Chapter 11 – The End
A/N: Here it is the final chapter. Thankyou to all the support I've received throughout the story and I know that I haven't updated in a while but exams and work has taken over my life and this is the first time I've been able to sit down and write. I've been thinking of doing a one shot series with requests so please leave what you think of that idea in the comments. Reviews are my payment! Enjoy!
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The scramble was instant, the blaring lights and bustling doctors once again tended to Edward. The ragged flesh on his face oozing with thick blood, the burns being more prevalent on his arms. The nurses rushed him into theatre where the doctors were waiting; similar groaning patients decked the halls as the victims of the blast were treated.
Hours later, Edward was wheeled out into the ward, the white bandages obscuring most of his face, only the odd bit of bloody or charred flesh visible in the odd gap between the white tapes. The moon once again drifts slowly over the horizon, eventually being replaced by the warm sun, beaming down into the room. Now conscious, his good eye scanned around the room, trying to make sense of the brilliant white surroundings.
"You were hit by an explosion" a seemingly omnipotent voice boomed in the room, making Ed flinch.
"Where?" he asked
"The laboratory. Your father, Doctor Brenner, was killed in the incident. He named you as his successor"
"Very well; I know who planted it, or at least, I think I know"
"Who do you think it was sir?" the doctor asked
"My Brother, Luke, have him brought here so we can interrogate him"
"Yes Sir" the doctor left the room, leaving Edward in silence once again.
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The scramble at the house was akin to that of the hospital. Edward stuffed as much food, ammunition, supplies and money as he could before entering his brother's room and taking the SLR off of the wall, checking its chamber for ammunition. Before leaving he lit a candle in the hallway landing, making sure it wasn't to go out, racing downstairs he left for the utilities room and using a spanner broke the gas pipes connected to the heater. Taking one last look of the house he sprinted off into the woodland; the green camouflage concealing him from view.
Eventually, he reached his destination. The little covert gave him some comfort; he kicked off the little shelter and checked the little girl in it for cuts and injuries. Finding none, he hugged her tight once again before dragging her by her hand through the forest.
"We've got to go 13, bad men are coming"
"Papa?" She asked timidly, still running through the forest
"Papa's dead, I made sure of that"
"Where go?" she asked with her limited vocabulary.
"I've got somewhere to go, found it last month" His heart now felt like bursting but onwards he ran. If he slowed down now they would find them quickly and he didn't want to think what would happen if he got caught.
What seemed like hours later, although was probably minutes; they finally came across the spot. A wooden shack; dilapidated and run down but still offering some protection from the elements, came into view.
"Here it is" Luke said, gasping for breath.
"Home" 13 said, taking in the sight of the inconspicuous little building.
They entered the building, checking cautiously for anyone who may have already been there. In one corner, a camouflage tarpaulin lay stretched over some tattered beams; a small electric heater nestled in one corner and a trap door leading to a cavity below.
The reason why I didn't bring you here first is because it's too out of the way. I wouldn't have been able to bring you food without anyone thinking something was up" Luke explained, setting out a couple of sleeping bags and giving her a tinfoil package with a curry like mixture in it. He placed the spare items under the trap door and cocked the rifle, the metallic ring making him flinch ever so slightly.
"Thankyou" thirteen said, her innocent eyes welling up in tears as she lay down on her sleeping bag.
Luke pulled out his pistol from his belt.
"If any of the bad men come for you, I want you to use this" he handed her the black metal object.
"What you do is you point at them and squeeze this trigger here. Don't point it at me or you otherwise it could hurt us. If you don't have to use it, don't. But if you do, make sure it counts" he showed her the features of the pistol before turning the safety back on and handed her it back again.
"I've got something to take care of, if I'm not back in one hour, take the stuff from underneath there and run as far as you can. Stay in hiding and stay safe" he ruffled what little hair she had before turning to leave at the door, her sunken eyes staring right at him.
He walked through the forest, rifle ready to hand, as he furtively made his way through the woods; the leafy foliage giving him apt cover from any prying eyes. The adrenaline coursed through his body, making his hands shake. The fear he felt wasn't for him, he was ready to fight to the death, but for 13 and Will. If they ever found either of them or found Will helping, he knew he would be forced to watch their deaths.
It was a thought that made him shudder.
Focusing back on the task, Luke made his way towards the rear of the Byers' household. Seeing Will drawing at his table, he took off his watch and shone the bright summer sun into his eyes to grab his attention. Will flinched as the light blinded him, before seeing Luke in the woods. He went out, acting casually to distract any attention from them and met with him behind a bush.
"What the hell is the matter" he asked.
"Brenner's dead, the entire CIA is looking for me and Edward is probably hell bent on revenge. Forget you ever saw me and move on. 13 is no longer at the usual spot. Go, forget about me." Luke half panted, glancing everywhere cautiously for anybody watching.
"What? You're not making sense" Will said, visibly upset.
"Listen Will. In the next three days it is highly possible I will be dead. Please, forget about me like nothing happened" Luke hugged him tightly one last time before breaking away and leaving a crying Will behind him as he disappeared into the forest.
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The thundering explosion echoed across the forest, the fireball soaring into the sky like a fiery eagle.
"What the hell was that?" a military officer asked Edward.
"A distraction, we need to target the ones he knows in order to find him"
"May you remind me who this guy is?" the officer asked, doubting Edward's plan.
"He is a trained soldier and a good one at that, Luke is one of the best marksmen I have ever known and with his knowledge he can't be allowed to live"
"Where do we go then" the officer threw his hands up in the air.
"Find the Byers' residence. Target them first" Edward answered coldly.
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The parade of armoured vehicles pulled up unceremoniously into the driveway, men clad in green and carrying assault rifles poured out of the trucks and took position behind them, aiming their guns at the building. Edward stepped out, un-phased by the commotion of the soldiers, and drew his pistol.
Seeing the commotion and the trucks pull up, Joyce immediately ran to the door. She opened it and started to march towards the bandaged man with the lab coat on, getting about five steps in before said man raised his pistol and delivered one fatal shot between her eyes, sending her crashing to the floor and a pool of blood oozing out from the exit wound.
Will saw what happened and screamed in terror, the image of his dead mother forever scarred onto his mind. He fled into the garden before a perfectly aimed taser sent him into a fit on the ground, his tiny body being racked with the current passing through him.
The next thing he knew, a blinding light shone straight into bus eyes and a masked man sat opposite him. His hands were bound to a stool using rope.
"Where am I? What did you do to my mom!" he demanded, struggling against your constraints.
"Your mother is dead, if you don't do as you say, that's how you will end up as well" the voice replied coldly.
"Where is Luke Brenner" the voice behind the mask demanded.
"I don't know" Will answered honestly.
"You're lying" the masked man pressed a button, making Will's muscles go tense. After a while the current stopped and Will threw up a load of water onto the tiled floor.
"Where is Luke Brenner?" he repeated, even more determinedly this time.
Again the pulse repeated. Over and over the charge shocked him, each time his voice becoming fainter and fainter until eventually it was just a whisper.
"Take him with us, restrain him" the masked man ordered as two guards grabbed him and dragged him out of the room, a hood being placed onto him, blinding him from the world.
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The crunch of leaves was Luke's only companion to his heartbeat. The sun had set and now mauve shades streaked the night sky, the deep blue sky itself looming over him like a veil. Crouching and sighting his scopes, he scanned the woodland for any signs of movement yet again before returning to the cabin.
13 was huddled in a corner, trying desperately to keep warm. He took off his coat and gave it to her, adding to the cocoon of fabric she had made around herself. Luke climbed up the ladder into a slightly less decayed part of the loft, resting his rifle on a gap in the roof tiles, giving him a concealed point to fire on any intruders. The sun drifted slower and slower over the horizon, 13 got into the sleeping bag as Luke kept watch, his eyes not blinking on the dark shadows of the woods.
Luke awoke with a start, the whizz of a bullet awakening him from his slumber. He rushed down to see 13 awake as well, the fear in her eyes making him panic. He took aim, ready to fire at any intruder but as he did so, the rattle of machine gun fire opened up and sent wood and bits of shrapnel flying in the cabin. Throwing himself over 13, Luke waited for the firing to stop before he grabbed her hand and ran out the back. Onwards they ran before the rumble of armoured vehicles filled the air making them twist at right angles. Once again met with the same rumble, Luke was beginning to despair. Seeing a ditch close by, he shoved 13 into it before running off himself, firing a couple of shots in the air once far away enough, to grab their attention. The rumbling grew louder and soon the crackle of bullets filled the air as Luke ran through the woods. Seeing his only hope, he dove down into a deep ditch, concealed by trees and heavy foliage on one side and waited for the soldiers. Taking a deep breath he calmed himself for the coming storm, his rifle shaking slightly in his hands.
The first troop broke through the cover and into the clearing. Luke took aim and fired a single shot into his shoulder, sending him whizzing round and bleeding out. Sure enough, two other soldiers came to try and retrieve their wounded friend; but they too were picked off by Luke's accurate fire. Seeing what was happening, the soldiers behind them blew their whistles and fired on Luke, their bullets kicking up the dirt in front of him, narrowly going over his head. Luke returned fire, sending lead into the foliage; every once in a while a shot being met with a sickening thud or crack as metal met flesh. He pulled out one of the small pipe bombs he had stored in the cabin and lit the fuse, throwing it into the foliage. A second of silence followed; then a deafening blast lit up the valley; the bushes been blown to pieces as dead and wounded men lay in the open. More soldiers followed, Luke aiming carefully before firing at them, picking each one off. Eventually they too found cover and it returned to the blind firing between them. Heavier fire was exchanged more and more soldiers joining the fray against Luke.
Suddenly, the clearing went quiet, the firing stopped and Luke braced himself for the continued fire, but was met with yet more silence. The smoke cleared and eventually a single figure stood in the clearing with two figures bent over and kneeling on the floor. Luke didn't recognise them at first.
"Come here Luke, that's no way to great your dear brother" Edward said sardonically.
The realisation hit him; the scarred and mangled face belonged to his brother, now standing in front of him with two prisoners at his mercy.
"Let the others go Edward, they didn't do anything. This is between me and you" Luke said, keeping the rifle pointed towards his brother.
"Luke there's no point in trying to threaten me, you ran out of bullets long ago" Edward sighed.
Edward leant down and pulled the hoods off of the two Prisoners, revealing a dishevelled 13 and Will kneeling down. The blood ran cold in Luke's veins.
"Let them go Edward, they aren't part of this" Luke half pleaded, noticing the maddened look in Edward's eyes.
"Do you remember what happened in the Falkland's Luke? We made a pact then; after the war. An eye for an Eye" Edward said darkly.
"This is for causing this" he motioned to his face with the pistol "And for murdering my father" When he finished his sentenced he pointed the pistol at 13 first and squeezed the trigger, her lifeless body slumping over into the dirt, swivelling his hand without breaking eye contact from Luke he pointed the gun at Will and did the same, sending his brains flying out into the bullet ridden dirt, some of which got on Luke's face.
Seeing the gore, Luke felt something in his brain snap. His eyes grew dark, his heart rate slowed and he wanted nothing more than to butcher everyone there. Seeing red, he ran towards Edward who shot him in the left arm, sending him to the floor in pain.
"Now we are even. One bullet each, ten paces. One of the officers will judge" He handed a revolver to Luke, who understood the gesture and got up, clutching his wounded arm.
The two stood back to back and drew their guns.
"Goodbye coward" Edward said.
"If I die first, I get the honour of dragging you to hell personally" Luke quipped darkly, his eyes still a violent blackness.
The two marched slowly, counting out the paces.
"One, Two, Three, Four, and Five..." the two braced themselves.
Upon reaching ten, each stopped, still facing the opposite way. An officer in the middle readied himself, their breaths hitching in the early morning air.
The birds chirped haplessly in the sunlight, their orchestra serenading the dark event happening below the trees, trying to drown out its evil, malice and blackness with its light and cheerful song. Luke took in the sound, closing his eyes briefly to savour the moment.
"Draw!" The officer shouted. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion.
Luke whipped around on his feet, ignoring the stabbing throb of his left arm and raised his pistol, aiming it squarely at the gap just to the left of Edward's sternum. He squeezed the trigger and sent the lead bullet flying through the air; but not before it reached its target; a sickening crack echoed inside Luke's body, as Edward's bullet hit his chest in the exact same spot.
Both whipped around with the force of the shots, odd gurgling noises coming out of their mouths as their lungs filled with blood, spilling out onto the muddy earth. Luke somehow managed to craw to Will's lifeless body. Taking his bloody head in his hands and weeping over it one last time. He kissed his forehead gently, missing the open wound where the bullet flew out of before slumping down onto the ground. He gazed up into the tree canopy; their long tendrils fringing his vision as the blue sky above him hung lazily over ht scene; silent witness to this murder of innocence. His sight grew dark and his head grew hazy. He could no longer feel the piercing wound in his side nor could he feel the wound in his arm. The trees grew longer and longer, swallowing his vision entirely before all turned to black as he sighed out one last strangled breath and his body fell limp.
The Evil of Brenner was finally over.
The End
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That's it! Thankyou for reading and I hope it wasn't too dark for you. I'm thinking of doing a one shot series with requests off of you guys and they can be as dark or as light as you want, I don't mind writing either way. Please leave a review if you liked this story and if you have any suggestions for the one shot series. Goodbye!
