Chapter 17
Ecclesiastes 3:3-4
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up: A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
Simon was at my side, I had no clue how long I was there for. “It's finally over”. I croaked weakly to Simon, as he helped me to my feet. He had a pained expression on his face. “Yes it seems that way. When he died, lightning struck and charred the remaining enemies. Tobias, you need to come with me”. I could tell immediately something was very wrong. “What's going on?” I asked confused, following Simon. He broke out in a run and I followed after him. He wouldn't answer me as I continued to yell “what's wrong” as I ran after him. I wasn't teleporting any more, just running as normal, so I guess whatever bizarre *extra* I was given was now gone. We made it to the elevated area where they had set up an overwatch position. Thomas and Philip were standing around, Reginald was on his knees by a figure laying on the ground. As I got closer I could tell it was Angiola, but I couldn't understand why. “What's going on?” I demanded of the group. Reginald, still at her side, looked up to me and said “She got injured, a ghoul came up from behind and took out our spotters... She turned to fight him and.... She got hit badly”. I could see her stomach was torn up and she was hardly breathing. I couldn't figure out why she wasn't healing. “Why? She's not healing, I don't understand”. Reginald was openly weeping at this point. “She... She wasn't a full member yet, We normally don't stop the aging process until age 25. She was 23 but I had planned on”... I stood up and screamed. She was gone. Her breathing had stopped while Reginald spoke. “I can't do this anymore. I am DONE with The Order”. I said to Simon before turning and running off into the woods. I couldn't believe it, all this for absolutely nothing. I FINALLY had someone and it was just gone in the blink of an eye. I tripped over something and hit the ground. Getting to my knees I punched the ground over and over, venting all of my rage. The ground gave way and my knuckles split and bones broke over and over again then the forest floor changed and I was punching tile. The tile floor cracked and I punched it again before realizing what was going on. I looked up and saw that I was in Angiolas studio at the compound. I had no clue how I ended up here. The next moment I was in the underground market where we shared our first kiss. Then I was in the passenger seat of her car still in the garage at The Order compound. I couldn't understand how any of this was happening. I blinked and I was home, in my theater room. I stood up and walked into my bedroom. I stripped naked and collapsed into my bed. Mouse ran in and was snuggled up by my head. I pet him softly and sobbed. I couldn't understand any of this. Why would I have love only to lose it so quickly, I was so mad. I was furious at The Order for not telling me about her status and for bringing her along on such a dangerous mission. I was furious at myself for thinking, for a brief moment, that I could actually have someone in my life. I couldn't understand any of it, but all I could feel was loss, pain and rage. So much rage, I was trembling and sobbing. Mouse was there with me still, he seemed genuinely distraught. I broke down, just so completely lost.
I was laying there, I'm not sure for how long when my tv clicked on. I hadn't touched the remote and Mouse had not stepped on it either because it was still on the tv stand. The news was on to a breaking story. There was a stock photo of an airport but I couldn't care less about whatever new panic they were trying to sell, probably a story about holiday travel. Reaching for the remote I heard the voice over “international airports hit with what appears to”. I turned it off. The tv turned back on “ack of unknown scale. So far we have confirmed reports of 19 total with an unknown number of infected. The bubonic plague was almost unheard of since the 14th century. The reports say this is a manipulated strain spread with canisters hidden inside the international outgoing terminals. CDC specialists say this strain will be airborne and the canisters went off at some time over the last 48 hours. Leaving an unknowable number of possible infections. Please stay tuned as we will be updating this story as soon as we have more information”.
I turned off the TV again and this time it stayed off. He did it... The plague he cured, he brought it back and... It was a two fold attack. The pestilence referred to wasn't just from the fallout and dust. This was a complete blindside. I ran to the bathroom and vomited until I was dry heaving. I reached over and turned the shower on then curled up in a ball laying in the bottom of the shower letting the water hit me. I closed my eyes and prayed for a death I knew wouldn't come… Finally I stood up and stumbled into my room and grabbed the IFAK off my vest. I tore the kit open and grabbed the scalpel. I always carried an IFAK when working with anyone other than members of The Order. I was a pretty decent field medic when needed. I opened the scalpel and wandered back into my bathroom. I cut into my chest and made a 6 inch opening over my sternum. I dropped the blade into the sink and reached into the cut. I felt aimlessly for the cross that had been implanted. I finally found an edge with my fingernail and tried to pry it out. I was done with The Order and would be rid of this curse. I pried and fumbled but I couldn't get it to come out of the bone. I reached down and grabbed the scalpel, bringing it to my chest to try and cut it off the bone. As soon as the blade touched the cross, my body felt like it had been hit by lightning. All of my muscles tensed up with a phenomenal spasm that wouldn't release. The scalpel clattered to the tile floor, landing in a pool of my blood. I couldn't move, I was completely paralyzed, all of my muscles were too tensed up to even move. “I AM NOT DONE WITH YOU MY SON. YOU TOOK AN OATH TO FIGHT AND YOU ARE STILL NEEDED IN THIS FIGHT. YOU HAD SO MUCH FAITH, NOW THIS. DO NOT ALLOW THIS TO SHAKE YOU. ALL THINGS IN MY TIME”. An absolutely booming voice from the heavens stated. It rattled the windows and the mirrors on my wall. As soon as the voice was finished speaking I could move again. Lost, and unable to think clearly I crawled back into bed. I pulled a morphine surette form the IFAK and slammed it home so I could at least get a few hours of sleep.
THE END