Chapter 157 - The Recue Mission Pt 2

Thomas, Sophie, and Pooch carried John through the shadows, moving slowly, carefully, hoping not to be seen by the King's men. They were about fifty feet from Robert's home when Sophie whispered:"Fire."Thomas's eyes widened.Flames were rising from Robert's house."Pooch quick, grab John!"Thomas lifted John's body and set him onto Pooch's back like a seat, Pooch holding his weight with surprising strength.Thomas and Sophie sprinted toward the burning home.The front door was swung open.They entered.The first thing they saw was a severed human hand a woman's hand.Thomas and Sophie froze.They yelled:"ROBERT! MARIE!!!"Sophie ran into the kitchen.Marie lay on the floor motionless.Sophie dropped to her knees."Marie!"Thomas rushed in after hearing Sophie's cry. Sophie was already checking for a pulse.There was none.Silence fell a moment for a good‑hearted woman who didn't deserve this fate.Thomas turned toward the back of the house. Through the flames, he saw a wooden post burning.A man was tied to it.Thomas ran outside.A huge bald man stood in front of the burning post.Thomas ignited aura rising shaking with rage.He whispered:"There's no mercy for evil."He charged.The bald man swung a chain covered in spikes and dried blood. He whipped it toward Thomas the ground exploding wherever it struck.Thomas dodged left, then right too fast to hit.Then the man whipped sideways catching Thomas off guard. Thomas grabbed the chain with his bare hands to protect his skull.The chain ripped back taking Thomas's blood and bits of flesh with it.Sophie burst out of the house and fired an arrow.The man blocked it with his chain.Sophie ran, firing a barrage of arrows too many to deflect. Several struck the man, making him stumble.Thomas roared fist full of fury and blood and punched the man so hard it cratered his chest.The bald man collapsed.Thomas and Sophie ran to the burning post.Thomas tackled it both heroes pushing, pulling, digging dirt, trying to smother the flames.They untied Robert his body burning, his screams weak and fading.Thomas used his aura to lessen the fire's damage, shielding Robert as best he could.They put the flames out.But it was too late.Robert was burnt beyond saving.Barely breathing, he whispered:"Thomas…"And died in Thomas's arms.Thomas screamed anger, sadness, heartbreak tears falling."AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"Sophie cried too placing her head on Thomas's shoulder.Pooch entered the house with John, saw the severed hand, placed John gently on a chair, then ran into the kitchen.He found Marie.He broke."No… NOOOO!"He sobbed loud, painful, raw.Then he ran outside saw Thomas and Sophie kneeling beside Robert's burnt body, mourning together.Sophie's head on Thomas's shoulder.Thomas staring down, broken. Pooch crying behind them.The weight of caring for people can be crushing.