Chapter 8 - Black Siblings

Fourteen Years Ago

The Year 2006

New York General Hospital

8-year-old Liam played with a batman toy, he raised it up above like the action figure was flying, he smiled at the thought. He placed it near the chair he was seating on. His eyes scanned the busy hospital as he blinked. He turned the other way, his dad walked towards him with a smile. Liam smiled.

"Dad what is it taking so long, am tired I want to go home" Liam pouted. Steve smiled at his son's antics, he squats in front of him.

"Congratulations Liam, you're a brother," Steve said smiling warmly.

"Am a brother? I thought I was the only child" Liam said puzzled. Steve let out a laugh.

"Well do you want to see her?".

"Her? I wanted a brother, not a sister, she would make me play with dolls and stuff" he rolled his eyes.

"Seriously Liam stops taking things seriously," Steve said amused. Liam looked away making a face.

"Don't worry Liam you will love her" Steve assured him.

"She's just for you" he adds as Liam's eyes landed on Steve who brought out his hand, Liam took it. Steve lead him to the baby care center, Liam's eyes feasted on babies in bed. His eyes studied them one by one until to a baby a row near the glass.

"That's her" Liam pointed to a baby that was asleep. Steve smiled.

"Love at first sight, I didn't have to show you which one" Steve impressed, Liam blinked his eyes fixed on his baby sister.

"I just had a feeling she was the one" Liam said, Steve turned Liam and squat in front of him, he took both his hands.

"Do you know what being a brother means" Steve began, Liam blinked.

"It means loving her unconditionally, guiding her, supporting her, and protecting her no matter what," Steve said.

"Do I really have to do all that?" Liam said making a face, a wonderful smile formed on Steve's lips. He just patted his cheek as he rose to his feet.

"What's her name?" Liam asked curiously.

"Jenna," Steve said.

"I will call her Jen, it's way cooler," Liam said, Steve smiled. Liam walked close to the glass. His eyes fixed on Jenna, she jolts lightly awake sucking her tiny thumb, Liam smiled at the action.

*

The Year 2011

5-year-old Jenna carefully used her pencil to write in her book, she hoped she got the words right.

Sounds Of School Bells

Everyone rushed getting their bag and waited for their parents, soon they came one by one and picked them as time went by, until Jenna was the only one, her face dropped. A teacher came to her.

"Jenna". She slowly raised her face.

"My brother isn't here yet," she said sadly.

"Well, you see" the woman looks sideways unable to say the words.

"Just come with me okay," she said taking Jenna's hand. The woman leads Jenna to the junior section of the school, Jenna blinked when they got to a door that said 'Principal Office'.

"Just seat here okay your brother will be out soon," she said leaving. Jenna did as she was told. She heard noises coming from inside like scolding sounds, Jenna just fixed her eyes on the floor as she swings her legs back and forth.

A few minutes later the door slide open as two boys with swollen faces came out cursing.

"Damn that O'Brien he's inhuman, look at my face," one of the boys said pissed as he wiped the blood from his lips.

"Isn't that Liam's sister" another pointed out, they turned to her with dark looks.

"Did I do something wrong?" Jenna blinked.

"No, your shit face brother did" the boy hissed.

"My brother doesn't fight without a reason," Jenna said, they gave each other looks, one faced her.

"Oh yeah," he said coming to her about grabbing her arm but another hand came in from nowhere, they turned and meet with a scowling Liam, they froze.

"Pissed off" Liam hissed. The boy cursed removing his hand.

"Let's go," he said as they left. Jenna's eyes drifted to Liam's hand. It had bruises on it.

"You fought again," Jenna said sadly.

"I had my reasons".

"Mum won't be happy about it," Jenna said, Liam rolled his eyes grabbing her hand.

"Let's go," Liam said as they walked out of the hall.

"You should stop fighting," Jenna said.

"Yeah yeah yeah, just don't tell mum okay? I don't want her to worry" Liam said.

"She might find out later" Jenna reasoned. Liam sighed.

"I hope the principal doesn't call home".

***

A few Hours Later

Their hands locked together, the two siblings walked up to their apartment. Liam opened the door but met with a sight that shocked them to the core. Their mum was on the floor unmoving.

"MOM!".

They rushed to her side trying to wake her but she didn't move, Liam quickly rushed to the telephone on the wall and dialed the emergency number.

*

Six Months Later

Liam and Jenna waited around the long wide corridor for the doctor's report. The doctor came out and they rushed and stood in front of him.

"Am sorry kids but your mum's insurance won't get her the treatment she needs" the doc said.

"What do you mean?" Liam demanded.

"It means she's not responding to treatment, she has only today". The news broke them as they froze, tears filled Jenna's eyes.

"I will call the foster agency to take you guys in since you don't have any relatives".

Jenna broke into tears as Liam held her tightly. 'If dad was here none of this would have happened. Liam thought angry. 'It's all his fault'.

Liam sat watching his bedridden mother smooching a sleeping Jenna beside her. She hummed a tune and turned to Liam and smiled faintly.

"Are you angry with me?" Chloe asked weakly, Liam looked away cleaning a tear that fell from his eye, he smiled faintly turning.

"Why should I be angry I have no control over death," Liam said.

"But I know one person I could blame" he adds sternly.

"Liam your dad left for a reason, you don't have to blame him," Chloe said as tears filled her eyes.

"I shouldn't blame him? He's the reason why you're like this, he left just a year after Jen was born, he left leaving you all alone. And I shouldn't blame him?" Liam said unbelievingly.

Chloe sobbed, she was about to say something but she could see it in her son's eyes, he was so angry with his dad.

"We don't get to decide what happens in our life Liam," Chloe said sighing, her eyes drifted to Jenna.

"She will be all you have now" she noted.

"Take care of her" she adds, Liam nodded.

"I will," he said.

"She probably won't understand," Chloe said.

"She doesn't need to understand," Liam said, Chloe smiled turning to face the ceiling.

"Your father was many things Liam, he risked everything for you" she turned to Liam, he blinked.

"A time will come when Jenna will have to bear a burden you can't" she added.

"I hope you will be ready to overcome those obstacles".

"Mum what are you talking about?" Liam asked lost.

"Just promise me something," Chloe said ignoring his question, she brought out her hand, Liam rose to his feet taking it, he held it tightly with both hands.

"Keep her alive," she said with a stern look, Liam didn't get it, of course, he would, he didn't know why is mum will say it out like a warning, he just nodded.

"I will".

***

Two days later

In the harsh pouring of the rain, Liam and Jenna threw flowers on their mother's grave, the coffin slowly sank to the ground. The two were under one umbrella as the priest said some words and they dig sand to cover their mother's grave. Jenna's kept crying painfully.

"Mom" she cried wrapping her arms around Liam's waist, his hand was on her shoulder as the tears fell.

"Everything will be alright Jen" he managed to say.

"Am gonna take care of you, I won't let anything happen to you I promise".

***

Present Day

Liam was lost in thought, his head buried in his hands, Nicole sat beside him placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Tell me Nicole what have I done wrong," Liam said lost, his eyes fixed on the ground shaking.

"It's okay Liam, she didn't mean what she said am sure of it" she assured him. But Liam wasn't quite convinced, he could see it in her eyes when she said those words, he knew it in his heart, what she said was absolutely true.

"Maybe she's right am just like my dad, thinking running away is the only solution, am such a fool," Liam said without a doubt, what else was the right thing to do, he just wanted to protect her and keep her alive just like he promised his mum.

"Liam," she said hugging him tightly.

"We will find her Liam, we will and we will set everything right," she said softly, Liam sighed.

"Okay," he said.

Nicole broke the hug staring into his eyes, they were sad and helpless, she broke just by seeing him like this, she leans in and kissed him, Liam closed his eyes giving in to the kiss, their mouth roamed in wonder as it got intense between them, Nicole wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss.

"I miss you, Liam," Nicole said huskily between kisses. Liam groaned at her response running his hands beneath her blouse raising it up above her head, Liam trailed kisses on her neck, in his vision green eyes haunted him, an image of Riley came in his vision, when he laid on the bed in pain, after being treated of his wounds when he was captured. Riley watching him as the curtain danced in her front, the light he saw in her eyes, staring at him reaching his soul.

Liam stopped his action instantly, Nicole moan seize wondering why he stopped. Her eyes landed on him seeing his confused expression.

"Liam what's wrong?".

"Nothing," Liam said unsettled as he moved away.

"I don't think I can do--"

"I understand," Nicole said cutting him off.

"Am sorry I shouldn't have done that when you are worried about Jenna".

"No Nicole don't say that".

"It's okay Liam, we will find her lemme check up on something," she said forcing a smile as she put on her blouse walking out of the room through the door, with an unreadable expression.

"Fuck" Liam cursed running his fingers in his hair. What was wrong with him? Why was he thinking of Riley of all people? 'Am losing my mind'. Liam. thought.

***

Downtown

Jenna's eyes were on the city that haunted her. Inside, the taxi driver sneak peeks at Jenna through the review mirror, Jenna sighed turning back inside the cab, she noticed the man staring through the review mirror.

"I will stop here," she said.

He pulled over and she paid him off and got out.

Making sure she was leaving, the driver quickly checks the news on his phone and saw her picture, he swallowed as he quickly dialed the emergency number for G.I agents, his hands trembling as he typed but suddenly a being hand wrapped in a bandage grab the phone and squeeze it to pieces. The man squealed in fear when he saw the Claw.

"Don't" Jenna warned, the man swallowed nodding his head. The Claw reversed back inside her, she turned to put on her hood and walked into the streets of section 5.

She got to the building and went upstairs to the apartment, there was a caution line but she ripped it off and walked inside heading straight to her room, she went under her bed and pulled a box out, she opened it and her eyes landed inside, she brought out papers and then there was a brown envelope inside, she opened it, some money was in it, she took it and shut the box close.

***

Section Three

Ghoul Investigators Headquarters (GIH)

A beeping sound went off. One of the computer programmers saw this and typed and footage of Jenna exiting the house came up the screen.

"The black ghoul has been located I repeat the black ghoul has been located," she said to her comm.

Subway Station

Jenna took a deep breath looking around waiting for the train to come in. She bent her head enabling the hood to cover her face more, she didn't want her to look to attract attention, one look and they will call the G.I agents, her picture was practically everywhere.

A train finally came making a railway noise, the doors slide open, in the company of some few crowd, Jenna followed behind and step into the train as it moved. She took her seat in a place her eyes could be everywhere, making sure the few people inside weren't watching, she reached for her pocket and brought out a picture of she and Liam, she smiled feeling her fingers on it.

"This is for the best Liam, this way you will be safe from me," she said faintly. She meant the words she said, she had to leave him, she wasn't running away not like dad, she will find a way to fight this, no more hiding, she wanted her life back, she wanted things back and running away isn't the right thing to do, her life as a ghoul has taught her that, she didn't care if she had to face the whole agency, she just wanted things right.

She put the picture back and cleaned some tears that fell from her eyes. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, she felt someone watching her, only her eyeball moved and caught someone in black, his head bent like he was asleep but she knew that wasn't the case here, something was off the moment she stepped on this train, she just noticed that now. Her eyes changed to ghoul's eyes, the hood was able to cover her face from sight, she turned and sighted the man slowly reaching for his gun. She grabs her bag and walked to the other side of the train where there were lesser people, she turned slightly, the man following her revealed his gun. She faced front as she headed to a place with no people, she turned the man already behind her, her look darken.

"Jenna O'Brien you have the right to remain silent or-". He froze when he heard a growl behind him, with widen eyes he turned to see her Claw. Before he could act her Claw bite his head off making a bloody mess, his body fell headless on the floor. Screams filled the train from the people there. Jenna sighted more agents coming, they got the whole train ambushed.

She turned running for the other side of the train her Claw following behind her, she gasped when she slides the door open, one agent shot at her. Jenna shrieks as the gun penetrated her shoulder, she fell to the ground, her Claw snap coming at the agents as shots were fired. Jenna used this opportunity to crawl out to yet another side of the train, she held her bleeding hand, her wound wasn't healing because of the bullet, she cursed turning, her Claw reversed back inside her, she panicked more as agents came for her. Jenna tried to bring her Claw out but it wasn't responding, it was weakened by the bullet.

"Come on" she hissed turning in panic as the agent pointed the gun at her, out of anger and fear she screamed and her Claw roared coming out and fling the agent off the train creating a bloody mess. Jenna holding her bleeding shoulder, sighted some more agents coming. They just kept coming.

"Claw attack" she hissed as the Claw roared, with loud thud feet step it charged at the agents. Jenna ran to the door and slide it open making sure she was a bit far away, she turned and froze when Chase stood up out of nowhere and pointed the gun directly at her head, she gasps.

"Hello Jenna," he said darkly and shot the gun, it made a loud noise.

***

A few Hours Later

Section Five

Uptown

"What makes you think she came back home?" Nicole asked. As they walked the streets.

"She has emergency savings, I gave it to her a year ago, she would probably come back for it," Liam said without a doubt, he just hoped she was there now, he needed to see her so that they can talk.

They halted with other passersby who stopped too when the big screen up in a building showing advert changed to the news.

"Earlier today, from the reports we got, the G.I has succeeded in capturing the black ghoul" the moment he heard that, he froze.

"Jen," Liam said lost.

"She will be transported to the G.I agency for her sentence, we advise you to stay tuned for more updates on the black ghoul". Liam snaps as he ran.

"LIAM WAIT" Nicole shouted but he didn't turn.

***

Jenna groaned opening her eyes, everything was fuzzy, her head hurt like she took a bullet to her head, she remembered quite well she did. She tried to move but panicked when she couldn't, she gasped when she couldn't move, her hands were wrapped up with some weird white material and there was something on her head, it was made of steel, it wasn't an ordinary one, she tried calling her Claw but it wouldn't come out.

"No matter how you try it won't work," Chase said as he pointed to the device around her head, Jenna panicked looking out the window of the van, it was dark outside but Jenna could tell they were heading somewhere.

"Where are you taking me?" she demanded.

"A place you will get the justice you deserve," Chase said folding his arms.

"Get me out of this," she said struggling to remove her hands wrapped to her chest like she was a psycho.

"You know, because of you, we have been through hell a lot, my unit leader died because of you," Chase said sternly.

"I don't know what you're talking about I didn't kill any unit leader" Jenna hissed.

"Yeah? But you killed agents" he snaps.

"The agent your Claw threw out the train had a 5-year-old son, did you know that?" he said. Jenna's eyes widen.

"Of course you won't, we are all just agents to you. But we are humans who joined the force to make this city a better place" he said, Jenna looked away.

"You ghouls don't think about that huh? you're all just about killing" he spat, Jenna turned.

"What about us too, you all are just about getting rid of ghouls, we have families too, we are not animals," she said. Chase let out a laugh.

"Twisted isn't it," Jenna said.

"Am sorry about your partner" she adds, she still remembered that day, those words caught Chase off his guard, his expression changed.

"You're sorry?!" he said amused.

"The only way you will be sorry is when you die," he said scowling.

Suddenly they heard a loud thud sound on the van roof, the impact made the metal come down a little.

"Hey? What's going on?" Chase motioned to the driver in front but instantly the van somersaulted and landed on the other side of the road.

Outside a face-covered Riley landed on the ground, her Claw walked forward and ripped the door open, and dragged Jenna out.

"Ri---". Riley hushed her before she could say her name. They turned when they heard cars coming at them. Riley's Claw ripped the material wrapping her hands.

"Run" Riley hissed to Jenna, she nodded running out, Riley stood in front, her Claw beside her as the agents came down and pointed their guns at her. Her Claw roared and charged towards them in the crossfire.

***

Section Three

Ghoul Investigators Headquarters (GIH)

An agent rushed in the hall, she rushed into Xavier's office unannounced, this caught his attention.

"Sir the team bringing the black ghoul was attacked on-road," she said in harsh breaths.

Xavier rose to his feet, they just captured her, he wasn't just gonna let her go, he had to think of something fast, the Order was the last people he would want to be involved with, the black ghoul was his to capture and kill.

***

Section Five

Jenna ran as fast as she could into the forest near the road, but as soon as she heard the gunshots she halted.

"Riley," she said worried, she anticipated whether to go back and help Riley or run for her life, she couldn't just do that, Riley has helped her a lot, she had to go, about going back a bullet came at her but hit the branches, she turned, it was Chase coming at her. She ran further inside as Chase kept firing at her.

"CAME BACK!" Chase shouted firing the gun hoping it would hit her.

Jenna duck as she ran, the bullets were fast coming at her. She halted hiding behind a tree, she peeked and saw Chase pointing his gun everywhere in a distance.

"JENNA!" he shouted.

"WHERE ARE YOU JENNA, COME OUT!".

Jenna took a harsh breath, once more she tried to call her Claw but it didn't respond, she growled trying to pull the steel off her head but it wouldn't budge, she turned, Chase was close, she made a run for it, Chase caught the sound and kept firing at any sound he heard. Jenna squeak when she tripped and fell off a small hill, she rolled to the ground, upon her feet.

Out of nowhere, someone pulled her into hiding. Liam hushed her as she tried to scream.

"Liam," Jenna said tearily. Liam hug her tightly.

"It's okay am here," Liam said.

***

"Sir the black ghoul is on the run" Xavier comm sounded. He was in a chopper heading towards the scene.

"I want all G.I agents to pursue, I want all hands on deck, kill any ghoul on sight that tries to help her," he said darkly.

***

Section One

Ghoul Underground

"Sean, Paige. Riley needs assistance" Evan said going through the footage on the screen, Allen walked in.

"What's going on?" Allen demanded.

"I don't know but all the G.I agents are after Jenna and Riley is caught in the crossfire, at this point she won't make it," he said.

***

Section Five

Riley ran towards the agents her Claw in front of her, guns from every area were firing. She landed in front of an agent, his eyes widen as she somersaulted and snap his neck in an instant. The agents surrounded her, her Claw roared standing in front. They pointed their gun at her ready to fire but about two more Claw's landed and charged towards the agents in a bloody battle.

"Go we will handle them," Sean said. Riley nodded as she ran out with her Claw.

"All agents I repeat go after the black ghoul" Max comm sounded. He was on stand by, on hearing this, he drove his car and headed towards the scene.

"Chase where are you?" he said to his comm but no answer.

"Dammit," he cursed driving at full speed.

***

Liam kept pulling the steel but it wouldn't budge, it was like it was gulped to her head.

"Shit I can't take this thing off" he growled.

"We have to, my Claw won't come out because of this thing," Jenna said, Liam struggled to pull it off once more but it was of no use.

They raised their head up when they heard the sound of choppers around.

"Jen we have to move now," Liam said seeing the lights, one spot at them and they will be done for, Liam took his sister's hand as they made a run for it.

In a distance, Chase sighted them and rushed at them firing. They duck as they kept running, into the road, leaving Chase way behind, the chopper lights came at them.

"All units the black ghoul is on sight I repeat the black ghoul is on sight," the man in the chopper said, he gained a visual about firing directly at Jenna. But the chopper shakes fiercely and spins around in false. His eye widen when a Claw roared at him from the window, he shouted as the Claw barged in and devoured him. The chopper spin clashing into another chopper and landed on the ground creating a huge blast, from Jenna and Liam the impact landed on the ground as the fire blew everywhere.

***

Section Thirteen

A chopper on the air, the sea below, it headed towards a large building with bright lights, it was wide and big made of steel. The chopper landed on the top. Soldier agents came to it ducking, they helped a woman out. Barbra stepped out as they lead her away from the chopper.

"Ma'am you should have told us you were coming," one of the soldiers said.

"I needed to see someone urgent," she said, her eyes feasting on Steel prison.

"Am here for subject 24" she said, the man looked around making sure his other colleagues didn't catch that.

"Right this way ma'am," he said leading her.

***

Section Five

Xavier's chopper landed on the roundabout where the agents were gathered, Xavier got down from the chopper and walked further, his eyes landed on the explosion in a distance.

"What happened?" he demanded.

"A Claw jumped in," the agent said. Xavier's expression changed as he grabs a suitcase, they walked towards an SUV getting in.

"Move," he said as they drove to the scene.

Max's car pulled up when he saw Chase running out of the forest.

"Chase!" he called. Chase rushed to the car.

"Max what are you doing here, you should be on standby" Chase demanded not liking the idea.

"They called all agents so I figured you needed help," he said.

"Now get in we have a ghoul to catch" he adds. Chase smiled getting in following the other agents in cars.

***

Jenna could see nothing but darkness in her vision, her ear sounded loudly like rings. She groaned opening her eyes, she felt like her head was spinning, that damn steel was still around her head clanging to it, her leg bleed, she held it in pain, her elbow held bruise that shock pain throughout her whole body. She looked around for her brother not minding the pain she was in. She gasp when she caught sight of him, he was on the ground unmoving, half of his face burnt and blood trailing.

"LIAM!" she shouted in horror, she tried to move but her wounded leg wouldn't let her, she agonize in pure pain as she struggled to crawl to her brother.

"Liam" she cried struggling to get to him, that moment the agent's cars were coming one by one but that was the least of her concern, she needed to get to him, her elbow clenched to the concrete ground as she kept crawling in pain, she finally was able to get to him, the agents were already present, each coming down from their SUV one by one.

"Liam," Jenna said, he was barely breathing.

"It's all my fault," she said crying as she held him close.

"I shouldn't have left you, I thought I was doing the right thing" she cried painfully.

"Why?" she said as the tears came.

"Why do we have to run, why is all this happening to us" she hissed.

"Why? Why? Liam" she broke. The agents pointed their guns at them.

"I don't want to live like this" she cried. Her eyes landed on his burnt mark on his face, her anger boiled as she faced the agents with bloodshot eyes. Growling in pain, she rose to her feet even as she wound leg was giving out. 'Is it wrong for ghouls to have a life?'. She thought limping forward, the agents pointed their guns ready to fire. 'Why? Why? Why?'. Tears filled her eyes, she kept calling her Claw, she growled trying her very best to force it out, blood trailed from her nose as the steel shock her brain.

"WHY?!" Jenna shouted at them.

Liam's eyes opened slightly, he was gaining consciousness slowly. He forced his body up.

"Jen?" Liam said managing to stand on his own. Jenna turned hearing her name, tears filled her eyes as she smiled, she was glad he was alive.

"Liam," she said looking deep into his eyes, her eyes drifting to his burnt marks, the tears came more like flowing water. It was all her fault because she was born because she was a ghoul.

"I just want a place where humans and ghouls can live together," she said in tears.

"Is it wrong to ask for that?".

At that moment an arrow penetrated her back coming front to her chest, the head had a red substance that creped through the arrow into her chest, Jenna gasp slowly as the cold harsh substance entered inside her flowing to her brain.

Liam's left eye that wasn't burnt slowly widen as time stopped around them, Liam's breath was lost, his whole body was stiff at that moment. Jenna looked down and saw the arrow piercing out her chest, her blood instantly flowed staining the white shirt she wore, she took a slow breath, her breath the only thing she could hear when she raised her head and saw Liam's teary one eye.

"L...Liam" she choked, blood gushing out.

Liam was frozen to the core" he couldn't say anything, it was like a nightmare he could just wake up from, but right now this was reality.

"JENNA!".