Rebellion

Shadow of the Day

Shadow of the Day

"Please....please don't kill them....they haven't done a thing wrong," he begged as Mike held a gun to his son's head.

"Neither did my family, but that didn't stop you did it?"

"I said I'm sorry, I would change it if I could. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. And if you can't, please take me instead. They're just kids."

"So was my brother."

The gun went off twice and he screamed.

"Dad, it's alright. I promise. It's alright."

He shot up in his bed to see Isaiah sitting next to him. The boy was holding his hand. His chest heaved and he was sweating. He saw Draven sitting at the bottom of his bed. They were both okay. Nothing had happened to them. He slowly calmed himself down.

"The doctor is here for you again, he wants us to leave, is that okay with you?"

"It's fine Saiah," Chester managed as he hugged his son, "Go ahead."

Draven gave him a hug tightly before following his older brother out the door. Chester watched them go before rubbing his hand over his neck. His throat was badly bruised ever since Mike tried to kill him. The therapist walked in and gave him a smile.

"Hello Chester," he said, "Are you feeling alright?"

"I guess," he rasped.

"Would you be willing to talk to Mike again?"

"I.....yes," he said quietly. He knew he'd hurt this man beyond repair and maybe Mike was right. Maybe he deserved to die for that. The man nodded and sat down on the edge of his bed.

"Why do you agree to talk to him?"

"I don't know."

"No I think you do know, you just don't want to say it."

Chester looked away. He wanted Mike to forgive him. Or if he couldn't forgive him, at least maybe give up the revenge. He wanted to apologize to the younger man because he was truly sorry. The memories he had tortured him every night. The man he'd been was someone that he was afraid of. But the parts that played over and over in his mind were the worst. The part where he murdered Mike's family, when he blew up an office building full of innocent people, when he threw grenades into crowds of people in the streets and watched the blood fly, and..........when Scott died. The only positive thing that came out of that whole hell.

"I'm going to bring him in now, is that alright?"

"Yes."

Chester slowly sat up and tried to push his thoughts from his mind. He was going crazy and he knew it. Mike walked in and sat down across from him. He saw the younger man's eyes travel to his neck and he smirked slightly before shaking his head. The doctor guy was gone and he was alone.

"How many more times are they going to make me talk to you?" Mike asked finally after about five minutes of sitting in silence.

"Mike, I know you hate me, you have reason to, but can you please take me seriously?"

Mike narrowed his eyes, "Can I? Of course. Will I? That's the question."

"I'm so sorry about what I did to your family. I know that no amount of apologies will ever make it up to you but I want you to know that I am truly sorry about it. It haunts my dreams every night, there's not a night I don't relive what I did."

Mike was waiting for him to continue and Chester tried to control his pounding heart.

"I never.....I never wanted to hurt anyone. I thought....I was manipulated and played by Mark and I had no idea there was even a world before this. I thought it had been this way all along. It's all I knew. I thought I was protecting people. I had to follow orders.....it wasn't my choice."

"So you're making up excuses now?"

"No I'm not. I just want you to know that I would never have done anything like this if it hadn't been for the amnesia. I may have been a cruel kid, but I changed. I just wanted you to know that I accept full responsibility for my actions and I'm so sorry about what I did to your family and your little brother."

Mike glared at him, "You better be. Is that you wanted to say?"

Chester nodded, "I know how it feels to lose a loved one."

"Oh yea?" Mike asked angrily, "How?"

"It feels like you'll never be whole again. It feels like someone took your heart and tore it out of your chest. It feels like the entire world is just out to get you. I lost Scott."

"You guys were real serious then?" Mike asked in a bored tone but it was better than his usual anger.

Chester nodded as tears filled his eyes, "He was there for me when no one else was. It just happened the one night and....."

He trailed off. He could still picture Scott's face as they goofed around in the bed before they had to go on missions. How warm he'd been when he would wake up in the older man's arms.

"How'd he die?"

"We were in a fight. He died saving my life," Chester found himself saying as he relived that moment. He remembered Scott shoving him out of the way and taking the bullet straight to his chest. "He took a bullet for me."

"I'm sorry."

He looked up in shock at Mike who was sitting in his chair staring at him. He swallowed and nodded his acknowledgement before looking away.

"I mean it."

"I know."

They sat in silence for a long time before Mike finally stood up, "I don't forgive you. I still hate you. You deserve to die. You're being tried tomorrow. Hope you get death."

Chester watched Mike leave and shut the door and he couldn't help but agree with the man. He almost wanted the death penalty too. Then he'd stop living through nightmares every night. He laid back on his bed and let out a choked sob. Talking about Scott had gotten him all worked up again.
That's how his boys found him when they came back in. Isaiah was immediately at his side, comforting him and holding his hand. Draven was sitting on the bottom of his bed. He was so proud of his boys. They'd grown up into such perfect and caring boys.

"I'm sorry dad," Isaiah said quietly. Chester just shook his head. He didn't have anything to say. He knew he worried Isaiah when he acted like this but he couldn't help it. He was subjected to the worst things imaginable. He was either reliving his sins or watching his boys die every night. It was unbearable. He wanted a way out.

"I'm going on trial tomorrow," he said softly.

"They won't hurt you. I won't let them," Isaiah said quietly, "You're my dad and that's all you've ever been."

"Isaiah, you can't ignore what I've done. I know you want to but you can't."

"I can. I know you would never do those things. The president hurt you to make him do what he wanted."

Chester sighed softly and squeezed his son's hand gently, "Yes, but most people don't know that. And most aren't willing to forgive me for what I've done."

"They.....They won't....kill you will they?" Isaiah asked softly.

"I don't know what they'll do," Chester managed. Isaiah's eyes filled with tears and he hugged him tightly.

"Don't lie to me dad. You were never good at lying. I always knew when you were lying. Dad, they can't kill you," Isaiah sobbed and Chester felt his own tears fall down into his son's hair. Draven was clearly upset by Isaiah's outburst and had crawled up next to him as well.

"Don't cry Saiah," Chester managed as he kissed his head softly, "We don't know what's going to happen."

"We just got you back," Isaiah whimpered, "I don't want to lose you for good this time. I can't protect Draven like you can. I'm not ready to be alone. I still need you."

"Saiah," Chester croaked, "Stop."

"I can't lose you. We don't have anyone else. They have to see that. They can't kill you, I won't let them. If they kill you, they'll have to kill me too."

"NO!" Chester said angrily as he grabbed Isaiah's shoulder, "You do not throw your life away for me. Do you understand that? No matter what happens to me, you are to stay with Draven. You are not to die for me or with me. Do you understand me?"

Isaiah looked at him in shock and Chester realized that he was crying harder than he had before. The thought of his son dying was just overwhelming.

"I will be happy as long as you and Draven are okay," he said softly, "I don't care what happens to me, as long as you two are safe, I'll be okay too."

Isaiah buried his head into his shoulder and his shoulders shook. Draven was crying softly next to him and Chester pulled his younger son into his lap.

"You're going to listen to your brother okay?" he said softly, "No matter what happens to me, you will stay with Isaiah and listen to him okay?"

"Okay daddy," Draven whispered. Chester kissed Draven's forehead and sighed as he stroked his fingers through his son's hair.

"I love you two so much. I'm so proud of you."

"Love you too dad," Isaiah said softly, "We'll be with you no matter what happens. And if it comes down to the worst ending possible, we'll be right there next to you."

"I wouldn't want you to see that."

"I won't leave you alone there. You deserve to be with the people who love you."

"I already am," Chester sighed softly as he hugged his two boys against his chest. He didn't want to leave them behind. He'd already done that once. Tears filled his eyes.

"They're so beautiful," he whispered as he held his older son in his arms. He smiled at his wife, Talinda, who was holding Draven.

"Are you sure you're going to be alright with taking care of them? I will be gone a lot with the military."

"I know. I can handle it Tali," he said with a small smile, "I mean, how bad could it be?"

Talinda shook her head with a smile, "You'll be a great father, Chester."

He smiled slightly as he bounced Isaiah in his arms and kissed his head gently.

<><><><>

​"Dad! Dad!"

​He blinked his eyes open and climbed out of bed. He walked down the dark hall to his son's room where Isaiah was sitting up in bed with a blanket pulled up to his chin. He sat down slowly.

​"What's wrong huh?"

​"I had a bad dream," Isaiah whispered, "Will you stay with me?"

​Chester smiled slightly, "What was your dream about?"

​"Mom didn't come home."

​Chester swallowed. He had that dream sometimes too. "Well, she'll be coming home like usual. Maybe not yet, but she will be soon."

​"You'll always come home too right?"

​"Where else would I go? I couldn't leave you two here."

​"Okay," Isaiah whispered. Chester smiled before laying down in the bed next to his oldest son.

​"Now, you get some rest and I'll be right here okay?"

​"Alright," Isaiah sniffled softly.

​"And if you have a bad dream, don't try to fight it. Just know that I'll be right here when you wake up to tell you that it's okay."

​Isaiah nodded and closed his eyes. Chester laid awake long after that. It was kind of hard to work a full time job and watch his boys. He was exhausted every night but he still found himself helping Isaiah and Draven sleep after a bad dream. He kissed his son's forehead.

​"I'll never leave you."

​"I promised I'd never leave you two alone," he choked out as tears ran down his face, "I'm so sorry."

​All three of them were a mess. But that's how the day ended. Chester snuggled his sons against his chest, knowing that tonight could very well be the last night he had with them.

​"You won't leave us alone," Isaiah whispered finally, "Because no matter what happens, I'll always remember you. You'll always be with me, dad."

​He bit his lip to try and hold back his tears. His body shook and Isaiah held his hand.

​"Don't be afraid, dad," he breathed, "Because no matter what happens, I'll be right here to tell you it's okay."

​Chester felt Draven hug his waist and he looked down at his eight year old. He smiled slightly.

​"You're going to get so big," he said softly, "And I'll be so proud of you."

​"You're going to be okay, daddy," Draven said, "Because you're brave and strong."

​It was quiet for a long time. Chester sighed softly as he stared into the dark air of his room. Silent tears continued to run down his face and he wanted to pull himself together but he couldn't. He deserved this at least. He deserved to have this time with his boys before he died.

​"God just wants another angel, daddy," Draven said softly, "He just wants you to be an angel."

​Isaiah was crying hard into his shoulder again and Chester kissed his younger son's head. Draven fell asleep and then it was just him and Isaiah. He smiled slightly at his oldest son and ruffled his hair.

​"I love you so much," he said quietly. Isaiah nodded.

​"I know. I love you too. I'll take care of Draven. I promise."

​"Thank you," Chester said softly, "If you....if you ever find mom, tell her I loved her too okay?"

​"I will."

​"Go to sleep," Chester whispered, "I promise, I'll be here when you wake up."

​Isaiah nodded and gave him a watery smile, "I know. Because you always are."

​He watched his son fall asleep and then closed his own eyes. He was ready now. If they wanted to kill him tomorrow, let them. He had everything he needed. Let the sun set on his time. As long as this torture was over and as long as his boys were okay, he was okay. And as the moon shone in through the bars on his window, he snuggled up against his boys and smiled.