Chapter 34

4 years earlier

"Why is the sun orange?" Leon asks, full of curiosity on his face.

"Because it's full of fire, just like us" Axel smiles at his five year old who is currently sitting on his lap admiring the views of the wilderness and it's sunset.

"But it hurts!" The boy frowns whilst holding up his little red palm.

Axel then takes his hand and places it between his own. "What you have, it's a special kind of power. Every time you use it, it will hurt a little but you know what? You can heal easily afterwards. But always be careful who you use your energy around because, even though it can do good, it can still really hurt someone else to the point where they can't heal like we do".

"Is that why mommy went to heaven?"

For a moment, Leon's question catches him off guard to the point where Axel can't answer or even look at him. He pauses then stares at the ground, trying his best to hold back the tears, the rage, the guilt and all of the grief left inside of him. He clears his throat then takes a deep breath, remembering the fire that Jake caused all those years ago. The image of finding Blaze heavily bleeding from her head whilst trying to keep her conscious haunts him. If only he had made it there sooner, if only his past was different and if only he didn't end up in prison, things would have been very different. Everything he had ever wanted was brutally taken away from him and there was nothing he could do about it. Finding out she was pregnant just a couple of days before was one of the best moments ever. But if she and the baby had died, he'd have nothing left to live for. If the baby lived, Axel knew he would have to wake up and face each day whilst filling an empty space and role of being two parents at once.

He gulps then starts to answer after a lengthy silence.

"Leon, your mom, she was an amazing person. I tried to save her but…." suddenly he holds his sentence when he hears a gunshot close by.

"Hey, remember that game of hide and seek we practised?" Axel snappishly reacts, remaining calm as Leon nods back.

"Well I need you to go and hide and stay as quiet as possible. I'll come and get you out when it's safe ok?"

"Ok".

With ease, Axel lifts two of the heavy wooden floor boards from the corner of the cabin before carefully lowering Leon into an underground hideout. Once the child is safely hidden along with his teddy bear, Axel gives him a confident wink then he places his index finger in front of his mouth, signaling to keep quiet.

He then makes his way out towards the front porch, grabbing his rifle and a knife on the way. He cautiously scans the outside area around the cabin, on guard the whole time through the silence. As he steps around the other side, he notices a truck and a man lying on the ground.

"Max?!"

Axel immediately lowers his gun then he rushes over to assist his friend.

"You ok?" He asks, extending his hand to help him up off the ground.

"I'm ok. Two men from a local tribe attacked me when they tried to take the supplies from the truck so I fired a gunshot to scare them off."

"Wait here…" Axel cautiously says. He continues to scan the area but it's strange as there seems to be nobody else is around. No trail steps, no noise, plus from this open area of high ground and space he would have seen something.

"Which way did they go?"

Max shrugs then points in the left direction. But again, no one appears to be in view. Axel then kneels down to examine the bleeding wound on Max's leg which looks more like scratch marks than a human attack.

"This looks like wolf wounds, are you sure a local tribe attacked you? What are you doing here anyway? You're a whole week early and we still have supplies".

To his surprise Max then bursts out laughing.

"Man, I was so fucking dumb! I got out of the truck when I heard a noise then this wolf just leapt forward at me!"

Axel sighs, more relaxed now but feeling pissed off. "You're drunk aren't you? Max, you shouldn't be here!"

"Eh, I might have had a whiskey or two on the journey" the wrestler proudly smirks.

Axel takes a glance inside the truck where he finds four empty whiskey bottles.

"Shit man, you could have got yourself killed driving here!" Without hesitation, he helps his friend off the ground, placing Max's arm over his shoulder before entering the cabin.

Once Max's wound has been treated and Leon is tucked away in bed half an hour later, the two men sit outside together under the night sky in front of the fire.

"You can stay here as long as you need to, you'll feel better in the morning once you've sobered up".

"Thanks man," Max replies, looking out with regret into the distance.

Axel folds his arms, "So, are you gonna tell me why you needed to get away so bad?"

Max takes a short pause before answering him. "Two weeks ago was the last straw. I lost the arena and the bar in the space of three days. And now I'm about to lose my apartment…"

"Shit! Max, take my card, you know the pin. Yeah my funds are tied up, but I'm sure Adam can help you access my account.``

"I can't do that, that money is for Leon's future".

"Max, you need help! Get clean, get off the drugs and we'll get your business back. You're better than that!"

To his shock, Max suddenly covers his eyes then his face begins to redden whilst he can't help but sob into his own hands, "but it won't make a fucking difference!"

"If you're in some kind of trouble or debt, we can help you".

"How do you do it?" Max queries, eyes watered.

"Do what?" Axel's response is one of uncertainty.

"I lost everything a long time ago. That day Eliza was killed…" Max sighs, taking a brief breath before continuing. "For once in my life, I was happy, you know? We had our whole future ahead of us and then in the blink of an eye she was gone. I miss her so much. I'm never gonna be that happy again, so what's the point?"

"I'm sorry man. But Eliza wouldn't have wanted your life to end up this way plus we can't change the past. I know I'm sounding harsh but that's the reality".

"Come on, I thought you'd understand more than anyone! Maybe you don't" Max angrily answers.

"You can't change the past! She's gone!" Axel snaps back.

He takes a moment, immediately regretting his last sentence and the way it came across. Axel then gets up to his feet "wait here a minute…"

Moments later, he returns with his own whiskey bottle and two small glasses that he places on the ground between them.

"It kills me every day and I miss her so much. If it wasn't for Leon, I'd probably be in a worse state than you are right now and honestly I'm just holding it together for him."

"Blaze didn't deserve to die like that" Max shakes his head.

"It's strange though…"

"Why?"

"When she was alive, we had an instant connection ever since the first night we met. It's like we could tell what each other was thinking without saying anything. Even when one of us was in trouble, we'd just know it. I remember laying in a field about to die but she used her chi and somehow saved me even though she wasn't with me…"

"So what are you saying then?" Max raises his eyebrows.

"When I was Leon's age, our master teachers used to always tell us about the afterlife and about how people can leave us in this world but their spirit is always with us."

"Yeah, I believe in that shit. I sometimes sense Eliza and my father around, I know they're here with me sometimes" Max replies.

"Yeah, I get it. I see my parents often and they died over two decades ago and somehow I knew when they died, I felt something. But Blaze?...I dunno, this is gonna sound crazy but I think she could still be alive…."

"But there were no survivors left at that hospital after the explosion! The records confirmed that she was still in a coma at 11:05 - even the nurse Adam found confirmed it. I know a part of you still hopes but…"

"Yeah but maybe she was moved to another hospital? Maybe someone took her… it just doesn't make any sense. When I get out of this place and my sentence is over I'm gonna find out for myself."

"Ax you're gonna drive yourself insane. Don't you think that one of us still there would know if Blaze was still alive? Don't you think she would have already come looking for you and Leon?"

Axel takes a large gulp of his drink then stares down at the fire as Max pats him on the shoulder.

"Yeah, you're right. Maybe I'm just hoping and holding onto someone who isn't here anymore. I don't think I'll ever be able to let go of the past. I'd do anything to have a second chance and see Blaze again, not just for me but for that kid in there. I miss her everyday…"

Present Day.

"It's ok, take your time Leon. You said dark eyebrows right? Man in his 40s. Does this guy look familiar at all?" Estel asks, clicking her mouse over the monitor next to the boy. His response is plain, only shaking his head.

Estel becomes distracted as soon as she hears footsteps slowly approaching them from outside in the hallway. She guesses that either it's Zan leaving the lab to go upstairs to eat or it could be Adam returning back from the precinct after a couple of hours.

"How's it going?"

The two of them look up, noticing Axel approaching them limping on one side.

"Dad!" Leon excitedly smiles.

"Hey sport!"

"Shouldn't you be resting? That's one serious wound you got there" Estel replies, raising her eyebrows.

"Yeah but I can't sleep! It's not that bad now and the x-rays are clear".

She gives him an unconvinced stare back, paying close attention to the large blood stained bandage by the side of his stomach.

"Can I check out the games on here now?" Leon asks. It's clear the boy is tired and bored after spending the last two hours looking through photos of FBI agents on screen.

"Sure kid," Estel smiles before getting up to her feet to speak to Axel.

"Any luck then?" He queries, glancing towards the monitor with Leon in front of it.

"Not yet" she shakes her head. "We've been through almost 200 records of agents, but still nothing!"

"Sounds like this guy, whoever he is has been off the books for a long time then. We'll just have to keep an eye on Senator Peters until this blows over. Or even better, when you and Adam arrest the twins, send me in. I'll make them talk".

Estel frustratingly lets out a huge sigh with her hands on her hips as she paces forward and back.

"What's wrong?" Axel asks, feeling uneasy.

"That warrant we got in order to arrest the twins… well it looks like it's about to be revoked."

"What?! By who?!"

"By the fucking state! Whoever this guy is, he must be pretty high up in the rankings".

"Or he's making the rules himself. Let's get as much information as we can about the agent shot at the hospital this morning and try and get a lead on Peters, I know he's in on this".

Estel slowly nods with agreement then her expression changes when she gives Axel a sly grin.

"What?" He grins back, surprised.

"You're gonna hate this but you still sound like a cop…" she laughs.

"Hell no! I ain't ever going back to that shit! You and Adam are welcome to it" he laughs.

"You were once a good cop though…"

"Yeah but, with this criminal record and with everything going on with Leon, I can't ever go back to that, even if I wanted to".

"Well, if you ever change your mind and want a job with the SIF, you're always welcome" she smiles.

"Thanks, but no thanks" he smirks back.

"You seen Blaze?" He asks.

"Yeah, she's upstairs. She looked exhausted earlier so Adam and I fixed up the spare bedroom above the restaurant so that she could get some rest".

"Would you mind keeping an eye on Leon for me?"

"Sure!" She enthusiastically replies back.

"Thanks".

Once Axel is upstairs, he knocks on the door of the spare bedroom but there's no answer. He notices the door slightly ajar so he carefully pushes it open. Although it's almost 4pm now, the blinds are completely shut and the room is dark. The only light now entering it comes from the hallway behind him.

He quickly spots Blaze peacefully sleeping on her side with the duvet covers up to her waist. Still feeling tired himself from all the medication, he decides to quietly lay down next to her before raising the duvet to cover her shoulders.

As Axel stares up at the ceiling, he can't help but think of all those times going to bed without Blaze next to him and how lonely every night felt without her. Even through the chaos of last night and today, he remembers that no matter how shit things get right now, Blaze and Leon are both still alive. That is the second chance he's needed for so long. It doesn't matter whether or not they end up in Wood Oak City. What matters is they're still here.

He slowly begins to relax, falling asleep next to Blaze in the darkness.

It only feels like seconds later when his eyes open again, although it might as well have been hours since Axel fell asleep. Unlike Blaze, he's an incredibly light sleeper so the sound of her mumbling in her sleep then tossing over on her back immediately wakes him up.

Her voice slowly becomes louder and her words more clearer.

"No… please, let me out…" she quietly says with her eyes still shut and fast asleep.

"It's just a dream…it's ok" he replies, looking down at her concerned.

"Jake, please unlock the door… somebody help!" Her body starts to shuffle around more and more with each passing second.

"Help! Fire! Please let me out!". By now, she's shouting the words out loud and struggling for air.

"It's just a dream, I'm here right next to you. Wake up, it's ok". Axel tries his best to wait and stay calm, holding her hand as she is still in deep sleep. Suddenly, for a moment her face turns pale and her pulse drops with her breath weakening.

"Blaze, wake up now…!" he worriedly holds her face and the back of her head to make sure her airways are clear.

"Wake up…!"

Suddenly she opens her eyes, gasping for air as if she has been drowning with panic on her face. "Help me, I'm burning…!" She shouts our panicking.

"It's ok, it's just a dream, there's no fire….. Look at me and breathe, it's just a dream". He looks into her eyes then places his arms around her as she scans her surroundings, catching her breath back.

"Hey, everything is ok, I promise" Axel says as he feels her pulse racing and her body shaking against his.

"I remember it now. I lived it again, everything that happened that day. I remember it so clearly now…" Blaze replies with certainty and shock on her face. "And you were right! You were right about me finding out the past and the truth…and it's horrible….oh God..". She becomes stressed out after glancing over towards the bedside clock.

"What's wrong?"

"That alarm clock should have gone off two hours ago! I have to wake up every 4 hours".

"Why?" He asks, puzzled.

"Usually when I get into a deep sleep, something like this happens. Sometimes I'm scared I won't even wake up. I never wanna be in a coma again."

"Listen to me. Last night and the past week has taken its toll on all of us. You've been through a lot and you need time and rest. But I promise you, things are gonna get better from now on. I love you so much, I don't want you to stress or worry anymore, I'm here for you and things are gonna be different now. Tomorrow the three of us are leaving this city for good. Adam even said that Charlie can come on the flight with us as he's an assistant dog."

"Wait, what flight? We're leaving the country?!" She asks, feeling overwhelmed.

"This agent who is after Leon, the twins, Jake and all the other bad memories here are gonna be nothing but the past. They'll never get to us again, they're all in the past now."

"Wait, where are we going? Do the others know we're leaving the country?" Blaze questions.

Axel sighs, "only Adam knows, no one else. For you, where we're going is home."

"London?"

"Yeah! We once talked about living there," he smiles then continues.

"Years ago, the day I was sent to the wilderness, I left an important document with Adam to give to you if you got out of the coma. The doctors also told us that there was a high chance you might not make it, but the baby still could. So the day before I left, I signed a deal with the government. When Leon was born, he could still remain in my custody even though I was serving a 9 year sentence in the wilderness. Knowing what his powers we're gonna be like, the CIA and the government wanted to take him straight away to serve the country. He wouldn't have had a life. But we made a deal that day and they agreed to leave us alone until he was at least 18. In return, I'd be able to raise him and train him, otherwise they would have taken him as a baby."

"So what was on this document you left?"

"Copies of your passport and birth certificate. It was proof that Leon has dual nationality."

"Does it even make a difference? I know you had to do it, but technically you signed Leon's life away to the US government."

"But here's the thing - you didn't sign it. And the law here is plain and simple, your his mother."

"Wow, this is insane…so our child is just some sort of defense weapon to them?" Blaze angrily replies.

"You and I knew it would be like this if we had a kid. The difference is, if we go to London the CIA won't be able to take him away and he won't have to leave unless he chooses to when he's 18. No one over there knows us, we can live a normal life and start over."

"Well, it makes sense that both Leon and I could technically live in the UK. But what about you? You have a criminal record now, they won't give you a visa to stay let alone live there…"

"Adam said he discovered a loophole in the system. We'll sort that out, don't worry. Just trust me, ok? I've thought this through for a while."

"Leon's gonna be devastated though. This is his home".

"I know, but right now our chances of finding this agent who approached him are pretty slim. He's in danger if we stay here any longer".

Suddenly Axel's phone pings.

17:08 - Adam

Come downstairs now, we need to talk.

Mr and Mrs Y sit with their arms folded in front of the TV at one of their hideouts. Three guards stand by the door and patrol the corridors of the run down building which houses thirteen other apartments.

The 6pm news bulletin dominates the screen with censored images flashing of the sky train disaster and damaged Y-Tower. "Sshh wait…!" Mr Y demands as his sister tries to change the channel, fed up and unbothered now with it all.

"This is Lauren Murphy reporting live for WOC news tonight"

"That bitch was one of the reporters at the fight last night!" Ms Y observes, now with her full attention on the boxed screen.

"We start with breaking news on yesterday's SkyTrain disaster, where over 200 people have now been confirmed dead." Lauren takes a deep breath, hesitant and disturbed by what she is about to say. She quickly regains her focus on live TV then decides to continue.

"The authorities have reported that the train crash was caused by several faulty electrical tracks that resulted in an explosion in the middle carriage of the train. This then caused it's catastrophic derailment and the bridge to break. This leads to serious safety concerns and repeated failures which should have been addressed by the local authority…."

Mr Y then sees his phone vibrating on the table.

"Yes?" He immediately answers.

"I told you I'd keep my end of the bargain. Now for yours…"

"One of my soldiers is downstairs outside of your mistress's apartment. He'l hand over to you all copies of the security tapes from last night at Y-Tower. You know what to do."

Straight away he hangs up.

Immediately after their call ends, Orson Briggs finishes his cigarette then he kisses his mistress goodbye. Within 30 seconds, his clothes are back on and he exits the small apartment for the outside stairwell.

Once he is downstairs, he spots a man in his late 30s with a denim jacket and jeans loitering around by the bins next to an alleyway.

"You got the tapes?" Briggs demands.

"Yeah, they're right here" the thug replies, handing over to him a black briefcase.

"Thanks." After taking it, Briggs pulls out his gun with a silencer attached on the end. Without a second thought, he pulls the trigger, shooting the man in the head before casually walking away from the scene.