Did I Do It At All?

Everything was surrounded by yellow police tape. Mango’s once radiant, sun-kissed body was now covered by a blue tarp, her life snuffed out in an instant. Forensics and agents scoured the beach, poking around for evidence as waves gently lapped the shore.

There were police officers, CIA agents, and crime scene techs surrounding the area. Flashing cameras. Shuffling feet. Whispered conversations.

John stood with his hands in his pockets, expressionless. His eyes were foggy and sunken. Lea approached and gently touched his shoulder. John flinched.

“It’s just me,” Lea said softly. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Oh,” John said softly. “Hey... Lea.”

"Johnny... I-I... don't know what to say. I'm so sorry."

“How does something like this even happen?” John asked. “I did everything I was supposed to do... and yet... this still happens.”

Chief Roman walked up beside him.

“I’m sorry, son,” he said quietly. “I know it was your last day of vacation, but... I had to come out myself.”

John looked down at the sand, curling his toes into it. The grains squeezed between his toes like broken glass. “It was supposed to be me,” he said. “If she hadn’t switched places with me when she did-”

“-Don’t,” Chief Roman said, cutting him off, “don’t go down that road. It leads nowhere but darkness.”

“But it’s true. That bullet was meant for me. She saved me, and what do I have to show for it?”

Lea placed a hand gently on his back. “She talked about you all the time, you know. Said you were the best thing that ever happened to her. I don’t think she had any regrets.”

“But I do,” John said. “I regret even being born. Maybe if I hadn’t, none of this would’ve happened…”

“Don’t say that,” Lea said. “Don’t ever say that. It's not your fault. Just the world we live in.”

“What am I supposed to say?” John snapped. “What am I supposed to do now? Without Mango… I don’t know what I'm supposed to do next.”

A forensic scientist approached and whispered something to Chief Roman. Roman’s eyes widened. He waved the scientist off.

“We’ll talk about that later,” Roman said quickly.

“What is it?” John asked.

“Nothing,” Chief Roman said.

John's whole face twisted in anger. He stormed over, grabbed the forensic scientist by the collar.

“What are you hiding?” John yelled.

“Let him go,” Roman said. “He didn’t do anything!”

“I don’t care!” John shouted. “No more secrets! What the hell do you know?!”

The scientist struggled and put his hands up in defense. “I—I swear, I was just telling him what was written on the shell casing…”

John’s eyes narrowed. “Speak. Up.”

Lea tried to pull John back. “Let him go, John!”

John’s knuckles were white with fury.

“The shell casing…” the scientist stammered, “it had a name engraved on it. We found it next to the sniper rifle. It was meant to be found, or else it would've been way farther away.”

John stared at him. “What… what name?”

The scientist hesitated, then finally said: “It had one name. Nero.”

John went still. Slowly, he released the man.

“Nero…” John whispered to himself. “The bullet… it really was meant for me.”

“There’s more,” the scientist said. “But… we don’t know for sure yet.”

“What else? Tell me!”

Lea cut in. Her voice cracked. “John… you were on vacation…”

“So what?!” John snapped. “What happened?!”

Chief Roman sighed. He put his hand to the back of his neck. “We didn’t want to ruin your last day of peace… but it’s your brother and sister.”

John squinted at Roman. “What about them?”

Roman exhaled slowly. “Your brother’s body… was never found. We’ve searched everywhere. I mean we accounted for just about everyone else, even fishing some people out of the sea.”

John’s heart stopped. “You’re saying… he might still be alive?”

He grabbed Lea by the shoulders. “Please! Please don’t tell me he’s the one who did this!”

Lea shook her head. “It’s not just him! It’s your sister.”

“She’s in prison,” John said. “I saw her. I put her there myself!”

“She was,” Chief Roman said in a forced calm manner. “She escaped two days ago.”

John staggered back as if struck by a brick. “No... No, she was in a black site. You promised she couldn’t escape!”

“I did everything I could,” Roman said. “I swear. The director made that promise, not me.”

John collapsed to his knees, clutching his head. He screamed. His screams echoed across the beach, and everyone turned to him. They all just watched him fall apart.

“All of it… all I did. I saved the world," said John. "Now I've lost Mango. And now… they’re both still out there… more dangerous than ever because now they know what I’m capable of! You're saying... all of it was for nothing?”

Tears dripped from his face and sizzled into the hot sand, evaporating instantly.

"NO! Dammit all!" John cried.

***

It was raining that day. Pouring, actually. John stood alone at Mango’s grave, his black overcoat and tie were soaked through. No umbrella. No attempt to block the rain.

The gravestone read:

Here lies Michelle Orson - One hell of a woman.

Lea arrived in a dry, neat funeral suit, holding an umbrella. She stepped beside him and held the umbrella over his head.

“That was a good service,” she said.

“Yeah,” John said. “We were really the only ones who knew her. Glad the CIA paid for it. Noreen didn't even show.”

Lea nodded quietly.

“So…” she asked, “you’re really going back out there?”

“I have to,” John said. “I can’t sit behind a desk. Not when I can still do something.”

Lea put her hand on his back.

“It’s over, Lea,” said John. “My life is over. I have no family, I can’t afford to have any friends, and it’s too dangerous to love. I have to do better, be better. I have to be strong, pay attention to the details and keep my wits about me.”

"You are strong, John."

John clenched his fists tight. “Apparently not enough to protect the people that are closest to me... There’s something wrong with your umbrella,” he said.

“What do you mean?” Lea asked.

“I’m still getting wet.”

She looked up. The umbrella was intact. Then she looked down at John's face. Her eyes started to well up.

It wasn’t the rain. It was his tears, streaming silently, soaking through his shirt.

“Oh, John…” she whispered, resting her head on his shoulder.

<<<>>>

[NEW MISSION.]

<<<>>>

Not now, John thought. Not now, dammit.

<<<>>>

[MISSION: Hunt down your brother and sister. Find Mango’s true killer.]

<<<>>>

John sniffed and rubbed his eyes, though tears still flowed. A glowing HUD screen hovered in his vision, clear as day.

<<<>>>

[OBJECTIVE: Avenge Mango. End this war once and for all.]

[Do you accept?]

[Yes or No?]

<<<>>>

John swallowed hard. His teeth gritted so hard it felt like they’d snap. He released a low, guttural growl.

“I accept,” he said aloud.

Lea turned to him, startled. “You accept what?”

But John didn't even hear her. He didn't even feel her presence anymore.

<<<>>>

[MISSION: START!]

<<<>>>

A timer started at the bottom of the screen.

The End?