Cities in the Sky • Fan Fiction

Alternative Ending 1, Part 2

He fell off and landed next to me. Without a second thought, I got on top of him and slammed my fist into his face. He was already foaming at the mouth, but it now had blood mixed in with it. I punched again and again. A broken nose, two knocked-out teeth. His face was bloody and mangled by the time I was done.

I grabbed the briefcase and stood up. I grabbed his pistol and aimed at his head.

He smiled and then laughed. "Do it." he mocked. "Be a hero, save the world. Come on, Peter. End it. Make the tough call."

The others were still fighting. Good people were dying, and it was all his fault.

My rage and adrenaline were back. I moved the aim down his body and pulled the trigger. I heard a scream that I'd never heard before. it echoed around us. I shot again, blowing off his other kneecap.

"I am making the hard choice: not killing you."

His eyes were rolled back. He seemed to be seizing in between his screams. Blood was everywhere, making a dark mix with the ash.

I looked at the control panel on the briefcase: 20:09

This bomb surely had the power to wipe out the whole cluster. Kill millions. If I made it to the end of the rock on time and dropped it down into the Void, would whatever gravity we had here take it far enough away?

I looked at the quadricopter, the motors still whirring.

I didn't know how to fly. But, it was already started. I didn't need to make some expert landing, just get far enough away to keep the cities safe. Maybe there wouldn't be much radiation, and everyone would be okay. Lee, Moira, General Eastford. Hannah.

I moved towards the quadricopter. If I got in and start flying, I might just blackout, but maybe I'd get far enough. Or maybe they would just shoot me. Or I might just die from blood loss. Nevermind that, it needed to be done. It was time to die.

I threw the briefcase into the quadricopter, struggling to climb up as bullets showered around me, hitting the ground and blades.

I almost got in when something strong ripped me off and I fell to the ground, pain pulsing through my shattered shoulder.

It was Connors. "How?" escaped my mouth. Connors fell to the ground on top of me.

I saw movement: Hannah. She climbed into the seat, briefcase in her lap. She looked at me, with tears glossing over her eyes, chesnut hair stuck on her quivering lip. She was truly broken.

"Hannah, don't!" I called. I pushed Connors off of me, my body screaming. I struggled to get to my knees.

She turned her head sadly and smiled: "I told you, Peter. There is no place for me in the world you're building."

"Wait!" I leaned against the quadricopter. "I'm going with you."

I climbed up into it with every fiber of my being. My vision greyed, and I was slipping fast.

"No, Peter" she snapped. "You're an engineer. People need you. I'm just a spy. I shouldn't be here."

"Hannah, I've done my job. Served my purpose. People can't expect any more of me. I've been a hero three times. That's enough. Let me die."

She moved in and kissed me. I could taste the blood. Hers, or maybe it was my own. The display glowed brightly: 12:57.

"We have to get moving", she said. I moved to the other side and strapped in. She closed the glass dome over us and fiddled with the controls, bringing us into the air.

"Are you sure you want to do this Peter?"

"Go!"

We jerked up and around, and then turned, flying straight down into the endless void.

5 minutes later

We held hands for a few minutes, and then looked at the clock. 02:00.

She turned to me, the hurt obvious in her eyes. She leaned in kissed me. She removed her shirt, the scars visible all over her beautiful body.

The timer started beeping, and I looked around her.

10

9

8

7

6

5

I thought of Hannah, Lee. Moira. Chicago. Life. I hope they will all be okay.

4

3

"I love you" Hannah and I said at the same time. We moved for one last kiss. And then all white. A thought crossed my mind: oh how nice to feel the warmth of the sun. Was this heaven?

I love her, I thought.

And then there was nothing.