This is the last chapter. If anyone doesn't like people talking about dying or death, you might not want to read this. Gosh. I sound almost like Lemony Snickett. Okay…
The bell rang loudly. A voice blasted through the speakers.
"Everyone in the main room immediately! Now! Everyone in the main room!" the voice rapped out.
Christine and Nina glanced at each other nervously. They hurried along in the group into the main room. Everyone in the room was looking at the stage where the commander stood with Jason Barstow. Christine had a bad feeling.
"When we call out your name, please come up onto the stage," the commander said into the microphone.
Jason smiled and brought his microphone to his mouth, "James Barstow."
James walked onto the stage, innocent of what was going on. Jason smirked at James briefly.
"James Roberts."
Matthew glanced at Nina and Christine. Christine looked away, knowing what was happening. It was in her nightmares over and over again. Matthew walked up onto the stage. Jason ignored him.
"Nina Idi and Christine O'Donnell," Jason announced.
Nina hurried onto the stage. Christine breathed in deeply and walked through the crowd, holding her head proudly, her body posture showing defiance every move she made. Christine walked up to Jason calmly.
"Jason, you know very well that my name is not Christine O'Donnell," Christine said quietly.
Jason sneered, "I know, Maria Barstow."
Christine nodded, "that's better, Jason. Your youngest sibling and only sister; the third child of Max Barstow and Jean Barstow. Good to see you again, thriving and well after you've betrayed so many. Not many people like traitors whether the traitors helped them or not. Like Benedict Arnold. Living not in his homeland nor in the land he went over to."
Jason growled and shoved her into Nina.
"These are the rebels among us whose names we learned from another rebel whom we caught," the commander announced in to the mike.
The commander made a gesture and guards walked up to the group. Christine looked at Matthew and caught his eye. He looked away as the guards marched them through a hallway. A guard opened a door as the other guards brought the group into the room.
"Commander wants them in the cages. They're to be left alone until morning, which is only six hours away," the main guard announced.
Matthew fought as his guards tried to put him in the cage, but they shoved out quickly. Nina did not resist and James was too stunned to move. The guards opened Christine's cage's door and Christine stepped in coolly. They locked the doors and left the room. Christine looked around to find Matthias in another cage next to her.
"You knew this was coming! You knew, didn't you?" Matthew muttered angrily.
Christine sighed, "I can't say that I didn't expect it. I just didn't think it was coming so soon. I thought we'd have a few more years to live. But we might get out. 'T' is still around. There's hope for you guys."
"Us? What about you?" Nina asked, wiping some tears off her face.
Christine bit her lip, "I used to have ten bodyguards around me all the time, but my parents took them away a few years ago. The bodyguards commented once that I could take on all of them and win the battle if I wanted to because I am so agile and skilled in all types of weapons, including my fists."
"Maria… Don't… This place is full of guards! You can't possibly… It's a suicide mission!" James exclaimed.
Christine laughed, "James, I'm not that stupid. I won't die doing that. Not that… At least…"
Christine faded off, thinking to herself.
"Do what?" Matthias asked softly.
James sighed, "Maria wants to kill Jason."
"And I will kill him," Christine added sharply.
There was silence.
First Person View (Maria's View)
My hatred boiled up. The hatred for the Light Children and the Population Police were now focused on Jason Barstow, my traitorous brother. The hatred that I had secretly nurtured and nursed all my life, now swelled up. I felt like I was about to burst with it. The more hatred I felt, the more came.
I loved my home, my parents, James, but they are all torn away from me. From the day I was locked in the house. Sure, I might have lived in what used to be my home, but it was not the same. It was my prison that I used to love. It was torture that no one could save me from. Nothing could wipe the memories or the emotions.
My parents, they would have wanted to me live, but I have no will to live. I only want death. To be finally free. To soar! To shout… to play… Free for once. Free from fear and everything else… while everyone is still a slave…
If I may quote Jane Yolen's book, The Wizard's Map, "What is freedom, after all?… Are you not a slave – to your parents, to your country…? A slave to fashion, a slave to desires, a slave to passions. How can you think yourself free?… A slave to the calendar, a slave to duty, a slave to deadlines…"
Why has everyone left me to weep in this ocean of water that threatens to drown me any minute? What have I done wrong? Just because I am my parents third child? The sun is setting. I can barely see it. Its comforting rays are nearly gone now. I have nothing to give me comfort or warmth. I am sinking slowly, ever so slowly. No one is here. No one can here my cries for mercy. No one can see me drowning in the water of my life. No on can help anymore. I am cold, ever so cold. Was I meant to be like this…? Why was I meant to be like this…?
Third Person ViewTrey clambered out of a vent. He looked around. There were no cameras. Trey quickly opened all the cages. Everyone stepped out of his or her cage.
"The vent leads outside. If you'll follow me, we'll be outside soon," Trey whispered quickly.
He climbed back into the vent. They followed him through the vent for a few seconds. Finally, Trey slid out the end and everyone fell on top of him. Matthias gave a muffled cry. Everyone stood. Matthias was cradling his left arm gingerly.
"Broken?" Matthew asked softly.
Matthias nodded, "Jason broke it, bringing me back."
Trey bit his lip, "we can't stop. Nedley, or Mike, is waiting half a mile from here. Come on. No time to waste."
Nina nodded. Trey took off at a run towards the fence. Everyone followed him. Trey stopped in the middle of the road, a quarter way to the fence, and crouched down in the shadows. The others followed his example. Jason walked up to them. Christine's jaw tightened. Jason walked by them. Christine lunged and snatched Jason's gun from his hand. Before he could make any sound, Christine fired the pistol. He fell down, a bullet in the middle of his forehead.
"You just gave us away!" Trey exclaimed softly.
Christine held the pistol near her face, "come on!"
The group raced towards the fence. A shot rang out in the air. Christine, who was in the front of the group, stumbled and fell.
"Go on! Go on!" Christine shouted.
Trey, Matthias, and Nina rushed over to the fence and started climbing. James and Matthew stayed behind with Christine.
"Where did he get you? Where did he get you?" Matthew demanded.
Christine gasped for air, "lungs. Through the ribcage. In the back. I'm dead. Do you know how to use a gun?"
Matthew nodded and James shook his head. Christine put the pistol in Matthew's hand quickly.
"A sample of the newest gun the Population Police use. Jason only uses the best and this has to be their best. They might need it. Now, go!" Christine managed to say with a small smile on her lips.
James shook his head, "I'm not leaving you, Maria."
Matthew quickly scooped up Christine and hurried off. Trey, Matthias, and Nina pulled down the fence so Matthew just walked over it quickly. They raced through the forest until they caught sight of a car. They hurried up to it.
"Finally. You guys took so long," Nedley/Mike drawled, grinning.
"Yeah? Well, don't take as long as we did. Christine's nearly dead," Trey said quickly as the whole group got into the car.
Mike/Nedley glanced at Christine whose lips were red with blood. He slammed down on the pedal and took off.
"Hang on, guys. I'm going to perform some tricky driving here. A few nasty little shortcuts here and there," Nedley/Mike warned quickly as James started to tremble uncontrollably.
"Stop that!" Matthew snapped in a sharp whisper.
James bit his lip. Nina glared at Matthew angrily as the car flew into the air for a brief second before landing with a crash and continued on its way.
"His sister is dying here! Can't you have some pity?" Nina demanded angrily as Matthias cradled his arm.
Matthew shrugged as the car turned with a screech. Mike/Nedley jumped out of the car. Everyone followed him. Nedley/Mike carried Christine up the stairs to the house. He knocked quickly. Theodora opened the door.
"George said-" Theodora stopped short at the sight of Christine.
She opened the door wider and let them in.
"Follow me," she ordered Mike/Nedley.
Theodora Talbot opened a door and walked in. She pointed at a bed. Nedley/Mike set Christine down quickly. Mrs. Talbot waved her hands, shooing him away. He left quickly and walked back to the main room where everyone was.
"James, your parents were shot the other day when the Population Police took you," Mr. Talbot said sorrowfully.
James blinked and looked away.
Mr. Hendricks cleared his throat, "What happened?"
Nina burst into tears suddenly as James sat there like a stone, emotionless from a mixture of shock and a few other things. Matthias had no chance to reply for Percy and Alia were on him. Matthew shrugged.
"I guess Matthias was caught and they made him talk. He told them our names and they fit perfectly with Jason's description. They woke everyone up and called us up. They put us in cages and then Trey came. He helped us out, using the vents. Then, when we were running across the road, Jason was patrolling. We hid in the shadows and he walked by. Christine snatched his pistol from his hand and shot him straight through his forehead before he could utter any sound. We ran, but Christine was shot in the back, in her lung. She told us to run on, but James and I stayed. We managed to pick her up and we got to Mike's car," Matthew explained quickly.
Theodora came out of the room, her face pale white.
"If anyone wants to say some last words to her, you're welcome. She's beyond my skill. Got her lung really bad. I guess the person was aiming for her heart, but he missed. I'm sorry," Theodora whispered.
"'"Don't give up hope," Nina said. What hope do we have? People believe that Dark Children are illegal… What hope do we have when many believe the lies of the Population Police?
"'To have hope, you have to cling onto something. What are we clinging onto? Nothing. We are clinging onto nothing. Everyone else believes in things that are not real. I prefer to face facts. We are clinging onto nothing.
"'All of you guys, you want to have hope. You want to survive. But why? Why do you want to survive in this tortured world? This mutilated world that we live in? There's nothing good in here. Nothing worth living for. It's empty, this world. It may as well succumb to what the Population Police believes because no one will understand us Dark Children.
"'We're going to be gone. In a few years, we'll all be dead. No one will try to silently resist them. No one will take our place. The adults will not dare to cross the rules after their Dark Children are dead. All the other Dark Children will not dare to go out and they will die without sunlight and exercise…'" Matthew muttered, looking at his hands.
"What?" Nina demanded angrily.
Matthew looked up sadly, "she told me that this afternoon. And then she apologized saying that if we listened to her, we'll loose hope. And she said that we are innocent and it had been a long time since she had seen innocence."
James stood along with Nina. Matthew stood with them. Theodora stepped out of their way. The trio walked into the room. Christine's eyes flickered open. She smiled with blood red lips. James burst into tears. Christine closed her eyes with a sigh.
"I can see the other world. It's nicer there. Perhaps, sometime soon, you'll join me," Christine muttered.
Nina turned away, hastily wiping her eyes. Matthew met Christine's eyes calmly. She smiled.
"I still don't like the idea of snogging," Christine joked.
Matthew grinned. James gulped.
"Can someone please shoot me? It hurts to even breathe a little bit," Christine muttered tiredly.
Matthew sighed, "Nina and I are going to let you talk to James alone, if you like."
Christine shrugged. Matthew grabbed Nina's arm and marched her out. James sat on Christine's bed slowly.
"I'm going to miss you," James whispered.
Christine smiled, "most people do miss friends who have died, James. It's normal. Oh… I'm tired. James, make sure they bury me without a headstone. Just bury me and forget about me, all right?"
James frowned, "why?"
"No longer mourn for me when I am dead
Than you shall hear the surly sullen bell
Give warning to the world that I am fled
From this vile world, with vilest worms to dwell;
Nay, if you read this line, remember not
The hand that writ it; for I love you so
That I in your sweet thoughts would be forgot
If thinking on me then should make you woe.
O, if, I say, you look upon this verse
When I perhaps compounded am with clay,
Do not so much as my poor name rehearse,
But let your love even with my life decay,
Lest the wise world should look into your moan
And mock you with me after I am gone."
Christine smiled at James who frowned. Christine froze suddenly, her smile still on her face. James stood calmly, something popped up in him that steeled him. He walked out of the room, composed. Everyone looked at him.
"She's left," James whispered.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Everyone stood around a small mound of dirt on the Barstow's property. There was no gravestone there. Mr. Hendricks, who was holding his hat in his hands, wheeled away slowly with Matthias, Percy, and Alia. Nina gulped and walked away with Luke, Smits, and Trey.
Mrs. Talbot placed a few flowers on the mound, "I'm sorry I couldn't save you."
She wiped her eyes daintily and Mr. Talbot led her away. Matthew reached into his pocket and pulled out the gun she handed him that fateful night. Matthew placed it on the grave, thinking to himself. He stood and nodded at James before walking away with his head bowed. James stared at the grave and turned away.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Happy the man, whose wish and care
A few paternal acres bound,
Content to breathe his native air
In his own ground.
Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread,
Whose flocks supply him with attire;
Whose trees in summer yield him shade,
In winter, fire.
Blest, who can unconcernedly find
Hours, days, and years slide soft away
In health of body, peace of mind;
Quiet by day,
Sound sleep by night, study and ease
Together mixed, sweet recreation,
And innocence, which most does please
With meditation.
Thus let me live, unseen, unknown;
Thus unlamented let me die,
Steal from the world, and not a stone
Tell where I lie.
Solitude
Alexander Pope
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I hope you liked it. When I first submitted to first five chapters, I messed up. On my computer's Microsoft Word, I had put lines and such like things, but I guess they did not show up on fanfiction when I put it on. I am sorry for any confusion I made, but I will do better on my next fanfics. And I am so sorry this is only eight chapters. I tried to do longer, but I could not do it. As much as I love Maria, it was not possible for me to let her live when she wants to die.
Anyway, I had two other X-men fanfics ready and I tried to put them up, but my computer went weird. So, I do not think that I am going to put them up. I will write another fanfic. If you have a movie or a book in mind that you want me to write a fanfic about, be my guest to review and tell me. I have many books, but some books or movies, I just do not like writing fanfics on. Anyhow, all your suggestions, corrections, and other such like reviews are greatly appreciated.
I am afraid to admit that I personally feel like Van Helsing and the Ngaurhoth and Cobra were horrible. I did not put much effort and time into them, and thus, have not done my best. Plus, I read over them after I posted them and I realized that I had typed to quickly on some parts and therefore, had some grammar mistakes along with wrong punctuation and spelling at some places. Even so, I greatly appreciate all the reviews and I feel that I have not given all you readers the best I could.
And to those people who do not like stories ending with the death/murder/suicide/or-any-other-way-of-death of the main character, please excuse me for I am in favor of such like stories.
But anyway, R&R to this and you'll make my day. Perhaps, I have made your day, Syen. Meanwhile, a few final words from one of my favorite books:
Sé onr sverdar sitja hvass! (May your swords stay sharp!) The Inheritance Trilogy by Christopher Paolini