Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 35 – It's What Makes Me Human.
Hannon's POV.
My house was once again a lonely place for me to be at by myself. I got home no more then a few minutes ago to be greeted by my many old memories of war with Commander Robotnik.
"What happened Commander?" I asked myself as I sat down in my living room on my recliner.
Letting out a long sigh, I looked to a picture that rested on my nearby TV stand. It was a group photo of me with Shadow, and Raptor. I remember taking it back in Pakistan after we won the war against Reacher and signed the peace treaty. That was a great day. One that changed the world.
"If only things were the same."
"They are the same." My eyes widened as I heard a familiar voice coming from my kitchen to my left.
Raptor stood there. Shadow's gun in his hands as he pointed it to my chest from across the room.
Slowly getting up from my seat, I questioned.
"How did you get in?"
"The backdoor was open. You should be more careful." He stated as I quickly asked in confusion and fear.
"What are you doing here? What do you want?"
"You know why I'm here Hannon. You turned your back away from the Rebellion."
"You're Rebellion Raptor. Not "the" Rebellion." I stated as we now stood feet apart.
"I'm still loyal to the cause."
"You're loyal to Monroe and that cocksucker Linnen. I saw you at the bar with him. What did you say to him?" He asked in force as I replied while backing up to my nearby bookcase.
"I said the truth Raptor. The Rebellion you have is a joke. A sick joke to the real men and women of this country who served under the Commander."
Raptor wasn't phased by my words as he continued to aim at me.
"I told him you needed to be stopped. This country has been through enough Raptor. It's pointless to fight back at our age."
"You betrayed everyone Hannon when you said we were dead." Stated Raptor as I gulped down some fear.
"You're the one who betrayed us Raptor. You're not even doing this for the people. Your doing it for yourself. You even went as far as to turn you're back on your family. Alicia should have killed you long ago."
"She understands." Stated Raptor calmly as I shook my head.
"She understands nothing. You're not who you say you are. You died with Shadow."
"And you'll die here." Replied Raptor as I hit the bookcase to run my hand along it's base.
"Even if I die you'll be next."
"I'm prepared for that. I thought I could trust you. I thought out of everyone you had our backs, but in the end you're no better then G.U.N." Stated Raptor as I felt my hands come along a hidden .38 snub.
"You think your saving this country by fighting back? You don't get it Raptor. This country, this Rebellion, this world is dead. You can't do anything to save it." I stated in force as he squeezed his trigger down to reply.
"I will save it. No matter what I have to do. But first, killing you is the starting step to freedom. As long as you live, we'll never truly be free."
As his trigger went further down I screamed.
"Just try it Raptor!"
Widening his eyes as my gun came up, I quickly pulled the trigger.
"BANG!"
Immediately rolling behind my recliner, my first shot missed and I quickly ran for the door, pulling another round off as I reached it.
"BANG!"
Raptor's POV.
With my eyes opened in near shock, I felt only the velocity of the bullet as it scrapped against my left cheek cutting me open and proceeding to hit the nearby wall.
With a small amount of blood rolling down my face, I refocused to see Hannon already outside and proceeding to his car.
Getting to my feet, I ran forward after him to catch him pulling out of the driveway.
With our eyes locked, Hannon nearly lost control of his car as I sent a round through his windshield.
"BANG!"
I couldn't get a good view of what I hit, but I saw something was wrong with Hannon as he spun out onto the street to take off.
With my cheek bleeding, I stood there and decided to watch as he drove off.
Before coming here I had every intention of killing him tonight, but something told me to let him go for right now. Maybe it wasn't time yet for us to kill one another. But at least I made my standpoint clear with him. Next time I'll settle things.
Putting Shadow's gun back in my holster, I put the palm of my hand under my cheek to check my condition. That bullet is going to leave a scar.
Lowering my arm, I looked off in Hannon's direction to see him gone completely. I calmly took my time to head back into his house. Walking through there was nothing more then a museum. Pictures of our past and times when things could be thought through. Even though I missed those times, it almost made me want to cry when I remembered it was no longer able to be once more. Everything had changed. It was time to make a new history. One for our kids to follow.
Heading into the kitchen, I turned on Hannon's stove and proceeded to leave. Once outside I took a grasp of Shadow's gun once more to aim through the window.
"BANG!"
With my eyes turned to stone through my cold emotions, I watched as his house went up in flames from the leaking gas.
Carefully putting then gun away, I took care to head back to my car which I had parked around the block. As I proceeded, a few witnesses who had heard the gunshots continued to only stare at me with awe. I was the heart and sole of a new Rebellion roaming the streets of a country under siege. My siege. It wouldn't be too much longer till everyone knew what was going on. Then the droves of followers will be back. And I'll be there to lead them. And despite what Hannon says, I lead them like Shadow did. Though it seems dark now, I plan to do my best to bring this Rebellion back from the brink.
With blood still dripping down off my face and onto my vest, I soon reached my car to proceed back to the HQ.
Upon getting back I found Archer no longer out front, but Wreak. He had everyone up early training.
As I pulled in; he took notice and made his way over as his men kept on going. The second I stepped out he widened his eyes to ask.
"What happened Commander?"
My cheek was still slightly bleeding by this time, but in a calm tone I replied.
"I'll explain later. For now just focus on your men Wreak. I'll be fine. Did you get me that plan like I ask you to?"
With a nod and a smile Wreak asked.
"Does a bear shit in the woods?"
"When it comes to you I assume it does. So I'll take it as a yes then?"
Still holding his smile, Wreak replied.
"I got one. Are you sure about this though? We can still go get the treaty. We don't have to do this Raptor."
With my eyes lowered I mumbled.
"I know. Just let me think okay?"
Nodding Wreak then stated.
"Don't forget I'm here for you man. We all are. You just let me know."
"Thanks Wreak. Now get back to it will ya."
With a chuckle to follow, he replied.
"No problem. Go get that checked out though."
With a nod of my own, I proceeded to the HQ to walk in and find Archer and Marx yawning up a storm.
"Tired?" I asked the two of them as they looked to the door to see me. Marx quickly made his way over to ask.
"What happened to you this time Raptor? God it's too early for this."
"Call it a rough night. I'll explain later. How bad is it?"
With another yawn to come, he replied.
"Not too bad. Add another scar to you're body is all. Here."
Grabbing a nearby medical gauze, Marx taped it to my cheek to urge.
"Give it an hour then soak it a little. You'll be fine after that."
"Got it. Thanks."
Nodding as he made his way back to the table he was at before, I looked to Archer who only gave me a glare. I knew what he was still thinking. Even after our talk last night.
Making my way by him, I decided to head for my room. As I got to the door, I stopped to remember who was in here. I didn't regret a thing about last night. This just wasn't something I was use to doing at my age.
Going head first into my room, I found Hunter still fast asleep on my bed.
My mind went blank as I let out a sigh to ask myself.
"I didn't wear her out that much last night did I?"
With her soft snores filling the room, I proceeded to get clean. A shower would do me nice after the night I had. And if she's anything like Alicia, I best get to my bathroom now before she takes over upon waking up.
Fifteen minutes later.
Ignoring Marx's advice to wait an hour before washing my wound, it turned out not to be that bad. It stung, but beyond that it dried up and left behind a thin scar slice along my cheek.
After getting some pants back on, I exited out of my bathroom to find Hunter now awake and looking the other way towards me. Still naked might I remind you. Our eyes locked, and with a calm tone I asked.
"Sleep well?"
With a smile coming to her face she replied.
"Mhmmm. How about you?"
"I've been up for a while actually. I had things to take care of."
Hunter now watched as I took care to cover back up the scar just in case of infection. This got her attention.
"What happened? Are you hurt?"
Shaking my head I replied.
"No. It's just a scrap. Don't worry about it. How are you?"
"Let me give you a hint?"
Her tone caught me off guard, and with a gentle look back to her I saw she was urging me to approach her.
Letting out a sigh, I obeyed and proceeded into her arms for a warm kiss. I knew I was someone different the second we kissed. I felt no more remorse for Alicia or my kids. It was like living in the moment almost. I made this choice. I might as well try my best to live with it now.
Giving me a soft smile as we disconnected our lips, she asked.
"What's wrong? I can feel something different about you."
Every fiber of my body was honestly aching, and with a gentle plop to my bed I sat down next to her to let out another sigh. This got her attention even more as felt my chin a little.
"Everything is wrong. Too much for one guy to handle."
"What do you mean?" She wondered as I rested my hands on my laps to slowly ask.
"Do you think I'm making the right call? Should this be what I do for the Rebellion? Kill the people I swore to protect just to get the ball rolling?"
Hunter grew silent as I stated.
"I don't know if there is another way out of this one. I mean I could destroy Shadow's treaty but... it means so much to this country."
"To the country? Or to you?" Questioned Hunter as I looked over into her eyes.
"Don't you believe in yourself? Don't you know we're going to win this?"
Shaking my head I replied.
"I plan to do anything I must to win us this war Hunter."
"Then you shouldn't be worried about Shadow's treaty. He probably wouldn't care that much if he knew what was going on right now. He would have faith in you. And knowing how it would end we would just get another treaty anyway. Or hey, maybe this time it won't be a treaty. Maybe will get something more solid."
Nodding my head as I thought about everything she had said, I then asked in confusion.
"Do you really believe in this Hunter?"
Giving me a smile as she placed her hand on my leg she replied.
"Yes. We all do Commander."
With my eyes down to my lap, I went silent as she added with confidence.
"If you have anything to worry about it's yourself, not the Rebellion. In time things will get rolling, people will join up, and we will be a known presence to G.U.N. You won't have to fight that much and you can rest assured the war will be won in no time. All you really have to do Commander is keep upbeat and continue to lead us like you have."
"How are you so confident about all this?" I wondered as we reconnected eyes.
With a strong smile she replied.
"Cause I have you here. And I believe in you."
The inside of my body went warm from her words as I smiled back for once.
"Everything's gonna work out." She stated as her closing statement as she rested her head on my shoulder.
Taking her hand gently, I rethought my last decision. Maybe Archer was right. Maybe I can still keep this Rebellion the Shadow way.
That's the end of this chapter. Please let me know what you thought.
mT Shadow.