Page 3 of Scar

This wasnotin his head. Agony rippled through his chest, spiraling out from a single point. Scar didn’t know what heartbreak felt like, had never loved someone so completely that their absence from his life had left a virtual hole in him. But he wondered now.

The night sky filled his vision, wetness hitting his face with direct precision like teardrops falling from the heavens. Something soft collided with his back as his feet were forced out from under him. He was falling.

His mind worked through the agony, as only a mind with a history of pain could. In a blink, he placed it all together. The bullet hitting him in the chest, him hitting Sophia, and both of them were toppling backwards over the guardrail. Towards the freezing, rushing water below.

He had less than a second to act.

Sophia would not survive that fall. Neither would Scar, but he was dead whether they went over the edge of the bridge or not. The placement of the bullet was too close to his heart. Even with the presence of the police, there would be nothing they could do for him.

But he could save Sophia. Hehadto save Sophia. Pirate deserved his happily ever after.

In open air, Scar felt for and found her hand. The bridge had a small lip after the guardrail. The fingers of his left hand gripped the edge. It was so slick that the leather of his glove was the only reason he was able to find traction and hold on. His own weight pulled at his shoulder, but as gravity pulled at Sophia dangling from his other hand, he felt his shoulder pop and tear. The pain radiating through his entire being doubled, but Scar only tightened his grip on her.

Sophia desperately screamed, “Pirate!”

Scar looked up to see his club brother’s face over the edge of the bridge. His eyes were wild with fear. As soon as he saw Scar and Sophia dangling precariously, he stepped over the guardrail to get to them. His movements were agonizingly slow, but they had to be or Pirate would tumble over the side too. Scar refused to count the seconds in his head as Pirate sank onto his knees. The lip was just barely wide enough for his biker boot. Wrapping one hand around the sharp edge of the rail, Pirate bent down low, stretching out his other hand.

Scar’s vision was starting to fade. The pain was so intense, his entire body felt like it was on fire. The buzz in his head was so loud now that he couldn’t hear anything but very distinct sounds, like Sophia’s gasps and the roar of the rushing water below. He saw Pirate’s hand inch towards his own and knew that for the mistake it was. Pirate would not be able to pull both of them up. Not at that angle, not on his own, and not in the rain.

Gritting his teeth, Scar pulled his right arm up. Gravity tried to pull her down, but Scar refused to let go. He would not drop her. His mouth clamped closed around the roar building up in his soul.

I will not talk…

The mantra overtook him. The echoes of his teammates, his fallen brothers, as they sang in the face of death lent Scar the strength he needed to lift Sophia higher.

I will not talk…

Finally, Sophia was raised high enough where Pirate could reach her. It was like she didn’t want to let go of Scar though. Precariously slow seconds ticked by before Pirate took her weight completely from Scar.

Blackness threatened. Scar blinked and the pain started to fade. He felt his fingertips slide from the concrete.

March along, sing our song, with the Army of the free…

Scar wasn’t afraid of death. That fear had been forcefully taken from him years ago. He’d lost seven brothers but he’d gained so many more. It would never be a fair trade. He saw all their faces. Not just those he loved but the ones he’d taken from this world. Perhaps tomorrow would be brighter without his darkness to snuff out the light.

Proud of all we have done…

A vise gripped his wrist. Scar swung forward, his marred face colliding with the slab of concrete that supported the bridge. He blinked, trying to clear the blackness enough to see through the rain pelting down on top of him.

Pirate was hanging half over the edge. Scar couldn’t see what was keeping him from going over completely. Something was holding him there, but that something tore. They dropped, both losing inches that put them ever closer to the rushing water far beneath Scar’s boots.

If Pirate continued to hold on, he would tumble down into the depths of the cold river too.

Scar would not lose another brother. Whatever was holding Pirate up would not last long. It was already slipping.

With the last of his strength, Scar reached up with his right hand. Pirate would survive. Piratehad to survive.

Scar’s vision jumped to that fucking cave. He saw tearful brown eyes staring back at him, far, far too young and forlorn. He heard thesnap, saw the light fade from those tawny depths.

His fingers peeled Pirate’s off of his wrist.

Fighting till the battle’s won…

Scar saw the horror touch Pirate’s face as he realized what Scar was doing. If only he could make Pirate understand. There was no saving Scar and he refused to take Pirate down into the darkness with him.

Oblivion took him the same time gravity did. He barely felt the rush of the air or the harsh slap of water at his back. At long last, he could rest.

And the Army keeps rolling along…

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