by Shepp, Roman
Wriggling out from underneath Matthias, Quentin swung his leg around and kicked Matthias powerfully in the side, his head snapping to one side. Matthias looked groggy, and Quentin wrapped his arms around Matthias' throat, looking to choke him.
Matthias tried breaking free from Quentin's grip, but was unable, so he punched Quentin in the ribs. This loosened Quentin's grip, and Matthias staggered to his feet. In his eyes Quentin could see a grim respect, but also an inevitability. Matthias was not going to stop until Quentin was dead.
Matthias and Quentin circled each other, both allowing the other to catch their breath. Blood trickled down Quentin's mask. His body was bruised and so was Matthias'. It was difficult to say which one of them was worse off.
Matthias lunged forward again. Quentin ducked and fell to the ground. He swiped a spinning hook kick, knocking Matthias off balance. He crashed like a tree. The ground reverberated upon his impact. Quentin, still on the ground, kicked Matthias' head again and again. Then Matthias staggered to his feet as he grabbed Quentin's foot and dragged him across the ground, the grass burning his back. Quentin writhed in an attempt to get free, digging his hands into the mud, using them to anchor himself and pull Matthias back. Quentin launched himself up and tackled Matthias, pushing the man back, driving his fist into Matthias' kidneys. Matthias brought his heavy fists down on Quentin's back, making his spine shake. Then he wrapped his arms around Quentin's waist and lifted him up before slamming him to the ground.
Quentin never had been handled in such a way before. The bloody battle continued. Matthias charged forward, possessed by fury. His fists created wide arcs and they smashed into Quentin's face.
Quentin could feel the mask beginning to crack.
“No!” Quentin cried, trying in vain to block the punches.
His vision was blurred. Blood pooled in his mouth. Matthias seemed to be encouraged by this and with his next strike he gripped Quentin's mask. Quentin's hands wrapped around the mad titan's arm, trying to pull him away, but Matthias had a firm grip on the mask, and tore it from Quentin's face. He held it aloft as though it were a trophy. Quentin cowered, trying to protect the part of his face that had been hidden for so long. Matthias tossed the mask aside and stepped on it, almost breaking it in two. Then he attacked again.
Although this time Quentin was ready. He caught Matthias' arm and sent him sprawling to the ground. Quentin leaped on Matthias, ready to end this. He wrapped his arms around Matthias' neck again, ready to send him to eternal sleep. Matthias' hands were scrambling around, and then there was a sharp pain in Quentin's gut. He looked down and saw that an arrowhead had pierced his stomach. Blood gushed out, but Quentin was not going to give up yet. Summoning all his strength and all his pain he held on tightly until he felt Matthias go limp in his arms.
It was over. Quentin had won.
He let Matthias go. He stood up and the body rolled away limply. Quentin coughed up blood and reached out for his broken mask. His hands caressed the edge. He looked up to see Tony rushing toward him and he smiled, knowing that at the very end he had done his duty. He had been a good soldier. Then he closed his eyes and saw Carol smiling at him, and everything was right again.
Chapter Eighteen
Tony looked on with shock as the two men died. Another cry rang out and a dark-haired woman started running to Matthias' side. She screamed uncontrollably but was held back by Frank. Tony had to watch helplessly as Frank pulled out a knife and slashed her throat.
“You betrayed me, you bitch!” he spat.
Her body fell to the ground. Her mouth moved like a drowning fish while the blood poured out onto the ground. Then Frank staggered backward, an arrow piercing his chest. He looked down, surprised, before he too fell back. Tony looked to the source of the shot and found Jane standing there holding a bow. The entire community was in disarray, but the fighting wasn't done yet. There were still people wanting to stop the onslaught. Rosa gave a rallying cry and they all came toward her. Tony hoisted the baseball bat and dared to whack anyone who came near him as he made his way toward the middle of the community. With their leadership in tatters the community quickly fell apart. Sweat poured from Tony's body. Groot yapped by his heels, and when he finally made it to Rosa and the others he was exhausted, but it seemed as though the fighting was done.
Tony smiled at the others, then went over to Quentin's body. The mask was still in his hand. Tony looked down at the mottled flesh and felt pity for the man. He took the mask in his hands and placed it on Quentin's face. At least he was at peace now.
“You mind telling me what you were doing here with him?” Rosa asked.
“WE thought you were dead!” Jane exclaimed, tears forming in her eyes. She looked as though she wanted to run up and embrace Tony but was afraid to touch him in case he was just an illusion. Tony rested his weight on the baseball bat.
“It's a long story, but I knew that I couldn't let Quentin, that's his name by the way, leave, and I wasn't prepared to kill him. The only choice I had left was to try helping him, to try making him see sense. And it worked. Oh, there are a couple of other people here as well,” he said, and then yelled that it was safe to come out. They looked past him and saw Martha and Belinda come forward, holding each other tightly, looking shaken. Saeed was the gladdest to see them, walking up to them. They thanked him profusely.
“It seems like we've all got a lot to catch up on,” Tony said as Tara ran into his arms.
He lifted her up. Jane leaned down to pet Groot. All of them had been through a great deal, but at least they were together again, and the fighting was over. They gathered themselves and shared stories about what had happened to each of them. Saeed, Rosa, and Phil went first. Tara piped up and said that she had been a spy. Tony was moved by their stories.
“I'm sorry I wasn't there with each one of you,” he said.
“None of us would have done any of this if you hadn't made us leave that bunker. We wanted to come back and help you Tony, but the door was shut.”
“I know. I didn't want any of you to come back. I wanted you to find a safe place. What about you, Jane? You've been quiet.”
“She was with us,” Rosa said. Jane looked surprised. Tony wasn't sure why.
“That's not entirely true. I was with them, then I... I left them. We were captured, and Frank found a way to escape. He wanted me to go with him. I should have stayed with the two of you,” she said, turning to Rosa and Phil. “It's just that, at first, I thought Rosa already had turned her back on us, and then I was so messed up by losing Tony. I fell back into old habits. I know I shouldn't have, and I'm ashamed of what I've done. Phil, can you ever forgive me?”
“I guess so,” he said with a smile. “I've learned that everyone should get a second chance.” With that he reached out his hand and grabbed Rosa's. Their fingers entwined, and they smiled at each other.
“It seems as though you redeemed yourself anyway,” Rosa added, nodding toward Frank's body.
“It was about time someone did something about him,” Jane said. “But Tony, how did you survive? When we left you down there we never thought you'd stand a chance against that man...against Quentin.”
Tony could tell that it still was difficult for the others to see him as a man rather than a monster, which was understandable, given everything he had put them through.
“I got lucky, I guess. I managed to knock him out with the bat. If it had happened any other way, I would have been dead. I tied him up and waited, and then I talked to him. I know it might not have been the smartest move at the time, but I was so sick and tired of death being around us all. I couldn't bring myself to add another body to the pile. I tried to think about what it takes to continue in this world and realized we just can't live by the same rules as we used to. We have to try rehabilitating people if we can. We can't lock them up. We shouldn't have to resort to killing people.”
“It's certainly better than this place's method for punishment,” Jane said, glancing at Saeed.
“Who is this?” Tony asked.
“Her name is Charlotte. She's the teacher here,” Saeed said, walking toward her. He placed his arm under Charlotte's and lifted her from the ground. Tony looked around and saw that other people were in similar stages of mourning. For all of Hugo's faults he had managed to kindle a strong sense of community here.
“What's going to happen to these people?” Rosa asked.
“Hopefully, they'll see the error of their ways,” Saeed said.
“Are we going to stay here?” Jane asked.
“I don't know. I honestly don't know,” Tony said. “I haven't given much thought to the future. I wasn't even sure if we were going to get here. It's all over now, though.”
“It's not all over, Tony,” Rosa said. All eyes turned to look at her.
“What do you mean?”
Rosa pinched the bridge of her nose. “I can't believe I'm going to say this, but one of the things I've learned is that people need help. We could stay here in the forest and live in peace, but what about all the other people? What about the city? Can we really just let it go up in flames? You know, I've spent my life pushing people away and it's only recently that I've started to let people in.” At this she glanced at Phil, “and I think that's what really matters in life. I think maybe we have to go back to the city and show people that there is a better way,” she said.
“I couldn't agree more,” Tony said. “I've spent a lot of my life alone as well, always thinking that I was living when really I just was distracting myself from the fact that I was doing anything except living. I don't like the thought of putting you all in danger, but if you all agree, then I'm happy to go and try to change the world. One person at a time. I have to admit that it's been hard being separated from you. All of you have given me a new lease on life and have helped me figure out the man I want to become.”
“You've helped us too, Tony. None of this would have happened if it wasn't for your example. You were the one who inspired us,” Saeed said. The others agreed, nodding toward him. Tony swelled with pride. He didn't think he ever would feel as good as this again.
“But the question remains, what about this community?” Phil said.
Rosa whistled to a man and he made his way over. Tony turned to Martha and Belinda.
“You lived here before, fancy leading this place?” Rosa asked. Adam saw Martha and Belinda and smiled at them.
“I'm sure these two would be happy to help as well. Maybe the three of you can get the community back to its true message, with the help of whoever remains,” Tony said.
“It's going to take some work to do that when so many have been following Hugo,” Adam said.
“But look at them. Look at how hurt they all are. They need guidance. They need to be shown the right way,” Martha said.
“Will you come back?” Belinda asked.
“One day. One day I'm sure we will,” Tony said.
The group split up as they made their final preparations to leave, needing to gather supplies and rest a while before they headed back to the city. Tony was alone with Groot, standing over Quentin's body. Many of the bodies had been gathered together and were being thrown onto the fire. The heat seared the air.
“We did it, Groot,” Tony said. “After all this time, we actually did it. We made a difference in the lives of these people.”
“You've made a difference in a lot of people's lives,” Saeed said, walking up to stand beside Tony.
“How are you, old friend?” Tony asked.
“Better,” Saeed said.
“You seem more at peace.”
“I had a chance to think a lot and being around Tara certainly helped.”
“I'm glad. Really, I am. I'm sure Nadya and Aaminah are as well.”
“I hope so.”
“You know, I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to stay here rather than go back to the city. I know it doesn't really hold any good memories for you.”
“I have been thinking about it, but I only have been able to make it through these days because of you. I think life is better when spent with friends. I lost the two people who meant the most to me. I have been fortunate to find more who have become my new family. Besides, I don't think Tara would let me stay behind.”
“She probably wouldn't. I'm glad. I missed you. I know we were thrown together in this world only by chance, but I just wanted to say that I'm glad we were. I don't think I'd have liked this world as much without you in it.”
“I keep thinking about that day, and what would have happened if you had turned your back on me. You didn't have to let me in, Tony, but by doing so you saved my life.”
“It was the right thing to do. That's why I felt I had to try helping Quentin as well. I got the sense that other people had turned their backs on him, and I didn't want to do the same.”
“Let's hope we never have to deal with anyone like him again,” Saeed said.
“I'm still not sure it's right to be talking with such respect about a man who caused so much suffering,” Jane said, walking up to stand beside them. She looked down at Quentin and then bent down to lift up his mask, wincing at the sight of the mottled, burned flesh.
“Who knew that's what he had been hiding all this time? Part of me wondered if he just looked normal under the mask. I thought of him as a monster. It's strange to see that he's just a man.”
“He did some monstrous things. He suffered a great deal as well, though. I think part of the reason why he turned out the way he did was because he was alone and felt isolated. I'm beginning to think that any one of us could have turned out the way he did if we didn't have each other. But it's more important to remember what he did at the end. He put his life on the line for me, for us. I choose to remember him that way,” Tony said, although there always would be sorrow in his heart for Quentin's victims.
Saeed made an excuse to leave. Jane stood up. Things were quiet between the two of them, until Jane broke the silence.
“I'm sorry for letting you down,” she mumbled.
“What do you mean?”
“I should have been stronger. I should have resisted Frank and stayed with Phil. I shouldn't have been so weak.”
To her surprise, Tony laughed at this.
“Jane, in all the time I've known you, I'd never call you weak. Look, you made a mistake and so have we all. If Quentin had turned out to be a crazed psychopath, locking myself in the bunker with him would have been the mistake of the century. I get it must have been hard for you to see him again, especially since the feelings between you two were so strong.”
“They were, and I was so confused after thinking that you had died. I didn't know if I could go on. It seemed as though there was no point to anything. If a man like you could die, then what was the point for the rest of us?”
“The point is to keep living life, to always be true to yourself and to your ideals, no matter what. That's how a world gets saved. That's how people get saved.”
“It took me longer to realize that than it did for you. I feel so awkward around Rosa and Phil,” she said.
“It'll pass. You have to learn to forgive yourself first. You made a mistake, but you've done the right thing. You helped change this place, Jane. You helped keep your friends safe when it mattered most. Life is a learning experience for all of us, and I'm sure we're all going to make more mistakes along the way.”
Another few moments of silence descended upon them.
“I missed you. I really did. When you died I started to think about all the things I hadn't told you. All the things I wanted to say,” Jane said.
“I was thinking along the same lines.”
“I don't know why. I mean, I'm pretty messed up.”
“This world messes us all up. How about we just mess things up together?”
“Would you care to help me?” Tony asked.
Jane nodded and the two of them picked up Quentin's body and carried it over to the fire. They threw Quentin’s body on it and watched the flames engulf it. The flesh was scorched and seared and soon turned to ash. Eventually, there was nothing left but the mask. Tony spared a thought for him and hoped he had found some peace with his beloved.
Turning away, Jane and Tony walked a few steps before their hands brushed against each other. Tony's fingers caught Jane's and their hands entwined. A sense of belonging swept through Tony as they walked back to the others, ready to load up the final supplies before they left.
All in all, they spent almost a week in the community helping Adam and the others to regain control and rebuild. After all they had been through Tony and the others were glad for the opportunity to rest and not have to deal with the tension of being hunted or attacked. They were able to collect themselves, and by the time the week was up they were ready to head back out to the city.
Tony, Jane, Saeed, Rosa, Phil, Tara, and Groot all were ready to leave. They said their farewells to Adam, Martha, and Belinda. Part of Tony wished that he could stay, but he knew he couldn't leave the city to burn like it had. There were other things he wanted to do as well. He wanted to find Don's family to tell them what had happened to him. He wanted to be with Saeed when he went back to his home where this hell had begun for him. Tony was sure Saeed would want to go back there when they returned.
As a large group they walked through the forest, armed with a map, weapons, and plenty of food and water. They were in better shape than they ever had been since this godforsaken world had begun, and they felt better prepared to face anything that came their way.