A Furious Chick

Battle Prt. 2

Katherine

The shot fired. The bullet pierced him. And he fell. Face first on the ground. And my heart stopped beating. Time stopped. Earth stopped. But the war continued. Just the war. My weapon fell from my hands and my body immediately shielded my brother. Alina made one single shot but not at the real enemy. At a member from Nobody Inc. I guess, the person who shot my brother.

My hands dragged him away from the commotion, bringing him up to the rocks and behind the boulders. I couldn't think. I couldn't breathe. He's going to be okay. He has to be. We've been through worse.

"Kaleb, talk to me, baby." I took off his gun strap and saw the bullet had entered his stomach. Shit.

I took off my sweater and held it against the wound, firmly. Kaleb groaned.

"You'll be fine. You'll be okay." I told him softly. "You're a fucking Howard."

"I haven't been a Howard in a very long time, my love." He groaned, grabbing my hand. "I wasn't supposed to be a Howard anymore."

Tears formed in my eyes as his grip tightened.

"You weren't either. You're supposed to be better and you have better so do better." He whispered.

"Kaleb, this isn't a goodbye. This is a flesh wound."

He laughed, blood forming in his mouth.

"I've always been known as the lesser twin. The drunk twin. The trash twin." He smiles softly, blood seeping onto his lips.

"Stop."

"But you made me feel important in the later years. Gave me a new life to do good. Do me a favor. Give my yoga studio to Jonathan when he gets older. Kid seems like a punk."

I laughed slightly. "So, you're letting go."

"I have to." He took a deep breath. "I won't be getting any medical help for a while. Good soldiers die in battle. It's my time."

I began to cry. "Don't leave me. I can't, Kaleb. I can't do this alone. I need you, brother."

"You have a good life and a good man." His grip was starting to loosen.

"Please."

"Part of the journey, is the end."

"Don't quote Iron Man." I laughed, sadly.

His grip got dangerously loose and his eyes looked at me. He was pale and sweaty and overall in pain. This wasn't happening.

"I love you." He began to gargle.

"I love you, Kaleb. Please." I was panicking.

He took his last breath and I felt it. I felt my soul feel a empty and hollow feeling. I felt the Earth underneath me liquify and the time stand still. I felt my heart get ripped out. I've lost a lot of people along the way, so you think I'd be prepared. This feeling....wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. The feeling of loneliness and desperation. The feeling of helplessness. The feeling of anguish deep in your chest.

"I'm sorry." I told him, holding his face. "I'm sorry."

Every word I didn't say, every hug I didn't give, every single punch I landed, every insult I threw...it all hit me. I no longer have family. Nobody, my father and my brother is dead. My mother is M.I.A. It's just me. Me.

Alina came running over then, taking in the scene. "Took out seven French soldiers, bought me some time. How is he?" She asked, panting.

She saw me. My drained face, my pained eyes, my speechless lips. And her face fell as her eyes peered over to my lifeless brother.

"Katherine, baby, why are you here?" Brian's voice came into my earpiece.

I couldn't catch my breath.

"It's Kaleb..." I finally managed out. "He's dead."

It fell silent. Still, the gunshots never stopped raining down. What if Brian was next? Or Dom? Or Letty punk ass? I lost my other half today. My soul has left my body. I can't lose anyone else. I stood up and began running towards the building.