A Hero In The Dark

Chapter 111: Our World Reborn

Setrákus Ra rips the four pendants hanging from my chest with one forceful clutch of his inept hand. And just like that, I feel that much weaker. My bond with Lorien gone.

"You were never meant to succeed girl," he says to me then, looking me dead in the eyes. It is then that I begin to whimper, cry the little tears I can because it is all I can do. Knowing that this is the end. I failed. "The only way to truly put your life to use was for you to join my side."

I cannot say anything; my throat numbed and crushed.

"Disgraceful," he resumes. "Now you will die human. And your Chimæra will too."

The Mogadorian Leader reaches for a gleaming sword at his waist, awkwardly still with the damaged limb, and puts the tip of it to the side of my neck from where skin is not covered by his grisly hand.

Only then do I close my eyes.

If I'm going to die, I do not wish to look him in the eyes.

"I don't think so."

I can just barely feel the heat of a white-hot fireball as it comes into contact with the back of his head, singeing part of his hair.

The hold of my neck slackens and he drops me and I fall to the ground. Feet first then knees then hands. Breathing in deep breaths to get back some air into my system. My lungs working harder than they ever have this night.

And behind me is Setrákus Ra. Frantically crawling in the grass back up to his feet and searching for the person that attacked him.

I search too. I would like to know who saved my life.

And then, there. Appearing from the dark of a shadow where Setrákus Ra cannot see, is John.

Teleporting in the alien's blind spot to stab him through the back with a diamond edged blade. Through his heart, with a kick to pull the dagger free, and a slice to the back of his throat.

Dark blood spills from his wounds and he shrieks in desolate dismay.

Yet even while wounded and hurt, he does not die. How I wish he would. How I wish I had the energy to stand; the energy to keep fighting. Though the breath has gone out of me and it is still difficult to find it back.

"Foolish boy," he says to John now, paying nearly no attention to me. "Do you really love her so much that you would give your own life for her?"

Without an ounce of hesitation; without a sheer glance in my direction; he holds the leader's stare and responds as confidently and earnest as ever, "I love her with all of my heart."

Each word seems to hold just as much meaning and value and weight to it as the state of Earth itself. I long to hear them and I replay them over and over in my mind like a love song on repeat.

And as soon as the words are out, true as can be, John teleports.

There is a moment where I can sense his confusion as he wonders where John has gone, but all of it vanishes just as quickly as it came when his head is cut clean off by the dagger glistening with Lorien pride.

Dead.

Setrákus Ra is dead.

And as I make my way back to my feet to join John's side while he watches the Mogadorian Leader dissipate to nothing but ash, I kiss him.

I kiss him on the lips as the sun begins to rise. Fuller than love and warmer than midday sand.

Pixie, shapeshifted back into her rabbit form with a broken leg, hops awkwardly to our feet. John bends down to hold her and heals her with a touch of his hand.

And together, the three of us make our way back to the Statue of Liberty, where Agent Walker and her partner wait, weapons at their hips.

"Is it over?" she asks.

"As over as watching him disintegrate to ash," John says with a relieved smile while he holds me snugly under his arms.

"And the cloaking devices?" I ask at last.

"Taken care of," John replies, his smile widening as he continues. "The others have already delivered them. Just stopped by to put an end to a mess or two."

I lean into him as Agent Walker breathes out a sigh of relief. Then she takes out her walkie talkie and speaks into it, "It's done."

"Now what?" asks the agent at Walker's side, sliding his rifle back down to his waist.

"Now," John starts. "we put the world together again."

"Our world will be reborn," I add. "With the new Human Garde developing legacies of their own and threats like the Mogadorians still out there, change is calling."