Chapter 16

Declan

The snowy mountains seemed to capture our feet every time we stepped. But that didn't stop our journey.

Chaulk and McTaggart walked behind me, not noticing the two soldier that were sitting by a fire. Quickly, I pulled out my knife, motioning for McTaggart and Charlie to get low.

They did as told, quieting their voices and lowering down as they approached me.

"So, what's the plain?" McTaggart asked?

Before I could open my mouth, I stood tall and slowly approached the soldiers, giving McTaggart his answer.

"Hey! I'm not gonna kill you! I'm just here for information!" I yell, grabbing the soldier's attention. They quickly rose, both racing to grab their guns. Before their hands could touch them, I quickly threw my knife, killing the first soldier.

The second soldier stood nervously, backing away slowly as I approached. "You're gonna tell me everything you know about Lord Benton, where he's going, how many men he's with. I want to know everything."

There was a small pause before the soldier's fear kicked into gear and his feet carried him away as he ran.

McTaggart's voice was heard behind me, laughing, "Look at that silly fucker go. You havin' a laugh, Harp! You'll never pop him from there."

I swipe up one of the soldier's guns and aimed it at the running man. With one quick pull of the trigger, I shot the man clean in the back, watching as his body fell to the ground.

With a proud smile, I looked over my shoulder at McTaggart, "You were saying?"

My eyes spotted a confused Charlie and McTaggart, causing my head to look back at the soldier. Somehow, he stood back up and started to run as if nothing had happened, causing my smiling face to instantly fall.

"That's not possible."

"And yet, there he goes. At top speed, no less," McTaggart said, gesturing towards the running soldier.

A groan left my lips as I threw down the gun and started to step ahead, "Let's go. We need to stop him before he gets to Moose Fort."

"Nah, no way, no way. I gotta get back to the outpost," McTaggart said, shaking his head.

I quickly stopped, turning around and taking a step towards him in confusion and anger. "For what?"

"Supplies."

"What supplies? We're gonna use these guns, and we'll make due when we get to the fort."

McTaggart shook his head, "No way. I'll tell ya what. I'll meet you up. How's that?"

A sigh left my lips, "Goddammit, McTaggart. I need you." My head turned to Charlie, hoping I could trust him to listen to my words. "Charlie, don't waste any time. In and out."

They both nodded before I turned and started the fast walk in hopes of catching up with the soldier. I wasn't ready to be caught or noticed yet, not when there is still a chance they'll move before I get there.

To my advantage there wasn't any snow falling, but to my disadvantage there was enough distance between the soldier and I that I couldn't spot him anymore. His tracks was all that was left for me to spot.

The second I spotted fire burning in the distance, I moved quicker and ducked behind some rocks. Moose Fort was set in front of me, people walking around in a rush almost.

Damn it, the soldier had gotten there before I could stop him. It looks like my encounterment with Benton and these people would have to be a lot sooner than normal.

My eyes moved to each person, looking for Anna or even Grace. But neither one was seen, not even Benton seemed to be noticeable.

McTaggart's voice was heard behind me, talking loudly as he spoke with Charlie. They both made their way over to me, seeming to be carrying weapons. Any louder and we were sure to be caught.

Grabbing a small rock, I turned and through it at a distracted McTaggart, causing him to drop his guns. "What the fuck?!"

"Shhh! Get over here!" I whispered-shout. McTaggart mumbles under his breath as he picks up his guns and makes his way over to me. Charlie bent down on one side of me while McTaggart bent down on the other. Immediately my eyes noticed McTaggart holding a glass bottle in his hand.

"Did you go back to get this?" I asked, annoyed.

"No! Well aye!" McTaggart making me shake my head at the man as my eyes returned to Moose Fort.

"Unbelievable."

The three of us crept a bit closer, my eyes still scanning every person in hopes of finding Anna. They had to be here.

"This where Mrs. Harp and Miss. Emberly are?" Charlie asked me?

I lightly nodded, "Seems so." My voice grew quiet after that, hoping to lower enough so no one else could hear it. "Hold on Anna, I'm coming."

The three of us staid low and quiet, waiting for night to approach before we made our move. Sticks of fire make a circle, grabbing our attention. My eyes strain to see what is being down.

My hands turn into fists when I see a women get tossed into the middle of the circle. A bag is placed over her head and her hands are tied behind her back with rope, a tall man holds the other end of it.

Anna.

"They're all gonna jump at the chance to kill you," McTaggart says, seeing my face turn hard at the sight.

"Yeah, which means they're gonna jump at the chance to kill us, too," Charlie adds.

McTaggart lightly hits Charlie, "Aye, once they're done killin' Harp."

My attention turns to them for a brief moment before returning to Anna, "You two aren't going in."

McTaggart raises an eyebrow at me, "Alright, you're going on your own? It makes no sense, that sort of thing." I knew he was playing with his words, but right now I wasn't in the mood to call him out on it.

I looked at McTaggart, "I'm just gonna go down there and have a quick chat. You're gonna stay here and try not to be you." My head turned to Charlie, "Charlie, cover my ass, 'cause you're the best shot out of all three of us."

"Much obliged."

"You sure you don't want a wee dram? Could be your last, you mad bastard," McTaggart said, raising the bottle up.

I eye the bottle and McTaggart before taking it from his hand and taking a swig. The alcohol rushes through my body, giving me my kick start. "I'm gonna rip open the gates of hell with the death I bring. The devil can't hold 'em. Benton's mine."

With those words as my last, I shoved McTaggart the bottle before getting up and leaving the two men. I stand tall and strong as I approach the fire circle, noticing soldier left and right of me. Waiting and watching my moves.

It isn't until I reach the circle do my eyes land on Anna's struggling body. Soon, my focus returns to the man holding her by a rope and the soldier around me.

"Any of you don't know who I am, I'm Declan Harp. Any of you who don't want to die tonight leave now."

The man holding Anna booms his voice, "Hold your ground! Any one of you moves to leave his post-" his words are cut off as a soldier turns and starts to run. In seconds, the man pulls out a knife and throws it at the soldier, killing him.

My eyes watch the dead soldier for a second before turning to the tall man. I'd be impressed if he wasn't holding my wife with a rope, tugging on her slightly.

"What's you say your name was?"

"Wadlow," The tall man replied with a smirk.

I can't help but smirk at his name, holding back a laugh, "Rough childhood."

"You've made a grave mistake coming here, Mr. Harp. I've dedicated my life to huntin' filthy beasts such as yourself. I look forward to adding your head to my wall," Wadlow says.

I tip my head upward slightly, "And you made a grace mistake holding my wife. Let Anna go," I said, giving him one warning before I ran down hell on him and everyone else around us.

Wadlow scuffs, "You're in no position to make demands. I'm under orders to execute you if you don't come quietly."

Taking a couple of steps, I say, "I tell you what, Wad - blow. I'll come quietly if you let my Anna go and you have your men fire off their weapons so I know that she's safe."

Smiling, Wadlow nods, as if he's happy about that response. "Alright. Men. Ready, aim, fire!" Gunshots are heard left and right, the noise echoing for a minute.

I take a step, only to have Wadlow yank the rope back, causing Anna to fall on her butt.

"That's enough!" I glare at Wadlow who smirks before dropping the rope. I approach a nervous Anna as she struggles to look around. "Anna, it's okay," I say, bending down in front of her before pulling the bag off her head. Instead of my wife's beautiful face revealed to me once again, Grace's scared and nervous face is seen.

"Grace?" My voice comes out confused. It take me a minute to realize the trick, causing my confused face to turn sour as I look up at a smirking Wadlow. "No!!! Where is she?! Where are they?!"

At my yell, firing starts, Charlie shooting at a few barrels of powder, causing a fight to break out. Charlie and McTaggart come running out, killing any soldier that approaches them.

My mind is racing and all I feel is anger as it courses through my body. A solider tried to approach me but I quickly pull out one of my knives, throwing it at the soldier, killing him.

Suddenly, I hear it. Anna's voice echoes from the mountains above me. I feel her fear, her worry as her voice travels to my ears like she's whisper next to me. "Declan! Declan! Declan! Dec-"

I quickly move towards the mountain, stopping when I spot it. Anna has her hands chained in front of her, her feet are racing down the mountain so fast I'm sure she'll trip.

"Anna," Her name comes out as a whisper.

Suddenly, her feet trip and I watch as her body crashes to the ground. My eyes move away only to catch the group of soldiers rushing towards her. Even if I moved at my quickest speed, I'd never make it up to her before they reached her.

Returning to Anna, I'm met with her eyes burring themselves in me. Seconds later, their yanked away by soldier, seeming to kick my feet into gear. I race towards the mountain, only making it a few steps before soldiers start lighting up the ground around me, causing me to duck behind some rocks.

By the time the firing has stopped, my feet stand but my eyes can't spot Anna anymore.

The sudden impact of Wadlow causes a groan to leave my lips, my reality slamming back into me. Literally.

A few punches are thrown at me, seeming to snap me back more and more. Before I know it, I'm switching places with Wadlow, throwing punch after punch at him. My hands quickly reach for one of my knives, ready to dive it into the man only for him to knee me and push me back onto the ground.

One hand reaches for the fallen knife while the other pushes Wadlow's face away. An idea comes to mind, something I very rarely do, but have seen my wife do multiple times.

Letting the knife be for now, I bring both of my hands up to Wadlow's head. I lightly squeeze it before giving it one hard yank to the left. The crack is heard and I watch as Wadlow's eyes go wide.

Reaching for the knife, I grip it tightly as I switch places once again with Wadlow. Holding onto his head, I rip the blade through him, giving his head a hard yank as I rip his head clean off, his spin joining him in the process.

Blood is splattered across my face and my breathing is heavy as I stand. My eyes look back up to the mountain, noticing one final light. It doesn't belong to Anna or a soldier, but to Benton.

Taking a few steps forward, I hold up the severed head and skeleton, high in the air for him to see. A deep roar erupts from my chest, shaking the ground around me as I roar for Anna.

This chapter even made me want to yell at Benton and Wadlow. But, rest assure, Anna and Declan will get their rightful reunion... eventually.

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