50 Shades Delirious

The Final Chapter

A few days passed by, then a few weeks, and soon months. Three months to be exact. Jonathan and Evan had been hitting it off and turns out Jonathan's memory was coming back a lot faster than they'd all expected- of course with some collateral.

Sometimes he'd have to spend days alone where he'd lock himself in his room or take some walks or simply scream into a pillow.

Nevertheless, he was still becoming more and more him and Marcel was more than overjoyed and Luke was certainly proud.

Then a few days more and Marcel's birthday rolled around. His anniversary for building up the Aecors was celebrated on the same night. And that's when things took a downhill turn.

It all happened quickly. It all happened so, so quickly.

Bang! Marcel turned his head from the family and chosen few at the dinner table towards the sound.

Fwip! Fwip! Thud. A complete silence overtook the room as everyone's attention went towards the door.

Tap, tap, tap...

The door crashed down and two familiar, menacing faces stood in the doorway. Rachel and her father stepped in, killing the guards at the table and knocking Evan, Jon, Luke, and Marcel to the floor. They were quickly zip-tied by the wrists and held at their knees when more of the Cruors filed in and stood around the room.

A series of whippings took place. Punches, kicks, and bone breakings weren't exempted. A pistol's silencer was pressed against Marcel's head as he was prodded to beg.

"No!" he exclaimed, looking directly up at Rachel with a scowl, though his response was directed to her father. "My birthday wish? For you all to fuck off! Leave my family alone! Leave them alone for the rest of this! We haven't done anything wrong to you!"

Rachel's father snickered, and that set Marcel off. He ducked and pressed against Jon's knife, getting the zip-ties off. Rachel moved quickly, but so did Marcel, and so did her father.

Eye...for an eye.

Ear...for an ear.

Body for a body.

Whoever shot first, it wasn't determined. All everyone knew was Rachel was standing with her gun aimed directly at a blood splattered wall. Her father had a gun, Marcel had a knife, and she stood with her own bullets spraying over his body.

Jonathan looked around and screamed. Complete panic filled the air. Luke was the next to move and he was able to get Rachel around to knock her out.

"God damn it!" Jon screeched, holding Marcel's head close to his body, cradling him. Just like Marcel did to him years before. Just like Marcel did to him when he found out his parents had suicided. Just like Marcel had done every day of his life.

Just like Marcel.

And then hell broke loose.

---

No one was exactly sure what happened between the time of Marcel's death to the time that Evan and Rachel were stuck in a deep cave beneath the sewer system. No one was sure what happened to Jonathan amidst the chaos and where he'd gone off to until a ticking time bomb was revealed in the crust of the floor.

But Jonathan knew he was an emotional wreck. From his memory giving him migraines to the sudden spike in fury and depression in the wake of his brother's death, he'd gone AWOL. He didn't even tell Evan. He didn't see Luke. He'd disappeared from the smoke when the building had collapsed.

"Jesus Christ, Jonathan, shoot him already!" Rachel screamed, struggling against Evan's arms as he held her tight with a gun to her head.

"Don't do it, Jon," Evan yelled back, ready with the trigger. "Shoot her, not me. You know what the right thing to do is."

"Jonathan, please!" Rachel whined, tears streaking down her face. "This man made my father kill himself...and your brother is dead, too!"

"It wasn't my fault and you know that! Jonathan listen to me!"

The man in blue narrowed his eyes, as he watched the two on the ground that were close to being blown to bits together unless he made a choice.

Only one thing left to do.

His hand tightened around the gun and his finger readied at the trigger. "Sorry if this hurts, Evan," he mumbled, eyeing through the scope and letting the shot ring through the air.

A body fell, and the other stood in complete and utter fear when the timer didn't stop.

Tick...tick...tick...tick...

What does one do when a timer does not stop and the right choice was thought to be made? Well, of course panic once again ensues and one person is left stranded in fear on the island of, now, impending doom.

It's only a moment's realization when Jonathan sees the real answer. The ticking wasn't coming from the broken crust that Evan stood strapped to but simply echoed in speakers. The real ticking came from behind him- no, all around him. In his head.

It was coming from his head.

"Jonathan?" Evan's voice called. "Jonathan what's going on?"

Jon had to do something about the ticking. He had to stop it.

There had to be a way to stop the ticking in his head.

"Evan..."

---

Luke sighed. He sighed because there wasn't anything to say. Whatever remained of the Aecors was in his hands now. Whatever remained of Evan also was in his hands now. The Canadian stared out over the open field scattered with white, erected stones. The soldiers lined up around him and Luke. Whatever had happened to the Cruors was as gone as the casket buried deep underground.

And in the end, the only one who was able to save Jonathan was himself.

Because the only way to stop the ticking was to get rid of its source.

And that's never an easy job.

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