Chapter 7: Left for Dead
(Nikolas POV)
Julian killed my brother in D.C.
I kept my pistol aimed towards the ground, letting it hang loosely from my fingers as I watched the undead shuffle around Manhattan aimlessly. Well that was their intention. To appear like they weren't being controlled by Devastator, a deviously powerful Boss that ruled Manhattan as well as Staten Island and constantly attempted to seize control of the rest of New York City.
Devastator was relentless in his attempts to seize Queens from the gangs that ruled it, Bronx was a free for all as humans and undead alike roamed it, Staten was controlled by Devastator thanks to his overwhelming push of undead, and Brooklyn was falling to his rule as his undead cover more and more of the streets of the district.
We managed to get through Queens by helping out a local gang called Devens Remains, I don't know why they are called that, and in return they escorted us to Hunters Point and said farewell. Luck I had to say. Rin said it was because of her boobs, Alucard said it was because he was going to kill them otherwise and they sensed it. Strange trio we are...
Despite it all, we three, Rin, Alucard and I, had managed to get into Manhattan by boat, undetected by Devastator's forces and now sat just outside of its main roads. We were in a small restaurant on the coast of the East river, on FDR drive, near Exit 9. We had managed to go unnoticed but getting to the Empire State Building, which was 11 blocks away after we would have to take a few lefts and rights was going to be the hard part. How would we find Devastator, kill him and escape. Our plan was very broad on that and we needed to figure out something fast.
"We have to leave him!"
My head began to throb as I felt the memory return. That painful memory of my past that changed me forever. That one moment that sealed my hatred for my oh so perfect leader forever.
"Julian?"
My temples began to pound as the memory became more and more vivid, more real before my eyes. I tried to focus on the task ahead of me. To focus on how we are going to get to the Empire State Building, to keep alert as the other two were. To not remember what had happened long ago...
"Julian! Save him!"
It was too late.
I could feel the memory wash over me like a tidal wave. It embraced me...
Suddenly the ground was a lot closer to me than it should have been and darkness engulfed me.
2019, D.C. Central Hospital (Past)
BOOM!
A group of knights flew back as an explosion erupted in the center of the street, shooting debris everywhere.
I watched as undead rushed through the street, coming out of buildings that were once homes to our citizens, our knights, our people… Blood covered almost everything, corpses lined the streets as the Knights retreated back and fired at the approaching horde that didn't waver or falter in their advance.
I suddenly saw myself kick a mutant down and fire into its skull.
I was watching me fight.
"Knights! Fall back to secondary positions! We have to hold out until the hospital is evacuated!" the past me yelled to the other knights.
The other knights all cried out an affirmative and backed up even further firing as they retreated to secondary positions.
After the retreating knights rushed back to a new line of knights who had begun to form a different defensive line, they all turned around and began to fire into the rushing horde, all determined to kill the bastards.
Behind them, the Central Hospital was pulling all injured people out as fast as possible. Doctors and nurses rushed to and fro trying to get the injured onto the helicopters so they could be transferred to Boston. It was crucial that the knights held the line, if the undead broke through, some very important people would be killed. Julian Viktor Adorno, the legendary rising knight was in there. He had been injured fighting Dagger in Delaware not too long ago, but that was what everyone else cared about.
Me?
My little brother Damien was in there. And I refused to allow him to die or ever see harm again.
I watched as the undead closed in on the defensive line the Knights formed, as they drew closer and closer, the Knights who specialized in melee charged and met the undead in combat. I watched as the past me leapt into the fray cutting the undead left and right as the horde tried to break the line.
Knights weilding a whole array of different weapons, from maces, swords, knives, a halberd, a few hammers, there was even a guy, whom I think is named Steve, wielding a pitchfork as his preferred weapon.
I winced at the memory of the fighting. The gruesomeness of it all. It was terrible. Knights fought until they were overwhelmed and taken to the ground and ripped apart, eaten alive by the beasts that sought nothing but our flesh…
"Nikolas! The undead are break through!"
I felt the familiar crushing of my heart at those familiar words.
The past me broke out of the heart of the combat and stared at the undead getting into the hospital. The hospital where my little brother hadn't been evacuated out of yet.
I watched as the past me rushed straight into the main doors of the hospital were a huge fight was ensuing.
Undead, knights, patients and doctors alike were all struggling to escape or gain supremacy over the main level. I hated reliving this. The horror of the events to come. I didn't want to see this again. I wanted to leave this dreadful memory behind.
But it was far from over… I had to relive it until it was done.
The past me rushed up the stairwell rather than the elevator, taking multiple steps at a time. The pain and worry in the old me's eyes were pure. He was so scared… I was soo scared. It hurt to see me look like that. Desperate and unsure. I refuse to be like that again.
Past me had turned into the third level, rushed down the hallway, letting my long legs guide me towards my brother room.
As we both approached his room, only one of us was surprised to see the results.
Julian was standing over two corpses. Both undead. My brother was laying in bed, still as mental as ever, completely unaware as usual.
Julian's side was dripping blood, his wound having not fully healed, his sword wet with blood.
"Nikolas, we have to leave. The hospital is being overrun, the undead will be here any second, a helicopter is on the roof and I am barely standing. We have to leave," Julian said quickly, his face paling as he struggled to focus on the past me.
I leaned against the wall watching the past me grab my brother, Julian collapsed to one knee the same time the past me stood ready to leave.
"Julian?" the past me said worried.
The past Julian was deathly pale, his side was leaking more blood than before, his sword Imperator was barely in his grasp. His breathing was labored and painful. He was barely awake.
Then the cry of the undead was heard.
The past me pulled Julian to his feet and wrapped his arm around his shoulder, holding him and his brother up.
I winced at my past foolishness. He should just leave with his brother… But of course he didn't. He didn't know what was going to happen.
Suddenly a nurse appeared in the doorway. Blonde, dark brown eyes, light skinned, kinda around 5'10, the nurse marched forward and slapped Julian across his face.
"You just decide to go out and fight? After I told you NOT to go and fight? You are truly the most infur-"
And she went on like that, yelling at him as she put his arm over her shoulder instead of mine and followed the past me out the door.
I hadn't known it was Bianca at the time. Nor that she was in love with him and he with her. I wasn't aware of a lot of things…
The past me and past Bianca pressed towards the stairs to get to the roof.
We shuffled as fast as we could towards the roof, trying to get up the last flight of stairs. We were almost to the roof when the undead broke into the stairwell and began to climb up the stairs determined to get us.
Rewatching it, I hated to see how Julian saved us. As horrible as it was, Julian was just trying to save me. He had no idea the young man I had carried was my brother. But what Julian did was still evil and cruel.
The undead were close, they would get us before we got to the top…
Then the past me slipped and dropped my brother and knocked past Bianca and past Julian down as well.
The undead were getting closer… and closer…
"They are coming!" the past me had yelled.
Julian was barely awake but he understood the situation.
He kicked the other man who was my brother straight into the horde of the undead.
The look the past me bore was horrific.
Betrayal. Disbelief. Loss. Anger.
Julian. The hero of the Order had just sent someone to their death willingly.
"Julian! Save him!" the past me cried out as he struggled to get up.
But the horde stopped completely and began to eat my brother.
I turned away.
I didn't need to see it again…
Not anymore.
The past me passed out.
I watched as Bianca grabbed Julian and dragged the past me to the roof and onto the last helicopter before Julian himself passed out from blood loss.
The horde got onto the roof too late as they waited to eat before finishing their meal. Julian knew how they worked. But in spite of it all...
Julian killed my brother.
He did so willingly.
To save himself.
He would pay…
With his fucking life.
Julian (POV)
"Shit! Julian watch out!"
The ice slammed into my back, launching me straight into the wall of a building.
I fell to the floor, my face falling into the snow that covered all of Quebec.
"Julian!"
I could hear them screaming my name. Bianca, Robert, Sarah. But Frozen kept them away. He liked to play with his food it seemed.
"Now. You will sssssee how it feelsss to be cold and alone…" Frozen whispered into my ear before grabbing my hair and throwing me into a wall of ice.
I broke through the wall and lay on the ground watching Frozen, a slim, blue figure walk with a very feminine gait towards me, his long blue hair touched his mid back, his eyes were white and clear. In his hand was a long ice spear.
How did I end up in this situation?
(Earlier)
"We got reports of a firefight occurring a few block away from the Canadian encampment. We think it's Bianca Jules," Robert said in his normal deep voice.
I launched out of my chair, taking Imperator off of the counter and headed straight to where Robert was reading the report.
"A Rank McClear's report says its a lone female with mulitple undead pursuing her. She has two knives it seems. Sounds like our Bianca," Robert said, resting his hand on his hammer.
I nod to Robert and shoot a glance to Sarah who held a raised eyebrow, "Well suits her right for trying to fight me over you Julian,"
I shoot her a dark look, "Shes our teammate and we have to get her home,"
Sarah kept her blue eyes focused on me, her light skin seemed to illuminate whenever she was upset. She stood up and rested her hand on her own blade, "Well let's save the bitch," she said with finality.
I gave her a grateful nod.
Robert leapt to his feet behind us and let out a loud holler, "LET'S GET HER BACK!"
We all had rushed out to go retrieve her when McClear came out of the command center and offered his platoon to assist in case there was a problem.
"Sure, WE are about to head out now actually, so if you can get your team by the East gate in 5 minutes with transportation that'll be great." I said, with a commanding tone.
McClear gave a salute before rushing off in the direction of the barracks.
Robert seemed overwhelmingly eager to get out and save Bianca, and to be frank, I did as well. We couldn't just leave and assume there was only a few undead nearby, Frozen was here and was very smart about his moves. Otherwise we wouldn't be a boss. We needed to appear formidable when we left otherwise we could easily be attacked and overwhelmed. And if the Order lost 3 S-Rank knights in Canada, they would be crippled against Frozen's undead horde.
We walked to the East gate and waited for McClear to appear with his platoon.
I sat on the ground and leaned against a telephone pole, "Sarah, I know you hate her but she's still apart of our team…"
Sarah crouched in directly in front of me and leaned very close. Her eyes never faltered from mine, her mouth was inches from mine.
"You are mine," she said quietly.
Then she planted her lips onto mine.
"Uh sir?"
Sarah pulled back and turned around.
McClear stood behind us, his squad of 10 knights armed and ready on two different humvees, "REady when you are," He had a small smile playing on his lips.
Robert gave me a very unhelpful wink and hopped onto the lead humvee.
"Yeah, lets go," I commanded as Sarah and I got in the vehicles.
I climb on to the roof of the humvee and let my feet dangle off the side. Next to me was two C-ranked Knights, one was a male who bore blonde hair and pale blue eyes, while the other was a female who had a fierce look on her tan face, her brown hair was cut short and her brown eyes were hardened.
"Is… Is it true that you are Julian Viktor Adorno?" the male Knight asked, rubbing his hands together Nervously.
I gave him a smile, "Yeah, last I checked I was. I don't think anythings changed, Who are you two?"
The male knight bit his lip before replying, "I'm Chris Laymore and this is-"
The female knight held her chin high as she interjected, "Katelin Luthersford, C-Ranked Knight, Proud warrior of the Order."
I couldn't help but laugh at their contrasting natures.
Laymore seemed to retreat into himself while Luthersford seemed offended.
After I caught my breath I waved my hands left and right, "Its funny how different you two are. How did you join the Order?"
Luthersford happily told how she willingly joined to avenge her father death in NEbraska, while Laymore said he was forced and hated violence.
"You do know this is the worst possible job to have if you hate violence right?" I said after hearing Laymore explain his forced application by his family to join.
Laymore just sighed, "Yeah… That's why I'm the comms, I hang in the back, aid when I can and relay orders and reports to the command. Katelin is a frontline fighter, she doesn't fear anything."
Luthersford grinned, "Let a boss run into me, worst mistake it'll make."
I couldn't help but admire the two, they were clearly friends and close due to living and fighting together. I missed that closeness that teams had, they knew each other's weaknesses and everyone's strengths, how they acted and thought. They were brothers and sisters in arms.
I couldn't help but remember the faces of Knights whose best friends had been killed, taken so suddenly that they hadn't even said good bye or even watch out. How devastated they were. How they just broke down right there and let all their pain and suffering out.
"Protect each other, always," I said quietly before turning away.
I knew they didn't understand it yet, they hadn't seen true loss and suffering. Lost a best friend in combat…
"We are approaching the site where the firefight is ensuing." McClear suddenly yelled out to everyone.
I took a deep a breath and readied myself as we turned the corner and ran straight into a group of undead trying to kill a blonde haired woman with knives. They had her surrounded, however it was a large circle as the girl, who we clearly recognized as Bianca was rushing to and fro cutting the undead down before they got to close.
My heart felt like it was trying to break through my rib cage, my chest ached seeing her fighting alone…
I stood up on top of the humvee, "Bianca!"
Bianca kicked an undead man to the ground and turned, her hair wild and flowing about the breeze, her eyes mystified, "Julian?"
Robert got out of the Humvee with the rest of the Knights, his giant hammer swinging left and right, eager to engage, " Can we get in their boss?"
I let loose a cry of defiance before leaping straight into the horde.
Robert and Sarah both let out a cry before joining me.
I landed onto two undead and impaled them with Imperator before spinning my sword around myself cutting down any undead who got to close. Seeing I had room, I pulled my pistol out and fired at any undead too close, trying to pull as many undead near my as possible.
I could hear Roberts hammer slamming into the bodies of the Undead as he jumped around, killing as many as possible. I could see Sarah briefly, she had gotten to Bianca's side and was fighting the horde off.
The Knights had formed a semi-circle and was firing into the hordes mass, killing many before they even got to us. I let a grin form onto my face as I cut down more and more undead as they tried in vain to get a bite outta me.
"Fear me," I said to the undead, "Fall before me as many have before you!"
They kept rushing towards me, firing and cutting the undead down, I kept a large circle around my self until a hole opened up and the Knights were visible.
"McClear! Press now!" I yelled out to him.
McClear began to shout orders for the knights to tighten the circle.
I forced my way to Bianca and Sarah who both had a large amount of corpses around them. They both were covered in blood, Bianca's combat gear was drenched, her hair had blood in it, while Sarah looked no better.
As the Knights finished off the remaining undead, I pulled Bianca into a hug, "You okay?" I whisper into her ear.
She tightened her grip around me and nodded into my chest.
After a moment she let go and let out a exasperated sigh, "Fucking undead came out of nowhere."
Then Sarah came forward and slapped her.
Everyone froze, "How can you just up and go off on your own? Leave your post and have everyone worried for days! DAYS!" Sarah yelled straight in her face.
Bianca's lip curled into a snarl, "Oh that's rich coming from-"
Suddenly a wall of ice shot straight out of the ground and knocked everyone apart.
I fell into a back roll, letting the EXO slow my momentum.
In the center of where the Ice erupted stood a pale blue figure, wielding two ice spears, his white eyes staring at me, his head cocked curiously.
"Well Julian, you are cccccertainly lossssing your touch. Falling in love now? You sssshould be assshamed, you were far more ruthlesssss and effective when you were alone and angry. What happened?"
Frozen… The bastard!
I stood up and launched myself straight at Frozen, swinging Imperator straight at his head.
"Shit! Julian watch out!"
The ice slammed into my back, launching me straight into the wall of a building.
I fell to the floor, my face falling into the snow that covered all of Quebec.
"Julian!"
I could hear them screaming my name. Bianca, Robert, Sarah. But Frozen kept them away. He liked to play with his food it seemed.
"Now. You will sssssee how it feelsss to be cold and alone…" Frozen whispered into my ear before grabbing my hair and throwing me into a wall of ice.
I broke through the wall and lay on the ground watching Frozen, a slim, blue figure walk with a very feminine gait towards me, his long blue hair touched his mid back, his eyes were white and clear. In his hands were the two long ice spears.
"You've grown ssssoft. Where'ssss that anger that killed the otherssss? WHERE!"
I stood up slowly, keeping my eyes closed, "Shut up."
Frozen chuckled.
Suddenly the sounds of fighting erupted around me.
I looked around and saw undead swarmed around my allies.
"Frozen!" I yelled, drawing my pistol towards him.
I rushed forward, just as he did the same, a grin on his face the entire while.
We locked our weapons together for a moment before I jumped back and fired my pistol into his skull. Frozen's head whipped back for a moment but he swung it forward and grinned.
"NOPE!" He threw one of his spears straight at my chest. Instinctively I launched myself left before rushing him again.
I had to figure out his weakness.
What killed Ice?
FIRE!
Frozen and I engaged in combat again.
We danced over each other both trying to gain the advantage. Frozen let me hit him happily as it did nothing. I kept dancing out of the reach of his spears, letting him try to close the gap.
I needed fire to kill him.
The only fire I could get was grenades but there was a wall of Ice separating me from the Knights who had them.
"Robert!" I yelled as Frozen charged me again.
I Jumped over him using my EXO, "GRENADES!" I yelled pointing to the knights who were fighting the horde.
Robert swung his hammer into a few of the undead knocking them aside.
"Focussss on your opponent!" Frozen hissed behing me.
I rolled right, just as his spear stabbed where I was just standing.
Frozen suddenly shot Ice at me, it hit me straight in the stomach, knocking th breath out of me.
I collapsed, my lungs screaming for air, my eyes losing focus.
"You fell in love and lossst your anger. You are weak Julian!" Frozen hissed in my ear as he picked me up by my hair.
"It made me stronger…"
I smiled at the undead boss as he failed to noticed Robert destroy a portion of the wall and throw grenades straight at us.
I head butt Frozen who drops me onto my feet. I give him a snap kick backward, right into the grenades.
The explosion shot me straight back into the wall of the building I had already hit earlier.
The last thing I saw was Bianca's face above me, concern and fear in her eyes.
Then I black out.
(CORA POV)
He offered me a deal I couldn't refuse…
I can never walk again.
I can never jump again.
I can never feel my toes again.
My legs are useless...
I am paralyzed.
The only way I can walk is with the robotic legs given to me but that can only be kept permanently if I do as the General asks…
Support Julian's dismission from the Order, call him a traitor?
It was significantly easier than the other part of the General's order…
HE TOOK MY LEGS! HE TOOK IT ALL FROM ME! LET ME ALMOST DIE! I will kill him. I will do anything to hurt Julian. ANything to break him...
I stopped outside a small house.
I kept my eyes empty as I knocked on the door.
After a few moments, the door opened and a small tan, Italian woman opened the door.
"Yes?" her accent was thick.
"You are Valencia Adorno?" I demanded.
The woman raised an eyebrow, "Yes why?"
I raised a Desert Eagle, customed exactly like Nikolas's, "Goodbye."
And I fired into her skull.
Let Julian return to this…
I'll happily watch him break down and cry. It'll be nothing compared to my suffering…
HOLY SHIT! IM BACK! Well this awkward… *rubs neck* now I know your all upset and raging, having forgotten about this HOWEVER! Its okay! Lol that's all i got to say about that lol. Be sure to reread this story to get back into the mood! IM BACK
-JulesLeInvicta out peeps!
