Chapter 11: Orchestrated Life
Midvalley walked the dusty roads and leaned up against a building.
" And what do you want?" Wolfwood questioned
" Your debt needs to be paid," Midvalley said
" What debt? Your master can kiss my ass," Wolfwood said
Wolfwood stood up and looked at Midvalley and lit his cigarette.
" Do you really think I have a debt after scraping your dead ass off the dried sand?" Wolfwood remarked, " Because of me your alive, Knives left your ass to rot. You just don't want to believe the facts. Now, go away I'm busy."
Midvalley smirked and stayed there.
" You have only a brief time to warn Vash the Stampede of another attack, he got lucky with defeating Zazie, but he won't this time," Midvalley said casually, " It's all apart of the performance."
Wolfwood looked at him and narrowed his eyes.
" And what if I don't," Wolfwood questioned
" Then I suggest you say a little prayer for yourself and dig a hole 6 feet deep," Midvalley said, " You have no choice now Wolfwood."
Midvalley walked off playing a tune and smiled underneath his playing. He had gotten to Wolfwood
" Now it's your turn," Midvalley said
Chapel looked at Midvalley as they traded glares and Midvalley watched from the alley ways.
" Rudeness comes so easy," Midvalley said, " But respect you don't get."
Midvalley walked on and continued until he was out of sight. Midvalley watched from above on one of the abandoned buildings and waited. He wondered would Chapel do his job and would Cain do his.
" Waiting is the hardest things, the suspense is painful," Midvalley thought
It past noon as he watched, seeing Vash just sitting in the middle of the town looking at the center piece of the city that had Knives' name written in blood. The 'I' now had a bullet hole over it, showing Vash had shot it.
" It's good to see that he's angry," Midvalley said, " The sooner this is over with the sooner I get my chance to slaughter him like he did July, Augusta and my hometown."
Midvalley saw Wolfwood walk past him and a smirk crossed his lips.
" Your orders are simple," Midvalley said
Chapel stopped and looked at Midvalley.
" What orders?" Chapel questioned
" Legato's given me orders to past on to you Chapel," Midvalley replied, " You are to kill Nicholas D. Wolfwood."
" What!" Chapel exclaimed
" They're not my orders, but I wouldn't disobey them, he's got a nasty way of punishing you," Midvalley said, " Take it up with him."
Midvalley walked off and Chapel narrowed his eyes.
" Come back here!" Chapel growled
" Later," Midvalley said
Midvalley took off and walked for miles leaving the angered Chapel to plan out his own method of killing.
By the next day Midvalley had walked to the next town and Legato looked up.
" I believe that Chapel is angry with me," Legato said
" He'll get over it," Midvalley said
Midvalley got a drink and downed it. Midvalley wiped the sweat off his face and sighed.
" If they fail…" Midvalley started to say
" Then it's up to you," Legato said
" I know what I have to do, if I fail, but I won't fail," Midvalley said
That evening Midvalley sat at the bar at the local saloon. He sipped on a hard drink, as he felt like this was the last evening of his life. After a few drinks, Midvalley walked to an inn near by and got a room there he remained as he planned his attack. He looked at the fifth moon and felt a certain feeling he had not felt in the three years he was serving Knives.
" What is this feeling?" Midvalley thought, " I don't know this feeling."
Midvalley placed a hand on his head and leaned forward as he stared at a piece of music
" Could you play me something?" soft voice said
Midvalley closed his eyes and winced in pain.
" No!" Midvalley thought, " Why is this happening to me? Who is she?"
" My name is not Anna, well not my first name anyway. My first name is Sylvia. Sylvia Anna Monroe."
Midvalley's eyes snapped opened and he looked at his sax.
" Why are these pieces of a conversation coming to me?" Midvalley thought, " Why do I think of her at a time like this?"
Midvalley sigh looked up at the fifth moon and balled up his fist.
" Damn it," he growled
The next morning Midvalley walked out of the city and saw Legato standing there.
" You look distress," Legato said
" Sleep doesn't come easy to a wondering mind," Midvalley replied
It was only minuets when a ride came. Midvalley climbed into the carriage and Legato got in on the other side. Midvalley leaned his head against the wall of the carriage.
" What is wrong with me?" he thought
" You might want to clear you thoughts, they're very disturbing," Legato said
Midvalley nodded and sighed as the long ride continued.
" Clearing my mind how does he expect I do that?" Midvalley thought
Once they got there Legato stepped out and then Midvalley got out on the other side.
" Your angry with me because I forced you to kill Nicholas D. Wolfwood," Legato said
Midvalley looked ahead and saw Chapel standing there, then with a flick of his wrist his cross punisher was made into two, large, long guns. Quick to know what to do, Legato crippled Chapel to the ground.
" Go on finish him off," Legato thought to Midvalley
Midvalley raised his sax to his mouth, but then the doors opened and to Midvalley's surprise Knives walked out. He stared at the revive Knives slightly in a gawking way. Legato bowed and continued to keep his head lower then Knives'.
" Tell me why did you come back?" Knives asked
Chapels weak reply did not touch Midvalley's ears. Midvalley stepped out of view as Knives summoned the darkness.
" Imagine a place between life and death," Knives said
Midvalley slightly was feeling ill from the sight of hearing painful screams. Knives continued to stay the same.
" The pain you feel is your very essence, the essence of the animals called homo sapiens," Knives said
The darkness that Knives had called the place between life and death, engulfed Chapel. Midvalley swallowed and definitely didn't care to return if he failed, if this was what Knives did to those who failed. Knives looked at Legato and Legato nodded.
" I understand master Vash the Stampede will suffer eternal pain," Legato said holding his left hand up
Midvalley backed off as Knives glanced over at him.
" It's time that you show your loyalty," Knives said, " I don't want him dead."
" Yes,….master," Midvalley said muttering master
Knives turned and walked through the doors. Legato and Midvalley took their leave to the city where Vash was.
When they got there Legato told Midvalley to wait just outside the city, he was to have his own introduction after Legato finished his. As Legato spoke, Midvalley got a drink and leaned his back against a railing of a porch. Legato turned his back to Vash and suddenly everyone rose from their sleep.
" Damn, how dare you Legato, how dare you be so causal to mess with people's lives," Vash said
" You do the same thing," Midvalley said, " You alone destroyed July and Augusta and put a hole in the fifth moon."
Midvalley stood up and started walking towards the center of the city.
" The way I see it you and him are the same breed," Midvalley said
" Who are you?" Vash questioned
" I'm Midvalley the Hornfreak, the 11th gung-ho-gun," Midvalley said placing his glass on the rail, " the man who plays the greatest music on the greatest stage of all."
He lifted his sax and looked at Vash as he stepped down.
" Won't you join me in a number Vash the Stampede," Midvalley said
" What Vash the Stampede!" someone exclaimed
The town cleared out in only minuets. Midvalley looked at Vash and took a deep breath and Vash fired a shot. Midvalley played and the bullet was forced to the ground. Midvalley sent a wave at Vash. He tried to fight it, but it was no use. Vash ran a couple of times, dodge Midvalley's wonderful playing skills. He was then finally knocked to the ground and Midvalley looked at him.
" Hmm, Sylvia seems to be responding pretty well today," Midvalley said
He turned and looked at Vash and gave a smirk.
" Hey you wouldn't know this, but up close the sound a quality instrument like this one can seem rather flat," he said, " It seems you bring out the best. A wonderful performance is greatly appreciated by the sounds of an applause by the audience."
Vash stood up and breathed deep.
" Why didn't you finish me off, you could obviously do so," Vash said
" It's simple, I'm under his orders," Midvalley said
" Knives," Vash said
" That's right can't defy him, anyone working for Knives, is under his beckon call. You relinquish free thoughts and rights," Midvalley said
" No, you have a choice," Vash said
" A superior being telling me other wise," Midvalley said, " It's funny to hear that."
Suddenly a town's person came walking out with his body controlling him.
" Legato," he growled
Midvalley smirked as he took another breath and Vash took off running. Midvalley played his deathly tune and hit Vash as he protected the man. Another came and again Vash ran to protect, another man came Vash was hit a third time. This time Vash was breathing deep and fell to his knees and then to the ground. Midvalley walked over to him and looked at him. With his foot Midvalley lifted the tiered Vash's chin up.
" Talk about iron will," Midvalley said, " Your dedication is commendable."
Vash looked at Midvalley and flipped his fake hand to the secret gun. Midvalley stepped on his wrist and looked down at him.
" It's not over yet," Midvalley said lifting the sax to his lips
" No, Stop it!" Vash shouted as he fired shots
Midvalley jumped a little and pulled his sax close to him. He looked at Vash and shook his head.
" You've got to be cool," Midvalley said
Vash forced Midvalley's foot off his wrist and fired several shots. Midvalley stepped back and Vash shot at his instrument. Midvalley paid no mind and place it to his lips. It was then when he went to play his dangerous B flat that nothing, but hot air.
" What! My B flat," he growled
" Sorry shows over," Vash said
" You mean you were trying for a ricochet all along?" Midvalley questioned
He chuckled a little and looked at Vash.
" Maybe, but it's not quiet time for the curtain call just yet," Midvalley said as his instrument revealed another trick.
His instrument revealed a hidden gun and Midvalley looked up at Vash.
" I have to accept this as my fate, the destiny of the dying," Midvalley said
" Don't do it if you shot now…" Vash shouted
Midvalley place his fingers on the trigger.
" No Don't do it! Stop!" Vash shouted
Midvalley only smirked before pulling the trigger, his instrument exploded and he fell to the ground. His mind became with endless thoughts, thoughts that took him everywhere from the beginning of life to this very moment. Faces became clear to him, the women that carved a place into his heart would never see him again.
" You'll come back won't you?" Anna's voice echoed
" Oh, Midvalley your such a dreamer," Aemilia's voice echoed
He closed his eyes feeling the hot sun beat down at him. He had killed himself and now he was free from the pain of the world.
" Midvalley! Midvalley! Don't leave me!" Anna's voice cried out in his mind
" I'm sorry, I failed to return back to you," Midvalley thought, " We'll meet again. "