Protocol Final Timer, part IV.

Mrs. Bank is reloading the pistol. 

Bob drops the shotgun out of bullets. he takes two big thick machetes. he is ready to go out there and fight. he looks at the students. he lets them know that they will need to fight for their lives once they leave the bus.

they heard a voice coming from the outside. Bernard looks out. he looks at his friend Martin in the distance getting closer to them. he then looks at Bob. he yields letting him know that they need to leave now. he wants to save his best friend.

Bob drops some smoke grenades. two inside, and two outside. Bob and Mrs. Banks are the first ones to leave the bus. then Grace and Bernard follow. after them comes Jack and Chloe who are unable to stay calm.

Bernard looks around. he is holding a book. he hits some soldiers with the book. thankfully he has Grace at his side to take out the soldiers. then he looks at Martin. then Bernard looks at a soldier aiming at Martin.

"Behind you." yields Bernard.

then BANG. Martin falls on his knees. his face shows confusion. blood comes from his mouth as he looks around. he tries to say something. then he falls to the ground. Bernard stands there unable to move. he looks at his friend's body. he is in shock.

"We need to leave." yields Grace.

Grace pulls Bernard out of there. they keep running. behind them are Jack and Chloe running without a place to hide. the soldiers are everywhere. they keep going around the parking lot as they try to find refuge. then they find a gas station nearby. the gas station includes a small restaurant and a carwash.

Bob and Mrs. Bank stayed behind fighting and killing soldiers. it is unclear if they are safe or not just like everyone else their lives hang in a string.

Bernard can't stop thinking about Martin. he feels hurt. he feels despair. he feels useless and worthless as he thinks about his friend. the image of his body lying on the ground was so painful and unforgettable. Bernard finally stops running. he falls on his knees screaming and crying his guts out. he doesn't know what to do.

Grace slaps him. she gets on her knees. Grace hugs him tightly. she tells him that everything is going to be okay. she asks him to stay strong at her side. Grace may struggle understanding feelings like love, but feeling hurt is something she knows. 

Chloe looks at them. she then keeps running by herself. there was a sniper hidden somewhere at the distance. he shoots. Chloe falls with a bullet on her leg. she bleeds a lot. Jack goes running towards her. he carries her inside the restaurant. 

Grace stands up. she drags Bernard holding him from the collar. she hides inside the restaurant as well. as she thinks about a way out. then she receives a phone call. Grace answers coldly. and a single word from a familiar voice calms her down.

Greed is still alive and not just that. he is on his way. he will arrive there in about five minutes give or take. Greed and Grace have a small conversation. Grace told him about their situation with the Royal Assmann army. Greed told her to stay calm.

"Be there honey. let your old man relax the muscles first." said Greed joking around.

Grace looks at Bernard. she holds him from the face. she lets him know that she would return soon for him. Grace takes some kitchen knives before leaving.

Bernard is left there with Jack and Chloe. the three of them look at each other. Jack approaches Bernard trying to know if he needs something. Bernard doesn't answer right away. he is mostly looking away. his eyes are unfocused. he keeps thinking about his friend.

"Get over your boyfriend. we have ourselves to safe." said Chloe thinking about herself. she didn't care about anyone else. after all they all insignificant on her eyes.

"I am sorry. I know that you guys were friends for a long time. I can't find the right words. I know I had tormented you both. and I had come to regret all that. but for once she isn't half wrong. we need to survive first. do it for him." said Jack feeling guilt.

Bernard looks at Jack with a small smile. he understands that he is trying to help. but right now, no words that can reach him. Bernard feels an immense devastation.

out there all kinds of hell painted in red had woken up. it is a warzone. no common person could dare to expose themselves to such brutality without any proper equipment to protect or defend themselves. only the brave or smart could survive.

Bernard finally reacts. he comes to his senses once he thinks properly about things. Grace, the woman that he loves so much is out there. she is facing danger. he can't be weak now, not when she is risking herself for him. he needs to be strong for her.

"Are you back? what do you think we should do? and once all this chaos is over. let's hang out. what you say about that?" asks Jack.

"I am not sure. probably we should go to the kitchen. there are sharp things in there we could use to fight back." commented Bernard still feeling out of it.

they are walking towards the kitchen. then the door opens up. Chloe turns around. BANG. Chloe falls on the floor dead with a bullet on the heart.

Jack turns around to see Mrs. Bank holding a pistol. she reloads the gun. Bob comes inside behind her looking at the corpse. Bobs makes a comment as a joke. he then looks directly at Jack's eyes which burn with rage.

Jack screams feeling rage and pain. tears keep coming out of his face. he knows that it is pointless but either way, he runs towards them holding a single knife. he closes his eyes as he screams louder. then BANG. Mrs. Bank puts a bullet right through his skull. Jack's corpse falls on the ground in a twisted, almost comical way.

"Why? aren't you supposed to protect us?" asks Bernard confused.

"Don't take it personal kid." said Mrs. Bank as she aims at Bernard.

"Wait. before you kill the boy. are you sure that Bark wasn't a traitor?" asks Bob.

"Listen pal. Bark didn't betray us. he only gave to Pierre our route for the trip in exchange for Hannes' real identity. he was an idiot, but no traitor." said Bank looking at Bernard.

"Then who is the traitor?" asks Bob as he holds tightly his machete.

"It has to be Greed. he disappeared out of nowhere." said Bank ready to shoot.

then Bob whispers something random. Bank gets distracted. then Bob decapitates her with the machete in a single slash. the body falls to the ground. Bob looks at Bernard. he takes some careful steps forward. he then kneels in front of Bernard.

"Long live the emperor." yields Bob as he makes some sort of reverence.

"What do you mean emperor?" asks Bernard in denial.

"My lord, and master. the one chosen by the Gods. the one bathed in the lagoon of wisdom. born out of Devinity and of majestic looks. my beloved lord, and master. as there is no Emperor in the world with greater power. I humbly present myself Sir Bob Swords. your sword and servant at your service. master Assmann, no. Hannes Assmann the men God. the God in human vessel. lord, and master." said Bob showing loyalty. 

"Am I Hannes Assmann? me? no, it can't be." said Bernard in denial with teary eyes.

"But you are my lord." reaffirms Bob once more.