The Last Guardian

Chapter_01: The Derelict

It was a Sunday night- around 9:30 pm, and a shabby looking young man with a beard was sitting on the bar counter ordering one drink after another. Everyone at Swazey's bar knew who he was- he had become a regular since the last two months. Every evening he came and sat at the same place and ordered the same drink and drank till midnight.

Sergeant Johnathan Hayes was his name and he was an army veteran.He was around 30 years of age, 5'11" , strongly built, with short brown hair and a chiselled face. He wore an old black leather jacket and jeans that were apparently not washed in weeks.

He was born and brought up in this small town of Athena and left for his military service at the age of 18. Nine years later he returned with a medal of honour and a missing leg. An IED blew up at close range as he was rescuing his injured mates in an ongoing brutal firefight somewhere in the middle east.They were outnumbered but he bravely held the enemy off until the very end.

He was in a coma for six months and upon regaining consciousness he was awarded a medal and honourably discharged from active duty on medical grounds. His left leg was severed from the knee so the doctors gave him a prosthetic limb and now he has to walk with a crutch.

He was utterly devastated but looked forward to coming home to be with his girlfriend Maya Lovelace- with whom he was in a relationship for six years. Maya was a beautiful young dentist who stole his heart and made him feel like home. He was thinking of marrying her once he would return from his tour.

But his heart broke when he learnt that she had left him to be with someone else- a banker. Her excuse- she thought that he was dead and so she decided to move on.

Johnathan's whole world came crushing down when he heard that- she was the only ray of hope in his life and now it was all gone. His job- his love- his life all washed away in an instant. He felt like a dead leaf drifting in the wind.

His parents died in a car crash when he was just a private in the army. He had no other family that he knew of. All he had now was his parents' old house and their old truck and his severance pay to live off.

For a few days he managed to control his frustration but soon he found comfort in drinking and for the last few months he hit the bar almost everyday. He was slowly falling into depression- he drank all night and slept half of the day. In the afternoon he would stuff himself with food in the local diner and at night he would be back at the bar. This has been his routine for the last two months and he liked it. He drowned his sorrow with drinks and spicy, oily food!

The bar owner- Mr. Webb, pitied him and never said much, infact everyone in the bar felt sorry for him. People knew how hard his life has been and despite of all his hardwork and sacrifices- all he got in return was betrayal and sorrow. Besides he never bothered anyone until someone bothered him. He liked to drink quietly and spoke very little. Only Mr. Webb could talk to him and Johnathan would often share his war stories with him.

But tonight the bar was crowded. Johnathan sat on his regular chair thought of Maya and of the times he spent with her. Today was supposed to be their anniversary, which made him extra mad. He took out the ring from his jacket and stared at it for a while- it would have looked so good on her hand...

He suddenly put down his glass of whiskey and said to the barkeep-

"Put it on my tab!"

He took his crutch and limped away towards the exit. Mr. Webb called him from behind-

"You're out early today Johnny?"

But he didn't respond and walked out of the door. It was starting to rain outside.

"Oh great!", he remarked sarcastically and walked towards his truck.

The rain was starting to pour heavily as he got in his truck and threw his crutch on the other seat. He started the truck and put it in reverse and slowly went off towards the main road. He was drunk but in control enough to drive and he knew where he was going-

"Elmore Street- to meet Maya!"

He wanted to see her one last time and try to convince her to come back to him. He was even thinking of falling to his knees and begging her.

He was just 10 minutes away now and his heart raced.

"I don't know what I'll do without her...", he said to himself...

10 minutes later he was infront of her house. He got out of the car- it was still raining. He walked up to the door and began knocking frantically-

"Maya? Maya?", he shouted.

A young man opened the door. He was tall and handsome and he looked rich- sophisticated.

"Yes? Can I help you?", asked the man.

Before he could reply, Maya came to the door and asked-

"John? What are you doing here?"

"You know this guy?", asked the man.

"Yeah... he's Johnathan... my ex..", replied Maya reluctantly.

"Maya... please hear me out... I don't know what to do...", stuttered John shivering.

"Hey.. why don't you come in... you're gonna catch cold...", interrupted the man.

"Who's he? Who...who are you?", asked John.

"This is Adam... my fiance...", replied Maya crossing her arms.

"Oh...so you're...this is the guy you left me for..huh?", John was finding it hard to speak- the whiskey was hitting him hard.

"Listen John... it's getting late...you should go.. ", replied Maya.

"I just ...I just want you back...my life's nothing without you...", blabbered John

"Ugh! Don't make me call the cops...Adam close the door...", replied Maya while Adam quickly closed the door.

John felt the door slam like a slap on his face. His heart broke- again! He slowly backed off from the door and limped towards his truck. The rain had slowed down and he was wet from head to toe- shivering. He felt numb- he felt like yelling and crying but he knew it was of no use. So he sat in his car and drove off.

He got out of Elmore Street- the rain had completely stopped. Then he took a right and drove for almost an hour on the highway. He had no idea where he was going- he simply kept driving.

His eyes were getting heavier. Maya's last words kept ringing in his ears- he drew a long breath. A drop of tear rolled down his cheek. It was their anniversary today and just like the last six years- he wanted to celebrate it with her. But things have changed now and he was still living in the past. He couldn't let her go and he couldn't have her. He never felt more helpless in his life...

Fifteen minutes later, he arrived at the river bridge- he pulled over and got out of his car. He looked around- there was not a single soul - just the giant bridge stretching away into the darkness.

He walked towards the railing and looked below- the dark waters flowed silently. It looked calm and peaceful- he looked at his watch- 00:00...

He saw Maya's face in the darkness below- she was calling out to him- her arms open wide. He drew closer and closer to the edge and looked again-yes, it was Maya- she's calling ...his eyes got heavier as if he were hypnotised by an unseen force. He saw visions of the time he spent with her and how she left her. He saw himself drunk in sorrow, trying to find his way home and people laughing and mocking him behind his back. He felt like his life had no meaning and he saw comfort in the deep dark waters of the river below. Maya's calling... she's so pretty... ...

"Maya....."

He uttered and suddenly he lost control and slipped from the railing and fell into the river.

"Aaaah!!..."

He yelled but as soon as his body hit the ice cold water below, he lost his consciousness and sank into the deep dark waters of the river. The darkness swallowed him whole and he drowned in a few seconds...

One hour later-

An old man in his seventies with a cowboy hat was pulling Johnathan's body out of the water and onto the river bed.

"Wake up now...", he said as he lay his body on the ground and placed his hand on his forehead.

His hand glowed for a second and Johnathan regained consciousness. He coughed and choked as the river water poured out of his mouth.

He opened his eyes and saw the old man. He was staring at him.

"Don't go looking for the darkness, boy... not yet ... c'mon get up... you're all right now...." said the old man in a southern accent.

Johnathan looked at himself and the man-

What had just happened? Who was this man?