Arc 3 - Chapter 74: Friends to The End

(Reverence 6, 59 / 8:14PM)

Luna walked back to where Jenny sat. Her hands deep in her pockets, she wore no shirt or jacket to cover her bra and stomach. Once she stood right near her, she looked down at the corpse she continued to cradle. She rubbed one hand on Kenichi’s cheek, while the other rubbed his right hand.

“He’s dead Jenny. You can let go.”

“Just let me sulk in peace, at least for now…”

Luna sighed, and felt her eyes slumber in a small pit of darkness. But that darkness didn’t last long, before hearing the door from behind sway open. Out the door was a large group of men. With Miles carrying both Ada and Hope, and Jack giving Eren a piggyback, Sean meanwhile carried two big bags. Furrowing her brow, she cocked her head to the right.

“Is that the money?”

“Yeah, and we had to fight two snipers to get it. They give us a run for our money, literally.” Said Sean.

“Not to mention we were both shot.” Said Jack.

“Does it look like I care? You two will be fine.”

“Oh, and one other thing.”

Because Luna wore nothing but her bra and pants, all three of them felt their cheeks brighten a pinkish red. Not able to look down, they locked eyes with her intently. Not because they were gentlemen, but because they knew what she’d do if they were caught.

She glanced down at her own chest. Pulling out both of her hands, she began cracking her knuckles one by one.

“You better keep eye contact with me.”

“Hey you took them off.” Said Jack.

“Because I was on fire you asshat! If I hadn’t taken my jacket and shirt off, it would’ve got my hair on fire! Do you want me to go bald!”

“Eh, I don’t mind. Women can be hot when they’re bald.”

“F-Forget it!”

Her cheeks flustered a bright red, and she balled her hands before taking a step forward. Jack jumped back, and raised his hands in a form of surrender. Keeping her hand twitching, all-crushing, she moved her eyes onto Miles and Sean. Her anger remained stale.

“Where’s everybody else, and where’s Luke?”

“Well the rest of the strike force should be here any minute. But, shouldn’t Luke already reach this train cart?”

“He was supposed to. He could’ve helped me and Jenny out, but to be honest… it was better for both of us.”

They all heard footsteps draw from behind.

Exiting out the door, the group was larger than the first one. Fred helped with Stan, as his hand wrapped around his neck. Bleeding from his finger, the bondages didn’t do much to stop the red from gushing out. Gary carried Lorraine on her back, while Diego did the same for Alexandra, but princess style.

Jumbo had Betty resting on his back, and Elizabeth carried Johnny in her arms. They all saw the paleness of his face, the cold he emitted. Everyone’s face went dim, felt the lack of warmth that was robbed off of.

“You got to be kidding me.” Whispered Jack.

“He didn’t… shit.” Said Jack.

“Damnit…” Said Miles.

‘Not another one…’

Many of their eyes averted to the metallic floor, as the sight in front of them crinkled their faces. The only person, the only woman to fully stare at his corpse, was none other than Jenny. Elizabeth’s eyes were dark, as pinkish red fully tainted her eyes.

“Do you guys need healing?”

Her voice crackled through. Having fingers that dug deep into his clothes, she continued to look at his solemn face. Without looking at Miles, the silence she created even dwarfed out the train they rode on.

“Lent me Hope, so that way we can heal. I could start right now. There’s a slim chance, but what if Hope could—”

“We have to accept it.”

Another voice broke through, one that matched that same low baritone. Striking clean through their ears, Jenny had finally loosened her hold on Kenichi’s body. Letting his back rest on her thighs, she continued to stare at his dead irises.

“The men we love can’t come back from the dead. They can’t.”

Elizabeth soured her face, and she kept it all within the pit of her stomach. Wanting to vomit, to cry, all she would do was yell with deaf ears. Digging her fingers even deeper, a vein sprouted from her temple.

“But he came back to life. He rose from the dead. If it’s possible then—”

“Elizabeth…”

Jenny finally rose from the ground. Carrying Kenichi, the blood and scent he gave off continued to molest her nostrils. She moved her eyes away from Kenichi’s cold face at last; and had them glued to the metallic floor.

“It’s better to love a corpse that rests rather than breathes.”

Keeping her darkened stare ahold, the only thing she could do was let her fingers loosen in intensity. Nodding slowly, her head was low, and her arms and shoulders prickled with numbness.

“You’re right…”

A thump broke through the seriousness.

Everyone, including Jenny and Elizabeth, turned toward the sudden noise. Laying on the ground and groaning, was a young man with light brown hair. Wearing the same attire as half of them, all of their eyes widened.

““““““““““Luke!””””””””””

Surrounded by almost everyone, only Jenny and Elizabeth stayed back. His body battered in bruises, his nose caved in entirely, his cheeks swelled darkish purple. Both of his forearms were fractured. His right having miniscule shards of glass stuck inside… he tried to conjure up a smile from the floor.

“C-Can you lend me a hand?”

Luna helped him up, as she wrapped an arm around his neck. His lower body wobbling immensely, he already felt the blood loss whirl around in his head.

“Is it over? I-I-Is it all done?”

“Yeah Luke, we did it.” said Luna.

Luke’s eyes could barely take in what was in front of him. Blurriness clogging his irises, he shook his head, whilst dragging his boots against the metallic floor. He saw all of them, their faces tattered from the wounds of battle. Walking toward the group, with so much breath out of place, he laid his eyes on two particular… he felt his throat dry.

“W-What happened to—”

“Johnny passed, and so did Kenichi.” Said Benn.

His cheeks felt loose, and his eyes widened the greatest they ever did. Looking right at Jenny, and then Elizabeth, the two women already felt holes dig into their souls. Luke clenched his teeth, and felt his gums sting against his teeth.

“No… I didn’t want him to die. I didn’t mean for it to—”

“It’s okay Luke.”

Elizabeth interrupted Luke. Finally raising her head, she laid her darkened eyes at Luke. She didn’t glare, nor did she commit a cold frown. Letting her eyes take in such a frowning face, it was like a child being hushed by their mother.

“This isn’t your fault. Johnny was killed by his father.”

“Yet still…”

“Elizabeth’s right Luke. There’s nothing you could’ve done.”

Miles had his head tilted low, but he had his eyes also set on Luke. They all did. Knowing what happened, happened, none of it could be taken to plan by Luke. Death? Wounds? Casualties? Why pin it all on Luke? And knowing he’d be the type to reflect heavily, to judge himself with demeaning thoughts, Miles nodded at him.

“So don’t take the blame for every wrong doing. We know leaders ain’t perfect… but that's what makes them needed.”

Luke could barely stand, let alone walk. Continuing to look down at the floor, his eyes already began to suffice in that same binding darkness. Now wanting for it to take over, he growled and then moved his eyes to the right.

So that way no one could see his face.

“I’ll try.”

Whilst they talked with sulkiness, Jack moved his slumber eyes onto a sign. On the right side of the track, to which the landscape shifted, he squinted.

{Marston Bridge - 3 Miles.”}

—And he also noticed a plume of smoke, rising from the distance.—

“H-Hey guys…”

Turning their heads slowly to Jack, they saw the way his face paled. Seeing him walk back, they too stared in the same direction. Trying their hardest to squint, they finally saw that black cloud fluff in the air.

Everyone felt their hearts sink, with Sean in particular walking toward the edge. Having a hand on the railing, his instinct told him to jump, but he kept it screaming. Staring forward, the tracks never-ended, never faded, as metal and wood collided into one, long, stretch of railroad—until it stopped—as a gaping hole separated the bridge into two.

“G-Guys!” They were all in fight or flight mode. “Everyone get off, now!”

They all had no choice but to run toward the edge. The railing being merely an obstacle, the first thing they did was dump the unconscious bodies. Eren, Alexandra, Ada, Betty, Hope, and Loraine, all six of them rolled as dirt and dust scrounged their clothes. Jack, Diego, Miles, and Jumbo pushed air in their lungs—

And jumped off.

Fred, Benn, and Gary helped Stan jump off. As they all leaped to the dirt, the red soil glued itself into the fabric of their clothes.

“Jenny! Elizabeth! There’s no time!”

Gulping, the two widows cradled the men they loved, and lunged right toward that railing. Tucking the corpses beside them, they rolled with bruising shoulders.

Luke turned to his right, and saw the bridge appearing even closer. He noticed two people who ran toward them with waving hands. Knowing it was Pacifica and Christian, their task was a success, but it was clear the clock was ticking. And then he turned to the second train cart… gold still shone in that vault.

—Forgive me everyone.

He ran toward the vault, with Luna and Sean being the only ones to gawk. His way of repaying what he did, he reached the second train cart, but he turned. Waving at them, he roared through colliding vocals.

“Jump now you two! I could make it!”

Luna clenched down on her teeth, and hissed air from the center of her lips. Seeing the way adrenaline shackled him, yet again, she scrunched her cheeks up to her forehead. With no other choice… she growled and grabbed the edge of the railing, before jumping off. So did Sean, who rolled right up to Pacifica and Christian’s boots. Barely able to conregulate his eyes, to see what was in front of him, Christian bent down.

“Where’s Luke?”

“S-Shit! C-Christian help me up!”

One mile.

Within the second train cart, the vault was still open, with gold shining on the walls, floor, and ceiling. Running toward that same vault, Luke began collecting the most he could, with gold coins being the easier currency. Pushing them into his pockets, handfuls of them, his breathing already hastened out dryness. Filling his pockets with gold, its weight already sagged his jacket. Beginning his exit—the train began to shake.

Half a mile.

Luke bit the inside of his cheeks, but not so ever harshly. Already feeling his gums swell in stress, swell in pain, all of his abs squeezed with every step.

—Come on Luke, push!

1/4th of a mile.

Hearing the tracks grind and burn, friction shackled the wheels and tracks. Sand being replaced with concrete, it clawed his eardrums, but it was an alarm only for him. He tried to ignore such pain, such exhaustion that built up in his chest. Reaching the edge, his palms squeezed the railing, but he strangled all the muscles in his biceps. Using all that leftover energy, he—

—He felt the floor tilt to his right.—

Time flowed effortlessly in slow motion. The train, which now departed to the canyon below, held only one alive passenger. All of his footing was loosened from the floor. With empty lungs, and squeezed eyes, every muscle within his body ached. Shoulders, triceps, biceps, back muscles, thighs, shins, calves, abs; everything in his body was strangled in those forbidden reserves. It was now or never, once chance to win it all.

He squeezed the floor… and turned his wishes to reality.

________________________________________________________________________

Having his hand already extended out, his clenched teeth shackled themselves like a lock. Time continued to flow slowly, slowly enough for his own hands to grasp nothing but air. But his ears trailed a voice.

“What a doofus.”

Something did grab his hand. Slowly, he opened his eyes, while feeling his right hand be dug by miniscule shards. Moving his eyes upward, the man that saved him had ginger-hair and green eyes.

“Lucky bastard.”

The explosion came. Slamming onto Luke’s back, and Sean’s face, that rippling wind fluttered the ends of their hair. Cracking the canyon’s walls, the heat splattered onto their faces; and down their skin. Sean continued to dig his fingers into Luke, whilst the eruption finally softened. To which left a smoke cloud.

“I thought you hated me.”

“I ain’t a villain. And besides.”

Luke noticed the way Sean dangled, as if he was grabbed from his ankles. His body already comforted on the canyon wall, Luke noticed a particular woman grabbing his ankles. Being tan in complexion, her own face tattered with wrinkles and veins.

“I’m just doing this to repay a debt.”

Being pulled up, the two were lifted all the way toward the canyon top. With Sean being first, he didn’t rest until Luke was on that same elevation. And once he was pulled as well, Sean finally let go.

Laying on the ground with his back, Sean upchucked air like a machine. For Luke however, it was soft, it was quaint, as if the air he took in was less in oxygen. Smelling the ash, he moved his hands toward his stomach, while Luna glared.

“You went through all that for fucking coins!?’

“I was doing the same thing as Sean.”

“Forget about debts! Just stop making me worry you dumbass!”

“What about me?” Asked Sean.

“Eh, slightly worried. Thanks for saving Luke though.”

‘Really? That’s the thanks I get?’ thought Sean. He groaned from a dry mouth, and shook his head before arching his body up. Sitting on his butt, he looked over at Luke, who continued to softly breathe through such a dry throat. Hearing his vocals motor against each other, he cringed the more he heard him.

“But seriously Luke, why go through that? I never asked you to secure more money.”

“Yet you ran toward me to save me, even when no one was willing to. What does that make us… Sean?”

Luke looked at the night sky.

The moment they first met, the two didn’t have a good start. Turning a miscommunication into a rivalry, it led tension and glares to be trivial. But right now, from where they laid, they already paid each other back. Not with money, not with promises, but with something deeper….

“Friends?”

“Yeah. Friends.”

The three of them heard a monument of footsteps. Knowing who they were, Luke did his best to rest his hair with the sand. He heard the reverberations, he felt them jump his hair and so did Sean. Knowing it was best to stay put, Luna took a step to the right, all to unveil the floodgates that were their group.

“Again with that daredevil shit!” Yelled Miles.

It was dim, but Luke’s crusted eyes and eardrums barely took in the sight and voice. Or rather, he chose to deadpan stare with a straight face. The footsteps echoing closer and closer, he heard more of their yells.

“You better not rest ya little turd! We got a lot to say for you!”, “We got a lot of shit to say!”, “I knew Luke was always a bit of a retard!”, “Hey don’t say that, that’s disrespectful to actual idiots.”, “You shouldn’t say that word at all!”, “Luke! What the hell were you thinking!”, “Luke!”, “Luke!”, “Luke!”

All of those yells, those voices, it grew bigger and bigger as he continued to lay. Even when the heat of the desert was robbed, leaving behind a sudden cold, he tried his best to close his eyes.

—I should probably not mention how I got on board. They would never let me hear the end of it.

‘I heard that.’ thought Jack.

From there, the group surrounded Luke, and immediately clobbered around him like a child. Grabbing his collar, his jacket, his legs, his arms; anything that was Luke, was grabbed. Except for his hair or face of course.

Whilst he was dragged, shoved, and tugged, they didn’t pay no mind to his wounds. As the nightly horizon drew their voices like echoes, it was all the sky could take in—just them, getting angry at their leader.