Chapter 14, "Live."
The inquisitor as he fell below me into the open shaft. I breathed my last breath. I thought to myself
"This is it, huh? Buir said those before us are marching far away, soon I'll be marching far away as well. Guess this is as far as I can go. Would Buir be proud of me? Maybe, but ... would you?"
a memory flashed through my mind… a memory of Liana...
It was back on Umbara, I held her in my arms as she lay dying. I looked into her bright green eyes.
"Hold on just a little longer, Liana." I tried to comfort her. I turned and yelled for a medic, my voice getting choked up. I looked back at her. She smiled at me, putting her hand on my cheek. I put my hand over hers, holding her fingers to the curve of my face.
"It's okay, Jassy." She said, softly.
"C'mon… you know I hate that nickname…" I choked out through the growing lump in my throat.. Liana chuckled, the chuckles quickly turning to coughs. I felt something in my chest grow colder with every wet cough she let out.
"Hey… hey, don't push yourself. Just wait, I'll get you out of here." I said, my voice trembling. Soon after that another artillery shell landed a few meters from us, I pulled her under my body, bracing for the rain of mud and debris raining over my back.
"Jassy, you need to get out of here! It isn't-" She coughed up blood.
"No! I'm not leaving you here!" I shouted.
She smiled again, "You won't be leaving me. I'll be with you." she turned her head and placed a kiss to the center of my palm, still cupping her face.
"Please, live for us both." She stated.
I watched as the light faded from her eyes and her hand fell from my face. I grabbed at it, trying to avoid the truth before me.
"No...no...no..no come on, Liana..." I called out to her, but got no response. Tears began to stream down my face.
"Don't go..." I pleaded. Before I could do anything else I felt two arms pull me away. I tried with all my being to wrench my arms free, but they pulled me back as my hand extended towards Liana, screaming her name...
I came back to the present. Her last words flashed in my mind, as I fell
"Please, live for us both.."
"Please, live for us both.."
"Please, live for us both.."
"Live...".
my descent came to a sudden halt. I felt a wrenching pain in my arm and side. I looked up and saw … Liana?
She was there, stormtrooper armor and all holding my hand. She smiled at me then faded away, revealing I had caught on to a root. I looked below me and saw nothing but darkness. I looked up and saw a cave entrance above the protruding roots! I started to make my way up. Catching onto the root had dislocated my arm, making each movement an agonizing trial.
Sometime later after roots and dirt had blurred together I had finally made it to the cave entrance. and I had finally made it. I climbed onto the cliff. I crawled into the entrance of the cave then collapsed. I heard footsteps getting closer to me. By the time i could hear the footsteps getting closer the pain had overtaken everything and I no more strength to keep my eyes open, just one thought in my head,
Live, for Liana.
Chapter 14, end.