Sunshine (13 page)

Chapter 30

My
Story

-Marcus

             
On the deck I stop to admire her. She is still beautiful in the moon light. I’ve been with many women, but none like her. She’s stronger than I could ever be. She kept a newborn baby alive in hell and it wasn’t even hers. She had no attachment, except a promise. She may be nearly gone, but she kept that promise. I will never let anything happen to him.

             
I have often wondered if she picked me or let me stay around just because I would help her keep him safe. That may have been true in the beginning, but I know it wasn’t like that long. We somehow met our soul mates on a planet with only a handful of people.

             
The thought that Sunny wasn’t going to remember this woman that had saved him, loved him, his mother was heartbreaking. I couldn’t help, but feel pity for us both. We would have to live in a world that was a little less bright, that was not darkened only further by the evil that destroyed it.

             
When it had all happened I was living in a friends basement. Maybe friend isn’t the right word. He was a guy I had gotten drunk with a few times. I needed somewhere to live and it was the best I could do. I had a shitty job at a gas station. I looked like a man no one would want to mess with, so night shift worked well for me. I was the only one that had never been robbed.

             
I didn’t have a girlfriend. I had given up on women completely. I had used them as I pleased getting what I wanted just by my looks and bad boy attitude, but that wasn’t what I wanted anymore. I wanted a new life, a life that had meaning. I didn’t have that in the basement.

             
I contemplated my misery as usual that first night before work. My friend and his girlfriend were fighting upstairs like usual. He really needed to lay off the booze. They reminded me of my parents, maybe that’s why I felt so at home. That night, work was insane. We finally had to close down after an attempted robbery and several broken windows. The police didn’t come when I called so I finally convinced the owner to let me shut down at three am.

             
When I got home I fell asleep to the news. The world looked like it was truly falling apart. In the morning I could hear the couple above really going at it. It sounded as if they were at each other’s throats. I couldn’t standby anymore. It sounded like he was really hurting her.

             
The screams had stopped and now I could only hear whimpers. I followed them into the kitchen and saw my friend on the ground surrounded by his own blood. He was still alive, but barely. I looked up and there stood his girlfriend bloody knife in hand.

             
“Oh, you feel bad for him don’t you. He was cheating you know. I bet you’re a cheater too, you worthless piece of shit.”

             
She ran towards me aiming for my heart, but I was quick and grabbed her arm and pinned her against the wall. Unlike my fat, nearly dead friend, I was in good shape and ex-military.

             
She fought, hard, harder than I would have thought possible, but finally I dislodged the knife from her hand and had her pinned to the ground. I grabbed my cell from my pocket and dialed 911. They didn’t answer. How can they not answer? That’s impossible. I called again, no answer.

             
Well what do I do now? She was still struggling below me. I tried to move her so I could find some rope, but she was too strong and nearly got away. I pinned her again and this time I was in it for the long haul. I tried 911 over and over again, but after several hours I was out of hope. When I screamed no one came. My friend was now blue and far from help. She kept silent the entire time, which I found very odd yet she was getting more powerful by the minute. I wouldn’t be able to hold her much longer.

             
Finally I had had it. I made a run for it and I grabbed the knife. I had hoped to pin her again and this time persuade her with the blade. I didn’t want to hurt her; I was just hoping the knife would scare her. However, my plan backfired as I turned, knife in hand, she ran full force into me knocking us both to the ground. As she rolled off me I could see the blood. The knife was still stuck into her stomach.

             
“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

             
She pulled out the blade and stared at it for a few seconds. She then took the blade and forcefully slide it across her neck. She fell to the ground and I watch her blood flow onto her boyfriend as they lay dead on the kitchen floor.

             
After another attempt at 911 I gave up. I was on my own now. I left a note confessing to what had just happened though I doubted anyone would come after me. I packed my army bag with all my belongings and headed out into hell. I killed Jack after Jack those first months. I was really good at it. It was the first time I was successful at something. I was an expert at surviving it’s all I had done my whole life.

             
Finally one day I followed tire tracks to a barn and I found my new family hiding. That day would change me forever. When I walked away I knew I had made the biggest mistake of my life. They needed me, but I know I needed them more; I needed to know the world was a better place because of me.

Chapter 31

Savior

-Marcus

             
“Honey, are you there.”

             
She slowly opens her eyes and I know it’s her; my Emma.

             
“Hi, Marcus. I’m here I’m fighting it back though. It’s like I’m a schizo, there’s the normal me and the crazy me.”

             
“Well I’m happy I got the normal you.”

             
“Marcus I’m scared. I don’t want to die, but more than anything I don’t want to hurt you two.”

             
“I know, don’t worry you won’t hurt us.” It saddens me to know why she won’t hurt us.

             
“Now I don’t want you to go all crazy on me and keep me locked up in the bathroom or something. Don’t hope that someday you’ll find a cure that will make me all better.”

             
“Honestly I’ve thought about it.”

             
“Well it’s a stupid idea and I expect better from you. It won’t be me anymore.”

             
“But what if there is a way?”

             
“There isn’t and never will be.”

             
I rub my hand against her cheek. It feels tenser then before and hot.

             
“Marcus, how come you never got an implant?”

             
“Actually I lied to you about that, I’m surprised you didn’t catch me in that lie. When you’re in the military it’s a requirement. I felt like my rights were taken from me when they put it in. The day I got kicked out I went straight to the hospital and got it taken out.”

             
“Wow, way to lie to me you jerkface.” A smile lights her face and I see the girl I love.

             
“Make sure you tell Sunshine about his birth mother, Rosa. He should know her story too.”

             
“Of course I will.”

             
“So how are you going to do it?”

             
“How am I doing to do what?”

             
“Kill me.” The smile is now gone.

             
“Emma I can’t do it. I’ve killed countless Jacks and in the beginning I accidently killed a human girl, but I can’t hurt you.”

             
“Well then how are you going to let me do it? I’m worried if you give me a gun I’ll shoot you.”

             
“I can’t let you off yourself.”

             
“Well then we are at a standstill. I’m going to be a Jack in the morning and I don’t want to make it to that stage.”

             
I can start to see she is losing control. Her breathing is becoming heavier and she is sweating profusely. How am I going to do this?

             
“Marcus, please, before I lose it, tell me a story.”

             
“What kind of story?”

             
“I don’t care.”

             
I go with the first thing I can think of “Once upon a time there was a man lost in the desert. He had no water or food and it had been a year since he had talked to another human being. He was near death and on the verge of giving up. Well he climbed over a sand dune and at the bottom was a very small stream. It had dried long ago, but he followed it in hopes it would lead to fresh water. He followed it around another dune and there before him stood heaven.

             
“An oasis.”

             
“Yes, baby an oasis. The man ate and drank and when night fell a glow floated down from the sky and out of it can the most beautiful women he had ever seen. She was a goddess sent to him from above.”

             
Emma was now convulsing and straining against the ropes.

             
“The goddess told him he could live out his life here with her if only he could learn how to love. He tried and tried, but could not learn to love. Finally she made him leave. She had fallen for the man and could not stand the heartbreak any longer. After one night he returned to the oasis.”

             
“Is this story about us?” It’s only a whisper.

             
“You’ll see. When he comes back it is no longer an oasis it had all been an illusion. He searches for his love, yelling out her name over and over again. Finally after several days he lies down and readies himself for death. One last time he yells out for her. This time she appears. After explaining his true feelings she kisses him on the forehead. He instantly feels like a million bucks and as he looks around he sees the oasis again. You see the oasis wasn’t what you would imagine; it was the goddess and the ability to love her that saved him. Without either he would have died in that desert.”

             
“I’m your oasis.” This time her statement is more of growl. She’s nearly gone.

             
“You’re my everything Emma. I love you and I’ll take care of our son.”

             
“I love you too.”

             
She falls silent for a few minutes and the monster has taken over fully. She claws at the ropes, at the deck, and at herself. She snarls at me and I can understand nothing that is coming out of her mouth. She is trying to get to me and from her look, ripe me to shreds. It’s time; I can’t keep her locked up like there won’t ever be a way to fix her.

             
I head below and look at our son. He is still sound asleep he knows nothing of what is happening above. How would I want to go? It needs to be quick and painless. I look at my knife; no that would be painful. I look at my pillow; no that too would be painful for both of us. Then there’s my gun. I’m a good shot and it would be at point blank. I slowly make my way up the stairs. She’s nearly made it out of the ropes. She has become so strong.

             
I can barely see through the tears. I steady my hands and take aim; the quickest way is right through the eye. I take aim and with the pull of a trigger it’s done.

Chapter 32

Farewell

-Marcus

             
I kneel down behind her and cut her lose. I lay her on the deck and close her eyes. I grab a rag and wipe the blood from her face. I now have to say my goodbye.

             
“Goodbye, my love. I’m so sorry. I’ll never forget you or forgive myself for letting this happen. The world is now a much darker place without you.”

             
I kiss her on her hand and then start to wrap her in a blanket and weigh her down with anything I can find. There is nowhere else for me to put her but the sea. I wish there was a little boat I could put her on; let the sea take her beyond.

             
The sun is starting to rise; it’s a beautiful pink and purple. This was always her favorite part of the day. I unlatch the railing and carry her over. I carefully lower her into the water and watch her sink deeper and deeper until I can see her no more. I can’t keep the tears back anymore. I have a full blown meltdown.

             
Suddenly I hear crying, Sunny. I hurry down stairs and pick up my son. “Good morning baby.” I hold him tighter than ever before. He calms in my arms.

             
“Sunny your mama is gone, it’s just you and me, but don’t worry I’ll take care of you.”

             
I take him up on the deck and we watch the sun rise together.

             
“Sunny that’s the sun, that’s what you’re named after.”

             
“Sahaohoah”

             
“Ha-ha, no not exactly but you’ll get there. We are going to be ok. Please, be patient with me for a while daddy’s sad about mama.”

             
“Mama?”

             
“Yes, mama.”