Suicide Squad

            Celena sat in the garden, watching her brother and his wife. She thought about how happy they were. Laughing, dancing, kissing, and hugging.

I wish I could say it makes me sick seeing that, but I truly am happy for them. Too bad I'm not as happy.

Celena had thought of several ways to try and kill herself. None had the dramatic touch that was provided with a small firearm. Did she have the nerve to do it? Could she actually kill herself? She mulled these questions over.

Meanwhile, two other couples made their way into the garden.

"Allen, the King and Queen have arrived. And so have Lord Folken and Lady Eriya!"

Allen shook hands with Folken and bowed to the King and Queen.

"Knock it off," Van said. "You're embarrassing the hell out of me."

"Actually, It's quite fun seeing him do that," Queen Hitomi said.

"Get up, Sir Schezar."

"Not 'Sir'. I lost that title when I quit the Heavenly Knights of Asturia, Your Highness."

"Well, 'Lord Schezar'. Or something like that."

"Is this an informal ceremony to name me a lord?"

"Whatever floats your boat. Just get the hell up."

Allen stood up.

"Hitomi, you've gained a rather large amount of weight," Folken said. You might want to go double-time into your swordfighting."

Hitomi quickly changed the subject.

"Celena looks so lonely over there. Let's go talk to her."

Allen seemed to agree.

"You're right. She hasn't said much lately."

They came to see what was going on. Celena knew they were coming. She made no effort to hide the gun.

"Taking up shooting?" Allen asked.

"Not exactly," Celena said.
"Then what is the gun for?" Allen inquired.

She said nothing.

"What is the gun for, Celena?"

"Allen," Alena muttered.

"What is it?"

"I'm sensing feelings…intense ones…sadness…no anger! No, nervousness! Damn it, I can't get a lock on it! They're coming from Celena! She means to kill herself!"

"Celena wants to kill herself?!" Allen said.

"Yes, Allen. I want to kill myself."

"But why? Tell me what the gun is for!"

"Isn't it obvious?! Are you completely blind to my pain, BROTHER?!"

"Either you are going to kill yourself, or you want people to THINK you are going to kill yourself!"

"It's all very simple, really. No one else will do it, So I will. I am suffering, Allen. I am suffering from a mental problem that is so difficult, not even Alena could cure me."

Allen turned to his wife.
"She consulted you, and you didn't tell me?!"

"She told me to keep it in the strictest confidence."

"Brother, you are too overprotective of me. I can make my own decisions. And my final decision is to die before my condition gets to the point where I will harm others."

Allen turned to Alena again.

"Is this true?"
"Most likely, she will be a danger to others. The only way out is to put her soul to rest while she has lived a good life."

It hit Allen like a gale force wind. What can he do?

Be the brother he can for the last time.

"Let me do it," he said. "You're my sister, and it's the least I can do."

Celena nodded sadly. Celena put the gun down, stood up, and waited.

Allen hugged his sister for one last time, and kissed her on the forehead. He took two steps back, drew his sword, and hoped that it would be painless for her.

With tears in his eyes and the afternoon sun beating down on his face, he drew back, and in one quick lunge, he ran Celena through with his sword.

Eyes wide and a pained expression on her face, Celena managed to take one more breath—an inhale and an exhale—before Allen pulled the sword out and dropped it, catching Celena in one smooth motion, although nothing went smoothly about this.

After doing the deed, he had thrown up several times, crying, and had still not got over the fact that his sister was dead. He didn't know when he would come to grips with it, maybe never. It seemed like a no-win situation.