Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Leave it all behind

Two weeks have passed since the Seattle incident. Jasmine was laid to rest next to Carlos. Their family packed their things to leave this life behind them. Seeking to find solace in a new life, a way to go on without their children. Eve’s and Jasmine’s rooms were taped off, never to be touched again until they needed to be used again. David lived like a ghost, only passing, and working from midnight to the mornings. Not bringing himself to deal with the indifferent stares from his former friends. Keeping to himself. James would leave food on a tray at different hours of the day. Sometimes the tray will be taken or left cold at his doorstep. Paperwork for demotion for Kevin, Virgil, and Stephen left unsigned on his desk.

Allison stood in the cavern with the others, with the exception of Gabriel. Watching the news on TV. It was the same thing every day, reporters trying to find out and report what they could of the disappearances in Seattle. Politicians debated on who was responsible for the tragedy. Tensions have been rising between the United States and Turkey. Politicians blaming the country due to them having issues with each other months prior. Some calling for war and others seeking a peaceful resolution.

A reporter interviewing a random person on the street, “Sir, what do you think about the tragedy that occurred in Seattle, Washington?”

“Want to know what I think? It’s those damned Nephs! Everyone is worried about Turkey but open your eyes America! There is a secret organization-“ The camera cut away from the man.

Ethan looked at Richard, who was sitting in a wheelchair. “Crazy to think that the only ones who are right are treated like insane conspiracy theorists.”

“Don’t call Eve a Neph,” Allison said with her arms crossed. “We don’t know what was going through her mind to do that.”

“Probably nothing,” Virgil mumbled.

“What did you say?” Allison asked. She lowered her arms and to her hips.

“Nothing was going through her mind, what she did was idiotic,” Virgil stood up from his seat, “Like, I can’t even fathom how reckless that was.”

“She was saving David,” Stephen countered.

“When does 700,000 people equal one?” Virgil argued.

“We weren’t there Virg, we still don’t even understand what the hell was going on with her!” Allison yelled.

Virgil chuckled, “I honestly can’t believe you’re taking her side right now. Might as well side with Hitler if you're going to take sides with a genocidal maniac.”

“She’s dead,” Richard said. “There’s no point in arguing about it.”

“What was she to you Virgil?” Allison asked.

“A mistake,” Virgil said. Allison looked at him. She grabbed her hilt from her hip. “You’re going to fight me because I speak the truth?”

“No,” Allison said, “you may be tall but I’m not going to stoop down to your level.” She released her hilt. “Because after I kicked your ass, you would just go fly away in your Silver Arrow and cry about it when you're finally far enough so no one can see you. Yeah, that’s right, I’ve seen the camera footage from inside the Arrow.”

“Alright,” Ethan stood up and grabbed Allison’s arm. “Let’s go outside, you need to go cool down.”

Allison snatched her arm away from Ethan, “I’m not a fucking dog.” She stormed out of the cavern and into an elevator. Virgil wanted to fly away but was too stubborn to prove her right. Plopping right back in his seat. Shaking his head in frustration.

Gabriel sat alone under the tree, playing with a single stream of fire in between his fingertips. Allison came walking down the path, past Gabriel, and at the gate to exit the Sanctuary. Gabriel snapped the fire away, watching it smoke away. “Ally?” She stayed looking at the gate. “You alright?”

She turned around tears streaming down her face, “What’s the point?” Her words stuttered. Gabriel stood up and rushed over to her. Embracing her in a hug. “My brother. Carlos then Jasmine, and I wake up from a coma to find Eve is gone too.” Gabriel was speechless, not sure how to answer her question. He’s secretly been asking the same thing. “I know you hated her and you probably hate her now more than ever. Just pretend, for a few minutes that there was a part of you that loved her too.”

Gabriel looked up at the sky, “I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss her. I haven’t seen my brother in weeks. There was something between them. I just wish he would tell me about her,” Gabriel was being sincere.

Allison turned her head, looking at where Gabriel was sitting. “Eve used to sit there every day. Reading whatever book, I told her to. Sometimes I would catch her in the morning finding her asleep there.”

“Whatever they say. No one can ever discount how passionate she was about this. It was annoying sometimes,” Gabriel smiled. He turned his head over to the tree where he was previously sitting. He could see her now, a book in one hand and a small box of pizza at her side. “Virgil would cave every time she would beg for him to fly her to a new pizza place every day till she tried every mom-and-pop shop in California.”

“I remember that” Allison let go of Gabriel. “It seems like everyone just forgot how happy she tried to make people.”

“Then let’s remember that” Gabriel smiled down at her. “If someone brings up Seattle, just remember her smile.” Gabriel was lying to Allison his hatred for her, and David dug deep. Only telling her what she wanted to hear to make her happy.

“Okay,” Allison said, she knew he was lying. His voice was always a higher pitch when he was lying. Allison was okay with it, he was trying.

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Night came at the Sanctuary, James walking with a tray of food to David’s room. He knocked in the special rhythm he used to let his sons know it was him. The door moved open slightly, it wasn’t shut completely. David was sitting in the shower the water off, fully dressed, and soaking wet. Crimson sitting at the bottom. James dashed inside his room. “Mijo!” He shouted.

“Can you not make a scene, I don’t want anyone else to find me like this,” David spoke out. “Shut the door.” James stopped, turning around hastily, and shutting the door behind himself. David’s eyes closed.

“Son, are you okay?” James knelt down next to him. David was unshaven, his stumble running rampant on his face. “Let me get you out of there before you get sick.” James grabbed David by the wrist, noticing it was wet and thick. James retracted his hand, covered in crimson.

“Before you freak out, I did this an hour ago,” David said. “Jesus revived me again, told me if I do that again he’ll send me to hell. And I’ll never get to see Eve again.” His eyes were still closed. David wiped the blood away from his wrists. Showing them completely healed.

James wasn’t sure what to say to him. “H-How many times have you done this?”

“Just this once, I thought it was a good idea at the time and now I’m realizing how stupid this was. I now only have three deaths left.”

James embraced David in a hug, not caring how wet he was. “Don’t you ever!” James hit him multiple times. “I love you, son, I love you, I love you.”

“I love you too dad,” David’s closed eyes streaming with tears. James let go of his son, arms still on his shoulders.

“Open your eyes,” James told him.

“No,” David said. Hiding something.

“Son, please don’t tell me,” James pleaded. “Open them right now.”

David didn’t feel ashamed, not wanting to open them. “No.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to,” David cried.

“Please show me, whatever it is you can show your father. I won’t think of you any different you are my son.” David struggled to open them, but his shame weighed heavy on his eyelids. Cracking them open, David opened them completely. “Your eyes,” James said, “They’re not green anymore. They’re… brown.”

David looked down at his legs, “Still don’t think differently of me?” David asked.

“You cut yourself off from the spirits?” James asked.

“Like father like son I guess,” David forced a slight laugh. “You told me that you did it because it hurt less. Not having to feel mom’s presence with you all the time made it easier.” David looked around. “I cut myself off so I didn’t have to feel the energy that Eve-“ Her name felt bitter on his tongue. Driving the thorn into his heart. “There's a hole in my soul where she used to be. Now I don’t feel that hole anymore. I couldn’t take it anymore.”

“There are so many people counting on you,” James said, “but if this is what makes you happy.”

“Pft,” David laughed. “Happy?” David stood up from his bloodied mess, “David Locklear, the man of getting to kill all his friends and watch them all die. Just to be hopeless to save them. I can’t be happy,” David laughed in sorrow. He grabbed onto the neck of the guitar sitting in the corner. “I’m not allowed to be happy.” He slammed the acoustic guitar into the countertop, sending chunks of wood flying around the room. “Why is it, that every time I find something in life that’s good it gets ripped from me!” His face was hot red. “My master? Killed because I got captured on his order. My best friend? Stabbed in the heart by me! His girlfriend? BOOM! Volcano! The two people I promised I would teach them and protect and save them from poverty and give them a life of wonder and adventure! Dead because I wasn’t there to save them! The only person I would have trusted with my heart and soul? Dead because she sacrificed herself because I wasn’t strong enough to protect her!”

“You still have your brother and your friends,” James tried to convince him of there still being things to be happy about.

David raised the neck of the guitar at his dad, “Don’t get me started on them.” David laughed, slamming the neck on the counter again. “All treating me like I’m a monster because I loved a woman! A woman who treated me like I was normal! Who loved me?” He snarked, “It’s because of her that I’m not a monster!” He slammed it repeatedly. “My brother? My own God damned flesh and blood who won’t even speak to me!” There was nothing left of the guitar when David finished. “Don’t you tell me that I have to be happy! I am not allowed to be happy! So excuse the hell out of me if I don’t feel like living anymore. Because frankly, if this world is dependent on me sacrificing everything to make their lives a little better. They can all go to hell!” David looked around the walls around himself and then up at the roof. “I know you can hear me! I did everything in the fiber of my bones to take care of all of you! And now you turn your back on me because I lied, once. I lied once in my life to you people! Want to know how many times I lied to Eve? More than I have ever done anything to you all! And she still loved me! She treated me better than all of you! David, I need, David I want, David can you help me with? Screw you all! I’m done! I tried every single day for all of you. Setting aside my happiness to do whatever you asked of you because that’s what a leader does! And you turned around and gave me the shit on the end of your sticks! Go to hell!” David’s words echoed through the halls of the building.

Gabriel sat with his back against the wall, knees pulled to his chest. Virgil curled up in a ball on the floor next to his door. Richard stared down at his legs. Ethan and Chris punching their walls in anger, realizing their shortcomings. Stephen sitting at the edge of his bed. Kevin standing at his door contemplating if he should go to David.

“Son?” James asked David.

“I’m not allowed to be happy,” David asked. “And you! I didn’t forget about you!” David looked up at the roof, screaming to make sure he was listening clearly, “What kind of sick God are you to force me into this prophecy! You can take this destiny and shove it! I’m done! Find a new chosen one, because you allowed the other one to die! You sick bastaaaard!”

“Son!” James yelled at David.

David looked at his father. The whites of his eyes were pink, no more tears were left inside himself. His voice was hoarse, barely able to speak. “I miss her,” David said. “Why do we fall in love with people we can’t have?” David would do anything to see her again, just to hear her voice once again.

James walked up embracing his son again. The door pushed open; Allison stood in the doorway. “David?” She asked.

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David looked at her from afar, “What do you want?” His words stung like venom on her skin.

She walked into the room, “I uh,” her voice heavy. “I found these this morning,” She sniffled. She handed him an envelope.

David grabbed it slowly, looking up at her and back at the envelope. “What are these?”

“They’re pictures of Eve and you,” Allison put her hands to her mouth. Scared of David.

David opened the envelope, there were a handful of polaroid. As soon as David flipped them over, there was a picture of David and Eve both covered in dirt and mud. Laughing together eating an MRE. He remembered that day like it was yesterday. David had brought the Watchers to the top of the mountain for a team-building exercise. Eve bet she could beat David in an obstacle course. The mud was fresh from the rain the day prior. His eyes welled up again. He couldn’t look at any more pictures. “I’m sorry, David. I wish we were better to both of you. You don’t deserve that pain.” David gave her a tight hug.

“Thank you, Allison,” David mumbled.

“Yeah…” She replied, “I miss her too, you’re not the only one here in pain. You’re not alone.” Allison tried to reassure him, but it didn’t help. David just felt it was nice to know he wasn’t the only one other than his father. She whispered, “I can pick you up some green contacts.”

“I-“

“You don’t have to explain anything to me,” Allison said, “I would have done the same. Just don’t be afraid to open yourself back up when you’re ready. Even if it’s years from now.”

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Two months later

“Alright!” Gabriel shouted, “All of you have been selected to be Watchers, but that doesn’t make you Watchers yet. You have to earn that!” Gabriel shouted again at the trainees. Ten people standing shoulder to shoulder in the courtyard, their duffle bags sitting at their feet. “We’re going to train the hell out of you! And all of you are getting the same treatment. Even you Lucas,” Gabriel got into his face. “I don’t care if you’re my cousin.”

Lucas just smirked, knowing he had this training in the bag. How hard could it be?

“Why are you smiling?” Chris got into Lucas’ face.

“Why do you have a beard? You’re like seventeen,” Lucas laughed.

“Zap him,” Gabriel said.

“Zap me?” Lucas was met with a quick sharp jolt to his body. Collapsing to the ground as his body as he spasmed. “Elemental? Dude that’s so dope.” His body still shaking.

Sir Janice walked up, dressed in a t-shirt and jeans. “How’s it going?”

Richard stood on his crutches, trying to speak, “It’s uhm, their, yup.”

“Are you okay Guardian?” Janice asked.

Ethan recovered Richard’s words, “Yeah it’s the meds he’s on. I never seen you without Armor sir.”

“If I’m going to be living here and leading you all. You don’t have to call me sir when I’m out of uniform. Janice is fine,” She smiled warmly. Richard thought he was going to fall over at first sight of her smile. This was the first time he had seen her smiling.

“Gabriel, uh,” One recruit called off.

“You will call me Watcher! None of you have earned the right to call us our names!” Gabriel was secretly having fun with this. Glad David told him that he could take care of their initial introduction.

“Watcher!” He shouted going to the position of attention.

“What the hell?” Gabriel asked taken aback by his gung-ho attitude. “What do you want?”

“I did some research, isn’t the Watchers the group that had the traitor Evelyn Taylor?” He asked aloud.

Richard’s head snapped, eyebrows frowning. Janice walked up to the guardian, “What did you just call her?”

“A trai-“ A kid was punched in the nose breaking it against Janice’s fist.

“If you have a problem with any past members, I suggest you forget about it now,” Janice looked at the bunch. “Because there is a man standing on the top of that mountain who will not have a problem with discharging you on your first day. And then we will fight tooth and nail to make sure you will never reach knighthood. Do you all understand me?”

“Yes, Sir!” They shouted in unison.

“What’s your name, guardian?”

“William Thomas, sir.”

“Speak Eve’s name again, and I promise you. You will be going home.”

“Yes, sir,” He held his nose spilling with blood.

“Follow Ethan, he will take you all to your rooms. For now, you will be living on the second floor. If any of you are caught in the opposite sexes' rooms, you will be punished severely,” Janice said. Pointing at Ethan.

Ethan waved around a tablet. “Follow me, you do not have the right to use the elevator. Use the stairs.” They all grabbed their bags and followed Ethan to the stairwell to the second floor where Kevin was waiting for them.

Gabriel shook his head at Janice, “They have a long way to go.”

“We’ll make do, they have promise.”

“Sir Janice, I always wondered,” Gabriel asked, “What is your special ability?”

“When I meditate, I can amplify other members’ abilities,” Janice informed him. “You’ll see one day.”

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One month later, seven hours before David’s flight to D.C.

David stood at the top of the mountain, dressed in a collared shirt and khaki pants. Looking at the tree of the spirit. “One day, I hope I can see you again.” Speaking as if Eve could hear him. It gave him comfort speaking as if she could. “I’ve gotten better. Not really.” He lowered his eyes, “I’m sorry I let you down. I just hope you’re happy up there. Every time I close my eyes. I can see you. It’s comforting.”

David sighed, her sword cleaned and restored to its perfect cast. “I cleaned up your sword. Everywhere I go I take it with me,” he laughed a bit. “I think I’m learning to live with myself since we’ve said goodbye. It’s hard, but I get through. No one talks to me still unless it’s business-related. I’ll be leaving for a while. I don’t know for how long, but I’ll try to come to see you when I can.” David walked up to the tree, putting his hand on the trunk. He couldn’t feel anything. Still severing himself from the spirits. “I’m not ready.” He whispered to himself. “I’ll make sure I bring your doll with me everywhere I go.”

David heard the shuffle of leaves behind himself, his head snapped. “Does it hurt, to carry the sword without being connected?” Allison walked up to him.

“Yes,” David said. “How long have you been standing there?”

“I just walked up,” Allison stepped beside him. “Do you still feel its power?”

“No, I just like to believe Eve can hear me when I speak to it,” David looked up to the tree’s top.

Allison put her hand against the tree trunk, closing her eyes. “Let me see if I can find her.”

“You don’t need to,” David said. Allison released her hand from the tree, her eyebrows narrowing. “I don’t feel her.”

“Then again I never felt my brother either,” Allison shrugged.

“That’s alright,” David said, “I’ll treat it as if she’s still there.”

Allison backed away from the tree with David. “I’m sorry that we expected so much from you.”

“You don’t need to apologize.”

“No, you worried about us so much that you weren’t able to live your life. For that I’m sorry.”

David stayed silent for a while, “It’s partly my fault. It wasn’t until I left with Eve that I realized that how I was living was self-destructive.”

“We were that bad huh?” Allison smiled.

“I wouldn’t say you were bad. Just I didn’t get to do all the things I’ve always wanted, I was too busy babysitting and making sure Gabe didn’t get into trouble.”

“I’ve noticed that you had a great time with her huh?” Allison asked, “We had not a single missed call from you. And you only called about two to three times.”

“You can say something like that,” David couldn’t help but smile. Allison started shoving his arm.

“C’mon, tell me about it.”

“About what?” David laughed.

“How was it like being in love with her?” Allison looked up at the sky with him.

“How poetic do you want me to be?” David asked.

“Hit me with your best shot.”

“It was like,” David paused, rolling the doll in his fingertips. “Eve was like,” he paused again. “Eve was the sun. The radiation she gave off was enough to give life in the darkest of places. She pulled me regardless of the resistance I fronted. When I was near her, it didn’t matter what else was happening in the universe. There are plenty of stars in the sky, but she was my star. When things got too heavy, we collapsed into a black hole. Instead of pulling me in with the rest of the planets, she slung me out of her pull to save me. Now I’m left alone in the emptiness of space without her light.”

“That was beautiful, did you just come up with that?” Allison was captivated by his words.

“Sort of,” David lowered her eyes. “I don’t think I will ever experience a love like hers again. And you might think that’s sad, but I think I’m content.”

“One day, you might find someone again. And if that doesn’t happen, I hope you find your own happiness. You deserve it more than any of the other yahoos down there.” Allison reassured him.

“I hope you find it as well,” David said. “Watch Gabriel for me?”

“I’ve already started,” Allison smiled wide. David looked down at Eve’s sword. “It’s time to let go.”

Allison was right, though David despised it. He didn’t want to let go, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to bring it with him. David stepped forward once, “It’s okay. Please, let me go. It’s okay.” Eve’s voice echoed in his head. He stepped forward once more. “I will wait for you,” she said. David drew closer to the tree. “I have always loved you, since the beginning to now.” David placed her sword gently against the tree, resting peacefully. David felt a weight lifted from his shoulders. “Please forgive me but this is for the best,” Eve’s voice broke into his mind. He had replayed that moment over and over in his head, ever since it happened. Though never remembered her saying those last words.

“Forever and Always,” David whispered. Stepping away from her sword.

“I will come up to her every day to make sure her sword is resting peacefully,” Allison said. “I promise.”

“Thank you,” David turned around walking away. Heading back down to the Sanctuary. Allison looked at the sword, it held a luminescent glow harnessing the energy from the tree. Allison followed David down to the Sanctuary.

David stepped into the courtyard, the Watchers all gathered around near the tree in the center. Everyone was quiet, unsure of what to say to him. David sighed, “I have not always been truthful with all of you when you trusted me to be.” David looked at Virgil and back to his brother. Virgil looked away from David’s peering eyes. “I didn’t do it to hurt any of you, I know it’s not an excuse. I hope you all will remember me for the good I’ve done. Despite how big of evil I committed. I hope you all will find it within yourselves to forgive me one day. I tried to be the best leader I could when I should’ve been a better friend.” David shook his head and bit the inside of his mouth. “Memento Mori. Sir Janice, you have the Sanctuary.” David unsheathed his ceremonial blade handing it to her in confidence that she will lead better than he could.

“Thank you, Sir David. Give it time, they’ll see how much they miss you.”

“We will see,” David said smirking. “I take my leave.” David walked up to his father, James.

“Son, know I will always be proud of you. You have become far better a man and warrior than I could have ever hoped to be,” David hugged his dad. Followed by a loud audible smack against each other’s backs.

“Thank you, dad. I’ll be back when I can to visit. Don’t worry about me.”

“I’m going to worry anyway,” James smiled. Releasing his son, “Now go show those feds what it means to be a true warrior, huh?” His eyes welling with tears. “It never gets easier.”

“I hope it never does,” David released him.

“Be safe,” James said, “and I love you.”

“I love you too,” David put his own hand to his head. “In the name of the Father, the son, the holy spirit.” They said in unison, followed by a kiss on each other’s foreheads. Gabriel did the hand motions of the Hail Mary with them. But to himself.

David grabbed his duffle bag and started to walk down the cobblestone path to the cavern. Virgil began shaking his head uncontrollably. The feelings on how he treated David without giving him a chance became overwhelming. Virgil stood up from the bench and walked onto the cobblestone path. “David!” He yelled.

David stopped, almost incomplete shook. He turned his head towards Virgil. Raising his eyebrows unsure if he was going to get punched in the face again.

“If-if it’s too much to ask. If you find any upgrades that I can do to the Arrow, can you send them to me?”

“Yeah,” David chuckled. “Yeah, man.” To everyone else, it may have felt disrespectful of Virgil. Though David understood. It was the first thing Virgil had said to him in the past couple of months. He was never a man of sentiment. Virgil spoke with riddles. If he didn’t trust David, he wouldn’t have asked for upgrades.

“Come home,” Gabriel shouted away, “With a flag, not under one.” David smiled at his brother. Missing him dearly. Hoping he will mature while David is gone.

Richard, Ethan, Chris, and Allison drew their swords. Taking a knee to David, watching as he returned a bow of respect. David walked away, stepping into the elevator.

Making his way through the cavern, David looked up at the walls. Taking in a quick reminiscence of the flags and random assortment of trophies. Smiling wide walking down the dark hall towards the underground tram. Taking Eve’s string doll, sliding it in a safe place inside of his backpack. A member of the Order awaiting for him at the entrance. “Ready?” the knight asked of David.

“Yeah,” David stood tall. Ready to leave this life behind, even if it was temporary. He needed to heal away from this. Taking a seat inside the tram. Setting his bags down in front of himself.

“LAX is a bit away from here. Might as well take a nap when you can.”

“I’ll sleep on the plane,” David told him.

“Very well,” The knight shut the door and started the engine. Inputting the coordinates. “Next stop, Los Angeles.”

David lied his head back on the wall, kicking his legs out to relax. Pulling out his phone, turning it off for the first time in his life. Taking in a deep breath and releasing. This must be what it was like to be normal? He could get used to this. Sliding the phone inside of his backpack. He closed his eyes. Eve’s voice broke in through his mind in a deafening cry, “David!”