RED HOOD ✔

21: DARKEST NIGHT

I caught a glimpse of Nathan's blade through the window, but there was no sign of Nathan himself. Cautiously, I stepped inside and found him slumped behind his desk, unconscious yet again. This guy spends 96% of his life knocked out, I thought bitterly as I stepped over his limp form. I pulled the lever beside him, hearing the familiar creak of the trapdoor opening. Below, the staircase spiraled down to the Crooked Blade.

As I descended, guards rushed past, their attention fixated on something ahead. Not one of them noticed me, thankfully. Their singular focus made my task simpler—I was going to kill Marshall.

I slipped into his chamber, moving as silently as possible, and let an arrow fly into the back of the chair. But the chair was empty. Marshall wasn't there.

Cursing under my breath, I left the room, creeping through the shadows in search of him. The noise from the main hall was deafening, and I guessed that's where I'd find him. I kept low, sticking to the dark corners. When I finally saw him, my suspicions were confirmed—Marshall sat grinning like a tyrant on a makeshift throne, lifted on the shoulders of six kids as if they were nothing more than furniture. Below him, in the midst of the crowd, a fight raged.

I climbed swiftly up the wall, mounting a chandelier that hung precariously above the chaos. From there, I had a perfect view of the battlefield. Among the fighting, I noticed a man in black, fending off the Crooked Blade. He was skilled, but clearly outnumbered. It wouldn't be long before they overwhelmed him.

Without hesitation, I leaped down, landing beside him with a thud that sent the crowd recoiling. Marshall's eyes lit up with twisted delight. "Vincent! You came back!" His voice dripped with venomous glee, his grin widening into the maniacal smile I had come to hate. "Seize him!" he ordered.

Ignoring Marshall, I turned to the man in black, noting his twin swords flashing in the dim light. "Who are you?" I asked, deflecting an incoming blow from one of Marshall's men.

He failed to shoot a reply back.

I glanced at him. He was skilled—far more than just some vigilante—but his techniques... "Why are you here?"

"Trying to kill Marshall," he said, his movements precise and efficient as he dispatched another foe. "It didn't go as planned."

So, he wanted Marshall dead, too. I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. Killing Marshall had been my intention just minutes ago, but something inside me twisted at the thought. If I killed him, would I still be Vincent? I hated that Anna had been right. There had to be another way.

We fought together for twelve grueling minutes, taking down Marshall's men one by one. As the last fell, Marshall barked, "Open the gates!"

The sound of metal grinding filled the room as a circular gate opened. I heard the hiss before I saw it.

Oh no.

"The serpent..." the mysterious man whispered.

It slithered out of the gate, its massive form winding into the room. The beast was huge, easily towering over us as it reared its head, ready to strike.

Without hesitation, the mysterious man sprinted toward it, dodging its snapping jaws. He moved like a shadow, slipping past the serpent's attacks and mounting its head. He was about to plunge his swords into the creature's skull when the serpent violently flung him into the air.

Time seemed to slow as the serpent's jaws opened wide, ready to swallow him whole.

I didn't think—I just acted. I drew an enchanted arrow, feeling its purple aura pulse through my bow. I released it, watching as it hit the serpent square in the head. The beast recoiled, disoriented, giving the mysterious man the opening he needed.

Midair, he sheathed his swords and summoned a spear, its tip igniting with a fiery aura. With a fierce cry, he drove the spear into the serpent's skull, and the beast erupted into flames, collapsing into a smoldering heap.

Now, it was just us and Marshall.

The mysterious man turned toward Marshall, his voice cold with vengeance. "Finally, I can kill you and avenge my brother." His arrows flew with deadly precision, taking down the men carrying Marshall's throne.

"Revenge?" I asked, as realization dawned. That spear... I knew that spear. "Josh?"

He didn't respond, only moving toward Marshall with deadly intent.

"Don't do it, Josh," I called after him. But he was consumed by rage, deaf to my pleas. Marshall, sensing his impending demise, attempted to flee, but Josh shot an arrow into his leg, sending him sprawling to the ground.

"My brother died because of you!" Josh screamed, his voice shaking as he unsheathed his swords. He raised them high, preparing to strike.

"Josh!" I shouted, desperate. "Your brother wouldn't want this. He would never want you to kill in his name. Please, stop!"

He hesitated, his swords inches from Marshall's throat. Slowly, he fell to his knees, sobbing.

For a moment, I thought it was over.

But then Marshall, with a sick grin plastered on his face, pulled a dagger and pressed it against his own neck. "You know, I didn't feel a thing after killing your brother," he sneered. "I wonder how I'll feel after killing you."

"Let him go, Marshall!" I demanded, my anger surging.

He laughed, a twisted sound that grated in my ears. "You think I'm afraid of you, Vincent? I'm not afraid of death."

I narrowed my eyes, my voice dropping to a dangerous growl. "Marshall I swear if you lay a finger on him..." I yell right before I get cut off by the mad man.

"You'll do what Vincent??? What can you do to me?" he yells his questions as he tosses Joshua to the ground.

"You all are held back by the morals of people generations before us, listening blindly!" he continues, speaking almost theatrically now. The passion in his words traps both our attentions, we stood still and terrified as he goes on.

"I'm the monster because I oppose the norm? I'm the monster because I live on my terms?"

Josh gets up and dusts himself, looking at Marshall straight in the eye. "No, you're a monster because you ruin the lives of others on whims" Joshua said, fear no longer apparent in his demeanor, staring the mad man down.

Marshall smirked, preparing his lips to let out the most heart aching set of words

"The strong take from the weak boy, maybe if your brother was a monster like me, he would still be alive"

crimson splattered everywhere, it happened in an instant, it took me a sec to realise what had just taken place, Josh retaliated and sliced his dagger across Marshall's throat.

Marshall lays on the floor, no struggle in sight, in fact, he was doing quite the opposite, he looked at peace, he slowly moves his lips to let out these last final words, "you know it's kind of funny, I don't think I remember your brother's name"

And with that, his eyes fluttered shut.