Well, that took longer than before.

Sorry if it took very long haha

But I manage to update the story and made a new chapter, hope this is worth the wait. Tried my best for this one (Goddamn writer's block :( ).


It was just a peaceful and quiet night when...

"NOOOOOOO!"

"Holy shit!" Alex rushes to where the scream came from. When she looked at her left, no one came out, luckily the scream wasn't load enough to wake up the others and more importantly, the entire Federation base. When she turn to her right, it turns out the scream came from Kendrick's room.

(Shit...) Alex came inside the room, it was all dark, no light other than the light that's coming from the open door she's at.

At the end of the room, just at the left, she found her friend, panting and sobbing.

He was whimpering and repeating.

"I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't..."

"Ken! What happen?" she rushes to him, he was covering his face. But Alex can see streams of tears dripping from his face.

"H-h-he k-k-keeps b-bothering m-me..." he whimpered.

"Damn, same nightmare?"

"It w-won't s-stop... I-it gotten worse since the war started... I-I-I couldn't..."

"Hey, don't give in to him. Don't give up hope. Stay strong. He still hasn't taken over you yet and he'll won't if you stay sane and strong."

"T-this pain... I-It...iT h-H-hUrTs, aLeX..." a slight deep monstrous voice came out of Kendrick's mouth instead of his own.

"Hey, hey, stay with me Kendrick, don't give in. I'm here, don't let him take you..." Alex tries to calm Kendrick, at least without the song. Which apparently worked, so good thing she'll won't use the song. She's already worn out from her past singings to tame Kendrick.

"Look at me Ken." She turns Kendrick's face for him to face her as he partially uncover his face. The room was so dark that Alex couldn't see his face despite the light coming from the open door. But still sees his eyes. His right eye is brown as a chocolate and his left eye scarred and damaged, looking zombie like due to his iris being almost whitish as his eye was heavily scarred. His teary eyes met Alex's hazel eyes.

"I'm here for you. And I'll won't stop until he leaves you alone. You are not alone Ken..." Alex gave an optimistic and caring smile as she hugs the psychic powerhouse, which he hugs back as he silently cries in his friend's arms. It's good that he at least found a friend to be with, especially as to how they have in common...


As dawn breaks through the gloom sky of Manila...

Alright sleepyheads! Time to get up! A voice echoed in both Logan's & Alex's heads as they are startled awake.

"Shit! Kendrick don't scare us like that!" Alex frowned at Kendrick, who was also in the room, looking at the two.

"Well excuse me princess, it's already 7am, so you can head back to sleep your asses in a couple of hours. Now get your asses out and get a quick breakfast, we'll be teleporting back by the time it's 7:30."

Heh... He's like the superior here... Logan made a small smile as the two get themselves up and get ready.

A few hours later...

The three ready themselves for to head back to California. Logan bringing a Honey Badger rifle and a MP-443 Grach handgun, Alex bringing an MR-28 marksman rifle and a M9A1 handgun, and Kendrick bringing two shotguns, an FP6 and a Bulldog, and two P226 handguns, which would be an akimbo weapon for him. All three also have their combat knives with them along as well as five C4 bombs, four Concussions, three 9-Bangs, two Throwing Knives and one Canister Bomb for each of them (Wow, that's a lot of weaponry Kendrick manage to obtain for them and a lot for them to bring). The trio set off to a straight road with no obstacles in the way.

"Alright you two, hold hands. Alex, hold Logan's hand. Logan, you hold my hand." The trio hold each other as they begin to dash. The three were met with the same whirring sound and sparks before they fast speed into the generated portal. While they're in the light tunnel, Logan had a...strange feeling about Kendrick, especially when he's holding his hand. He doesn't know, but whatever feeling he's having, there's nothing bad about it.

When they arrived, it was already dusk, but from what Logan noticed, they aren't really in California.

"Kendrick, where are we? This isn't California."

"Logan, we can't just simply teleport into US territory when we're considered a threat to them. We'll get caught and shoot us down without hesitation."

"So where are we?"

"No Man's Land. It may not be in your top of the list of the safest places to go on Earth. But we'll won't get caught that easily when this territory is abandoned and not much activity except for the Federation scouting around the territory for any useful resources and occasionally the US sending the Ghosts in missions here."

"But what about the Feds?"

"At a time like this, they're already less reliant with this place and I already noticed that Federation activities here have been decreasing. Right now, No Man's Land is really becoming nothing more than an gigantic and abandoned ruins."

"Let me guess, ever since LOKI was taken over?"

"Of course Alex, I thought it's theirs now. Aren't you guys going to use it to win the war against the Feds?"

"Don't know what's gotten in their heads..."

"So where are we in No Man's Land?"

"Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico. Which is why we'll be driving to our destination."

"The hell? How are we going to drive there if the terrain in here is rocky as well as not stable?"

"What we're riding is an all-around car. And by all-around, doesn't just drive on land."

"...o...kay?" Logan felt mystified. What did Ken mean by that? And how does Alex have no reaction about it?

Regardless, he decided not to worry too much of it. The city looks in a complete ruins, dead quiet and not a single soul lingers around except for the trio. It's been already years now and the ruined city has already begun decaying and crumbling, especially with the craters and shifted land masses, which were cause by multiple quakes. The three manage to find their ride, which looks like a modified black and white Chevrolet Camaro.

"Alright, hope in you two, I'll be driving."

"But I thought it's my turn to drive Ken."

Kendrick sighs annoyingly, "I'll let you later Alex, now's not the time to argue about who gets to drive. We'll take turns."

"I call dibbs on the front seat!" Logan shouts out.

"Ugh...do I have to be the back seater..."

"Well, too bad for you little Alex. You're still a little girl."

"Who you calling little girl?!"

"Heh, I'm only kidding Alex." Kendrick smirks as he gets inside and start the engine while Alex rolls her eyes in annoyance and sat inside in the back seat. Logan gets in and takes the front seat next to Kendrick.

"So...why is it all-around?"

"You'll see. This isn't an ordinary Chevrolet."

Logan notices there are buttons just between his and Kendrick's seats. When Kendrick pressed one of them, Logan heard a weird sound and suddenly felt as if the car isn't touching the ground at all and the lightings inside changed from normal white to sky blue. Logan checked outside from the window and saw all four wheels are now sideways, glowing with the same sky blue color. He also notices that the car is now levitating from the ground.

"What are those?"

"Anti-gravity wheels. Don't bother asking where I found this car."

"Wow, we're going to fly there?"

"Not for the entirety of the trip, we need to travel safe. And we don't want to get shot down all of a sudden, we'll only fly if the airspace is safe and the terrain is too hard to get through. But we'll fly low, right now just sit back and rest you two, it'll take hours to reach California, we just have to pass through Arizona and Nevada. It's likely we'll pass through Las Vegas."

"Will it take days?"

"Nope, it'll take a day to reach there."

"Why in Santa Fe?"

"Cause there aren't any US and Federation activities going on here and it's the only spot. The rest of there area is still filled scouting US armies and Federation armies. It's likely they're looking for us here, though they wouldn't worry too much of three people against both of sides."

"I see. Welp, we going?"

"Yeah." The three then head their way.

A few hours later

So far, no trouble came to the three. They've reached Marble Canyon, sailing through the river that's at the bottom of the canyon. Night already fell and Alex dozes off while Logan looks down on the river, seeing his reflection along with the shining full moon that's shimmering the night sky and stars decorating it. Logan began to think of how Hesh and Wade are. It's two days since Logan decided to never side anyone. Sadly, everything became a misunderstanding and is now deemed a threat to both America and the Federation along with Kendrick and Alex. He felt guilty of pulling them into his shit. He felt sure they're getting tired of this and are suffering more than him despite the fact it only has been two days. He wishes that none of this is happening and the war to never have started years ago, but he had no power to do anything to prevent this, he can only walk down that path till he reaches the end. He can't turn back and only continue on no matter what.

Logan has been stuck for a long time in his thoughts while staring at his reflection in the river and did not realize he's stuck that way until...

Hey, is something wrong?

"N-no Kendrick, I'm fine. Do you have to always start a talk with a telepathic message?" Logan turns and raises an eyebrow at Kendrick.

"No, and also, you're not honest with me. I can tell that you're lying Logan." Kendrick sets the car to autopilot and turns his attention to Logan.

"Logan, what's wrong?" Kendrick asks calmly, trying to make sure Logan doesn't get scared shit of him. Even though his identity is not seen thanks to his mask and sunglasses, sporting a serious looking wear, serious personality and sounding stern and all makes him already an intimidating person to be with.

Logan takes a deep breath and sighs, "I'm sorry..."

"Sorry? Sorry for what?"

"For getting you and Alex into this shit..."

"...I see..."

"If only there was a way to do something without betraying any of my friends. Well, I wasn't intending or wanting to."

"Logan, there's nothing you can do when you were trying to decide who you want to be with. And you shouldn't blame yourself for any of this."

"What you mean?"

"Look, me and Alex decided to help you cause you can't do this alone. It was us that decided to help, so there's no need for your apology."

"Oh..."

Kendrick looks back and sees the sleeping Alex, which Logan follows.

"Heh... Quickly went to sleep, she's probably the sleeping beauty in real life."

"Hahaha, you think so?" Logan laughed.

"Maybe."

"Is Alex your sister?" Kendrick quickly turns at Logan.

"Where the hell did you get that idea?"

"Well, you and Alex act like siblings fighting each other haha."

"To answer that question: no, we aren't. We're friends, just friends."

"Oh, so she's not your girlfriend either."

"...Yeah, she isn't."

"I thought you had."

"Yes I had, but it's not Alex. It's...someone else..."

"Who was she then?"

Kendrick didn't answer, only staring Logan in the eyes. Logan couldn't tell the expression on his face, but the silence gave Logan the meaning of what that means.

"...Was that question too far...?"

"Yeah..."

"Shit... Sorry about that."

"It's alright."

"But is she beautiful and kind?"

"Y-yeah... She...was..."

"She was huh... I wonder what happened to your girl to be honest, aren't you looking for her or something?"

"No."

"Don't you miss her?"

"...yeah. I...I miss her... Very much..."

"I see... Well, I'll won't ask too much about her if you couldn't talk about her if that's what you want."

"Mhmm..." Kendrick nodded and turns his attention to the route.

I wonder if he's being open with me... Can't get ahead of myself if he's still not comfortable with me.

Logan thought to himself, however, he wasn't aware Kendrick telepathically heard his thoughts. Kendrick had no reaction to what he said and decided to stay silent, especially since he shouldn't be prying in his thoughts like that. If he were to trust him, and for Logan, trust Kendrick, he shouldn't be invading private bubbles.

"Um...Ken?"

"Hmm?"

"Is there uh...music?"

"Radio? Well, at a time like this, there aren't much though. But I doubt any of them are on right now. Music player, yeah, there is. If you want to turn on the music, just don't make it too loud."

"Why? Cause Alex will wake up cranky?"

"Not only that, we might get caught by either US troops, Ghosts or Federation troops."

"Oh." Logan then scans through the CD Albums that are found in the car. Strangely, none of them have coverarts. Logan decided to randomoy pick one and he did.

Opening the case, he saw that the CD is just plain white with the label "Music Playlist 8".

"Well, what a way to generically name your CDs."

"You got a problem with that?"

"Um...no. Not at all." Logan sighs and decides to place the CD in the player, he really needed some music to remove the silence that's been sticking around too long.

Then, the music played, it started with a sound of a guitar playing, it music is as if it's for singing by the campfire.

"There's something dark inside of me. There is a ghost in this machine. There's a giant jagged hole. That twists and rips through my soul, like the roots of some old wretched tree. There's something dark inside of me."

Logan recognizes this song, he remembers the last time he heard this song was the last time he was having camp with this family before ODIN was taken over and destroyed everything. It was one of those songs his dad sang, playing with a guitar as well while Logan and Hesh sat together listening their father sing. He has a decent singing voice.

While Logan was silently humming to the song since he liked it, Kendrick was also listening to the song.

"There's something haunting, oh my love. There's nothing good I'm thinking of. Still I'm gilded and groomed, gliding into the room. Saying such bold and beautiful things. There's something dark inside of me."

Kendrick also enjoys the song, he's heard the song before and liked it. But he also feels melancholic as the song also has a meaning...

A message...

Every song would have a certain meaning and message in its lyrics...

"There's something rumbling in my mind. Secrets that you weren't meant to find. Thought you knew me so well? I will see you in hell. Before I let you live to tell what you've seen."

He can relate the situation he is in right now, it's very relatable to what he, Logan and Alex are in.

He and Alex do have a secret that isn't supposed to be revealed at all, not even Logan is supposed to know.

However…

The most prominent relation is Kendrick himself…

The darkness that dwells within him…

Is something that he fears…

Something that he doesn't want to let it take over him…

Something…that would endanger not just his loved ones…

But everyone…no matter where they are…

That kind of darkness is what Kendrick is dealing at this moment, still in full control of himself. Trying to stay sane, not just for the sake of himself, but for the sake of everyone else.

He began to think of Logan, he seems to be interested in him regardless, especially since he doesn't know much of Kendrick. He's completely curious and interested as hell for Kendrick. Right now, he doesn't know if that's supposedly a good or a bad thing. But the feeling Kendrick has right now warms him.

There's something about Logan… He's curious and interested as fuck about me… he slightly turns and stares at Logan, who is staring blankly down at the river again, humming.

Usually, when he stares at someone, it would be a sign of suspicion and Kendrick always stares at someone suspicious.

Logan himself, however, isn't the type of person who'd be suspicious. Which Kendrick is beginning to question to himself…

Why the hell am I staring at him? Kendrick frowns in confusion, he should be feeling suspicious about Logan, but there is nothing suspicious about him and yet…

He's staring at him, why is he staring at him?

Huh... There's something about him... hidden behind his mask, he slightly smiles.

"There's something dark inside of me. I need someone to set me free. So I call out your name. But you seem so far away. Anyway, who could save one like me? Cause there's something dark inside of me."

At that moment, Kendrick began to think of someone. It isn't Alex, it isn't Logan, it isn't Rorke, it isn't his girlfriend, it isn't his family even.

But his cousin...

It's been years now since he last saw him, he has been constantly trying to hear of what he's been doing. He and his cousin were like the best of friends regardless, especially since the two have things in common. He missed seeing him, seeing him full of life until now while Kendrick himself seems to have lost it as now he's more secure, dark, and hard. Kendrick however couldn't dwell too much of the past as he can't do anything to change, there's no turning back in a path, there never was.

Kendrick sighs in melancholy, Oh buddy...I miss you, I wonder how you are at this very moment...

He then gets a hold of himself and goes back to concentrate at the task in hand, that's enough sentimentality for him, it's back to reality.

One and a half hour later

The trio reached Las Vegas and they decided to stop there and rest in a hotel for the night.

Well, in an abandoned hotel considering Las Vegas is completely in ruins.

They went to Bellagio, which was one of the best hotels to stay in Las Vegas, it's still looking fine, but it's still abandoned and somewhat in ruins due to parts of the hotel having collapsed.

The three went up to the 5th floor and went into a guest room, which is still intact, but the glass window is shattered, so they can feel the cold breeze.

"Alright, we'll stay here for the night. Tomorrow, we'll be heading our way. You two can get some rest on the beds."

"Ken, what about you?" Alex asked.

"I'll be just sleeping on the floor."

"Are you sure?"

"It's fine, you guys need them more than I do."

"Um...okay..." Logan slightly sounded worried, but Kendrick wouldn't mind that.

As Logan goes to seeing the view of the Sin City...

Well, I guess if you want something done right, do it yourself. Logan heard a faint voice, it haunted him. He didn't want to be back here at all...

Cause it had haunted him since then...


"Well, I guess if you want something done right, do it yourself." Logan comes to and wakes up only to be face to face with Rorke.

"Ah, you're awake. Good. Nice to have the family back together, isn't it? We're just missing our quiet friend. Where's Keegan?" Logan looks up and is tied to a chair, along with his dad in front of him and his brother Hesh to his right, Rorke leaned over to Elias asking where Keegan is.

"You know I'm not telling you a damn thing." His father glares at his once old friend.

"No? Well, let's see if I can change your mind." Rorke picks up an MP-443 Grach he had holstered and shoots Logan in the stomach. Logan felt the shoot just pierce into his body, trying to bear the pain in his stomach.

"No!"

"Son of a bitch! I'm going to kill you!" Hesh was already pissed off.

"Easy, junior. I ain't even started with you yet."

"Well, that's a start dickhead." Logan looks up and glares at Rorke.

"Logan! Look at me! Look at me, son!" Elias tries to call to him as Logan turns to look at his father.

"That's right, you look at him. That's it. Show him how much pain he's causing you. Funny thing about your old man. He lets his men die to save his own ass." Rorke pats Elias on the stomach and leans down next to him.

"Dammit, Rorke! This is between you and me! Leave my boys out of it!"

"You're talking to a superior, Lieutenant. Show some discipline."

"You were never one of us. You're not a Ghost!"

"Well..." Rorke then suddenly punches Elias in the face.

"That's just cause I'm better than you. I've always been better than you!" he punches him again.

"But you, you call yourself a Ghost?!" hits the Walker brothers' father again.

"You're nothing! You and your sons, you're dead! Your name dies with you."

In anger, Logan manages to escape from his restraints and jumps out the chair and attempts to grab Rorke's gun from him, Rorke grabs on to Logan's right arm, which is wielding the pistol.

"Woah! He's still got a little life left in him! Didn't he ever tell you not to aim guns at people? They could go off!" Rorke grunts and is able to get Logan to fire a shot at Elias.

"That's it, Just a little more that way! Come on!"

"Dammit, Rorke, stop!" Hesh shouted, trying to escape from his restraints, but no luck.

"Point...it...at...dad!" Rorke gets Logan to fire another shot at Elias and he lets go of Logan before he elbows Logan in the face, knocking Logan down to the floor.

"Logan! Logan!"

"Wooh! You got fire in you, kid. I like that. Risking your life to defend your Captain. You could learn something from him, Elias." Rorke turns to Elias.

"He's my son!" he angrily glares.

"Yeah...and he's going to get to watch you die." Rorke then shot Elias three times before he throws him to the ground, next to Logan.

"No! No! Dad! I'll kill you, you hear me?! I'll kill you, you son of a bitch! I'm gonna kill you! Motherfucker!" Hesh screams out from the top of his lungs at Rorke, now even going close into mercilessly trying to mutilate him with his bare hands if he have to.

Elias looks at Logan, smiling, "I'm proud of you, Logan. Everything's gonna be...okay."

"D-Dad..." Logan felt helpless.

Rorke places his foot on their father's head, and holds his pistol above Elias.

"Oh...you are right, Elias. I'm not a Ghost. I'm the man that hunts them, and sends them back to the other side." Rorke pulls the trigger and blood splattered in front of Logan's face, Logan opened his eyes to see his father's lifeless face, Logan was horrified.

"DAAAD! NOOO!" Logan heard his brother's cry. In a blink of an eye, they've lost their father, and it wasn't a peaceful death as well. Rorke took him away...

All because of hate, anger, and revenge...

Logan felt helpless and empty, he doesn't know what to do anymore...

Then, suddenly...

(Logan?) Logan heard a faint voice calling put to him.

(Logan? You okay? Logan!) The voice grew louder.


"Logan!" He awakens with a flinch, he didn't know he was standing for hours, sleeping.

Logan was surprised, he was sleeping while standing, how could he have been standing the whole time while sleeping?

"You okay?" Logan turns to see Kendrick, holding him by the right shoulder. He's as usual still in his mask, but there was a little hint of worry in Kendrick's voice.

"I...I...I'm...not...sure..."

"What's wrong?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"I don't understand, what's bothering you? If it's again about your decision, we've already talked about this."

"No, it's not that at all!" Logan looks down with a slight depressed face that he thought would at least be not recognizable for Kendrick to see what he's feeling.

"...It's...something really personal that I don't want to talk about."

"I see... We'll talk about this tomorrow alright. In the mean time, get in bed and rest. We got a big day ahead of us Logan, we're already near." Logan nodded at Kendrick's reply with a small smile as Logan and Kendrick go to call it a day.

Logan, however, wondered if Kendrick looked into his mind to see what he's been thinking.

But regardless, he and Logan will talk about this tomorrow when they wake up.


Tried my best and I might have made things weird or what, but hey, manage to update the story after so long.

Hope that wait was worth it.

The song that was in the story is There's Something Dark by Dustin Kensrue, I like the meaning behind the song, even Kendrick sees the meaning and message of the song. So I thought of adding it here.

The link to the song: /watch?v=AQkwv0X3JfM (search in YouTube)

Reviews are appreciated, and sorry for the long wait haha