Bad Guy

Ch.4

For the first time in a while, I wake up before Agnes. I've been super restless lately. Though I have a reason for it. The heros have been hunting me harder than ever. The longer this chase goes on, the worse they look in the eyes of the public. After all, how can you trust an entire group who can't catch one man? This would be a perfect time to attack them, if I had the chance to plan. But I haven't had much of that lately. Every time I believe I'm safe, I get close to being captured.

I eat what little food I have left in my bag. Pretty soon, I'll have to brave the crowds and scrounge something up. I doubt I'll find anything out here worth eating. At least not for me. Agnes could probably find herself something. But there's no telling what she'd find. I love her, but I don't trust her palette.

Despite having just eaten, my hands still shake a bit as I stand. And my legs don't feel quite right. I need something more filling. Eating scraps for so long has weakened me. I doubt I could win any fight right now, let alone run. I just hope I can regain my strength before I'm discovered again. I know they'll be on me soon. I can't keep doing this. I know that. Yet I have no other option at the moment. There's nothing I can do, certainly not in this condition. I need just a bit of time to recover. Please, just a day or two. I just need enough energy to move.

Luckily, I get my wish. I spend the next few days dumpster diving. Not a good idea, I'm aware. But I don't exactly have something else worked out yet. However, it does help a bit. My hands finally stop trembling. It's time for us to move on now. Staying in one place too long is dangerous. The kid can find me, even if I've locked him out for now. He can trace my brain waves. If I leave now, I might be able to stay ahead of them.

Agnes barks once, a late warning. Although, I already knew I was cornered. After so long on the run, you begin to sense when your area has been disturbed. It seems they're here already. I may just die here. I'm not as weak as I was, but I'm nowhere near strong enough to fight the heros together. I sigh heavily before turning around. There, in the grass in front of the trailer, stands the kid with three heros beside him. They've torn the door clean off, vines and all.

"Well, look who it is," one man sneers. I'd recognize his face anywhere. "Hello, Rainus. It's been a long time."

"Tarval. I see you've grown a bit. Not as gangly as you used to be."

"And yet you're still the same. That should tell you something right there."

I smirk. "Let me clarify. Your body has grown. But it seems your personality is the same. Just as vile as always."

"Not as vile as yours, Rainus." He let's out a breath. "I have to say, this is ironic. Us fighting together again. Except on different sides now. And this time, I'll obliterate you."

"What? What did you say?" The trainee asks. He's flabbergasted. Apparently, the Heros left out some valuable information about me. He doesn't know that I used to be a trainee once myself.

"Quiet, Javen. Stay back."

"I see the higher ups haven't divulged my past to the newbies. Such a shame. Very dangerous to hunt someone you know nothing about."

The trainee, Javen, locks eyes with me for a second before Tarval blocks our view. If I didn't know any better, I'd say I saw pain on his face.

"I'm getting tired of this chit-chat. How about you just surrender? It'll make my job much easier."

"We both know that won't happen," I hiss.

He smiles. "Yes, but I had to ask. Company policy, you see. In fact, I'd much rather beat you half to death first. I've been restless. So, give me a good fight."

I pull off my eyepatch. "Then let's get this over with. I've got plans tonight."

"You always were a cocktail SOB." He tosses aside his jacket, shifting his stance. "I can't wait to wipe that smile off your face."

I crouch slightly, making sure to keep all three of them in my sight. I watch them closely, tracking every shift and twitch, waiting for the first strike. Normally, since I'm one man, a hero would fight alone, keeping the others only as backup. However, Tarval was always a coward. He never could beat me in a fair fight. He much preferred ambushing me or letting someone else wear me out first. He may have gained more knowledge since I knew him, but he's the same inside. That much is clear. He won't fight me yet. Not until I beat the other two first. Or unless he sees an opening. In fact, I bet he wouldn't blink twice about going through one of them just to get me.

"Well come on," I say. "I don't have all day."

"Get him," Tarval orders. The one on my right decides to strike first. I need to avoid using my power until the last moment. Using it will drain me and if I waste my energy on it, especially if they counter it, I'll die here. And I don't plan on losing my life. I block and parry, a part of me still watching the other as she circles. Agnes let's out a roar as she jumps into the fray. I'm definitely worried about her. But I just have to trust she can take care of herself.

"What the-" is all the woman gets out as Agnes leaps. I let every thought, every worry, every fear fade away. I focus all my attention on the battle in front of me. I watch the way this hero moves, memorizing his patterns. I'm currently on the defensive. But one I have his style down, I'll be able to counter him. Then take him down. I hear Agnes yelp, which almost breaks my concentration. Then I hear her snarl again and know she's just fine.

I know that no matter what I do, I probably won't win. It won't matter how hard I fight. I'm too weak now. But I can at least try. I can keep fighting as long as I can. All the way until the end. I owe it to my younger self, to my current self, and to Agnes. She believes in me. She saved me, because she trusts me. Trusts me to be the best I can be. And I won't let her down. Even if I die, I'll die knowing I tried.