Volume V: The Tragic End of Treason

Chapter 15: Let Slip the Dogs of War

            Tick.                                       

            Wake up, count the clips and get moving. Plan was still set for midnight, but this time we had more time to prepare - we were ready half of forever early. We’d been ready for this for awhile. We each had half a dozen weapons hidden throughout our persons. Hadrien would be getting into the thick of it this time, Toryn would take the rifle and work off long range. Whether she’d done sniping work or not when we were younger, I don’t know. But this is Toryn, she’d make it work somehow. Besides, Hadrien was physically strong, he would be more useful in the hand to hand stuff than she would, especially in her...weakened condition. So it was for the best.

            Eleven. Get everybody together and go. We would sneak into the warehouse, hide in the rafters, climb down as rooms emptied out. We’d pick off as many as we could before drawing too much attention. We were hoping to take out a good number before the man got word that there were stowaways in his ship. Then things would get interesting.

            So we got there, crept past security and got up in the rafters. It took a bit of work and effort, but we managed. Toryn would be staying here to cap off as many as she could before they caught on. All weapons were silenced. We got in, up top just fine. The layout worked in our

favor. It took an hour to get down and sneak into corners that were safe. By the stroke of midnight, we opened fire. We had been separated as a result of sneaking in, moving from the outer most areas to the center. By 12:30, they had a clue something was going on. The main room was wide open, there were corners to crouch in. We were all settled in somewhere, waiting. Marcellus swept into the room, spinning around, his arms outspread.

            “So, where are my challengers? Huh? Where’s the competition? You’ve wiped out a few good men in your way, so, come, make yourselves known.” He clapped his hands, looking around the room. Hadrien stepped out first from behind him, gun leveled, Galat from another side, and I stepped out right in front of him.

            “So, this is all that remains of our brave soldiers? This is all that remain to fight the war for innocence? You three fight for freedom? That’s it? Is this a joke?” He was laughing at us as  he turned to face each of us. He had guys everywhere, we knew it, we were outnumbered. He took a step toward me. “Someone’s missing. Tell me, where’s baby sister?”

            Click. Bang. Bang, bang. Another few guys down, and Dev staggers into the room. She looked around and smiled at her brother’s sinister grin. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

            And someone opened fire and we all split and ran, shooting as we could. I tried to keep track of our own, but I couldn’t keep sight of numbers. Cellus’ guys came flooding out from anywhere, we were outnumbered....a half dozen to one. It was insane. After a few minutes, I lost track of Dev and Marcellus altogether, I assumed they were having a personal bout elsewhere. I was trying to get near any of our team, our trio. I saw Hadrien fighting tooth and claw with his fists with a few guys, weapons forgotten. Galat was in close combat too, but guns were still involved. I was having my own troubles, but I saw the guy coming at Hadrien from behind, gun in hand. I tried to break out of my fight, but seeing Galat move, I didn’t worry. But the screams and the shot and the separation of guys...something wasn’t right.

            The crowd spread and thinned out. I went running to the guys on the ground, Hadrien among them. Galat was shaking, smoking gun in his arm, left hanging at his side. I grabbed him and shook him to get his attention. He didn’t move. Marcellus came wandering into the scene, his own hands bloody. He was smiling, a gun in his own hand, still smoking. He looked around at the crowd, then clapped, loud and pompously in the silence. He was grinning ear to ear, satisfied with himself. He called one of his boys over, whispered something in his ear, and his crew cleared out, carrying bodies with them. We were left standing there. Galat, shaking, a tear down his face. Hadrien on the ground, breathing shallowing, blood staining the floor around him. Me, dazed. And Cellus, the man himself. Laughing his insane laugh.

            “Good job. Taking down your own, makes my job easier. Run along home kids, and bring your baggage with you, it’s taking up space here.” He kind of kicked Hadrien softly, poking to get a reaction. Hadrien groaned and squirmed. “Still alive?” He glared at us. “Get this...thing out of here. I don’t have room for anymore dead men.”

            “We’re not leaving without Dev,” I muttered. Galat went to comfort Hadrien, trying to get him to his feet.

            “Dev?” He smiled wider. “I’m sorry, but she won’t be joining you. Not for some time now. I could send you to her if you’d like.”

            “What have you done, you fuck, you scumbag, where is she?”

            He crept over to me, his eyes hard and focused. He was barely an inch from me, I could feel his breath. He put the warm end of the pistol under my chin.

            “With luck? Hell. Though I’d settle for Purgatory. Unless you’d like to join her in her torments, I suggest you learn to ask fewer questions.”

            He held the gun there, cocked and ready. I stared into his eyes, past the flames. I merely smiled back at him, mirroring his expressions. And I stepped away. He let go, not caring. He waved the gun at Galat and Hadrien.

            “Get out, and take the cat with you.”

            “What?”

            “The tiger in the rafters,” he whispered. He pointed the gun at a few random places. We edged toward the door, leaving him looking up.

            “You heard me, didn’t you? Get the hell out, you claimed many of my good lads, go, get the hell down here and leave with your bastard army. Get the hell down before I drag you down, claws and all.” He was screaming, we heard his voice as we tried to leave, Hadrien braced between us, breathing shallowly. We left, shots echoing after us. There were some sounds behind us but we couldn’t go back to collect her. She’s tough, she’ll make it out on her own. She’s made it this far on her own.

            We didn’t get far before Hadrien dropped. He was bleeding all over the place, he’d already lost a lot. He wasn’t saying much and he didn’t have anything witty or inspiring to say to mark his passing. He glared at Galat for awhile, not knowing how to react. This was...betrayal. You couldn’t trust anyone anymore, this was proof of that. Hadrien didn’t say anything, he was just...gone. It was that simple. The fog rolled back in to cover the scene, Galat on his knee, at Hadrien’s side. At his side until the end, his murderer. I stood above them, watching the scene as the silent spectator. The familiar forms came from the fog, side by side, the Endless coming for their claim. I wouldn’t argue this time, it was beyond my touch. This was theirs, and if they wanted him, let it be. We’d make amends later on. There was plenty of time to fix what had been started. When they came to take the body, I just moved away. I didn’t care to see anymore. I’d seen enough. Far too much in my time.

            I walked home alone, hands deep in my pockets, my arm aching. I’d almost forgotten the hole that Marcellus had put there. Fighting like that hadn’t helped, but just another day in the life of...of...well, Havok. This was a losing battle, we’d lost the one we were fighting for. Most of the team was wiped out. We had no war, our spirit was broken. The Endless wanted this, they just didn’t care anymore. We were tearing each other apart, and for what? There would never be peace. This would never end. I walked home, lost, confused....without purpose. What was the real point of continuing with this facade?

            I reached home and dropped down in a chair, exhausted. I fixed myself a drink, lit a smoke, and waited. A lot had just happened. I didn’t know if Toryn made it out. Did I care? Dev was gone. Hadrien murdered. Galat would pay. He was the next one home, he came in, pale and shaking. The soldiers, home from battle. Weren’t we the proud sort? Loyal and true, we’d bled and lost and for what? Where was freedom? Where was the peace we strove for? Wasted. Like our lives. I glared at the figure of Galat, bent over the table. I didn’t have real words for him. I knew what I had to do. Hadrien would be avenged. I got up and shuffled across the room.

            I was still armed from the fight, I pulled out a piece with the silencer still attached firmly. Galat was almost doubled over the table, fighting for a grip on reality. I’d help him find his way.

            Click.

            Bang. You’re dead.