Diary of a Sociopath

Chapter 12- Nothing to Die For

Making it up the ladder, I placed Ava in the car across the way as I handed her the keys. "He knew you would come..." She said with a shaky tone as I placed my hand on her cheek. "I was terrified to think you would."

"It will be alright. But if for any reason...something goes wrong, you drive like hell...promise me."

My gaze caught hers as she nodded. I went to move away before feeling her hands on my collar, pulling my body towards hers. Suddenly her lips pressed against mine as she apologized. I told her to save it as I moved ahead to the field across from Ramone. Staring at him from across the grass, I saw how he had two men at his sides, both armed with heavy artillery and ready to use it on me if necessary. I never thought much about my own death-but I prayed if this were to be the time I would die, that it would be unseen by Ava-she was already in so much pain.

"Are we going to draw like Englishmen?" He asked with a .22 in his hand, while I had mine at my side. My eyes moved to the men at his side before he motioned them away-much to my surprise. "You should have killed me that night...Because after I place a bullet between your eyes, I am going to take your girl there and make her scream my name, like she never could yours."

"You will have to kill me first." I said sternly. Before I could raise my gun, he had his pointed at me as I shifted, making his bullet just graze my shoulder. As I moved, my gaze caught Ava as she was leaning far in the seat, trying to see the battle ahead. My sight moved to Ramone as his eyes were wide. The other men moved to his side before he motioned them back.

"He is mine!" He said as he went to shoot three more bullet-not one getting anything important. When I stood back in full, he glared to me before motioning for the men to hand him his bigger weapon. An M16 was now on his hip as he pointed it to me.

"A shame...a man with a reputation-not able to get a single shot..." Quickly, I raised my gun and shot out twice. Both times, missing the supposed target. But upon examination, the  men at his sides were now upon the ground. In the wake of his surprise, I now possessed an even bigger gun then his as well as a grenade from one of the men's belts.

"I am not afraid to die..and you know it. So why don't you put that gun down..."

"I am not a fool-you will not let me live."

"I will. But not among us. I am going to barricade you underground. Similar to being buried alive. And before you know it...you'll become crazy-hear and see things that aren't there. Then you will beg for death-and it won't come. Because all your weapons are here and what will claim your life will be the starvation or dehydration."

"You wouldn't risk it."

"You took the one thing that meant anything to me. But I won't let her believe what you've been telling her. I heard you that night-saying how monstrous I was."

"You are! Leaving me to die!"

"I am showing mercy. But I better not ever see you again..." I cocked the gun back, demanding he throw his weapon forward as he smirked.

"I can shoot you faster than you can..."

I rang out my entire clip as he squinted. Upon opening, he turned to see the walls behind him show bullets outlining his body. One even clipping his hand.

"You have one of two choices...go down willingly-or by force."

"I have never been a man to be a prisoner. If I am...it will be at my hand-" Without warning, he lifted the gun to his head and shot as I tried to stop him. But it had been too late. He fell to the ground as the gun was then at his side. Switching it for the one in mine so it appeared a murder-suicide, I wiped my prints, and moved to Ava as she was shaking.

I brought myself to the drivers side as she was now beside me. Her gaze did not leave me as she was between shocked and terrified. When we made it to her house, she sat still beside me. I turned to her as her gaze slowly moved to me.

"Are you okay?"

"Am I..." She scoffed. "I was beaten, attacked, berated, but you came...even after I was angry at you...You keep saving me...and I don't deserve it..."

"Ava...this is not a time to argue...you need to go to the hospital-you've got wounds that are gonna get infected."

"I don't care-I need to get this out..."

I nodded as I could see the tears forming in her eyes.

"I was petrified for Matthew...and lost without out. I thought about how you saved me before and I felt so at peace. But when you came in...I was fearful they would kill you then-but somehow...you get rid of them first...almost like you have no soul..."

"Does it scare you?"

"Yes." She wiped a tear before placing her hand on top of mine. "But I know you wouldn't hurt me-or Matthew. I can see it deep in your eyes."

I nodded before placing my other hand on top of hers. "You are my reason for being sane, Ava. You and your son have become such a part of my life I can't even...I can't imagine you not in it. But if I scare you that much-"

"No....I don't care what you do...as long as you don't lie and never hurt us...I don't care..." Silence filled the air between us as her hands fell to my cheeks. "I love you, Lincoln."

The words felt like an offset heartbeat slowly molding into mine. Almost painful-but just the right amount. My sight caught hers as I moved forward, taking her lips gently into mine before she winced. I then insisted we go to the hospital and through several minutes of convincing, she finally went.

Waiting for six hours, I found there were four broken fingers, a sprained arm, several sets of stitches and a section of internal bleeding-all aided by the medicinal team. Never in my life had I been so thankful of doctors. When she was allowed to go home, I brought her to her room before Matthew was then dropped of by the parent of his friend before being reunited with his mother. We both told Matthew she had been in a car accident-so he would not be scared. And it was a lovely sight for him to lay beside his mother; watching television, reading books, and even sleeping in one each other's arms.

But something deep inside me, told me this was far from over...