Love Struck

Chapter 221 – Double Death

Archer's POV

"Done." I said to myself as I stood up with the stitches set.

Looking around in amazement I began to climb back up to where I had fallen.

"There you are." I stated as I picked up my second pick from out of the sand.

Wiping it off I placed both picks on my side and began to head for where the damage was done to my friends.

As I neared the downed boulder siding I saw blood all over this on ledge. Checking the blood to be cold I noticed a few gray quills.

"Raptor!?" I shouted in hopes of hearing him.

Getting nothing but echos I began to follow forward.

I began to notice blood leading around the other side and in worry I followed it to find nothing but the red cold goo.

"Oh my god." I stated silently as I approached the basic puddle.

Looking around as I neared laid dead hyenas. I'd hate to see that they got one of them, but it looks like they killed the whole pack. But by the looks they did their damage.

Bending down I saw black and red quills mixed with some gray. Raptor must have found him. If that's true then Shadow is worse then he is.

"Raptor!? Shadow!?" I screamed as I listened to my echo.

As I began to walk around I saw Raptor's M9 laying in some sand.

Picking it up I knew it was his because it had his mark on it. He puts his age and name on the side. Raptor always said people would find his weapons before they would be able to find him. Said it was not the same as dieing. Said it took skill to die unarmed and that if it got to that point then no enemy had killed him, but his own failure to survive the aftershock. Raptor's a god damn poet even if he's all muscle and scary tact. Still though...doesn't mean he's not out here somewhere begging for me to find him.

"Raptor!?" I shouted as I got no response.

Shaking my head I took his gun and began to look around.

I had to find them and from what I can see they didn't go far. They couldn't have by all this blood.

As I looked around I saw a cliff going upward. A good seventy five feet at least. The highest point if I had to guess he might have had a chance to reach to be able to get a call through from down here.

Quickly I ran for the cliff and began my climb up. God I hopes he's ok.

Raptor's POV

"Raptor?" I heard as I moved my head to the side.

"Come on Raptor, pull yourself up." Someone said as I attempted to look to my side.

Through blurry vision I saw feet. Boots for a fact.

"Huh?" I mumbled as I saw the figure bend down next to me placing his hand on my shoulder.

It was so cold, it felt like that night all over again.

"You can't tell me this is all you got! I mean come on! Special forces and you have a baby coming and your just going to give up here and die on all you care about!?" The voice asked as I replied.

"Shut up...you have no idea what it feels like to be...me right...now."

"Do I?" Asked the figure as I tried to see who it was.

Slowly lifting my head I opened my eyes to see.

"I think I do." Stated Frost as he smiled with his hand on my shoulder.

"Frost?" I questioned in shock as he smiled wider.

"Come on get up Raptor. Let's go!" He urged me as he raised me to my feet.

Falling right back down he shouted.

"Come on! Your dying here on me! At least try!" He begged as I cried in pain.

"I can't move Frost!" I stated as he shook his head.

"Your a wimp!"

"No...I'm not." I replied as he rested down on his butt next to my head.

"If your not then get up and find a way out."

"Help...me." I begged as he shook his head.

"Nah. Your on your own with that." He stated as I asked.

"Why not?!"

Losing his smile he looked back at my eyes and replied.

"How can I help? I'm dead?!"

In confusion I lifted up my hand and replied.

"You can't be...your right...here." I stated as I went to touch his leg.

Smiling I went through him and he said.

"I'm long gone Raptor. I'm dead. You don't want to die too right?" He asked as I nodded letting my hand fall in the sand.

"Then get up and find a way out and don't forget Shadow."

"o...k." I replied as he began to fade.

"Bye Raptor. I'll be there when you need me."

Closing my eyes I knew he was gone and as I was about to fall asleep I heard.

"Raptor!"

"Ughhh! What?!" I asked as I opened my eyes to see Archer there in fear.

"Oh my god stay where you are!" He begged as he got down in front of me.

This can't be real.

"Archer?" I questioned as he replied.

"Relax Raptor! I have you! Where's Shadow!?"

Reaching for his hand I felt him as I let it rest in his palm.

Archer held my hand tight as I shut my eyes.

"Raptor?!" He shouted as I tried to open my eyes.

Gently he got in my view and asked.

"Where's Shadow?! Where is he!?"

In pain I replied.

"The cave...below the...cliff. He's...gone Archer...I'm sorry." I stated as he lowered his head.

"How?" He asked as I replied.

"He...died in my arms. He...?" Gently I was cut off by Archer's warm hand.

"Don't Raptor. I'm here now and your ok. I'm going to get you out of here."

"What about...Shadow?" I asked as he looked down the cliff.

"I need to get you down there so I can signal the team up topside and get us all out. Are you able to move?"

Nodding Archer gently took me in his arms.

"Hold on tight." He ordered as he neared the cliff.

Holding his armor as tight as I could I shut my eyes as he slid down the sand and rock.

Reaching the bottom he let me down on my butt and slowly he sat down and asked.

"I'm going to get Shadow then I'll be right back. Just stay here, ok?"

Nodding I replied.

"He's...in the back."

Nodding Archer patted my shoulder and ran for the cave.

Archer's POV

I quickly ran into the cave to see the blood trail they must have left from last night. God was it cold in here. Running further into the cave it began to get dark.

I quickly went to my side and popped that flare Wreak gave me.

The cave was deep red now as I looked about to hopefully find Shadow's body. With my hope now gone I stared around the cave to find not a single body near me or the blood.

He had to be somewhere. This cave ends in here.

Looking around I turned to see something near the exit to the cave.

Quickly I ran over to see it was Shadow.

"Oh god!" I shouted to myself as I saw he was frozen solid.

Getting on my knees I checked his pulse to lower my head to fear that worse had become true.

"God damn it!" I shouted in anger as I took his arm.

"Come on Commander. I'll get you out of this hole. It's the least I can do for all you have done." I stated as I carried him only a few feet out from the cave entrance.

Raptor lowered his head as I came forward and in sadness I let Shadow's body rest down and in tears Raptor asked.

"What now?"

Reaching for my flare gun I replied.

"Now I get you out of here."

Death's POV

"DON'T YOU DARE DIE YOU PEICE OF SHIT! YOU BETTER GET YOUR ASS UP AND MOVING RIGHT NOW OR I SWEAR TO GOD EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE UP TO THIS POINT WILL BE WORTH NOTHING! GET THE FUCK UP RIGHT NOW! NOWWWWWW!

Two major things just happened there.

1. where was Shadow when Raptor left him compared to when Archer just found him?

2. Why does Death sound like a motivator? Can you figure out the truth behind his cling to Shadow, Raptor, and Ghost? I know the truth and the ending now and I will say this now. It is very insane.