Burning Stars

“Sir! Sir! You might want to look at this…”  

“God what is it now-” My eyes become locked on the screen. I watch in anguish as the heroes un-do all our–no my hard work. “Send someone to fix it.” I push the device back into Dimitri’s hands.  

“Sir, I-” 

“What?” I hiss through my teeth. Dimitri pauses, lifting the tablet to hide his face. “Out with it!” I shouted. 

“Well, sir… Uh, we did send someone to fix it, and um,” Dimitri plays with the device before turning the screen to my range of vision. “The heroes have them and sent this.” I rip the device out of his hands and click play.  

“Inferno, how many times must we tell you? This is a war you cannot win. We won’t hurt them. But if you want to see them again, I suggest you turn yourself over and end this once and for all.”  

“Sir, are you okay?” Dimitri wrings his hands together as his eyes flash between me and the device.  

“I’m going.”  

“But it might be a trap! What if they get you too? This place cannot run smoothly without you!” I march to the door, preparing myself for what is to come along the way.  

“Dimitri, I need to try. I am not sending anyone else to do my dirty work. You know what to do if I do not return.” The heroes have done this once before to lure me out of my fortress. However, this time, it seems different. I know they will stop at nothing to defeat me and if that includes killing those closest to me, they are not against it.  

“Inferno. Stop right there or I’ll shoot.” Star. We used to be heroes together, that is until I found out what their real plan was.  

“Hey Star, it's been a while.”  

“Please don’t move! I don’t want to hurt you.” Her voice gets softer with each word. I spin around to face her and watch the tears streaming down her face as they hit the ground.  

“You’d really hurt me Star?”  

“If it’s for the greater good, of course.” She tightens her grip around the gun, still pointing at me. I saunter over to the edge of the building and stare at the destruction below. The world is not the same as it once was. “I don’t want to shoot you Inferno, but I will.”  

“I cannot wait for all heroes to be eradicated from this god-forsaken planet.” I hiss.  

“I don’t understand you! You were once a hero yourself; you did this to yourself. I don’t understand what happened. Why become a villain and go against people who were once your friends.”  

“You guys aren’t heroes. You do all of this to get praise from humans. You call us villains, but what other choice do we have? If we don’t make all the heroes disappear, we’ll be first. The humans will tear you down the very second, we’re gone.” I look up so our eyes meet. “You all deserve everything we have planned. You are either with me or against me Star. The man you once loved is gone, I am done being told what I can’t do.”  

“I wish you hadn’t said that. I have direct-” She inhales to stop the tears from falling. “I have direct orders to shoot you on site if I were anyone else-” I move in her direction and stop until the gun is at my chest.  

“Then do it Star. We both know this won’t kill me or take away the pain you’re feeling. We are on different sides now. We can’t be together anymore.”  

“I will pull the trigger!” She shouts. 

“No, you won’t. I love you, I do, but this thing between us is over. We’re just too different.”  

“No! You cannot do this to me!!” She drops the gun and starts to pound my chest. “I hate you! Why are you hurting me? You-you” With each word, her strikes become harder than the last. I take a step back.  

“This is your only warning, don’t get in my way. If I must kill you, I will never forgive myself.” Star raises her head. Her tears have stopped falling, but that look in her eyes. However, I’m one step ahead. I kick the gun backward before she can grab it.  

“You piece of shit! I should have shot you the moment I saw you!” Her face turns a bright red as she screams every word. “We could have been something great! Why are you on their side?”  

“Goodbye Star,” I back away, picking up the gun as I do.  

“No! You don’t get to leave!” She storms over in my direction. Just before she reaches me, I dive off the building and take flight. One way or another I will defeat the heroes. If she must go down with them, so be it. We deserve to live in peace, and I will not sacrifice that for everyone to save her life. She made her choice when she chose to stay with them. Now I make mine.  

“Dimitri, can you hear me?” I whisper into my watch.  

“Sir! Be careful where you’re flying, they know you’re there.” 

“Get me an entrance point.”  

“Uh, do you see a pair of guards?” 

“There are guards everywhere, be specific.” I land on the ground behind a building a few blocks away. There are guards at every possible entry point. 

“There is an entrance on the other side of the building you are currently behind. The guards will switch positions in thirty seconds. You have approximately twenty seconds to get in the door and to the basement undetected.”  

“Okay, send a helicopter for us. If I am not out in ten minutes send reinforcements.”  

“Hey, boss?”  

“Yes, Dimitri?” 

“Be careful, I can’t run this place without you.”  

“You’d run the place into the ground.” A smile spreads across my face.  

“Your window is opening in 3,2,1.” I move around to the other side of the building undetected. I slip inside the door before it closes. I tiptoe down the stairs, my heart beating in my ears. I follow behind a set of guards, hoping to go unnoticed. The stairs wind down in a circular motion. Every few stairs there is a pocket where they store random items.  

“Switch time, get up there.” One of the guards' orders. Swiftly I move to hide in one of the empty pockets. I know they’ll see me; the question is when.  

“You think Inferno will come?”  

“He has to, we got his little friends.” They both let out a chuckle. I hold my breath and listen to the footsteps. I watch as they pass me undetected. I stay put until I hear the door above close. I need to get out of here before I’m seen. I sprint down the remaining stairs and move swiftly through the basement. My feet pound the pavement as I navigate the all too familiar area. I reach the prison in no time and make eye contact with my people. Scarlet notices me first and flashes her eyes back and forth between the other guards.  

“What type of place are you running here? Even we aren’t this cruel, can I get some type of food or water?” Scarlet groans.  

“Shut up! If the boss wants, you to have food she’ll get you food.” The guard growls.  

“Awww that’s so cute. You do everything she tells you huh? Aren’t you the men?” The guard bangs his gun on the metal bars.  

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”  

“You must be a mamma’s boy.” Chris chimes in.  

“I’m gonna-” Down goes tubby.  

“Took you long enough!!” Scarlet whispers.  

“Yeah yeah, come on.” I take the keys from the guard's pocket and unlock the cell.  

“Let’s get out of here! I am starving.” Chris complained.  

“You were down here for a day.” I fire back.  

“Yeah, a day too long.” He responds. 

“DON’T MOVE! Get back in that cell.” Star, of course it’s her. I slowly turn myself to face the sound of her voice. Her eyes are locked on mine. She aims the gun at me with her finger around the trigger.  

“Pull the trigger Star.” I force out.  

“I’m warning you.” I motioned for Chris and Scarlet to move up the stairs. They do as I instructed. Her eyes move from me to them. I pull out my gun and shoot her first in her shoulder. I watch as her eyes widen in horror after what I had just done. Her body thuds to the ground as she lets out a scream in agony.  

“What was that?” Heavy boots begin hitting the floor, rushing in our direction.  

“Boss we have to go! We’re going to get caught!” Chris yells. I rush over to Star’s side and rip off my jacket. I apply pressure to her wound as she winces in pain. I lean down and whisper in her ear.  

“If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me.” My eyes meet hers. She uses her good arm to pull me closer to her. Her lips touch mine as we share one last kiss.  

“I love you.” She whispers through tears. I let her go and bolt out of the basement before we could be spotted.  

“I really don’t think that was a time for you two to have a moment.” Chris huffs.  

“I thought it was cute, you two are meant for each other.” Scarlet teases.  

“Let’s just go, I don’t want to be here when they find out you’re gone.” We leave the basement and run to our meeting point. As we flew away in the helicopter; I couldn’t help but look back at their base. I will be back for her one day. I just hope it’s not too late.