Feeling the knife coming at him, the soldier whirled around, preparing to swat it away. But right when his dagger touched the knife, the trick knife was set off. A powerful electrical current suddenly went through the soldier’s entire body. The current was powerful enough to kill any normal man. And powerful enough to throw this super-soldier into disarray. The soldier howled in pain as the current suddenly electrocuted him.
William came back onto his feet and seized the moment. Grabbing the gunman by his shoulder, he roughly drove his dagger through the soldier’s back and right into his heart. After several long moments, he powerfully wrenched out his bloodstained dagger and the soldier fell dead to the ground.
Ethan was again batting away his opponents’ merciless attacks. They were on either side of him, trying to find an opening to finish him off. Backing up inch-by-inch, his defenses continued to hold up against these juggernauts. All his instincts and all of his knowledge from countless battles were coming into play now. They had the strength. They had the agility. They had the superior power. But he had experience.
And heart.
A few raindrops fell from the dark clouds. They splashed onto William as he picked up his dead foe’s guns and aimed them at Ethan’s attackers. Feeling his aim, the two of them leapt away just in time to dodge the bullets. They both landed several yards away, still on either side of Ethan.
Ethan simultaneously launched a knife at either opponent just as they landed. The one with daggers sidestepped the projectile. But right as it passed him, only inches away from his face, Ethan hit a button on his belt. The trick knife exploded into a ball of flame. The loud and deadly explosion roared throughout the docks and momentarily lit up the darkened battlefield. It was a small enough explosion to not worry Ethan or William, but large enough to consume the soldier.
The rain began to pick up. The Hispanic soldier leapt into the air to completely dodge the second knife. He knew better than to think that it was a simple blade. The knife flew past where he had been standing and exploded against a stack of empty crates, obliterating them. As the Hispanic landed, Ethan was upon him. But this time, he was on the offensive. This time, he was controlling the fight.
Rain fell all around the two killers. It splattered against their bodies and faces, but it did not bother them in the slightest. The soldier quickly backed up and Ethan stayed up with him. Their blades loudly clanged. With everything he had, he blocked Ethan’s daggers with his katanas. But he could hardly keep up with him. Less than a minute after their duel began, Ethan sliced his foe across his arm. Then across his leg. Next his shoulder. And finally his chest.
The soldier let out a quick yelp as he received the last wound. Taking advantage of his opponent’s pain, Ethan quickly disarmed the Hispanic of one katana. Ethan followed that by sheathing one of his own daggers. With his now free hand, Ethan grabbed the wrist of his foe, keeping him in place. And without any mercy, he plunged his dagger into the soldier’s throat.
After a long moment, Ethan yanked out his dagger and let the corpse drop onto the hard ground. His eyes stayed on the body.
The Guardian took a deep breath. Then another. Slowly, he turned to face his comrade. The two remaining victors from the battle were completely soaked as the downpour did not show any signs of stopping. William slowly looked up from the dead body and back at Ethan. “Maybe you should’ve led with those trick knives.”
Ethan’s own fatigue showed in his voice. “I only had a few. I needed to make them count.”
“Are you out?”
Ethan nodded.
“We could’ve probably used some for what comes next.”
“She’s already ready for them.” He sheathed his bloodied dagger and touched the device in his ear. “Jonathan, what’s the status on the boat? I heard the explosion.”
The two of them heard the response that came out of the other end. “Ethan…it—it’s Katrina.”
Hearing his wife’s voice, Ethan and William exchanged glances. “Katrina? What happened? Where’s Jonathan?”
“Jonathan—Jonathan’s fine. It’s Oliver…he’s dead.”
Ethan’s heart froze as he heard those words.
“H—he took the soldier underwater with a grenade and—and killed both of them.”
He was silent for a few long moments. He took another deep breath and let it out. “Are you okay?”
“Y—yes.”
“What about Adam?”
“He’s unconscious—he and Jonathan both…but alive.”
“Stay there, Katrina.” Ethan’s hand left his ear and his attention came back onto William. “What’s the status on Ivan?”
William was silent as Katrina’s words still rang in his head.
“William?”
Coming back to reality, he quickly spoke. “He’ll live…Oliver did a brave thing.”
“If any one of us was going to die tonight, it should have been me.”
“You might still get your chance.” William looked past Ethan and at the two figures that were standing a good distance away. “We’re not out of this yet.”
Ethan turned around.
In the distance, nearly a hundred yards away were two more figures. Even through the rain and mist, he could see them as clear as day. Vixen and Alice. Standing firm in the shower, Vixen was to the left and Alice was on the right. Between the two of them was a long, but thin storage building.
Turning back to his friend, Ethan touched his belt and silently counted his remaining knives. “Sit this one out, William.”
“Like hell I will.”
“You’re no match for either of them.”
“And you’re no match for the both of them.”
“They’d tear you apart.”
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned from you, it’s to never give up. I haven’t quit on you and you haven’t quit on me. I don’t think we’re about to start now.” William paused. “I’m with you until the end.”
After a short moment, Ethan slightly smiled. “Which one do you want?”
William smirked as he looked back at their enemies. “I got Blondie.”
Ethan turned to face Vixen. “Good choice.”
“And Ethan, when you send Vixen to hell, give her my regards.”
“Likewise.”
With those words, they charged.
Ethan rushed straight at Vixen with every ounce of energy he had left, ignoring every wound and ache. All that could be heard was his boots crashing against the hard ground and splashing in the puddles. All he could see was Vixen as she stood, unmoved by the beast that was coming at her.
With the slight move of her finger, a steel pipe came flying towards Ethan. But he easily ducked under it, not even looking in its direction. With another move of her finger, a wooden crate came at him from the right side. Still focused solely on her, Ethan powerfully knocked it away with his forearm.
Charging without slowing down, he possessed the eyes of a lion. Ethan grabbed a hold of his last three knives. Now halfway to her, he shot them all simultaneously. But right as they were launched, Vixen diverted them all, not letting any of them get close to her.
Undeterred, Ethan kept running. He unsheathed his daggers. Another crate came flying at him from his left. But he swatted it away without a second thought, ignoring any bruises it left on his arm. His eyes stayed on Vixen. His face was full of rage.
From seemingly out of nowhere, a car came out of the shadows and headed straight at Ethan. But without missing a step, Ethan leapt over the vehicle. He bounced off of its hood before landing back on the ground and continuing his charge. He was almost upon her now and could see the green in her eyes. A large block of concrete came at him from his left, but he sidestepped it. Only a few steps were left between them. Two more wooden crates came from his right, but he ran right through them with an angry growl.
He was nearly there. The grip abound his blades’ hilts tightened. With a roar, Ethan came right onto her and sent down his daggers to run right th
rough Vixen.
But it did not happen.
He suddenly froze. His tips of his daggers were inches away from her, but he could not move them any closer. He tried with all his might. Any energy he had left, he used to try and plunge his daggers into her. But it was for nothing.
Smiling, she forced him to let go of his daggers and they harmlessly fell onto the wet ground. “A brave move, darling.”
His body slowly rotated until he was hanging upside down and his eyes were at her level.
“But foolish.”
Ethan suddenly went flying to the left and his back slammed into a metal wall. A thud echoed throughout the entire docks and left a dent in the barrier. But she did not let him collapse onto the ground. In the next instant, he soared back through the rainy air and stopped right in front of his captor once again.
“You can’t save her.”
Pain rang through Ethan’s entire body. It was all he felt. Everything was a blur when he slammed back-first onto the concrete ground right at Vixen’s feet.
“Just like your sister and your father, you have failed your wife.”
Ethan’s body lifted a few feet into the air.
“Everything you touch dies.”
His battered body rotated so that his gaze fell upon Vixen’s malevolent eyes and malicious smile.
“And you’ll watch her die.”
Ethan could do nothing. Nothing but look at the face of his to-be-killer.
Feeling something come from behind her, Vixen instinctively turned around just in time to stop a stream of bullets inches away from her. Looking past them, she saw Katrina standing with a half-emptied pistol in her hands aimed straight at Vixen.
Without wasting a moment, Vixen stripped the gun from Katrina and took control of her body. She let all of the bullets drop at her feet save for one. Katrina lifted into the air, now unable to move. She began to slowly drift towards her captor.
“Looks like she saved me the trouble of finding her.” Vixen looked back at Ethan. “I wonder how much pain I could cause her with this bullet before ending her life. And I wonder how much of it you would be able to watch before begging me to kill her.”
Right as her words finished, something caught their attention. From the other side of the building, an explosion went off. It was large enough to have been set off by a grenade. The nighttime sky lit up for a brief second.
Vixen’s gaze suddenly whipped towards the direction of the commotion. As it ended, she closed her eyes. After a few long moments, she opened them and looked back at Ethan. “Looks like your best soldier beat my best soldier.”
Even after the beating he had taken, Ethan’s words did not possess any pain. “You seem surprised.”
“Don’t be expecting him to come save you, Ethan.”
“I’m not the one who needs saving.”
Vixen looked back at Katrina. Slowly, the bullet began to move closer to her. The captor kept her eyes fixed on the bullet and the closer it moved towards Katrina, the more her malevolent smile grew. “Time to die.”
Katrina’s face did not show a hint of terror. “For you it is.”
In the next instant, the bullets on the ground revealed what they truly were. Without any warning, several successive flash-bangs went off all around Vixen. Completely taken aback, she shielded herself from the bright light and dropped both of her captives.
Unaffected by the noise and light, Ethan landed on his feet. Without hesitating he came right behind her while she was still dazed and confused. His hands came on either side of her head.
“This time, stay in hell!”
He broke her neck.
Her corpse dropped to the ground. The nightmare was finally over. The monsters were slain. He took several deep breaths, still hardly believing what had happened. Ethan’s gaze left the corpse and locked with Katrina’s as they stood, drenched by the fast-falling rain. For a long time, neither of them spoke as they tried to catch their breath.
Katrina finally broke the silence. “…I can’t believe that worked.”
“I told you to trust me, didn’t I?”
She looked at his battered body. “Ethan, you’re hurt.”
“I’ll live.”
Ethan slowly staggered towards his wife and she came towards him. He peeled off his mask, revealing his beaten but unbroken eyes. They wrapped their arms around one another without a second thought. And there they stood in the rain…together.
They had taken Daken’s worst. And they had survived.
Chapter 31
Hope
The boat was long gone by the time the sun came up. It now drifted out in the ocean under the clear skies, far from any nation’s coast. In the ship’s dining room, they were all gathered around the long wooden table under the bright lights. Every one of them bore some sort of wound or ache that reminded them of the battle they had fought only a couple of nights prior. Nobody had left the battle unscathed.
Many of Ethan’s limbs were bandaged up underneath his clothing. His entire body was consumed by soreness, making every movement of his a battle. But he ignored the agony like he had trained himself to do.
Sitting down across from Ethan, Ivan broke the silence. “Coastal Patrol found Oliver’s body yesterday evening. They’re saying that his death was quick.”
“He died bravely,” Ethan said.
“The police have collected all of the bodies of Vixen and her soldiers. The government will likely want to autopsy them to find out what made them so special.”
“They won’t find anything. It’s nothing physical that lets Daken’s soldiers do what they do.”
“But now the whole world knows that you are The Guardian You’ll be a wanted criminal in a lot of countries. Countries that don’t want their people to see you for the hero you are.”
“I know.”
“And since you’ve married Katrina, she won’t be safe either. A lot of wicked people will want retribution.”
“She’ll be safe in Govan Cove. Especially with you there. Before leaving, I liquefied a lot of my assets. Whatever was left, I gave to Jonathan and Cathy. Villanueva and many other prominent citizens will make sure that nothing happens to them. Katrina and I will have access to our money out of our new safe accounts no matter where we go.”
A silence took over the room before William broke it. “So…what now?”
Ethan looked his way. “You, Jonathan, and Adam are going to return to Crown City soon. You'll all be needed there.”
Jonathan spoke up. “What do you need us to do?”
“I need you to keep everything afloat. Too many people across the globe are relying on the charities and shelters. And your position will grant you a lot of influence in this new day. Not only in our country, but in the world. You will have a major hand in shaping it all. I made sure that none of my actions will be able to touch you, Cathy, or your son.”
“Alright…thanks.”
“And what about me and William?” Adam asked.
“The cameras caught me and Ivan in the fight. But since William was wearing a mask during the fight, the whole world still thinks him dead. And since you were on the boat, nobody saw you there either. We’re going to change up the plan I had for Crown City.” Ethan looked over at William. “Adam won’t be on his own. Instead he’ll be assisting William in taking up my mantle while I’m away.”
“Is that necessary? I mean, things are better than before,” Adam asked.
Ethan’s gaze came back onto Adam. “Yes, things are better than they’ve ever been and unless something drastic happens, they will continue to get better. But the whole world is watching now. Other nations are experiencing similar changes as ours. And Daken may send another agent to make everything fall apart. We need to make Crown City and Tripton a beacon of hope for other places to aspire to. For that to happen, William needs to be there to keep an eye on things. Make sure that everything stays the course. And he will train you.”
William slightly smirked. “Weight of the
world on my shoulders? You really know how to make somebody feel at ease.” He glanced at Adam. “Hope you’re a quick learner.”
“I am.”
Jonathan spoke up, “I’ll make sure Will and Adam’s operations stay in the dark. As far as everyone is concerned, you’re still dead, Will. And Adam has recently been promoted to my personal assistant. As such, nobody will be questioning him.”
William looked over at Ivan. “And that will leave just you with Katrina while Ethan is away?”
Ivan slightly nodded as Ethan answered, “Ivan is more than enough.”
“Katrina’s best defense will be anonymity. Nobody there will recognize her. And the fewer people with her, the better,” Ivan added.
Jonathan’s gaze went onto Katrina. “I’ve been meaning to ask you, how did you manage to kill Vixen?”
“The bullets I shot weren’t really bullets,” Katrina replied. “I was counting on her letting me get close.”
“How’d you know she would let you get close?”
“Because she loved killing. As sadistic as it was, she loved the pleasure of it. And most of all, she loved seeing life leave her victim’s eyes.”
“It was a brave thing to face her alone.” Jonathan looked over at his brother. “Was it all planned out?”
“I trusted her.”
William changed the subject. “So when can we be expected to get back to Crown City?”
“By tomorrow evening,” Ethan answered.
“You won’t be coming ashore, though.”
“No.”
“It’s probably better that way.” William glanced at Adam. “You should get some rest. You’ll need it.”
Ethan looked over everyone. “We should all get some rest.”
A few moments later, the meeting disbanded and everyone went on their way. Ethan was silently going down the lonely corridor with no other companion than his thoughts. He was tired and still weary from the battle.
“Ethan.”
Hearing his name, Ethan turned around as William came up to him.