Mind of War (On Hold)

Alive

Creed continued walking away from the Valor residence when an idea came to him. Suddenly, he changed his course. Instead of going back to the SSS, he decided to visit his old time friend, and former groupmate, Onyx. It took Creed about fifteen minutes to get there. Upon seeing the front door, he knocked impatiently.

"Who is it?" Onyx asked from behind the door.

"Your old timer," Creed replied, he could hear Onyx laughing from the other side. The door clicked open, and Creed hurried inside.

"Wow, something must be stirring you anytime, you are at my house. Or does the entire SSS community want to pay me a visit," Onyx smirked.

"Oh please," the two shook hands. "How's your lil' sis?"

"She's doing alright, getting restless from being on house arrest though." Onyx replied.
"No word from your parents still?" Creed asked.

"No, I'm going to send Aura to live with Free when I leave."

"Damn," muttered Creed.

"What? It's not like I have too many options. I can't just leave her here. I've started to train her, but she's too young to manage alone without someone."

"It's not that I don't understand, but every road is leading to hell, you leave the Shadows will still-"

"I know Creed, but I'm at a dead end!" Onyx shouted.

"I know! Don't tell me about dead ends! If I don't come up with something soon, I'm going to be dead in a few days!" Creed yelled back.

"What? What do you mean?"

"There sending me..."

"No, they wouldn't, the SSS can't be that hopeless." Onyx shook his head as Creed sunk to the floor with his head in his hands.

"Things are bad Onyx, really bad. The Shadows are out of control at night, so no hunter can go out at night. That's hours of hunting that we usually had that we don't have anymore. Hunting by day is just not enough time, and people who are new to the infection won't come out during the day, because of the symptoms. We are losing ground quicker than ever. I don't blame the SSS, I honestly agree that there's not much else they can do. Not taking chances is not an option anymore."

"Don't talk like that man. Hold your head up, you're doing one of my numbers. What about Song? Have you told her?"

"Yes."

"What did she say?"

"I wish I could have made her hate me, so when I die, she won't feel pain. But, I was unsuccessful." Creed explained.

"You can't be mad about that, she thinks the world of you. It's nothing wrong with having somebody who cares about you and wants the best for you." Onyx put his hand on Creed's shoulder. "Just walk out."

"Oh, great, that's bright. Why didn't you just walk out? Because you know you can't just walk out! Do you know how it feels to be attached to someone, then have to let them go forever? That's what it was like when my father didn't come back from his mission, then I found out that he died trying. I've known her for about a year now, she's a part of my world. I don't want to let her go forever because I want to be with her forever. Get married and have a family, that's what I want."

"I know Creed. We want the same thing man. No one wants to die before their time. What are you going to do?"

"I've been thinking about how selfish I'm being. I'm tired of letting the people I love go forever. I don't want to cross dimensions, honestly because I know I'm going to die and I don't want to die. My father gave his life for this mission and I'm so selfish."

It hurt Onyx to hear what he was hearing, "Creed nobody wants to die. Survival is our first instinct, remember, you always told me that. Remember in our groups, I was horrible at night hunting because those Shadows are more intense than what we experience in daytime hunting. You would always tell me to get in survival mode. Fight as if losing meant death because nothing is more natural to us than surviving, it's-"

"Our first habit and the essence of life, even babies are born into the world fighting for life," Creed smiled at hearing his friend repeat the words he used to say to him. Creed sighed, "The only thing I can do is go and fail, and when I fail, I won't go back to the SSS."

"Creed, that's cutting it close, really close. You're dancing with suicide. At that proximity, the Shadows could still consume you." Onyx was worried.

"I know, but I can't walk out, this is the only option. When the Gate opens I'm going to 'fall' off the bridge-"

"And I will catch you." Onyx completed Creed's thought.

"Yes. That's still close, I know. But hear me out, I may not make it. If I don't, love Song like I would have, promise me."

Onyx's eyes became glassy, "I will, only if you promise me that you plan to make it."

"You know that I do. Onyx I know that your heart is with someone else, but I believe without any doubts that if Song needs you, you'll be there."

"One hundred, now when I take the Gate, I know that you'll protect the ones I love as well."
"Yes, one hundred." Creed promised.

The two nodded and shook on it, a few minutes later, Creed left. Onyx was happy to see his old friend again, but he wished it was on happier times. Onyx knew that he had to come through for him because Creed always came through for him. He watched Creed until he could no longer see him, the sun was beginning to set, in another couple of hours the Shadows would roam throughout the city. He reflected on what Creed had said about how hard things were getting for the SSS to fight the Shadows.

Tomorrow him and Song had to find something at Capital Q. For him, the mission would be a double edged sword, solving one but leading to another. Someone he truly cared for, was getting treatment there, as well as Bliss. Onyx's parents must have had a lead, now they just have to follow it. All he knew, is that whatever happens, he would fight with everything he had. That's what love does to someone, gives you a power that you never knew you had. His parent's sacrifice, his sister, Song, Team Liberate, Creed, their people, and her, they all made him feel alive. Onyx had lived and he never wanted to give that up. One thing about living, once you start, you always fight for life, even if it's the last thing you do.