A/N: Guys! OMGOSH I am so sorry it took me forever to update! I'm like in the process of trying to switch schools, and work, and writer's block, and juggling a bunch of other stories soo, yeah I know. No excuse…So let's get into this.
WARNING: From this chapter and here on out, Pay. Very. Close. Attention. There will be a mystery involved as well as clues to the objective of this story. I promised a happy ending sure enough, but before we hit sunshine and rainbows…there must be a storm.
The wicked pirate's eyes widened slightly as he stared down the barrel of the gun in the Football Headed man's firm yet shaking hands. However, he managed to crack an incredulous smirk.
"Hm. Well isn't this a sight for sore eyes…The one and only chosen one destined for peace and harmony…is attempting to seem threatening and all confrontational…How cute…"
His taunting was silenced as his head whipped to the side after suddenly being smacked with the back of the revolver.
"You think this is some kind of sick joke." Arnold growled through clenched teeth.
"Well I cannot be certain Señor. You did not exactly give me the chance to laugh." He sneered and then spat some of his blood out onto Arnold's face. He then let out a bitter chuckle. "Ok. Now that was pretty funny."
Arnold, still glaring deathly daggers at the pirate, refused to flinch even an inch and instead calmly wiped the sickening substance off without removing his glare or his aim from him.
"Let us cut the bullsh** Chosen One. You and I both know that you do not have the guts to shoot-"
BANG!
Meanwhile, Maria and Roberto scrambled desperately through the secret passageways; searching for Arnold, but fearing for their lives as the bomb continued to tick at 25 minutes in counting. Fortunately every Green Eyed captive made it to safety, except for them. But they refused to leave their best friend and not to mention divine leader and savior behind. However, tension on top of all the stress was thick between them as they remained silent with only the sound being their hearts pounding in their chests. Maria could not handle the intensity however, and decided to break the silence.
"R-Roberto…" She called out to him quietly.
The new Green Eyed tribe chief paused in his tracks and turned to face her. "What is it Maria? Are you alright? Is something wrong?"
"Well…the honest answer to that is obviously yes…I mean look around you. Our people are safe and sound, which is all that really matters, but w-we could very well die in the next 20 minutes…"
"Then we must hurry." Roberto replied pointedly, turning back around to continue on the path, but Maria grabbed him by the shoulder. "W-wait! T-that was not the point of what I wanted to say…"
He turned to her once more. "Then what is it Maria? There is no time to be hesitant. We must go now-"
"-It'saboutwhatyousaidearlierIneedtoknowdidyoureallymeanallofthat?!" She rushed in one sentence, cutting him off.
He blinked incredulously. "I-I am sorry…can you repeat that a little slower?"
She looked down for a moment, shifting her feet until she found the strength to look back up at him once more. "I-I…I asked…about what you said earlier…I-I need to know…Did you really mean all of that? W-what you said about…l-loving me?" She finished in a voice just above a whisper.
He then looked down; hesitant to reply, ready to make an excuse to take it all back. It was impulse. It's what he's always done in the past when it came to confessing to her ever since he first met her when they were 12. It was pitiful really, but that was just the way things were; how it had to be. But seeing how there was only a mere 18 minutes left as the bomb continued to tick, all he could think about was the regret he would feel if he left the world without confirming the truth of his feelings. And right now, regret was a much more powerful fear than the idea of rejection.
So with a heavy sigh, he nodded slowly. "Sí Maria…I-I meant every word…"
Maria's eyes then watered as a smile slowly spread across her face.
"I-I take it that irregular expression of yours is a good sign?' Roberto tried to joke.
"I-it's more than that because…Roberto…I-Well…I…" She took his hand in hers.
"You…?" Roberto urged on patiently.
"I-I lo-"
BANG!
Maria nearly jumped into Roberto's arms as they became instantly alarmed by the sound of a gunshot that was not too far off from their location. Remembering how much time they had, the focus of how severe and dire their situation was came rushing back into their minds as they shouted a single word in unison out of pure terror.
"Arnold!"
They took off running hand in hand; more so for the purpose of keeping up with each other rather than romance. Their hearts and thoughts were racing separately as they sprinted towards the sound.
"Oh no! That gunshot! What if it was Arnold! What if he's hurt or Los Diablos k-killed him! No! He can't be dead! How could he be? Diablos had no weapons on him besides that da** dagger of his while giving his speech! He left that task to his followers and they all scrambled out before anything could happen. He couldn't have possibly found ammunition so soon with Arnold on his tail the whole time…Besides, the whole place was raided…The only one that could have access to any weapons would be…"
Maria's eyes widened.
"Arnold! But-but he couldn't have…He-he wouldn't! It just couldn't be! It just couldn't! He would never kill somebody in cold blood like that…would he? I mean granted that monster deserves it, but Arnold would turn down the very thought, insisting that he should be delivered into the hands of justice for all his crimes…But so many lines were crossed…But it is Arnold! Arnold wouldn't go off the deep end like that…He can't…Murder is the darkest power that can taint the soul forever, even if it is justified. Such an act never leaves you…It would go against everything we stand for! Everything he stands for! He-he just wouldn't go that far…w-would he?" Maria gulped as her anxiety grew. She gripped Roberto's hand tighter, but he seemed to be caught in his own train of thoughts.
"Da** it Arnold! I swear that you better not be hurt! You are meant to be the savior of our people! Elder said so! I have always believed in you as a friend so that better not be you at the receiving end of that shot! But then again…it better not be you that has pulled the trigger either! Not only because deep down I know that you are not a killer, but because that honor is to belong to me alone! If that was you who finished Diablos for good…I swear…that divine leader of our clan or not…I will never forgive you!" Roberto's teeth clenched as he ran even faster.
As they continued to follow through on the secret passageway and into the basement area, Roberto noticed a little ventilation system in the wall that led to the outside. He released Maria's hand and ran to it with excitement, sizing up the escape route to see if it would be enough for all of them to climb out of.
"Maria! Look! An escape! This is our chance to get out of here!" He exclaimed.
"Not without Arnold!" Maria stated firmly.
"Maria! We have probably less than 15 minutes in counting before this place explodes! We need to get to safety! I don't want to leave him! I don't! He is my closest amigo as well! But he would not want us to die trying to save him! He would want us to escape with our lives while we still can! Arnold would want that! You know that! And I'd be da**ed if I leave without you! I will die first!" He insisted desperately.
Maria did not know what to do. She wanted to retort, or better yet, just run and search the place one more time for their football headed friend. She knew that Roberto was not trying to be selfish, but instead was being rational. The bomb ticked mercilessly and would not wait for any of them. At the same time, there was no telling what that gun shot was. Arnold could very well either be down for the count, or in grave danger anyways in more ways than one if he was the one to pull the trigger. Time was easily slipping through their fingers like trickling water, and it would be stupid to waste any of it. So, wiping the tears that fell from her eyes, she watched Roberto escape first, holding his hand out for her only for her to back away.
"Give me a moment. If we have no choice but to escape, then let's at least give Arnold the chance to join us. I know he must be alive! And he will not go down without a fight! When he does join us, he has to be able to make it through this exit which will be impossible considering his head size. I saw a pack of dynamite somewhere along the way when we came in here. Let me get it, blow a quick hole in this wall, and then I'll come with you." Maria stated.
Roberto nodded. "Fine. I'll be out here checking for any other possible escape routes for him, but we must hurry!"
Maria nodded and left before he could say anything else.
Frantically retracing her steps, Maria found the dynamite and was about to rush back to Roberto, when she suddenly heard a distinct yet strained laughter coming from the other side of the basement's walls…
The pirate's mocking was cut short when he suddenly cried out loudly in pain as his foot started to bleed profusely from the gunshot. However, he then started to laugh through gritted teeth as he shook in pain and continued to scoff.
"Well, well…the tigre shows his claws! How…Interesting!"
Arnold, huffing angrily, grabbed him roughly by the hair while pointing the gun directly to his forehead.
"You're a monster." Arnold snarled in a dangerously quiet tone, but got louder with every word. "A cold hearted, sick, perverted, and twisted son of a bi*** who deserves to die! You killed many innocents…you locked me away and had me tortured…YOU RAPED MY BEST FRIEND! YOU KEPT ME AWAY FROM MY FAMILY! YOU THREATENED TO GO AFTER MY WIFE! YOU THREATENED TO KILL MY FAMILY!"
He brought his face closer to his, staring eye-to-eye with a cold, dead, and murderous glare as he whispered. "What is to stop me…from blowing your head clean off your shoulders right now?"
"Truthfully? Not. A. Thing." The pirate shrugged in honesty. "I had just begun to take away all that you hold dear…but fate had other plans apparently…However, it could just be a mere hitch in plans…Once, I get out of here…who knows, maybe I'll be back on schedule.' He smirked.
Arnold wasted no time in smacking him once more with the gun as he shouted. "WHAT THE FU** MAKES YOU THINK YOU'LL GET AWAY HUH?! YOU SOUND SO CONFIDENT LIKE YOU'LL MAKE IT OUT OF THIS ALIVE! BUT I SWEAR, I WILL GO TO MY GRAVE BEFORE I LET YOU ESCAPE TO HURT THE ONES I LOVE!"
"Then by all means…" Los Diablos then brought his face closer to Arnold's, still not losing the smirk. "Finish this." He challenged. "Shoot my head clean off my shoulders! Release all that rage and pain built up inside of you that I have caused. Let it all out in one shot that will truly serve as justice on your end. I'm waiting. Go on! Have at it!"
He watched Arnold's hand shake as his finger shifted on and off the trigger.
His smirk grew.
"Is something wrong? It would appear that I am still breathing! Why is that hmm? Could it be another slow torture? Or maybe…because…you can't do it. How can you? I mean, you were raised a golden child. One with morals, and the 'killing others is bad' and the like. For all I know…You wouldn't hurt a fly…He** you'd probably help it like the pathetic birds you used to aid. Besides, you are known as a deity to the Green Eyes for a reason…You silenced nature at your birth…You were prophesized to be their savior whether by saving the day with words of wisdom and encouragement…or apparently their lives…giving them hope, and finding light in the darkest of places; always finding ways to, how you say, look on the bright side…Imagine, how terrible it would be…if that light inside of you was darkened forever...Murder will haunt you for the rest of your days; no matter how justified, and you know it. You will never be the same. That darkness will stay with you. And all those you care about will see that darkness…And it will impact them with an effect worse than I could ever bestow..."
Los Diablo chuckled dryly as he watched angry tears blur Arnold's furious vision while his hands continued to shake violently while holding the revolver to his head; noticing how he lowered it down a little. He continued.
"I know that I will get out of here. Because whether it be by this…pending explosion or…if you choose, to finally pull the trigger…You will be deemed responsible for my death. You will be deemed a murderer. And…knowing you…You just can't bear that title. You're not a killer Arnold. But to be frank, I know you won't shoot me. You. Don't. Have. The. Guts."
"No. But I do!"
BANG!
Arnold jumped as he watched Los Diablos' body slump over with his blood pouring all around him. He turned to see Maria holding out a smoking gun, breathing heavily, with a cold, heartless, and dead look in her eyes.
"MARIA?! WHAT THE HE**?! "
"Maria! Arnold!"
Arnold, still startled from what just happened, turned to see Roberto running towards them, only to pause in his tracks at the sight of a lifeless Los Diablos surrounded by a pool of blood. Before he could curse at Arnold in his native tongue, he noticed Maria's intense and shaking stance as she still held the gun pointed at the pirate.
"MARIA?! QUE DEMONIOS (WHAT THE HE** YOU DID THIS?! HOW COULD YOU?! NO! HOW DARE YOU?! THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ME! I AM THE ONE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO AVENGE YOU AND BRING JUSTICE! YOU HAD NO RIGHT! THE HONOR OF KILLING HIM WAS TO BE MINE!" Roberto shouted angrily. Arnold then joined in the protest, claiming that he was the one that was supposed to kill Los Diablos first.
"NO! I WILL NOT ALLOW IT! I WON'T!" She shouted, while not backing down from her stance, but rendering both men silent as they watched her continue to shake.
Arnold furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "W-won't allow what?! What are you-"
"-He was wrong…about many things. Including about how far you were not willing to go! But at the same time, Arnold, he is right. You are not a killer. I have no doubt in my mind that you were out for his blood and for good reason! But by doing so…you risk losing something precious; something that although would have gotten rid of him, he would have taken it from you as well, securing a subtle victory for his purpose in the end!" Maria cried.
"And just what the he** could that be? What more could he have taken from me?! HUH?!" Arnold spat bitterly.
"The innocence of your soul."
Arnold blinked.
"He would have taken…that light. That lightness of believing that good and hope can be found in even the darkest and hopeless situations. He would have taken away that pureness that is one of the main reasons of why we Green Eyes believe and stand true to our values…Why we believe in the significance of your being…Who you are to us."
"Da**it Maria! I'm not a god! I-I never was! I never could understand why you and everyone for that matter, ever put me on a da** high pedestal! Ever since I was a kid people always did that sh**! I'm just a human being! Just like you! I sh**! I bleed! I feel! Just like any other would! I-I make mistakes! I've never been perfect! I'm sick of my optimism being mistaken for some type of da** divine wonder or quality or any other type of bullsh**! I'm nothing special at all! I'M. JUST. ARNOLD!" He breathed heavily after his angry rant.
"You are right…" Maria and Roberto said quietly.
Arnold turned to them in shock, blinking incredulously.
"Maybe you are not a god. Maybe you are just an ordinary human being just like everyone else…And you do feel and make mistakes. You are not perfect…But you are wrong to say that you are nothing special…" Roberto started.
"He's right. You are special Arnold. You mean something! Not just to our people, but to your loved ones! The way you keep up your head, how you always choose to be optimistic no matter how the circumstances looked, or how you choose to do the right thing in the end, it-it means a lot. It means hope. You give us all hope that we can do the same. You gave us all hope that good can still be found where bad is present, or that there is always a way to be happy; that it's never too late. You showed that, not just by significant events like saving our people just now, or even your neighborhood back when you were a child, but just by being you. Everyday. Helping others on your job, helping others period, or just smiling at them or just being there for your family. Anyone with eyes can see that! Your friends, your family, your children…Your wife especially."
Arnold looked down, taking in her words.
"You need to be the one to see it mi amigo. You need to realize and embrace those facts. Everyone has a dark side. Even you. That is true…But to cross the line that can make that dark side overshadow the good inside of you…would be unbearable. I see that now. You do not deserve that…None of us do." Roberto continued softly.
Arnold still remained quiet, but eventually nodded slowly. He walked up to them and turned his head to Maria. "But…but what about you?"
"I had nothing to lose…I've already seen the darkest sides of humanity, ever since I was a child. I've even embraced it. To me, this is my justice. He will no longer have control over me. That monster will no longer…" She shook violently, hating the sudden tears that poured down her face. "T-touch me…" She finally broke down and collapsed in a heap of sobs, dropping the gun as it landed in the pirate's puddle of blood, near his lifeless form.
Roberto and Arnold immediately caught her and tried to comfort her the best they could. But they already knew that her trauma would not be so easy or quick to recover from.
Meanwhile, on the other side of county…A restless Helga tossed and turned in her sleep. "Mm...F-football Head…"
Dream Sequence
"That was some project huh?"
Helga's eyes narrowed in confusion at the soft and light voice next to her and even more once she noticed that she was wearing the pink dress she used to wear when she was nine years old. "What the?!" She mumbled, but then slapped a hand over her mouth when she heard how light her voice sounded.
"Helga? Is something wrong?" The voice asked with concern and slight suspicion. She turned to see that the voice belonged to Arnold, except he looked a lot shorter…and younger. In fact, he looked like his nine year old self. She blinked at him, but then looked around frantically to see that they were in the park they used to go to. She ran to the nearby pond and saw her reflection in the water.
She was nine years old again.
"Oh…my…"Before she could scream, she heard Arnold come up behind her, calling her name with a look of confusion on his features. "Helga? Are you okay?"
She looked down in his hands to see a little, baby yellow chick, chirping away. As if all the memories came back to her in a flash, she immediately scowled in reply.
"Well doi Football Head! I'm finally free from you and that stupid school project! How could I not be okay?!" She sneered.
She watched him sigh in frustration. "I was just asking. You looked like you were lost or something and you never answered my question."
"I did answer your dumb question about the project. I mean what are you deaf? I said it was stupid didn't I?" She scowled.
"I'll admit that we had a…rough start…But in the end, after we made a truce, it turned out to be pretty okay. I mean who knew that our egg would hatch into this little guy?" He smiled fondly at the little bird.
Helga couldn't help but soften her expression. "Yeah well…I guess…it turned out okay…I mean with all the dumb things considered."
"It's just…now that it's over…I'm a little worried. Technically, this baby chick was our responsibility but now that the project has ended, what's going to happen with it now?"
"Some dumb old farmer will find it, we could sell it for some quick cash, or give it to Harold to eat. I dunno, take your pick." She deadpanned.
"HELGA!" Arnold exclaimed in disbelief as he held the bird closer. "How could you say that?!"
"What? It's just some dumb ol' bird! It's nothing special!" She shot back while folding her arms.
"…Is that what you think? Is that… how you really feel?" He asked quietly.
She blinked at his shocked and slightly hurt expression. "I get that you can't stand me, and that you never wanted to do this assignment. But you can't tell me that you didn't find at least some sort of enjoyment in this can you? I mean despite our differences, we seemed to make a pretty good team, and before we turned the project in, I say we did a pretty good job taking care of it. It was like, I don't know...Like-"
"-Like…we did what we were supposed to do with the assignment in teamwork and responsibility…like parents do with kids." Helga finished softly. "I get it."
Arnold nodded slightly while looking down at the now sleeping chick.
"Well…W-well Criminy! I don't know Football-Head geesh! What do you expect me to do about it? I mean if you're so worried about the thing, why don't you just take care of it yourself." She snapped, yet held a sincerity in her words.
He then looked away from her, a pained expression on his face as he shut his eyes tightly and turned his back towards her, while holding the chick close to his chest.
"I…I'm going to be going away for a little while…And I'm not sure when I'll be back…So…that's why…I was hoping that…maybe…Until I come back again…I was wondering if maybe…"
He turned back towards her. "…If you could look after it?"
She stared at him, wide eyed in confusion as he came closer to her, holding out the little bird in his hands for her to take.
"Will you take care of it while I'm gone?"
Helga shot up from her bed, drenched lightly in a cold sweat as she breathed heavily. She noticed her adult frame and frazzled appearance from the nearby vanity mirror, and sighed with exasperation once she realized that she was just dreaming.
It was that same dream again.
For the third time in a row.
She ran a hand through her long, messy golden tresses and was ready to flop back onto her pillows once more, when she suddenly heard a faint crying from the other room. Wasting no time, she rushed to the twins' crib and picked up her crying daughter, bouncing her softly in her arms as she hummed the song her husband always sang to her to get her to sleep.
It worked.
She then flopped into the rocking chair next to the crib, her eyes red and heavy with exhaustion.
"Will you take care of it while I'm gone?"
"…Take care of it while I'm gone?"
"…Gone?"
She shut her eyes, cursed under her breath, and sighed as she rocked in the chair silently and watched her children slumber away peacefully.
Wishing that she could be doing the same…
Meanwhile, Roberto continued to rock the crying and broken Maria softly in his arms as Arnold glanced up at the nearby clock.
His eyes widened.
"Oh my go-OH SH**! W-WE HAVE LESS THAN 10 MINUTES TO GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE THIS PLACE EXPLODES!"
Roberto cursed loudly. "Maria and I found an escape through the ventilation system, but it was not big enough for your size! Fortunately I was able to find another door that leads outside to a getaway vehicle! We still have a chance to get out of here…BUT WE MUST HURRY NOW!"
The group scrambled to get up and race towards the exit. Maria and Roberto ran hand in hand, while Arnold paused to get one last glance at the man who nearly destroyed his life.
He was finally free.
His family was safe.
He could return to them at last.
Wasting no time, he ran with a smile of victory from ear to ear.
All he could think about was getting out of that hell hole.
All he could think about was going home to his family.
He was so excited, thinking about them.
He was so excited at the thought of seeing his wife and her fiery personality, kissing those lips that would most likely scold and curse him out for the heck of it.
He couldn't wait to hold their beloved children in his arms, swinging them around as they scream with innocent ecstasy, exclaiming his name in bliss and love.
He couldn't wait to see his beloved parents and grandparents again and the boarders caught up in their shenanigans.
He couldn't wait to meet with all of his long-time friends and do his sacred handshake with Gerald, while taking their kids out to the park like he promised.
Most of all. he was so excited at the thought of overcoming that stronghold fear of never returning to his family and friends again; making history repeat itself with his parents.
The nightmare was finally over.
He was so happy, so hopeful, and so enthused that he nearly missed the sudden, loud crack sound of a gunshot.
He nearly missed the sudden metallic taste in his mouth caused by the red liquid that was also spreading from his chest as he grabbed it with one hand.
He barely noticed himself falling to his knees, or hearing the thud of a gun dropping from the now dead pirate's hands.
All he could think about was how the exit was right in front of him, just a few seconds away…and yet it seemed to be so far away…
"So close…" Arnold thought as his eyes closed and he fell down face forward in the growing puddle of his own blood.
"I was… so…close…"
The bomb continued to tick…