Karta Stryker

Chapter 25: Back Together

Before I knew it, I was back in the trusty Ford Mustang, travelling the countryside of Greece with the gang. Everything felt right once again, and Marcus had his favourite 90's compilation CD blasting through his ancient car radio. Marcus sang the tunes Hotel California by legendary rock band The Eagles, tapping his fingers in unison with the iconic vocals. Soon, Jade joined in, singing just as out of tune as Marcus. I finally shook the reluctance off, and I began to sing my heart out as well. Arcadia remained silent, seemingly guilted by something. She refused to have fun. She believed it to be a time waster. The singing uplifted our spirits, and encouraged me to ask Arcadia to join in.

"Come on, sing along!" I smiled.

"Nah, you guys are rocking it." Arcadia shrugged it off.

"Ridiculous!" Jade tugged at Arcadia.

A smile whimpered its way onto Arcadia's face, cheering her up a bit as well.

"I know we gotta save the world and shit, but downtime on the journey to get there is fine!" Marcus yelled over the top of the subwoofers.

Arcadia smiled at me through the side view mirror. I smiled back, and nodded inquisitively. Arcadia nodded back.

"Chorus is coming up guys!" Marcus signalled.

After the opening G chord of the chorus, the four of us began to sing.

"Living it up in Hotel California~!" Our voices joined together in unison, as we joyfully slapped our legs to the beat.

We all started laughing spontaneously. Anything negative we might've thought about each other was no longer on our minds. We enjoyed each other's company. We felt like a team. And like any good team, there's a storytime between its members.

"Marcus, tell us about yourself." I asked.

"Pardon?"

"You never really told us your story, so...?" I reinstated.

"Oh, yeah. Guess I could share a bit."

Higher Ground by Red Hot Chili Peppers started to play on the radio.

"Have a family back in Canada." Marcus started.

"Children?" Jade asked.

"Nah, I'm the youngest. I look after my grandma, and all of her children. And all of theirs. Too poor to hold themselves up." Marcus sighed.

I looked at Marcus, as he stared starkly over the steering wheel.

"That's it... that's why you live-" I began.

"A life of crime." Marcus sighed.

Jade looked at Marcus, empathy dressed upon her face. Jade knew the responsibility of caring for others; it was her who looked after the kids at the orphanage.

"They are where they are because of someone named The Gambler." Marcus continued, tapping his fingers to the bass line of Higher Ground.

The name struck through my head with a reminiscent tone.

"The Lucifer wannabe." I added.

"You've heard of him? Not surprised. He's a bit different to Lucifer, you don't get as much out of it. He reaps nothing but the benefits."

A shine of determination gleamed in Marcus' eyes.

"I'm hoping one day, just one day, I grow strong enough to kill the fucking bastard."

The premonition within me only grew, knowing I was bound to Galgamere in a very similar way. He is directly responsible for everything that's happened, for everything I've been through.

"I have no idea what I'm doing." Arcadia sighed indirectly.

"What do you mean?" Jade asked.

"I didn't exactly have a shit life. I was well looked after, well fed, and had many friends I could talk to. Sure, it was all a lie, but Karta had stopped them before they could do anything. I have him to thank for that. So what I do after this, only God knows." Arcadia supported her jaw with the lower part of her palm.

Only God knows.

I hated that phrase. It would suggest that he would be responsible for even a single thing that happens. If God is in fact real, he's nothing but an anarchist. He wants to watch the world burn.

"Do you guys think God exists?" I asked the group.

Marcus shrugged dismissively.

"Never been much of a religious guy, but considering all the crazy shit that has happened... I wouldn't put it past me. Ya know, the fact that he exists."

"God isn't a he. She's a Goddess, watching from the Astral Chaos. The Overseer." Jade interjected.

"What, is that some sort of theory or...?"

"No, I know it to be. Samma'El serves her." Jade smiled.

I tipped my chin up, looking at Jade through the rear view mirror.

"She got a name?" I asked.

"Sumatra."

Sumatra.

The name from my dream.

But... Collodion?

"Is there another... God?" I inquired.

Jade looked puzzled at first, furrowing her brow, then relaxing her facial expression to speak.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, an alternative to Sumatra?"

"There's the other end of the pole. Where all darkness and destruction reside. Samma'El didn't tell me this, but I saw this... thing in my dreams. I felt bound to it. I know not it's name, but it's title." Jade seemed to coil up, pulling her knees to her chest as her feet pitched her against the backseat.

"It's title... is The Adversary."

Jade didn't know who Collodion was. Neither did I, I only had the name, but apparently I have more to say than Jade, which was very rare. Jade always seemed to know. She was the wisest among us, and yet the youngest.

"What do you reckon you'll do after all of this?" Marcus asked, his eyes drifting to the rear view mirror, looking at Jade.

"I'm going back to the Orphanage. Make sure the kids are okay." Jade declared.

There was no reluctance in her tone, only certainty.

"And finally, el hombre himself. What's your plan for the trip home?" Marcus smiled at me.

I took a long and hard think about what I actually would do. I hadn't thought that far yet. Would I go back to Blood & Roses, to continue my mercenary work? No, that's never gained traction, and I was never much a business man.

"I don't think I'll be home for a very long time. I have questions. Lots of them. I need to answer them. As soon as all of this is over with." I closed my eyes and sighed.

"I need to know the truth about my family."

The CD scratched within the radio, seemingly changing volume. Australian grunge hit Tomorrow by Silverchair starts to play, bringing the mood back up.

"But no one got anywhere by talking about the future." Marcus spat cheerfully.

"Galgamere awaits!" Jade put on an accent reminiscent of a cowboy, as Marcus wooped.

He slammed his foot down on the accelerator, the V8 engine roaring loudly, as we took off into the sunset.