Hola my wonderful readers! Here is the last chapter of Hurt and Heal. The sequel will most likely be up by like next weekend or something. A BIG thank you to all the peeps who reviewed/ favorites/ followed. Your continued support is what kept me writing :)

-Shadow-wild

Chapter 11

In which there is an ultimatum

"Halt, and state your business!", A single patriot soldier stood in the middle of the road. Connor and I had been riding for hours, searching for a patriot camp. We dismounted our horses.

"I'm looking for Israel Putnam." Connor held up a letter.

"On who's orders?" He asked as he took the paper warily. He continued it look at us

"Samuel Adams" The soldier read the letter quickly and tucked it away in his pocket.

"Follow me." We began to tail the man as he lead the way.

"Wait a minute, this isn't Bunker Hill" I pointed out.

"Aye. It's Breed's. There's been some... disagreement as to where we should encamp." The man replied.

"Any news from Boston?" Connor asked.

"The Tories aren't moving. And anytime we try to press them, we lose a dozen men. I think Putnam and the others plan to assemble artillery on these hills. A good shelling might make the Redcoats rethink their strategy."

"And what of John Pitcairn?"

"That bastard is the cagiest of the bunch. He's appeared, time to time, to taunt us or send regards by way of cannon fire. It's all right, though. He'll have what's coming to him soon enough." we eventually reached the encampment. Smoke floated in the air and clogged my nose. Men yelled orders on the battlefield as others went down. In the midst of the chaos a voice could be heard shouting over the commotion.

"Putnam's just ahead. You can't miss him" The patriot added. Connor prepared to speak before a cannonball collided with the soldier next to us. I barely managed to scramble out of the way. The man screamed with pain as Putnam looked down at him and shook his head.

"I rest my case." He spun on his heels and began to walk from the scene. "I'm going back to Bunker Hill. Good-day, gentlemen."

"General Putnam?" Connor asked.

"What?"

"I'm looking for John Pitcairn. I was told you'd be able to help me find him."

"He's tucked away inside the city with no reason to leave. So long as that ship continues its assault, we'll never flush him out." He pointed to two British ships firing at the city.

"But if the ship was silenced..."

"Then poor John might be forced to get off his arse and come forward!"

"I shall fly this flag to signal my success." Connor bent and picked up two American flags.

"And I shall speak fondly of you at your funeral." With that he left.

"This way." Connor lead me to a steep hill overlooking the town. We slid down onto the road. far away peoples' cries could be heard. Cannonballs rained down upon the populace. My breath came in short gasps as we continued to run through the carnage. With each cannonball fired, more dirt was thrown into the air. The screams of innocents and running feet mingled together. Towers fell and houses were destroyed. My knees ached as we continued to sprint. Soon we came upon the harbor. We dived into the freezing water and began to swim towards the British ships. Every movement I made, put strain on my arms. I could feel the stitches from yesterday tear.

"I take one, you take one?" I asked as we neared the ships. Connor nodded and began to scale the ship. I did the same with the other. Grabbing the ledges I reached the edge. Suddenly, I felt a pair of boots crush my fingertips.

"What the hell...?" The redcoat looked down at me. Quickly I pulled him overboard. His yells echoed everywhere as he fellI skirted along the edge and hoisted myself up. A redcoat glanced sideways and saw me.

"There!" He yelled. To hell with being undetected. I threw two knives at the nearest guards. Quickly I ducked a swinging bayonet and stabbed him twice. I unsheathed my dagger and slashed another man's throat. Grabbed his bayonet stabbed a redcoat and shoot the one behind him. Spinning i brought my foot back and kicked a redcoat in the face. Using my dagger I swung at him. He grabbed my hand and head butted me. Dazed I fell to the ground. Before he could swing his blunt axe I rolled to my left and stabbed him in his side. I glanced around at the ship. All of the guards were dead. But i was still wounded. The stitches were completly torn and blood was dripping down my arm. I went over to some crates and placed explosives next to them. Backing up I grabbed a musket and shot at the barrels. The explosion quaked the ship and left a slight ringing in my ears. When the smoke cleared I climbed up the mast. I reached the crow's nest and looked at the city. At least half of the buildings were destroyed. Sighing I put the flag up and climbed back down. I dove into the water and swam back to the docks. Connor was waiting for me there. A soldier stood with three horses.

"Is the flag up?" He asked. I nodded as we rode back to the camp. When we neared the base Putnam's voice could be heard over the gun fire of the battlefield. a crowd of soldiers had gathered around him

"The enemy advances and you tremble. They've better numbers, you say. Better weapons. Better training. But I do not fear, and neither should you. For what they have in material, they lack in conviction and care. But not us. We have discipline. We have order. And most importantly, we have passion. We believe! So maintain vigilance. Conserve your ammo. Ensure a proper line of sight. And above all else, men, do not fire until you see the whites of their eyes!" He finished as the men dispersed.

"Well I'll be damned. you did it." Putnam said.

"That was quite a speech.

"Lies, all of it, I'm afraid. Still, such words have carried us thus far..." He said grimly.

"And what of Pitcairn?" Connor looked through the spyglass at the camp.

"He's left Boston as I said he would, and set up camp on Moulton Hill. There's no good way to get at him - not with that maelstrom brewing down below. I suppose you could circle around a bit, or wait for us to thin their ranks."

"There is no time. I will have to chance direct approach."

"That's twice today you've proposed the impossible!"

"I see no other choice."

"That's cause you're mad as a march hare, son."

"I expect an apology on my return." Connor began to approach the battlefield as I follow him.

"No." He turned towards me.

"What?"

"Don't come with me." He says softly.

"Why not?"

"I can't risk you getting hurt again." He said. Connor looked at the wound in my arm. Guilt laced his tone.

"Fine. I'll stay here." I pulled him in for a soft kiss. He arms wrap around my waist. "But you better survive this."

"I will." He promises. A lets go of me and leaves. He hides behind a mound of dirt and waits for the next volley of bullets. I pace back and forth as I watch him dart behind cover. Every time he runs from his shelter my east skips a beat. Finally I see him read the other side. He climbs a rock and sprints through the trees. I watch as he climbs a rock face and is in the camp.

"Er... Lady?" A voice cuts through my thoughts. I turn and look at a Continental soldier staring at my wound.

"I can... err... patch that up for you." He says in the most timid once I have ever heard.

"Yes, thank you." I say as he cleans up the blood and wraps it in linen. I sit in one of the tents, waiting for Connor. With every passing minute my worry grows. What if he got injured? What if someone saw him? Then the worst question pops into my mind.

What if he got killed? I continue to think of what is happening until I hear a man shout in the distance.

"Pitcairn! He's dead! He's dead!" Instantly I run out of the camp. The redcoats on the opposite hill are in a confused mess. Several are fleeing from the battle as soon as they heard that their commander was dead. I see Connor bolting from redcoats. I take a musket and take them out one by one. Before he could take another step I drop the gun and run towards him. He embraces me as I rest my head on his chest.

"I thought you were.." I hug him tighter. He strokes my hair softly. We began to walk back to the encampment. Suddenly a loud bang echoed everywhere. And then I thought, why was I bleeding?

And why was there a hole in my stomach?

I turned around and saw him. The Templar who abducted me. The man who I spared. And the man who just shot me. He stood with his pistol raised and an arrogant smile plastered on his face. When he saw Connor he ran like a coward. Connor caught me as I fell. His eyes were clouded with sadness. His tears were beginning fall.

"I'm sorry Anna, I'm so sorry." He said as he held me.

"Hey, everything's gonna be alright." I raised my hand to touch his face. I knew my words were a lie. The bullet didn't really hurt now that i think about it. Saying goodbye was the most painful. Everything was started to fade now. Connor's face was getting more blurry by the second. Then I felt myself falling and everything faded to black. A pair of lips ghosted over my forehead and three words were whispered.

I love you.

I woke in a dark room. But it wasn't even a room. It was more like a pitch black abyss. A yellow fog shimmered along the floor. I stood up without effort. All of my pain had subsided. Suddenly, gold beams appeared, similar to those from the Apple of Eden. A woman flickered like a hologram in front of me. Her body continued to flicker, then it stopped. She wore a long flowing white dress. On her chest was an intricate necklace with a gem in the middle. A white veil covered her brown hair. Her face bore no expression.

"Hello Anna." She said simply. Her voice was all too familiar.

"Who the hell are you? Where am I? I'm supposed to be dead.." I exclaimed. The strange woman only circled around me.

"Ah, yes.." She thought for a moment, then she held out her hand. The Apple of Eden appeared in her hand.

"Where di you get that?" I asked. I remember leaving it in my drawer back at the manor. With a squeeze of her hand, the Apple melted into a sad little puddle.

"No!" I screamed. I tried to grab it but I was too late. It was gone.

"Do you remember me, Anna?" Suddenly, it all came to me.

"It was you?!" She nodded. "It was you who dumped me here?"

"Did you plan for all of this to happen.. for me to die?" She nodded again.

"You have played your part well. I made you a promise and I will not break it. What do you choose?" She raised on of her hands. On her right was a mini hologram of my parents. I approached her. The woman took my hand and placed my parents on my open palm. I almost cried when I saw my miniature parents, smiling and laughing. My mother waved to me and hugged my thumb.

"You could join your parents, Anna. Just like you've always wanted. Or.." My parents faded away. The woman raised her other hand. A tiny Connor stood there, looking quite confused. I picked him up and held him close to my face. He waved and smiled at me.

"You could be with him." She finished. What was I supposed to choose? Pros and cons whirled in my mind. I could be with my parents. I could die happy and not have to live a life of bloodshed anymore. I could just end it all.

But would I be truly happy?

On the other hand was Connor. Only four weeks had passed and I was falling for him. And... I think he loved me back. Also I had friends on the Homestead. Achilles, Maria, and Ellen had been so kind to me for the past few weeks. After much thinking I made my decision.

"I want to stay." I said finally. The woman nodded and smiled. I began to fade away from the dark place.

Several vague shapes began to come into my vision. Only then did I realize that Connor was still holding my body.

"Connor?" He lifted my head up.

"Anna, you're not..." I nodded quickly. His eyes instantly lit up. He smiled. His smile soon evolved into a full blown laugh. I started to laugh too. He picked me up and spun me around. He pressed his lips firmly against mine with a quickness that surprised me, moaning softly as his arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer to him. When I pulled away I leaned in.

"I told you everything would be alright" I whispered as he laughed again.

Maybe everything was alright.

WOOOOOHOOOOOO! Happy ending to a happy-ish story! :D The sequel will most likely be up next weekend. Also I am starting a new story. It will probably be up on Wednesday. Maybe i can juggle two stories at once? :D Thank you for reading Hurt and Heal :).

-Shadow-wild