Chapter 8
On his knees, with his arms bound, Castiel looked up at the man who just wouldn't shut up and finish him already, as he threatened him. And then he just had to cross the line he shouldn't have.
Nothing ever goes as planned. Nor as he wanted. Nor as it should happen. All these complications make a simple thing difficult to achieve. Oh well, since that's how things are going to go, he will have to do it himself.
Still, since he dared to bring up Cass in this, he had no other choice. Two others were in control. One of them was responsible for the money, the other for places and buildings their conducted their business. They can't be left alive now.
"Okay, okay, okay," Castiel breathed in and out to calm himself. "You've gotten your point across. I am just a man, and you are an entity that shouldn't be crossed."
"Finally, you start talking sensibly." This man was way too full of himself.
It was ridiculous how much he thought of himself; well, Castiel knew that very well, but it was still a surprise. After investigating this man, questioning the victims of his actions, and other people around him, he knew very well what kind of man he was.
To the point that he wasn't surprised that he wasn't searched for weapons and other things the moment he arrived at this big abandoned warehouse at the edge of the port. And Castiel only needed to lower his eyes for this man, for him to completely let his guard down.
"But before anything else, there is one thing you need to know." As his arms were let go, Castiel slowly stood up and said, looking at the man who dared to threaten Cass. "That's not how you threaten people."
"Oh, and how should I?" So full of himself, he was completely caught off guard when Castiel drew his pistol from within his uniform.
"This is how."
Castiel pulled the trigger the moment the barrel was pointed at the man's head. A puff of smoke rose into the air as the bang echoed through the warehouse. The man still stood, even as his brain matter was already scattered on the floor and blood dropped under his feet.
"Well, what are you guys waiting for?" Castiel asked as he turned his pistol at the partner of the man who had just been killed. "Drop to your knees or draw your weapons, you damn sons of bitches."
Bang!!!
Castiel's shoulder went back as he was shot at. But it was his left shoulder; his right one was still in place, aimed at the man whom Castiel now wanted to die. And with the pull of a trigger, his head was gone.
Bang!!!
Castiel's head jerked back as a bullet scratched his forehead, just over his right eye. He quickly jerked his head straight and ignored the blood dripping into his eye as he aimed his pistol at the last boss of those damn scum.
Somehow, surrounded by more than fifty men, armed men, he still managed to pull his pistol's trigger the third time, killing all of the bosses. Everything stilled for a moment, as nobody moved or said anything.
It was already dark outside. The few lamps over their heads shook for a moment before they also stilled in place. Guns aimed at him, Castiel only smiled. Finally, it was over. He would rest, and Cass would live.
Then he slipped on the blood that had piled up under his feet and fell to the ground. Just a moment before, gunfire roared like a mythical monster. Smoke from gunpowder quickly filled the place, and the lamps over their heads broke off completely.
Castiel looked up from the ground as he occasionally saw the place light up as a gun was fired. But all the sound was drowned by the screams of pain of countless people. What a mess it was.
"Warrant Officer! Castiel! Answer me, dammit!"
Pulling out the Transponder Snail from his uniform, he heard Commander Prince Grus trying to reach him. From the very beginning, he was listening to all that was happening on the other end.
"I messed up," Castiel replied to the Commander. "I failed in securing the civilians, but since it was my fault, I shall take responsibility for it all to the very end."
By pure luck, or probably by the stupidity of the people running this shitstorm of an organization, Castiel managed to gather enough evidence to put them all down. But he didn't care about it and set it so the evidence would be discovered after his death.
Yet, he was just unlucky as always, and one of his colleagues got a glimpse of it, and word quickly spread. Before Castiel could manage the situation, Commander Prince had already shown interest in it and prepared for this operation.
The only reason Castiel managed to get permission to come here alone was for the safety of the innocent people who were present here. Well, that's what he told the Commander, as his only reason was, as always, his own death.
By now, he should be lying in his own pool of blood. And yet somehow, aside from his shoulder, he was completely fine. But he couldn't lose such an opportunity so easily. Standing up, he fired his gun into the air; the ignition from the barrel lit up his face for a second for others to see.
"Those who have nothing to do with any of this and don't want anything to do with it, stay on the ground." Castiel shot his pistol again. "The others, finish me off, and run. There is nothing else for you here."
Castiel closed his eyes and waited for it. One shot was all it would take to finish him off. He showed where he was twice now. And with the slight light coming from the moonlight through the windows, it shouldn't be hard to see him and just shoot him.
"What. The. Fuck."
That was all Castiel could say, as all he heard were footsteps running away, trying to find a way out of the warehouse. It was too dark to see clearly, but the fact that he could hear them running through the cries of those injured told Castiel that nobody wanted to kill him now.
Then the doors were blasted open, and Marines barged in, taking down everyone they came across. Castiel didn't even try to look around to find a solution; he just gave up and slowly walked away from this damn place. He would rather think of how he should manage his sister's anger since he was going to the hospital again.
…
"Good job, Castiel," Commodore Daigin boisterously patted Castiel's uninjured shoulder as he praised him. "Not a single civilian casualty. Very good. Very good, indeed."
Castiel wanted to ask what it was he said when Castiel went to him to ask for permission to hunt down these gangs. But he would rather enjoy his cigarette as the medic on site bandaged his shot shoulder and cleaned the slight head wound.
How ridiculous. Even if he fell to the ground, how could not a single bullet scatter his brains on the floor or pierce his heart? What kind of twisted luck was this? Though as he looked at the civilians escorted away, he knew his answer.
"Wait a moment," Castiel said, stopping the big man with a scarred face over his eyes. "I don't know what kind of person you are or what you want, but never again interfere in Marine matters. You are nothing but a civilian, so act like it and let those in uniform do their duty."
"Hmm? I have no idea what you are talking about, sir."
"If you are going to stay in this town, I'd better not see you again." Castiel wanted to let out all his anger and frustration at him right now, but he kept it to himself for now. "No matter how powerful you are, it isn't your job to interfere with the Marines."
"Even if it meant your death, sir?"
"Death is part of the job, so even then, you have no right to interfere. Play a hero somewhere else. There, let the Marines do their duty."
Fucking bitch. He probably would be dead by now if not for that fucker. All his plans went to shit because of him randomly appearing out of nowhere. He would need to convince the doctor to somehow extend the period during which he could buy the medicine.
He should get a bonus; maybe it would be enough to put down as a deposit or something. He couldn't let such a chance get away from him. Who knew if he would manage to get the medicine for Cass next time?
He could only hope that he still had enough time. Hopefully, he sounded enough like an asshole, as he didn't want a future Admiral watching his back. It would certainly be harder to get the compensation when such a man guarded him.
"Warrant Officer Castiel," Commander Prince Grus walked up to him. "You did a great job. We managed to catch most of the gang in one swoop, and all of the leadership has now been eliminated. The raids on their gambling dens and clubs were successful, too. We can safely say that we uprooted them completely."
"But?"
"But there is a reason why no one wants to take it this far," the Commander replied with a sigh. "You have put a massive target on your back. Every single criminal organization, and even those who want to fill the void that will be left in the underworld, will go after your life. They won't allow an upstart Marine like you to live."
"I am well aware." Though he didn't think this far ahead, he understood, and he was glad that the Commander confirmed it. "But as a Marine, such things do not bother me. Being killed while on duty should be expected."
And so, the payment for such a death would be expected. Though he knew if he said anything about it, he would be put on leave and have to visit a psychologist. There was no way he was doing that. So, he said what an exemplary Marine should say.
Seeing that Castiel understood his situation, the Commander left him be. Though looking at his own injuries, Castiel could only hope that Cass would not be able to notice them, as that was what he was worried about the most right now.
Still, he wouldn't be able to escape visiting the hospital. The past week was busy, and he hadn't had a chance to visit Cass, so he should at least see how she was doing. This little operation was done now, and everyone else was doing the cleanup anyway.
…
"How did this happen?"
"We couldn't reach you today, but ever since this morning, she has experienced complications that we couldn't have predicted. Thankfully, we were able to administer the treatment almost immediately and have managed to stabilize her."
Castiel looked at the peacefully sleeping Cass. Sadly, it was better for her not to wake up for now, as the machines gave her safe doses of painkillers to keep her sedated. Just looking at the machines that gave her air and liquid to keep her alive made Castiel sick.
He was too late. The medicine that could save her couldn't be given to her because he hadn't paid for it yet. And now, she was in this state. Because he was alive, she was dying. The only real thing in this world for him was being taken away from him before his eyes.
"She was fine not long ago; you said that her condition was fine, stable." Castiel had to control himself from lashing out, but he couldn't help but growl at the doctor.
"It is the nature of these kinds of illnesses that they are unpredictable. Though I should have kept a better eye on her. The moment I put my guard down, it decided to flare up. I take full responsibility for not being able to do better."
"Responsibility? Can it save her?" Even as he asked, Castiel knew the answer. "The medicine, is there really no way to give it to her right now?"
"The board won't allow it. I tried, please believe me, I tried."
"Fuck," Castiel leaned against the wall, defeated.
"I am sorry, but I have more bad news. The medicine will be given to someone else. And it is already rare, so I don't know when we can get more of it."
"Someone who can pay." Castiel knew it all too well, so he didn't need to hear the doctor confirm it.
He tried to calm himself by believing that she was still fine, that there was still time, but looking at her state, it was hard to do so. He was running out of time. If he couldn't find the money to pay for her medicine, how long would she be able to live?
It wasn't fair. He, who wasn't supposed to be alive in this world to begin with, got his life. And she, who deserved to live more than anyone else, was dying before his eyes. It wasn't fair. Not for her, nor for him.
A.N. As always, thanks for reading and supporting me, so I can continue writing without any concerns, and if you want more, up to seven more chapters, you can support me on pa treon. com \ ironwolf852.