Dear Heavenly father please forgive us, for we know not what we do.

Look at your life, look at the way you slip and slide.
Look at the ones that you've left behind.
Look at your eyes, the horrid black circles of your plight.
But you can get by, oh and killing you might take one more life.
Cause you're a famous monster, you do whatever they offer.
You tie their noose around your neck and they throw you over.
Look at your mind, look at the strength you never found.
You lean on your pride, the only friend that would never let you down.
Look at the signs, look at the way they stop and stare.
They're watching you die, and when you're gone it's like you weren't even there.
Cause you're a famous monster, you do whatever they offer.
You tie their noose around your neck and they throw you over.

Saliva- "Famous Monster"

            Julian hit the mat as did Ken a second before the lights went out.  Somehow the two men reached each other and were able to speak.

"Ken, man, this is crazy.  I can't see a fucking thing."

"Just give it a little while, when the SWAT and everything come in they will have lights.  It should help us get to Guile."

Julian nodded not even thinking that Ken couldn't see him.  People were screaming and running around trying to get out.  Suddenly he heard broken glass fly and the room was lit up by many faint green flares.  Quickly scanning the throng of people he spotted Guile.

"Yo!  Ken, he's over there."

Ken stood and started making his way towards Guile.  Julian did the same but something else caught his eyes.  One of the garage doors that allowed large equipment into the arena had been opened and he saw too figures.  It was Cammy being held by Vega.  He screamed for Ken but Ken was already halfway to where Guile was located.

"Fuck it."

Julian ran towards the garage as Vega stood up, still holding Cammy captive and pulled down the metal.  Before the door shut Julian caught Vega's smile.

"God Dammit!"

He punched the large door before trying to pull it up.  It wouldn't budge.  He grunted in frustration once more before pushing through the crowd to get to the back halls to try and find Cammy before it was too late.

--

            By the time the flares busted through the window Guile had fully equipped himself with everything from the black duffle bag.  In only a few more moments a combination of New Orleans SWAT and Air Force members would be crashing in.  Wagner spoke beside Guile.

"None of the targets have been able to get through the crowd.  They haven't even been able to contact one another since they were so spread out."

"Good it's just where we need them."

Right then Ken ran up.  Guile noticed Julian wasn't with him.

"Where's Julian."

Ken turned and looked behind him.

"I though he was right behind me."

The three men scanned the crowd but couldn't find Julian.  They couldn't worry about his absence much longer because they heard the infantry bust in.  Guile yelled over the crowd.

"Time to get busy!"

He motioned for Wagner and Ken to remain in the corner while he rushed forward to collect the enemy.

--

            Cammy held her breath as her body went cold.  Vega pulled her to standing and shut a large metal door that must have been what sparked when Vega fell.  When the door shut, the noise from the inside the arena was shut off too.  She had no idea what was going on there.  It wasn't really her main concern seeing that Vega had three blades held to her throat.

"Now we can talk in quiet."

"Fuck you."

"Too late."

Cammy wished she could spit in his face.  She gritted her teeth and swallowed hard.  Saying a silent prayer she closed her eyes before she brought her head back into Vega's masked face.  The mask protected his face but stunned him enough that he wasn't able to cut her and his grip loosened enough for her to break free.  She heard Vega removed his mask and then the lights flashed on.  Her eyes adjusted and she saw his anger.

"You bitch."

"Now are you ready to fight?"

Both lowered themselves into their fighting stances.  Vega was angry and took the offensive lunging for her, his claw extended.  She ducked to the side and caught his arm.  Twisting it she slammed his contorted body into the wall then onto the floor.  With his hand still twisted she stomped hard onto it, breaking the binding that held the claw together.  She released him as he screamed and pulled his hand into his body.  The glove lay in pieces on the floor.  Cammy knew she probably broke something in his hand but at least the claw's threat was gone.  Too satisfied with herself she was open to Vega's next attack.  He aimed a high kick, which from his position on the floor, landed in her gut.  Air was forced out of her body as she slammed into the wall, her head hitting the surface first.  She was dizzy but remained standing as Vega rose to his feet.  She shook her head and aimed a punch at his face, which found its mark on his chin.  Blood flew from his split lip.  He screamed out in despair.

"My face!"

She punched him again, this time it landed on his jaw, but he was still too distracted by the blood flowing from his face.  She tackled him to the ground then.  Landing on top of him she pinned his arms down with her legs, like he had done to her before.

"How do you like this?"

Vega didn't take much notice until she picked up one of the broken blades and placed it on his throat.

He became silent and his face lost all emotion.  Cammy didn't however she was angry.

"Should I cut your face like you did mine?  Or should I cut your throat like you did my father's?  Or maybe both."

Vega's cold eyes never changed as he spoke coldly.

"Kill me and you will become me."

"If I kill you I will be rid of you."

"You are already a murderer, why not?"

Cammy screamed then.

"I am not a murderer!  Shadowlaw made me kill those people.  You did."

"But I did not make you enjoy it."

"You did!  You influenced my blank mind.  You did it you son of a bitch!  You did it!"

"Whatever makes you feel better lover."

Cammy shook her head.  He was messing with her, trying to distract her form killing him.

"It's justifiable to kill you.  You've killed.  An eye for an eye."

"Then you will die.  You'll burn in Hell."

"You are the one who will be burning in Hell!"

She pressed the blade harder to his throat to show him she was serious.  She spoke the word's she had practiced and learned since he first came back into her life and her memories returned.

"¡No pretenozco a nadie! (I belong to no one!)"

His eyes grew wide in realization that she was actually going to kill him then a voice spoke.

"Cammy don't!"

It was Julian.  She screamed.

"Stay back Julian."

He held his hands out signal that he heard her and wasn't going to move a step closer.

"Cammy, girl, you can't do this."

"Why not?  It's so easy for him to kill, to rape, to torture.  He deserves to die."

"Yeah, but you can't do it.  It would kill you inside.  Killing is wrong no matter how justified."

Vega started laughing.  Cammy screamed.

"Shut the fuck up!"

He continued laughing and spoke through his giggles.

"Him talking about killing being wrong."

"What?"

Julian stepped closer.

"If you knew what was good for you you'd shut the hell up Vega.  I'll let her do it.  This has nothing to do with me."

"Oh but I hate hypocrisy Mr. Marquez.  And I could not die knowing I did not make sure Camilla knows who you really are."

Cammy pressed the blade harder against his flesh.  Her hand was trembling as she spoke.

"I told you to shut up Vega!"

"But do you not want to know about the people he killed in cold blood?  Did you not shoot the first one when you were at the ripe young age of 16?  And the second was with your bare hands, right?  Oh I know you remember.  That kind of killing is very personal."

Cammy spoke quietly.

"Julian?"

He lowered his head and spoke solemnly.

"That was a long time ago and I was fucked up on a lot of drugs.  But I'm not you Cammy.  You can't let him do this to you.  He'll win if you do."

Cammy started trembling harder.  She looked up at Julian as a single, silent tear fell from her eye.

"But I want him to die so he can never hurt anyone again, never hurt me again."

"Girl, it's not up to you, at least not something this big."

Vega spoke then.

"What a touching moment."

He smiled and before Cammy could react he had pulled his legs up behind her arms and rocked forward, slamming her head into the ground.  Julian pounced to protect Cammy but Vega wasn't trying to hurt her as much as he was trying to get away.  By harming her enough and distracting Julian enough he had time to run.  Julian picked Cammy up and she screamed.

"No!  He's gone."

He grabbed her face.

"That's good, girl.  You did the right thing by not killing him.  You would have killed yourself along with him."

"But now he's gone."

"And we'll eventually catch him and make him pay for his crimes the right way."

Cammy started crying and Julian pulled her into a hug.

"You are so strong, girl, so much better than Vega.  I know your father is proud of you for that."

"You think?"

"I know.  Now come on.  I'll take you to Guile and Wagner. A lot of shit went down today."

--

            Guile stood outside the arena.  He shut the door to a SWAT vehicle that now held 23 members of Shadowlaw that they were able to apprehend.  There was still a lot of work that needed to be done, but the hard part was over.  He heard sirens and a few unmarked cars came speeding into the area.  Guile dropped his gear and headed their way.  They were FBI.  They shouldn't be here, it was only SWAT and the Air Force involved in this operation.

--

            Cammy felt good to be in the fresh air.  The night was clear and the wind was blowing softly.  Julian led her to where Wagner was standing outside the arena.  He spotted her and almost jumped out of his skin.  He ran toward her, his eyes wide.  There were a few cuts on his face but she didn't have time to ask him about them.

"What he hell are you doing here Cammy?  And what the hell are you wearing?"

She couldn't help but smile.

"Long story Wagner.  But I'm alright."

She pulled him into a hug and he was surprised at first but quickly returned it.

            Julian looked around the thinning crowd and spotted Ken.

"Hey, Ken!"

Ken ran for him.

"Where the hell were you?"

He smiled and pointed at Cammy.

"She's got a mind of her own for sure."

Ken nodded.

"I could have told you that much."

Julian laughed and Ken and Wagner joined him, all understanding what he meant.  Cammy spoke.

"Hey!  I'm standing right here!"

This only made them laugh harder.  Wagner spoke.

"We got Shadowlaw real good Cammy."

He and Ken then proceeded to tell Cammy about the operation.  Julian zoned them out and looked up at the stars.  He was out of Shadowlaw.  It was over.  He took a deep breath and felt the air in his lungs.  He could taste it, that's how good he felt.  Julian heard a commotion and turned too see two men in suits approaching him.  Guile ran after them yelling.

"You don't understand.  He's an informant.  He's not a part of Shadowlaw!"

The two men in suits reached Julian and one pulled out a gun as the other spoke.

"Don't move.  Julian Marquez, you are under arrest for suspicion of drug trafficking, drug possession, gang activity and the murders of Miguel Guerra, and Joseph Walters."

Julian froze.  He nodded slowly and let the man who spoke put handcuffs on him.  He heard Cammy start screaming as they led him away.

"No!  He didn't mean to!  It wasn't his fault.  He isn't a killer."

The man placed his hand on Julian's head and guided him into the back of his car.  The door shut and Julian chanced a look back at the only people in his life that mattered.  He felt like he had betrayed them, but knew he was doing the right thing.  He met eyes with Ken.  Ken held out his closed fist and nodded his head.  Guile was holding Cammy back and she was still screaming and crying.  She looked at him and he shook his head 'yes'.  She saw, and clamed down.  Wagner reached for her and pulled her into a hug.  Julian smiled then.  He helped save Cammy's soul tonight and maybe, just maybe, if he did the right thing and admitted to his crimes, he could save his own.

--

One more chapter to go everyone.  For more on Julian and why he committed these crimes (yes he did), read "Confessions of a Shadowlaw Soldier".  Just find it under my pen name.  Had to put a plug in for that.  It really helps explain Julian's complicated character, so I would suggest it.  Love you guys/girls.

-Vammy