The Deadly Truth

 

            “Tell me again why the girls couldn’t come?” Silver questioned.

            “I told you, they would have slowed us down,” Sparow answered.

            It was a couple of days since Sparow reluctantly agreed to help Silver sneak into The Web. Spider’s crime organization wasn’t hard to find; ask any lowlife on the streets and they be more then happy to tell you of the great Spider and where his home base was. Seems like Spider was milking the lucky murder of the great hero, Silver Samurai for every penny it was worth.

            Since The Web was not far, Sparow decided it be best if they hiked to The Web. The hike was uneventful, during the day, as they hiked, Sparow would take the lead, far in front of Silver and Sapphire. Ruby was usually not far behind Sparow, only occasionally dropping back to tease her sister. The night was much of the same; while Silver and Sapphire relaxed in a comfortable tent, Sparow instead opted to sleep in the tree branches, even the night it rained. Ruby always kept a keen eye on Sparow from the ground, never sleeping until he did.

            It was hard to believe Sparow and Silver shared the same father. Silver was kind, happy and outgoing. Sparow was cruel, grouchy and a loner; he must take after his mother.

            Right now the two brothers were sneaking through the silent hallways of The Web. Shortly after sneaking in Sparow was able to take the security system by accessing a remote computer terminal. It amazed Silver how well Sparow worked with computers, he didn’t look the computer nerd type.

            “Which way?” Sparow suddenly came to a stop.

            In front of them the hallway split, one path leading left, the other to the right.

            “Left,” Silver answered and a brief pause.

            “Good, than I’m going right.”

            “Hey!”

            “You go your way, I go mine. Whoever finds Spider first can deal with him as he sees fit.”

            “What will you do if you find him?”

            “Kill him of course. He deserves it for taking my kill away.”

            “For Spider’s sake, I hope I find him first,” Silver said silently to himself as he started down the left path.

            “What are you doing here, brother?” A man blocked Silver path.

            The man in question was about Silver’s height, but a little stouter. He had short blond hair, blue eyes, and was dressed in chain mail; a sheathed sword swings freely from his belt. The man was no stranger to Silver, in fact they shared the same mother, he was Silver’s older half brother Hawk.

            “Let me pass, I have business with Spider,” Silver placed his hand over his own sheathed sword, a signal to Hawk he meant business.

            “I’m sorry, I can’t let you do that., I work for him now,” Hawk drew his sword. “Now remove yourself from the premises, before I remove you by force.”

            Silver sighed, “Who would have thought I have to fight both my brothers in the same week?”

            Silver drew his sword and motioned for Hawk to attack. Hawk was a sloppy swordsman, no match for the more skillful Silver. Soon Hawk was disarmed and left clutching at his left arm, which had been cut open during the brief skirmish.

            “You should have paid more attention when my father was giving us lessons,” Silver peered down at his wounded brother.

            Silver was about to continue his search for Spider, when a familiar voice behind him caught his attention.

            “What did you do to my son?” the voice asked in a demanding tone.

            Silver turned to see his was right, the voice belonged to his uncle, Hawk’s dad, Forgotten One. Forgotten One stood about six-five, like his son he had short blond hair, blues eyes. He wore a simple black and red battle outfit.

            Silver hated Forgotten One. Catching Forgotten One and Silver’s mother in the act, drove Silver’s father to his death that fateful day. Even more disturbing for Silver’s father finding out Hawk was not his kids but his brother’s.

            “Hawk be fine,” Silver stared at his uncle. “I suggest you let me continue my search fro Spider, before the same happens to you.”

            “Is that any way to treat family?” Forgotten One smile. “Frankly I couldn’t  give a damn what your business is with Spider, but I appreciate if you don’t harm my son in the process.”

            “You are going to let me pass?” Silver’s voice could not hide the confusion Silver was feeling.

            “Go ahead, I owe no loyalty to that fake.”

            Silver slowly backed away from Forgotten One, not fully trusting him. Silver only got a few feet away from Forgotten One, when an explosion could be heard in the hallway. Silver turned quickly to see smoke clearing and a new hole in the wall. Through the new opening stepped the large Crimson.

            “How dare you show your face here again?” Forgotten One demanded more than asked.

            “You know him?” Silver question.

            Forgotten One nodded, “Him and his little running buddy, Raven, used to work here. That was until they stole some important artifacts from Spider, and disappeared without a trace.”

            “Don’t move,” a female voice said from behind Crimson.

            As the female came into view, Silver found out his suspicions were correct, it was his mother Rosa. Like her son, Rosa had long blond hair and blue eyes, although Silver knew she secretly dyed her hair. Today she was wearing a black and red dress. Her armed bow was trained on Crimson.  Not only was Rosa a skilled archer, but also blessed in both fir and healing magic.

            “I suggest you tell me why you are here,” Forgotten One looked past Crimson and smiled at Rosa. “Before the lovely Rosa over there turns you into a pin cushion.”

            “I’m here for the kid,” Crimson pointed towards Hawk.

            “We won’t let you take our son,” Forgotten One said defiantly.

            “Our son?” Rosa laughed. “Forgotten One you are a fool.”

            Rosa suddenly shifted her aim towards Forgotten One and fired. The arrow penetrated Forgotten One’s chest, causing him to collapse instantly.

            “Why mother!” Silver shouted in disbelief; not even Forgotten One deserved such betrayal.

            “He has served his purpose, I have no use for him now,” Rosa answered. “Truth is I share something in common with Celes. Your father couldn’t protect either one of us from that man.”

            “You’re saying…” Silver trailed off, refusing to believe it.

            “Yes Hawk’s father is really Nightmare,” Rosa answered for Silver. “I only led Forgotten One to believe he was Hawk’s father to get at your father. I knew nothing would hurt him more than the betrayal of his own brother. Now that Forgotten One served his purpose, he has seventy two hours to live, before the poison I tipped my arrow with, finishes him off for good.”

            Silver was left speechless.

            “Come on son, lets go,” Rosa held out her hand to Hawk.

            Hawk took it, together the two of the exited out of the new hole in the wall.

            “We’ll deal with you another time,” Crimson stared down at Silver, before finally leaving through the same hole.

            Silver had to put Spider on the back burner for now; he couldn’t let his uncle die. No one deserved to be left for dead, not even some one as rotten as his uncle.

           

 

            Will Silver be able to find a cure before time runs out? Did Sparow find Spider? One thing for certain is the search fro a cure begins…

 

                                                                                                                                                            To be continued…