by John Davis
“Or perhaps you're a liar and I won't make the mistake of believing a damn word you say twice.” Alicia responded aggressively.
A tense exchange of looks between the two told of heartache, sadness and betrayal.
“For all I know you plan to kill me as soon as we get back,” she stated. “I don't know what to believe anymore.”
Pulling his pistol back to the ready, Jackson slowly turned the weapon on himself and eased it into Alicia's hands.
“If I wanted you dead, you would be,” he said. “I told you that the time would come, that your trust in me would be put to the test. And that time is now.”
Though she continued to struggle with the truth, Alicia slowly gabbed the pistol from his hand.
“I love you, and that's the truth.” he said.
“How do I know Jackson? Do you have any idea what it feels like to just find out something that others already know?” she asked.
“My name truly is Jackson,” he said, lifting his hands up a bit. “I'm from Brighton, which used to be a beautiful British city. I was married to the love of my life, Katie, and we had three amazing children. All of them dead at the hands of Ancients,” he confessed, eyes beginning to swell with tears. “You're the first person to ever hear that. Now, if you want to shoot me, do it. But I've told you the truth.”
“And me?” she asked.
“Up until the moment I met you, I thought of nothing but the love for my wife. The first year following her death, I considered taking my own life every single day. I don't expect you to understand that, but I had nothing left. No reason to fight. Not until the Rise of Allies found me. They gave me new purpose. They showed me how to channel my sadness into anger and fight back,” he added, moving closer to her. “And ultimately, they lead me to you.”
His words truly struck home with her, as she had often times thought of suicide as an escape herself. And she was a good enough judge of character to know he spoke the truth.
“All I do is think about you. A life beyond all of this, just the two of us. But to get there, someone has to defeat the Ancients. I love you, and if you aren't alright with the idea of joining us, tell me. I'm willing to walk away from them for you.” Jackson said.
“And they have the capability to take Washington City?” Alicia inquired.
“I'll let you be the judge soon enough. I just need to know if you hate me, hate me. Or if you hate me enough to kill me?” Jackson asked.
“No, I don't want to kill you. I just,” she replied, tears beginning to fall a bit. “I just don't know what to believe or who to trust anymore. That's all. I feel truly alone.”
A part of her wanted to shoot him. He could have told her the truth from day one. But, as a soldier, part of her understood his reserve. And she certainly agreed with the idea of their kind against the Ancients.
Alicia wondered if she had made a big mistake, leaving Nadia behind. For all of the German's faults, she was at least truthful. It felt as though a new chapter of her own life was beginning. Possibly even a new chapter for humanity. She just didn't know if it would include Jackson.
Run.
Perk sprinted as fast as his legs would take him, completely defenseless to those who hunted him like a dog.
Do not stop. Do not stop.
Shortly after executing a dying soldier by request, what remained of the American team had been slaughtered by an Ancient ambush.
Perhaps it was the screams of a dying soldier. Perhaps the snapping loud of gunfire. Perhaps both. It didn't matter. Nearly thirty of the bastards, at least by Perk's estimation, charged into the group with no chance for defense.
And though his legs had grown tired and his lungs begged for the burst of cold air, Perk continued to sprint. He knew that a moment's rest would lead to certain death.
Perk was sure that the standard Ancient soldiers had given up chase by now. However, a much larger and never before seen beast among them was trailing behind. He could hear its devilish movements. It was as if his body had been born with the ability to feel a harvester close by, though he knew not the name of the monster or explanation.
Perk only knew of the cold chills which ran across his body to alarm him of the beast among demons which drew near.
Perk tried to remember any military training on the unit, but thought of none. There had been no training when it came to an Ancient warrior dressed in an exoskeleton of chrome. And that fact alone let the fleeing soldier know of an ability in combat that was worthy. Heroic even. Based on the rarity of the warrior.
But finally his legs could run no more. Though his mind continued to plead for escape, the twitching fibers of his thighs spoke otherwise, nearly causing the soldier to collapse.
Having fled into a larger building, what appeared to have been apartments prior to the invasion, Perk scrambled to find cover. Finally placing himself behind a large column of cement in the lobby of such a vacant relic of history.
The tingle of senses let him know the monster of wrath would be on him shortly, leaving just moments to collect himself. Slowly grasping Samantha's locket and thinking of a little girl, many children in fact, in which the Ancients had murdered, Perk began to remember.
He remembered how the Ancients showed up without invitation, slaying husbands, wives, children. He remembered how our world quickly became a mass of graves, and thought of so many brave soldiers who had tried to protect humanity. And though he couldn't remember any training based on the unique Ancient unit that stalked him, Perk did remember a very important fact.
He too was a stalker.
Placing the locket into the large pocket of his pants, Perk slowly walked from behind cover into the open area of the lobby. Hoisting a shotgun into position with one hand, he then pulled his combat issued blade from his leg holster.
Moments later, the shadow of a demon became a figure, its chrome-plated body standing firmly in the doorway as braided locks of black flowed down its back.
“”I guess you're used to people running from you,” Perk said, determined to either survive or give the demon hell before his own death. “Not used to a full-on fight I take it, you blinged out fuck?” he added.
As the harvester began to shriek loudly, menacing claws of steel protruding from its fingers, a grin of finely-cut teeth peeked through.
“Well come on then.” Perk replied with a grin of his own, tightening the grip on both blade and shotgun as he prepared for the fight of his life.
And come at him the harvester did, pouncing several feet with claws extended, giving its best effort to end the human quickly.
As it slipped to the right, avoiding all but a very small portion of the shotgun's spread which blew from the chamber fiercely, the prince of demons seemed to crush the floor below him. Hard impact combining with both strength and mass.
Perk doubled back, trying his best to stab into the harvester, but found it impossible as the steel of his blade clanged against the exoskeleton of the warrior.
Then, with a shot of desperation, Perk fired a second burst of clouded-lead from the shotgun, its gunpowder mist missing the beast entirely. However the stock did not.
With nothing to lose, Perk cut the shotgun across his body as though he were a famous baseball slugger, the stock of the weapon splintering as it crashed into the face of the demon. Then, following the act with several heavy-handed punches, the human soldier nearly had the surprised harvester on his back.
Nearly, but not quite.
Recovering with blazing speed, the harvester then unleashed a flurry of his own punches, the chrome covering adding to the effectiveness of such a primitive attack. One that easily knocked Perk to his back.
As as he fought to regain control of his senses, the American soldier who had fought so proudly saw the unknown demon jumping to him with relentless fury. Claws seeming to sparkle in what little available light there was.
Having torn into the American group of soldiers, the Ancients beat them within a matter of minutes. And though Perk had managed to slip out o
f the one-sided fight, the remaining soldiers weren't nearly as lucky.
The Ancients had taken their time, shredding flesh from bone and feasting gladly, before expanding their search to find more who possibly hid in the shadows.
It was that very search which had hindered Preacher.
The German sniper was forced to halt his hunt temporarily in order to seek cover. Hiding as best he could, hoping for a chance for avenging his comrade Nadia.
As he lay prone on a building top, his body nearly draped in a wide metal vent which channeled up from the roof and elbowed above him, Preacher cursed the Gods for his luck.
He had been so close to catching Alicia and Jackson, his inner senses told him of it. But the Ancients were out in force, both on foot and air, shining bright spotlights down from the hover ships that had been used so often to locate their game.
Humans.
Preacher had seen so much death and destruction in his lifetime. Most of it brought on by this race of seemingly superior beings, and it plagued his soul. Anywhere in the world. He could have been anywhere in the world at this very moment. Yet he was here, hiding like a rat from its cage with a sniper rifle in hand, all to carry out an execution against the lover of a woman who was no longer of this world.
And though he had made a promise to his dying friend, what business was it of his? He hadn't fallen for Alicia Lucard, only to have his heart trampled on. He began to question which oath was most important. His oath to slay the two Americans or his oath to defend Germany?
With Ancients hovering the skies above him and a small legion of soldiers checking the area below him on foot, the choice of oath began to seem clear. Germany was his true love.
He longed for the smell of fresh grass once more, rather than the smolder of destruction. To hear the crackle of flowing water, possibly even the melodic tune of birds in trees around him seemed like nothing more than a dream. But it was a dream he loved. A dream he thought worth the sacrifice.
And as Preacher slowly backed away from the ledge, he felt in his heart it was the right decision. That is until he caught sight of two shadowed figures traveling in the far reaches of the landscape, barely distinguishable.
“This is the spot.” Jackson said, resting near a large tree thickened with leaves, seemingly nothing else around them. Once a park, it had simply become a large stretch of dry grass with a tree, surrounded by the grid of distant asphalt and burning rubble.
Alicia joined him under the tree, though the soldier in her did so with caution.
“And you're sure they will come?” she asked.
“I'm sure. The Rise of Allies never leaves a soldier behind. Besides, they have been waiting a long time to meet you.” Jackson replied.
“Why am I beginning to feel like a traitor?” she asked with a serious tone.
“You're no traitor,” Jackson replied, turning to her with sincerity. “You're a hero, and you'll return to Washington City with a hero's welcome.”
“Yea, doubtful.” she replied.
“I need you to understand this,” Jackson said, moving inches away from her. “I love you from the pit of this thing that grumbles inside of me.”
“Your stomach?” she replied.
“No, well yea. It's grumbling too,” he replied with a grin. “But I meant my heart. It grumbles from the pain I feel when I look into your eyes. I know I've hurt you, and I am sorry. But I just love you too damn much to let go.”
“I want to believe you.” Alicia replied.
“Then believe me.” he replied with a grin.
Several moments of tense silence followed as they stared onto each other. Elegant quiet falling around them as each sought the forgiveness of the other.
“When we get back to Washington City, things will seem a bit different. I promise they are good people...good soldiers, but their agenda is one of winning this war,” he said in a calming voice of truth. “I just don't want to get back and have us grow apart. I want this...us, to be the most important thing. If you still want us?” he asked.
Her eyes adjusted a bit, looking for unobstructed truth in his eyes. She needed that above anything else.
“Of course I do,” Alicia replied, her breath one of heaviness. “I'm still just trying to process all of this. Those people back at camp. My friends.”
“It's all taken care of. In a few moments, two black hawk helicopters armed with impressive guns will crest that mountaintop. When the copters land we'll get on and head over to camp, meet up with several more copters getting loaded with our friends, and then head out of Germany before the Ancients knew we were here.” Jackson replied.
“And you expect Washington City to fall, just like that?” Alicia asked, not convinced of the fact.
“Yes I do. When we left, dozens of our soldiers were already implanted into the force there. We sought them out and recruited them, just like we did with you. We only wanted the best, that's why you're here.” he replied.
“That's the only reason huh?” she asked with a grin, hoping he would continue to reinforce his love for her.
“Initially, yes. But honestly, now that I know who you truly are. I'd be willing to run away with you if that's what it takes. That's how much I'm in love with you.” he replied.
At that very moment, the truth of Jackson's words began to set in. Alicia knew it in her heart. The sincerity in his voice spawned from a true love that is rare throughout a lifetime.
It was as if her prayers were being answered before her eyes. Suspicions being put to rest.
Leaning in, Alicia began a kiss that was quickly returned by Jackson as both hardened soldiers embraced each other in the most gentle of ways. Two lovers sharing a single moment, a single memory that would one day be remembered in black and white.
“I love you.” he said, pulling away just enough to look her directly in the eyes.
“Ditto,” she replied with a smile. “And I'm sorry. I did what I had to for the sake of keeping you alive another day or two.”
Alicia deeply regretted her night with Nadia, even if she had done so in order to buy extra time for her true love.
“Don't be, it's forgotten. As long as your heart is with me I'll survive.” he said with a grin.
“It's with you. I'm with you,” Alicia said, her worlds filled with truth. “I'm ready to go back home and kick some Ancient ass. It's time to make them pay for everything they've taken from us.” smiling as her words came out.
Her words deeply affected him, to the point of tears, as he reflected once more on a family lost during the invasion. Quickly turning his sadness to anger.
“Good, because I think I hear the thunder of chopper blades coming.” Jackson replied with a subtle grin. “Our ride is here.” he added.
And indeed it was. Two heavily-armed choppers, fully-staffed and marked with a strange flag which resembled the flag of the United States, at least to some degree.
“Ladies first.” Jackson said as a single copter landed, the other remaining airborne.
Alicia turned back to smile at him, a gesture of thanks for being the man who would change her life. But her smile soon turned to a desperate cry for help as a single bullet of high-caliber passed through Jackson's chest without remorse.
“Shooter on the rooftop!” one of the chopper's crew yelled, relaying the message to the airborne pilot.
Though Preacher tried to flee after taking the shot, hitting Jackson with the intended precision, the German sniper was overheard by the roving patrols of Ancients below. Soon to answer for his own extension of mortality.
“No way the Ancients didn't hear that. We need to get them aboard and get the hell out of here.” the airborne pilot said, speaking into a helmet-mounted microphone that connected his words to the pilot on the ground.
“Load up, we're gonna have company soon.” the pilot yelled, turning back to watch his crew handle such a tragedy.
“Oh God no, Jackson, please no.” Alicia frantically shouted, her trembling hand caressing his face.
“Miss, he's not responding. We need to get him on the bird and get out of here asap. We'll have to put you on the second bird and let you follow...” one of the soldiers said.
“I'm flying with him.” Alicia replied sternly.
“Miss, he'll make the weight limit on the bird. We can't risk...” he tried to reply.
“Then you carry your ass to the other bird, otherwise you won't be alive to see the outcome.” she said, cutting in sharply and drawing her combat pistol with blazing speed.
Two more soldiers approached, one of them raising a battle rifle into her direction.
“Let her go, Jackson would want that,” an older man said, motioning the soldier to lower his weapon. “Miss, you can lower your gun. We're here to help. Got a small camp set up a few clicks out, and we can give Jackson the best chance there. Not here. We're about to be swarmed by Ancients,” he added. “C'mon miss, let's get him on the chopper.”
She responded with a nod, the soldiers barley visible to her through a veil of tears as she lifted Jackson by the legs. Moments later placing the critical soldier, not to mention her lover, gently onto the diamond-plated steel of the copter floor.
“Get him to camp, now. He's in bad shape. And take care of this young lady, that's an order.” the older man said to the pilot.
“Thank you.” Alicia replied, though her tears continued to fall onto a face that was numb with shock.
“No problem miss. We'll talk more at camp,” the older man replied. “General Linton.” he added, reaching in to shake Alicia's hand.
It was the most trying moment of her life. As the copter lifted, shaking violently with nearing Ancients beginning to fire onto it, the heavily-armed gunship responded with a rain of American made lead and steel.
“We'll get him there in time, don't worry about that.” a soldier yelled, doing his best to calm Alicia as the turbulence of gunfire below shook their copter a bit.
He was merely a grunt from the looks of him. Standard green helmet and a battle rifle. The two giveaways were no sidearm and soft hands. At least those were the two features Alicia picked up on immediately as she looked to him, nodding with gratitude.
