Chapter 18: Chapter 18: The Owl and the Eagle

David and Eve lied together. The van sitting in the same place as before, both too tired to move or wake from the other’s embrace. The floor began to vibrate, David opened one of his eyes, dreading having been awoken so early. “Let it go to voicemail,” Eve said, her arms locked around one of his. Her back pushed against his chest, “It’s probably just the council again.

“Or it’s one of us and they need help,” David forced himself out of bed. Sliding off the edge and down onto the ground. His bare feet stinging to the cold of the morning. Snatching his phone from his pants lying on the floor. It was Allison’s contact pinging. Answering the call, “Allison?”

“It’s Gabe,” His voice was heavy. David could tell from the other side that he was either tired or something went wrong. “Wolves are dead. I guess we can go home now.”

“That’s good news,” David smiled a bit. “Is everything okay?”

“Am I on speaker?” Gabriel asked.

“No, but you can be,” David offered. His voice falling from happiness, he can tell his younger brother was bothered.

“No, I need to talk to you in private,” Gabriel said.

“Let me step outside,” David said. Looking at Eve, she sat up. The worry in his eyes was cause enough to get out from her comfort. David turned around and slid the door open. Stepping outside into the cold wind. Closing the door behind himself. “Alright, we’re private.”

“Eleazar’s brother, Aiden was the leader of them all. We killed him. Verified his death and everything. He knew about Eve, I would be careful on your guys’ way back.”

“I’m proud of you,” David smiled, “I knew I could count on you getting it done.”

“Thanks…”

“What’s the status of everyone else?” David asked. There was silence from Gabriel, “Gabe? What’s the status?” David felt a pit in his heart. With heavy concern and attempting to prepare for the worst.

“Allison is in a coma; Richard’s spine is broken. We’ll transport them back with the Japanese Order, Allison will eventually wake up and the docs over here said Richard will be back in shape in a couple months to a year.”

“Was that it?” David asked, still worrying about the others. “What about Jasmine, Chris, and Ethan?”

“Chris and Ethan are fine,” Gabriel’s voice began to crack.

“Gabe, what about Jasmine?” David’s arms began to shake.

He could hear Gabriel swallow, “She didn’t make it…. I’m sorry. I failed you.”

David covered his mouth, the whites of his eyes turning pink. Doing his best to hold his tears, “It’s not your fault Gabe. We’ll talk about it more in person,” His voice cracking as well. “How did it happen?”

“I’ll tell you in person,” Gabriel said, “It’s a lot to unwrap. Don’t be disappointed in me. Just know she died with a smile on her face.”

A tear rolled down David’s cheek, “I’m not disappointed in you. You did your best, that’s more than I can ever ask of you.”

“Thank you,” Gabriel said, “I need to make sure everyone gets on the flight. Can you update the file?”

David could tell his brother just wanted to stay detached from the reality of everything. Losing four friends in a year has been taxing on both of them. They just approached dealing with trauma differently. “Yeah.. what was the information?”

Eve watched as David’s body shook, wondering if he was cold out there. She went over to the counter, preparing a cup of hot coffee for him. Gathering the materials and starting the pot. Plugging the coffee maker into the generator. David walked into the van, sliding the door open. Not sure what to say to her or give her the news. Using his phone to call Kevin. “Everything okay?” She asked, “Gabe seemed worried.”

David sat down on the bed, waiting for Kevin to answer. “No,” David said. Kevin answered the phone, there was gunfire and screaming in the background.

“How’s the honeymoon?” Kevin answered.

“Are you in the cavern playing games?” David asked.

“Yup,” Kevin said, “I’ll turn it down.”

“Do you have your tablet near you?”

“I do,” Kevin said snatching it from his side, “Need me to look up a file?” Eve finished making the coffee, reaching up into the cabinet for two coffee mugs.

“I need you to start a death report,” David said breathing sharply from his nose. His voice cracked again from the pressure. Kevin turned off the game, opening the document on his tablet. His feeling of joy faded immediately.

“Okay,” Kevin said, “I have it open.” Eve stopped what she was doing looking at David, her iris’ shaking. Her anxiety raised. “David?”

David closed his eyes, “Jasmine Ramirez.” Kevin’s hands began to shake, a crushing weight on top of his heart. “July 30th, 2022. 9:30 pm Japan Standard Time. Mount Fuji, Japan. Pierced through her abdomen by the sword.”

“Please tell me that’s a joke,” Kevin begged. Grasping for a thread of hope that what David was telling him was false.

David’s forehead scrunched, “She’s dead, Kevin.”

“I.. okay…” Kevin muttered, “I guess everyone’s on their way home?”

“I’ll see you soon bro,” David told Kevin before hanging up the phone. Opening his eyes to Eve standing petrified. The mug of coffee in her hand slipped from her fingertips, falling to the floor, and smashed porcelain surrounded her feet. The steaming coffee rolled across the panel on the floor to the tips of her toes. She took a few steps back.

“I-I,” is all Eve could find in her voice. “No way.” Jasmine had been one of the essential teachers towards Eve’s success as a duelist. David stood up, walking over to her. “I’m sorry I made a mess,” Eve tried to think of something else.

As soon as David wrapped her in his arms, her body collapsed, only staying suspended by David. “It’s okay,” David said. Expecting after watching so many of their friends die, he would think that it would get easier. It never did. Eve couldn’t cry, she wouldn’t allow herself to. She had to be strong, knowing Jasmine would not want her to mourn for her.

“I never got to truly thank her,” Eve said. Jasmine had told her multiple times to only thank her for not dying. Eve felt obligated to know that she was gone. She was one of the first people to accept her. Pulling Eve out of her comfort zone multiple times. Just as much of a teacher she was more of a friend to her. Now both of them were gone.

“She’s now with her brother,” David said. “I’m sure of it.”

“I know,” Eve said, “I think that’s what makes it easier. Not that it is easier.”

“I know,” David said. What felt like rain crashed into Eve’s shoulders. Looking up at him, David’s face was pouring a well of pain from his eyes. “I should’ve been there.”

“We both should’ve been,” Eve felt it too. Maybe things would’ve been better, that way no one had to die. “Can we go home?” Eve asked.

“Yeah,” David said, “I need some coffee first.” His voice had become hoarse. It was starting to become too much for the teenaged boy. He was almost nineteen, and he had lost six friends. How many more?

“The last of it is on the floor,” Eve said. “We can stop somewhere; we have to pass through Seattle anyways.”

“Let’s go,” David said. Eve looked up at David, regaining her stance. Kissing him on the forehead. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Eve released him and he did the same for her. He changed his clothes putting on jeans, a t-shirt, and a hoodie. Eve changed after cleaning the mess. David made the bed.

Some time passed, David drove down the road. Eve sat with her knees to her chest, arms wrapped around her legs. Sitting in silence.

“I think,” Eve started, “Never mind.”

“What were you going to say?” David asked.

“I was thinking, maybe we should keep our relationship hidden. At least till after we put Jasmine to rest.”

“I think that’s for the best,” David replied. “I hope you know. After we get back, it’s going to go back to being the same. We won’t have a lot of time together.”

“I know,” Eve said, hating it, but understanding. “You work a lot and I still have a lot of training to do. I want to be put through the wringer.”

“You think you’re ready for that?” David asked.

“Yeah, I told Jasmine I would do it. That way I can rank up quicker.”

“I want to,” Eve looked out the window, “If we can make this work, I want to marry you. And I can’t do that if I’m not a knight.”

David smiled slightly, being the best thing he heard all morning. “We can start training you for the advancement trials.”

“I want to be with you David,” Eve said, “I don’t care what I have to do to get there. I want to protect the innocent. I want to fight the brotherhood. I want to make a name for myself.”

David looked at her, “I’m glad we feel the same,” David smiled wider. His eyes were still puffy. “Just promise me you’ll take it slow. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Good,” Eve said. They were silent for a while, “Can I go with you to pick the flowers for Jasmine?”

“Yeah,” David was already thinking of what to get for her.

“Are you going to pick a dress?” Eve asked.

“She died a Guadian five,” David said, “Sacrifice gets you instantly promoted to a Knight at that rank. I have to have armor made for her.”

“I think she would be beautiful,” Eve smiled. “I’m going to miss her.”

“What’s your favorite memory with her?” David asked.

“When Allison dragged us both to the mall,” Eve said, “Or the battle of the Sanctuary, watching her in action was insane. What about you?”

David had to think about it, “Six years ago, Gabriel and I were told by Master Eleazar to recruit her and Carlos.”

“How was that?”

“Well, we were in middle school. Gabe and I followed them home one day. They were living in poverty, the house was barely a house,” David reminisced, “It was late, they went to the park and got ambushed by a pack of sins of greed. Dog-like demons, easiest to kill. The happiness in their eyes when they found out they weren’t alone and we saved them.”

“I didn’t know that,” Eve said.

“I only wish I had spent more time with the two of them,” David said. “But I know one day I’d have eternity to do so.”

“I think I believe too,” Eve said. “I want to go to the same place as you guys. And there’s far too much that had happened for me to be stubborn towards God anymore. Can I join yours and Gabe’s bible study?”

David’s heart became overwhelmed with joy. “Of course.”

“I want to know more without cheating,” Eve mentioned thinking about her ability to time travel.

“Knowledge through faith is more fun anyway,” David said.

David had entered through Seattle, stopping at a gas station. Both jumped out of the vehicle. “I’ll grab stuff for us to eat and that sweet energy stuff you like,” Eve smiled at David. The sun bounced off her blonde hair. David was going to have to get used to it. David handed her a couple of dollars. She kissed him before walking inside the gas station alone. He watched her from afar as she entered. David sighed; he had only been awake for two hours but it had felt like a full day. It was hard for him to regret not going to Japan. Maybe Jasmine would have still been alive, can’t help to feel selfish. Eve and he wouldn’t have fallen in love with each other like this.

David looked around, taking in the view of the skyscrapers above. Thinking of the countless people that would go to work and home every day. None of them knew about the sacrifices that were made every day to allow them to live free. David looked to his right, can’t help but to feel drawn towards a Black SUV. Windows completely tinted, impossible to see inside. He swallowed the pit inside of his throat, making a note on it. The plates that read California. He scowled. He finished filling up the van with gas. Eve returned with two plastic bags full of snacks. Seeing David’s energy radiating.

“What’s wrong?” Eve asked.

“Look at that SUV to my right and tell me what you see,” David said as she looked over at it. “Don’t be obvious.” Eve looked down at her feet, stretching outwards with her arms. Cracking her neck, as soon as she had the SUV in view.

“There is a lot of red and black energy in there,” Eve said.

“Get in,” David said, “Don’t be too quick.”

She did what he said, both climbing back into the van. David started the vehicle, driving away from the gas station. Driving away from the highway just in case they were following. He didn’t want them to know where they were headed. Eve climbed out of her seat, looking out the back window. “Are they following?”

“They’re following,” Eve told him.

“Prepare my armor,” David said.

“How am I going to dress you while you’re driving?” Eve ripped the duffle bag with all their gear inside.

“I’ll put it on after you get prepped,” David kept driving through the city, trying not to raise suspicion in their followers. “Sword?” Eve placed the hilt in his cup holder.

Eve reached into the bag, laying out his armor perfectly for him to quickly put it on. Once she was finished, Eve grabbed her combat belt and fastened it to her waist. Holstering her pistol and sword in its sheath. Eve looked at her cloak and pauldron. Snatching it and putting the pieces together so she could quickly put it on. Taking off her shirt, switching her bra for a sports bra. Throwing her black dry-fit shirt on tucking it into her pants.

“Switch,” Eve said standing behind David. He stopped at a red light on the street. David climbed into the back as Eve took his seat. David changed his clothes as well. Putting on his armor swiftly. “They won’t attack us in the open will they?”

“Just depends how bad they want to kill you,” David sheathed his sword.

“We can’t jeopardize the Order,” Eve countered. Her heart was racing.

“We might have to,” David stayed in the back. The front windows weren’t tinted enough for him to go back to the front. He remained in the back. “How many?”

“I can’t drive and meditate at the same time,” Eve told him.

“Try,” David commanded her. His attitude changed, his melancholy had shifted into a mental preparation to protect Eve at all costs. Eve stopped at a red light. She closed her eyes, breathing in deeply. Her spirit left her body and above the van. Looking around her. Dropping back into herself. She gasped. “How many?”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“I counted forty,” Eve said quickly.

“Keep driving,” David said, “They know this is us.” David walked over to the front, reaching into the glove box. Grabbing the same tracker he had with him when he was captured a year ago.

“You don’t think we can handle forty of them?” Eve asked.

“Those are just the ones in the immediate area, there’s going to be more nearby. I’m expecting there to be at least a hundred.”

“Why do they want me dead so badly?” Eve asked.

“Your existence is a threat to everything evil in the world,” David pressed the button. The green light flashed repeatedly. “I hope Virgil can fly as fast as he says he can.”

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Kevin sat in the cavern, trying to play video games to distract himself from the news. Virgil sat on the couch to the side. Thinking to himself, unbelieving that they had lost another one of their friends. What was the point? Making friends just for them to die. The video game shut off unexpectedly, “What the?” Kevin asked as all the lights turned red. A hologram appeared above the simulation pad. Stephen came sprinting from the library.

Virgil shot up from his comfy place, running over to the hologram. “David and Eve are in trouble, Seattle. How the hell am I going to land in Seattle?”

“Doesn’t matter, we have to go,” Kevin ran to the armory, dressing in his combat gear.

Virgil shook his head, not mentally prepared to confront David or Eve. Nonetheless, Virgil started for the elevator to prep the Silver Arrow. “I’m taking off in five,” Virgil said determinedly. Hoping that the three of them were enough to help the two.

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“They’re on their way,” David said. “We’re not going to be able to keep driving around.”

“What? Have a battle in the streets? We can’t expose the Order,” Eve looked around. “If we are where I think we are, there should be a parking garage nearby,” Eve began heading that way.

“Go for it,” David said, “Do you know how to activate your spirit state again?”

“I get angry?” Eve asked.

David laughed, “Not exactly. The energy that flows around you. Focus all of that energy into your soul.”

“Where is my soul?” Eve asked.

“Look at me,” David told her. “Do you see an overabundance of energy near my heart?”

“I see it,” Eve said.

“There,” David looked out the back window again. There was now a trail of black cars following them. Way to be inconspicuous guys, David thought to himself. “Focus on nothing but that energy. With that spirit state, we have a chance of throwing the odds back in their faces. Just stay behind me, but I won’t be able to protect you for long.”

“Yes sir,” Eve joked. She pulled into the parking garage, driving to the roof. Praying the van would fit. It barely did.

David drew his sword, breathing in and out deeply. “Lord be with us,” David whispered in between his breaths. Gripping his hilt tightly, Eve parked at the top of the garage. No other cars were parked there. Eve jumped into the back of the van. Putting on her cloak and pauldron. She looked up at David, batting her eyes to him. “Don’t look at me like that, we’re going to get through this.”

“I know,” Eve said. She quickly kissed him once more before they faced the force of enemies. As they slid the door open, they stepped out together. Both watched as the cars surrounded the pair, trying to keep them from escaping. Their doors swung open; men dressed in black stepped out. Drawing swords and other types of weapons, some with axes and spears. “I’ll start doing my thing.”

“Good idea,” David said, taking a measure of the enemy combatants. Some appear afraid but most are confident.

“Perhaps we can negotiate an end where we can all walk out alive,” A voice came from David’s left. A man dressed in armor, not too much older than David. “Sir Locklear.”

David’s eyes narrowed, recognizing the man. “Scott.”

“Can’t even acknowledge my knighthood?” He asked, sword still at his hip. David recognized he was attempting to appear friendly.

“Any knight who betrays their own people doesn’t deserve it,” David stood ready to defend against anything thrown at him. Eve closed her eyes trying to focus on bringing her energy inside of herself. She needed to stay undistracted, ignoring everything around her.

“We can discuss that afterward,” Scott told him. “Right now, we want the girl. Good job, by the way, dying her hair blonde threw us off at first.”

“What do you want?” If David could entertain him, it would give Eve more time to ready up.

“Give us the girl and we let you live, that simple.”

“Why do you want her?”

“We both know the answer to that one.”

“If you’re planning to use her as a weapon, I’m not going to allow it.”

“Then we can kill you and just take her. Imagine for a moment David, if the world knew the destruction, she was capable of. They wouldn’t worry about nuclear weapons anymore; we could secure a peace on Earth.”

“Peace through fear won’t work. There will always be someone who will test the mantle of power,” David looked around. Noticing they were stepping in closer to the two, slow and brief movements.

“What do you plan to do with her? We know about both of you. I don’t like the idea of Revelation in my lifetime.”

“That’s not for you to decide,” David took his defensive stance. “There’s someone way above either of us that has decided that.”

Scott drew his sword, “I won’t allow you to end the world.”

“Try it, one on one, I win. You all leave. If you win, you can take her if she lets you,” David was hoping he would take the bite.

“Do I look dumb? The Memento Mori assassin, trained by the greatest duelist of our time, with the knowledge of the angels with him? You would defeat me before I remembered to breathe.”

“As templar of the Order and sword of God. I, David Locklear, strip you of all titles and sentence you to die,” David squared away his stance. His sword glowing a bright green. “I hope you’re ready.”

Eve stood up off her knees, her wings made of energy appearing from her back. Eyes glowing a hot bright blue. “I’m ready.” Her skin was burning, the knowledge of every warrior flowing into her mind. Drawing her sword and summoning the second blade of energy into her other hand.

“Kill him! Capture the girl!” Scott yelled. All charged with a battle cry at the two of them.

David blocked the two swords simultaneously, kicking one in the chest. Bringing his sword back; stabbing the other in the chest. Picking up the now dead enemy's sword, throwing it into the chest of another. Blocking the next combatant swiftly.

Eve moved from her position swiftly, sending an energy wave at a group of five attackers. Their souls were pushed from their bodies. Eve threw her energy blade into a circle, slashing the souls in twos. The lovers held their ground, falling into a back-to-back formation. Eve wrapped her wings around David’s flanks. Keeping the attackers from overwhelming him.

Eve cut down two more charging enemies with ease. David removed the hands of three more attackers. Kicking them over on their faces. Eve had no problem sending them into the afterlife, David did his best to keep them from fighting. However, his main priority was keeping Eve alive. He will kill if he had to. David looked at Scott in the eyes from afar, taunting him with a wide smirk.

A man with an Axe threw his weapon at David, instead, Eve took the attack with her wing. She screamed in pain; David swung around. Ripping the ax out of her wing, turning swiftly to throw the ax back at him. David realized; he just wasn’t protecting her. She was protecting him as well. His suspicions of their pairing by God were now gone. They were meant for each other. In perfect sync, never expecting for someone to fight with him with such precision and ferocity, not more than his brother. There was no question about it now, as long as he was with her, they would be okay.

Eve lifted a group of swords off the ground, rotating them around herself overhead. Launching them like spears in different directions. There was a rule when fighting in a duo, never fight more than five to six enemies. They were fighting more than seventy and had eliminated almost half of the combatants.

“Fine, I’ll do it myself,” Scott drew his sword, sprinting towards David. David smiled, finally someone worth fighting.

“Break,” David said. Eve nodded, her skin and blood boiling from the constant input and output of energy. Eve flew like lightning around the battlefield, swinging her swords removing limbs, and cutting apart souls with concentration. She almost didn’t feel like herself, unbelieving how powerful she was. Almost as if she could see what was going to happen before it did.

David blocked Scott’s overhead strike. Rookie move, David kicked him dead in the chest. Knocking him down to his back, David swung his sword. Scott rolled to the side. Reaching up with a knife, stabbing David in his thigh. Piercing through the armor. Grunting in pain, David shook off the thought of it. He would fix it later. David stepped back allowing Scott to get back on his feet. Granting the former knight enough honor to die on his feet. David ripped the dagger from his thigh, throwing it to the ground. “Your narrow mind will get the world destroyed,” Scott told him.

“And your mind of greed will only bring it into slavery,” David said. “Give up now, you think you can capture her?” David pointed at Eve who was making the battle look like it was a playground. Scott screamed before attacking. Swinging his sword overhead again, David stepped to the side. Severing his hands from their wrists. Blood spurts all over the ground. “At least you were smart enough not to duel with me before.”

Scott dropped to his knees accepting his defeat, David stuck the sword into the ground hilt in front of his chest. “I hope you understand the consequences of your actions. When you watch as the world burns in your precious destiny of Revelations.” Scott lowered his head exposing his neck. David took in a deep breath.

“May God is the one to judge your treachery,” David swung his sword removing his head.

Eve sprinted to David, “They’re dead,” she said her voice malfested. “We need to get out of here.”

“Okay,” David grabbed Scott’s sword. “You did that quick.” Absolutely terrified and captivated by the dead that lied all over their battlefield.

“I don’t like it,” Eve ran over to the van. Jumping into the driver's seat. David jumped into the passenger seat. She sped off, heading back down the parking garage. Her spirit state fading away. “Thank you for getting that ax out of my wing.”

“Thank you for protecting me from that,” David said, “Watch it!” The van came flying out of the exit, racing down the street, ignoring traffic. Eve did her best driving to dodge any incoming cars. David grabbed a tourniquet sinching it around his thigh, cutting off any more blood coming out. SUVs raced up to the side of the van. Their windows rolling down, firearms pointed towards Eve. “Brake!”

Eve slammed on the brakes, bullets raining out of the SUV. “Head down!” David yelled. Pulling out his handgun, attempting to fire a round. The gun clicked. “I don’t use this enough,” He racked a round into the chamber. Firing multiple shots through the driver’s window at the SUV. One round hitting the driver. Sending the SUV crashing into a power line.

Eve grabbed her firearm from her hip, “Nice shot. Grab the wheel.” David reached over to steer the van. Eve rolled down the window, poking her head and arm out of the door to fire multiple rounds towards the chasing SUVs. People panicking and screaming on the sidewalk. Eve felt horrible but knew what had to be done to keep them safe. Eve climbed back into the driver seat, “Magazine?”

“Yup,” David passed her a magazine full of ammo. “Man, it’s going to suck getting all these bullet holes out of your house.” He chuckled. “My turn.” He rolled down the window, sticking his body out, firing a couple rounds before noticing an assassin on the roof, climbing towards the cab. “Hold tight.”

“Where are you going!” Eve screamed out as she watched David climb completely out of the vehicle and on top of the roof.

David drew his sword, engaging the assassin on the roof. David was slow, the armor didn’t help with his balance. The assassin wielding knives attacked, cutting at the spaces between David’s armor. Clinching his teeth in pain. David grabbed the man, throwing him at the lead vehicle. The SUV immediately stopped, causing the five vehicles to collide with one another.

David climbed back inside the van with struggle, breathing heavily. His heart racing, his body covered in blood. “We need to get to a hospital!” Eve looked at him struggling.

“No, keep driving.” David tightened his eyes in pain. The pain in his body growing stronger than his adrenaline.

“Where’s Virgil?” Eve asked.

“Still an hour out if he’s flying as quick as he normally does.”

Eve checked her rearview mirror, “I think that was all of them.” She looked over at David, his eyes growing hazy. “David.” His eyelids struggling to stay open. “David!” He kept fighting to keep his eyes open. “Dyami!”

David chuckled, “D-Don’t call me that.” He countered. David shuffled through his pouch on his hip. An adrenaline pen. Stabbing it into his heart for a kickstart. David’s eyes widened, dilating immediately. “I told you never to call me that.” David grew annoyed. Looking at her, she smiled.

“Call Virgil, so we can get you to a healer,” Eve put her hand on his lap. Channeling some of her energy inside of him. “Don’t use it all, I’m pretty spent.”

“No promises,” David smiled at her. Glad to survive the encounter, there was no question about it. Eve was the strongest of the Watchers. To his knowledge. “Watch-!” An SUV smashed into the van from the side at the intersection. Time slowed down for David, reaching his arm in front of Eve to keep her from flying out of the vehicle or hitting her head on the roof. The glass shattered, sending shards around the two of them. The van flipped over and landed on the roof.

David opened his eyes, the adrenaline kept him from passing out from the concussion. Looking over at Eve, passed out from the impact. David force blasted his door open. Two Wolves exited the SUV with swords. David took no time, pointing his gun at them. No hesitation in the pull of the trigger. Shooting both in the heads. Limping around the van. Tearing the door open on the driver’s side. Getting down onto one knee grabbing Eve’s arms, dragging her out of the wreckage.

Setting her back against the side of the flipped-over van, brushing her blonde hair from her face. Her eyelids were unable to be fully shut from the shards of glass stuck into her eyes. David’s heart sank into his stomach, “Eve… Eve…” He shook her. Checking her pulse, she was still alive. Her body shut down from the shock of the pain. “Eve…”

Eve attempted to open her eyes, but couldn’t. “I… I can’t see… David?”

“I’m right here,” He grabbed onto her hand to calm her down. “Just don’t touch your eyes. It’ll be okay.”

Three more SUVs appeared. The streets were in a panic, police sirens in the distance. A helicopter overhead, shining a spotlight down on him. David had no choice but to expose the Order. There was no way out of this now. David released her hand. “I’ll be right back,” David reassured her. “Don’t worry.”

“David-“ Eve’s hands began to shake with anxiety. The pain was catching up to her. Fighting the urge to pull the glass from her eyes herself. All she could see were blurred colors, scattered around her vision. Unable to see at least a perfect outline of David.

David limped a couple feet away from Eve, drawing his firearm again. Going to fire at the incoming enemies. It clicked with no boom. Dropping his gun to the ground, David drew his sword. Breathing in deeply. A Green and blue aura surrounded him. Having borrowed Eve’s energy from earlier. Cutting down two enemies quickly, but being overwhelmed by the other seven. David could feel the blades pierce his armor. Again and again, David could feel his body being torn to shreds. Collapsing to his knees, he screamed with a bloodied roar, his mouth filled with crimson. Though he kept himself disciplined, his eyes refusing to change to red. Swinging his sword, slashing one chest. Lunging a stab into another man. Falling on top of him. The others stepped away as an assassin stepped forward with a shotgun.

“David!” Eve screamed out, “Talk to me! TELL ME YOU’RE OKAY!” All she received in reply was grunts and his fits of anguish. Wondering how she could save him, snatching for anything in her area. There was nothing she can do. Eve was helpless and hopeless. “David, I’m sorry.” She wept.

David crawled over towards her, maybe to at least feel the warmth of her skin one last time. His tears poured from his eyes. He could sense an overwhelming collection of spirits near her. “Eve! Don’t!” He cried, “Don’t do it!”

Eve felt her blood boiling with rage. The spirits quickly entered her soul at an alarming rate. This was the only way she knew she could save him. She prayed that David would forgive her one day. She could feel her soul-crushing from the weight of power. The spirits were visible to David now: reds, blues, greens, and yellows. Eve’s body radiating like the sun in purple. “No!” David felt the blast of a slug entering his back. Killing him instantly.

“I love you,” Eve said. She released a scream that shattered the Earth and sky, purple energy blasting out of her like a nuclear explosion. Undamaging to the city around her. However, the city fell to silence.

More than 776,555 voices and thoughts fell to silence. Nothing but glimmers of light rained down from the clouds above. Gabriel felt an intense strain on his heart, he collapsed to his knees. There was a void in the world. So much life, gone.

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I opened my eyes, viewing the aftermath of it all. My body was healed, Eve lied collapsed on the floor in front of me. All was quiet, what seemed to be chaos. Fell to ignorant bliss. I laid there for a moment. Where everything and nothing mattered all the same. All the Heavens, Hells, and Earth felt like a distant dream. Everything I had felt was right, battling to keep an innocent girl alive, had now turned into an irreversible mistake. Love, what is love for if it only brought this never-ending agony. What kind of sick God would allow for something like this? What sick God would tell me to protect one I love at the cost of almost a million people?

Opening my eyes once more, Eve laid in a pool of her own blood. Her skin radiated like a freshly cooled sword from a scorching furnace. Her hair was white like the sun’s reflection on the moon. Previous slashes into her beautiful ocean eyes, now filled with a pool of crimson. Why can’t I hate you? When there are so many reasons I should? Every reason that ran through my mind came another why I loved her. A year ago, I had the chance to kill you. Why didn’t I do it? Why did I sacrifice my best friend for you? I only wish I had met you in another life. A life with no pain, no risk. I am still truly and deeply in love with this woman. Willing to sacrifice everything, for me. Why me? I failed to protect you and now we live with the consequences of my actions in these ashes. I should’ve fought harder. I should’ve done more.

“David,” She whispered, “Please tell me you’re still there.”

I remained silent, not knowing if there was anything to say. What could I say?”

“I don’t want to die alone,” Eve cried. Wrapping herself tightly in her own arms. She was gritting her teeth, tears rolling down her face. “I promise I won’t hurt you. I’m sorry I am the monster they said I am.”

I stood up, collapsing to my knees next to her. Sliding my hand under her soft wet hair, I raised her head under my thigh. My other arm was at the small of her back. “I’m sorry,” I said in a shamed panic. “I failed you.”

She reached up, her hand caressing my cheek. “I’m sorry I had to do what I did to save you,” Eve wept through her tears. My breathing was sporadic. I couldn’t control these emotions overwhelming my heart. “I hope one day, you will learn to forgive me.”

I shook my head, tears breaking through the walls of my iris. “I understand why you did it,” I told her. Hoping that she believed me. She drew her sword from her hip. Handing me the small sword. “What are you doing?”

“You have to do it,” Eve begged, “There’s no way they’ll let us live when they find out. At least this way, you can still carry on. I couldn’t live with myself.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, “We’ll run,” I pleaded. “Just you and I, with the free people. We can be live happily.”

Eve smiled gently, “They will never stop hunting us,” Eve muttered. “I won’t allow you to abandon your brother or our family to be with me.”

I couldn’t feel my heart, this choice was harder than I could describe. There was no way I could do this; I gave Eve my heart and soul. In my mind, we were already married. Nothing else mattered. “C’mon let’s get you out of here.”

Eve snatched her sword from my hand, putting it to her own neck, “If you don’t I will.” Her voice cracking.

I placed my hand on top of hers, “Okay.” I-I will do it.

“Thank you for making this past year the happiest I have ever been David. Can you promise me something?”

“Anything.”

“Promise me you will learn to be happy without me,” Eve asked. Her tears rolled down her eyes mixed with blood.

“I’ll try,” I said, I couldn’t feel like there was anything that would allow me to feel like I did with her. I felt like I was in space with her. Only to find ourselves in a black hole, spiraling out of control. I have never loved it so much. “Eve….”

“Yes?” She asked me.

“Do you accept Jesus as your Lord and savior?”

She paused; I think she knew her time was coming to an end. “I already have,” Eve said to me. “I can feel him now.”

I shook my head furiously, fighting the urge to throw the sword. I had to do this, her being alive will only leave her depressed, unhappy. There wasn’t any this was going to end with both of us alive. I felt overwhelmed with joy with at least I knew she would be on the beach when my time was ready to join her. “I love you.”

Eve looked up to me, her lips falling into her mouth. Her face red, tears flowing like a river, “I have always loved you, from the beginning to now. Forever and always.” I closed my eyes pushing the sword against her neck, “You are the strongest person I know. Be strong until the end. Please.”

I shook my head; I couldn’t help it. Her hand was still against my cheek. “It’s okay. Please, let me go. It’s okay.”

“I will see you there.”

“I will wait for you,” were the last words from her tongue. I moved the blade across her throat. A heavy torrent of bright red blood poured from her neck and down into my hands. My heart filled with rage and anger. Sorrow left my throat with an echoing scream. Eve’s hand fell from my face to dead weight. Her body collapsed, her soul passing into the afterlife. I screamed over and over again. Her body disappeared into a multitude of ashes. Her spirits of purple visibility left the Earth into the heavens. I couldn’t help but try to snatch at least a piece of her to keep. “I will always love you.” Her words echoed in my head. “I will wait for you.”

I put my hands to my face, covered in her blood mixed with mine. With my heart in my throat, I screamed at the top of my lungs until my voice gave out. I wish it would all go away, that I would open my eyes and awaken from this nightmare. There was no hope in me left. I screamed again, collapsing to the floor. Embracing her sword in a hug. Body shaking in a fit, I couldn’t control it. I screamed. I screamed. I screamed. Please forgive me.