Chapter 10

Like Father Like Daughter

Little by little, I was able to move my hand. Royce was setting up the traps and then I saw that beast walk into the camp and tried to be as quiet as possible. It was looking around and I was slowly started to move my arms and feet. There was a large explosion and my eyes went wide.

I have to admit…I love it when things go boom!

I kept wiggling and I was able to smile and talk a bit. I saw walls of fire start up and I took a deep breath. I slowly sat up and then crawled closer to the camp. The beast was looking for him. I found a tree behind one of the fire walls and hoisted myself up. I saw Royce running around and the beast couldn't find him. Eventually I saw it fire at a tree and Royce fell to the ground. My eyes went wide and I moved forward. The paralysis was nearly gone, the only thing I had trouble moving were my shoulders.

"Hey!"

It turned and I saw it's face. I was afraid, but I wouldn't show it. I held up my hand and beckoned it forward.

"How about you fight someone more capable. Come on bastardo!"

It threw Royce to the side and looked at me. I had his large knife in my hand, or more like a small sword. In the other I held a large knife.

"Come on." I taunted.

It roared and ran at me. Mama had taught me hand to hand combat. Just because this thing was bigger than me, stronger than me, it didn't mean I could fight it. Looked at the gun on it shoulder and aimed for it. I knocked it off and the thing threw me threw the air. I looked at it and pulled myself up.

"Is that all you've got?" I hissed.

It roared again and I threw myself at it. It grabbed me by the throat and I struggled to breath. Dug my nails into its scaly skin but it didn't work. The beast threw me. I rolled but it still cut my shoulder open. It looked at me and I smirked.

"You are one ugly motherfucker." I said.

I got up again and slid between it's legs, shoving my knife into it's back. It roared in pain and I got to Royce. I dragged him to the side and out of the way. I ran back out and took Royce's big knife. I twirled it in my hand and looked at the beast.

"Let's dance."

It ran at me and I ducked as it swung. It was much stronger than I was, but I was much quicker. I cut its leg and arm before it grabbed me. I kicked it in the chest and it threw me. I hit a tree and fell to the ground. I looked up and found it walking towards me.

"Go on then. I'm ready to die."

It fired another blade and it hit me in the chest. It roared at me but then it fell to its knees. Royce had an axe in his hand and he swung at the beast until its head was off. Green blood spewed from the body and I slowly stood up. Royce fell to his knees.

Royce's POV

I looked at my kid and saw a blade in her chest. Right into her heart.

"NO!"

I ran to her and she looked at me.

"Did you kill it?"

I nodded and looked at her.

"Don't worry about it."

"What?! You have a knife stuck through your heart."

"Oh yeah I forgot to tell you. When you shot mama, the bullet caused a sort of damage to me. My heart is on the right side."

My eyes went wide. She smiled and laughed a bit.

"You didn't see that coming."

I still didn't know what to say.

"Give me your gun."

I didn't move. She rolled my eyes and took it her self. She took a deep breath and pulled the knife out. She had water in my bag and she poured what was left on the wound. She fired the gun and then pressed it against the knife wound. She screamed and then let the gun fall. There were tears in her eyes and I took her hand.

"Where did you learn to do that?"

"Mama taught me. She told me-"

"That I taught her?"

She nodded. I smiled a it and then sighed.

"I'm sorry."

"So am I."

Valentina's POV

He looked so sad. I sat up and hugged him.

"I love you papa."

He held me tightly.

"I love you too kid."

I laughed a bit and then pulled away.

"I'm proud of you Val. I know your mother is too. You've made me very proud."

I smiled even more. He stood up and pulled me with him.

"I should've been there. I never should've left your mother in the first place. You look just like her, well except your eyes."

I smiled.

"Mama said she loved your eyes. She said she always saw you when she looked at me. I would ask people in neighboring towns for information about you. I wanted mama to be able to see you one more time before she died."

I turned around and looked up at the sky.

"I swear I did everything I could to help her. I went everywhere I could, all over the U.S. and Mexico…I even went to Canada."

"What was wrong?"

"Cancer. There was nothing I could do, nothing anyone could do."

"When did she get sick?"

"A few months before I turned fifteen. She died only a month after I turned seventeen. Actually…I think I'm eighteen now. Yeah, because yesterday was the twentieth. Huh, I'm eighteen."

He turned me around and smiled.

"Happy birthday honey."

"Thanks papa. Happy birthday."

I hugged him again.

Royce's POV

I had a strong and beautiful daughter.

"There's no doubt you're my kid. I'm sorry that I denied it for so long."

She smiled at me. She had her mother's smile.

"I denied it too. You weren't the man mama described. At least not at first."

I smirked and nodded.

"Your mother always brought out the best in me. She wasn't afraid to call me out on my crap. She was the only one I ever trusted. She may be gone, but she left me something to remember her by." I stroked her hair. "You."

She smiled again and nodded. She was such a beautiful girl. Then I realized something.

"You don't have a boyfriend do you?"

"No. I never had the time."

I sighed in relief.

"Good. Lets keep it that way."

She laughed a bit. I took the necklace from my neck and put it in her hand.

"Your mother gave me this a long time ago. I want you to have it, and I know she would to."

She smiled and I put it around her neck. I smiled at her and pat her shoulder.

"Now let's find a way home." I said.

She nodded and stood up. She held out her hand and I looked at her.

"Together. Father and daughter."

I took her hand and stood up.

"Until the end, kid."

She smiled.

"You know, every time I look at you I see your mother. But you're just like me."

"Like father like daughter."

"Yeah."

I put my hand on her head and stroked her hair.

Thank you Esperanza. Thank you for giving me her.