Redemption

CHAPTER XLVI: Traversing the Core

Price's death had damaged Graves' mental state completely, and now he thinks he had nothing left to live for. To him, it was true because by the time he was back helping the team, he dedicated his time to serve Price as his captain in the time being. In those moments, he enjoyed every moment of it. Every moment, to the point where it had felt that he finally completed what he so desired. The chance to finally hangout and talk with all the members again was the final piece to complete his euphoria.

There were lows and all, but they chose to just keep on moving because deep down, they knew they had to keep going for the one they've sadly lost. Although, if he were here, he would absolutely encourage them to keep on going as if there was no tomorrow. That was always him, a complete embodiment of a 'sunshine', or a person who was so enthusiastic, to the point where they have the ability to touch them into a deeper level, so deep that it pierces their heart.

But ever since his death, nothing was the same anymore. Nonetheless, they used his death as a way to make themselves feel motivated, as if there was something worth fighting for, like avenging him. To their knowledge, Alejandro was the only one doing that for him, and that was already enough.

In the present, Price had been killed by Graves' 'old friend', which had absolutely taken a toll on his emotional perceptions and barriers, while also speechless about the whole ordeal. He couldn't believe, that somebody like Nikolais, would actually do that. Given on how he had known him in the very beginning of his redemption, he thought that no such violence could ever corrupt Nikolais' heart. He was wrong. And that was his fault – for believing that he would change.

And so, without any more purpose, he's finally deciding to stop. He feels like his whole life was completed, and he was satisfied with all the things he had done. His redemption was over.

The beginning of his departure though, was nearing.

—-

Graves ran valiantly through the north sector, his determination unmatched with the mindset of desiring to lead himself onto his demise. Although, the one thing that had gave him relief through this time was the fact that he doesn't regret anything. He doesn't regret the fact that he lived two times in order to secure a spot in the mortal world. He doesn't regret the fact that he had lied to Alejandro in order to deceive him that he would actually end his life without a purpose.

He lied to Alejandro, because he didn't want him to be pressured by the fact that he's going to try and stop the source of where they're trying to detonate the whole Russian base up to smithereens. He lied, because he knew, that Alejandro knew about the fact that it would always end up with Graves, and not anybody else. The man wanted to protect the Mexican from thinking that way, because he didn't want anything to happen to them. Not after his antagonistic reign – not after his betrayal – not after everything that had happened between them. Somehow, in a way,

He was doing it to avenge Rudy as well. Alejandro couldn't do it for him, so he's taking the chance to volunteer sacrifice in order to fulfill the man's regret of wishing that he had protected his lover.

Despite being scared of actually performing such a bizarre finale, Graves knew that he has a reason for doing so. In the beginning, he had always loved 1-4-1 as a whole, and he would do anything for them. Anything, to the point where it would reach something like this. Unfortunately, Price's demise had confirmed the prophecy, in which he's not holding back his cowardice anymore. He's never going to doubt himself anymore. He's not.