*Updated 16-05-2018*
Chapter 54 - Shadow Man
Another morning broke on Rook Island and everyone was in a slump.
Nothing had happened; they were all waiting for Liza to come to them. Rosa, Vaas, Jane and Raul were all sat around together, lying in the sun. Jane and Raul were huddled together - Rosa nudged Vaas and the pair giggled.
"What's so funny?" Jane asked, sitting up a little.
"You two. It's weird having another couple on the island." Rosa said, in between laughter.
"Oh, we're ... we're ..." Jane couldn't finish the sentence, flushing bright red before lying further down.
Raul glared at the pair and flipped them the finger. Vaas and Rosa made noises like school children and started laughing again. Both of them had had an early morning drink of Vaas' special tea and were slightly high.
"VAAS! WE'VE GOT SOMEONE FOR YOU!" shouted Phillipe, making everyone jump and sit up.
"SNOW?"
"NO, SOMEBODY BETTER! WE GOT SHADOW MAN!"
Shadow Man was something of a mythical man to Rook Island; not many people knew about him. Pirates had tried to capture him; it was near impossible. He had the appearance of an ape and looked like he hadn't washed in a long time. Anyone that did see him usually avoided him - some said he was nearly as insane as Vaas.
"YOU GOT SHADOW MAN? SHIT, LET ME SEE!" Vaas called as he and Rosa scrambled to their feet.
Phillipe and another pirate were dragging him in, his feet trailing along the ground. His head was down but he was mumbling to himself. His clothes were ripped and his messy black hair looked filthy.
Vaas grabbed the hair without a care and pulled the man's head up. His eyes were twitching, darting around and he continued mumbling.
"So, we finally got you, eh hermano? Who are you?" Vaas asked. S
hadow Man's eyes diverted as he caught sight of Rosa. He smiled wide, displaying his crooked, yellow teeth.
"B - B - Beautif ... Beautiful lady." he stuttered before he laughed wildly.
Rosa pulled her gun from her holster, cocked it and pressed it to the man's head.
"You have 20 seconds to tell us who the fuck you are." she growled but Shadow Man continued laughing, an unhinged, crazed laugh.
"You might as well ... k - kill me!" he whooped.
Vaas brought a fist crashing into his face, sending him backwards a little but he was not deterred. Vaas sighed loudly and motioned for the pirates to drop him on the floor.
"How did you get him?" Rosa asked, staring at the heap on the floor.
"We found him in this weird shack thing, it looked like a plane wreckage. We thought some people had crashed on the island, you know? But we get closer and we hear this laughter, finding him inside. We knocked him out and brought him here. Such a fucking weirdo." Phillipe explained, holding all of the attention of everyone around him.
Shadow Man was still on the floor, now giggling.
"Wait here." Rosa said and she ran into Doctor Earnhardt's shack.
There was some scraping and shouting from Rosa and she then emerged with Doctor Earnhardt.
"Give him something, Doc." she instructed.
The Doctor mumbled and then pulled out a syringe filled with yellow liquid. He picked up the man's arm and plunged the syringe in, Shadow Man not feeling a thing.
"That should calm him down in a few moments. I'm going back to bed." Doctor Earnhardt moaned and he stumbled away, singing to himself.
"Sit him on that couch over there." Vaas said.
Phillipe and the other pirate hauled him to his feet and dropped him down on the couch. Everyone was crowded around the man, in awe that Phillipe had actually managed to catch Shadow Man.
"Good fucking work, Phil. You can have whatever you want tonight." Vaas said.
The man smiled.
"Thanks Boss! I'll have a think about it."
Phillipe was always a humble man.
Shadow Man started to stir as everyone held their breath.
"Can we stop crowding him, fucking hell." Rosa said, exasperated.
Some of the men wandered off, giving everyone some more room.
"Shadow Man?" Jane whispered to Rosa.
"I always thought he was a myth, I didn't know he was real. He's been around since I can remember."
The mans eyes flicked open and he screamed, making everyone around him jump back.
"Where am I?" he asked.
"Tell us who you are first, otherwise I won't fucking hesitate to kill you." Vaas threatened.
"Wow, someone's fiesty. The name's Walter. Where can I get a fucking drink around here?" the man croaked, sitting up.
"Raul, get him some water." Rosa said.
Raul ran off and came swiftly back with a canteen, handing it to Walter who happily gulped it down.
"So, what are you doing on this island?" she asked.
Walter chuckled.
"That's my own fucking business, lady." he replied.
Without hesitation, everyone around him pulled out a gun and aimed it.
"I'm here because I fucked up, okay? Rook was nice, I came here, end of story."
"Are you aware of someone called Liza Snow on this island?" Rosa asked.
"Snow? Yeah, I've seen her."
Doctor Earnhardt didn't tell them how long the drugs would work for and they were starting to wear off.
"I can tell you more, but what's in it for me?"
Vaas and Rosa looked at each other and she nodded before mouthing 'Let him.'
"You can stay with us, hermano. You'll be safe here at least. It sounds like we might need you."
Walter laughed manically again.
"Ooookay. She's been with some guy, he has this deer thing tattooed onto his chest and like r-really tiny shorts on. He's been training her to fight and to kill. To kill specific people. Vaas. Hoyt. And the lady."
"THAT MOTHER FUCKER, BUCK? I'M GOING TO KILL HIM!" Rosa screamed.
She pulled her gun and shot the pirate next to her.
"ROSA! CALM THE FUCK DOWN!" Vaas yelled.
Jumping in front of her, he held her arms to her sides. Rosa's breathing was rapid and her eyes were wild with murder.
"Hermano, who's he coming for first?" Vaas said, but never once leaving his eyes from Rosa's.
She relaxed a little and he slowly let go of her arms and pulled her over to him.
"I think she's going for the man. The big boss." Walter said and he smiled to himself, "I've never felt so calm. It's nice."
Rosa was pacing.
"She's going for Hoyt. Shit, shit, shit, Vaas, she's going for Hoyt."
"Princesa, it's okay. Snow won't get near him."
"What do we do?" Jane asked as Raul put his arm around her.
"The stars look so pretty." mumbled Walter.
It was sunlight, no stars were out. The drugs must have worn off.
"We've got to tell Hoyt." Rosa said and Vaas nodded.
"Tell Hoyt what?" came a voice.
Everyone turned and Walter fell off of the couch.
Hoyt was stood, his arms crossed, tapping his foot.
"HOYT!"
Rosa rushed over and hugged him, hard.
"I wasn't expecting a fucking welcome party seeing as I'm not here to deliver good news. I'm pissed off."
Rosa stopped hugging him and stepped backwards.
"What's wrong? Hoyt, you shouldn't be here without protection. Snow is after us."
"That's who I'm fucking here about! Vaas, if you had been paying any fucking attention you would notice that my drug delivery didn't come in. Turns out Snow fucking burned it all. That's right! SHE BURNT IT ALL! WHAT THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN DOING?"
Some pirates dispersed out, leaving Vaas and Rosa stood in front of Hoyt. Phillipe, Raul and Jane were stood to the sidelines.
"That bitch." Rosa said, her tone murderous, "I bet this was all Buck's idea. I'm going to kill them both."
"WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT BUCK? VAAS, IT'S BY MY GOOD GRACE THAT YOUR HEAD ISN'T ON THE ANTENNA OF MY CAR!" Hoyt yelled, flecks of spit flying from his mouth.
Phillipe looked up and rolled his eyes. He was about to light a cigarette, when he stopped and looked up again. Over the top of the wall of the compound was the barrel of a sniper rifle and a flash of a hand.
It was aimed at Hoyt.
"HOYT, LOOK OUT!" shouted Phillipe.
Nobody had time to react before Phillipe dove in front of Hoyt, a bullet being fired. Everything seemed in slow motion as the bullet hit Phillipe in the middle of his breast plate, blood splattering everywhere.
"PHIL, NO!" screamed Rosa, everyone turning to look.
Pandemonium broke out; men were running out of the compound to kill as guns were being fired. Hoyt was stood in shock and Jane put her arm around him and lead him into a warehouse with Raul.
"Phillipe, you're not fucking dying okay? Come on, please. You helped me, I can help you."
Rosa was holding the dying man in her arms, Vaas crouched next to her.
"Thanks for everything, Phil." Vaas whispered.
Phillipe smiled softly.
"Anytime, boss. I had a wicked time with you." he groaned, wincing sharply in pain.
"Phil, please. You can't go like this."
"YOU NEED TO GET IN! SHE'S COMING FOR YOU!" Raul screamed from the door of a warehouse.
Everyone had run in for protection as a couple pirates lay dead on the floor.
"ROSA, WE NEED TO GO!" Vaas was on his feet.
"I'M NOT LEAVING HIM LIKE THIS!"
"Rosa, go. I'm dying, it's no use."
"Phil, don't say that. We're gonna get you better, Doc will sort you ou -"
"Shh, go. Vaas needs you. Go. Be brave, Rosa." Phillipe groaned.
Rosa couldn't stop the tears as she kissed him on the forehead.
"Thank you, Phillipe." she whispered but the man was already gone.
Before she knew it, Vaas picked Rosa up and put her over his shoulder, the girl kicking and screaming. He ran into the warehouse with her and Raul slammed the door shut. Vaas put her down, slowly.
"We can give him a burial, princesa, I promise." Vaas muttered to Rosa.
"WHY DID YOU HAVE TO COME OVER? YOU COULD HAVE TOLD US ON THE PHONE!" Rosa screamed at Hoyt.
"I didn't know, my English Rose. I'm sorry, okay. I'm sorry." Hoyt said.
Everyone stood silent, listening out for any more shots as Rosa steadied her breath, wiping away her tears.
"Hoyt wasn't to know, hermana. I can't believe that bitch. I can't believe it." Vaas said with a sigh.
Rosa pushed past Hoyt, Vaas, Jane and Raul and ran up into the weapon area. She pulled a machine gun, some knives and a pistol, filling her holster.
"Hermana, what are you doing?" Vaas asked as he stroked her arm, trying to comfort her.
"I'm going to kill that bitch if it's the last thing I do." she hissed.
She turned to face Vaas and he wiped a single tear on her cheek with his thumb and kissed her.
"I'm with you then. Let's bring her down once and for all. BOYS, WE'RE KILLING THIS CUNT!"
Hey guys! Another OC as contributed to by Commando64! It was too good not to include! I think you're going to like Shadow Man! And aw, Philipe :( At least he didn't die in vain! The next chapter will be action packed, so be prepare! Happy reading :)