Some promises

The party was already over for a moment and there were still two to three drunk guys who were dancing and singing some happy songs in the hallways while the others were spread in the edifice wondering about what should they do next. Jamal was outside with Volga and Sania the only two people who agreed to follow him in his journey. They were charging their stuff in the cars and prepared to leave soon.

Earlier, before the party officially started, he had made his announcement and later gave a reminder around the end of the party.

After that was following a festive mood where Jamal was surrounded by many people who were questioning him about his performances and starving to hear some of his adventures, and whom he couldn't turn them down as they insisted very much while Volga was in her corner hidden from any curious sight flirting with her new lover, they were laughing, touching each other and kissing like a couple of teenagers.

At a moment, she suddenly moved her sight away to take a look at the clock and she thought [ it's almost time ]. She stood up and walked toward Jamal, she stopped behind him and patted his shoulder to make him turn his head.

" It's time, " she simply said at his ear and the latter immediately understood. He stood up too, went near the door where everyone could see him, and raised his hands to calm the crowd.

" Excuse me to disturb the good ambiance, but I have to tell you that it's time for me to leave for the next city as I have told you earlier, so if any of you want to help me with this task just follow me. And for the rest I will understand so no need to come to apologize or giving me excuses to not join, it's not necessary, it's just a selfish request from so don't take it too much in the heart ". He gazed at Volga, she nodded at him, she stood up, and together they walked toward the exit without a second sight behind them.

Sania was about to stand up and suddenly noticed something odd, she stared at the crowd around her as they were going further away and she began to feel annoyed as no one showed any sign of movement. She gazed at the members of her team and still the same thing that shocked her even more. [ I can't believe it! You won't join? ] she said in her heart. She finally stood up, exasperated, and ran alone toward Jamal and Volga, but before reaching them, she turned one last time to throw on them a look which was illustrating all the shame and disappointment she was feeling.

When he noticed her presence on his side, Jamal was a little surprised, since earlier when Lina violently cropped her, she took her distance from him and stop trying to approach him anymore, so much that he even thought she would not talk to him anymore so he didn't expect her to be the only volunteer. He wondered what in the world would push her to do that, he obtained the answer just through her eyes when he turned to look at her. [ She wants, from the bottom of her heart, to make justice and she is all resolved to even dirt her hands for that goal ].

As a result, they were only the three of them in the garage almost ready to leave.

While they were finishing the last round Donald and his team appeared behind. Sania was the first one to notice them, she left on the back of the pickup what she was carrying and crossed her arms below her chest while staring angrily at them, which attracted the attention of Volga and finally Jamal's.

" What's up? " he firstly said, " came to say goodbye to your comrade of one day? " he added smilingly while staring at them one by one.

Don coughed to clear his voice and said, " Mr. Jamal I came... I mean, we came to you to give you our reasons to not join your party before you leave, I would want firstly to say... "

" Cut it out, " Jamal stopped him by raising his hand, " I have already told you. Your excuses, I don't need them, " he dropped his hand, " let's not waste our time for such pointless subjects ".

" No, it's just... " Axel tried to explain herself but she couldn't find the words.

" I got it, I know you think that I will probably resent you because of the decision... " he declared, calmly, " ...but such thing won't happen, it's your right to refuse when you don't want to continue, I understand so don't worry ".

But it's didn't make any effect, they were still feeling culpable, Volga understood that they wouldn't feel better unless they expressed themselves, so she said to him, " oh well maybe you don't want to hear what they have to say but I do, " she turned to them, " what are reasons to not join forces with us, especially you, dear, " she pointed Don.

Everyone gazed at him surprised, their eyes went from Volga to him what made him blush a little bit. He took one step forward and after a deep breath before he started, " you may think that I'm a coward after I explain myself but that's how I feel, that is what I am. I hate violence. I hate guns, warfare, and all things related to it. I took the weapons here because there was no choice, beyond my hatred for armed conflict, I couldn't stand watching many innocents people getting hurt. But now it's over, I think I can rest, " he paused " but that's said, the main reason I'm not coming is that I have to lead and take care of Daphne's treatment, " he looked at Jamal, " surely you don't know about it but I used to be a doctor, more precisely, a psychologist, and as she wishes to get rid of her drug addiction, I'm the most suitable person to help her to do so ".

" That's all? " the woman before him asked and the latter nodded, " if you think I'm too weakling to stay by your side and decide to break with me... I... " before he could express his words out from his mouth she jumped on him and took him in her arms as she said, " don't be silly there's no way I would leave you, never, even less for something like that ". She put her lips against his and slowly inserted her tongue inside his mouth. After the short kiss stepped back to her initial place and waited for the others to come back from their astonishment.

" So you're dating each other? For real? " Sania asked Volga.

" As you can see, " she only replied joyfully.

" OK, great " she glanced at Jamal beside her and asked with a low voice, " you knew it? "

" Somehow yes I knew it " he replied with a shrug.

" I better look for a boyfriend as well, I think. Seeing people getting together makes me stress at the thought of ending my days alone," she said with a sigh, and Jamal's face started to change but she caught it and quickly added, " not you, I already... got it that you're no more available ".

" Well, so who's the next? " Volga shouted making Jamal shaking his head as he didn't understand their pressing needs to explain themselves. For him it was pointless but he let them do. Axel raised timidly her hand and all eyes were on her.

" Personally, I need to stay by Morice's side since he is injured. You see, he tends to be a little agitated when I'm not around, so... you may excuse me but I have to stay with him ".

They nodded, comprehensively. Brad grabbed Daphne's hand and the latter held it tighter " my case is similar to her, " he started " I have to stay with Daphne to help her to get well. Don said that it would be faster and more effective if she is surrounded by someone close to encourage her along with her treatment " he paused and looked at Jamal, he changed a little bit the tone of his voice, " moreover, even if it was settled for me to come I doubt any of you or the others would ever trust me again in the battlefield, am I wrong? "

" No, you're completely right, " Volga replied instead of Jamal, " even though your reason was justified as you wanted to protect your woman, it didn't change the fact that you have sacrificed many of our comrades for this goal. We have effectively forgiven you but we didn't forget ".

" Thank you for your honesty, " he replied, " I will try my best to find a way to repent from all I have done ".

" That's a good idea " Jamal conceded.

" Now is your turn, Carl. Seems like love is the main reason for everyone to drawback, so what is yours? Because I doubt you have any girl who is waiting for you to take care of her, " Sania spouted what made him bowing his head shamefully.

" In fact, I don't have valuable reasons to not join. It's just that earlier I was too scared to leave my seat. The way I saw your bodies moving slowly further away gave me a strange feeling. For a moment, I just thought that I didn't want to tag along with you ".

Jamal stopped being disinterested, he had a serious face when he asked him " what was the feeling you get? "

Carl lifted slowly his head up and stared at him with sorrowful eyes, " the feeling that I would never get back, " he chuckled, with signs of stress on his face. " It is a little ironic as I don't have anything left in this earth yet I'm scared to leave it ".

" Bullshit, " Sania spat, " stop kidding with us, you're just a coward, if you wanna run away, just acknowledge it at least ".

But she didn't understand the meaning of that as Jamal did. " And what about now, how do you feel it? "

He stroked his arm, " the same, the only difference is that I'm less scared, " he responded.

Volga lifted her eyebrow and asked, " So you mean that... ? "

" I mean that I'm in. I come with you ". He glanced at Sania, " if you agree of course, " Carl said while tightening his fists.

Volga turned her head, glanced at Jamal while asking him soundlessly, the latter shrugged to tell her that he didn't mind, then she turned back her attention to the young man who was waiting for her answer. " You have five minutes to load your stuff in the car... " she told him while pointing to Sania's pickup " ...after that we will leave. So you better hurry up ".

He nodded happily and ran toward the house to go collect his bag.

While he was going up the stairs, Jamal stepped forward and shouted in the direction of the edifice, " it's the same for you all, if you want to join, it's right now or never ".

People around him stared at him confused as if they thought he had lost his mind but then, they looked at the entrance and they saw many of the soldiers coming out from their hideout carrying their backpacks and running down the stairs while bowing their heads down embarrassed like little kids who got caught by their parents after they had done something wrong.

As they were approaching they couldn't dare to look at him, but Jamal quickly reassured them, despite the fact he found it for adult people to have such a childish reaction. " Don't worry about that, just get in your cars and prepare yourself to leave soon " he told them.

" Yes! " they all shouted before spreading to find their vehicles. Later, Carl came back and put his luggage in the car, he quickly said goodbye to all his former teammates before getting in. Sania did the same even though she took more time as she wanted to properly apologize for having been too rude with them without considering their situations.

" See you soon, you will see Stainfall is a lovely place, " Jamal said to Don while shaking his hand.

" I hope so " he responded. " Thank you ".

Then he moved toward Brad leaving the space for Volga to jump on Don and to kiss him one last time before they leave each other. [ Her love is as explosive as Lina's ] Jamal made the comparison, [ or maybe it's just the passion of the first time ].

He tended Brad his hand and the latter grabbed it after a short moment of hesitation, " I don't know whether I should start by apologizing or thanking you for having stopped me messing everything up, " he said.

" None of them, " Jamal replied, he patted the man's shoulder as he added, " I don't do all these to receive gratitude anyway ".

" But I'm still indebted to you, though, and I have to repay you back, even if I think it's quite impossible ".

" I don't especially ask you to repay me anything... " Jamal paused and thought, " but I think you can help me with something... a bit complicated not less important ".

" Whatever you want, if it's in my capacities " Brad immediately responded. Jamal leaned toward him and whispered something in his ear.

" Go meet her, tell her it's me who sent you, she would give you all the details ".

" I promise you that I will do my best, even though it's quite an awkward situation, " Brad said to him.

" I'm counting on you," said Jamal before he moved and went pulling off Volga from Don's arms. They got in the convertible and left the HQ while leading the cortege of cars.