Page 111 of Concluded
He thought about the friendship bonds he’d recently strengthened with several people, and how much he’d like to work on those.
He celebrated how brave his colleagues were, and how wonderfully varied they were in species and abilities, and how grateful he was to allies such as the coyotes and aliens.
He concentrated hard on how brave Dee was, how strong, how worthy of love.
Santiago joined in too.He had memories of riotously festive family gatherings, and he recalled the face of every being—human or otherwise—that he’d helped during his career.He also dwelled on the beauty of the rivers where he used to kayak, the satisfaction in his own strength when he’d exercised, the music he used to blast on his car radio.
Music!Achilles replayed the song his parents hummed and every other tune that he’d listened to, in sad times and in happy ones.Orson used to sing “Oops, I Did It Again,” mostly because Achilles pretended to hate that song, and that was a happy memory too.
“A hero,” Dee slurred, eyes closed, slumped heavily against Achilles.The bleeding continued.“A genuine Greek hero, minus the stupid heel.And he’s mine.”
The final words were so faint that Achilles barely heard them.He whispered into Dee’s ear: “I’m yours.You’re mine.I love you.”
Something… shifted.
It wasn’t a huge change.It was like when the urge to sneeze goes away, when your clogged ears pop, when the grade you were dreading turns out to be a B, when the recipe you thought you’d messed up tastes delicious.It was the rain stopping just as you had to go outside.The lost key turning up beside the couch.The new outfit fitting just right.The cute person across the room smiling back at you.The gift you chose making the recipient laugh with delight.The dog at the park bounding over to make friends with you.The drab plant outside your door suddenly bursting into glorious bloom one morning.The kind compliment from a stranger.The shared joke.The embrace.The certain knowledge that if you fell, someone would catch you.
These were small things that didn’t seem like much when taken by themselves.But added together, they amounted to something big.Somethinggood.These were the things that shifted the balance.
A rustle passed through the agents in the parking lot, through the bystanders and the remaining first responders—like a breeze through treetops on a stifling hot day—and in its wake, it left smiles and more relaxed postures.Some people started to weep, but with relief rather than sadness.Some embraced.
In Achilles’ arms, Dee was unconscious, blood tracking scarlet through the dust on his face and clothing.His hair formed a wild, curly cloud.His breaths came rarely, barely stirring his chest.His usual warmth was gone, leaving his skin cool to the touch.
“Dee.”Achilles’ throat felt thick and his eyes stung with tears.But Keaton was still concentrating, and Achilles couldn’t abandon the effort now.Every effort counted.
So Achilles held Dee a little tighter and hummed his parents’ song and thought about how lucky he was to have had Dee, even if for such a short time.Dee had enriched Achilles’ existence beyond measure, and if Achilles survived, every day of his life would be a tribute to Dee.“Thank you for making me a hero,” he whispered.
Death isn’t the end of someone, Santiago said.Look at me.The dead live on in the memories of the living and in the deeds they’ve accomplished.
Achilles felt the truth of this and it gave him comfort.
“He’s stronger than I imagined,” said a new voice.Achilles gasped when he looked up and saw Spurling walking toward him.
Achilles would have leapt to his feet and attacked, but that would have meant letting go of Dee, which he absolutely wouldn’t do.Besides, there was something off about Spurling.His gait was awkward, as if he were struggling to make every step.And if Achilles wasn’t mistaken, Spurling’s eyes held compassion.
“Don’t fucking touch him!”Achilles growled.
Spurling’s smile wasn’t cruel or mocking.“You love him.”
“Of course I do, you—” Wait.That didn’t sound like Spurling.The voice was higher pitched, like a woman’s, and held a trace of an accent.
“Garrick stayed nearby,” said not-Spurling.“He wished to see the building entirely destroyed.But when your friend attacked Garrick”—she gestured toward Keaton—“I was able to step in.I’m not alone in here, but I am in control for a few moments.”
“Are you… Irina?”
“I can’t stay.I no longer belong on this plane, and I can’t undo the harm I’ve caused my son.I regret being a terrible mother.I love him, though and perhaps I can grant one final wish for his sake.”She tore a button off Spurling’s expensive jacket and waited.
This was too good to be true.But wasn’t now the very best time for hope?Achilles looked at Dee, whose breaths were now so shallow that Achilles might be imagining them.He nodded at Irina.“I wish he wouldn’t die.”A sob escaped him; he couldn’t help it.
Irina was crying too.She grasped the button, closed her eyes, and murmured in a Slavic-sounding language.When she opened her eyes and held out the button, Achilles hesitated.What if it was a trick?
Trust her, Santiago advised.
So Achilles did.He took the button and repeated his wish.The button turned to powder, indistinguishable from the debris already on his hands.The universe paused.
Dee took a deep, shuddery breath and opened his eyes.They were bloodshot but aware.
“I love you, Damnation,” said Irina.She sounded far away.Spurling’s body shuddered violently and fell to its knees.
