Friend and Foe

Chapter Eleven

It was never supposed to end like this.

I couldn't help thinking it as I gazed into his broken eyes. His whole body was trembling as tears streamed down his face.

Heroes are supposed to live honoured lives and die old, surrounded by family and various loved ones. Instead he was going to die in an abandoned warehouse at the hand of a former ally.

I couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity as I studied the young, gangly man on his knees in front of me. I couldn't help but wonder how many times I walked by this guy in The Hub, never knowing that one day he would go to the dark side. This thought built my resolve a little more.

We both knew where it went from there. We both knew, but it takes more than a knowledge of the future to prompt action. It takes a resolve about your faith in any one thing. I had resolve in my faith that he is the bad guy. I didn't have resolve in the fact that, though the action was necessary, was moral.

Morals had always been my guiding beacons. My morals have always been strict two tone: black and white. Like a good film. I was veering dangerously into grey area.

"Please, you don't have to do this," he begged the words, hiccupped between body shaking sobs.

I couldn't look him in the eye anymore. If I did, I'd weaken, lose my resolve. But I couldn't look away, I couldn't pretend he wasn't an actual person. That's the coward's way out. I couldn't stoop to his level.

I had to be better than him. I couldn't say I was.

I was no better than Gwen either, I was deciding who lives and dies.

The metal in my hand weighed a tonne as I raised my hand, leveling the weapon within. The cold metal bit at my skin, through even the material of my glove.

I wished Magnet was with me. My partner and best friend to give me moral support in the most dark of moments.

"I do though."

His cries became a wail. The harsh sound echoing crudely off the walls, assaulting my ears. Making me flinch.

His eyes. I couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling that I knew them.

I took a deep breath in and met his eyes. I didn't know what he saw in mine, but it was enough to have him start hyperventilating.

I pulled the trigger in one short, smooth move.

I was still trying to place his eyes as they went dull.

A set of matching brown eyes behind a blue mask flashed in my mind. A horrifying realisation, seconds, too late.

"Magnet?"