Archer

A part of me believed I was invincible.

Maybe I was starting to become cocky. After going through so many death traps that never actually killed me, perhaps I was convinced I was immune to death. I overcame it, escaped it, faced it so many times the fear that should be shown to death never appeared on my face anymore.

The fear was dead, but I was very well alive.

Mia was right. She usually is, but I'm too stubborn to realize it. She said to stop running into danger all the time, and that I can't survive it all.

But that part that believed I was invincible only grew.

I ran to it. I jumped right in the middle of it. Somehow, danger tempted me in. Go through something one too many times and someone becomes a fool.

And I was an incredible one.

I don't know where I am. I'm laying on my back, my eyes staring up at the sky filled with clouded smoke. A constant buzz bothers my ears, and when I attempt to lift my arms to cover them, I can't lift my hands. The panic of not being able to move settles in. Tears fall involuntary down my face, and my chest rises and falls violently.

My legs. I can't feel my legs.

I try to lift my head up to see if my legs are even there, but the sharp ache of my neck doesn't allow it. I can't move. The feeling of stillness is something my body isn't used to. It's used to running all the time, used to a fast heartbeat and moving muscles. It's not used to being still, and neither am I.

I can't feel my legs. The realization of everything pieces together, and I wish it hadn't. The bomb. I set off a bomb. I threw it towards Evelyn and hurdled the other way...

Why can't I feel my legs?

I must be screaming. Either that, or the flames are running down my throat, burning off the walls with a searing pain. The pain engulfs me; the racking buzz in my head, the burn on my flesh, the ache in my stomach, all of it hurts. When I threw the bomb, I thought my death would be quicker than this. I thought I would evaporate under the burst of flames, disintegrate into nothing, and disappear. I thought I would enjoy death.

But I should've known that death would take me slowly, savoring every moment of my torture.

And it does. Because the most beautiful girl comes into my view, and I cry out with heartbreak that I have to leave her for death. Burns are scattered over her face and arms, her eyes wide with panic as her face scans me up and down.

"It hurts," I say, feeling the warm blood spill down my chin and onto my neck. Mia's tears are just as bad as mine; they travel down her face like a stream, each one holding a purpose. An echoing sound appears in my ears, and I see Mia pushing her body down to the ground, covering her ears. Are those gunshots? They aren't very loud...

"Mia, I can't feel my legs."

She comes over me again, her mouth moving but no sound I can hear.

"I can't feel my legs! Help me, Mia, I can't feel them-"

"You're okay."

I am? I watch as Mia bites her lip, her vast eyes looking down at my legs. She jumps as I scream out in pain, but I see another figure soon drop by her side.

"Tie this around his thigh. David and a few others are on their way-"

"I can't feel my legs, I can't-"

Adam looks down at me. "You're going to be alright, Archer. Your leg is injured, I know it hurts. You'll be getting help."

A pain rips through my thigh, and as I scream and try to move, Adam holds me down. My cries are mixed with Mia's as she causes me more pain. I close my eyes. I just want to close my eyes and sleep-

"Archer, stay awake!"

Adam pats my shoulder, but I shrug him off. I hear shouting from more people, and I feel as more arms touch me. I allow my eyes to open and see Alliance members.

"Archer, stay awake-"

"Is she dead?"

Adam looks down at me and offers a smile.

"Hell yeah she is."

And with that, I close my eyes to sleep, because that was all I needed to hear.

***

As I wake, I know that I'm not alone.

Because I finally found someone who loves me too much to leave me alone.

"Oh my god." Mia comes rushing to the side of the bed, her glossy eyes looking down on me. I see her burns have been covered with bandages, and dark bags under her eyes indicating lack of sleep. I feel her tear fall on my face and she leans down to kiss me. I look up at her, tears falling from my own eyes as well.

"How did I survive that?"

"I don't know," she says, "maybe because you're Archer."

"It hurt really badly."

She can't hide her laugh, but I don't want her to. I must be drugged up, because my mind is foggy and the pain is numb at the moment, but the buzzing in my ears is sill present.

"What happened?"

Mia sits on the side of my bed. "You threw the bomb at Evelyn and tried to avoid it, but it bursted so quickly. I don't remember much, either. I know that I ran to you, and Tami was shooting at the few guards that ran out to fight. I-I thought you were dead, but you were talking to me, and I knew that there was still time to-"

"I said I couldn't feel my legs."

Mia pins her lips together and nods. "Your leg-it was bad. It wasn't, it, it wasn't there, Archer."

"My leg wasn't there?"

Mia looks at me sadly and nods her head towards my legs. As I pull the covers off, I see the remainder of my left leg. All that's left is my thigh, the rest-gone. Its bandaged, spots of blood soaked through. I want to scream, but for some reason I do nothing instead.

"You'll get a fake one. Dana says hers works like a dime."

"I'll adjust."

Mia grins, a wide grin, and I look at her with question. "What?"

She just shakes her head, but I nag at her until she gives in.

"This was kind of like how I found you, you know."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." She adjusts herself to she's completely facing me. "Like how I found you in that cell. Hurt, beaten, but full of life all at once. I saw you and wondered how you were still so-alive. How you kept on going, how you fought with all you had. When I met you in that cell and you were going to be executed the next day, you were still you."

"It's because you gave me hope, Mia."

She looks at at me with confusion, so I go on.

"When I saw you sneak in, when I saw how curious you were, I knew that I had hope. I had hope in you. You were like my saving grace."

She smiles again, and it's so contagious that I follow suit. I look up at the girl I fell in love with, and right now, I know that I want to love her forever.

"We did it, you know."

"Did what?"

"You killed Evelyn," Mia says, "the mayors surrendered. The people are free. The Alliance won."

It's the words I've been wanting to hear for ages, but right now, I only care about Mia.

"I love you, and I mean that. I love you with all of my being, Mia, and I want to love you forever."

Mia leans down so our foreheads press together. I want to stay like this forever. For the first time in awhile, I accept the peace. And Mia does too.

"I love you too, Archer."

THE END

•••

Don't worry, y'all!! There will be an Epilogue!!!!

WOW. The Alliance series is COMPLETE! I don't know how this happened, honestly, but I do know that you all encouraged me SO MUCH.

You all were so supportive to me. Commenting, voting, and pushing me to keep writing chapters. Thank you all so much. Without you, I would have never completed this book.

Stay tuned for the Epilogue!!

Thank you readers :)