Chapter 21: The Scourge

2 years later...

Efi Oladele's POV

The rustling of the others' chains grew louder and louder as they struggled against the Talon operatives pushing them back down to their knees, guns trained on them. I had grown used to the sight of a barrel in my face, along with the familiar demands Talon soldiers pumped out nearly every day. Despite having experienced this many times, it didn't make me any more comfortable with Talon's growing presence in Africa, along with my villages. But there was simply nothing I could do about it, our government had been all but overthrown by Talon in secret, and Africa was practically annexed away from the rest of the world.

Rain came down at a steady pace, drenching me and the other villagers as we stared at our oppressors, feeling them shift through our pockets, emptying our bags and purses. I stared at my now ruined blueprints, scowling as I witnessed hours of hard work go down the drain. With that I could've helped some of the kids struggling with their augmentations ever since the Omni-Incident. But I suppose it'd be useless. Those kids are doomed in today's society, what with most omnics having been forced into labor camps against their will. My nails scraped along the slippery metal of the shackles placed on my wrist, as I tried to fiddle with it enough to break free. It was no use though. As smart as I was, I wasn't always the best in these life threatening situations. Besides, Talon won't do anything as long as I don't cause them any trouble, or at least anymore than I already have.

'I knew I shouldn't have come out tonight.' I thought to myself. I was slowly beginning to map out Talon's patrols, but I was foolish enough to believe the storm might give me a chance to slip away. I didn't have a home, or at least not exactly, so I'd usually travel through the towns and find some places to live, resorting to selling my tech and even working on certain projects for people just to get by. I had a reputation to live up to, so I spent hours on each of my projects, using most of my money to get better equipment and tools. I've been tinkering with things for as long as I can remember, scowling as I watched them toss my work out of my bag like junk. One of these days I'm gonna have to build a weapon I can attach to my wrist, perhaps one that can immobilize someone while I escape. I don't think I have the strength to kill anyone, even Talon, as terrible as they are.

It wasn't uncommon for Talon to harass people in the streets since they practically owned them. Africa was in a state of emergency, but the rest of the world either didn't care or had no clue what was going on. They dumped their problems onto us ever since the Omni-Incident. We had built shelters for omnics and people with augmentations who had been affected, but those soon turned into labor camps, or even death camps depending on where you were. Despite how much we liked to believe we were past this violence, that we were civilized, all I could ever see in the streets was people eating each other, making scapegoats of the omnics once more.

But maybe there was hope. A woman, Olivia Colomar, an international hero known for her help with those affected by the Omni-Incident, was struggling to spread her message of unity and the promise of a better world. She had a troubled past, which the media and society itself just adored her for, practically worshipping her wherever she went. A part of me didn't trust her, almost feeling like she was hiding something, or trying to indoctrinate us all with those dulcet tones and dazzling eyes. She held many events and led many protests, always walking in front of them, as if herding the sheep like some sort of shepherd. To the people here, she was like an angel sent from above, as they all waited for her to save us. I wouldn't hold my breath. I believed she was probably like all the rest, just searching for fame and fortune. Everybody wants to rule the world.

"He'll save us. They say he only comes at night, even saves us poor folk from Talon." An old man muttered, closing his eyes in a silent prayer. A younger woman turned to him, raising her hand to slap him before realizing she was wearing shackles. "Are you crazy? Are you talking about the Scourge? He's worse than Talon by a long shot."

"I hear he abducts young children and eats them. That would explain the missing children." Another woman said, and I frowned, contemplating who was responsible. Hundreds of children have went missing in the past two months, and no one has any clue who is responsible or where they are. My best guess was Talon, probably recruiting them.

"That's what they say in all the songs. The police haven't ever even found him, let alone get a good look at him. Most people who see him die. He's like a curse."

A Talon agent scoffed. "Would you all shut up? All I ever hear from you folk is 'Scourge this' and 'Scourge that'. He's a damn myth, some legend an old drunk man made up, and it spread like wildfire through you pathetic bastards. Ain't nobody coming to save you. After all, our boss is saving it. So shut your damn mouths." He growled, sneering at us as he took off his helmet, revealing his short black hair and dark eyes. The other three agents continued rummaging through our things, pocketing anything of value. My eyes met his as a smirk spread across his lips. "Something mighty fierce in them eyes. Bet you wanna get up right now and strangle me, save everyone, huh?"

I spit in his face, and he recoiled, wiping it away with a hand as he chuckled. "Oh we'll have fun with you." His gloved hand shot to my scalp, yanking my black hair back, undoing some of the braids. I yelped, struggling against the bonds as the people around me shouted to let me go. 'Are they gonna take me where they take other kids?' The question shot through my brain, and my mind analyzed my situation and the choices at a mile a second, all while the man called his goons to help unshackle me as he held me with a firm grip.

The whole world seemed to go silent as a man stepped behind him, towering over him as his shadow covered us from the light of the moon. A long black cloak flowing behind him as he didn't move a muscle, watching as the Talon agents aimed their weapons at him, the captain standing up, still several inches shorter than the figure in front of him. "Let go of the girl and move, you're in my way."

With the captain out of the way, I could get a good look at the man. He was more mountain than man, sleek black titanium limbs glimmering in the light. His arms had such a sophisticated design, throwing me through a loop as to who might've made them. His black cloak was like a cape, completely engulfing him in an aura of darkness. It had many tears and rips, and his armor that he wore had multiple kinks in it. A brown utility belt ran diagonally across his chest, throwing knives in each slot, though some of them were missing, as if he'd used them recently. His boots were muddy, and he wore bloodstained pants as well. The hilt of a large katana sprouted out from beneath his cloak, probably sheathed on his back. He wore nothing but black, almost like a shadow.

His face. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. He was missing his left eye, a deep scar going vertically along his cheek and forehead, his eyelids permanently shut. Tiny cuts littered his face and muscular neck. A sharp beard connected to his raven black hair. I expected to see anger in his remaining eye. But there was nothing. No emotion. As if he had seen things no one could imagine, destroying his ability to feel. His augmented eye analyzed the shorter man in front of him, zooming out like a camera lense. The captain seemed uneasy in his presence. The people beside me were terrified, but something about him mesmerized me. I couldn't put my finger on it.

"Who do you think-"

His titanium fist sprung outwards in less than a moment, sending the captain reeling into the dirt, making splinters of his teeth. I stared at him as he unsheathed his katana, a green hue illuminating the hilt. The Talon agents fired at him, but he moved faster than the eye could even track. It was a mess of gunfire and blood as he slammed the katana into the first man he found, ripping it out with such a force it split him in half. The other two still sprayed wildly, but he was too quick yet again, cutting the other deep enough that it allowed his intestines to spew out, nearly causing me to vomit, but not deep enough to sever the spine, leaving him to fall to the ground. The last man dropped his gun after the magazine emptied and rushed him with a knife, but the tall man had already dropped slightly, stabbing him through the stomach, his back still turned. A long black blade shot out of his wrist just above his left hand, and with it he swung back and decapitated the other man as he screamed in agony.

The world seemed to slow down as his eye met mine for barely a second, sheathing his blade. He turned to the captain he had struck, walking over to him. The crying man reached for his gun, but he smacked it away and grabbed him by the collar. "Please...d-don't kill me..." he begged through broken teeth, tears streaming down his face. The cloaked man holding him seemed bored, as if numb. He didn't hesitate to snap his neck with a quick twist, standing up with a sigh as he grabbed the key to our shackles from the corpses. Before releasing us, he ignored the villagers begging him to let us go as he rummaged through the pile of our belongings. He took the spare bits of food people had on them, despite their protests. "I hope you don't mind me grabbing something to eat." He turned, and their stern demands turned into frightened glances as they stared.

He continued to dig through the stuff littered on the ground, and I watched him pick up my blueprint and hold it up to the light of the moon as it drizzled lightly. He huffed, before tossing it behind him carelessly and standing up. His battered cloak fluttered in the breeze as he took multiple steps towards us. "Please, let us go. Y-you're the Scourge, right?" The old man said, and the mysterious man turned to him. "Is that what they call me?" He released an airy laugh, barely louder than a whisper.

The keys fell in a puddle right in front of me, and I looked up at his scarred face, the one eye staring at me intently. "Free yourself. Let em go, or let em rot here for all I care. Means nothing to me."

I fumbled with the keys in my hands, watching him turn and never look back. There was something about him. Something that told me he'd be the one kind of person I could live with. I was much too young to be on my own. Maybe a bodyguard? Or a protector? Either way, a part of me wants to get a good look at those augmentations of his. And the other part is hoping he'll share some of that food.

A small smile graced my lips. "Y-yeah."


'The Scourge certainly knows how to get a damn move on.' I thought to myself, struggling to catch my breath as I followed his deep tracks through the night. The moonlight was peering through the dark trees surrounding me, the twigs snapping under my feet as I hurried. I had ignored the others who'd been captured, who were begging me not to follow him. They believe he's responsible for the missing children. But if that was true, why the hell did he save me? It didn't make any sense.

The tight shackles had left deep marks in my ebony skin, still rubbing my wrists to help with the pain and irritation. It had stopped raining, but the clouds covered most of the moon, making it dark enough to cause unease. I suddenly felt nervous as I noticed in the distance a light between the trees. Part of me hoped it was The Scourge, but another didn't. After all, he was clearly dangerous. But my curiosity got the better of me, and I continued forward.

His dark silhouette cast a large shadow upon me as he sat by a campfire, his long and ripped cloak pulled across his body like a blanket. He didn't move, staring at the flames as they grew higher and higher. I debated not coming out of my hiding spot in the bushes. I could leave and he'd never know.

"Come out. If you were a threat you'd already be dead." His gruff voice seemed loud, yet eerily quiet at the same time. My heart sank. Stepping out of the bushes, I approached him slowly. He sat there, cooking the meat he'd gathered off of some snake, it's skin resting beside him. My stomach grumbled, despite hating the taste of snake. It was stringy and veiny, not to mention possibly poisonous.

"I finally found you." I released a nervous chuckle, stepping beside him as I offered a small grin. He sat there, the fires illuminating his scarred face, further showcasing the wear and tear on his body. His sleek titanium limbs were pure black, much like his hair and beard, reflecting some of the light from the fires as he grabbed the cooked meat, ripping it in half and biting into it harshly. He said nothing, wiping his mouth. "You know, you shouldn't abandon someone after helping them. Show some responsibility." I joked. As expected, the only response was my nervous giggle.

For a moment I sat there, looking into the flames like he did. I inched closer, sitting down and putting my hands up near the fire to keep warm. "Ooh, I have a question! Where'd you get those augmentations of yours? I can't recognize the design. I pride myself on my knowledge of those sorts of things. And also, where'd you find that katana of yours? It's definitely not from around here, that's for sure." I struggled to get over my nerves, but his silence was only making me feel even more sick to my stomach.

"By the way, I'm Efi, nice to meet ya. Tech expert, engineer, mechanic, and all around genius, or at least that's what people claim I am. I was on my way to deliver some of my blueprints to a client of mine, but then Talon up and captured me. You know the rest." I turned to look at him, taking in his gruff appearance. He took another bite of his food, ripping it in half with his teeth. I sighed, becoming a bit irritated with his silence.

"Hey! I'm almost positive those Talon guys have a lot of buddies nearby. And they're some skilled fighters. If you don't get outta here you could be in big trou-"

I yelped like a frightened animal as a knife flew right above my head and into the tree I was leaning against, splitting some of my hairs. I gasped, looking at him as he scowled. "You can either stop yammering, or I throw the next one a bit lower."

Gulping, I chose to keep my mouth shut, struggling not to piss myself in fear. Reaching up, I grabbed the hilt of the throwing knife, holding it in my hands. It was blunt, with a crack in it. Looking up at him, I whispered softly. "Say, I could help you out with these knives. Make them a lot sharper. Maybe even help with your augmentations?"

He huffed, his one eye meeting mine. "Do what you want." He stated simply. "But I wouldn't recommend following me. You'll get yourself killed."

Rather than ask him how, since I knew he'd probably be as vague as usual, I chuckled lightly. "I reckon I'm safer with you. Sure know how to use that sword. Besides, it'll give me a chance to get a look at those fancy augs of yours."

A sadistic smile spread across his lips, and there was a look in his eye that scared me half to death. He seemed like he was on the verge of insanity, if not already insane. Those scars had to come from somewhere.

"We'll see."

'What am I getting myself into?' I thought, looking down at the knife in my hands, listening the crackle of the fire beside me, hoping that I wasn't wrong about this 'Scourge'.


That man damn near left me in the middle of the woods alone. I had dozed off by the fire, and I woke up to find him already putting out the fire and walking away. Luckily enough I got up and ran after him. I struggled to keep up with his pace since his legs were much longer than mine, allowing him to get ahead of me rather quickly.

He didn't seem bothered by my presence, or the fact that I was staring at him. Instead, he kept his right eye glued on the path in front of him, stopping for nothing. I had no clue where he was going, but I kept close to him, preferring getting out of here with him rather than getting stuck out here on my own. I scratched at the scars on my arms, ignoring how hot it was, even with the sun down. My jacket was wrapped around my waist, revealing my dirty shirt and pants. I was used to being covered in filth, never having been afraid to get my hands dirty in all my years tinkering with parts. I felt naked without my tools, but perhaps if I asked nice enough 'The Scourge' would steal some for me.

We moved in silence, as I figured I wouldn't get much more information prying than I did earlier. Besides, I'd like to keep my head on my shoulders. I doubt he'd just kill a 12 year old kid, but that fire in his eye told me otherwise. But all the same, I was safer with him.

Both of us came to a halt as the headlights of a vehicle came from behind, along with the roar of the engine. It was a large truck, with an old man at the wheel and a young girl beside him, probably my age. They stopped right beside us on the road, and I turned to meet the old man's gaze, his scruffy beard perking up with his lips as he smiled. "Need a ride? Traveling through the woods at night can't be easy, especially not in this heat. You and your daughter are welcome to join us for a bit."

I turned to the tall man beside me, and he raised an eyebrow, almost smiling. Clearing my throat, I tried to thank him for the ride and get in, but The Scourge had other plans. "We're fine, keep moving." He stated, his voice as monotonous as ever. The old man frowned in response. "Aww, come now, don't be that way. Besides, my granddaughter said we should help you two. I feel like your daughter could use some shelter as well, by the look of it."

My irritation nearly got the better of me, almost shouting that he wasn't my father, but I figured that wasn't the best course of action. "Trust me, I'm refusing for your own good. You see, bounty hunters are constantly after me. And I doubt Talon likes me much either. Some even take to calling me a scourge."

"That is quite unfortunate, but fear not my boy. For on my side is God, and I'm certain he'll protect us. The town we're headed to isn't very far from here, and I'm sure you could find a hotel to spend the night." The other man replied, his smile bright, despite how coldly he was being treated.

"Now, hop on you two." He said, his daughter offering a grin, along with a thumbs up, her prosthetic hand shooting up.

I nudged the man beside me, digging into his cloak with my elbow when he tried to retort. He paused, looking down at me. For a moment he looked like he was ready to punch me. But he sighed, shaking his head. "Fine. Get on." His cold metallic hands grabbed me, hoisting me up into the back of the red truck. I watched as he stopped, turning to the woods, as if he heard something. The old man poked his head out, frowning in confusion. "Something amiss, my boy?"

The Scourge turned and shook his head. "We're fine."

"Thanks for picking us up, mister." I said, and the old man chuckled. "Oh it's not a problem."

We drove in silence for most of the way, before the girl opened the window behind her to talk to us as we sat in the back. She handed him a towel, and he held it in his hands as he stared at her. He accepted it begrudgingly and dried his hair with it, wiping his face as well. I caught his eye, as he scowled at me. "What? You were gonna turn down a ride. I'm the one who got us this. Keep that bad attitude to yourself." I sneered, and he turned back to the girl as she stared at us. She seemed mesmerized by him, much like I still am. His scars made my mind run wild with the possibilities of how he got them.

"Excuse me sir, but would you like something to drink. We've got water." The young blonde offered, placing a bottle in his hand. "No thanks. I'm alright." He muttered, not even bothering to look her in her bright blue eyes, staring at the ground. I scoffed. "The girl tries to be nice to you and that's what you say? I'll take some water."

Without warning he tossed it at me, and I felt it crash into my cheek. I held my aching face, groaning. "Ow."

"W-were you wounded in battle? Is that why you've got augmentations like me?" The girl asked, and he shook his head. "My arms were taken long ago. And as for my eye, it was sliced in two with a knife."

She gasped, and my eyes widened. "That's horrible, mister. I'm so sorry." The girl apologized, and I grinned. "I bet ya got him in the end, right?" I asked, referring to his skill with weapons. He didn't answer, but some semblance of emotion ran through his face, before being flushed out immediately. I frowned, wondering what truly happened to him.

"Please sir, don't frighten my granddaughter with your stories. Anyway, what's your name?" The man piped up, looking at us through his rear view mirror. After some hesitation, the brooding man spoke. "It's Scott. Scott Gallagher."

I was fairly surprised to hear such a common name belong to the Scourge, and I sighed, wondering how I hadn't even asked his name yet. 'Scott Gallagher, huh?'

"It's wonderful to meet you. I'm Jonathan, but most people just call me Joe. My granddaughter is Angelica." Jonathan said, and Angelica waved at us. I smiled in response. Scott looked down at his hand, shutting his eye and reminiscing, as if the name brought memories.

"I don't mean to pry, but that thing on your back, it isn't a..." he paused, and Scott cocked his head slightly, meeting his eyes with an intense gaze. "Hrm, never mind. You don't seem to be a bad man anyways." Jonathan finished, and Angelica kept her eyes locked onto Scott as he sat completely still. "So, are you some kind of mercenary?" Jonathan asked, and Scott smirked a bit. "Something like that."

"Can't say I approve of a business that involves killing others for money. It really shouldn't be so easy to take a human life. I've seen enough death in my lifetime." He muttered, and Scott sighed. "This is why I can't stand pacifists. Besides, I'm not killing for money."

Angelica shifted in her seat, raising an eyebrow. "Then what do you fight for?" Scott became silent, and even more distant than usual. "Vengeance." He stated. "You know, my nephew couldn't stand pacifism either. I tried to teach him violence isn't the answer, even if it's for the sake of another. But he left home to make a name for himself in the navy. Six years ago, he died at sea, along with the rest of the people on his boat. If he had stayed home he'd still be alive today, perhaps even have a family. What a foolish boy." Jonathan said, shaking his head in disappointment. I felt his pain, yet knew I couldn't comfort him. Sometimes you have to let go.

"And how's that?" Scott replied, not even bothering to open his eye. "Huh?" Angelica turned to him, eyes wide in curiosity. "No matter the cause, he died doing what he wanted. Following a dream. I'd call him a lucky man." Scott said, taking his sword off his back and laying it at his feet in the truck. His titanium hand ran along it with an affection and care he didn't seem to show anyone else. His sheathe had Japanese symbols engraved into it, with two dragons forming a circle, chasing after one another like yin and yang. "Though once you're dead, that's it. No matter what you fight for, or whether it's deserved, it's still the end of the line." He spoke with such a knowledge and pain that it was hard to describe, the look in his eye displaying his loss, painting it like a picture. Maybe one day he'll tell me all about his tales.

After a long silence, he shut his eye. "I think it's time for me to turn in. Kid, wake me if something happens." He turned to me, shifting his weight slightly. "Sure. And it's Efi." I retorted, offering a curt nod. He released a low grumble of acknowledgement. Angelica handed him a blanket, and he looked up at her. "Please, it's so you don't catch a cold."

Draping it over his shoulders, he closed his eye and began to drift off, all while we stared at the mystery that was Scott.


A few minutes later...

I was just beginning to fall asleep when I noticed how eerily quiet it was. It was much too quiet, almost like someone was stalking us. I debated sleeping anyways, seeing as how close we were to the town. But I turned to nudge Scott just in case, but he was already wide awake, staring at something I couldn't see in the night. We shared a moment of acknowledgement, both of us realizing we knew that something was wrong. His hand drifted to the utility belt around his chest, withdrawing a throwing knife. Jonathan slowed down, looking back. "Is something wrong?"

Scott didn't reply, and a red dot began to appear right between his eyes, a laser extending outwards into the woods. It must've been the sight of some gun in the distance. A bullet rang out, startling all of us, Jonathan coming to a screeching halt as he slammed on the brakes. Angelica and I screamed. But Scott had moved seemingly faster than light, his blade shooting out of his wrist to deflect the shot, throwing the knife right into a man in the top of a tree. He groaned in pain, before collapsing to the ground with a sickening crunch. "What the hell was that?!" I demanded. Scott grabbed his sword and unsheathed as he placed it on his back, standing up and hopping out of the vehicle.

"A bounty hunter. Stay inside. They usually attack in groups. This isn't going to be pretty. I'd recommend staying inside. Drive off, and they'll kill you just to be sure you're not their target." He barked orders like a natural leader, staring into the woods as his katana seemed to glow in the moonlight.

"I can hear them." He muttered, grip tightening around the hilt of his sword, so tight I feared he might break it. My heart sank as I realized I was outside. Despite Scott's warnings, Jonathan hit the gas, but we came to a sudden stop as the tire got caught in the mud. Before I could realize what was going on, Angelica had stepped out to help move the tire out of the mud. "Angelica!" I shouted.

Scott turned to see the source of all the commotion. He scowled. "Idiot! Get back inside!"

"I will, just as-"

Her brains splattered into the mud beneath her as a shot rang out, missing Scott by an inch. The blood trickled down her face as her eyes rolled into the back of her skull. I screamed in terror, and Jonathan cried. "Angelica!"

Even Scott seemed shaken for a moment, watching as her brittle body collapsed to the ground, and he growled as he grit his teeth. I held the door shut with my arm, preventing Jonathan from running out and being shot as well. I offered him a look that said to stay inside before rushing to Scott's side, despite how terrified I was. "We have to get outta here!" I squealed, but he didn't turn to me. "You're free to go if you want."

"Why're you doing this?! You'll die if you try to take them all on!"

A grin spread across his lips, and a dozen bounty hunters jumped out in an ambush, coming from all directions.

"That news is old."

I jumped back as he charged them, deflecting the incoming bullets shot at him. The first one he ran in to raised his gun as some sort of defense, but he split him and his weapon clean in half. Gasping, three men a foot behind him took aim. "Scott!"

He snapped around, swinging his sword across the night sky, painting the trees red as their heads fell to the ground. He was even better than before.

Another charged him with a knife, but he stabbed him, the large katana going straight through his abdomen. Instead of pulling it out, he stepped in front of him, yanking it out through his spine, the once clean sword covered in blood and guts. Smacking the pistol out of another bounty hunter's hand, he kicked him into a tree, breaking his spine and the thick tree in the same crash.

The remaining few bounty hunters surrounded him, but he split two trees on either side of him in half, preventing them from going after us.

Standing beside the large truck, I figured I'd be safer from a distance. I watched as he continued to massacre anyone in his way, moving so fast that bullets couldn't keep up with him. His augmentations must make him faster than a normal human. "Amazing..." I said, before hearing Jonathan shouting. I turned around, only to see blood paint the windows behind him, making me unable to see what happened. "Mister? Is everything okay?!" I rushed down to the side of the truck, but before I could open the door it was kicked off with such a force that it was sent careening into the woods. I fell backwards, shouting. My eyes widened in horror.

Angelica hopped out, her entire body shaking and stuttering, like some sort of seizure. The way she moved was inhuman, her spine twisted and contorted, along with her head, which titled to the side. A bullet hole was still there, large enough to split her brain in half, but she kept walking. In her hand she held a small hunting knife drenched in blood. Her once clean shirt was now a dark red, blood dripping down her pants. The prosthetic arm she had shook violently, a purple hue hovering over it like a cloud, looking like she was being controlled by another person. She was dead, but her body kept moving. In her prosthetic hand, she held her grandfather's head, his tongue hanging out of what remained of his jaw, most of his face mangled beyond recognition. It was like the stories I'd heard about the Omni-Incident. Only so much worse. Worse than I could ever imagine. I screamed once more as she approached me.

Scott appeared behind Angelica and threw her to the ground, his bloody sword in the other hand. "STAY BACK!" He yelled, but she jumped up to her feet and slowly approached him like she did me. How was this happening? Was someone controlling her?

He seemed to hesitate, afraid of bringing his sword down as he raised it above his head. Scott stumbled for once, looking uneasy. A bounty hunter laughed. "Like it? Must be Talon's new weapon they've been talking about."

They surrounded Scott, with Angelica slowly limping towards him, her foot having been broken when Scott flung her to the ground. Her prosthetic hand continued to shake, before she charged him.

The sound of a sword ripping through flesh echoed through the night sky, and I watched as Angelica's upper body flew through the air, her intestines spilling out into the mud. Her body stopped twitching, and the purple hue dissipated. Scott fell to his knees and retched, throwing up into the puddle of blood beneath him, his body shaking. I stared at him, unable to believe that he split her in two, just like he did the others. Even the bounty hunters were shocked.

But before any of us could get our bearings, Scott was already back on his feet, tossing a smoke grenade into the crowd of bounty hunters, jumping behind them as it released a gray cloud, engulfing them. They erupted into coughing fits, dropping their weapons and trying to clear the smoke from their eyes. Although I couldn't see what he did to them in that mess, I could hear every bit of it, their screams, the rip and tear of flesh. And I saw what little was left of those unlucky enough to have been in that group.

Scott stood there, breathing heavily with his back turned to me, his black cloak and armor covered in blood, his raven black hair now a dark red. He shuddered, clearly exhausted as he tried to catch his breath. He slipped his sword back into his sheath, his hands involuntary clenching into fists. I couldn't hold it in any longer, and I got a second taste of my lunch as I threw up right beside Jonathan's decapitated head. I could still see his kind smile. He wouldn't have gotten caught up in this mess if I hadn't taken his offer. It was my fault they were dead. And Angelica... I didn't even want to think about it. She was my age...


The sun rose before I knew it, shedding a new light on the massacre that took place as it broke through the trees. The stench was awful, but I was too afraid to move, rendered completely helpless. I was paralyzed as Scott stood in front of Angelica's body, staring at it, his eye devoid of all emotion once more. That regret or hesitation that I had seen was gone, and he stared at her and her grandfather with nothing. He felt nothing at all. The bounty hunters littered the woods, and most of the grass was stained with blood.

I moved beside Scott, looking up at him as he towered over me like mountain. Dried blood still coated some areas of his armor and cloak, but he didn't seem to care. If anything, he seemed completely in his element when covered with the blood of his enemies. He looked at the puddle of blood pooling out beneath Angelica's corpse as she lie face down in it. "I-it wasn't your fault." I stuttered, hoping to offer some comfort. He cackled, struggling to contain his laughter as he looked at her corpse.

"You got that right. This is all on them. Only the weak get themselves killed in someone else's battle. If you can't live your life pursuing your desires," He turned to me, eye piercing into my soul, a wicked smile spreading ear to ear. "Then you're better off dead."

Inching back in fear, I stared at the cruel man. He began to walk away, not even bothering to mourn the dead. "I'm a scourge, one that those two were too weak and too foolish to protect themselves from. If I went around worrying about all those I'll crush along the way I'd never be able to take a step."

'So this...' I looked at the bodies around me, trying to focus on something else. 'Is the world he lives in?' I asked myself. No wonder he acted so distant and cold. He's been surrounded by violence probably longer than I've even been alive. He was so unbelievably strong, yet there was something inside him I could see. Something that wasn't just hatred, and focused on survival. There was a scarred soul inside of him. Perhaps I was dumb to believe that, or simply too naive.

But it was what I grew up believing in. Even the most evil man deserves a chance. He couldn't have always been this way. There must be something he cared about, something he fought for. Why else would he live? He said he fought for vengeance. I could only imagine who he was after.

A part of me knew I should let him continue walking away, run from him and never look back. Find some other place in the world. I didn't belong beside him. I'd probably get myself killed. But it was like those heroes from so long ago. Overwatch. They believed in the good in individual people. And maybe I couldn't help him. But...but...

I was going to try. Because that's what heroes do.

I ran to his side, and never looked back. I looked up at him, offering an empty smile. He glanced down at me, before focusing on the path ahead.

"Hrmph." He grumbled.

I'm so sorry about the long wait for this chapter in particular, but I really just wanted to get this one right. I've rewritten this one twice, and I feel like I finally captured the character I want Scott to be. I want him to be cruel, and even evil at times. But that's because he has nothing else to live for except his hatred. He's also gone slightly insane, even verbatim quoting Olivia and the things she used to say about dreams.

I really enjoyed writing Efi and how she sort of plays off of him, and also how she is struggling to even understand the way his mind works. But she wants to make it work, both to get a better look at his augmentations, but also a better look at his mind.

Making this all from Efi's POV seemed like a good idea to me because it allowed me to focus on how other people would view Scott, and how mysterious and hateful he can be. I also really love the idea of him spending his days hunting down Talon agents in hopes of finally finding a way to Olivia. 'The Scourge' kinda fits in my opinion. I liked making the protagonist seem like some sort of monster who abducts children and eats them like the songs say. It's interesting to delve into how people view him since they don't know the things he's went through and what he's lost.

I also loved writing his badass line "that news is old", simply because it's common for him to defy the odds and take on a few dozen men.

What happened with Angelica will be an overarching plot point, and I hope you all don't mind the big time skip. Olivia is more powerful than ever, and is practically an angel to the world. She's lying, and her dream is slowly coming true as she unites omnic and human. Africa will be a very violent place though, with camps and extreme tensions between the two.

I apologize for the wait again, and I can't wait for you to see what I have in store. For now the next few chapters will focus on Efi and Scott's relationship.

Thanks for reading, and all the support I've gotten. Let me know what you think of this chapter!