the door click suddenly and Caleb entered, wearing his black funeral suit that matched my black dress. "Where's Edward?" I asked. My voice was fragile and my eyes bloodshot from crying.

"Still at the memorial," he replied. "He wanted some time to be alone." I nodded. Caleb sat down with a sigh in the chair next to me. "I can't believe he's gone," he murmured.

"I know," I said.

"Mother is feeling his loss," Caleb said. "Nick was meant to help her with the broadcast tonight." The broadcast. Caleb's mother was going to tell everyone in the world tonight what really happened. How it was the government's bomb that caused all that death and they were the ones doing all those terrible things but blaming it on the Changed, who were completely innocent. She is going to join with other humans to make a new government. A fair one. "What do we do now?" I asked. "Our lives have been awful for ever and now we're free from fighting, what do we do?"

"What Nick would have wanted," Caleb said, taking my hands. "Whatever we have dreamed of. To be together and be happy."

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Hey guys!!!

I'm feeling really sad. I can't believe I killed Nick. But I had to do it to make it a good story. Please don't be mad at me...

Comment and vote as always....if you think I deserve it after what I've done....

CricketCat