6
Chapter 46
"Carl," David whispered.
Lo-Chem slowly lifted himself up from the gravel path…the rocks crunching as he moved.
As David lifted his eyes…he could finally see the figure in all of his glory.
It was Abba…the man who had tried to help him.
David could feel another tear streaming down his cheek.
"Lo-Chem…you must listen to me,"
David had run for so long…he had nothing left.
"Lo-Chem…I am your father! Don't listen to his manipulative words!"
David turned his head; the sight of his father made his stomach churn.
"What do you want?" Lo-Chem asked quietly.
Carl took a step forward; he knelt down in front of David.
"I want you," Abba said.
David could feel himself about to burst.
"But I am too far gone," Lo-Chem said.
"You're right. You're absolutely right! There's no point in even trying!" David's father shouted.
Lo-Chem felt his anger building; he wanted to scream.
"You've lost yourself…that little boy you used to be," Carl said quietly looking David in the eyes.
"He's gone…forever gone," Lo-Chem said.
"He doesn't have to be," Carl said.
"Your mission! You musn't forget your mission…it is your duty!" Lo-Chem's father shouted.
Lo-Chem could feel his guilt absorbing him again.
"You're nothing…and you'll always be nothing," David's father shouted.
The words faded slowly…this time David felt them just wash over him.
"Listen to me! Listen to my voice!" Abba shouted. Lo-Chem started to curl into a ball…over-whelmed with his feelings of remorse.
"I can't," he whispered. "Its my duty."
David slowly rose to his feet; he could slowly hear his father shouting less and less.
"Who am I?" he quietly asked.
"I have my duty…I have my duty!" Lo-Chem repeated over and over again…rocking back and forth.
"There is nothing else…there is nothing else!"
He could see the images of his victims flash before his eyes.
"I did what I had to…I did what I had to!"
"Lo-Chem!" Abba shouted…reaching out to him.
"You know what you must do!"
"NOO! GET AWAY FROM ME!"
He shoved Abba away…and felt the last ounce of who he had once been drift away.
Until there was nothing.
"That's for you to decide,"
The image of Carl started to slowly disappear.
"Wait…Carl! I can't! I need your help!"
"I'm just a figment of your imagination, David. Whatever happens now…is up to you,"
"Please come back!"
Carl faded away.
David stood there…terrified and alone.
But for the first time…in a long time.
Had hope for himself.
"He he he,"
The lifted his head in the direction of the sound; he raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
The insincere laugh was followed by grunting.
"He he he,"
He took a few steps closer…his hand shaking slightly.
"He…he…heeeee!"
The laughing was much louder; the grunting much more guttural…almost like a cough.
The guard peered into the cell…a pensive look in his eyes.
He spotted Lo-Chem sitting cross legged on the bench…a grin spreading from ear to ear.
The guard raised his weapon…it jittering from side to side.
The guard glanced away…then looked back.
Lo-Chem was gone.
His heart started pounding in his ears; his mind started racing.
"Boo,"
Lo-Chem popped up right in front of him.
His screams of agony could be heard down the hall.
Sakal was sitting at his desk…looking over some papers.
His face was grim…his eyes looked weary.
He rubbed his hands over his face…still reeling from guilt and remorse.
He glanced up as a guard entered; the guard's face was anxious and panicked.
"Yes?" Sakal said a bit irritated.
"The general…"
Sakal rose from his seat immediately…his face filled with terror.
Ed slowly awoke from his nap…his mind groggy and his eyes blurry.
Rubbed his face with his hands…and slowly propped himself up in his chair.
He could see a figure through the blurriness; he didn't give it too much thought.
As his vision started coming back to him though…a smile lit up his face.
"David!"
David was finally sitting up in bed…fully conscious.
He exchanged a meaningful look with Ed.
Ed slowly got up from his chair and walked up beside him.
"You're finally awake. I was so worried. I mean…" he toned down his excitement.
"I mean…Its good that you're up,"
David smiled a bit and chuckled.
He rubbed the fatigue from his eyes and yawned.
"Yeah,"
After a brief pause…Ed looked David straight in the eyes.
"Listen…I've been feeling really guilty about what…"
David shook his head.
"No…I'm sorry. For everything,"
The pair were silent.
Ed knew…that David meant every word of it.