Eve sat her knees to her chest. Her arms wrapped around her legs, knuckles white. She was on the couch, looking at the holographic maps circling the center. Her arms were bruised and scarred from her training with Gabriel. She had faith they would be okay. But did not keep her from thinking about them constantly. It had been two days that she had seen David, if he had been captured, was it possible he survived whatever they had put him through? He carried himself like a man, but that did not stop her from still seeing him as a child. So young, but he carried the world on his shoulders. How unfair, she thought to herself.

  Stephen walked up with two glasses of water, he offered one out to her. She kept her body tight, ignoring him in deep thought. “Come on, Eve. How do you expect to help them if you’re not hydrated?” He asked her. She looked up at him, her heart heavy with her head. “You know fear leads to the dark,” Stephen said. He froze.

  “What is it?” She asked raising her eyebrows. Stephen appeared as if he had seen a ghost. A feeling of dread passed over his head. The glass slowly slipped from his grip, smashing into the ground. The water spread along with his shoes. His fingertips shaking. “Hey Stephen, what is it?” Eve jumped up from her anxious state to her feet onto the glass. Not paying attention she stabbed the souls of her feet. She jumped away quickly, gritting her teeth.

  Stephen looked over to her, leaving his trance of depression. “Eve!” He yelled out grabbing onto her foot. “Are you okay?” He asked. Stephen looked at it there was no damage, thankfully.

  “Yes, I’m fine,” Eve said sitting down to elevate her feet, it was too painful for her to stand on. “I should be asking you. What happened?” She asked, looking up at the younger boy. Master Eleazar left him to oversee the Sanctum. Each of them, so young carrying so much responsibility. Greater than themselves.

  Stephen lowered his head, staring at the ground. His eyes wandered. “I feel like a hole was torn inside of me.” He muttered. “Something I haven’t felt since my sister had died.” Eve had wondered if it was just a feeling.

  “Sit next to me.” Stephen acknowledged, sitting down next to her. He looked uncomfortable. Eve wrapped one of her arms around his shoulder. “Everything is going to be okay. I know it.”

  “I hope so.” Stephen sat there, still feeling a heaviness in his heart. Eve hoped so too. They both sat there quietly. As the light began flashing on the map. A message appeared.

  Virgil’s voice broke out. “Need emergency medical on standby ready for our arrival. Arch Healers.”

  Stephen jumped up and began typing away at a holographic keyboard. “What’s going on?” Eve asked watching the young boy work with urgency. Stephen remained quiet, focused. “Stephen?” Eve asked. She became worried, she had prayed that they would have all come back home okay. She found herself foolish, of course, their would-be injuries. This was war.

  “I’m forwarding the message to the Order. So that way they can be here when the team gets back.” Stephen continued, “Virgil is never in a panic in his reports.”

  “He sounded pretty panicked.”

  “I know. That’s what worries me.” Stephen said. Glaring back at her.

  David was looking at the lights inside the bay. His eyes wandering around, David felt his heart numb. It was easier than accepting the pain of losing his master. He learned to prepare himself for death. Memento Mori not only was it the name of the training he underwent as a child. But it was also a philosophy. Meaning to remember that one day, everyone’s life will come to an end. Predestined by God, the spirits, or even just life itself. Regardless of training yourself in this philosophy, it never negated losing a friend like Kaitlyn, but now his mentor. This was the sacrifice that they took so that others can live in a world of freedom, a world without fear and misery. This was a sacrifice David made for himself, swearing off all the luxuries, privileges, love, and rights so that others can enjoy it.

  His eyes wandered around the bay. Across from him, Carlos sat in silence alongside Chris. Then Ethan, who was spaced out. I wonder what he is thinking, David, wondered. His eyes drifted to the right. Gabe sitting in the corner, he had cried himself to sleep. David just smiled from the corner of his mouth. Along the wall David was sitting, Allison held her eyes closed, quietly whimpering to herself. She laid her head on Jasmine’s shoulder. She seemed okay with it, Jasmine was good at hiding her emotions, it was easier for her to hide and bottle up her pain. No matter how many times he told her that it was a terrible idea. Next to her was Richard, looking down at David. He had been watching David.

  “How long have you been watching me?” David asked looking up at him.

  “One of us had to make sure you would not die on us.” Richard awkwardly laughed. David just smiled in appreciation. “How painful is it?” Richard asked.

  “Very.” He muttered.

  “I admire how strong you are.” Richard said, “I might be tough but not that tough.”

  “I didn’t think so either,” David said, his eyes began to look at all his friends. “I went in thinking I could get through it all by holding onto my spirit. I don’t know how they did it, but they took it away from me. Briefly.”

  “I definitely do not know how you did it.”

  “Everything they threw at me. I was able to take. I think it’s because I’ve been feeling like my entire life had been torture.” David smiled.

  “Don’t say that.” Richard said, “Only look back on your life when you’re dying.”

  “I’m so selfless, to the point where I hurt myself. Repeatedly.” David looked back up at him through his battered face. “Why do I do that?” David asked him, his voice cracking.

  “I think you need to put yourself first for once. Go on vacation. Get away from it all.” Richard told him. Richard looked up, David’s heart rate was climbing, as soon as it spiked, an alarm went off.

  David’s vision began to go dark, floating stars appeared in his vision. He gritted his teeth. “Come on man, you’re almost there.” Allison came running over, she placed her palms over his exposed chest healing him. “Virg! Are we there yet?” Richard called out to the cockpit.

  “We’re coming up to it now.” Virgil focused his mind; he was going to land swiftly.

  “Steady Virgil,” Kevin said from the copilot seat.

  “I am not having another person die because I could not get there fast enough.”

  The Silver Arrow broke out of the dark clouds. Eve stood on the roof, alongside Stephen and James. Master Hawkins and an Arch Healer stood in front of the three. “Mr. Locklear, maybe it’s best you are not here.”

  “I am going to make sure my boys are okay,” James said, his blood anxious. He worried for everyone’s safety. Eve watched; it was so foreign to her seeing a father display such emotions. She could read his energy, and it was full of anxiety and paranoia. She stepped over to him, placing her hand in his. Watching as his energy calmed. “It’ll be okay Mija, I know they will be okay.” He forced himself to smile, his eyes getting red.

  Richard lifted David from the chair, Carlos and Ethan grabbed a stretcher. Laying him on it with his sword on his chest with his crystal. In hopes that his crystal will give him a boost in energy. Gabe stood over his brother who had passed out. “I can read your thoughts; you can’t fight me now.” Gabe said, “Whatever embarrassing dream you’re having right now. I don’t care, I’ll suffer just to know you’re still alive.” Gabe took one of the handles of the stretcher. Richard and Kevin at the front held the stretcher handles. Gabriel and Ethan had the back.

  Thunder began to fill the sky; a light drizzle of rain fell onto the rooftop. Virgil began the Silver Arrow’s descent. The landing gear extended. Eventually touching down onto the roof. The four stood up, picking up David’s body with them. Allison held onto his monitor; Jasmine was careful with the cords in her hands. The ramp lowered as soon as there was enough space to exit. The group working to care for David stepped outside the Silver Arrow. Master Hawkins looked upon the group. His apprentice’s absence gave him the answer he so much desired.

  Stephen began running after the ramp, wanting to do anything he could to help. Eve stood frozen with James, “Where is David?” He questioned, “That’s not him on the stretcher. Maybe he is in the cockpit.” As soon as everyone stepped off, Virgil came sprinting off the Silver Arrow. Everyone had always known that Virgil was always the last in getting out of any vehicle. The brother’s father soon realized. His eyes were overcome with tears, rolling down his face. Eve watched David’s energy reading, a faded shade of green. Eve ran with everything she had, she wanted to stay out of the way. But she could not help herself. Master Hawkins walked slowly over to the group. It took everything in James’ fiber of being to stay put for the group to work on his son. Maybe it was ignorance. If he did not know for sure it was David or Gabe, it was easier.

  The Arch Healer had been waiting for them at the exit of the ramp. “Master Ruiz,” Allison said looking up at him. A short man, but stocky, nonetheless. “We need to get him to the medical facility.” She said quickly.

  He raised his hand. “Set him down here, I cannot afford for the corruption to continue to spread.” He took off his robe. It folded onto the wet roof. His eyes clear. Blind. He bent down to his knees as the group set David’s stretcher onto the ground. The rest backed up, Allison in a panic began to heal his head. Keeping his mind clear of dark thoughts. Trying to reduce the swelling in his face as well. Master Ruiz placed his hands over the young man’s chest covered in purity water, green energy flowed from his palms into David’s chest. His body spasming slightly.

  Gabe saw Eve sprinting over to them. He swiftly grabbed her arm and pulled her away. He wrapped his arms around her attempting to keep her from possibly interrupting. “Let go of me.” She yelled out, trying to shake free from his tight hold. “Gabriel.”

  “Shut up.” Gabe whispered in her ear, “He’s dreaming of you.” Eve began to relax; Gabriel kept his hold on her. “How does that make you feel?”

  “What?’ Eve did not know how to feel, it seemed as if the only thing worth anything in her life was slowly leaving. She wanted to hold on, she did not want to lose what made her happy. Eve could not tell him that.

  “You don’t have to tell me anything.” Gabe continued to talk into her ear. “They did this to him. David is dying because of what they did.”

  Eve began to fill with anger, a tornado of emotions filled her mind. She wanted to kill them. She wanted to make the Brotherhood and Liam feel her pain. Most importantly, she wanted David to wake up. To smile the way, he did before he left her. That is what she wanted most.

  “This is how Liam felt. However, his emotions focused on vengeance, yours do not.” Gabriel untightened his grip on her. “Yours is love. Not because he makes you happy. But because you want to make him happy.” Gabriel said releasing her completely, “This is the difference between you and Liam. The difference between love and hatred.”

  “How could they do this?”

  “Because their desire for their selfish needs outweighs their love,” Gabriel said. “I will not stop you.” Eve nodded at him, her hair covered in rain, stepping towards David’s body. Gabriel went back to his father, knowing he needed his son there for support. Eve continued forward, looking on at David. His body was beaten. Corruption scars laid all over his body. Reminding her of her own chest. She was not sure to feel hatred. Or to feel sorrow.

  “He’s going to be okay.” Master Ruiz said, “Corruption is a sickening thing. Most don’t typically recover from it. David however is a special case. It’s almost as if his body was made specifically to withhold the darkness. Or fight it.” The old man said. Eve placed her hand on his body. He was warm. His green energy mixed with red. Only had seen David’s energy taken these hues once.

  “How long?” Eve asked. “How long until he’s back to normal.” Her voice cracked.

  “When he took the corruption from you.” Allison chimed in. “You both were out for a week. And that was normal. A month. Maybe.” Allison said still healing his head. Eve wondered. She reached her hand out. The energy passed around her hands. Like it was smoke. She moved her fingers. David’s energy fluttered with her touch. Curious she thought to herself.

  The others watched her fiddling around with the thin air. “Eve.” Carlos took a knee down right next to her. “What are you doing?” He asked. Eve put her hands back down.

  “Nothing she said.” Eve looked at master Ruiz, “Shouldn’t we get him inside?” Eve questioned. Not wanting to risk him getting sick.

  “Soon.”

  “Carlos, can we get a tarp?” Eve asked. Carlos nodded and stood up, heading to the stairwell. She dragged her fingers across David’s chest. A blue energy field left marks on him. Like as if she had just written on his body with a marker. She stood up not noticing, following closely behind Carlos. Ethan and Chris looked at each other, shrugging before following the two to the storage room.

  Gabe watched, bringing his father over to David. David’s breathing had relaxed. His heart rate was steady. “Is he going to be alright?” Their father asked the Arch Healer. “Like back to normal?”

  “In time.” Master Ruiz said. “All we can do is be patient.”

  “Son, why do you do this to yourself?” James' voice cracked. He fell to his knees looking on at his son. Not wanting to touch him, paranoid that David would fall apart at the single touch. He picked up his son’s hand. Holding it in both of his. Gabriel placed his hands on his father’s shoulder.

  “So, others don’t have to,” Gabe said softly. Detached from reality.

  James began to laugh under his breath. “James, why are you laughing?” Allison asked, looking concerned.

  “David is the only one. Always coming back beaten up.” James said smiling. “You both have the biggest hearts.” He said grabbing Gabriel’s hand that was on his shoulder. Gabe just stood there.

  He had been lost in David’s dreams. They were always the most interesting to him. Mainly because it was never often that David was weak enough for him to read his mind. Gabe was standing in an open field. Looking on at a small home sitting on one of the hills. He turned around a beach. It was sunny, Gabe walked forward. His feet were exposed to the earth. He could see two figures, one tall, the other short: hand in hand looking on at the horizon. No. Three figures. A small child sat on the shoulders of the figure that appeared to be taller. He trod forward. But drew no closer. “I am afraid that you cannot live this dream.” Master Eleazar stood tall next to Gabriel.

  “Master- “Gabriel muttered.

  “Not anymore,” Eleazar said. “I’m sorry I never had the chance to complete your training.” Gabriel felt remorse. As if he was left out.

  “I thought we were to never say sorry,” Gabriel told him.

  “Only when you genuinely mean it,” Eleazar said. “When the time comes. And it will present itself, you will find a new master.” Eleazar told him, turning around briskly, and walking away.

  “What do I do now?” Gabriel asked, impatient and in a panic. He felt as if he was secluded on his own. He felt alone. He was unable to see the dream, and now his former master abandoned him.

  “I could not teach you. I was not the proper master for you Gabriel.” Eleazar smiled. “For now, you will be a teenager. A guardian. A friend. And a brother.” Eleazar faded into the wind like leaves. Gabriel dropped to his knees back to reality, tears rolling from his eyes. Looking at David, whose eyes began to move. His eyelids slowly opened, he smiled at his brother gripping tightly to his father’s hand.

  “Stay out of my head.” David held his smile, before closing his eyes once more. Back into a deep sleep. Gabriel was happy his brother was okay, knowing he would be. Nonetheless, the reassurance helped with his mind. Dissociating from the situation made it easier for him to cope. Although never to this extent, David had always managed to pull through.

  Eve and the others were digging through the storage room. “Where is it?” Eve asked. Frustrated throwing things around.

  “Easy blue,” Carlos said, he found a box and began rummaging through it all. “I get you’re worried but relax.” He looked over, her piercing blue eyes locked with his. “Or not, it was just a suggestion.”

  “You guys took too long; we’re moving David to his room.” Jasmine’s voice broke into Carlos’ ear. Not realizing he was still wearing the earpiece.

  “Okay, we’ll be right up.” Carlos threw the box onto the floor, hearing a smash.

  “What’d you break?” Eve asked.

  “Doesn’t matter, they’re moving him into his room.” Carlos started out the door, Eve followed behind him. “It was a good idea. Just they worked faster.” The two-headed up the stairs, hoping to beat the group to the floor in hopes of helping. Carlos went to the door, Eve following closely behind. Trying to twist the door handle open.

  “Is it locked?” Eve asked.

  “Yeah. Fairly sure David keeps the key in his backpack.” Carlos said. “He didn’t have his backpack.” Carlos looked around, looking defeated. “We can just put him in a different room.” He stepped away from the door.

  “Here let me try,” Eve said walking over the door handle. Gripping it firmly. Closing her eyes, she focused. Breathing in deeply and pushed the air from her lungs out. Then she pushed the door’s locking mechanism back into the door from the archway. Making a clicking noise.

  “Why didn’t I think of that?” He said watching Eve turn the knob and pushing the door open. Revealing his room. Eve walked inside. She had never been inside David’s room before. Eve found it fascinating. “Congrats.” Carlos entered the room. Fixing the bed, placing his pillows and blankets ready for him to lay on. “You’re the first girl inside of his room.”

  “Wow what an honor,” Eve said sarcastically. “Not even a girlfriend?”

  “David never had a girlfriend,” Carlos said. “This is his life. He never let anything come between it.”

  “I see.” Eve took this opportunity to look around, everything had been cleaned. David took care of himself, or just never spent much time in his room. It looked exactly like her room, except for some differences. Some posters of rock bands on the walls. Neatly posted up. An acoustic guitar, an electric guitar, and a bass displayed on the wall near his shower. A couple hilts laid displayed on the bookshelf, some looked destroyed or damaged. Some small statues of characters are displayed nicely. David never really carried himself dorky like that. She smiled. It was like taking a step inside his mind that she had never known. There was one place however that was dirty. His desk, stacks of books, and papers laid rummaged around. A laptop was still opened, she walked over, placing her hand on the desk, looking at all the documents. The screen turned on from her movements, a file had been opened. This must have been the last thing he had been studying before he had left. She read the title ‘The Perfect Balance: Light and Dark.’ Carlos walked over and closed the laptop.

  “Why’d you do that?” Eve asked.

  “You shouldn’t snoop through David’s stuff,” Carlos said. “You may not like what you find.” Eve’s eyes widened, concerned, and confused. What is it that David had been studying? Why was it so taboo? Carlos walked away as Ethan stormed inside the room. “You look rough,” Carlos said looking at him. He walked over with all of David’s papers, putting them inside the closet.

  “They’re coming right now.” Ethan panted. The elevator’s doors opened wide. Gabe was the first out, holding onto the front of the stretcher by himself and Richard at the back where David’s head was. Allison was next to them, no longer healing David. Jasmine was carrying the medical equipment. Which they no longer needed but had just in case. They headed down the hallway towards David’s room. Eve was standing out front.

  “I was expecting to blow this door open,” Gabe said as he and Richard headed inside his room. Everyone followed them inside. Richard and Gabriel set his brother down on his bed. “Get ready to pull the stretcher when we lift him,” Gabe said. Ethan grabbed onto the stretcher. “One, two, three, Lift.” Gabe counted down, both lifting him as Ethan pulled the stretcher away. Eve stood off to the side, arm in hand.

  “Is there anything I can do to help?” Eve asked. Walking over to the group, who were getting David comfortable in his bed.

  “Do you see black energy inside him?” Gabriel asked. Placing a pillow under his older brother’s brown hair head. Eve walked to the sleeping boy, looking David up and down. She saw nothing but green energy. Except for the small black energy surrounding the scars in his palms.

  “There,” Eve said pointing at David’s hand. “There’s a small bit there.”

  “That’s supposed to be there,” Gabriel said. He wiped the sweat from his forehead. “David is as good as new. Except for his injuries.” Gabriel walked over to his Television, grabbing the remote along with a bottle of water.

  “Think David’s going to just want to watch TV when he wakes up.” Allison smiled at Gabriel. He just looked at her.

  “Maybe.” Gabe said, “I don’t understand half the things he does. This is the least expected thing for him to do, so he’s probably going to do it.” Gabriel set the stuff on the nightstand. Then gripping the nightstand and pulled it right next to the bed near his head. Eve just watched as Gabe pulled some snacks from a cabinet and set it on the nightstand as well.

  “Gabe…” Allison said, she could feel his mood begin to flutter. He walked over to David’s speaker, turning it on as it was already set to a rock station. Some early two thousand music was playing softly.

  “David likes to listen to music in the morning, so he’s probably going to want to listen to some if he wakes up,” Gabriel said angling the speakers towards David. James had been standing watching his son. Gabriel walked over, opening David’s window.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “Son…” James said taking a step inside the room.

  “You know how much David loves fresh air; it helps him concentrate,” Gabe said the whites of his eyes began shifting to pink color. James was right in front of his son, he grabbed his shoulder. Gabriel looked into his father’s eyes, a single tear rolling from the corner of his eye. James yanked his son into his big arms. Gabriel rested his head on his father’s chest. Dropping the weight in his arms.

  “It’s going to be okay Mijo.” He said gripping his son tightly. He wanted to cry too but had to remain strong for his sons. “David’s going to be okay.” Gabe gritted his teeth, tears that seemed to have been saved for centuries, flowing from his face like a river.

  “I wasn’t there,” Gabriel said picking his hands up and wrapping his hands around his father, pulling onto the back of his khaki leather coat. Still wet to the touch.

  “I know, but it wasn’t your fault.” James said, “A man has to do what a man has to do son.”

  “I’m going to kill them!” Gabriel screamed out in agonizing pain; his heart was on fire. His voice shattered like glass. “Every single one of them. I’m going to kill every last one of them!” Gabriel continued, His father pulled him tighter, as if it were even possible. “They are going to pay!”

  “That’s not the way son,” James said, trying to consul his son. The only way he knew how to help. “When your mother died, I said the same thing.”

  “They will pay for that too,” Gabe said. Allison’s hands were shaking, taking a step over. She wanted to help him but had no idea what to do. Eve stared at the carpet, how long had Gabriel been holding in all this pressure? All these emotions, erupting like a volcano. She looked over at David, his energy growing stronger as if he were anxious. She walked over to him, placing her hand in his. “All these monsters.” Gabriel continued to weep. James kept holding him tightly as if Gabe would fall apart if he had released even the slightest of pressure. “All the pain caused in this world. Mom. David. Kaitlyn. Liam. Ally’s brother.” Allison’s eyes widened, looking at Gabe, she walked closer to him. He had not called her in front of anyone before. She had thought they all had forgotten about her brother. “Evelyn.” His voice broke. As if it took everything in him to admit her struggle. Eve looked up at him, not sure if she should smile or not. If that was not evident enough to her that he cared about her. Nothing would. She took it. “Master Eleazar.” Gabe finished. “I’m going to rid this world of pain.”

  “Pain and struggle are what makes us human Mijo.” James said, “You’re only human. You cannot finish it all alone.” He said to him.

  “I’m not alone.” Gabriel began to simmer down. Releasing his grip from his father. James let go of him.

  “And you never will be,” James said, he looked at Allison who had been crying. She walked in wrapping her arms around Gabriel, not sure how to react. She tucked her head into the pocket of his shoulder. James just looked over at Eve who was sitting at David’s legs, her hand in his. He drew his eyes to Ethan, Jasmine, Carlos, and Richard. Who all had been standing at the doorway. “Just hug her. We won’t tell David.” He said smiling as Gabriel wrapped his arms around her. Squeezing her tightly.

  “Let’s go,” James said, he walked over to his son, still sleeping. “How is he?” He asked Eve who just smiled, her eyes pink as much as his.

  “His energy is resting.” She said, letting go of his hand in embarrassment. She stood up with James. “We should let him sleep,” Eve said. James pressed his lips on his son’s forehead. And touched his chest.

  “You don’t have to go to bed, just get out of here,” James said, smiling. He was the strongest willed of the group. Eve looked at James, a small green energy field coming from his hand. Eve found it interesting how a single touch could transfer and leave a mark on another person. “You should check on your friend on the roof.” Carlos looked at James and nodded. He instantly headed for the roof. Eve followed James out of the room. Allison took Gabriel’s hand and lead him out of the room. Gabriel locked eyes on his brother sleeping. Until he was no longer out of view. He sniffled before praying to himself.

  “Shouldn’t someone watch him?” Eve asked James.

  “I’m going to be up all night.” James smiled at her. “I won’t be able to sleep anyways.” Eve smiled back at him.

  “You don’t get enough credit for what you do,” Eve said to him.

  “As long as everyone has a smile on their face and comes back home alive, that’s all that matters to me,” James said, closing David’s door behind her as she left the room.

  “You really are humble.” Eve said, “Now I know where both of them get it from.” Eve said. “You’re the father I wish I always had.”

  “Stop.” Their father sat down on the bench outside. “It’s just who I am.”

  “Don’t stop,” Eve said.

  “Go get some food and sleep, I’ll protect this place.” James took a deep breath.

  “If you need help, just let me know,” Eve said. “They do not thank you enough. So, on behalf of everyone. Thank you, dad, truly.” Eve turned around, walking back down the hallway, to the stairwell. James waited for her to leave; he rested his head in his hands.

  He finally allowed himself to cry, tears rolling down his wrinkled cheeks and crashing into the tile floor below him. “Oh Gabriella, how I wish you were here.” He said out loud, his voice cracking. “Jesus. Help my boys.” He muttered; James felt torn. He did not know how much longer he could take watching them struggle at such a young age. He wished he were only stronger if he had the right training. He could have saved his wife. Now his boys were on their own because he could not train them. The best James could do, is be there for them. He blamed himself the same way David blames himself for everything.

  Virgil sat on the ramp of the Silver Arrow; he raised his head. “Seat taken?” Carlos asked him before sitting down next to him. The storm had passed, Kevin walked with Master Ruiz back to the Order to report what had happened during the mission. Virgil stayed behind, doing his best to dissociate from the situation. “Hell, of a day.” Virgil just looked at him, his eyes empty of emotion.

  “What is it you want?” He asked.

  “I’m just checking on you,” Carlos said.

  “I appreciate it, but I’m fine,” Virgil replied. Standing up and walking back inside the VTOL. He took a rag from one of the compartments and started cleaning the blood from the floor. Carlos stood up, grabbing another rag, cleaning up the blood where David had been sitting. “I got it man; you don’t need to help.”

  “I know,” Carlos said, still cleaning regardless. Ethan had walked up as well. His hand with a grocery bag full of snacks and soda.

  “I was thinking we can all just relax,” Ethan said setting the bag in one of the empty chairs.

  “Last thing I want to do is relax.” Virgil threw the rag at the ground, seeming agitated by their presence.

  “I didn’t say where,” Ethan said, looking at Virgil. Throwing him a can of beer.

  Virgil caught and looked at the label. “You know I don’t drink this.” Virgil threw it back at him, Ethan failed at catching it as it smashed against the ground. Foam spraying all over the ground.

  “I’ll clean it,” Ethan said seeing Virgil’s piercing eyes at him.

  “Yes. You will.” Virgil threw a clean rag at him. As it folded into his chest. Virgil opened a compartment with a cooler, pulling out a bottle of water.

  “I was thinking we can just go somewhere else. No one is going to miss us for the night.” Ethan said to him. “Remember what you always said.”

  “If I fly faster than what bothers me then it can’t bother me.”

  “Exactly,” Ethan said cleaning up the last of the mess.

  “Where are we going?” Carlos asked.

  “Yes.” Virgil stepped inside the cockpit.

  “That doesn’t answer my question.” He heard the engines begin to spin up. “Guess we’re going.” Carlos reached into the bag and pulled out a can of beer. Taking a seat and strapping himself in. Ethan smiled and did the same thing.

  “Hey, Virgil, you know the ramp is still opened right?” He said into the headset. There was only silence. Virgil kept his helmet off, still strapped on the wall. The Silver Arrow began lifting off the ground. “Oh my god,” Ethan said holding on to the gate.

  “Is he trying to kill us?” Carlos asked panicked. The pulse control system spun up, preparing for a jump into the sky.

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” Ethan said laughing and chugging his beer before he lost it. Before they knew it, they were fighting the g force into the sky. The duo’s beers flew from their hands into the forest below. They were soon into the sky. Virgil slammed against his chair, he just wanted to fly. Training himself how to conduct hard maneuvers. Flips and turns, Ethan threw up his drink. Carlos laughed at him before doing so himself.

  Eve had been in the courtyard; the lights dimly lit the darkness. She watched as the Silver Arrow shot into the sky. She had smiled softly. She sat down on the roots of the tree, looking into the stars of the night. She found herself dropping to sleep. She had been worried the past few days; all the excitement of the night made her even more so sleepy. She rested her head against the trunk of the tree in the center of the courtyard. Her eyelids drawing heavy. Closing them softly. Fading into a deep sleep.

  Allison’s room was dark, the room was lit by a single candle-lit flame. Bookshelves lined the walls, not a single space was void of a book or random papers. All were extremely organized. Allison was a perfectionist, to others she was a neat freak. He saw her as the stability to Gabe’s life. And he was her excitement. Gabe rested his head on her thigh, her fingers running through his soft brown hair on the top of his head. His tears slowly rolled down the bridge of his nose, running over down his cheek.

  Allison’s other hand in an opened book, softly reading in a calm voice. The Histories of King Arthur. Gabe just listened to every word recited. This had been his favorite book due to it never being finished. Always wonder about the mystery of the ending. He liked the idea of things left to perspective. Allison hated the book, for the same reason.

  “The sword of Excalibur was thrown back into the river…”

  “Ally.” Gabriel cut her off. She stopped reading setting the book on its face on the top of her bed. She was listening to him.

  “Gabe?” She asked.

  “I’m going to tell David.” He said. “It’s been too long that we all kept us from him. It is not fair; he is my brother. He deserves to know.”

  “Really?” Allison did not want to sound as excited as she was. Tired of feeling like she had to hide how she felt for Gabriel.

  “Just give me time.” Gabe said, “If he doesn’t like it, we can just leave. Just the two of us.”

  “David has always supported and cared for you,” Allison told him. “You’re being ridiculous. We cannot just up and leave. We do not get to be regular people Gabriel; you know that as much as I do. My brother died for the Order; I’m not just going to abandon what he died for.”

  “What if the Order we so-called have been fighting for is no longer the Order we once thought it was?” Gabe lifted his head looking at her in the eyes.

  “The council and the Order itself may be corrupt. I understand that, but we still have a duty to the people we are sworn to protect.”

  “I’m not going to change the subject. You are right.” Gabe said looking over at the window. Watching the single candle burning. “I just don’t think it’s fair to David.”

  “What isn’t fair?” She asked him.

  “He sworn off love. I see the way he looks at Eve.” Gabriel turned his head back to her eyes. “Everyone around him can live and love and hurt as they choose. Yet David still pays for other people’s love and loss.”

  “He took that oath. He put that on himself, that shouldn’t stop you from living.” Allison said. “David tries his best to carry everyone’s sins, admirable but it’s killing him.” Gabe just looked down at her hands. “Gabriel you know what I’m talking about.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Do not lie to me.” Allison said softly, “I never have, and everyone knows what he’s doing to himself, what Master Eleazar was doing. David is going to die. We have to stop him.”

  “Rumors are opinions of people who do not know facts.”

  “Do not get philosophical with me Gabriel.” She snarked “How did he get those marks on his hands?” Allison asked. “I know more about these rumors, David always comes to me for help with healing wounds on his body.”

  “You don’t think I tried to stop him.” Gabe said, “He does not listen to me. Every time I asked them; they told me that I’ll understand the day it comes.”

  “David never found himself being anything other than a knight; he took that oath because he has never seen himself falling in love. Now he found someone to live for.”

  “David holds to his word more than you understand.” Gabe said, “Look, I do not want to talk about this anymore. Can we just enjoy our night together?” He asked. Allison smiled at him, she closed the book and lifted the blanket. Gabriel crawled under with her; they both wrapped their arms around each other. They were both at peace. Allison ran her fingers through his hair as they embraced one another. She could have been there for the rest of her life, and she was content.

  Kevin walked inside the cavern from the tunnel. Finally finished with the briefing. Stephen was swinging his wakizashi with incredible speeds. Stephen’s special ability made him lightning-fast, though he had not perfected his movements sometimes made him sloppy or tired himself too fast. Due to the concentration that it took, Stephen was anything except focused all the time. Defeating the holograms, he bent over panting extremely.

  “Getting it down?” Kevin asked him. Stephen just looked up at him.

  “Close, but I’m less concentrated than normal,” Stephen admitted. “I haven’t lost someone since before I was young.”

  “You feel like that’s a gap in your soul. Don’t you?” Kevin said walking towards the refrigerator, pulling out leftover pizza from the box.

  “In a way. Yeah.” Stephen said, “I wish I were there. Then maybe he would still be alive.” Kevin threw the piece into the microwave. Warming it back up. “You do not seem at all at issue with Master Eleazar being gone.”

  Kevin looked at him. “I like to keep my feelings to myself. Look around, everyone is already depressed, what is me being sorrowful going to help anyone?” He asked the young boy. Stephen remained silent. “I will suffer on my own. I will carry on with his memory by living the way he did. Stopping evil.”

  “I suppose,” Stephen said. “I want to carry on his memory too. I want to train Eve.” Kevin laughed. “What?”

  “You can help her train.” Kevin said, “Training here is all of our jobs now.” Kevin grabbed his food from the microwave. Walking over to the couch and took a seat. He turned on the massive projector that lit up the wall.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I can’t sleep. So, grab a controller or leave me alone.” Kevin said turning on the video game system. Stephen walked past him, peering at him as he walked by. Stephen was focused on training and was going to keep it that way. He refused to be persuaded by being distracted from it.

  The next morning, the sun broke in through his window, David slowly opened his eyes. Licking his lips. Soft rock played in his quiet room. Laying on his back, he turned his head. Looking out the window, watching the first snowfall outside his view. So, this was reality? He asked himself. David was not sure if he were happy or not to be out of the abyss. Seeing daylight once more when it felt like he would never see it again.

  Although being at the price of the life of his mentor. David felt as if he owed that man everything in life. Blankly staring at the mountain top. He felt a desire to meditate with the tree. David felt lost, not sure what he was supposed to do. Should he pursue the Brotherhood more or was he to sit back and train his team. He hated not knowing what to do. The best he could do was be patient. David reached his hand out, testing if he could still use his abilities. The remote shook and flew directly to his hand with ease. David brought himself up, sitting upright. He starred at his toes. Wiggling them each. He was in control of his body once more. David looked down at his body, large black scars spread across his chest. He took a deep breath, his lungs expanding and deflating. “I give up on this.” He said out, “I am sorry, master. But I can’t afford to die.” He said standing up, pulling out the IV from his arm. As it shut blood out. He quickly began to heal himself, taking a step forward towards his shower. Taking off his pants and stepping inside the shower, placing one palm against the glass, the hot water ran crashed against his scalp. Dry blood ran down his body, picking it out of wherever it was hiding. His scalp, fingernails, and out of his mouth. “Why am I always the one who ends up like this?” He thought to himself, finding it funny in a dark way.

  David turned off the shower once he was clean, taking a step out, the cool breeze from the window hit his wet body. Sending chills up his spine. He grabbed the towel, drying his body. Reaching inside the closet at the same time and pulling out his black hoodie and sweatpants, if he were to go up the mountain to the tree. He would do it warm and comfortable.

  His door cracked open. “Are you decent?” Asked a remarkably familiar voice. One that David felt himself forgetting about. It was warm to hear it again.

  “Yeah, Dad.” David smiled as the door opened. His father walked in.

  “I just came to check if you were alright.”

  “I know.” David looked down, “I felt you come in every time.”

  James could not help to instantly walk up to David embracing him. David hugged him back. “Don’t you ever do that again?” He said.

  “You know I can’t…”

  “Lie to me,” James said, fighting the urge to cry.

  “You know I can’t do that either.” David told him, “I’m going to be okay.” He said releasing his father. He looked him in the eyes.

  “I know mijo, just. Do what you need to do.” James told him.

  “I will,” David said to him. “Dad, I’m sorry. But I have to take care of something.”

  “We need to spend some more time together. More importantly, you need time to yourself son.” James told him.

  “I promise after this war is over.”

  “Don’t you understand?” James told him, “This war has been going on for centuries, it will never end.” James broke his strong bearing; he could no longer take the pressure. Everything started feeling so real for him once more. He lost his wife, now he felt as if he was destined to lose his sons.

  “What do you know of it?” David asked, getting agitated. Feeling his anger muster, “Mom died protecting us, all you did was run.” He said angered. James stared at his son, never had David spoken out against his father. Not with such decisiveness. James remained silent, fearful of how his son suddenly broke into such a feeling of hatred. “I-I am sorry. I don’t know why I said that.” David felt a burning in his chest.

  “I know more than you’d ever understood,” James said his voice crackling.

  “I need to go. I just need to be alone for a while.” David said, he hugged his father briefly before grabbing his hilt off the bed and heading out of his room. Walking down ashamed of how he acted, not sure what to think of it. He never would be that way, especially to his own father. He would make it up to him, the question is how?

  James stayed behind, staring at the older acoustic guitar on the wall. He reached out, grasping onto the neck of the maple instrument. He closed his eyes as a tear rolled down his cheek. He smiled softly.

  David had hoped he would not see anyone on his way to behind the building. Once the doors opened on the elevator, he peeked inside. Empty. He quickly snuck inside, swiftly pressing a button. Closing the doors. The elevator departed the floor and headed down to the ground floor. He threw his hood over his head, pulling the strings just enough for his green eyes to peer out. Once the doors opened, David peeked out his head, he looked left. A couple families were on their way to the mess hall, he turned his head to the right, Jasmine was sitting on top of a pillar, looking out of the archway. She looked deep in thought. Maybe she would not detect his presence.

  David waved his hand, causing one of the cobblestone rocks to move behind her head. She became alert, looking behind herself. How useful it would be to have her power right now. David kept his feet light as he ran through the archway, into the courtyard. Shuffling over to behind a tree. He looked around. He heard a faint shivering crackle of teeth. Looking down, he was inches from the sleeping Eve. David raised his eyebrow, what a strange girl. David carefully stepped around her, doing his best not to disturb her. He took off his hoodie and laid it upon the freezing girl. He continued, not to remain there much longer.

  David ran past the bushes, light on his feet like a cat. He was almost there. David was careful, not to have come so far to be caught by anyone now. The best thing he could do was remain focused and not allow himself to become complacent. David increased his speed, using the spirit to make him nimbler. Coming upon the wall, he launched himself over it, as if he were a master at parkour. Falling over the wall however was different, smashing into the ground, rolling down into the depression between the mountain and the commune. David did his best to fight the bushes and sticks. Grabbing onto anything that could stop his fall. Extending his hand, he found an old rope, gripping onto it. The rope unraveled. David soon came to an immediate stop, laying on the ground. He held onto the rope, regaining his composure. He sighed. “So much for taking a shower.” He chuckled. Covered in dirt and mud.

  Eve opened her eyes softly, her blue eyes looked on at snow gently falling. Well rested, she sniffled. The smell of a cigarette toxic to the hairs in her nose. Eve stood up, taking a deep stretch spreading her arms out past herself. Looking around, Chris was sitting with Richard; they had been smoking and talking. Richard turned around much to his surprise to see Eve standing there. “Oh, hey blue.” He smiled, and then came with concern. “I know you love him, but you don’t need to steal his sweater.” Richard smiled.

  “What are you talking about?” She asked taking offense. She looked down, looking at the sweater clung to herself. An Angels and Airwaves hoodie. “Who’s is this?” She asked.

  “That’s David’s,” Chris said. “You should know, you stole it.” He began to laugh.

  “I didn’t steal it,” Eve said annoyed. Wondering where it had come from.

  “If you didn’t steal it then where did- “Richard stopped, “We need to find him.” He said putting out his cigarette. Eve became overcome with concern. Had David woken up and not told anyone? After everyone had been worried about him why would he jump to disappear, not letting anyone know of his health? Eve watched as Richard and Chris went in opposite directions, Richard up the stairwell and Chris went down the elevator to the cavern.

  Eve looked at the hoodie, pulling it off her torso and into her arms. “Don’t do it” she thought to herself, she fought the urge. However, it was so damned tempting. And she had only been learning to avoid the temptation of the darkness. She was still a teenage girl; this desire was a different type of resistance that she had not trained for. “Oh, what the hell.” Eve thought to herself putting the hoodie up to her nose, taking in a deep whiff with her nose. Just what she had thought, the smell of smoldering cinder, gunpowder, and oil. All mixed with the smell of a continually active and sweaty boy. The shuffling of the leaves could be heard, Eve shot her eyes up as if she were a deer in the headlights. Gabe had been starring at her. Appearing as if he had just awoken from a deep slumber. “It’s not what it looks like.”

  Gabe closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath and exhaling as if he was relieving steam from inside of himself. He looked up at Eve, “You didn’t steal it, that means David gave it to you as you slept.” Gabe said walking over to her.

  “Yeah, can you not read my mind all the time?” Eve asked, “I was just curious.”

  Gabe just shook his head, she was right. Even though he can read her thoughts and emotions, it was still odd just to smell someone else’s hoodie. “Let me see it.” Gabe snatched it from her hands.

  “You could have said please.” Eve joked with him. “Any idea where he could be?”

  “I am not a tracker,” Gabe told her looking at the hoodie and then lowering it to inspect the grass where Eve had been sleeping. He pointed to the outline she had made with her body. “You were sleeping there?” He asked.

  “Yeah, I was.” Eve replied, “Which explains why he left the hoodie on me.”

  “David wouldn’t have left you there. He would have attempted to carry you inside.” Gabriel said. “He cares like that.” Gabe squatted down, searching for his tracks, but they were nonexistent. David had been light on his feet.

  “Think so?” Eve asked.

  “I know so.” Gabriel stood up. “He must have been in a rush, or he was distraught.”

  “What could make David so distraught?” Eve asked. Allison walked up behind Gabriel, “Could it be anything to do medically?” Eve asked her.

  ‘I’m not lying to her Gabe.’ Allison thought knowing Gabriel was listening.

  “He gets this way sometimes. Remember he went to duel in the cavern when he woke up last time?” Gabriel said.

  “Yeah, I remember.” Eve said, “So don’t expect him to be around people whenever he wakes up from injury?”

  “Exactly,” Gabe told her. He started taking steps forward, he closed his eyes. “I know where he went this time.”

  “Are you sure, because last time you said that he was at the gas station in town? Getting a pizza.” Allison told him; a bit of sass infused with her words.

  “This time, I know for sure. Hopefully.” Gabe said turning around, looking at the peak of the mountain.

  “Considering what had just happened, I think you might be right,” Allison said. Eve turned and looked, remembering that the tree he took her to was that way.

  “Should we wait for him?” Eve asked, “I don’t think it’s a good idea to interrupt meditation.” Eve said. Gabe looked at her.

  “Look who’s learning,” Gabriel said slightly mocking her. “Let’s go, I am going to teach you more of Defensive style one.” Gabriel started walking over to the elevator.

  “So, you’re just going to leave him to himself?” Allison asked Gabe.

  “I am not going to lie; I want to eat first,” Eve said to Gabriel. Gabe sighed, waving them off as he went inside the hallway.

  “I am not interrupting David, he wants space. If he didn’t, he would be here talking to us.”

  “I agree, come on Allison. Let us grab some breakfast.” Eve said to her. Reaching out her hand. After realizing she had lost the disagreement, she took Eve’s hand as they both walked to the hallway.

  “You know where I’ll be,” Gabe said smiling at the two. Walking inside the elevator. The doors shut. Why must he always distance himself when he clearly needed help? Gabriel asked himself. Worried about his brother’s mental health. David rarely talked to anyone about his issues. It may have been a little hypocritical to think that way. Gabriel never went to anyone for help, except last night. Things were heating up; they both would have to learn to lean on each other if they needed help. They learned how to in combat, but they would have to fix their home life if they were to hope to protect it.