Vying For the Desired Ending

Weeks earlier—

Prior to the final battle, Chase went over his plan. When reviewing Lucas’s vision in more detail, they were able to determine 2 key points. The easy part is that the battle takes place during the day. The more difficult part is figuring out the park. Edmonton still contains the largest expanse of urban parkland in all of North America. After pressing for more details, they were able to determine the field was the Riverfront Park off Grierson Hill.

Since there was no way to know exactly when it would occur, they needed to remain alert for all hours of the day. Lucas and Johanny spent their days in the park with Theo at a good vantage point nearby. They were to await Hope’s call that would set the plan in motion.

This meant only Hope and Chase remained at the hideout. Though no matter what, the heaviest load was on Chase since this was reliant on him masking the sword’s presence.

“Michael is often careless, this will be our best chance. Also, if anything happens to me, you need to ignore it and focus on the battle.” Chase declares.

“Are you saying something will happen?” Theo asks.

Chase glances at Lucas who hastily avoids his gaze. He figured not everything was revealed to him, and it seems he was right. Chase shrugs his shoulders.

“I don’t know, but there’s always a chance.”

Moments after the kidnapping—

Hope makes it outside within a split second and calls Theo to let him know of Michael’s visit, adding that she will call the others to alert them as well. Once she hangs up, he puts on his ‘binoculars’ and gets to work.

He notices Michael, his allies, and Chase, simply standing and talking, with them seeming like they’re a few feet away from him.

“Any movement?” Hope asks, having arrived at his location.

“Nothing yet.”

Hope surveys the park. She doesn’t have Theo’s enhanced vision and has to settle on watching from afar. She then notices something is off. The sky is light blue with some clouds scattered about, but the forcefield that encircles the group has a yellow tinge, making the sky behind it look green.

Hope feels a sharp pain strike her head, causing her to wince. Images flash in her mind, fragmented as if someone erased vital parts in a movie and played it like normal, expecting the viewer to understand what happened from those bits and pieces.

A sidewalk in Philly. The street of an intersection. The orange sky. Fingers gliding atop her left wrist. Then a face displaying a cruel smile; Michael.

This is from that day…

She was convinced Michael found out about her chip within that moment due to the gap in her memory. Hope reviewed those events on a regular basis so she wouldn’t forget even the tiniest detail. She then realizes, Wait, an orange sky? She has no doubt the sky was a red hue at that time from the setting sun.

Hope looks at the forcefield once more. Mixing colors is so basic anyone can remember. Yellow and blue make green. Yellow and red make orange. If the sky was orange when in his presence, but red without, then Michael must have used that same forcefield to entrap her, and erased her memory on top of that.

It…really was my fault.

It took over 100 years for her to solve the final mystery. Reminded of all that she lost, she feels the urge to move, but knows she can’t take action yet. Hope settles with biting her lip and she grips the roof’s cement barrier, scraping her nails, unaware that they’re cracking and bleeding.

Theo notices and turns to her, “Are you okay?” he asks, concerned.

“Just keep watching!!” Hope shouts.

Theo is quick to turn his attention back to Michael. She didn’t intend to take it out on him, but this is the most she can do to keep her emotions contained.

Just then, Theo sees a streak of red run down Chase’s body. Blood from what looks to be a deep cut. He flinches while keeping his mouth shut. He promised to follow Chase’s orders, to pick the perfect moment to catch Michael off-guard, and if he mentions this to Hope, she’s sure to run off. It’s not time yet.

Shortly after, Chase falls on his back and he notices Michael turn his attention to the sword. Theo takes that as the signal to move.

“Go now!” he shouts to Hope.

Hope heads to the battlefield. That brings us to now—

**********************************

Johanny inches closer while remaining in position.

“You’re eager to fight, aren’t you?” Kelsay playfully says.

“No. I can tell you are, though. There’s no hiding that hostility.” Johanny nervously says.

Kelsay simply grins and holds out both hands in front of her, with a glowing blade suddenly appearing in both. Johanny is shocked.

“You have two now??”

Kelsay points her weapons right at her enemy, “We’ve always been capable of such, there just wasn’t any point in using it before. Think of this as us both crushing you!”

Johanny is immediately assaulted by both weapons, with Kelsay batting down on the spear one after the other. Holding the spear before her, Johanny raises it to block, repositioning after every attack to avoid injuring her hands. She feels each hit from her fingertips, down her arms, leaving her with a stinging sensation. She tries to persevere.

“Is your sister okay?” Johanny asks.

“What do you care?!” Kelsay yells as she slams both swords down on the spear.

“It’s fine if you don’t believe me, but I do feel bad.”

“How can you say that when this happened from you selfishly fighting for your own life?”

“Well, sorry for wanting to live!”

Johanny is able to push her back, but that’s all she manages. The attacks have taken their toll and she kneels to the ground, attempting to catch her breath.

Kelsay continues to have the upper hand and spins around to bat Johanny with both blades using all of her strength. She protects herself and is flung back and tumbles to the ground, receiving a few scrapes and bruises in the process.

Kelsay doesn’t let up and rushes in her direction. Johanny sits up and flings the spear forward in return, holding it at the tip of the handle, using the full length of her arm. Kelsay hops to the side, refusing to become another victim of that strange weapon. Kelsay prepares to confront her again, but is stopped by Johanny’s question,

“What about you?”

“Haah?” Kelsay says, not understanding what she means.

“Don’t you care about your own life?”

“Of course I do. I won’t deny my life has been easy. I’ve been given many things with little struggle, and if it can be used for a greater purpose, then I’m just as happy.” Kelsay’s expression turns to sorrow, “I just never thought I’d have to do this without her.”

Kelsay and Lindsay have always been together and sometimes, they could only rely on one another. Their parents went on frequent trips without their children, more often for pleasure than business, leaving them with a few housekeepers in a large, 12 bedroom mansion. They never felt lonely, believing that so long as they had each other, then they didn’t need anyone else. Being alone right now, and soon possibly forever, is a brand new experience.

“Then why continue?”

Annoyed by the topic, Kelsay shuts her out right there, “Stop wasting time. You have no right to question me when you follow an evil creature who brings about chaos.”

Is she talking about Chase? What does she mean ‘brings chaos’? He’s been nothing but kind. Even using his own– Johanny shakes her head and gets in battle position. She realizes there’s no point in talking. Kelsay has turned around any question Johanny threw at her, refusing to help her understand and is instead trying to distract her.

Rather than focus on that, Johanny needs to get back to their mission of stopping the ritual. The extra concentration necessary causes mental fatigue at a faster pace, she can’t waste it on anything else. Johanny worked on building her stamina, but no amount of exercise could prepare her mind for this. There’s no telling how long this battle may last. She can’t give up.

Kelsay noticed she wavered, the seeds of doubt taking form. Proud that she enabled such a reaction, Kelsay continues to fight, brimming with confidence.

**********************************

The brothers stand in silence. Neither have come to terms with what happened and are unsure of where to start.

Try as he might, Lucas failed to think of the best way to apologize. The last time they met, it quickly escalated to a fight due to this exact reason. He wanted to do better. Felt he needed to if they were ever going to repair their relationship. How do you apologize for interfering with someone’s entire life until now? As Lucas is about to speak, Jacob cuts in,

“I’m surprised you don’t hate me after the accident. Because of that, you’re left in this weak condition.”

Lucas can’t believe what he just heard. He’s been blaming himself all this time, believing his actions were the cause. His brother appears to carry some guilt as well.

“I was the true cause, wasn’t I? Besides, you received more damage than I did.”

Lucas observes his brother’s shocked face. Jacob never discussed his condition with anyone other than the doctor. There should be no way for him to know that he would never walk again.

“How…did you find out?”

“I had a dream. Well, a lot of them, and found out from that.”

He is aware of everything that will happen here up to the start of the battles, excluding the results and Chase’s condition. This means he knows of the conversation between Chase and Michael right before they arrived. This isn’t from one dream, but many he had over this past year. He didn’t want to reveal too much, and therefore worry everyone, and kept most to himself.

“Dreams of the future? Prophecies? There really is no limit to what you can do.”

Any guilt Jacob feels disappears in an instant, bringing out his fury in full force. He pulls back his arms, curling his fingers as if holding the hilt of a blade yet they remain empty. As he swings toward Lucas, the glowing sword materializes and when he’s about to strike, Lucas’ barrier blocks it. Unlike before, Lucas remains determined. Jacob laughs at his brother’s serious demeanor.

“Seems you can hold your own now.”

“I refuse to run away. I will fix this!”

Lucas pushes against his shield with all of his strength, making his brother backstep. However, it only lasts that one second, with his brother forcing him to do the same inturn.

“There’s no fixing this. We’re both destined to die here.” Jacob bluntly says.

“That’s not gonna happen!”

Their battle quickly comes to a stand still. There isn’t much Jacob can do against Lucas’ ability anyway. It seems to be unbreakable and envelops his entire body. Last time he was able to force him to the ground, but it doesn’t seem like he’ll go down so easily. The best he can do is take advantage of their surroundings.

Jacob noticed there were a few times when Lucas glanced in a different direction. The only battle close to them is between the two girls. He should have no reason to worry about his ally. She appears to be able to hold her own and her weapon is dangerous, even wounding one of the twins to the point of being incapable of fighting.

In the past, Lucas solely focused on continuing his accomplishments, never displaying interest in other people, which is why this perplexes Jacob further. Judging by his actions, he thought he was incapable of such.

“So there is something else you care about.”

“What was that?”

Lucas is bewildered by his statement. Jacob gives his brother a break and points the tip of his blade at the two girls, throwing it in their direction, aiming for Johanny’s back. Lucas watches in horror.

Jacob wasn’t sure what would happen. He never used the weapon that appears out of thin air in such a manner. It could have very well disappeared the instant he released it, yet it continues to fly, staying steady the closer it gets to the target.

Seeing the despair on his brother’s face brings about a sick feeling of satisfaction. ‘That’s right, suffer like I always did’ is probably most fitting for this moment, but he remains quiet.

Lucas shakes off his fear and holds out his hand. Similar to Jacob, Lucas never tested the full capabilities of his shield, only having to use it on himself until now. He’s sure it can do more.

He has a couple of seconds to act. He repeats the two words ‘protect her’ in his mind over and over. A splitting headache forms and his legs give out, causing him to crouch, but he refuses to stop. Just as it’s about to reach Johanny, Lucas successfully transfers his shield to cover her instead.

Hearing a quiet ‘thunk’ when the two abilities collide, the unknowing Johanny turns around and watches the weapon fade as it falls to the ground, with the shield doing the same right after.

“I did it.” Lucas says, relieved.

“Why are you surprised? Of course you did.”

Jacob takes this chance to kick Lucas on his side, right in the ribs. Since his cover is gone, it’s a direct hit and he collapses on the ground. Lucas shouts and attempts to escape by crawling away, but his brother stomps on his chest, not allowing him to move.

“Thanks for finally letting your guard down.” Jacob adds.

“Lucas!”

The one thing Johanny understands is that Lucas was hurt because he tried to help her. Wanting to do something in return, Johanny places her hands closer to the spear blade, giving her weapon less distance. She attacks with rapid short jabs while Kelsay parries each one.

“What are you-” She begins to question and is interrupted.

“Are you sure you want to keep blocking?”

The spear then goes through the holy blade, aiming for Kelsay’s face. She is able to turn her neck to dodge.

Not wanting to waste another moment, Johanny runs to Lucas’ aide. She swings her spear to swat away his attacker. Well aware of how dangerous she is, Jacob steps away, not wanting to take the risk to stop her.

Johanny releases her weapon and sits beside Lucas.

“Are you alright?” she asks.

“I think…some of my ribs are broken.”

“Don’t talk, you could have a punctured lung.”

“I’m happy I…was able to protect you.”

Although Johanny is grateful, she would rather he focus on himself. They may be fine for now, but he’s in no condition to continue the battle. The pain may prevent Lucas from being able to activate his ability as well, meaning she’ll have to handle their 2 enemies on her own.

However, there’s currently something else on the feisty twin’s mind.

“I thought we agreed not to interfere with each other’s battles.” Kelsay complains as she approaches Jacob.

“I can’t help what she does when provoked.”

“That counts as interference.”

Jacob merely shrugs his shoulders, choosing not to argue with her. This is the most they have spoken with one another. There was never any reason before now. They simply have the same leader, and aide in the ritual. Otherwise, there’s nothing that connects them.

“I’m sorry.” says the weakened Lucas.

“I told you to-” Concerned for his health, Johanny moves her hand, wanting to stop him. Lucas grabs and holds it tight, trying to reassure her.

“Is that directed at me?” Jacob asks.

“There’s no amount of apologizing to make up…for how much I bothered you. I know that now…there’s nothing I can do to make it right.” Lucas has to take in a heavy breath every few words, but still continues, “After this, I plan to change everything. I’ll have no part of your life…any more.”

Lucas turns to his brother and can tell he isn’t satisfied. He then remembers what he was asked before the battle began. Realizing he didn’t give a clear answer, he decides to now in the hopes of reconciling with him.

“And…I don’t hold anything against you. The accident, the hospital…I take responsibility for everything…my own way.” Lucas wants to add ‘I hate myself if anything’, but that’s his problem that he has to deal with. He can’t burden Jacob any further.

There’s suddenly a change in Jacob as a calm washes over him. He doesn’t have any plans to forgive his brother, and Lucas isn’t expecting that either. However, to hear Lucas acknowledge what he has done through all of these years, to understand the effect it had, it’s enough to let go of the stifling hatred that continued to cloud his mind. For the first time in his life, he feels a sense of freedom.

“So that’s how you see it.” Jacob says, not feeling the need to say anything further.

After observing Lucas resolve his problem, Johanny gathers the courage to respond to Kelsay’s accusation of ‘an evil creature that brings chaos’. Although she has no reason to explain herself, and the twin has yet to answer any of her questions, she doesn't want to leave this as is.

She swallows her fear and speaks, “Y-you haven’t responded to what I asked you and that’s fine. You don’t have to. There is something I’d like to say.”

Kelsay glances at her enemy who displays the same determination from when they met earlier today.

“You claim Chase causes chaos. That apparently aiding us in wanting to live is wrong, but I don’t see it that way at all. If anything, this ritual is the true cause of the chaos.”

“Did he not mention this is to better the world?”

“So I’m supposed to give up my life for something I can’t even enjoy?? That’s messed up!” Theo says as he approaches his allies. He could tell the battle was winding down and didn’t want to miss out on it any further so he decided to join them.

“You can’t even fight…what are you doing here?” Lucas asks.

“You’re saying that to me after you ended up like that?” Theo says, delivering sharp criticism.

Lucas instantly gives up on responding and closes his eyes. Johanny can’t help grinning at the exchange.

“So the gang is all here.” Kelsay says, using that term in the literal sense. “Now we just have to be sure none of you run away and we can erase all the negativity in the world.”

“That’s impossible. To fight, betray, steal, that’s all human nature. If you want to make a change, it’s better to erase everything and start over.” Theo says, astounding everyone.

Although Theo can be childish and does random things that make people question his sanity, he brings up something that’s difficult to counter. Lucas suspects it’s a direct quote from one of the many movies he watched rather than his own intellect.

Kelsay shows her displeasure with a death stare, not that it has any effect. Theo simply stands his ground.

There’s no reason to continue fighting at this point anyway. They all look to Hope and Michael. Their battle is ultimately what will determine what happens with the ritual.

**********************************

Michael remains hovering in the air with Hope staring from below. Even though he has the ability to heal, he notices it’s taking much longer than usual. The wounds are still bleeding a decent amount, with droplets splashing onto the ground. Michael comes to one conclusion; the sword.

It seems to have effects similar to demonic weapons, possibly due to it being from a different world, causing his healing to be less effective. He can only blame himself for this result. He’s well aware that his carelessness has grown with each ritual and apparently the shapeshifters also picked up on it. When did that start? Michael contemplates before Hope interrupts,

“I know what you did that day, when you erased my memory.”

“Just today?” Michael asks, surprised. “I thought you would have long ago. I commend you for figuring out what happened despite that.”

“That’s…all you have to say?”

“Were you expecting some sort of apology? I see no reason to as it was needed to complete the process.”

Michael is so laser focused on completing the ritual that he will do so by any means necessary. Including using humans. In addition to Hope’s experience from the past, giving people part of his power is another way of doing so, though they may not see it as such. There are surely plenty more examples. Hope suspected this to be the case, but wanted to hear it from Michael himself.

“There really is no reason to talk.”

Hope takes in a deep breath and exhales before getting in a battle position.

Hope can’t fly so she developed another way to reach any enemies when that may be necessary. She holds the hilt with the blade facing behind her and takes a few quick steps. One, two, three. She’s able to use that short speed to catapult herself into the air, bringing her closer to Michael. The highest she can reach is up to 11 feet, and that happens to be what she needs.

Frustration grows as she flies toward him. “So you learned a new trick!” Michael shouts.

Hope says nothing. Her eyes are glued to her target. Michael covers his right arm with a shield and when she swings her weapon upward, he backhands the blade and she falls, landing flat on her feet.

Undeterred, Hope prepares to leap once more until she sees a few brightly lit projectiles flying in her direction. Michael forms small knife-like objects and sends them her way with the flick of his finger. He attempts to follow her every movement, but Hope manages to dodge with ease, going from one side to the next in a zigzag pattern. Michael isn’t even close to hitting her. Superspeed and teleportation are without a doubt the most annoying abilities he encountered.

Michael decides to close the distance and stands on the grassy field. Hope doesn’t waste a second and proceeds to swing the sword in his vicinity. Reminiscent of their last battle, he merely blocks.

Hope attacks, swinging left to right, and jumps over him in an attempt to strike from behind, but he guards as if there are eyes on the back of his head. It doesn’t matter how or where she attacks, he’s able to defend himself. It’s nothing short of infuriating. She has to continue pushing him, hoping for an opening at some point.

Comparing the past battle to now, Michael can tell she’s even faster and her strength has improved as well. No matter how you look at it, this isn’t the same girl from before. She had all that time to practice and come up with strategies in order to get her revenge. That’s probably the main thing she focused on in all of these years, and her effort shows.

The silence continues with Hope letting out a grunt here and there. Neither has any more to say and besides, Michael can understand Hope’s emotions simply from her expression. Filled with anger and despair, her eyes are practically overflowing with tears, but it’s held back by a fierce scowl. That’s why she remains silent. If she says another word, she will no longer be able to hold them back.

Michael is brought back to the thought of When did that start?

I have been entrusted with this ritual from the beginning. For the longest time, it was easy. People were told they were to die, sacrifice themselves for the sake of the world, and they accepted their fate without a fight. Even if they were considered to have ‘little worth’, I never understood why they never did anything. Just sitting in place until they were no more.

Then the shapeshifters began to interfere. They were somehow able to find the exact people who were to take part in the ritual. Most often, it was those already close to death. They activated supernatural abilities and rallied together. Sometimes they hid, other times they fought back. The task became more difficult from there, but I was able to accomplish it every time regardless. This is when it started to wear me down.

The only thing I never had to witness was the aftermath. They generally don’t have family who cared for them, who would grieve over their death. That is, until the strange sword appeared, of which I have yet to discover its origin. A mystery in every possible way. First the Asian woman, and now this girl. They manage to survive the ritual and I’m met with the same look that despises my very being.

It makes me wonder; how long is this to continue? Is it necessary? Maybe this should be taken as a sign to bring it to an end.

Michael closes his eyes and raises his chin toward the sky. The words ‘It’s alright’ echo in his mind.

Hope finds it odd, but continues to attack. Michael suddenly grabs the sword with his shield, not allowing her to move. He lowers his head and looks her straight in the eyes.

“Congratulations, Jessica Bell. You win.”

“...what does that mean?”

Hope is pushed back and falls on her behind, then finds herself unable to move. She watches Michael raise his right arm in the air. However, rather than attack, a white light is expelled from Jacob and Kelsay’s bodies and it goes right into his palm. Michael has taken their holy power, making them regular humans again. Confused and in shock by the sudden events, Hope listens as Michael speaks to those present.

“Kelsay Blackshire. Your sister should be awakening any moment now, just as healthy as before. Praying is all well and good, but perhaps consider other ways to show how thankful you are.”

Overjoyed at the thought of seeing her sister again, she gives a tearful nod before being sent home by Michael.

“Jacob Thatcher, and also Lucas Thatcher, you have both been given a second chance. Be sure not to waste it.”

“A second chance…” Jacob whispers. After regaining the ability to walk, his only goal was to end everything through this ritual. Now that someone won't constantly be overshadowing him, he immediately starts considering what he wants to do. This renews his will to live, which had disappeared after the accident.

“Johanny Alanzo and Theo Leblanc. Despite what this ritual entails, everyone is meant to do something. If you keep searching, you’re sure to find it. Don’t let any failure deter you.”

Statements customized for each individual. Advice to help them move on after making it through this grueling battle, and perhaps to bring about a feeling of enlightenment. This is directed at both sides, allies and enemies. He makes it sound like this is the end. Is it really? The trio only look at each other, unsure of what is happening. Hope also finds it difficult to wrap her head around this.

Sitting on the ground, Hope looks at Michael who is standing over her.

“I don’t understand.”

“Didn’t you hear me? You win, the ritual is not to happen. Enjoy that which you were unable to before.”

Michael glances at the unconscious shapeshifter before disappearing in a flash of light.