CHAPTER 72 - FINAL DEAL
"We don't need a war. We've fought enough over these eight years. What will be more bloodshed and violence do? We've all lost someone or something because of all this. Sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers and even friends. Why lose more?" I said as Eagle placed his hand on my shoulder and nodded.
"I know that words won't be enough to restore the damages my family and everyone else has made." I said as I noticed my mother looking at me from the window before disappearing when our eyes met.
We could easily start a massive fight as we all stood within metres of each other. All the minorities were here too. This plan, will it really work? My father walked away towards the fountain before sitting down on the floor to look at me with his glazed eyes. Was he afraid of seeing mother as much as I was?
Ryan sneered as the guards held him down onto the ground as I looked at Eagle as I spoke.
"Why do you want to kill us?" I asked as I looked away from Eagle to look at Hannah's friends as they ran up to the podium.
The same people who attacked Adam and me in the bar and the ones who I had to interrogate are now supporting us. Not everything is hopeless and our only purpose was revenge. Revenge for the father that died, the town that died- the people and revenge for murder and kidnapping.
The Rioters booed and raised their guns at the sky, my heart pounding as I looked around for any sign of escaping if things were to get out of hand. There would be now way out- no escape. It's either kill or be killed- at least, that's what I used to think before. Now, it's either live or everyone dies.
The woman sighed before looking at them all with a raised eyebrow before aiming her gun at Eagle using the gun I gave her before. Everyone became silent as the man walked in front of Eagle and pulled off his mask. Ryan's face was priceless as tears streamed down his face. He wasn't in his disguise and he dyed his hair back to it's original colour.
"Because of him, right? You all thought I kidnapped him because of this fool." I said as I pointed at Ryan, "my ex-fiance."
"Don't you realize how pointless it is? I never wanted to be involved with the Rioters so I ran away when the fire happened. I didn't want to support my sister as she killed children." Eagle shouted as Julie couldn't help but look at him,
"You're no better than each other- your reasons are the same. I wish you weren't like this- especially as my brother." Eagle said before smiling at her for a moment before facing Ryan again with a completely different aura and expression.
To the point where I couldn't tell if he harbored hatred or venom for Ryan. Even so, it was a complete one-eighty with his personality too. Maybe me and him weren't so different after all.
We're all the same- we're all family but I can't tell them that. They might never fully understand. Then again, if I don't tell them now, when will I ever? Now is the only chance.
At this point, the Rioters looked at Ryan expectantly as he was handcuffed by the guards.
One of the Rioters walked up to Ryan and slapped his face. The others remained silent as they looked at the ground. Some stared at their hands, others looked completely vacant. But both were overwhelmed with guilt. They had joined the wrong cause. We're all killers and liars here. That's why this may never work.
"Your sister's sins were brought to justice." She said while glaring at Ryan as he looked away before muttering something under his breath, "you lied to us, your brother- for one is alive. Heck, Skylar was the one who killed all the kids in the fire- not Lorenez."
Eagle turned away as Hannah emerged through the crowd and pointed at him with a shaking hand.
"He really is alive." She muttered as her throat bobbed up and down. Julie turned around and ran up to her and threw her arms around her.
"You're back." Julie said before looking at me.
Ryan scowled as soon as he heard her voice since there were a few people muttering in the background. The guards looked at everyone after releasing Ryan from their grip after removing all of his weapons. The other guards followed suit and removed everyones guns, knives and other weapons from the Rioters and our men.
A lot of them resisted until they saw someone emerge from the main door of the house. My mother. She looked at me with a frown on her face before looking at all of the other men, Rioters and everyone else. Including Ryan. Father walked around the corner and didn't show his face as she walked up to the podium.
"It's for safety. We don't want a war." One of the guards muttered to a Rioter who spat on him. Still not understanding what we were offering. This plan isn't going to work.
My mother glared at Hannah as I allowed her to take my place.
"Who sent you here?" She said as she ran her fingers through her hair before adjusting her earrings.
I looked around as I saw Georgie collapsing into Hannah's arms, her face pale as she rushed to the hospital. My heart pounded as I looked at one of the people as they walked towards my mother amidst the shouting, screaming and fighting. A line of guards was formed in front of the podium so that no one could go towards my mother as the man walked up to the podium and faced my mother for a moment.
"You sent them here?" She sneered and yanked off his mask.
Mothers eyes widened as she took several paces backwards as she pointed at father with tears in her eyes.
"You were alive?" Mother said as he nodded.
"I've seen what you've become. I can't believe it." He muttered as she reached out for him to only get her hand swatted away from his face. Everyone became silent after that.
"Mother- he paid for my medical bills when you selfishly chose not to." I said slowly before turning away, feeling the sweat drip from my face as I thought about how everyone must be feeling from all of this.
"Now isn't the time. We need to make the last business deal." Eagle said as he grabbed me by the shoulders.
"A business deal." Mother said slowly as Eagle walked off the podium, "what is it that you need?"
Father didn't say anything before turning away to look at Eagle as he rushed off to Julie and held her hand amidst the muttering from the Rioters.
"Well... We need equality. Why are we sitting here with no healthcare? No schools, education or peace?" Ryan said as he looked away, "aside from revenge."
Groups of the Rioters were formed as they all came up with things to propose in the business deal. Then again, was it really a business deal or an armistice?
"How will this favour us exactly?" My mother muttered as she snapped her fingers.
"That's the first thing that's on your mind?" I said before slapping her, feeling my blood boil at her thought process and how twisted it has become.
My father sighed as he rubbed his forehead.
"There will be no war." One of the guards said as he lifted his gun and pointed it at my mother, "if you refuse, well- things will be very different from how they are now."
My mother looked away in guilt as she sat down and looked at me.
"I never wanted this to happen. People still lost their families because of my actions." She said before looking away, "I can't believe this- this is due to me. I could've saved them. I could've changed things."
I didn't say anything as I rubbed my knuckles. The guard slowly put down his gun as my mother continued to sob. The silence overwhelmed me as she continued to cry out until my father came through the crowd and placed his hand on my mother's shoulder. They locked eyes before she wiped her tears away.
"I know you won't love me for what I've done. I'll do it- I will sign the deal with no motivations." She said.
My father smiled before letting her go and facing everybody.
"Did you hear that? The deal will be signed." My father and I shouted as we watched everyone hold everyone's hand and lift in up.
Others cried as we celebrated, my mother stood up and looked at everyone who welcomed her with smiles for the first time in years. Adam ran up to me and wiped my tears away before hugging me.
My father smiled at him as he took a few paces away from me and pulled out a ring.
"I talked to your father about this. If you're ever interested we could-" Adam muttered as my father chuckled, everyone around cheered for us.
"Of course, when the time is right." I said as I held the ring in my hand, noticing how it was made out of some sort of amethyst.
Adam grinned as he placed the ring on my finger and kissed my cheek, I felt my heart race.
"We've done it- it's all over now." He said softly as I nodded.
It's all finally over.