Ride with the Reaper
The wait was unbearable for the young merc, the stuffy stale air was thick with trepidation. At any moment, a doctor could come through those doors and tell him that his mother was dead. The merc's normally comrades sat around him, a thick cloud of despair hanging over them. That's when they heard it, the clacking of shoes on linoleum. This is the moment of truth.
A young-looking doctor stopped in the waiting room, his eyes scanning the crowd of people before calling out for the Loud family. Lincoln stood up, a solid lump held firmly in his throat as he tried to speak.
"Yeah, Is my mother ok?" Lincoln finally managed to squeak out
"I'm afraid it's not looking good; the cancer has spread rather rapidly. I am afraid that your mother doesn't have much time left. I'm very sorry tell you this, but I suggest you say your goodbyes now while she's awake" The doctor said solemnly
"Thanks doc" Lincoln said politely, brushing past the man.
The walk from the waiting room to his mother hospital room felt like trekking through the Sahara Desert, almost painfully unbearable. The young man steeled his nerves and entered the room, almost breaking down upon seeing his mother.
The woman who'd birthed and raised him throughout the years, was reduced to a frail and feeble state. The sight had brought a pain to Lincoln's heart, a task not done easily to the mercenary.
"Mom? You awake?" Lincoln asked gently
"Lincoln, my baby boy" The older woman croaked "Please come in, I have a few things I need to tell you dear"
The merc state by her side, placing a finger to her lips to tell her to conserve her strength.
"No, I have to apologise to you. I should have not given into your sister's superstitions, causing you so much pain. I was a terrible mother, I thought losing you was punishment enough, but it seems god has other plans for me" The woman sobs, breaking the ash haired boys heart even more "Can you ever forgive such a foolish woman?"
"Mom, I forgive you. Maybe in the earlier years way from the family I may have blamed you, but I forgave you as I forgave the others. You are a wonderful person and a great mother so there is nothing else to forgive"
"Thank you. I was scared I was going to die, knowing that you hated me. I…I love you Lincoln" Rita struggled to say, as seemed to become very drowsy "Take… C…Care…of …. Luna. I… Love… you"
A long shrill wail of the heart monitor flatlining filled the room, echoing off the walls of the small hospital room. The mercenary's heart felt be torn a sunder, his body being racked with terrible emotions. The young man stepped out of the room, pulling out a cell phone to begin arranging a funeral for his mother as the doctors fail to revive her. He was right, this was an incredibly shit day for him and his family.
It took him a week to prepare a lovely funeral, but with the massive amount of money the young merc had acquired over the years. It wasn't too hard to arrange something quickly with a few greased palms.
The family arrived at the funeral location where the service would take place. The atmosphere not only looked gloomy but felt gloomy, even for Lucy. Everywhere he looked there were no smiles; it reminded him of his twelfth birthday… depressing.
'I hate this, why did she have to die?' Lincoln thought momentarily before he took his seat at the front.
Even the seats weren't very comfortable. Lincoln had to re-position himself a few times before he could sit properly. And to top it all off, the chairs were Rita's favourite colour: red. A blood-stained red.
The funeral felt slightly claustrophobic for the merc as all his mother's sewing buddies, church friends, former high school classmates and cousins came to the funeral, making the air a little too stuffy. Lincoln's mother was popular in that way. For reasons he'd never understand.
The ceremony was dull and stuffy, adding to the already depressing atmosphere another level of uncomfortably. To top off the shitstorm was the heavy downpour of rain, making the funeral cliché on top of everything.
The casket was finally lowered, and the crowd began to thin out. It was then that a person caught the corner of his eye, a person he'd hoped he wouldn't run into today. But here she was, probably going to cause a huge scene in front of everyone.
That's when a loud shot rang out, making everyone scramble for cover. Leaving the two-estranged siblings to make full eye contact, starting a standoff in the middle of the graveyard.
"Hey, Lynn. Finally, here to apologise for all those years ago or are you gonna shoot me with that shitty six shooter that you have. Either way, make it quick so I can leave" The stoic merc snapped, glowering at the athlete
"You know what, fuck you Lincoln. Not everyone gets to run from their problems like you did, you didn't see the fallout of you're disappearing act. You know what it's like to have all the blame shoved onto you, getting told every single day that everything is your fault" Lynn responded angrily, gripping the handle of her gun tight
"Yeah I do. You and the girls did it all the time, blaming me for everything that went wrong. Even when it wasn't even my fault. Lynn, you are arrogant. Self-absorbed and can be a down right bitch. So, I think you got what you deserve" Lincoln said as he circled her "Not to mention all the put downs, beatings and utter humiliations you put me through"
"I'm sorry… I had my reasons… but I didn't come here to hurt you Lincoln. After all, everyone's right. This is my fault, I deserve it all. I… I know I'm not going to earn your forgiveness Lincoln, but I wanted to explain why I did the things I did… I wanted you to hate me" Lynn explained, now shivering from the rain
"Why…Why did you want me to hate you so much? Why Lynn?" Lincoln yelled, stepping closer to the older teen
"Because I was in love with you Lincoln! I had feelings no sister should have but I did have them. I was trying to push you away because I thought you'd never have feelings for one of your sister. Then when I saw how you were with Luna, I got jealous. That lead to anger, ending with me hurting the one I loved" Lynn began to cry, her legs giving out from under her
"Lynn, I'm S…" Lincoln began before being cut off by his sister
"Don't you dare apologise Lincoln, this is all my fault and I deserve to be punished. For what's it's worth I'm sorry for everything" Lynn said, raising the gun to her temple
Lincoln's heart jumped as he saw he pull the hammer back on the gun, cocking it. The merc bolted towards his sister, his brain going a million miles a minute as time seemed to slow around him.
Then a gunshot is heard
A/N – Hey guys, Tamashi here. Boy, I'm pumping out chapters for different things like crazy lately. How did you like my twist, was it too predictable? Probably but, oh well. You win some, you lose some.
Anyway. It's time for your comments, criticisms and questions.
Darth Nihiilus: Thanks man, always good to know I'm pleasing somebody
Slop The 3rd: Yep, Chandler. I'll include a explanation soon. Don't worry Bud.
Gambler: Thank you *Takes $5*
That's it for this chapter, I do hope you enjoyed and that I sufficiently surprised you guys with my twist. If not, just let me know or give me any suggestions you might have, and I will consider them. If you have any questions, comments or queries, just leave them in a review or even pm me if you'd like. Don't worry, my bark is worse than my bite is.
Until next time, Ciao for now, my friends