Chapter 14: No Equals - Part 2

We're back! After a week of suspense, I hope you're ready for the final payoff! If you're half as excited as I am, then it's gonna be a great time! As always, rated 16+ for violence, blood, and language. Enjoy! 

Photo credit: Gianni (Flickr.com creative commons)

Pain.

Pain was all that Hunter could feel. A searing pain that stung at his eyes, like something had set every nerve in his body ablaze. He finally dared to open his eyes. The wound was shallow, maybe only the first inch of steel had sunk through his skin, and it had stopped at the top of his ribcage. Even still, Hunter could feel the blood trickling down his chest. He was suddenly quite grateful that Alan had given him a red sweater that night. Arthur stared at him, still holding Excalibur as the energy faded from the sword. Everyone had stopped what they were doing to stare, and the tension in the air was thick. 

“Stand aside, boy,” Arthur finally demanded. Hunter stood fast, glaring defiantly at the king. 

“I won't let him take her again.” 

“I see.” Arthur sheathed Excalibur and turned away. Hunter finally dropped to one knee, with Red rushing to tend to him. She pressed her hand to his injury, trying to keep the blood inside him as he'd done for Grenda. Cal watched as Arthur walked toward him. 

“Well?” Cal threw up his hands. “Finish him!” 

“You've bloodied my hands enough,” Arthur spat. 

“Fine! If you won't kill him… Beowulf!” He ordered. Beowulf twitched, holding his sword. He crossed his arms defiantly. Cal looked to his other heroes desperately. 

“Bigfoot!” Bigfoot turned away.

“Houdini?” Houdini pretended not to hear him. 

“Robin! Shoot him!” He finally demanded, staring directly at the outlaw. Robin turned up his nose. Iris knelt down to help tend to Hunter's wound. The two looked at each other, and he relaxed into her touch. 

Cal growled. His frustration was teaching a boiling point. How could he have been saddled with such disobedient heroes? He marched toward Hunter, cracking his knuckles. 

“If you want your best friend killed right, I guess you have to fucking do it yourself!” He growled. Sun stepped in front of him, shoving him back. He looked to his other heroes. None stepped forward. The monkey king crossed his arms defiantly, blocking Cal’s attempts on Hunter. He wouldn't allow any more harm to come to his player. Cal growled in disgust. 

Tears welled in Little Red's eyes. She threw her arms around Hunter, sobbing into his chest. She buried her face in his chest as she cried. 

“You dummy!” She cried, pounding her tiny fist on his back. “You big, stupid dummy!” 

“Take it easy on him, Red!” Iris intervened, trying to pull Red off of Hunter. 

“No!” She wailed. “I'm supposed to protect you! Me! It was supposed to be me!” 

“It's okay, Red,” he said. He pulled her closer, holding her in his arms as tears streamed down her face. “Sometimes love means you jump in front of a sword for someone.” 

“Love…?” Red said softly, before burying her face in Hunter's shoulder. She gripped his sweater tightly, finding comfort in his warmth. Iris smiled as she softly stroked Hunter's back. He took a deep breath, then began to stand. Red helped him up, squeezing his hand. He smiled at her as he rose to his feet. 

“Alright,” he said. He held up his cards once again, a little shaky, but filled with vigor and courage. “Let's end this!” 

“You got it, big brother!” Red took a fighting stance. 

[Fight song: Bloodywood - Bekhauf] 

Medusa rushed back, drawing back an arrow and letting it fly. The arrow hit Houdini squarely in the shoulder. Beowulf charged Sun once again, and the two traded blows. Sun delivered a powerful kick, sweeping Beowulf’s leg as the clones surrounded him. Robin raced across the rooftop, firing an arrow at Alice. Alice shrank down, leaping at Robin in her tiny size. Houdini appeared in front of Medusa, swinging a kick at her head. She grabbed his ankle, stopping him in his tracks. Little Red charged at Arthur, swinging a devastating kick at the royal's shin. He stumbled, gripping his aching shin and cursing through grit teeth. Bigfoot tried to pound against the mirrors that Bloody Mary had escaped into, but smashing the mirrors only made more mirrors for Mary to emerge from. She put them to good use, sending out a barrage of hands that stretched and wrapped around the hairy cryptid. He roared in protest, trying to free himself from the spirit's clutches. Arthur picked himself up and tried to swing, but Red blocked the strike and dealt a devastating counterblow that knocked the wind out of Arthur. 

Cal was freaking out. How had the tide of battle changed against him so suddenly? He felt it all crashing down on him, and for a moment, he could swear he felt a hand on his back. His eyes darted between five hands of cards, five strategies all bleeding together. He'd been so confident going in! How was it all falling apart? He began to laugh, completely slipping. His laugh persisted, his eyes bloodshot as he pounded his fist on the rooftop. Hunter and Iris took a step back, both deeply disturbed by the sight. Cal finally stood up, grinning like a fool. He started hitting cards randomly, laughing more and more maniacally. Hunter and Iris nodded at each other. They had to end this before Cal completely snapped. 

Medusa turned to look at Houdini, the escape artist struggling in her grip. She removed her sunglasses and stared into his eyes.

“Escape this,” she taunted as her gaze petrified the magician, entombing him in a marmoreal prison. She dropped him on the roof, shattering him into golden dust. Beowulf charged at Sun, striking twice with his sword. The monkey king dodged the first strike, the second striking his gleaming golden armor. The blow reverberated back at Beowulf, nearly making him drop his sword. Sun then transformed into a great ox once again, charging at Beowulf. Beowulf grabbed the ox by the horns, his great muscles straining to wrestle the animal into submission. He roared, and Sun turned back to his regular self. He delivered a kick to the war-king, staggering him. Robin fired two arrows, but Alice leapt between them easily. As she dodged, she grew to massive size. With a brutal swing, her vorpal blade went snicker-snack, and Robin fell to his knees. His body dissolved into golden dust, though he had a smile on his lips as he blew away on the wind. Little Red stomped her foot on Arthur's, then took off running. Bigfoot tried to tear at the claws keeping him bound, roaring out in agony as the nails dug deeper into his flesh. Mary raked her nails across Bigfoot’s furry form, drawing rivers of golden ichor. Arthur swung his blade, grazing Little Red as she dodged. 

Satisfied with her work with Houdini, Medusa turned her attention to the king of swords. She fired an arrow, shooting it straight at his head. Arthur parried the arrow with his sword. He glanced around, realizing very quickly that this fight was very rapidly losing his favor. Beowulf gave Sun one more slash, the monkey king dodged with a horrible taunting laugh. He and the clones swarmed Beowulf, beating him with their staves until Beowulf was reduced to golden dust in the wind. Alice rushed Arthur, keeping him from attacking the red-hooded girl. Bigfoot tried fruitlessly to escape Bloody Mary’s iron grip, roaring in agony as Mary dragged him into the mirror. He burst into golden dust, scattered on the wind. Arthur was all that remained of Cal’s heroes, standing defiantly against his five opponents. He glanced back at his player, delivering two slashes to Alice in rapid succession. 

Cal glared at Hunter, his breath ragged. His hands shook like leaves in a storm as he raised his hand. He had one card left, one last chance at defense from the onslaught of heroes. He stood alone in the storm. His insane smile cracked, and he reached for his belt. 

“You think this is over?” He taunted Hunter, his shaky laugh wracking his voice. “You think you’ve won?” 

“Just give up and turn yourself in, Cal!” Hunter pleaded. Cal’s smile broke into an ugly snarl. 

“You’re forgetting something!” he said. “I still have one Hero left!” 

“The Genie,” Iris said, covering her mouth. 

“That’s right!” Cal laughed. If he summoned the genie now, it would be all over - even five exhausted Heroes couldn’t handle one at full strength. Cal thrust out a hand, his eyes dark with bloodlust. 

“Genie! I summon you!” he declared. Smoke billowed around him, a rolling thick curtain of purple that swallowed his feet. The genie rose from the lamp, his booming voice echoing across the hospital roof. Hunter clutched his throbbing shoulder, staring up at the genie, paralyzed with fear. 

“What is your bidding, my master?” the Genie boomed. Cal laughed as he pointed to Hunter and Iris. 

“Destroy their heroes! Then, kill them! Kill them all!” he ordered. There was a moment of stillness, not even the wind daring to blow. Cal glared up at the Genie. 

“Hello? I gave you an order, you worthless Hero!” Cal demanded.

“Actually, he was asking me,” Alan said, stepping from the smoke. In one hand, he held a gleaming golden lamp. In the other, he dangled the Genie’s deck from its leather strap.

Cal’s face fell. Here stood Alan, that rotten little thief, flying right under his nose! Alan looked up at the Genie, pondering his wishes thoughtfully. He only had one shot at this. He smiled as he glanced back at Cal. 

“Kill him,” Cal ordered Arthur through gritted teeth. Arthur stood firm. 

“He’s a Player,” the king said simply. Cal groaned. 

“Come on! Just kill him! He’s not a player, he stole those cards from me!” he whined. 

“He has a deck; that makes him a player,” Arthur smirked. “It doesn’t matter how he got it.” 

“I am your player,” Cal threatened. “And I’m ordering you to kill him!” 

“When are you going to learn that you aren’t the supreme authority in this game?” Arthur faced his player. 

“Alright, I’ve decided!” Alan declared, drawing the eyes of everyone. Marian and O’Hara couldn’t believe what they were seeing. 

“I am at your command, my master,” said the Genie dutifully. 

“Firstly, I want you to create an island in the Pacific ocean - somewhere tropical, plenty of sun and lots of food and a source of clean drinking water. I want to own this island fully, up to and including my own sovereignty.” 

“It is done,” the Genie said with a snap of his fingers. “Your second wish?” 

“You're gonna love this one,” Alan smirked, chewing the scenery. “Make me a beautiful resort on my island, using quality materials and flawless construction, and make it so beautiful that people will want to come from all over the world to stay there!”

“A simple task,” the Genie mused, nodding his head. Alan took a deep breath. This was it, the make of break moment. 

*For my third wish… wait ten seconds, then teleport me to a safe place in my new resort!” 

“Your time starts now,” said the Genie. Alan smiled at Hunter. 

“Take care of yourself and the lady, kid,” he said. He tossed the Genie's deck to Hunter, the cards sailing through the air. 

“Get those cards!” Cal ordered Arthur. The king rolled his eyes and leapt in front of the deck, catching them in his hand. Hunter's eyes went wide as Arthur held the deck. The Genie clapped his hands, a booming sound as Alan vanished in the same rolling smoke that sucked the djinn back into the lamp. Cal grinned, relieved that his Hero was finally following orders. Arthur locked eyes with his Player, holding the cards. Then a small smile danced across his lips. Cal went pale at the sight. Arthur opened his hand, dropping the cards onto the rooftop. Red pounced, snatching the deck up and returning to Hunter's side. She handed him the deck with a grin. 

“Oops,” Arthur smirked. Cal trembled, his entire body trembling with unbridled rage 

“You belligerent shit!” He roared. He stomped, cursed, shook his fists, and threatened, all impotently. Arthur watched the display with disinterest. Hunter and Iris watched in shock as Cal completely broke down, tearing at his hair and pounding his fist on the rooftop. Arthur turned to Hunter. 

“I say it's time we end this,” he offered. Hunter nodded in agreement. 

The other heroes stood aside as Red stepped forward. The wind whipped at her cloak as she approached, Arthur turning to face her. She wrapped her arms around him, closing her eyes. Then, with all the might in her little frame, she flipped him over her shoulder and slammed him into the rooftop in a brutal suplex. Arthur's helm rang like a bell, and the king of swords broke apart into golden dust. The dust scattered on the wind, shining in the golden sunset. Arthur’s deck disappeared from Cal’s belt, appearing on Hunter’s a moment later. It was over. 

They’d won. 

Cal collapsed on the ground, sobbing. Marian ran over, immobilizing his arms behind his back before locking the handcuffs in place. She hauled him to his feet as Cal sobbed. 

“Calvin Burns, you’re under arrest for the murder of Chad Matters and Rupert Wicke Jr, as well as the attempted murders of Grenda Ierfre, Iris Stone, Hunter Cain, and everyone else you’ve ever hurt! You have the right to remain silent! Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney! If you do not have an attorney, counsel will be appointed for you at your request! Do you understand these rights as I’ve read them to you?” 

“You can’t do this,” Cal weakly protested. “I was robbed! My prize…” 

“I’ll take that as a no,” Marian said, marching Cal toward the stairs. O’Hara beamed, proud of his officer. He helped her lead Cal through the door and down the steps. Iris turned to Hunter, who was looking unsteady on his feet. Then, he collapsed, barely managing to land in her arms. 

“Someone get a doctor!” she cried. Little Red helped her carry Hunter down the stairs to a waiting hospital. 

When Hunter finally woke up, he was laying in a hospital bed. Iris sat at the side of the bed, holding his hand. He smiled, then winced as he felt the sting in his shoulder. 

“Careful, they had to sew you back up,” Iris said with a smile. “How do you feel?” 

“Oh, I feel great,” he said through a wince. He held Iris’ hand softly, closing his eyes. Red bounced in, holding an armload of sweets. She dropped her bounty when she saw Hunter was conscious, and ran in to hug him. 

“Ow!” he said, but held her close. He sighed softly as he pet her hair. “Hey, kiddo.” 

“Where did you get all that?” Iris asked, raising an eyebrow curiously. 

“I may have told some nice old ladies that my big brother was hurt really bad,” she admitted. “And they might have taken pity on me and bought me lots of sweets.” 

“Red,” Hunter warned. 

“I was hungry! Cal never fed me,” she pouted. Hunter couldn’t stay mad. He chuckled as he squeezed his Hero tightly. 

“It’s okay,” he said. “I’m just happy to see you two.” 

“We’re happy to see you,” Iris smiled. The door opened, and Hunter saw two unfamiliar women - a peppy redhead and a gloomy goth standing in the doorway. 

“Oh, my, god,” said the red-haired girl. “We thought you were dying!” 

Hunter sat quietly as Iris talked with the two women. He missed most of the conversation, only gleaning that their names were April and May, and they shared an apartment with Iris. He got the sense that Iris didn’t care for them much. 

“Okay, we’re glad you’re not dying,” April finally said. “So you’re coming home with us, right, Irela?” 

“Okay, no,” Iris said, standing up. April looked shocked. 

“The fuck?” she demanded. 

“My name is not Irela. It’s not Irene, or Irma, or whatever nonsense you come up with,” she said firmly. “My name is Iris, it’s not hard, so until you get your shit together and figure it out, I won’t be coming home.” 

“What are you gonna do?” April demanded. “Stay here, in this gross hospital, with your dumb boyfriend?” 

“Maybe I will,” Iris said, crossing her arms. April threw up her hands. 

“What is your damage, girl?” she stormed out of the room. May watched her, before standing up. 

“That was pretty badass,” she said with a soft smile. “Keep it up, Iris.” 

“Thanks, May,” Iris smiled back. May turned and left, following after her roommate. Iris sighed and sat on the edge of Hunter’s bed. 

“So, boyfriend?” Hunter teased with a smile. Iris rolled her eyes. 

“Shut up,” she said playfully. 

—

Cal sat on a cold steel chair in an interrogation room. His wrists were cuffed to a bar in the center of the table, his nose visibly broken in three places and a deep purple color. His lawyer sat beside him, a wisp of a man in an ill-fitting suit. O’Hara stood across from him, flanked by Flaherty and Flannigan. 

“You can guarantee that my client will be suing,” said the lawyer. “This broken nose is clear evidence of police brutality.” 

“He was like that when we nabbed him,” the chief replied, looming over the pair. “We've got the bodycam footage to prove it.” 

“He's entitled to medical attention,” the lawyer insisted. 

“He refused medical attention,” O'Hara turned to look at him. “But that's not why we're here, is it?” 

“I didn't do it,” Cal muttered, looking away. 

“Let me do the talking,” said the lawyer. 

“We got your confession,” O'Hara said. “Keyes said you sang like a canary, and he recorded the whole thing.” 

“That'll never fly in court,” the lawyer stood, trying to impose on O'Hara, but failing to measure up to the giant man. “Two-party consent laws exist in this state, and my client didn't consent to being recorded.” 

“I didn't do it,” repeated Cal. His lawyer shushed him again. 

“Then why did we book him at the scene with a young man and a gaping wound in his shoulder?” O'Hara glared down at the wispy lawyer.

“You never found a weapon, you have no case,” the lawyer answered. 

“I didn't do it!” Cal insisted. O'Hara turned to him and leaned in close. 

“I believe you.” 

“You do?” Cal was taken aback. 

“This is gonna be good,” Flaherty ribbed his partner with a grin. 

“I've been chief of this department for 20 years. Almost as long as you've been alive. In that time, I've put away arsonists, bank robbers, and serial killers - real bad men. You don't fit the type,” he crossed his arms. “You're no stone-cold killer. At worst, you're a lukewarm jaywalker.” 

“Oh yeah?” Cal’s pride and rage boiled over in that moment. He tugged at the handcuffs, trying feebly to prove his strength. “I killed Chad and Rupert! Gutted them in their own homes! I almost did the same to that little kid, Grenda! And Iris! And Alan! And even your very own Officer Woods. I would've killed all of them and more, if it hadn't been for that piece of shit, Hunter constantly getting in my way! So when I get out of here, I'm gonna track him down and wring his scrawny neck with my bare hands! Would a lukewarm jaywalker do that!?” 

The room was silent for a moment as the weight of Cal's words sank in. His lawyer sighed, slumping on the desk. Cal looked at his hands, then at the chief. O'Hara had the faintest trace of a smile on his lips. He glanced at the window. 

“You get all that?” he asked. 

“Every word,” came Marian’s voice from the intercom. O’Hara nodded and turned for the door. 

“Guess we’ve got everything we need, then,” he chuckled. Flaherty and Flannigan high fived before walking out after him. Cal slumped in his chair, groaning in defeat. 

—

Eleven heroes stood in the cemetery. Eleven brave individuals, joined by the players that could come. They stood before two headstones, their heads bowed in mourning. Hunter, Iris, and Grenda stood with Red, each wearing their nicest clothes. Red had opted for a little summer dress, with her riding hood pinned to the shoulders. Her hood covered her head, pulled up in mourning. Medusa had abandoned the sunglasses, opting for a black veil that covered her eyes. Beowulf stood beside them, wearing a suit that barely contained his considerable muscle. Ranger Park stood in his dress uniform, with Bigfoot casting a long shadow over him. Marian stood next to Robin Hood, dressed for the occasion in her dress uniform. Robin wore a simple green suit and hat, with a long feather tucked in it. Coco stood off to the side, wearing a gorgeous black and white dress. She held a cracked compact, open, so that Mary could peer through the tiny mirror. Sun Wukong stood behind Hunter, staying silent. Houdini had even brought Alan to join them, wearing a nice suit and tie. 

Alice and the Genie led the pack. A thin film of smoke covered the ground, from which rose the djinn. Alice wore a black dress with frills on the sleeves and hem. Tiny mirrors hung from her ears as earrings. She stepped between the two headstones and began to speak. 

“Chad was ripped from Wonderland before his time. We did not know each other long, but he was good at making tea. He made the best brew I’d ever drunk. The man was a gift, and I only wish he hadn’t been torn away.” The guests applauded her eulogy, and she stepped back. 

The Genie had no words for his loss. 

As the heroes and players milled about, catching up and discussing their grief, Hunter joined Iris on the side. He gently took her hand. 

“Nice day out,” he said softly. 

“Yeah, definitely worse days for a funeral,” she said. “I guess funerals have bodies. This is more of a wake. Or… is it the other way around?”

“It’s okay,” he said softly. He gently cupped her cheek in his hand. 

“That could’ve been you in there. Or me, or Grenda… or any of our friends,” Iris said, her eyes welling with tears. Hunter gave her shoulder a comforting pat. 

“That's what we fought for,” he gazed at the Heroes gathered. Iris nodded. 

“You didn't have to go throwing yourself in front of a sword,” she chided him, pushing him lightly. He chuckled softly. 

“I know, I know,” he sighed softly. He watched as Beowulf lifted Grenda easily, placing the girl on his broad shoulders. She laughed as he carried her around. “What do we do now?” 

“Eat some cake, talk a bit, then go home and study for tests?” She offered. 

“I mean about them,” he pointed. “We're the only two players left in the tournament, and I'm just… so tired of fighting.” 

“I don't know,” she stared at the ground. Her hand found his, and they held each other for a moment of silence. Then, he took a deep breath. 

“What's up?” She met his eyes. 

“I'm gonna think this through for once. Hey, Red!” He called over his Hero. She perked up and ran to him, grinning. 

“What do you need?” She asked. 

“What happens when someone wins the tournament?” 

“When a player gets all the decks, it means they're the best!” She said, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “Then we go home.” 

“Home with your player?” Iris asked. Red shook her head. 

“No, we go back home. Where we came from.” 

“The desert from my dream,” he breathed. Red nodded. Iris covered her mouth. 

“You'd be gone forever,” she said. 

“Grenda would lose Beowulf all over again. She'd be heartbroken,” Hunter said. He held Iris tightly, as though she might fade away as well. She gazes into his eyes. 

“You'd lose Little Red,” she said through tears. He'd lost enough sisters. 

“We have to go home,” Red said softly. She took Hunter's hand, then Iris' and held tight. “It's… it's the rules.” 

“There has to be another way,” Iris said softly, holding Hunter and Little Red. Hunter looked up at the sky, taking a deep breath. 

“I know what to do,” he said. 

Just like that, the final chapter is finished. Endings are the hardest thing to write, but I’m glad we got here. I’m glad you could come along with me for this journey, and I’ll see you next time I write a long-form story like this. 

OR SO YOU THOUGHT! 

That’s right, we’ve got an epilogue coming up! Stick around and we’ll get this story wrapped up in a neat little bow, so come back in a week and we can get this story all finished up! In the meantime, you can support me at my ko-fi as always.

https://ko-fi.com/catapultcrashtester

We’ll see you in a week, keep up the love!