The Vigilante Book 1

Teaser

If I gave you the truth would it keep you alive? Would it justify my actions or condemn me in your eyes? I did my duty. I fought both beside and against him. I did what I had to, and so did he. Now I chronicle his story through his eyes.

-Drake Hensley.

"Are you sure? Is this the right thing to do? After all we've been through, I'm not sure I know right and wrong anymore,"

"In the world we live in..." Dale began, "There isn't such a thing as certainty. It was the right choice for me when I chose to follow them,"

"But are they actually doing the right thing?  Or am I just trading one master for another to serve?"

"We all serve...we serve countries, we serve nations, and we serve ideals. We all have our masters. sometimes  Thame, it's better than just running from the next bullet though. We all need something too believe in. I know the government turned its back on you-,"

"And who's to say these Vigilante won't do the same? Who's to say they won't see me as a threat and try to kill me, just like your people did?"

"They won't,"

"You sound certain," I stated gruffly.

His face softened slightly as he regarded me.

"They won't as long as you don't give them a reason to. You don't even have to be loyal to them, just be loyal to justice,"

"That's all huh?"

"And to that," he stated, gesturing to the blade at my hip that had been given to me.

I rested my hand upon the handle of the sword lightly.

"Remain vigilant, remain strong, and do what is right in your heart, not what someone else tells you to. We've both served enough masters who used us as their tools," Dale told me, "Now it's time to take our fate into our hands. We do what we believe is right,"

"And what if that take us down a darker path?" I asked solemnly, "Like it did Bryant?"

"Then we'll just have to deal with that if the time comes," he replied.

Dale turned and slowly left the quiet and sad place we stood. I knew he couldn't stand the memories. I stayed and looked at the young woman who had been wordless nearby for some time.

"I know we've never met," she began, "But I've heard so much about you," she said to me quietly.

"Same," I replied.

"Is it true? Were you there with him at the end?"

"Yeah..."

"Did-no. I'm sorry. I know you don't want to talk about it,"

"It's okay,"

"What did he say?"

"He said-," I began and paused.

I thought of the dying words of my ally and friend, the man who had selflessly given his life for me and then with his last strength, transferred his memories and experiences into my mind. I remembered what he told me just before he died.

He said it was better this way.

"He said he loved you," I told her after a moment of silence.

A tear came to her eye and she sniffled. Without another word, she left the cemetery much the same way Dale had.

I alone stood on the small hill with the grave near my feet. I felt as though a small funeral with only five people who arrived to mourn, a small charcoal gray tombstone, and a twenty-one gun salute, somehow didn't give this man the credit he deserved.

"Goodbye,"