That night with the help of Alex, Verna was able to get Max to leave the hospital. There was no use of him staying there, alone with only Liyla to think about. She still hasn't grasped what happened. How? How in the world can this happen, she thought to herself about a million times, and each time she was lost.
The three of them sat in the living room in quiet. Every once in a while Alex would look up at Verna trying to figure out what to say.
"It was my father," said max with the deepest of hatred in his eyes. He looks at both Verna and Alex, clenching his jaw as to not break down right then and there.
"I'm gonna kill him, imma fucking kill him"
Max gets up quickly and starts to look for the nearest weapons. Both Alex and Verna look at each other, they can't let him do that, he'll just get himself killed. Verna blocks the door while Alex goes to hold him back.
"MAX" Alex screams at Max for the first time but gets ignored. After refusing to let go of him, Max punches Alex right in the jaw making him fall to the ground. Verna pushes Max out of the way and checks up on Alex. Max instantly regrets what he did as he saw Alex spit out blood, he was caught up in the moment.
"MAX!" Verna looks up at him with tears in her eyes. She gets up and hugs Max.
"You know better than us that you cant threaten your father" the room went quiet. Verna let go of max and looked into his eyes.
"It's okay to cry," Verna said turning around. Alex follows tuning away for max. Max looks up to the ceiling and covers in eyes with his hand.
That day was a nightmare for everyone. Not only did Max lose the love of his life, but also the hope that he would ever be free of his father.
[FLASHBACK ENDS]
"I'm leaving and I'm leaving Leo to you".
Verna nodes not looking at Max. Both of them knew that nothing can be said to change this situation. Max needed to assure Leo's safety and Verna knew that stopping him from that would put Leo in danger. Helpless Verna looks down and starts to cry.
"Now come on, no need to cry." Max bends over to try and make her look at him.
"Shut up, don't tell me what to do. What would you do if you were in my situation? Hugh? Tell me to stay? Just promise that you'll come back. you're too injured to fight so I'm going to expect you to listen to me"
Max smiles and starts to laugh. Verna gets mad as he is clearly making fun of her.
"Now come on what do you want me to do"(Max)
"Promise that you'll come back, you know that I don't like kids"
Max smiles.
"Well then, I promise that I will come back"
Verna knew this was not true, Not only were fewer and fewer men coming back each time but the condition that Max was in wouldn't be able to withstand another Injury.
Max turns and walks away. Verna didn't know what to say. What could she say to a man walking to his death?
*****************
Alex is waiting at the corner in a military car. When max got up to him, they both nodded and headed to the General's house.
Alex constantly looked up at the rear mirrors when Max noticed he smiled.
"What is it" Max was busy looking at documents but still noticed Alexes bolting stares.
"What do you think it's about"(Alex)
"Probably the usual, he'll scold me for not killing enough Hadila and send me back to do more"
When Max reaches his father's home, he is escorted by a maid to his father's chambers. When max opens the door, a glass vas is thrown a little above his shoulder and smashes on the floor shocking the maid with Max. Max was used to this. His father was a devil disguised as a human.
"YOU SON OF A BITCH, WHAT IN THE HELL WAS THAT OUT THERE."
Ignoring his father Max turns to the maid and ushers her to leave. After the door closed, Max turned back to his father and was met with a slap.
"HOW DARE YOU TURN YOUR FACE TO ME"
Max was looking down the whole time trying his best to hold in his anger. He rubs his jaw a little and lifted his head. Max's father sees that nothing he did fazed Max so he smirked and turned around with his hands behind his back and started walking towards his desk.
"Well then you leave me with no choice, you know what happens when you disobey me," he says as he sits how in his seat with his chin all the way in the sky. Max's heart drops and his face became pale. His eyes boiled with rage as he realized what his father was getting to.
"Why do you look like that," says the commander enjoying the rage that has befallen onto Max.
"If you lay a fucking hand on Leo I will kill you" Max didn't scream but his words were heard clearly throughout the whole room.
Well then, you know what you have to do. We were told that a group of Hadalins started building tunnels for its people to take shelter in. I want you and your troops to blow them up.
Max looked bleak he couldn't comprehend what his father ordered of him. This was no military strategy, this was Pure evil. His father was just a sick man who found entertainment in abusing his power. But what was the point of all of this thought Max to himself? This will only result in soldiers getting killed for no reason.
"Well, what do you have to say. There isn't much to think about. Or is this not only about Leo. What was her name again ahh Verna" Max's eyes grew with rage as he tried his best not to react. He knew that his father had been watching him, but what did Verna have to do with any of this.
The commander leaned back into his chair. This was very amusing to him. Pushing Max over the edge. He used to always do the same with his Wife.
"If I remember correctly she was friends with that slut of yours. What a funny ending. Both of them ending up dead because of you Ha" He proceeds to laugh as though he was the funniest man alive. Max needed to get out of the room before he did anything that he would regret. He took a deep breath, put his beliefs and morals aside
"I had asked her to take in Leo, both of us know that the chance of me making it out this time are slim, so I wanted to prepare for the worst." (Max)
"And you thought I would give away my precious grandson like that," the commander asked having the time of his life. He didn't care at all for Leo except for the fact that he was Max's weakness"
"We both know you don't give a damn about Leo, Just Leave him, he is no use to you after I die."
"Your right, then that's settled, Leo will go under Verna's care, happy"
Max is dismantled. He had always dreamed of a different life, one of happiness and glory, yet all he got is heartache and sacrifice
"If that is all, I would like to excuse myself ." Max stares at his father one last time. This was the man who will lead to his death.
Christafor smerks
"May you bring us Glory"