Chapter 40 – A Hero Nobody Will Know Off

What was I thinking? What did I drink that made me turn my back on them? I didn’t know why I did that. All I know was that my body moved on its own. It was obvious that they’d shoot the balloon. Maybe they won’t. Maybe, Joshua, that lad would be able to dodge their attacks. Maybe I should have trusted him as well as Archie trusted him.

“Kill the bastard!” shouted an enemy soldier. I didn’t think twice to roll over to cover. They fired at me with their rifles, the bullets whizz past me like leaves in a windy spring. I can taste smoke. I can taste the dust. I cannot breathe properly. I was having a hard time taking in the air. I looked at my left side. I was shot and bleeding. I wouldn’t have this wound if I didn’t kick Archie out.

I wasn’t mad, however. I was strangely calm. Everything seemed like it was slow. As if my life just turned slow as my heart pumps rapidly like a frog’s throat. I was stuck in this heat haze that made me want to choke. My ears were ringing but even so, I decided to fight back.

I shot one in the neck. The other soldier near this ember-filled beam got his right in the chin. I had a few bombs on me and I threw them. They exploded and made way for me to climb through this narrow path leading up this flat unstable platform. Everything was on fire. But I wasn’t able to feel the heat at all. I was cold, really cold. My vision was blurring as take a step. My brain seemed like it was warning me that I was dying. I was dying. I knew that the moment I got hit on the sides to protect Archie.

I have no idea why. I have no idea why would I suddenly do that. Like I said, my body moved on its own. I couldn’t help but kick him away from danger. I wasn’t friends with him. I didn’t know him. But the battle we fought today made me see him that can do more good down there.

In the back of my mind, I knew the battle was far from over. There were still flying ships around us. I know that. That’s why I decided to die trying. That’s why I stood running, sprinting through these obstacles, vaulting like mad as I jumped to another ship, not minding that my limbs were aching and hurting.

I could feel my bones break. I could feel that I had already surpassed the limit. I was running on my last fumes. I was running on a rush of bravado and bravery. I was running and shooting down those who stood in my way like a man possessed.

I did not even think of the bullets that entered my body. I was numbed all over that the only thing that was in my head was to not get my brain blown apart. I can’t move without my brain. That’s why I took cover and slid away from the bullets coming at me. I was outnumbered and outgunned. The rifle, the lad’s rifle was no use to me. I had to throw it and I resulted in disarming and stealing weapons that I found on the ship that I just jumped.

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Maybe I was possessed? Maybe because of this stupidity of mine that these frightened men clamored in terror. What do they see? Do they see a bullet-riddled madman on death’s door? Do they see me now as some demon that was killing their friends?

“COME AT ME!” I shouted with all the voice I had. I speed through the ship and finally was able to reach the deck where this captain almost slid my throat. I was able to somehow punch him in the neck. And without thinking I turned his vessel and crashed it into the rows of flying ship before me.

I managed to take four flying ships. But at the fifth one, my body could not function anymore. My left arm dangled, and I could see one of the toes on my right feet was facing the wrong direction. My vision was blood-red. I was shaking, shuddering as I try to fight back helplessly.

I was still flying the ship that I steered. I was taking cover on the barrels while making use of the crates of rifle that was already loaded. I was weakening by every second. I was slowly losing my strength as I could hear my heartbeat started to slow down.

It was a miracle itself how I was able to last this long. I was pale as a sheet of white paper. I was leaking blood, and I was running out of ammunition.

I was done for. I could see a bomb rolled near me. I looked at the bomb before being thrown upward to the air. I floated like a kite with no strings. I stared dully at the sky.

Ah, it should be alright now. To think that a drunken fool like me who had nothing to do other than cat call tavern wenches and drink all day after a day of patrol would end up like this. To think that I’d be staring at a giant warship falling down to earth while my back smashes against this curvy structure that crushed my right ribs.

I had no idea what I was thinking. Strangely, I was thinking that I did my best. I was thinking that while looking at the angered soldiers who wanted to finish me off badly after what I did.

I didn’t show them the satisfaction that they’ll get for killing me. I showed them a devilish smirk as I wait for them to pull the trigger.

I had gone past being afraid. But oddly, if there was one thing that I’d regret not doing. That was at least to tell my name to them. I wanted them to know that I, a bastard was able to play the role of the hero even for a short time.

And so with that last devilish smirk comes the flash that ended my life.