3RD PERSON
"You don't give up, do you?" Skull said, stumbling to his feet. Red leaned against the wall, glaring at him. "No, not this time. I'm bringing you down even if I have to go down with you" Red said, ignoring the aches in his body.
"Fine, you asked for this"
Skull clenched his jaw and lunged forward with his knife. The tip of the knife made contact with Red's skin briefly. Red ducked and dodged, arms and feet working swiftly.
Outside the room, Vanessa and Axel had caught up with the others. They had a few bruises here and there.
"What's going on?" Vanessa asked, looking confused.
"Red is in there with Skull" Vanessa and Axel paled instantly.
"He's going to get himself killed" Axel said, terrified.
He grabbed a fire extinguisher and began to smash the door handle.
****
Red groaned, clutching his rib section. Skull was a bloody mess, he could barely stand on both feet.
Red knew it was time to end this. He swung his chain in Skull's direction and it landed around his neck.
He tightened his hold on the chain. Skull sank to his knees, his fingers feebly clutching at the chain.
He choked, his eyes bulging.
"That's right. It's time for you to die" Red sneered, hanging the other end of the rope on the iron protruding from the ceiling. Skull forced out a chuckle. "I knew you were a mistake. I should've killed you when you were a child" he coughed, blood staining his lips. "Well you didn't. Things would have been different if you didn't let yourself become a monster. I know you were grieving and wanted revenge for your mother. You would have been a great father. My mother loved you but you killed her. You deserve to die" He said.
Skull felt remorseful for the first time in years. He stopped struggling, his gaze rooted to the ground.
"I loved your mother more than I could ever imagine. I was driven by jealousy and rage. I shouldn't have let my demons control me. I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry for not being the good father I should've been. I'm sorry for being so selfish. I lost everything and I lost my son, the last thing I thought I had. For the past few years, loosing you has been my greatest fear. It didn't have to end like this, but it has. Kill me now. It's a penance for my sins"
Red stared at Skull, stunned to silence. When Red hesitated, Skull grabbed the end of the chain and pulled it hard. The chain dug into the skin of Skull's neck and blood poured out of his mouth, his head lolling to the side. His eyes were wide open but they were dull and devoid of life. Nathan Aaron McCain was dead. The bane of Archer Dane's existence had finally ceased to exist.
The door burst open and the others walked in.
They stared at him with eyes wide with shock.
"Well, he's dead, alright?" Tori said, amazed.
"How the hell-" Axel said, looking very shocked.
Arch's knees buckled and Lee quickly steadied him.
"I'm fine" he muttered.
"Stop being stubborn, you're exhausted" Lee said and Arch let out a sigh. Lia supported Arch on the left with Lee on his right.
The wound on his head had begun to bleed again. Together, they walked out of Scorpion's eye organization.
The halls were empty. Everyone else seemed to have evacuated the place apart from those who were injured. As soon as they left, the underground base exploded into nothing but ruins.
****
RED
We got out from the underground base only to find a blonde lady waiting outside. Dahlia stiffened beside me. I didn't know why the blonde was there. All I knew was that it couldn't be good.
"Shelley?" Lia breathed, tensing up.
'Shelley' glared daggers at her. "So, it's actually true" She said, glaring at me.
"You actually ran away with some animals" She said.
"I had to run away with them. They are not animals, but your brother is one.
Besides, whatever your brother said to you is definitely a lie. Did he tell you what he did?" Lia said. I realized that she was talking about Edward. If Shelley was actually Edward's sister, it was bad.
I closed my eyes briefly since I was getting really dizzy and the aches in my body seemed to have multiplied.
"He was right about you. You're an ungrateful bitch" Shelley said and took out a gun. I stiffened.
Edward and some other men had surrounded us with evil grins on their faces. We began the next phase of the fight. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Shelley raise her gun, aiming at Dahlia who was oblivious to the danger.
"Lia!" I yelled and moved her out of the way, the bullet embedding itself in my arm. Vanessa knocked Shelley out with one swift movement.
"Lia, stay close-"
She was ripped right out of my arms. Edward had her in a head lock with a knife pressed to her neck.
"If I don't have her. You can't have her, Red" he said.
"Don't hurt her" I said tiredly, exhaustion hitting me with full force.
"Why should I listen to you?" He said, tightening his grip around her neck.
"Just leave her alone. You can kill me if you want. Just don't hurt her" I panted, my vision starting to blur.
He laughed.
He fucking laughed.
I was vaguely aware of me throwing a knife at him before sinking to the ground.
Lee and Axel rushed to my side as soon as I sank to the ground. The knife had gotten Edward on the forehead and he was lying on the floor, dead.
Lia rushed to me, cupping my face. I gazed into her beautiful blue eyes and kissed her forehead. She was a mess. A beautiful mess. My beautiful mess.
"I'm okay" she said as I examined her worriedly.
I nodded, embracing her.
Was it over?
I had a feeling that it wasn't over yet? I could hear the sirens but I was too dizzy to make them out.
"The cops. Who called the fucking cops? Shit, we have to get out of here" I heard Lee say.
It's too late, I told myself.
There's no escape now.
They had us cornered.
Only one of us would be going to jail.
It was me.
I killed Edward and I didn't regret it one bit.
I did what I had to do to keep Lia safe. She was okay, that was all I had to know.
"Mr Archer Dane, you're under arrest for the murder of Mr Edward Miller. You are obligated to remain silent because anything you say will be used against you in the court" I felt the handcuffs around my wrist. I could hear Dahlia crying out and yelling my name.
"He killed my brother! He has to rot in jail" I could vaguely hear the angry voice, yelling.....then it all went black.
****
DAHLIA
It's been a week since Arch was detained. I'd returned home to my parents. My father was mad at me. My mother listened to what I had to say and she welcomed me with open arms. I still felt torn. I couldn't help but have doubts. What if he was sentenced to life imprisonment? What if he was given a death sentence. The past days has been hell. I've been crying myself to sleep and I keep having nightmares of him being snatched from me.
"Lia, honey, you have visitors" my mum said. Heaving a sigh, I descended the stairs. Lee and Tori were standing there looking as haggard as I felt.
"Lia, I'm so sorry" Tori said, embracing me.
I couldn't help but break down in her arms. Lee embraced me.
"I'm scared. I'm so scared. Red doesn't deserve all that. He deserves to be happy" I sobbed.
"I know" Lee said.
"It's my fault he's in jail. He took the bullet for me and he had to kill Edward for my sake" I cried.
"This is not your fault" Tori said and I shook my head.
"You don't know that" I said.
"Red wanted to keep you safe. He doesn't want you to keep blaming yourself" Lee said. I squeezed my eyes shut, taking a seat on the couch. "Have you been sleeping? You're a mess, Lia" Tori said.
"I can't sleep knowing he's not okay" I replied.
"I'll make you chamomile tea" Tori said and headed to the kitchen leaving me with Lee. "He told me to tell you not to worry about him" Lee said to me.
"You went to see him?" I asked. He nodded.
"How's he? Be honest with me" I asked.
Lee shrugged.
"He told me he felt drained but he could handle it"
"You know he's lying, don't you?" I said.
"I know"
We remained silent for a while before he took my hand and placed something in it. "He asked me to give this to you" Lee said.
I stared at the necklace in my hand and broke down all over again. It was Arch's necklace.
"Be strong, Lia" he rapsed.
***
It was finally the day Red's case would be brought to hearing. Red looked horrible. He looked like he was going to pass out. He looked so weak, the sight of him brought tears to my eyes. My mum brought me close to herself, rubbing my back. "Be strong" she whispered and I nodded.
His lawyer was doing his best but I didn't need anyone to tell me that Shelley and her family were intent on getting him to rot in jail. When I stepped into the witness box, I was so nervous but I said everything I could to convince the judge that he didn't want to do it.
Finally, the judge made his decision. Red was found guilty. He mentioned that because he'd been trying to protect me, the number of years he'll be spending in jail was seven.
I was broken.
Arch was going to spend seven years in jail because of me. I was so shaken by it all, I threw up in the bathroom.
A small voice in the back of my mind reminded me to be grateful. Seven years was long but it was not as bad as a death sentence.
"Everything's going to be just fine" my mum said to me but I could vaguely hear her. My knees buckled and I heard her cry out. I passed out. Perhaps, exhaustion had finally caught up with me.
***
When I awoke, I found my mum and Tori by my bedside, looking very anxious. I was in a hospital, I realized. "What's wrong, mum?" I asked, confused.
"Lia-" Tori said, holding my hand.
"You're sixteen weeks pregnant" My mom said and I gapsed.
"What?"
"That's what the doctor said" Tori said, slowly.
I stared at them, shocked.
I could remember what happened between Red and I one night. It was a one time thing. I didn't think I would conceive. I was carrying Arch's child. Arch was in jail. How was I going to raise the child? I broke down into tears. Mum slowly stroked my hair, holding me close to herself. I wanted to scream and cry.
****
Weeks later,
I was twenty weeks pregnant and was visiting Arch for the first time since he got imprisoned. My baby bump wasn't so visible through Arch's blue hoodie that I was wearing. I smiled at him when he walked in with handcuffs around his wrists. He returned the smile and sat down from across me. He was dressed in dark blue prisoner clothes and his hair was in a bun.
"Hey" he said, giving me a smile. "Hey, yourself. You doing okay?" I asked.
"I'm okay as long as you're fine" he replied.
"I'm so sorry things ended the way they did" I said and
he grinned.
"It's not your fault, Lia. I killed him. I did it to protect you. I take full responsibility for my actions"
Tears filled my eyes.
"I love you" I said.
"I love you too, Lia. Always" he said.
"You're wearing my necklace" he said, looking pleased.
"Yeah"
"It suits you" he said and I blushed.
"Arch?"
"Yeah?"
"I have something to tell you" I said.
"I'm listening" he said, gazing at me through the glass separating the both of us. Taking a deep breath, I met his gaze.
"It can't be that bad, right?" He said, looking nervous.
"I'm pregnant" I said
He froze.
"When- when did you find out?" He asked, cautiously.
"Few weeks ago" I said.
"Are you okay?" He asked, gazing at me, tenderly.
"I'm okay..."
"You're keeping the baby right?" He asked me and I nodded.
He smiled.
"I want you to inform me about the baby's progress, okay?" He said and I chuckled.
"I'll get you the ultrasound photos" I said and he beamed.
"Time up" the officer said and Arch stood up.
"I love you, don't you ever forget that" he said to me.
"I love you too. Always" I said, tears threatening to spill. I quietly watched him walk away, the tears finally making their way down my cheeks. He's so selfless.
I'm so glad I met such an amazing man
Maybe everything would be fine after all.