Hunter and the Hunted (Septiplier)

~~ CHAPTER FORTY-THREE ~~

I was almost completely sure that I was going to die then and there, that I wouldn't have to deal with any of it any more, that I wouldn't have loom after everyone anymore, and that I could finally be at peace. I've wanted this after all for the past three years of my life, but even as I expected to die where I was stood, nothing ever happens the way I suppose they will. Mark was in front of me as I opened my eyes and he was fighting against her, fighting her to keep my alive... He could be so stupid sometimes! Couldn't he see what he was doing to me?? Couldn't he see that he was killing me?

I'd lost Cry and Ken so suddenly, all because I wanted to be a hero and I wanted to save them all, but look at us now... There are only two of us left... And for the first time in forever, I have absolutely no idea what to do next; I hadn't been this stunned since my mother... I didn't want this... I DIDN'T WANT THIS, BUT IT'S MY FAULT! I couldn't save them! It was just a stupid dream! It was all just a stupid dream and I should have seen this coming! The man I am in love with is fighting the dog I grew strong with, both were trying to kill each other to get to me, on in the best and one in the worst way...

Mark threw Sheba off of him against the ground, she let out a low growl and pawed at the broken cement with her bloodied claws before jumping up again and doing the absolute un-thinkable.

I watched as Mark fell to the ground, the animal ripping at his neck with its teeth, pulling bits of him off and shaking them around.

"No!" I screamed, hurting my throat with the pressure of my voice ripping across the tender skin inside me. I pulled my gun up as quickly as I could and unloaded a bullet right into her brain, blood splattering against Mark's face as she fell limp and he pushed her off of himself, blood pooling below him.

I raced forwards and dropped the gun, throwing myself onto the ground beside him and getting a better look at what had happened... t wasn't good. I didn't know what to do...

"Hang in the love, I'll fix you, I'll fix you!"

His eyes fluttered open and closed with so much effort it was painful to watch, I pulled his knife from his belt and cut open my wrist, letting fresh crimson flow against my arm.

"J-Jack! No... Stop that!" Mark pleaded.

"Don't worry.. I'll heal, I'll be fine and so will you don't you worry Mark because I'm going to fix you and everything will be okay I promise!"

I held my wrist over his throat and let my blood mingle with him, because It's the only thing I could think to do, the only way I could save him.

"Jack.."

"Shhhh, shhhh you're going to be okay, I promised you that I would protect you and I will I promise, this will work we just need to give it time, okay? No... No shh look at me, look at my eyes baby."

Mark pulled his hand up with everything he had and moved my hand from his throat, letting it fall back to his side one he was done.

"It won't work Jack, It doesn't wor-k-k like t-that... Just calm down okay?"

I breathed in and nodded, watching helplessly as he drifted off further and further in my arms, what was I supposed to do?

"Mark?" I choke, "Mark, I-I don't know what to do..." I see his signature playboy smile prick at the corners of his lips as I move forward and kiss them one last time I supposed and as I pulled away he never stopped looking into my eyes. He looked over after a moment though, to the gun against the cement, and I knew what he was thinking... I knew too well.

"Mark! No, please no! You can't ask me to do that please! I can't do that for you Mark." I croak out as his eyes become glassy and wet.

"How many... H-How?" he tries to speak, bubbles erupting slightly from his wound as he does so, "How many bullets... Are-are in your gun?" He finally chokes, as tears gather in his spillway eyes of chocolate and love, all mixed together to usually calm me down but not today, today they were there to tell me that I would never be the same again.

"I can't... Mark I can't don't you make me do this..." He stops and thinks for a moment as his eyes focus on nothing in general, causing a surge of worry to surpass that sadness.

"I can't be one of them s-sweethear-t... I just can't.."

Yes, I know I think to myself as I melt into the velvet of his eyes. I didn't want that just as much as he didn't. He couldn't become one of them.

"If," he begins using what strength he still had, "I am going to die... I-I want to d-do that a-as me..." He finally finishes softly. I gently run my hand against his cheek and then through his hair before nodding to him knowingly and reaching across to the gun containing one last shot. He seems to be relaxed as I continue to move my thumb across his skin.

"There's one left..." He hums, seeming happy about it, but his eyes say otherwise. I place the gun down next to my leg and continue calming him with just my touch and gentle probably out of tune humming, until I noticed he was almost falling asleep. Suddenly I'm filled with thoughts and outcomes as I tear through my feelings and what would be the right thing to do.

"Jack?" Mark asks softly after a little while.

"Yeah?" I ask back, wondering what there was to say.

"Can you, s-sing for me? He asked weakly. I feel as though I am on the verge of losing it, feeling tears welling in my eyes but I needed to stay strong for him right now, because I needed him to think that I would be okay. I nod my head and think for a moment.. I remember the only song that meant anything to me as he fades more still.

"You are my sunshine... My only sunshine..." I whimper out, and he smiles a little, because I know he's thinking the same thing.

The song just felt right...

"You make me happy, when s-skies are grey... You'll never know dear, how much I-I n-need y-you," I choke on the words as they leave me, "Please don't take my sunshine away..."

I run my fingers across the handle of the hand gun sitting at my side, and slowly I lift it up and continue running my fingers through his hair.

"The other night dear, as I-I lay sleeping. I dreamt... I-I d-dreamt I held you in my arms." I look up to the sky and watch the clouded greys mould together, and then back to his peaceful face again.

"When I woke dear, I was mistaken, so I h-hung my head and... and I-I cried." I watched a droplet of water splash against his pale skin, but it wasn't raining... I had been too strong for too long... And I was breaking apart like the storm clouds hold on the rain.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine." I break and load the gun, quivering as I do so, Mark flinches ever so slightly, and a small shiver runs through him as he looks to me and gives a sad smile of confirmation. It was all he could muster... I could tell...

"You make me happy, w-when skies are grey." I lean down and kiss his forehead leaving more tears in my path.

"I love you Sean," he whispers, and I smile as best I can before letting myself continue, readying myself for what was next, and I lift the gun ever so slightly as his eyes flutter closed and his heart beat slows.

"You'll never know dear, how m-much I-I l-love... l-l-love y-you..."

I pulled the trigger, and Mark's once deep brown eye's shoot open to reveal a dull brown grey... Just as the clouds above, maybe because that was where he was now...

"I am so, so sorry for this love... But I've finally found my reason..."

I moved his eyes closed again, and rested with him, tears spilling with no hope of stop and I don't believe they every will... They will never stop...

"I am so sorry.."

I reach into my pocket and load one more bullet into the gun before placing the barrel under my chin, my fingers resting against the trigger and I shake with sadness and fear.

One... Last... Time

I feel like I hear him calling my name, but I know it's not true...

"I'm coming with you..."

"Please don't take my sunshine away.."

BANG

~end