Born To Lead 2 Chapter 10
Caesar plowed at break neck speeds as fast as he could through the labyrinth of corridors as fast as his legs could go in order to reach his family. As he got closer Caesar heard the booming sound of rapid gunfire mixed with the screeches of an ape calling for back up. He recognized it as Willow's distress call and pushed himself to increase his pace.
Caesar bounded into his dwelling to see a lone human that could only be the infamous Colonel firing mercilessly at his daughter whom was seeking shelter behind some large rocks. Holding a bloodied spear in her hands Willow valiantly tried to fight back, but each time she attempted to step out and throw the Colonel would just bombard more bullets. She was curled in a fetal position defenseless with an arm covering her head. Unless Caesar did something fast the stones shielding her wouldn't hold for much longer.
Baring his teeth Caesar charged at the intruder. The Colonel was so occupied with Willow that he didn't see the furious father until he was directly upon him. Caesar knocked into the Colonel elbowing him so hard in the chest it sent him careening straight towards the falls at the edge of the platform.
Caesar ran over to Willow and crouched protectively over her snarling at the Colonel.
Somehow the Colonel had managed not to topple off of the platform. Rising near the ascension cables and shaking himself off from the impact from Caesar's sudden entrance the Colonel looked to see who'd attacked him.
When the Colonel saw Caesar his brow furrowed, eyes widened slightly immediately recognizing him from the description provided by others that glimpsed the King. The Colonel's gaze traveled to the spot the Colonel was looking at and Caesar literally felt the apocalypse happen before his eyes.
Sprawled lifelessly spread-eagled on the floor in close proximity to the body of a female soldier were the corpses of his beloved wife Cornelia and firstborn Blue Eyes. If he had any doubts that they were dead those faded when he saw the bright red circles in the back of Blue Eyes head and between Cornelia's eyes. These were indicating the obvious marks belonging to bullet wounds.
A furious rage seized Caesar's heart. His head snapped at the spear in Willow's hands and saw the spear she was holding wasn't hers, but Blue Eyes. He surmised that Blue Eye's must've terminated the female soldier, but not seen the Colonel in time and then Willow bravely took up the spear to fight in his place.
Growling Caesar glowered at the Colonel ready to confront the murderer only to find that during the ceasefire while he'd been distracted the human had attached himself to one of the ascension cables. He was speaking into his headset, but the roaring of the waterfall made it inaudible.
As Caesar was about to spring the Colonel lifted his heavy-duty rifle open firing on Caesar and Willow. Caesar hit the deck covering Willow with his own body behind the rocks. At the rate the bullets were chipping away at the stones they weren't going to last another minute under there.
Thankfully help was on the way. Luca, Rocket, and the members of the gorilla guard summoned were stampeding from the corridor into the chamber hooting and screeching war cries.
Seeing the new danger to his life the Colonel switched gears and re-aimed his weapon at them. They ducked in order to avoid the onslaught of bullets and because of this opening the Colonel was able to escape. The people on his end began to retract all the cables getting him out of there.
Caesar wasn't about to just let the Colonel slip away unscathed. This would not stand!
Caesar looked at his beloved wife and son and the fire in his heart burst into an inferno. Bellowing all his anger Caesar sprinted out of hiding heading straight for the edge. He leapt into the falls disappearing in the water.
Even though Willow knew pursuit was hopeless she swung around to go after Caesar. She was halfway there when Rocket grabbed her at the waist keeping her there. She tried to throw him off, but the older chimpanzee stood firm.
"Father," screamed Willow, reaching for him.
But Caesar did not reappear.
Willow went limp and Rocket took his hands away knowing she'd given up in follow her father.
Instead Willow staggered on unsteady feet to Cornelia and Blue Eyes. She collapsed onto her knees reaching out a trembling hand to her twins face. Cupping his cheek she stroked his brow silently pleading with him to open his eyes and tell her this was just a nightmare like all the others.
Blue Eyes never did and he never would again.
Pain flooded into Willow's eyes and she let out a long, low wail with her head flung back and tears in an uncontrollable flood from her beautiful eyes. At last the terrible wailing died away and a weary sadness circulated through her. Willow slumped over the corpses of her beloved mother and twin. The rest of the apes, stunned by shock, gradually crept forward and formed a ragged circle around Willow. None of them knew how to properly comfort the distraught princess so they kept a respectful distance. This is how they all stayed while the rest of the tribe was alerted to the night's tragic events.
They stayed like this until Caesar returned soaking wet from his plummet into the river, but otherwise alive and unharmed…well physically. The gathered apes could without asking that from the expression on Caesar's face that the Colonel had gotten away. Every single one of them parted creating a clear path to his murdered family members.
Caesar found Willow crying aloud bent over the motionless bodies of Cornelia and Blue Eyes. In fact Willow held Blue Eyes cradled in her arms stroking his face. Caesar placed a hand on Willow's shoulder to draw her attention.
The bodies of the Queen and Prince were respectfully removed, the human less so.
It was after this that Luca got some news none wanted to hear.
"Caesar…We can't find Winter," grunting Luca, remorseful. "He was scared! I think he betrayed us!"
His eyes dulled with grief Caesar reached a hand and placed it on top of both of Luca's stopping his frantic need to account for this travesty. Winter was in Luca's command, but there was no need for the proud gorilla to explain. Caesar knew all too well how it felt to be betrayed by someone he trusted unconditionally.
Luca fell silent too ashamed by his lack of knowledge and denial to his students cowardice, his planned successor as head of the Gorilla Guard, but none more so than Willow. The second she heard Winter was missing it was like one of the Colonel's pierced her heart instead of Cornelia or Blue Eyes. Something died inside of her. A part of her thought Winter merely deserted out of self-preservation, but inside she knew the truth and exactly how and when Winter had the chance to rat out the location of the fortress.
Back when Caesar had been interrogating those Alpha Omegas she'd left Winter alone with Red for a couple of minutes. She realized now he must've released Red from his restraints letting the turncoat go after giving him their location and self-inflicted that gash on his head. Also, she remembered Winter had been acting really strange by the river and that he'd tried to tell her what was bothering him, but Rocket and Blue Eyes return had interrupted. He must've been having second thoughts and tried to correct his mistake which explained why he'd been so panicked and wanted them all to leave this very night.
It all made sense now, but it didn't make it hurt any less. Her own bodyguard, she should've seen it sooner maybe then…
Pulling away his hand, without loosening his grip on Willow, Caesar signed "Have you found Cornelius yet?"
The youngest and most vulnerable member of Caesar's family was nowhere to be found. In all the commotion Willow had lost track of his whereabouts. All she remembered was that Cornelia had hidden him before she was killed. Willow had absolutely no idea where he was now.
Shaking his head, Luca informed "We're still searching."
Caesar closed his eyes and wrapped his free arm around Willow pressing her head into his shoulder.
"Let's go look for Caesar's little son," signed Maurice.
"Take Willow with you to the healers," ordered Caesar. "She needs medical attention."
Maurice and Rocket gently took charge of the distraught female, guiding Willow in the direction of the healer's as everyone went to look for Cornelius.
On the way the three of them were startled when a ear-splitting unmistakable call from Caesar pierced the air, urging for everyone to regroup back to him.
"What's that," signed Rocket, confused. "Why does he want us to come back?"
"I don't know. Come on, we have to take Willow to the healers," signed Maurice.
Placing her hands on both of their shoulder's, Willow signed "It's all right I can get there myself."
"Are you sure," asked Maurice.
Nodding, Willow signed "Yes, I know the way."
Rocket required no further suggestion and took off. Maurice squeezed Willow's hand supportively and rushed to catch up.
With one hand on the moist walls of the passageways Willow continued on her way. Eventually she came to a crossroads where one passage led to the healers and the other to the armory.
Once getting there Willow scanned the room until she found what she was looking for. She went over to one of the shelves carved into the stone and picked up a small handgun.
Willow had vowed to not touch a gun or use it by any means. But what was the point of that anymore?
Willow loaded the gun and pointed it right into her heart.
Willow made this happen. She didn't deserve to live. All she wanted now was to see with her mother, twin, and her beloved.
She didn't deserve to live.
Closing her eyes Willow positioned her finger over the trigger and went to pull.
A firm hand locked onto Willow's wrist and pointed the gun upwards at the same exact time she pressed the trigger. The bullet ended up shooting harmlessly onto the ceiling.
Willow snapped open her eyes and saw Caesar next to her a petrified and angry expression on his face. Terror stabbed his heart.
After discovering Cornelius alive and unharmed he'd gone looking for Willow to share the good news. With all the sorrow and despair that occurred this night he wanted her to know that at the very least she'd saved Cornelius, but the healers notified him she never arrived for treatment. Instantly he knew where she went any why. He fearfully rushed to stop her and thankfully stopped Willow just in the nick of time.
Willow fell into her father's chest distraught. The gun slipped from her numb fingers clattering onto the floor.
"It's my fault," wailed Willow, too grief-stricken and guilt-ridden to sign. "I left Winter alone with Red…and now he's betrayed our people."
"Willow, no," said Caesar, cupping her head in his hands.
But Willow refused to be comforted. "Mother and Blue Eyes are gone and it's my fault," exclaimedWillow, her voice hoarse. "The Colonel should've taken me instead!"
"It's not your fault," insisted Caesar, fiercely. Caesar gazed at his shocked daughter and his voice vibrated with anger. There was so much venom in his voice that Willow froze, ceasing her hysterics. "You are not to blame! It is Winter who is at fault and that bloodthirsty human!"
Willow flinched and his tone of voice, remaining unconvinced.
Despite the uncontrollable emotions inside him Caesar softened knowing what would break her from the suicidal thoughts.
"Besides," said Caesar, "you didn't fail to protect our family."
"Yes I did," exclaimed Willow, shoving him off of her. "Mother and Blue Eyes are dead!"
"Yes, they're dead," said Caesar, the very affirmation inflicting on him great pain, "but another survived." He then stepped to the side and gestured at the entrance into the armory.
Willow looked and gasped a brand new round of tears gushing from her eyes and a hand clapped over her lips.
Cornelius stood in the doorway staring tearfully at his big sister.
"Cornelius," sobbed Willow, holding her hands out to him.
Cornelius did not hesitate. He ran to his sister and leapt into her arms. Willow embraced Cornelius hardly believing he was alive. She thought he was dead, by some miracle he lived. This was a blessing, but the agony from the loss of Blue Eyes and Cornelia did not fade. She doubted it ever would.
Caesar knelt and swept both of his last surviving offspring into his arms. The three of them shared in each other's pain with Caesar declaring a solemn promise.
"I promise you the human responsible for this will pay," he growled, a murderous gleam in his eyes. "Even if I have to travel to the ends of the earth he will pay for this attack on our family with his life!"
Authors Note:
Yeah…I literally was a huge wreak writing this. In tears the entire time.