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Read this file after completing "Garibaldi's Sanctuary"

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With a roar of agony, the last of the gargoyles fell from the sky, hit the 
ground, and lay still, its ugly face was a mask depicting the anguish of its 
final moment. In spite of the sweat pouring down his face, Logan rather 
enjoyed the fight.

That was fun! he said.

Near the fountain, he found a key that had fallen out of Garibaldis robe as 
he vanished. It was the key to the gate outside the cathedral.

Bingo! Logan happily exclaimed as he picked it up. Finally, now I can open
that gate outside the cathedral! With the gargoyles dead and the key in his 
possession, he knew his business here was finished. Hopefully, he would never 
have to return to this accursed building.

The sun by now was nearing the end of its descent into the horizon. Stars 
were slowly beginning to appear in the darkening sky and the moon was rising 
to replace the sun. Despite this, he had no desire to sleep in the cathedral.
He would continue on his way and get as far away from here as possible. Now 
that he was officially a traitor to the Scourge, they would surely kill him 
on sight. No place near the cathedral was safe.

The outside gate leading into the dark forest beyond would provide some 
sanctuary. The gate had been locked for many years. Some of the Scourge 
members had recently made an expedition into the woods, but none ever came 
back. Whether they had died from fright or from the attacks of hostile 
creatures, no one knew for certain. In order to reach Dunkilus, Logan would 
have to enter the forest itself. He had no choice.

But first, he decided to pay another visit to the headstone marking the spot 
where his beloved was buried. Even though she was dead, the Scourge still 
regarded her with scorn and contempt as shown by the Scourge soldier who shot
up her headstone. Never would Logan forget the rage he unleashed upon his 
former comrade-at-arms when he discovered what he had done.

He knelt before the headstone and ran one hand upon the stone. On it were 
the following words:

Here lies Katrina, the traitor who defied Garibaldi.

Logan felt his eyes water as the tears built up inside.

Katrina...

					*

How could he ever forget that day almost a month ago? It all began when he 
walked in on Katrina and Garibaldi in the meeting room one evening. Several 
other members of the Scourge were gathered inside as well.

This is wrong! Katrina said. You cant do this!

Never tell me what I cannot do Katrina. These powers are good for one thing 
only, to take what I want and to do what I want! I have been preparing many 
years for this war to destroy our enemy.

Our enemy? Theyre people! Theyve done nothing to you!

Nothing? Garibaldi shook his head. You have no idea, do you?

This is what weve all been training for all this time? To slaughter our own 
species?

Logan froze upon hearing those words. What was going on? Slaughter our own 
species? What is Katrina talking about?

Well I want no part of it! Katrina crossed her arms across her chest.

You do realize Katrina, youve spoken treason, said Garibaldi, his voice 
ominous and dark.

Ive spoken the truth! Katrina said aloud, her words shone with a powerful 
aura that would make anyone stop, stare, and listen. Look, I joined the 
Scourge because I wanted to find my place in a male-dominated world, maybe 
even find some meaning to my life, doing more than just getting married and 
raising a family. But if this is what it means to be a member of the Scourge,
Im not sure thats what I want to be anymore.

Garibaldi crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. The Scourge 
demand total allegiance to their code. There is no place for disloyalty or 
fear.

Im sorry Garibaldi, said Katrina, but my heart will not allow me to 
follow you or your cause any longer.

Very well Katrina. Then as of now, you are hereby branded a traitor to the 
Scourge for all eternity. There is a price to pay for such treason and we 
intend to claim it.

Two Scourge soldiers seized Katrina by her arms. Seeing his love like this 
brought Logan back to his senses.

Take the girl away, said Garibaldi with a motion of one hand. Kill her now.

What? Logan's mind screamed. Cold fear gripped his heart and froze his blood.

Garibaldi no! he cried suddenly running forward.

Logan! Katrina cried as her captors quickly led her away. She tried to 
reach out for him, but one of her captors pulled her arm back. Help me!

Two more Scourge members blocked his path. Dont interfere! one of them 
ordered him. It is the will of Garibaldi.

But Logan wouldnt stand by and allow his love to be killed. Despite his 
strong loyalty to the Scourge and Garibaldi, his love for Katrina was even 
stronger. If love could make a man do things he could never do before, 
Logan was ready for such action.

Clenching his hands into fists, he shoved them into the faces of his 
comrades. There was a sickening crunch as one of the soldiers took a blow 
directly to the nose. The other took a blow to his chin. The force of his 
punches was so strong, both soldiers toppled backward like broken pillars. 
All the others in the room stared at Logan in astonishment at what he had 
done.

Katrina! He ran in the direction Katrinas escorts had taken her. The others 
tried to stop him by blocking his path, but Logan merely shoved them aside 
with the force of his body. Those who resisted suffered the fury of his fists.

There was a place in the cathedral where the Scourge executed their prisoners,
and unless he hurried, that was where his beloved would meet her end.

He ran across a stone bridge with a garden on one side towards the execution 
grounds. Never before had he run so fast in all his life. But even so, he 
feared that it wouldnt be enough and that he would be too late.

Ready! Aim! he heard voices on the other side of the door. He quickly 
threw open the door and ran beyond. Before him, he saw five members of the 
Scourge standing in front of a wooden pillar where Katrina was tied to.

Fire!

No! Logan screamed. But his words were lost as the sound of exploding 
gunfire scattered throughout the air. Bullets and buckshot cut into Katrinas
flesh, tearing through her clothes, and splattering blood on the wall behind 
her and the floor at her feet. Through it all, she raised her face towards 
the heavens, crying out in anguish and agony. The sight and sound went 
straight to Logans heart and tore it apart.

Those were the longest five seconds of his life. Forever would this moment be
imbedded in his memory. Even despite his best efforts, not even they were 
enough to save her.

Finally, except for a small breeze, all was quiet again as the Scourge ceased 
fire and lowered their weapons. Katrinas mouth was open as if to cry out, but 
the sound would not come out of her throat. The front of her clothes were 
stained with her own blood.

Logan ran down the steps and quickly cut her loose. Her strength sapped away 
by dozens of bullets and pellets, Katrina fell forward. He caught her in her 
arms and knelt down with her. Amazingly, even with all that lead in her body, 
Katrina was still alive. Even now, the Scourge would not grant her the mercy 
of a quick and painless death.

Logan felt tears flow from his eyes and down his cheeks as he gazed upon the 
face of his beloved for what would be the last time. Katrina reached up and 
touched his face to wipe away his tears.

Katrina he whispered. He moved his face forward and put his lips upon her 
own. Not even for one moment would he close his eyes, not even to blink. He 
wanted his face to be the last thing Katrina saw before she died. He wanted 
to gaze upon her for whatever time she had left.

But for now, all he wanted was to have this last moment with her as he felt 
her weakened arms around him.

For ten long seconds that seemed like an eternity, Logan and Katrina shared 
one last kiss. Ten long seconds he held her tightly as if to desperately 
cling on to her.

And then, he felt her arms slip away from behind as the life left her body. 
He felt her face fall away, and as he released his grip, she fell to the 
ground, her face a smiling mask. Despite the agony she had recently suffered,
his final sign of love had brought her peace and comforted her wounded soul 
in its final moments.

He gasped and touched her cold skin, hoping for some reaction. But nothing. 
He pulled his hand away in horror. Even though he knew she was dead, his mind
would not accept it.

My god! This cant be happening! It cant be real!

She is...I couldnt...

No...no...

He buried his eyes in his hands. For the first time in his life since he was 
a baby, he wept. Tears streamed down his face like rivers. A man however does 
not cry out loud as other men consider it as a sign of weakness.

If only I could have saved her! I was so powerless!

He was so enwrapped in his own grief that not even footsteps behind him 
brought him back to reality. But then, he felt Garibaldis hand upon his 
shoulder and that did the trick.

You killed her! he whispered tearfully, his voice quivered with grief and 
anger.

It was our duty, Garibaldi said stoically. Horrible as it was, we had to 
do it. Here in the Scourge there is no place for treason or cowardice.

For the first time in his life, Logan felt the fires of rage burn within him.
Katrina was many things, but she was not a coward. It had taken a lot of 
courage to stand up to Garibaldi. Now he would do the same.

He shoved Garibaldis hand away as he forced himself to his feet. He whirled 
to face everyone.

I will never forgive any of you for this!

But Garibaldi only smiled. Youll get over it.

Anger can make a man do things he would never do otherwise. Its an emotion 
that makes one act without thinking of the consequences. Sometimes things are 
said and done that are regretted later. But Logan would have no such regrets 
for what he would say or do.

In a fury fueled by a combination of grief and rage, Logan ran back up the 
steps, pausing to look upon the scene one last time. If any of you ever see 
me again, shoot first. Because if you dont, I will!

As he turned away, he activated the crystal cross he wore around his neck. A 
portal opened around him, taking him from this world, and back to Earth. He 
removed the chain around his neck from where the cross hung and set it upon 
the ground. Then with a cry of rage, he lifted his foot and stomped upon the 
crystal with all his might, his strength empowered by his sorrow, grief, and 
fury over what he had lost. The sound of shattering crystal was barely heard 
over his scream. With the destruction of the magic crystal, his access to the 
Scourges home dimension was gone forever. He never wanted to go back.

					*

Logan felt the tears streaming down his face again as he gently rubbed the 
headstone. By now, the sun had set and the dusk had become night.

Youll get over it. Garibaldis words echoed in his mind. Damned hypocrite!

KatrinaI will avenge you, even if it kills me!

Wiping his eyes, he stood and continued on his way, more determined than ever 
to destroy the Scourgeand Garibaldi.

But just outside the cathedral, was another one of the Scourges soldiers. He 
narrowed his eyes as he recognized another one of Katrinas executioners.

Going somewhere Logan? Or should I say traitor?

Logan felt his blood boil as the fires of rage burned brightly. Anger once 
more took control over his own body. But his voice was still his to use on 
his own. Damn it! he exclaimed into the night air. Where the hell is 
Garibaldi?

You think Id give up his location that easy? his enemy said calmly.

Logan reached into his trench coat for a gun. I dont have time for this!
Either tell me or you die!

I aint telling you anything! the Scourge soldier said. And you really 
think it will be that simple? A sinister smile spread across his lips as his
laughter echoed around the surrounding air. You underestimate me Logan! A 
mistake that will cost you your life!

He pulled out his weapon, but Logans reflexes were even quicker. Logan had 
no intention of being outgunned now, this man had to pay for what he had done,
 just like all the others before him.

A pull of the trigger on his shotgun to unleash both barrels and it was over. 
Two shells worth of buckshot punched through his opponents cloak, bit 
through flesh, and drew blood.

I believe it is you who underestimated me, said Logan as his enemy fell 
forward.

He stepped forward, reached down, and took his fallen opponents gun. Even 
though his enemy was alive, Logan was not going to give him the mercy of a 
quick death. He and the others refused to give Katrina such kindness. Why 
shouldnt the favor be returned? 

Logan gazed down upon the Scourge soldier, lying facedown in a spreading pool
of his own blood. He made a feeble attempt to push himself up, but gravity 
pulled him back down. He raised his face upward to glare at Logan.

Ill never tell you where Garibaldi is! the dying soldier said coughing up 
blood. Such a waste of effort and ammunition! At least I die knowing youll 
never leave this land! No one has ever come out of that forest alive anyway!

Well see about that!  Logan said turning away and stepping toward the gate.

The soldier chuckled. Cocky arent you Logan? You are brave, but foolish! 
Just like your precious Katrina!

Logan stopped in his place. His teeth clenched so tightly, his jaw began to 
ache.

But I forget, she wasnt brave at all! She was a coward, a foolish, 
treasonous coward!

The hand of rage once more claimed his body. He stormed back towards the 
soldier.

And thats all well ever remember her - 

But Logan never heard the end of this sentence, nor did he want to. He put 
the barrel of his enemys gun to the face, and pulled the trigger. The 
resulting boom was deafening in the night air. And when the cloud of 
expelled gunpowder dust faded, Logan met a gruesome spectacle. The soldiers 
face was shredded, his skull shattered, and the ground around his head was 
splattered with blood and brain matter, silencing his tongue forever. 

Choking down nausea and shaking his head in disgust, Logan continued towards 
the gates. His rage satisfied by the death of another of Katrinas killers, 
Logan felt a smile spread across his face. Revenge was supposed to have a 
bittersweet taste, but he found it to his liking. But this was more than 
revenge. This was justice.

He unlocked the gates and stepped through, locking them behind him so any 
others from the Scourge could not follow.

The howl of a wolf sent a shiver down his spine. What horrors awaited him in 
these woods? Would he be the first to survive where others had perished? It 
was time for the ultimate test of courage.