Running From Your Shadows

Chapter 16

Sam was circling his opponent again for the winning point. He glanced passed the man's shoulder to see Johnson cheering him on, but what mattered most to him was Marina standing there, cheering him on, and wearing the necklace. Sam felt a new found strength as he wiped the rest of the sweat from his face, completely wiping away the makeup. Phelyx smirked at him, as if he looked impressed.

"Nice scars. It explains how you can fight so well. You must specialize in stealth if I'm not mistaken. You must be a true warrior." Sam simply leapt at Phelyx, with the man dodging his attack.

"I'm no warrior, make that certain. I am a monster." Phelyx looked confused for a second before lunging at Sam, with Sam catching the punch.

"What makes you say that? You are clear and careful with your moves, you are logical and decisive in your thinking and strategy." Sam simply growled.

"What is a soldier to you? Someone who blindly follows orders?" Phelyx breaks free and holds Sam in a strangle-hold.

"Being a soldier means doing the right thing, no matter how hard it may be. It doesn't matter what you've done, it's what you do now. I know you're still hurting after Martin, but he would be proud of you from breaking away as a machine, because you are a true hearted man." Phelyx manages to push Sam to his knees.

"How can you say that about me? I'm a terrible person." Phelyx leaned in close to Sam's ear.

"We all make mistakes, and some cost lives. It's up to us to keep living, and to accept responsibility to not make the same mistake again."

"Because Marina needs me." Sam thought as he broke the contact by placing a strategic elbow below his ribcage, and spun them around so he pinned down Phelyx with an arm bar.

"I wish it were that easy." Phelyx chuckled, smiling. Sam couldn't understand why there was a hint of respect in the man's smile. They soon heard the round declared over and Samuel as the winner, and he helped up Phelyx.

"You know we are all here for you. We believe in you, Sam. We know you still have a good heart no matter what you may convince yourself as." Phelyx affirmed as he placed his hands on the man's shoulders. Sam nodded.

"Thanks." Phelyx then held Sam's wrist and shot it up.

"Give it up for this guy, such a strong fighter!" Sam wasn't sure how to take in all the praise and cheers from the townsfolk. It cemented a big crack in his heart, realizing what Phelyx said is true. Sam has a new family among the people of Challenger, who want to help him. Looking to the crowd, Sam could see Johnson jumping up and down with joy, and Marina smiling at him as she applauded him. Sam knew this was it, and he will get better.

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"You were awesome, Mr. Sam! You were like a big time ninja assassin, or like a stealthy secret agent!" Johnson bounced as they walked back to the Bronson residence. With them was John's mother, and Marina who held his hand. She snuggled closer to Sam.

"You were mesmerizing to watch, Sam." Sam blushed, causing a giggle to come from Marina. They soon arrived at the house, and Mrs. Bronson unlocked the door.

"Thank you for what you did, Samuel. That was a kind thing of you to do for my son, and for Martin. I'll start making dinner. Johnson, why don't you give a tour to our guests?" The boy nodded as they entered the residence, and Sam set the small award down on a small console table, next to a picture of Martin.

"Come on Mr. Sam, Ms. Marina!" The boy impatiently called out, making Sam chuckle at the boy.

The three went around the downstairs of the house, where Marina would eventually join Mrs. Bronson who was in the kitchen to help cook, and Johnson showed Sam his bedroom.

"This is my room, Mr. Sam. I'm sorry about the mess." Sam looked around at the room to see it was covered in pictures, books, and a model of the human brain on his desk.

"You like studying biology, John?" The boy shook his head as he took Sam in, and the two sat on his bed.

"No, I like knowing what the brain does, and figuring out what it does to make someone say or do something. I want to know why," the boy looked Sam in the eye, his innocent green eyes shining with a loss. "I know my dad was a bad person, but he and mom loved each other dearly. I want to know why people make bad choices, and help them." Sam smiled, and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.

"That is an honorable thing to do, John." The child raised a brow.

"You did the same thing as dad?" Sam sighed, knowing that children are very observant.

"Not exactly, but I was a different person years ago, a bad person. I was a mercenary who was broken by war after the Fall of Reach, and my partner was a worse person than me. He used me. It wasn't until a year ago I put my foot down. I wanted to be a good person again, find my heart and my mercy that was lost to me." John instantly lunged into Sam's arms, hugging him.

"You are a good person, Mr. Sam. Ms. Marina loves you very much, and believes you are a good person. I'm proud of you for not doing bad things anymore, like killing people." Johnson smiled at the man, and he in turn started tearing in front of the child. "Why are you crying? I thought men don't cry." Sam barked out a laugh as he wiped away his tears.

"John, everyone cries. Crying is a man's way of reassuring himself he is human, that he has emotions, and it's also a deep trust to allow someone to see you cry. I'm a broken man, and the only ones who've seen me cry are you, your father, and Marina." John nodded, then saluted.

"Your secret is safe with me!"