Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 9 – And Shall Be Seen As A Way Of Life.
Raptor's POV.
"Daddy?" I heard a faint voice call from the darkness.
Gently opening my eyes, I found I was still in bed. The lights were out.
Quickly looking over to my side I saw Alicia was missing.
"Alicia!" I called for her but all I got back was.
"Daddy?"
In a muttering stop, I looked to my bedroom door to see it was open, and to hear the voice again. A voice that sounded like my daughters'. My first daughter.
"Daddy?"
"Abbey!" I shouted as I got up to run into the hallway.
I found Midnight's room open and in a cautious pace I made my way to the door to find her sitting there.
My Abbey. She was so beautiful. A little light light brown hedgehog. She had the same quills as her mother did.
She sat there with her soft green eyes. Staring at me as if she had been wanting me to find her.
"Dad!" She shouted as I barged in to take her into my arms.
"I'm here baby! I'm here!" I stated in tears as I wrapped around her little body as tight as I could.
She was so soft and warm it made my heart skip a beat.
"Why did you hurt those men daddy?" She asked in sadness as I pulled back to look directly into her eyes.
"What?" I questioned as she quickly replied.
"Those soldiers. Why did you hurt them? Did they do something wrong daddy?" She asked in confusion as I shook my head.
"No baby. Nothing like that."
"Did they hurt mommy?"
Her words caught me. I stopped in loss as she stared at me for the answer.
In nothing but a slow mutter, I managed to reply.
"No baby. They didn't hurt mommy."
"Then why did you kill them daddy?" She questioned next as I saw her begin to cry.
Quickly placing my fingers under her wet eyes, I wiped away the tears to reply.
"Daddy had too baby."
"But why?" She wondered as I softly replied with what restraint I could for my feelings.
"Because they are a danger to our home. They wanted to take everything away from us. I can't let them just do that to us baby." I stated as she placed her head into my chest.
Hugging my daughter tightly, I looked up to see the door close on its own.
"I love you daddy." Stated Abbey as I took my time to shut my eyes and reply.
"I love you too baby. More then you'll ever know."
Everything went quiet and as I went to open my eyes I found a bright light catch me in my sleep.
In confusion, I found myself back in bed with Alicia next to me still gripped onto my back like a sloth.
I felt sweat dripping down my face as I immediately went to rub it off.
As my hand moved aside the water, I widened my eyes to see my nose was also bleeding.
In a slow rush to get out of bed, I moved Alicia's hands to the side and made my way to the bathroom not more than three feet away.
Letting the door gently shut behind me, I made my way to the mirror to see I was bleeding pretty good.
Swiftly taking hold of a rag that was under the sink, I applied it to my nose and looked up at the ceiling.
In seconds I felt the blood seep back down my nostrils and in a gentle pat I wiped off what was left that managed to get down my lip.
As the rag passed my lips, I noticed my hand was shaking.
My body felt cold and I swear my head was getting light.
Immediately I took a seat along the toilet to rest.
As seconds went by, I heard the door open with my wife beside it in confusion and a yawn.
"You okay baby? You got up pretty fast." She stated as she saw the bloody rag in my hand.
Quickly getting concern she asked.
"Are you okay?! What happened!?"
Shaking my head I replied.
"I just had a bad dream."
Taking the rag to my nose, she questioned.
"That had to be a really bad dream to make you bleed. What was it?"
In loss for my own state of mind, I replied.
"It was about my daughter."
Alicia looked at me in surprise and asked to be sure.
"Abbey?"
Nodding my head slowly, I replied.
"She was in Midnight's room."
Alicia looked at me in complete interest now as I went on.
"She hugged me. She called for her daddy and when I found her she was smiling and...?"
Alicia lost her face of happiness for me as I stopped in my tracks.
"And what?" She asked in worry as I replied in sadness.
"She was dead."
Letting my feet regain control, I stood up off the seat and went back into the room.
Alicia soon followed as I went on to myself.
"She's gone and it was just a tease. My mind lost her and Julie thirteen years ago and Abbey came back to toy with me. I guess she has the right. I did kill her after all." I stated as Alicia took my shoulders and brought me back down onto the bed.
"You didn't kill her." She stated as I immediately shook my head to question.
"I shot her three times! Three! I pulled the trigger on her just like every man I ever killed in my life Alicia! And I don't know why!"
"It was the heat of the moment Raptor. She knows you didn't think of her any less then the men who killed Julie. She loves you."
"But I didn't question! I pulled the trigger on my own baby girl! How can I find any closure for that?! You tell me how a father can kill his daughter and still go on in life without questioning his actions!"
"No one ever said you wouldn't question it Raptor. I get that, but what you have to see is what she saw you for before she died. She loved you. I bet if you asked her now she would tell you that. Julie would tell you that."
Tears softly rolled down my face as Alicia began to gently rub my back.
Letting my head enter her arms, I asked.
"I'm not the same man I was back then Alicia. I lost everything that day. My wife. My daughter. Who I was. Everything. Not a day can go by now without me wondering what I could have done differently to make sure she was still her now. And I don't blame her for wanting to hurt me. She can for all I care, I deserve every bit of it. I'm not fit to live! Look at me now!" I begged as I got up from the bed to face the wall.
"My own son who I fought to get hates me! He'd rather me be dead then his father! I've been trying so hard to even get him to say he loves me!"
"That's not your fault Raptor!" Stated Alicia as her voice rose to my level.
"Then whose fault is it!?" I asked her as she stared at me in confusion.
As I waited for an answer my phone went off next to me.
Roughly grabbing it off the counter, I looked to see it was a text from Archer.
"Channel ten."
In anger, I made my way out of the room and downstairs where my kids were up eating breakfast.
"Are you and mommy fighting dad?" Asked Midnight as I replied as calm as I could.
"No baby. We're just having a disagreement of words. That's all." I stated as I got the remote from my son.
"Hey!" He shouted as I switched to the news.
As it came on, I widened my eyes at the scene. Jenny Young was standing next to the car of the dignitary I killed last night.
"This is a brutal scene. Last night according to the G.U.N military police, dignitary Jack Hensan and three other men were shot in their car after an unscheduled stop at a coffee shop late last night here in Pakistan. G.U.N kindly revealed what they believed too had to have happened last night before the men were murdered."
Alicia came down to see me staring at the TV. Her eyes widened as the cast went on.
"From what G.U.N can tell, the battery to the car was sabotaged while the men were inside the shop last night. After soon returning to the vehicle the men couldn't get the car started. An eye witness says he saw a man pull up to offer help and provide a jolt to the truck via a pair of jumper cables. Witness says after the unknown person provided and got the car to start he viciously and ruthlessly gunned the men down using a forty five APC caliber handgun. Most likely an M1911. All four victims were shot in the head meaning that the shooter is highly trained. Right now the hands are pointed at the rebellion as an act of war or an unknown splinter group. G.U.N officials are now looking for the assassin saying that he may have fled to one of the neighboring countries. Also as of right now, there is no visual aid as to what kind of car was used by the man and what he looks like. More information will be provided later tonight. Please tune in as this could be the start to the next war between G.U.N and the Middle Eastern freedom movement. This is Jenny Young. Signing off."
My son retook the remote from my hand as Alicia said.
"Oh my god."
Slowly I looked to her to say.
"I got to call Archer."
Nodding as I went for my phone, Alicia said.
"I'm going to take the kids to school. Find out what's going to happen."
Giving her a nod as I went outside, I dialed Archer and waited by my car as it began to ring.
After a few seconds he answered.
"Did you see it?!"
Nodding to myself I replied.
"I saw it. What happens now?"
I sensed the fear in his voice as he replied.
"Well G.U.N hasn't come by our door yet to question but I hear Hannon is under full investigation."
Everything went south as I then asked.
"Did he cough anybody up?"
"No. Not from what I was told so far. They're checking his office, his home. Anything that may link us to the murder of the dignitary."
I went silent as Archer went on.
"Dude if somebody from the rebellion killed them we're going to go to war! We won't survive another war Raptor!"
"I know." I stated in response with my head down as he continued.
"I don't even know how they were killed with an M1911! That gun is issued to G.U.N special forces! It's not made here! You won't find a single one in our military!"
Gently letting my body stop it's shaking I replied.
"Just calm down."
"How can I Raptor!? If we go to war it's over!" Stated Archer as I questioned.
"Not if you have a leader."
Archer immediately questioned himself by asking.
"And who would that be? Hannon? I wouldn't be surprised if G.U.N is going to have him executed for this somehow."
Letting my voice shut Archer stated.
"I'm going to try and bail out Iraq for being the suspect of this crime."
"Call me if something happens." I ordered him as he quickly replied.
"Don't worry. If something bad happens I'll come get you."
Looking to my front door to see Alicia and the kids ready to go, I replied to Archer.
"I have to go. If you need me I'll be at home."
"Alright. I'll text you if I'm coming."
"Alright."
Letting my phone go back down to my side, I looked down towards my kids.
Ghost walked by to head into Alicia's car as Midnight stopped to hug me.
"Have fun at school honey." I urged her as she let go to get in with Ghost.
Looking back up to Alicia, I smiled and kissed her goodbye.
As soon as everything was out of the way, they left for the school.
As the car now vanished from my sight, I looked towards my car to try and think.
G.U.N would be coming. And it doesn't matter if Hannon coughs me up or not. I know just by training that Commander of theirs will point himself to me as the killer. I shouldn't have said what I said in front of him. Now I have to beat the clock.
Opening up my car door, I took out the box with the murder weapon and rushed it to the house.
I have to hide it.
Rushing up to my room, I looked towards my closet and let the box rest down on the ground.
In a slight bit of pain from my ribs, I pushed the closet to the left and looked behind it to see the boarded wall.
Quickly I began to rub my fingers along the edges till I felt the slight edge I was able to grab with my first two fingers.
Swiftly pulling up on the wood panel, I took it off the wall to see the opening I hid behind it.
Inside was the leftover cash that Shadow had gave to me and some old photos.
Smoothly reaching for the box, I pulled it up into my arms to begin filling the space in the wall.
Placing Shadow's gun on his bandana, I looked back in the box to take hold of his necklace. Shadow wore this on the night he died and I wasn't about to let it go.
Placing the necklace along the gun, I took the last few things out of the box.
As I went to put them in, I stopped to look at them.
Amy and Shadow Jr's pictures and Shadow's inhibitor rings. I let the picture have a look then as I went to put them away I heard something downstairs.
Quickly placing back the wood panel and the closet, I made my way downstairs to see for myself what it was.
Upon looking out my window I saw two Humvees pull up all loaded with G.U.N troops.
I knew I was in some shit now as I saw General Monroe step out from behind his men to approach my door.
Letting the curtain shut, I made my way to the door to greet him and his men.
He smiled as I showed my face.
"Ah! Major! Raptor was it?" He wondered as I nodded to his armed men.
"Yes sir it was." I stated in response as he reached for my face to say.
"I see my men left some marks. Real sorry about that, but I was told you may have been connected to what has happened in Pakistan. You did see the news right?" He asked with a calm and rough tone as I nodded.
"Yes sir I did. Real shame about those men you lost."
Nodding he replied.
"Yes. Real shame it was. Jack was a good man. And I hear you may be the prime suspect in his unfortunate death."
"How do you get that?" I questioned as his men looked ready to kill me already.
Letting his thick face do the talking he replied with a strict voice.
"My good friend Commander Drake Linnen said you came down yesterday to see General Hannon of the rebellion. I think you had an argument by what he told me, and I think his exact words for what you said were along the lines of how you were not going to let G.U.N ruin what you fought to make happen and how you were not going to let it happen. Now as you can believe only a few hours later did we find four of our men killed and one of them just so happened to be coming to sign the new treaty. Kind of ironic, don't you think Major?" He wondered with a smile as I calmly replied.
"I can understand General, but I assure you I left Pakistan after speaking with Hannon."
"Then you won't mind if we search your home, will you?" He asked as his men readied themselves.
"Not at all." I replied with a smile as General Monroe looked back at his men to order.
"Get looking boys! You find anything you came find me and our good friend here!"
A soldier took my arm as General Monroe said to me.
"Just in case we do find something Major we can't have you running now, can we?"
The soldier led me out of my house and towards the Humvees as the rest of the men entered my house.
General Monroe made himself comfortable next to me I prayed to god they wouldn't find the gun.
"So how long were you in the rebellion Major? It must have been a while to have earned a rank such as that." Stated General Monroe as I looked to see him smoking a cigar he took from his front pocket.
"Nineteen years." I replied as he looked to me with an impressive nod.
"That is a long time. What have you been up to for so long?"
Letting my body try and stand straight, I replied.
"I was in charge of Intelligence and managing field teams."
"Must have seen some action." He stated as I nodded.
"You can say that. Wasn't like we were going at it every day. Most of the time I got to stand back and watch."
Letting a chuckle pass his lips, he replied.
"Just like now."
Gently looking back over, we locked eyes as he took the cigar away from his mouth.
"I'm going to be very honest here with you Major. If my men find that gun somewhere in your house, I'm going to hogtie you and drag you back to Pakistan on the end of this here Humvee. Do you understand?" He asked in a deep tone as I stared at him.
Letting the soldier hold me steady, I replied.
"I'm not scared of you General. I've met meaner snakes then you and I've outlived them all."
General Monroe nodded in my face as I heard a car coming.
Upon looking back to the road I found Alicia arriving home.
As soon as she stepped out of her car she asked.
"What's going on here!?"
General Monroe liked what he saw and immediately approached my wife.
"Just searching your home for some valuables. I was hoping to find your husband's treasure inside, but seems I was mistaken."
Alicia stood her ground as he stopped in front of her.
"Looks like the best piece of loot he has is standing right in front of me."
I knew what was going through her mind as he then asked.
"How about I take you out for some dinner tonight? Then maybe I'll show you what a real man feels like."
"SMACK!"
Everyone outside went silent as Alicia brought her hand across his face like a freight train.
General Monroe looked to the side as I had my eyes widened in shock by what she just did. Even the soldier holding me was caught off guard by the action.
"How about you get out of my face and let my husband go!? And see what happens if you refuse because I'll show you again what a real woman feels likes!"
General Monroe gained a smile and calmly paced his way back to me.
"That's a real bitch you got there Major." He stated as I shot him a smirk from the side of my mouth.
Alicia remained were she was as the men inside began to leave.
"Anything?!" Wondered the General to his men.
"No sir!" Replied his squad leader as I smiled and relaxed.
As he men fell back in line, the one holding me was ordered to let go.
"Seems I was wrong Major." Stated Monroe as I lost my smile.
"Seems you were."
Offering me his hand he replied.
"Deepest apologies."
Slowly nodding my head, I ignored his handshake and made my way to my wife who still looked madder than a bat out of hell.
In a matter of seconds the good General got his men loaded back into the trucks and left, leaving me with a pissed of wife who immediately asked.
"What was that Raptor!?"
Letting myself have the efforts of trying to calm her down, I replied.
"They thought I was the one who killed their troops last night up in Pakistan."
Alicia grew even madder and asked.
"Why would they think that!?"
Calmly taking my time to grab onto her arm I replied.
"I may have said something to Hannon in front of a G.U.N big shot and it might have sounded like I was going to do something."
Alicia immediately forced her arm away and made her way to the house.
Quickly following, I widened my eyes to see the house trashed now.
"I'm sorry." I stated to my wife as she covered her eyes with her hands in rage.
"I didn't know they were going to come and..?" She cut me off with a hand to my way.
"I let you off the chain for one day, and already G.U.N is looking to as a problem!"
I did what I knew best to do when dealing with her mad. I stayed quiet and kept my head down.
"One day Raptor! One god damn day! And all you had to do was behave yourself! No look at our house!" She urged me as I began to glance around.
The couch was thrown over; the draws were torn out from their places and shattered along the floor. Everything inside was tossed everywhere. Even some glass was broken up along the ground from some of our silverware.
"And look at the TV!" Ordered Alicia as I looked over to see it broken again.
"That's the second TV Raptor! The second one you broke! I didn't bother asking how the first one went to shit, but I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say you destroyed it out of your anger again! I'm I about right!?" She wondered with a red face as I nodded slowly.
Alicia responded by just beginning to clean up around her general area.
As she stumbled on some glass, I said to her in a soft tone.
"Let me help you."
"NO!" She replied with hatred in her voice as I receded back in my shell.
Giving me a glare she urged.
"Why don't you just leave!? Go start some more trouble for our family! Come back when you have an army coming after you! Cause I'm sick and tired of dealing with this Raptor!"
I knew my ground and taking my care to not step on anyone else, I made my way up to my room to find the closet shredded. Clothes everywhere.
Roughly moving it aside, I reached in to get Shadow's gun.
I can't chance any more problems.
Quickly putting it behind my back and folding it under my shirt, I made my way back down to the front door.
Alicia ignored me as I said.
"I'll be back later."
Not getting a response, I just left and made my way to my car.
I knew things just needed to calm down.
Pulling out into the street, I looked for a way to start going. But after some thought I knew where to go.
Time to see an old friend.
I have more chapters to post. The next one will be tomorrow. Please review and thank you Grimm for my new profile picture! It's awesome!
mT Shadow.