Chapter 10: The Final Battle for Freedom

"I...I can't believe this..."

Tai stood over top of a figure, stunned. He couldn't move anything. And he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

He was standing over his best friend. The only best friend he had left anyway.

The red head glared at him in angst.

"Why...why Nami?" he asked her, tears forming in his eyes. "You were my best friend!"

Nami kicked Tai in the stomach and punched him in the face. Tai skidded across the room and hit the wall. Blood was dribbling from his mouth.

"Because I loved you," she replied coldly, dropping him to the ground. Tai replied by getting back up and wipping the blood from his mouth.

"You...I'll kill you, I swear it!" he cried, swinging his fist at Nami. She dodged the first 2 but the thrid hit her right in the mouth. Tai chased after her and punched her in the stomach.

Suddenly, Tai was jerked back. Two people pulled him away from Nami by his shoulders, which Tai didn't notice the pain until now. The two strong men forced him to his feet. Tai looked up and gasped.

It was Griffin and Gustafa.

"You...you too huh?" Tai growled, lowering his head.

Nami got up from the ground and dusted herself off. She wipped the blood from her face and looked at Tai with anger and remorse. She reared back her foot and kicked Tai in the stomach. He hunched over and gasped for breath. Nami just chuckled and turned from him.

"Take him to the dungeon, as you would call it," she told them, exiting the room. Griffin and Gustafa dragged Tai to the next room. After he regained his breath, he began to struggle.

The two men tied Tai up to the wall with ropes and chuckled while walking off. Tai struggled a few minutes and then gave up, hanging his head. He had failed once more.

"Oh my Goddess! Tai, your okay!" came a familer voice next to him. He lifted his head and gasped. Muffy was tied up next to him. She looked worse than what Tai looked.

"Oh, Goddess, you're okay," he sighed relived. A sharp pain surged through his shoulder and he cringed.

"Tai, are you okay?" Muffy asked, concern.

"Yeah! I'm fine!" Tai snapped back. "I've only figured out that my best friend was the one who kidnapped my family. And she's going to kill them! Oh, and Takakura's death doesn't change a thing!" Tears were in Tai's eyes. Muffy looked at him, hurt.

"I'm...I'm sorry," Tai mummered, hanging his head again. "I...shouldn't have snapped at you like that...I'm sorry."

"Tai, forget about it," Muffy soothed. "I need to tell you something. I saw Celia." Tai turned his head torward her, anxiously. "Yes, and she's okay. They took her into that room right there." Muffy pointed with her figure torward the door to the far cornor of the cabin.

"What about Jason!" Tai asked. Muffy shook her head.

"I didn't see him."

"Was Celia crying or anything?"

"No, acuttaly she smiled at me."

Tai sighed. "Good."

Suddenly, the door Muffy pointed to, opened and Nami walked in. Muffy and Tai gave her glares. If looks could kill, she would be nothing but dust on the floor.

Nami smirked. "Ah, I see you two had time to talk." she chrotled. She walked torward Tai and looked him square in the eyes.

"Why the long face, Tai?" she mocked.

"Get away from me, shallow witch," Tai growled. He spat in her face and she backed away.

"Griffin, Gustafa, bring her in." Nami shouted into the other room.

Three figures emerged from the room. Gustafa, Griffin, and...Celia. Her hands were tied behind her back and Griffin and Gustafa had ahold of the ropes bonding her. Tai gasped.

"Celia!" he shouted, trying to break free from the ropes.

Celia turned torward the dungeon and smiled. "Tai! Oh my Goddess, your okay!" she shouted back, trying to also break free of the ropes. Griffin grunted and pulled her hair until she cried out.

Tai felt his blood boil. "Don't touch her, you slimey trator!" Tai threatened. Griffin just smirked and pulled Celia's hair harder.

"Come and make me!" he grunted. Tai growled.

"Psst, Tai!" Muffy whispered beside him. He turned his head and gasped.

She had a shotgun in her hands, a small one.

"Okay, bring in the child," Nami called again. Tai turned his attention back to the room. This time, the guy that had stolen Jason in the first place, walked in, carrying a crying Jason by his shirt collar. Tai gasped.

"Leave my son alone!" Tai screamed, struggling more. He looked at Muffy again. She was stunned silent and just as scared.

"Bring him here," Nami called, putting her hand out to take the squrrming Jason. Jason spotted Tai and Celia and cried more.

"Mommy! Daddy!" he called, holding his hands out torward them. Nami took Jason from the man and smiled down at him. Celia started shouting and crying, Griffin and Gustafa still restraining her.

"He's just a baby! He's just a baby!" she bawled, struggling.

Nami picked up a knife from the table and held it over Jason.

"NO!" Celia screamed.

Tai reached for the shotgun in Muffy's hand.

She slowly brung the knife down, as if savoring the moment.

"PLEASE!" Celia screamed again, throwing herself at Nami.

Tai jerked the shotgun from Muffy's grasp just as the knife touched the baby's head.

"Say goodbye to Mommy and Daddy," Nami chuckled.

"NO! STOP! PLEASE!" Celia bawled.

Nami brung the knife back up just as Tai stuck his finger on the trigger.

This time, she brung the knife down fast.

"NO! JASON!"

A loud shot rang through the cabin, followed by a bloodcurling, painful scream. The knife fell on the floor, followed by a body.

A redhead's body.

Nami.

Everything was painfully silent as the body twitched one finally time before blood poured everywhere. Celia, Griffin, Gustafa, Muffy - everyone looked at Tai. He was gripping the shotgun, his finger gripped tightly around the trigger. Tear's were falling down his face.

Griffin and Gustafa's mouth hung open.

Muffy had passed out.

Celia just staired.

Griffin and Gustafa were about to run torward Jason.

"Don't move a muscle, or I'll shoot you, too." Tai hoarsly sputtered. Using the handle of the shotgun, he wore down the ropes and was free. He dropped to the ground, weak. No one moved.

Then, Jason's crying broke the silence. Tai lifted his head and got on his feet wearily. He stummbled over to the crying baby and fell right in front of him. His shoulder was bleeding and throbbing again. Ignoring the pain, he reached for his son and held him in his arms. The baby continued to cry. Tai rubbed his head.

"It's okay, Jason...it's...okay," Tai whispered, lifted his head up to kiss Jason gently on the head. "It's all over..."

Tai got on his knees and picked up Jason. The baby was now asleep. Tai held him tightly and stood up. He looked over at Griffin and Gustafa and Celia.

"Let Celia go, now," he threatened, pointing the gun at them. They let go of her and unbond her. She ran at Tai and they hugged tightly.

"Oh my Goddess, Tai," she cried. "Your okay." Tears slid down the couples face. They were finally reunited.

Griffin and Gustafa looked at the two uncertainly. They slowly and quietly slipped out the door and ran into the forest, never to be seen again.

"I love you Celia," Tai whispered. Tears were streaming down his face as they hugged.

"I love you too, Tai," Celia whispered back, tears sliding down her face as well.

Muffy came walking over, apparently still shaken from the earlier event. She had used the watch on her arm to wear down the rope. She joined the two in a hug.

"Mommy, Daddy, your 'qushing me!" came a voice from Tai's arm. They broke the embrace and smiled down at Jason. He looked back at them, annoyed.

"What!" he scoffed.