Chapter 9

Esperanza's Will

Valentina's POV

My father left me for the second time in my life. This time he left even though he knew I existed. A few tears rolled down my cheeks and I helped Edwin up.

"You should've gone with your dad."

"No. That wasn't my father. I don't know who that was. I'm not leaving you behind so come on." I said.

I half dragged and half carried him forward.

"Why didn't you go with him?"

I stopped and looked at him for a minute before I kept going. I didn't know how to answer him. In the blink of an eye we were hauled into the air, trapped in a net. The last of the beasts was walking towards us. I wouldn't scream. I wouldn't give it the satisfaction. It cut us down and then dragged us in direction of the camp. I looked at Edwin and put my hand on his shoulder.

"It's not over. Not yet."

"Huh, I wish I shared your optimism."

I smirked and then I saw the camp. The beast dropped us into a hole and I untangled myself and then helped Edwin. I stood up and took out two knives. I jumped up and stuck them into the wall.

"Be careful!"

I used my knives to climb up the wall. When I reached the top I saw the beast from the totem had been cut down.

"Royce."

It was fighting the bigger one and one started to run towards me. The one in back fired and I quickly pulled knives out of the ground. I fell back in the hole and shook my head.

"He freed the one on the totem. They're fighting, the big one and the other one."

I stood up and then I saw the ship fly off.

"Looks like he made it." I said softly.

"I'm sorry." Edwin said.

I nodded.

"Yeah, so am I."

Royce's POV

Something inside me was warning me. I looked at the ship and then looked back towards the camp.

"Valentina…"

I only had one choice. I wasn't there for her when she was growing up, but I was going to be there for her now. I ran back and I could hear her talking to Doc.

"When I was little she used to tell me he was off slaying dragons. As I got older, she told me more realistic things. Then when she was dying, she told me my father was a mercenary. A dangerous man but that he was kind. She told me how much he loved her, and that if he knew about me he'd be there. She told me how brave and courageous he was, that I reminded her of him in so many ways. When she died I went looking for him. I found him in the last place I expected."

"Yeah but, he left you here and-"

There was an explosion in the sky and I looked up.

"NO! PAPA!"

My heart wrenched.

Valentina's POV

Tears rolled down my cheeks and I fell to my knees. I felt a stinging pain on my shoulder and looked behind me. Edwin was smiling strangely, then I felt it. My eyes went wide and I fell back.

"Oops. That's right. Don't worry, its only temporary. You'll be able to experience everything."

I kicked him but it was a weak kick.

"A fighter right to the end. Just like your dad huh? You know its too bad, he's not here to help you anymore."

I kept trying to move. I wasn't giving up, mama always told me to fight. It was becoming harder and harder to move. He was a murderer! And he wanted to stay here.

So stay here pendejo! Don't drag me into this.

I tried to make some sort of noise. He was coming closer to me with that scalpel, then I looked over his shoulder.

ROYCE!

Edwin turned, discreetly hiding the scalpel.

"You came back?"

"Yeah, Valentina's mother gave me a good kick in the ass."

I was trying to smile but I couldn't.

"Thank god. I don't know what they did to her. Help me get her out of here."

He put me in the net and then hauled me up. I kept fighting the paralysis. Royce laid me on the ground and held my head up on his arm.

"She's paralyzed." Edwin said.

I managed to smile a bit.

"I'm not leaving you behind honey. Never again will I leave you behind. Your mother would probably strike me with a lightening bolt."

I made a noise that was meant to be a laugh.

"I didn't think you'd come back man. Valentina…her heart was broken. And when the ship blew…I thought her heart would literally shatter. I guess I owe you an apology. You are a good man and father after all."

Royce smirked.

"No."

He turned and shoved the scalpel under Edwin's chin.

"But I'm fast! And you hurt my little girl!" He snarled viciously.

He dragged him away and I tried to move. I moved the tips of my fingers a bit, but for now, that was it. Royce came back and looked at me.

"I'm sorry. So sorry."

I moved my eyes to the side and used my fingertips to right 'forgave' in the dirt. He smiled at me and once more, I managed to smile a bit.

"I rigged doctor death back there. I'm gonna kill that thing. Then I'm gonna take you home."

He kissed my forehead and then left. I had to help him.

Mama! Please help me!