Star vs. The Forces of Evil - Never Hold Back

Chapter Twenty-One

The towering beast glared down upon Alfonzo, baring its yellowed teeth as slobber slithered in between them and fell to the ground below. The monster had the appearance like a sort of hellhound with a long neck, pointed ears and gleaming white eyes that lacked any sign of pupils. It's mangled black fur didn't shine in any light, only the parts covered in blood gleamed only slightly. Alfonzo stared at back it in a defying manner, withdrawing his sword and preparing his stance.

“Alfonzo,” Starfan13 called. “What are you doing?!”

“Just run!” Alfonzo yelled over a thunderous growl from the monster. “You need to get to safety!”

Alfonzo darted out of the way of the snapping jaws of the giant canine, slashing at its legs as he ran past them.

“But what about you?” Starfan13 objected.

Alfonzo didn't answer. He didn't have time to answer. He was in complete focus on the fight, narrowly avoiding getting stepped on by the ginormous, bloody paws several times. Starfan13 watched with deep concern, trying to think of what to do. She looked back at Matt, who had hunkered behind a pile of rubble to hide. His body still quivered ceaselessly, and his voice still muttered its own prayers and swears. Thinking quickly, Alfonzo began to clamber up the leg of the howling beast. Before it knew, he was atop its back, clinging onto its matted and tangled fur for dear life. The monster began to turn it's long neck back to clamp its jaws around him, only to see him raise his sword. He slashed at the menacing behemoth’s wet nose, making it growl in pain and withdraw its head away from the seemingly fearless swordsman.

“Let's get you out of here,” Starfan13 said to Matt. “It isn't safe.”

“Dammit, Darcy...” Matt’s quivering voice coughed. “I haven't been safe in ages.”

Starfan13 stared at him for a brief second…

… “Darcy” …

~☆~

Death is a peculiar thing… a life, a perspective, vanishes into the unknown as their machine stops working. The brain is left to replay their memories until they all fade away. It's just the machine shutting down… forever. It's inevitable, nobody can escape it, and although it's happened since the dawn of time, nobody knows what happens after death. Nobody can come back and tell them, nobody of any afterlife, if there is one, had uttered a word of it… or maybe they have… No one can be so sure. Even then, some are lucky enough the stand at the edge of fate, only to be brought back by the power of science. While science can save, it's also what kills.

Science… is everything, Jackie thought as she felt the body of the general grow still. It's so strange... how she faded away like that… It's somewhat fascinating...

“Well, we tried our best,” Janna sighed with a minimal hint of sympathy. “What should we do, guard the place or fight? Maybe one of us should stay here?”

Jackie stared at the newly dead body, pondering the options and what fates they hold.

“I dunno what you're gonna do,” she began as she looked up at her comrade. “... but I know that I'm going out. I could save so many people, so many of my friends...”

Jackie shuddered at the memory of the endless gaze through the dead eyes of her friend Lynn, who was shot in the cafeteria over a year ago at the time. She knew Lynn well, and a lot of her other friends were still alive… Their chances of surviving would increase if she went out to help. Janna nodded respectfully at her decision.

“I will admit,” Janna commented. “I do crave some bloodshed, naturally, but if you wanna go out and do what you think is right, saving a bunch of lives and all, I won't stop you by leaving myself.”

Jackie smiled at her thankfully.

“Thank you,” she said quietly before she stood. “Dispose of the general respectfully… don't sacrifice her to the devil or anything.”

Janna couldn't help but chuckle.

“Alright, I won't,” she promised. “You know, you seem to be taking her death pretty easily; I didn't really expect that from you. Are you alright? What’ve you been thinking about?”

“Oh, you know...” Jackie muttered hesitantly. “Life and death in general... it's weird.”

Janna hummed an agreement. With that, Jackie gathered her kit and pistol, heading out the door to face the frays.

“Good luck, Jackie, though I know you won't need it.”

~☆~

The halls were growing silent, or so they seemed, for the thunders of war began to slowly die down as the battle’s last survivors raged on. Oskar crept along cautiously to watch for surprise attacks around every corner, keeping his defenses in check. Several doors were open and emptied of their patients, which he wasn't sure how to feel about, since he didn't know whether friend or foe had removed them. After confirming a safe path was ahead, he rushed to the door to Blake’s room and held his hands against it. He pressed his ear against the cold metal and listened closely, hoping to hear the sound of the electrocardiogram beeping steadily…

...

But all he heard was one, droning, endless tone.

Oskar felt the clawed grasps of terror and despair latch onto his heart as he realized his greatest fear had evolved into a reality. His vision fogged as tears ran down his face, his knees growing weak and pulling him to the floor. What began as mere quivering breaths and whimpers grew into cries of agonizing misery and grief. Laying on the cold, hard floor, he continuously denied it, the death of his best friend. He had lost control of his voice as it cried as it desired, while he himself lay twitching and embracing the silence of his mind as it gave in to Blake’s fate. He had forgotten where he was, his mission, his purpose... nothing mattered anymore… Did he even want to carry on in this living hell?

Was his life even worth fighting for anymore?

...

Faintly, through the last of his cries, Oskar heard a small click and creak behind him… A hand reached out and touched him gently, gradually lifting him up to sit and pulling him into a warm embrace as each point of contact rippled warmth through him like a gentle ocean wave… Its motions were slow and loving, and its voice was that of a choir of miracles to him…

“Oh please, oh god, don't cry…” Blake whispered. “I'm okay… everything's okay… I'm here… Oh god I'm so sorry…”

Oskar opened his eyes, his voice growing silent, and moved back to see Blake knelt in front of him, his hands around him in a reassuring hold. He wiped away Oskar’s tears, worriedly hushing him.

“Did I scare you?” he asked with great concern. “I'm so sorry… I woke up a lil while ago and I managed to get out of bed and all but I…”

Halting the apology, Oskar threw his arms around Blake, taking in deep, shivering breaths as he let joy and relief drive away the pain of what was nearly a loss.

“I-I... thou-ght I lost you... f-forrr...ever…” he whispered. “...but… I'm so glad-d…  yyy-you're okay... That's… Th-That's all that matterrsss...”

Blake hesitated, unsure of whether to let go of the guilt of scaring Oskar go, or apologize again… Finally, he too embraced Oskar again, letting what could be his final day with Oskar be as good as it could be…

“‘That's all that matters’…” Blake echoed softly after the long hug drew close to its end. “Are you sure? I mean… I made you think I was dead because I couldn't remember how to turn the thing off…”

Oskar took in a deep breath as he recovered most of his voice.

“I'm sorry for not opening the door to check,” Oskar said as he let go of Blake. “I just assumed cuz… I was scared…”

Blake silently looked up and down at Oskar, pondering something that made him… uneasy, yet despite that, fascinated in a way...

“You've changed…” he muttered. “I was out for a long time, wasn't I?”