Crossfire ~ {Book 2 in the Emerald of Annihilation Trilogy} #Wattys2017

Chapter 28 ~ Young Lives

Previously....

3rd Person POV.

Dylan glared at Henry. An arm lifted to wipe the still falling tears from his face. "Do you want to get yourself killed?!" Henry was usually a calm guy. But this was madness! Dylan was always a man of calm. Of peace. Wanting nothing to do with fighting or violence.

"Let. Me. Go." Dylan dragged out through his teeth. He tried to snatch his arm from Henry's grip but to no avail. "Do you want Lily to come back victorious, only to find you lying in a pool of blood?!" Dylan's eyes softened. "L-Lily...-" "Yes, Lily! The girl you love! The one who left to keep us all to safe! You think she wants us to just blow everything up, while she's out there risking her life for the sake of all of us!"

Henry rarely yelled. But this boy's antics had him nearly shouting at the top of his lungs. "Give me one reason why I should let you go to kill this phycho with nothing but a hot-head and a gun!" Henry had a point. Dylan had nothing for protection, save his tightly clenched Sig.

His old grey shirt wouldn't be much of a help against a gun or knife. But he didn't care. The pain of seeing Lily helpless before him. Her on her knees, scraped up, bleeding and weak, made his heart drop. "It's not just Lily." He admitted.

Henry nodded frivolously. "Yeah, yeah, I know. He's the one who has been chasing you and your mom all over the globe, nearly killing you guys and-"

"He murdered my father!" 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Henry staggered back at Dylan's sudden outburst. "H-He what...?" He asked, his voice cracking due to nervous surprise. Dylan gripped the gun tighter in his fist. The painful silence ate away at his soul, making him feel worse than he already did. 

Henry watched in disbelief, confusion and sympathy as a tear trickled down his friend's face. Dylan bit his lip, trying to keep from crying. But it was no use. The memory of his Father having that argument with the mystery man with eyes full of evil that night made Dylan's blood boil. That man had been none other than Marcus Houston.

"Dylan.....?" Henry rested his hand reassuringly on his trembling shoulder. He hated seeing Dylan like this. He was usually a cheery spirit with a smile on his face. Now he was contemplating killing someone! He was a wreck. 

Dylan looked up. He dragged his arm across his eyes to dry them. He squared his shoulders and determination burned in his usually innocent doe brown eyes. "I'm going to make Houston pay for what he did, Henry. You're not stopping me." There was only one thing left Henry could say.

"I'm coming with you." 

Dylan looked up at his friend. "No. I have to do this myself." He turned to leave, but Henry caught his wrist. "Dylan," His voice was stern. "I need to go with you. I won't stay in my bunker while you're risking everything for a vendetta you can't finish."

Henry lifted his chin defiantly. Making sure Dylan knew he meant every word. They all needed to get out of there. How much longer before Houston decided to sic his 'bright eyed teenage trainees' on them? 

Dylan sighed and nodded, turning and heading for the weapons room. "Let's go get Amber and get geared up." Henry nodded and followed him, looking around to make sure they were not being followed. 

The two boys made their way to the weapons room. A few recruits passed them, nodding in greeting, and continuing on their path. Henry spotted Amber in the corner, ordering deliverers where to set down the new weapons and protections like vests, shields, and medical supplies.