The Lone Shadow Templar

9: Separation

Felix

We were all victims, though Natalie the most. She was caught up in her own personal nightmare with no escape. She was being haunted by the sins of her life, of her past life every step of the way. Being hunted by the government was only the icing on top.

“F*** this sh**,” Mip slammed her glass down, sending a spray of alcoholic foam up into the air, splashing all around the bar table. A few heads turned.

“Keep it down, Mip,” Felix shushed, looking around, “We just spent eight of our nine lives getting out of there… She told us not to go back for her…”

“She can bite me,” Mip shot back, turning over to Aaru, “We have to go back for her.”

“Mip…” Aaru started, but then stopped herself. Felix could see the uncertainty in her eyes. They were all on different pages of the book, the impasse. So all they could do was wait, for a solution that would never come.

Felix suddenly stood up and looked around. Surrounding him were many of the local drunks as well as travelers who had just stopped by for a drink. The streets were still bustling in the evening sun; silhouettes passed by the shaded windows, talking and laughing. In other words, they were the ordinary people.

Then, he saw four of them, all clad in black. There was a familiar insignia etched upon their uniforms. They sat in a small booth in the corner of the bar, talking lowly amongst themselves.

It took him a while to realize Aaru was repeating his name with uncertainty, “Felix? You alright there?”

Felix slowly returned his gaze down towards the two women staring up questioningly at him, “Aye… I’m perfect…”

With a swift motion, he drew out a pistol he had pulled from a fallen body a few days before and lined up the sight with the first man. He pulled the trigger and watched as the bullet pierced through the first man’s neck and lodged itself into the second’s brain. As the first of the others started to scream, he had already shifted his aim and fired the gun twice more, bringing to an end to all four Dominion men’s lives.

“What the hell!?” Aaru shrieked as the other people in the bar made a mad dash for the exit. “Are you trying to get us killed?”

Felix continued to stare at the four bodies, unwilling to take his eyes off of the murders. A flame in his heart was roaring out of control, threatening to consume his soul.

“Felix!” Mip grabbed his arm and yanked him towards the back exit. The three of them bolted out the back, letting the screams die into the night.

“We have to go…” Aaru groaned to the moon, holding her head with her hands. “I knew we couldn’t stay here!”

Mip sighed, looking towards the ground, then whipped around to face Felix. She strode up to him and dealt a swift slap across the cheek.

“Asshole…” Mip muttered coldly.

“They deserved it,” Felix replied, holding his raw face.

“Yes they did,” Mip retorted, “But not in front of so many innocents. Their time will come. The next time you pull something stupid off like this...” Her stare pierced through his body… “You’ll cease to be a man.”

“Speaking of…” a chilled voice interrupted from within the shadows of the alley. The three of them whipped around to face a dark figure shrouded in darkness. Felix immediately drew his pistol.

“Come out!” he threatened.

A black booted foot stepped out of the black; the leather gleamed unusually brightly in the moonlight. The figure revealed itself hidden within a cloak. A pair of pale hands reached up and drew back the hood, unveiling a head of long blonde hair.

“Nat?” Felix lowered his weapon and proceeded forward, but she held up her hand in a halt.

“Don’t…” Nat whispered, “This has to be quick…”

“What are you talking about?” Felix asked, inching a bit closer.

“They took everything… everything from me…” Nat continued, backing away with Felix’s advance. “My mind is broken. They will be looking for me. They will finish me off. You can’t be seen with me.” Her head was within the shadows now; Felix could only see her pale lips move, “Get away from here… take them and leave Victoria Island. It’s not safe anymore.” In the distance police sirens were nearing, their wailing even more frozen than the night.

“Nat, we can help! We can…” Aaru interrupted, but Nat interrupted briskly.

“Aaru, if you know what’s good for you, you will leave me.”

Mip came up and tugged on Aaru’s arm. “Let’s go,” she muttered.

Sounds of tires screeching to a halt reverberated against the brick walls. Just as Felix disappeared from view, lights flooded the alley, all pointing at the silhouette of Natalie. As the three of them looked on, Natalie slowly raised her hands behind her head.

“What is she doing?” Aaru whispered in a panicked tone.

“Don’t worry about her,” Mip replied, her eyes still fixated upon Natalie as the cops moved in. “She knows what she’s doing.”

“Let’s hope so,” Felix murmured. The three of them turned and made their way down another alley back onto the streets. The cold sirens were behind them now. All that was left was the moon, and even its radiance could not sway the cold.



Natalie

“Freeze! Hands where we can see them!”

I was not going to fight.

“Hands above your head!”

I was not going to resist.

“Do it, do it now!”

I raised my hands and turned, turning around to stare at the infinite white.

They moved in, cuffs ready. I let them slam me to the ground. I let them bind my hands behind my back. I let them read me my rights. I let them because I wanted them to.

Some say the backseat of a squad car was a personal hell, a cage with no escape from the tormented thoughts of sin. I welcomed it with open arms.

As I expected, backup was already there disguised as the Ossyrian Police Force. I knew they were the Dominion just waiting to get their hands on me. Once the Kerning Police handed me over, hell would start.

“Alright missy, let’s go,” a cop opened the door for me. I stepped out into the night, breathing in a deep gulp of ice right before a hand grabbed me by the shoulder and led me to a slick black sedan.

“We’ll take it from here, sergeant,” the man said as he pushed me into the back seat. “You and your men have done well. We will see to it that you are rewarded for your efforts.”

I snickered to myself. They had no idea…

The engine roared to life and we sped down towards the ferry in Ellinia. The two in front were silent in the drive, but the one to my right seemed to be breathing down my neck. I looked out the window, trying to ignore him.

“How does it feel?” his voice made my skin crawl, but I simply continued to look out the glass at the passing factories and smokestacks.

“Now that your powers are gone,” he said, “how does it feel to be like the rest of us?”

Still no response.

“Bet you feel weak and pathetic.”

Nothing.

“I bet you couldn’t even hurt a fly anymore.”

I raised my head and turned to face him. “No… I couldn’t.”

With a swift motion, I leaned back and kicked out with my right leg. The heal of my boot impacted his chin, sending his head snapping around. I knew what was coming next.

“You little bitch!” he spat and raised his hand. His slap cut my right cheek open. I felt my warm blood start to drip down towards my lips.

“That’s enough, Dest” the passenger sitting in front said, “Leave her alone.”

“F***ing whore…” he muttered to himself and started massaging his jaw.

I watched as a drop of blood hit the floor of the car, then another, and another. My blood.

Then, my head started throbbing. I tried to keep my eyes in focus but everything started to become a blur. A sharp pain jolted down my spine, making me grit my teeth in agony. Tears welled up, threatening to slide down and mix with my blood. Suddenly, another jolt, and everything turned black.



“Wake up…”

Was this a dream…

“Wake up…”

I knew that voice.

“Wake up my darling.”

Nass…