Part Two

We were getting ready for dinner when I realized that Carman wasn’t here. I stood from the table and went over to General Greenway, saying, “Sir? Where’s Carman?”

General Greenway’s gray eyes sharpened. “What do you mean?” He inquired, glancing around. “Lunder’s not here?” He frowned and said, “Why don’t you go and try to find him, hm? Bring Blackwood with you since...” He paused and gave me a wary look.

Since I can’t fire a gun well? Because I don’t like killing people? Wow, thanks, I thought sarcastically as I nodded and went to Blackwood. I noticed that he was frowning as he chewed his lower lip.

“Uh, Commander Blackwood?” I asked Blackwood. I flinched when he glowered at me. “S-sorry to bother you, sir, but uh. G-general Greenway asked me, um. H-he said that you have to come with me since C-Carman isn’t here." I hated that my voice was shaking. It seemed as if I was weak. I wasn’t weak, though, screw it. Whatever.

He sighed heavily. “Fine.” He growled, grabbing his handgun. “Let’s go and find Lunder.” He shook his head, muttering about random things.

We went far away from the camp, calling for Carman. The sun was hidden behind thick clouds, causing the rays to cast pale shadows on the battlefield. The bullets and bombs ceased to a halt as it slowly got darker.

There was a stifled sobbing behind a bush and Blackwood steadied his gun. His eyes narrowed as he told me to go around on the other side. We cornered the person and:

“Lunder?" Blackwood said, stunned. He lowered his handgun and said, “Why are you crying?”

“My fiancée,” he choked, dark eyes wild with fury, “my baby...” Tears streamed down his face as he sobbed hard. He swore loudly and I flinched. I don’t think I heard Carman swore before. He continued, “It’s my fault. All my fault. Shouldn’t have come to this. I… I wanted what was best for us. I’m so sorry, Melody.” Carman’s sobs shook his body.

“What is it?” Blackwood asked the soldier gently, his eyes wide.

“A-a miscarriage. Too much stress, m-my fiancée said. My baby girl...she had a name. Melody Jane Lunder...Jane after my fiancée's name..." Carman swore again.

“I’m so sorry for that!” Blackwood’s eyes were wide. “I can’t imagine how you’re feeling right now. What it must feel like. I can’t imagine losing my son...or my husband." He whispered, a pained expression on his face.

Blackwood has a son? With Noah? I was somewhat alarmed. Don't think about it, I told myself. There’re so many things you don't know about the people around you, I realized.

Carman had a confused expression, him muttering, “Wait...husband?” and Blackwood sighed, saying, “Do you people have a grudge against the fact that I’m gay?” He looked upset.

“O-of course not!” Carman said, hastily amending, “N-no, sir,” flinching.

“Well,” said Blackwood, pocketing his handgun and lacing his fingers together, “Let’s go back to camp. Before something happens...”

Part of me felt bad for not moving fast enough. If I had known sooner...

As we were walking towards camp, a gun dispatched violently, and Blackwood let out a cry of horrible pain. He snarled a curse word as he yanked out his gun, Carman aiming his gun and I held Fili Mi, nervous.

There was nothing. No gun fired. It was quiet—too quiet. The only obvious sound that sounded thunderous was our heavy breathing. Blackwood shook his head as he touched his shoulder which was bloody. It wasn’t the worst wound, but still. A wound was a wound.

“Let’s go back before...” Carman never finished his sentence.

“Kill them!” snarled a voice: male.

Gunshots were heard. Bullets soared and smacked into the trees, rocks, and soil.

“Kill the Commander! Fucking kill him!” the voice barked as we ran faster, firing randomly behind us. We couldn’t see who the people were. It was dark and there were a lot of trees that were able to hide the people from us.

“What’s taking you forever?! Fire, boy! You’re right next to him!” the male screamed angrily.

And an ear-piercing scream shattered the night as Blackwood collapsed right there, just before coming into view of the makeshift hospital.

Noah was the first one out and he screamed.

“Abel! Oh my god, Abel! What the hell happened?” He gave me and Carman an accusing look as he kneeled beside his husband, cupping his face, his hand going to Blackwood’s chest, Noah cursing.

“No, no, no, no, no!” Noah screamed and I realized that Blackwood was shot in the chest, blood spilling rapidly. Tears spilled from Noah’s eyes as he removed Blackwood’s shirt, saying, “I told you to be careful...I told you to be careful! I told you to be fucking careful!” Two nurses ran out and Noah snarled, “Get the kit! My husband’s going to die if you don’t hurry!” He pulled Blackwood into his arms.

“Noah...baby...” Blackwood’s voice was thin from pain. “It’s fine.” He tried to reassure the hysterical nurse. “It’s all going to get better.” He winced as Noah pinned him to the floor, growling, “It’s not.”

The nurses came out and Noah practically ripped the kit out of one of the nurse’s grip. He then, through his tears, gritted his teeth as he opened the kit, digging around, cursing. “I will not lose you!” Noah seemed to be keeping a promise with death. He grabbed a pair of scissors and sighed, saying, “It’s too deep. We don't have long..." He abandoned the scissors and grabbed tweezers instead. “It’s fine. Everything’s going to get better..." He said, and Blackwood's expression melted into something weak.

“Don’t just stand there with your mouths opened!” Noah raged at me and Carman. “Hold Abel down!” then saying in a softer voice, he said, “This will hurt, baby, I’m sorry.” He glowered at me and Carman, mouthing, “Hold. Him. Down." So that’s what we do.

The screams. The pain. The tears. I felt so bad because I had no clue what to do to comfort either man. All I could do was watch and listen.

Noah was distraught as he pulled the bullet out of Blackwood’s chest. His eyes widened as he said, “No, no, no! You were shot multiple times, weren’t you?” he accused him.

“M-maybe?” Blackwood looked dangerously pale.

The male nurse gave off a whimper as he pressed a cloth against Blackwood’s chest, trying to suppress the blood flow. His green eyes darkened as Blackwood said, “It hurts. Everything hurts, Noah. Please. It’s pointless to do this.”

“You want to die?!” screamed Noah. His face became red as Blackwood gave a faint nod. “Are you insane?! I’m not going to let you die! I can’t let you...die... Abel.” Noah pulled the cloth away, saying, “The blood... too much...” He snarled at Carman and me, “How come you two didn’t protect him?! You’re clearly not bleeding!” the accusation stung.

“Because someone wanted to kill Commander Blackwood, that’s why.” I spoke without thinking.

“What?!” Noah screeched which caused nurses to run out and some soldiers to run toward us.

“What’s going on?” cried a soldier—Talyor.

“Nothing, nothing, go away!” begged Noah. “It’s fine...it’s fine.” It was clear that it wasn’t fine, but it seemed that he was trying to reassure himself and Blackwood.

Carman let go of Blackwood and Noah opened his mouth and shook his head. Noah muttered, “Whatever... doesn’t matter. You—let him go,” he pointed at me.

I let Blackwood go.

“Hm... the blood’s not stopping. It's too much, too deep. Stop trying, Noah,” Blackwood told Noah gently.

Tears fell as Noah grabbed Blackwood’s face in his hands, whispering, “Who shot you? Who shot you? I’ll shoot that fucker.” Blackwood gave a weak chuckle.

Noah wrapped bandages around Blackwood’s chest and it immediately became red from his blood.

“A bullet tore your lung and stomach, fuck it...” Noah groaned as his fingers traveled to Blackwood’s stomach, his fingers coming away bloody.

I chewed my lower lip, shocked that I was ashamed. If Blackwood dies... imagine how devastated Noah would be. And their son. Right, they had a son.

Noah removed the bullet from Blackwood’s stomach and muttered, “I don’t think I can get the bullet out of your lung without killing you by mistake.”

Blackwood sighed, saying, “It’s fine.” He looked pale and he tried to close his eyes.

“Stay alive, Abel! Don’t you dare close your eyes! Look at me, Abel... please. Think about us... think about our son... think about the future for all of us. Don’t die, don’t die, don’t die.” Noah threaded his fingers into Blackwood’s dark hair. “Don’t die, baby, don’t die...” he begged.

I drew away, placing my hands on my knees. I wanted to turn away but couldn’t.

“If you die, I won’t ever forgive you, Abel Blackwood! Or myself!” Noah looked wild with horror and pain and torture. “If you die, what am I going to tell Fallix? Huh? You want me to say, ‘Daddy’s sorry but your daddy died because he was shot’? Is that what you want me to tell him?!” Noah glared at Blackwood.

“O-of course not.” Blackwood shifted his position, cursing when the wound tore. His eyes were feverish and sweat broke out on his face. He panted, “I’m going to die. I can feel the blood in my throat... in my lungs... God, Noah, I’m drowning.” His eyes were wide, black with fear.

Noah pulled out a photo out of his pocket and shoved in front of Blackwood’s face. “Think about Fallix,” he urged his husband desperately.

There was a boy who seemed around four in the photo. He had deep green eyes like Noah, dark hair like Noah and Blackwood, and light brown skin. Beside Fallix was Noah and Blackwood, grinning happily. It probably was taken before the war...? I didn’t know.

“Fallix, oh, Noah. I’m hurting so much right now.” Blackwood whispered as he let Noah fall into his arms.

“I-I-I d-don't w-want y-you to die! God, fuck it, but, oh! I did everything I could. I did. I removed the bullets—t-the bullets that I could remove safely. But uh.” The nurse chewed his lower lip as he began to weep once more.

Carman had a troubled look on his face. Probably thinking about his daughter’s death and what was going to happen if Blackwood died.

I wanted to help Noah, but I didn’t know how. All I did was watch. And feel the pain.

Noah’s body shook with tears and Blackwood, groaning, sat up, pulling Noah close to him.

“It’s alright, Noah. Who knows? I might not die,” Blackwood tried to say half-heartedly. “And, if I do, it’s fine. Just don’t do something stupid—like killing yourself. Because who’s going to watch our son?” Blackwood wondered. He stroked Noah’s hair. “I’m so glad that I’m married to a thoughtful man, and that I had a wonderful marriage...and a wonderful son. I mean, seriously, Noah. It’s not a big deal.”

“But it is,” sobbed Noah. “I don’t want my husband to die!” He looked helpless as Blackwood wrapped his arms around Noah, a torturous look tearing his face.

It was clear that Blackwood was in so much pain—physically, mentally, and emotionally. He had tears running down his face, his face twisted with pain and one hand was in Noah’s hair while the other was on his stomach, the blood seeping through the binding. But he kept a half smile on his face, eyes warm with so much love for his husband.

“I love you, Noah Overturn...” Blackwood murmured as he kissed Noah.

“I love you...I-I lo-love you s-so much, Abel Black-Blackwood...” Noah stuttered into Blackwood’s mouth. He whimpered as Blackwood deepened the kiss, telling him that everything would be alright, that he loved him so much.

Five minutes later, Commander Abel Blackwood was dead.

“Noah...” Carman said softly, trying to pull Noah away from Blackwood. “He’s gone.” He had tears in his eyes.

“NO! No, no, no, no! Abel! Why? Why? How come this had to happen? Why does everyone I love die? Seriously? Who’s next? My mom? Dad? Brother? My own son?” Noah wailed, clinging onto Blackwood’s shirt. “My dog was shot. My sister was shot. My husband was shot. Who’s next? Who’s going to be shot next? Who?! Is God punishing me? Because...because of who I am? What did I do to deserve this? Abel! I’m so sorry!” Noah screamed, his body trembling as tears fell, his fingers trying to grasp onto the body of Blackwood that contained no soul.

No one deserves this much pain, I thought to myself, tears burning my eyes. Poor Noah...what’s going to be of him?

“Please God...” Noah lamented. “I’m sorry. Please...please don’t take anyone else away from me. I don’t think I can take another heartbreak...” he dipped his head, crying silently now. “P-please.”

But it seemed as if God had another idea for Noah. But he had no clue, now did he?