The Savage: The Broken

 The Savage: the broken

1

The cool night air hit me in the face as we finally emerged from the warehouse.

It was a welcome relief after the tension we had all felt in there and it helped to clear my head.

Now that we had Rylan, we needed to get him to safety and then regroup about what we were going to do next.

"We need to get him to a hospital," Simon said, breaking the silence and answering my question exactly as I had hoped he would.

"And then we need to get home and regroup.

We never should have underestimated those suits.

We need to be prepared for whatever they are going to throw at us," he added, making sure I knew we weren’t out of the woods yet.

The rest of the guys all nodded in agreement while Rylan was loaded into the back of one of the cars.

"Let’s move," Cherry called, his start of ignition echoing through the night air.

I motioned for Simon to step aside with me for a minute.

The others all seemed to be busy with getting everything loaded up and ready to go, so we had a few minutes of privacy.

"Simon," I started, my voice low and serious.

"We need a plan that doesn’t just react to them. We need to hit them where it hurts."

He nodded slowly, his eyes already going over all the different possibilities in his head.

"You’re right," he said.

"We can’t keep playing defense."

I glanced back over my shoulder at the others, making sure they were still out of earshot.

"Let’s gather intel on their next move," I suggested.

"Agreed," Simon said, holding out his hand for me to shake.

"But there's something you should know," Simon added, hesitating slightly.

"What is it?" I asked, sensing the weight of his words.

"I know a way we can find out their next move," Simon said, his tone lowering and becoming more secretive. "There's a guy I know who has connections to their operation. He might be able to give us some inside information."

I raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Who is this guy? How do you know him?"

Simon hesitated for a moment, like he was trying to decide if he wanted to share more information. But then he sighed and continued. "He's a former agent of theirs. He had a falling out with the guys calling the shots and now he's on the run."

My eyes widened in surprise. "A former agent? That sounds like a risky contact to make. Are you sure we can trust him?"

Simon understood my hesitation, but he held up one hand to stop me. "He can be trusted. He's provided us with valuable information in the past, and he has a history of being reliable."

I nodded slowly, considering this new information. "Okay. I trust your judgment, Simon. If you think this guy can help us, let's go talk to him."

Simon smiled, clearly pleased that I was willing to put my trust in him. "Good. I'm glad to have your faith in my decision. I promise you, this guy is a goldmine of information.

2

Simon pulled out his phone, tapping a few buttons to bring up a location. "He's currently hiding out in an abandoned factory on the west side of town. It's not too far from here."

I nodded, feeling a sense of determination welling up inside of me. "Let's get moving then. The sooner we get this information, the better."

Simon and I turned to head towards Cherry's car, ready to set off to find this former agent in the abandoned factory. As we walked, I couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and anxiety about what we were walking into.

But I also knew that we had no other choice. If we wanted to take down these suits, we needed all the information we could get. And if this former agent could provide us with the intel we needed, then it was worth the risk.

I took a deep breath as I got into the car, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. As Cherry started the engine and we drove off into the night, I knew that our journey was only just beginning.

The car raced through the darkness, Cherry's fingers tight on the wheel, his face tense with concentration. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins as we neared the abandoned factory where our contact was hiding out.

My mind raced with thoughts of what this former agent might reveal. Would he have information that would turn the tide in our favor? Or would he be just as cunning and treacherous as the suits who were after us?

I glanced over at Simon, who sat quietly in the passenger seat, his face expressionless. I knew that he was as focused as ever, meticulously planning and analyzing every detail of our upcoming encounter.

I realized that I trusted his judgement completely, that he had a way of making even the most impossible situations seem possible. And as we made our way towards the abandoned factory, I was more determined than ever to follow wherever his path may lead.

I realized that I trusted his judgement completely, that he had a way of making even the most impossible situations seem possible. And as we made our way towards the abandoned factory, I was more determined than ever to follow wherever his path may lead.

As we pulled up to the factory, the car lights illuminating the deserted grounds, my senses were on high alert. I could feel the tension in the air, the weight of the unknown hanging over us like a dark cloud.

3

We all got out of the car, cautiously making our way towards the entrance of the factory. The door was barely clinging to its hinges, the rusted metal creaking ominously as we pushed it open.

The inside of the factory was dark and musty, the air thick with the smell of decay and disuse. We moved slowly, our footsteps echoing off the concrete floors as we ventured deeper inside.

Suddenly, we heard a noise, a soft shuffling from the shadows. We all froze, our hands reaching for our weapons as we tried to pinpoint the source of the sound.

As we inched forward, we heard the sound of footsteps drawing closer. A figure materialized out of the darkness, a man with a hood obscuring his face. He stopped a few feet away from us, sizing us up with a calculating stare.

We all held our weapons at the ready, wary of this mysterious figure. I took a step forward, trying to speak over the pounding of my heart. "Who are you?" I demanded, my voice steady despite my nerves.

The man chuckled, a chilling sound that sent shivers down my spine. "I'm the one you've come to see," he replied, his voice deep and sinister. "And I have information that you desperately need."

We looked at each other, unsure of how to proceed. Did we trust this man and his supposed intel? Or were we walking into a trap?

Finally, I spoke up. "You say you have information. What kind of information?" I asked, my hand still firmly gripping my weapon.

The man chuckled again, taking a step closer. "I have information that could help you take down the suits, my dear boy," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "I have their inner workings, their secrets, their plans. And I'm willing to share them with you, for a price."

My heart raced as I registered his words. If this was true, we could finally gain the upper hand in the fight against the suits. But I was wary of this man's intentions and what he would ask for in return.

I cleared my throat, trying to remain calm. "And what exactly is this price?" I asked, my eyes never leaving the man's hooded face.

The man chuckled again, his grin visible beneath the darkness of his hood. "Oh, it's nothing too much, my dear boy," he said, taking another step closer. "I just need a little something in return. A favor, if you will."

I felt my stomach churn with unease. What kind of favor was this man alluding to? We were already in a desperate situation, but I couldn't help feeling like we were about to make a bargain with the devil.

I glanced at the others, seeing the same uncertainty in their eyes. But we didn't have much choice. We had to trust this man and whatever information he had. I took a deep breath and spoke up. "Alright then. What is the favor you want in exchange for this information?"

The man chuckled, delighted by my words. "Oh, it's quite simple, my dear boy," he said, taking yet another step closer. "All I want is your eternal allegiance. I want you and your little group of friends here to be my loyal servants, to do my bidding without question. In return, you will have the secrets to the suits and their inner workings. You will have the upper hand in this battle."

I felt my heart sink at his words. Eternal allegiance? To serve this man's every whim? I glanced at the others again, my heart pounding in my chest.

But then I thought of the suits, of the pain they had caused us already. I thought of Rylan, lying in the hospital, his life hanging in the balance from the suits' most recent attack. I thought of the chaos they had brought into our lives, and the power they wielded over us.

"Fine," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "We agree to your terms. You will share the secrets of the suits with us in exchange for our eternal allegiance."

The man chuckled, a grin spreading across his face. "Excellent, my dear boy." He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small packet. "This is the information I will be entrusting to you. Guard it with your life, my child."

I took the packet, my mind racing with thoughts of what we had gotten ourselves into. Had we just sold our souls to the devil?

With that, the man turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving us alone once again in the darkness of the abandoned factory. We stood there for a moment, stunned by what had just transpired.

Finally, Cherry broke the silence. "What the hell just happened?" he muttered, his voice echoing through the empty building. I looked down at the packet of information in my hand, feeling the weight of its importance.

4

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my thoughts. "We just made a bargain with the devil," I said quietly, my voice barely audible. "And we better hope that this information is worth the price we paid for it."

We all stood there in the darkness, pondering the weight of our decision. We had just made a deal with a mysterious man who claimed to have information that could turn the tide against the suits. 

But the price we had paid was high. We had bound ourselves to his will for all eternity. What did this mean for our future? What kind of tasks would he have us do? And worst of all, would we be able to live with our decision?

As we stood there in the darkness, I felt a sense of unease settle over me. Had we made a huge mistake? Had we just sold our souls to the devil for a few scraps of information? 

Only time would tell if this was worth it. But for now, all we had left was to hope that this man's information was as valuable as he claimed it to be, and that we would be able to use it to take down the suits once and for all...

But even then, the question remained - what kind of servitude would we be subjected to in return for this information? Would we ever be able to break free from this man's grasp, or would we be his slaves forever? Only time would reveal the answers to these questions...

With these thoughts swirling in my mind, I took one last look at the packet of information in my hand. 

It held the secrets to the suits and their inner workings, the key to taking them down once and for all. I clutched it tightly, hoping that we had made the right choice.

And as we turned and left the abandoned factory, leaving the mysterious man behind in the shadows, I couldn't help but wonder... 

Would this information be our salvation, or our damnation? Only time would tell.

With that, we walked towards the car, trying to shake off the eerie feeling that had settled over us. But little did we know, our decisions were about to take us down a path from which there was no turning back...

As I got into the car, I watched as Cherry revved the engine, his knuckles gripping the steering wheel tightly. We exchanged a quick glance, both of us silent with our own thoughts. I wondered what was going through his mind as we ventured into the darkness, our future unclear and uncertain.

Cherry broke the silence, his voice barely above a whisper. "We're in deep now, huh?" He turned to me, his face serious. "What do you think we just involved ourselves in?"

I held up the packet of information in my hand, my fingers shaking slightly. "I have no idea," I admitted. "We just made a deal with the devil, and we don't even know his name."

Cherry nodded slowly, his grip on the wheel tightening even more. "Then let's just hope this devil's information is as good as he promised."

We stared into each other's eyes for a long moment, neither of us speaking. And then, as Cherry put the car into drive and pulled out of the factory driveway, I knew that our journey was only just beginning. In this moment, we were bound together by the same unknown force, united by our need to bring down the suits and their terrifying regime of corruption and greed.

And as we drove off into the night, the wind howling through the car windows, I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope... Despite everything, we were finally taking a stand... and there was no going back...

The next few days were a blur. We poured over the packet of information we had received from the mysterious man, poring over every word, every piece of intelligence we could use against the suits' inner workings. We knew that this was our only chance to take down the suits, and every moment we spent analyzing the information felt like an eternity.

But as the days passed, our optimism slowly began to diminish. The information we had been given was fragmented and convoluted, and it was obvious that much of it had been tampered with by the suits. It was all but useless, and our confidence was quickly dwindling.

Cherry, in particular, was feeling the strain of our situation. His usually carefree demeanor had been replaced with a deep sense of anger and frustration, and his once-lively spirit seemed to be fading with every passing day.

5

Rylan's condition had also taken a turn for the worse. The doctors had done all they could, but he was still unconscious, and no one knew if he would ever regain consciousness. The thought of losing him was a heavy weight on all of our hearts.

And to make matters worse, the attacks from the suits had only increased in frequency and severity. The city was becoming a warzone, with constant bombings and chaos raining down upon us. It was a miracle that we had survived as long as we had, but none of us knew how much longer we could hold out...

In the midst of all this chaos, I found myself feeling more alone than ever. The weight of responsibility was crushing me, and I couldn't help but feel like I was drowning in the darkness of our situation. The future was a dark hole, and I had no idea where it was leading us...

I thought of the mysterious man's words, the one who had given us the information. Maybe he had sold us lies after all, and we had been foolish to put our trust in him. I thought of Rylan's unconscious form, his breathing shallow and his heart rate barely detectable. I thought of the chaos and destruction that surrounded us, and the deep sense of despair that threatened to consume me...

But then I thought of Cherry and the others, their unwavering loyalty and determination. We had come too far to just give up now. Even if the information we had been given was useless, even if the future seemed lost, we had to cling to the hope that we could still make a difference...

With that, I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the despair that had settled over me. Despite the odds stacked against us, we had to find a way to keep moving forward. We had to find a way to succeed. With this newfound determination, we set out to find new clues and new leads, anything that might help us take down the suits and their tyrannical reign...

The uncertainty loomed over me like a shadow, a constant reminder of a dark future. We had been foolish to accept the man's offer without knowing the full implications of our actions. We had sold our souls for scraps of information, and now we were bound to serve this man for as long as we lived. I couldn't help but wonder what that servitude would entail, and what horrors lay ahead for us...

Despite these dark thoughts, we refused to give up. We continued our search for clues, our determination fueled by our desire to bring down the suits and avenge Rylan and the many others who had suffered at their hands. But somewhere deep down, I couldn't shake the feeling that we had made a terrible mistake, one that would come back to haunt us in ways we couldn't imagine...

The days dragged on, each one more difficult and dangerous than the last. The attacks from the suits grew more desperate, more intense. We knew that they were on the brink of defeat, and that they were lashing out in anger and fear. We were the only ones standing in their way, and they were willing to do anything to eliminate us. But we refused to give up. Even as the odds stacked against us, even as the weight of our servitude loomed heavy on our souls, we continued our fight...

As we fought on, I couldn't help but wonder how long we could keep going like this. We were tired, we were hurt, and we were running out of options. I thought of Rylan, his lifeless body still lying in the hospital bed. I thought of Cherry, his usual optimism slowly giving way to despair...

Then, that night, as we huddled together in the darkness, a strange noise reached our ears. At first, I couldn't quite place it, but then I realized what it was. It was a laugh, a low, sinister laugh that sent chills through my spine. We exchanged a fearful glance, unsure of what was happening.

6

"Oh shit," out of the darkness, the source of the laugh emerged. It was the mysterious man, his shadowy figure looming over us. He looked much taller and more intimidating in this light, and his eyes glowed with a strange intensity. We stood there frozen, our senses on high alert, as he slowly walked towards us.

"Free me."

Despite the fear coursing through my veins, I couldn't help but wonder why the man had sought us out. Was it to check on our progress? Or had he come to claim his reward for the favor he had done us?

Cherry raised his fists, ready to defend us no matter the cost. But before he could land a blow, the mysterious man raised his hand, stopping him in his tracks. The look in his eyes was one of amusement, as if he found our efforts funny. And then, to our surprise, he spoke.

"My young friends," he said, his voice deep and rich. "It seems that you are struggling. Despite the information I provided, you have not been able to make any progress in taking down the suits. Is that correct?"

We stood there, stunned and unnerved by the man's words. We had been working tirelessly for weeks, but it was true that we hadn't made any significant progress. We exchanged a weary glance, feeling the weight of our failure settling heavily upon us.

"Yes," I finally managed to say, my voice weak and trembling. "We haven't been able to make any headway. The suits have been too elusive, and our attempts to track them down have been futile."

The mysterious man chuckled, a sinister sound that echoed through the darkness. "Such a shame," he said, his voice dripping with contempt. "I had hoped that you would prove more resourceful than this. It seems that I was wrong to put my confidence in you."

"Please," Cherry spoke up, his voice filled with urgency. "You must understand, we have been trying our best. We have put everything we have into this. We just need more time, that's all."

The mysterious man scoffed. "I see now that I was too generous in my expectations. I had thought that you might actually be able to do some damage. But it seems that I was mistaken, and that you are not up to the task. Perhaps you require some motivation to perform better."

With that, he snapped his fingers, and a figure emerged from the shadows behind him. It was a young woman, barely more than a girl, with long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. She was dressed in a strange uniform, a small golden pin adorning her chest.

Her appearance was both beautiful and eerie, and there was something off about her eyes, a coldness and intelligence that suggested she was not what she seemed. But before I could ponder this further, the mysterious man spoke again.

"Allow me to introduce you to my newest creation," he said, waving a hand towards the young woman. "She is called the Puppet, and she is here to help you... or to hinder you, depending on your performance."

He gave a signal with his hand, and the Puppet stepped forward. Her movements were fluid and graceful, almost like a dancer, and I felt an eerie chill run down my spine as her cold eyes scanned over us.

"The Puppet will be your new companion," the mysterious man explained. "She will watch over you, assist you, and report back to me on your progress. And if you fail to meet my expectations, she will ensure that you suffer the consequences."

The Puppet remained silent as the mysterious man spoke, her face expressionless and her eyes focused on us. Her presence was almost unsettling, and I couldn't shake the feeling that she was a formidable opponent.

"Now," the mysterious man continued, his voice echoing through the darkness. "I will give you a final chance to prove yourselves. You have until tomorrow night to deliver a tangible victory against the suits. If you fail to do so, the Puppet will take matters into her own hands. And believe me, you do not want to feel her wrath."

With that, the mysterious man vanished into the darkness once more, leaving us alone with the Puppet. We stood there in silence for a long moment, unsure of what to do. Finally, Cherry spoke up, his voice laced with determination.

"We need to start planning immediately," he said, his eyes locked on the Puppet. "If the suits think they have us beaten, they're going to be overconfident. That's our chance to strike."

I nodded in agreement, feeling a surge of determination. The mysterious man had underestimated us once again, and it was time to prove him wrong. 

We had a lot of work to do, but we had the advantage of knowing more about the suits than they thought we did. If we planned carefully and executed our actions with precision, we could take them down once and for all.

And so, with the Puppet lurking in the shadows, we set about making our plans. We discussed our strengths and weaknesses, our resources and our enemies. 

We knew that the time was running out, and that if we failed, the consequences would be dire. But we were determined to succeed, to not only take down the suits, but to prove the mysterious man wrong once and for all.

As we worked, I could feel the Puppet's presence, her eyes on us, her gaze unwavering. 

I refused to let her intimidate me. We had come so far, endured so much. We had faced down the suits and their tyrannical rule, and now we were on the verge of victory.

7

THE TRUTH 

I knew that we would need to be cautious, that the Puppet was a formidable opponent in her own right. But I also knew that we were not alone. We had each other, and with our shared determination and strength, we would overcome whatever obstacles the mysterious man and his Puppet threw in our way.

As the night wore on, my confidence grew. We had a plan, a solid plan, and we were ready to execute it. We were no longer just a ragtag group of resistance fighters, we were a formidable force to be reckoned with. 

 I felt a sense of peace washing over me. No matter what the mysterious man had planned for us, we would not back down. We would fight on, and we would win.

However, even as we made our plans, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched, that the Puppet was still there, lurking in the shadows. I tried to tell myself that I was imagining things, that she was just a tool the mysterious man was using to keep us in check. Still deep down, I couldn't help but feel that there was more to her than met the eye.

We continued to work through the night, our determination fueled by a newfound sense of hope. We were close, so close to finally bringing down the suits and their tyrannical rule. We just needed to stay focused, to stay strong, and to stay one step ahead of them at all times. We had come too far to fail now.

Finally, as the sun started to rise, we had a solid plan in place. We had agreed on our course of action, we had coordinated our efforts, and we were ready to strike. All we needed now was to put our plan into action and hope that it would be enough.

But as we prepared to leave, I felt a strange sense of unease settling over me. The Puppet had remained silent throughout the night, but I could still feel her presence, her cold eyes watching me. I shook off the feeling, reminding myself that she was just a tool of the mysterious man, a mere pawn in his twisted game.

With one final glance at the Puppet, I set off with the others to put our plan into action. Despite my unease, I knew that we had a good chance of success. We had everything we needed, and we were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

We left the Puppet behind, stepping out into the bright morning sun. I took a deep breath, feeling a sense of optimism and hope welling up inside me. Whatever lay ahead, we were ready for it. With determination and courage, we would overcome any obstacle.

As we continued our journey, I couldn't help but think back to the mysterious man and his Puppet. The girl had unsettled me, her unsettling aura and cold, emotionless eyes leaving a lingering feeling of discomfort. Despite my skepticism, I found myself wondering about her true nature and capabilities. What secrets did she hold? What darkness lurked beneath that serene exterior?

I pushed these thoughts aside, however, focusing on the task at hand. We had a job to do, and I couldn't afford to be distracted by idle speculations about the mysterious man's puppet. 

However, as we made our way towards the suit's stronghold, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. 

Was it the Puppet's doing, or was it simply my imagination playing tricks on me once again?

7

I resolved to be careful, to keep my guard up and not let my fears get the better of me. We had come so far, fought so hard. We couldn't afford to let our doubts or worries jeopardize our mission. 

The suits were counting on us to fail, to give up and surrender. But we had come too far for that. We were determined to see this through, no matter what obstacles lay in our path.

I resolved to be careful, to keep my guard up and not let my fears get the better of me. We had come so far, fought so hard. We couldn't afford to let our doubts or worries jeopardize our mission. 

The suits were counting on us to fail, to give up and surrender. But we had come too far for that. We were determined to see this through, no matter what obstacles lay in our path.

As we reached the suit's stronghold, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. This was it, the moment we had been working towards for so long. We were here to fight, to win, and to claim our victory. 

Despite the lingering doubts and fears that still lingered in my heart, I felt a renewed sense of determination. We were stronger than ever before, and we were not going to back down now.

I turned to look at Cherry, my best friend and companion in this mission. His face was set in determination, his eyes blazing with fiery determination. He gave me a nod, and I knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, we would face them together, as we had always done.

"Let's do this," I said, and with that, we set off towards the stronghold. As we approached, I felt the weight of the situation pressing down upon me, but I pushed the fear aside, focusing instead on the task at hand. We had prepared for this moment, and we were ready to face whatever challenges came our way.

We advanced towards the stronghold, pushing through wave after wave of suit security forces. 

They were strong, skilled warriors, but we had prepared well for this fight. 

We had the advantage of surprise on our side, and we were determined to use it to our fullest potential.

As we fought our way through, I could feel the tension in the air. 

We were close to victory, but we knew that the suits were desperate to hold on to their power. 

They would stop at nothing to ensure their victory, and we had to be prepared for anything. 

I love the way my knife felt as it penetrated their bodies. Ripping, slicing, and gutting them, with every stab. 

As we continued to fight, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of exhilaration. Despite the brutality of the situation, I felt alive, in the moment. For so long, I had lived in fear, always looking over my shoulder, always waiting for the next attack. 

However, now, as we fought back against the suits, I felt alive, free. Like a fucking machine. 

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, we reached the heart of the stronghold. 

The suits' leader stood before us, surrounded by his most loyal soldiers. He sneered at us, but I could see the fear in his eyes. He knew that we were a formidable opponent, and he was scared.

"Surrender now," I said, my voice filled with venom. "Give up your power, your tyranny, and let us bring peace back to our world." 

The suit's leader laughed coldly. "Never," he replied. "We will never surrender to the likes of you."

I felt a flash of anger and frustration. We had come so far, fought so hard. But still, they refused to give up. 

They were too stubborn, too selfish, too consumed by their greed for power.

I was not about to give up, not now. We had come too far, fought too hard. We were going to win, no matter what it took.

"Then we fight," I said, drawing my blade. The suit's leader glared at me, his eyes filled with anger and hatred. "So be it," he said, drawing his own sword. Behind him, his soldiers tensed and prepared to fight.

8

The battle was fierce, the clash of swords and the sounds of fighting echoing through the stronghold. 

We were outnumbered, but we fought as we never had before. 

However, driven by determination and a fierce need to succeed. We would not let the suits' tyranny stand any longer.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the last of the soldiers lay dead at our feet. We had won, at last. The suit's leader stood before us, panting and wounded. He was defeated, his power and tyranny finally at an end.

I looked down at him, feeling a strange mix of triumph and pity. He was a broken man, beaten and battered. But despite everything, I couldn't bring myself to hate him. He was just a victim of his own ambition, his desire for power.

"It's over," I said, my voice softened. "Your reign of terror is at an end. It's time to let go of your power, your greed. It's time to let go and start anew."

The suit's leader looked up at me, his eyes filled with defeat and despair. "You're right," he said, his voice cracked and weary. "I was wrong. I let my desire for power consume me, and I became the very thing I swore to destroy."

I wanted to kill him right then and there. I wanted to end his reign of terror and know that my knife did that for humanity. 

I held out my hand, offering him a chance at redemption. "Then help us rebuild, help us bring peace back to our world. Together, we can make things right again."

The suit's leader hesitated, then took my hand. "I will do everything in my power to right my wrongs and help rebuild this world. Thank you for giving me a chance to redeem myself."

I felt the irony in the air. Because I so badly wanted to kill him. I wanted to murder him. Extinguish him from existence. I not only wanted to end him, but he wanted to do it in the most brutal way imaginable. 

I felt a strange mix of emotions as I watched the suit's leader. On one hand, I felt a strange sense of empathy for him, a need to help and forgive. 

However, on the other hand, I couldn't quite shake the sense of anger and resentment that I felt towards him. 

He had caused so much suffering, so much pain. How could I forgive him, when he had caused so much hurt?

9

I went back to the apartment. An empty space. The thoughts swirled in my mind. Did I drive Sarah away? Had things just not been the way she hoped? I needed her. Worse than I had ever imagined. She had become part of who I was.  

She had said that she understood the complexities of our job, and we both understood why it could never be. 

At least not until we were ready for the next chapter in our lives. Then we could explore the feelings that we both knew existed. 

Sarah Jennings had become Karma. The evolution of her character was born right before my eyes. 

She became a much bigger part of the picture than she originally was. She was as skilled as anyone who could assist with such missions. She was a master detective and strategist. Excellent skills with weapons and martial arts. Her ability to deliver big kicks was impressive to experienced martial arts instructors. 

Karma was born from the lessons I'd given her, and other lessons that she'd taken. Her background in investigation. She found me when I was hiding. Trying to fly under the radar. Connecting our mission with the police force was all her doing. 

She was a vital part of what I'd become. She was a huge part of the process. Could I do it without her? Yes, I could still do what I do, but I can say with certainty I'd have been killed. She's saved my life several times over the years. She was absolutely amazing. 

I sat in silence for a long time, processing everything that had happened. Sarah had been right. We couldn't have a relationship, not until we were ready. Until our mission was complete. But the thought of never being with her again, never feeling her touch, never being able to see her smile, it was breaking my heart.

I knew I had to push those feelings aside. I had a job to do, a mission to focus on. But even as I told myself this, I knew it was easier said than done. Sarah was a part of me, a part of my life. Could I really just let her go?

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I couldn't let myself be distracted by these emotions. I had to stay focused, to remain in control. But even as I told myself this, I knew that it was a lie. Sarah was too important to me to just let go. And deep down, I knew that I didn't want to.

I realized that I had fallen in love with her. A love that went beyond just physical attraction. A love that was deep and meaningful, born out of a connection that had grown stronger over the years. I couldn't ignore this feeling any longer.

Even as I had this realization, I knew that it wasn't the right time to act on it. We were too close to the end of our mission. I couldn't risk it, couldn't jeopardize everything that we had built together. I had to wait, to be patient. And I knew that she would understand.

As I settled into this decision, I felt a certain sense of peace. I knew that I couldn't let go of my feelings for Sarah, but I also knew that I had to be strong. 

We had a mission to complete, and I was determined to see it through. When the time was right, I knew that I would do whatever it took to be with her.

"Should I go find her?" I asked myself aloud. 

I stood there, lost in my thoughts. I didn't know what to do next. 

A part of me wanted to go find her, to tell her how I felt, to let her know that I loved her. 

However...another part of me knew that it was too risky, too dangerous. We were so close to the end, and anything could go wrong.

10

I tried to find Sarah, but I only found she'd left Houston. She told Detective Reed that she was leaving. He told her that sometimes you've gotta step away in this business. She didn't say where she was going.  He thinks she mentioned Florida, but he wasn't sure. 

It made sense she had family there. I thought about it awhile, and then went to kill a pedophile that moved into the neighborhood.  

I knew that I had to let go of these feelings for Sarah. For now. We still had a mission to finish, and it was more important than anything else. But as I went about my work, I couldn't help but wonder where she had gone. 

I tried to focus on my work, throwing myself into the mission with an intensity that surprised even me. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the thought of Sarah. She was always there, in the back of my mind, a constant presence that I couldn't ignore. 

I wanted to reach out to her, to talk to her again, to hear her voice and see her face. But something was holding me back. I knew that if I did, I would be risking everything that we had worked so hard for. I couldn't allow myself to be distracted. Not now.

I was conflicted. I loved Sarah, I knew that now. But the mission came first.

 I had to see it through, no matter what. 

It was the right thing to do. 

It was what Sarah would want.

I entered the house. It looked abandoned. However, I found Timothy Jenkins. He was hiding in a closet.  I opened the door and he slashed at me with a kitchen knife. I shot him three times and closed the door. Then I exited the premises. 

He was dead...Sarah was still gone...the mission continues. I'm still here.