Hey everyone sorry for the delay been working hard on CHapter 11. I have to say that it is one of the greatest so far. ANyway here is chapter 9, i have to say i feel like it could have come out better. Who knows maybe i will rewrite this all one day.
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Chapter 9:
"Is there a reason you boys just decided to waltz right into my home?" The voice was deep with an edge of mockery and curiosity.
"Who are you?" Arthur spoke up slightly challenging the man. He squinted into the darkness seeing the faint silhouette of a wheelchair.
The husky growled again, spit flying from its mouth.
"We came to speak to Alexa James," Matthew confessed backing against the wall holding Kumajirou tighter.
The man's shoulders slumped in surprise at this comment; the gun lowered slightly.
"So you people have finally come for her," he whispered in shock.
"Wait you know who we are?" Francis's eyebrows narrowed in suspicion. The gun finally lowered to the ground as the mystery man heaved a sigh.
"Indeed," The lights flicked on. The figure was revealed as a middle age Hispanic man, with salt and pepper hair tied in a low ponytail. He seemed to have a great physique, dressed in a simple muscle tank top. Though what surprised the nations was that both of his legs were missing.
"Lost them in the war," the man followed their gazes.
Thanks to new advance medical research, prosthetics had reached a new front. Now, with robots assisting surgeries, amputees have the choice of having a new robotic limb, which would operate with electric pulses sent from the brain and move like an actual limb.
"Well I believe we should take this conversation out back," he sighed turning around beckoning the others to follow. The husky, no longer sensing a threat climbed the staircase to the next floor.
"Why don't we talk inside?" Matthew inquired as they stepped out on the back porch. The porch was raised so it stood level with the second floor; it was made of polished red oak and shined slightly in the porch light. Potted plants sat in the corners along with several deck chairs. The yard itself was a decent size with a tall red wood fence and lush grass. The signs of the party from earlier where visible by the above ground pool, pieces of water balloons strewn across the grass, and the overfilled garbage can near the grill.
"Alexa is a light sleeper so she might overhear us." He explained, groaning as he rose himself from his wheelchair and he fell into a patio chair. The others did as well.
"Mr..." England realized they hadn't even gotten a name from the man.
"Samuel James, but you can call me Sam everyone else does," he nodded kindly.
"Sam," Arthur continued as he took a seat. "That's why we're here; to talk to Alexa."
Samuel's smile fell into a grim frown. The humid night air blew by softly, rustling his hair. The distant sounds of the city and the waves of the Hudson became mere white noise.
"I'm afraid I can't allow that," Samuel simply stated. The three nations looked ready to snap with a retort though Sam held his hand up, silencing them. "I'm sorry but I'm sure you're the last people she would want to see at the moment," he looked pointedly at Arthur.
The British man looked away not saying anything.
"Samuel you have to understand." Francis spoke. "Alexa isn't a normal girl-"
"You don't think I know that?" Sam interrupted. "I have raised her for nineteen years; you don't think I would notice how she has nightmares every other night?" His expression turned to one of a man twice his age, worn by fatigue. "Or when I found her, at three years of age, in the middle of an abandoned town? How about when she would break down in tears when she watched war movies in history class?" He glared at the three who stayed silent. "Better yet, the time she aged five years in one night."
Arthur didn't seem fazed by this comment remembering how fast Alfred had aged as a young nation.
"I had to pull her out of the first grade, and move us from Delaware to New York in the same week. I home schooled her till she passed for a fourth grader," He sighed heavily rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Sam, do you know how special your daughter is?" Matthew inquired tentatively, afraid he might set Samuel off.
"Of course I do Canada," The three nations jumped in alarmed surprise. Sam had a mischievous smirk on his lips. "Why so surprised?" He chuckled. "I told you earlier I knew you would come for Alexa at some point," The looks of shock slowly fell, changing to confusion.
"If you knew what she was why didn't you tell her about us?" asked England.
"Well it's not something you can bring up in an everyday conversation, is it?" Sam laughed softly.
"Did she find it at all odd when she aged?" France raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Not at all," Sam smiled fondly at the memory. "Took it in stride she did. Started bragging about how she was going to be taller than all the boys. Didn't grow much after that though," he beamed with fatherly pride.
"Sam you do realize why we are here though?" Canada gravely input. Sam's smile dimmed greatly, though he still sat upright.
"Like I said before I can't allow that," he grimly repeated himself. "Before you interrupt," he snapped at England who, he himself looked ready to bark back. "Let me explain something to you," England sat back into his seat with a glare, though listened. Sam nodded at the action, and sat straighter in his seat.
"Nineteen years ago the second civil war came to a close. Both leaders of the Expansionists and the Philosophers met and called off a cease fire on Christmas Eve. Though that's not actually what happened," this caught the nation's interest severely.
"On that day Frederick Steins and William H. Fisher merely came to an understanding. They realized that if the fighting continued as it was, there wouldn't be an America to control. Both sides still hold hostile grudges to this very day," he emphasized. "Both sides are slowly building their ranks and weapons, waiting for the other to make a move. Now both are slowly coming out of hiding. I've seen the signs," he leaned across the table, deadly serious. "Small turf wars with rival gangs, increased security around army bases, gun prices skyrocketing, due to 'low stock'" he mocked. "That's the biggest load of bull shit I have ever had the chance to smell. This war is a monster waking up from a deep sleep, and she's hungry." Silence flew between them, thick and suffocating.
"You want what is best for Alexa, correct?" he asked the three.
"Of course sir; that's all we want," England quickly replied, startled by his own eagerness. "We just want to see her safe." France and Canada agreed earnestly.
"Then you will stay away from her," Sam abruptly answered. "I've seen hell boys; and I can smell it a mile away," he gazed at the city in the distance, and then he continued. "They're always watching, always listening, for nineteen years I've protected Alexa. I will go through the seven realms of hell for my daughter," he glanced at the top floor window with a loving smile, before turning back to the nations.
"Sam, if you really want what's best for your daughter, you would let her come with us. She doesn't belong with regular humans. She should be with people like her, who can help her through the transition," France explained.
"What she needs," England emphasized. "Is to remember who she was before, learn to use her old abilities, and be who she was before."
"That's just it," Sam snapped at England. "That's what you don't understand. Alexa is a fragile girl, she may not look it, but she is. I don't think she would be able to handle the sudden emotional strain of this news. She's not your old friend boys; she's her own person, a good one at that."
"Dad?" The sudden call made them all jump. The third floor light switched on casting a soft glow across the lawn.
"You have to leave," Sam panicked, hurrying and lifting himself back into his wheelchair.
"But sir-" England tried to speak but was ushered by his friends to the side gate
"Just remember they're everywhere, watch your backs," Sam's hushed voice called to them through the darkness.
"Dad, are you ok?" The opening of the back door could be heard as they walked back to their car. "I thought I heard voices."
"It was nothing Al," Sam laughed. "Just talking to myself."
So what did Y'all think? COuld it use some work?
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