I lunged at Kendall, swinging the sword towards the trigger. He ducked under my swing, stumbling back. "Easy, Phynley, easy," he huffed, crawling back. "Think for a moment-"

I raised the blade. "After you're dead." Jude snatched my arm, Victor scattering back. I pushed him away. I fixed my grip, swinging at Victor. He rolled away, pulling the trigger from his pocket, a metal cylinder with a red button on the top.

He hovered his thumb over the button. "Do you really want to be responsible for thousands of lives?" he hissed, his voice strained.

Thousands. I froze, my eyes darting to the city below us. He can't mean to kill that many.

He retreated up the steps, smirking back at me. "Yes, I think that's a good estimate, going off traffic stats, the movement of the city."

Gwen glared behind him, picking at her ties. I swallowed my spit, the hilt slipping in my grip. "You can't do this."

He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't have to, you're right. That solely depends on you." He kept a death grip on the trigger.

Lewis stood up, dusting himself off. He avoided my eyes. "Don't fight this, Phyn. He isn't going to stop."

"No." I stepped back, holding the blade between me and them. "This isn't happening. You can't have me." Blindly stepping back, my feet faltered. I can't let this happen.

"This is really quite simple." Kendall straightened his shoulders, backlit by the blue city glow. "You can fight me on this, but it will come at a great cost. First I'll set off the bombs, and then I'll shoot Gwen. What will that accomplish?"

I squeezed my eyes shut. What do I do now? Jude wormed his way past Ingrid, grabbing my shoulders. "Listen to him," he whispered, his voice desperate. "It'll be okay, I'll take care of you." Liar.

"You can't take care of yourself!" I shoved him back. "No one's dying and I'm not going with you."

Ingrid inched back, darting her eyes between each of us , eyes calculated. Lewis sighed, his hand held out to me. "None of us want anyone else to die...it's best if you give in."

No. I shook my head. "You can't mean that, I won't just stand by…"

"It's okay to let go," a painfully familiar voice echoed over my shoulder.

I stood petrified, refusing to look behind me. Tears blurring my eyes, I couldn't find any words. That was Luca's voice.

My mind reeling, I couldn't think. This is cruel, beyond cruel. Lewis reached for me."Stay away!" I swung the blade back, slicing a red line on his arm. Jude loomed behind me, I gave another warning strike. I turned back.

Luca's eyes blinked at me. Lost in his huge brown eyes, the air was knocked from my lungs. I shook my head."Don't you dare use him against me," I sniveled, "not him."

Jude stiffened. "Who...is she seeing?"

Lewis gripped his arm, hissing, "I don't know, I can only put my words in their mouth. I can't control who or what else they do."

Kendall gave a devilish smirk. "Is it the dreamer?" he asked. My stomach knotted, I refused to look at him. "How very predictable," he snickered.

"Shut up, just shut up!" I said.

"Who's this dreamer?" Jude asked, Kendall ignoring the question. His eyes stuck on me. Gwen creeping up behind him, she held up the ropes on her wrists, partially unwound. Don't let him turn around.

I raised my chin, shouting back, "He has nothing to do with this." I stepped back, catching Luca's eyes again. Oh.

The pain in his eyes was hard to stomach. "I want you to let go..." he whispered. I held my breath, the room seeming to fade. "Let me go." He winced. I shook my head. But that kills...worse than anything.

A slight smile slipped out on his lips, a shadow over his face. "Does it hurt worse than having your throat slit by a bird wizard?" The sword fell from my hands, tears stinging my eyes. That doesn't make it true, it's not true. I tried to twist away reality shifting back.

I reached up to the corner of the stage. Gwen swung her tied hands around Kendall's neck. He gasped, clawing at her arms. She dragged him to the ground.

I stumbled back to my feet. I have to get there. Lewis jumped off the stage, barreling past for the door. He's running away? I moved my gaze back to the trigger in Victor's fist.

Stomping towards them, Jude caught my arm. I spun back. He hissed in my face, "No you don't." I kicked him in the shin, trying to pull out of his grip. He pulled me back.

Ingrid jumped forward, swinging the taser towards him. Jude let go of me, catching her arm. "I'm disappointed in you," he growled, "after all we've been through. Together" He peeled the device from her fingers. Shoot.

He threw her back, running after Gwen. I reached for the sword, fumbling to pick it. I have to stop him, I have to.

Jude yanked Gwen from Victor, her gag falling loose. "Tyrant," she snarled. The taser sparked, he turned the bolt at her.

A bullet ripped through his shoulder, blood splattering across the stage. Jude screamed. He fell back in spasms. Raine. I took a breath of relief.

Kendall lifted his head, rolling up into a sitting position. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Now that was uncalled for," he croaked. He stared at Jude screaming on the floor, looking up to the ceiling. "I'm going to need you to come down here, Raine."

Another bullet clipped the steps. Kendall swore, standing back up. Gwen ran towards me, her eyes wild, blood spatter on her temple. "Don't listen, don't listen to him-"

The doors swung open, I jumped. Jake trudged through, dragging Lewis behind him. "Look who I found trying to escape." He threw Lewis to the ground. Blood dripped down his nose, Lewis wiped it with his sleeve, crawling to his knees.

Jake cocked his gun, resting his aim on me. I glared back at him.

Victor stuttered off the platform, he clapped his hands. "Wonderful, now it's just Murray and Dr. Strong unaccounted for." He turned on his heel. "And with a little bit of recompense, we can get their attention." He tilted his head, a smile slipping out. "Can someone find the intercom?"

Jake switched his gaze to Ingrid, he pointed with his gun. "Hey, how about you? Get the mic."

Ingrid pushed her glasses back in place. "Alright…" She walked around the desk, lifting up a corded mic. "What would you like me to say?"

Kendall tapped his chin. "Hmm…" he paced. "You can tell Murray, his engineer has five minutes." His eyes locked on Gwen.

I turned my head. "No! I won't let you, I won't-"

Victor sighed, "Calm down, it's a threat, no one needs to die." His gaze drifted to Jude laying on the stage. "Speaking of which, we need someone to put pressure on the Commander's wounds…" He tilted his head to me. "Phyn, Raine's not going to shoot you, now is she?"

I dropped my jaw. "I'm not doing anything for you."

Victor paced further under the balcony. "Resistance won't help Gwen." She sat on the floor, across from Lewis. She refused to meet my eyes.

"This is ridiculous," I growled. "I won't help you."

Victor tilted his head. "Jake, go ahead and shoot Miss Sullivan-"

"Wait!" I raised my hand. "Fine...you win," I breathed, dragging my feet up the steps. Jake moved the gun away from Gwen.

I knelt beside Jude, pressing down on his shoulder. Jude grimaced, blood covering my hands. A fiery glare in his eyes, he grabbed my wrist. "This...is...your fault." He dug his nails in my arm.

I pushed on his wound, he cried out. His face withered in pain. "Stop it," I hissed at him. "If you want to live, don't fight me." He shut his mouth, moving his eyes away. I don't want to be here either.

Kendall pivoted his step, surveying the room. He took a breath, pointing back at the intercom. "Good, gahead, Ingrid. Give my message to Murray."

My arms trembled, red between my fingers. This is spiralling out of control. As long as Victor has the trigger, there isn't much I can do. I shut my eyes, the missing rhythm made me dizzy. I only have one shot, and I can't use it from here.

Ingrid lifted the microphone, she cleared her throat, "Good afternoon...General Murray, you have five minutes to come meet your engineer, we will be waiting in the balcony suite." She took her hand off the button.

Kendal chuckled, beaming with his stupid grin. "It's so easy, simple really. You dangle something they care about over a cliff, and people bend."

Jake snorted, walking forward. "I've already called for backup, and Helios should arrive momentarily." He circled around Gwen and Lewis. "Then we can tie loose ends." No, you don't.

Ingrid clicked the button again on the intercom. "Victor Kendall is a traitor to Avarice, and is planning to take thousands of lives with explosives he's planted-" Jake raised his gun, she threw the intercom at him. It smashed into pieces, Jake reorienting himself.

Ingrid rolled over the desk, ducking behind it. Jake fired a bullet at the desk.

Victor narrowed his eyes. "Unwise, Ingrid." He paced, gritting his teeth. Lewis began to mumble. I shivered, a strange feeling seeping in the air. Lewis latched onto the hilt of my sword. His eyes glazed over. Oh...no.

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I debated abandoning Jude, my instincts screaming, stop this, stop this. Sweat on his brow, Lewis's movements strained. Something is really wrong.

Gwen scooted back, crawling to her feet. "What's happening?"

Victor hummed, "Lewis isn't immune from his own visions, he can be driven mad as easily as anyone." Wait, what? I sat up. How is that possible? Victor can turn his ability in on itself?

"Stop it, this is enough," Gwen hissed. She stepped back, running towards Lewis. He moved in a fog, slow.

She pulled on his sleeve. "Hey, stay with me," she said, "Lewis." He blinked, frowning at her. He swung the sword.

Gwen jumped back, dodging the swing. "Lewis." Lewis winced, tripping over his feet. His eyes flickered, staying hazy.

I stood up, stepping over Jude. "Stay away from him," I called. He doesn't know what he's doing. Jake slowed my steps, the barrel of the gun aimed at me. I glared at him.

Lewis turned around, flinging the sword at her. Gwen slipped around, kicking him in the gut. "Snap out of it," she hissed, ducking again, she pushed him back. "I'm not giving up on you." She wiped the sweat from her brow, a smile breaking free. "Not this time. Even if I have to pound you into the ground, you're a part of my team." Lewis faltered, grimacing.

Victor clenched his jaw, tracing along the edge. "Think about this Gwen, I can set this off at any moment-"

She laughed, "And lose your power over Phyn? I don't think so." She caught her balance. "You can't afford to waste that on me." She punched Lewis in the jaw, toppling his balance. "I won't let you use him anymore."

Jake fidgeted, moving his gaze. "Do you want me to shoot her?" I inched closer to the edge of the stage. Maybe I can use this distraction.

Victor darted his eyes, wringing his hands. "No...keep your focus on Ingrid and Phyn. This won't interfere, it's fine," desperation leaked into his tone. This isn't according to plan.

Jude rolled over, reaching for my ankle. I kicked his hand back. "He's going to lose," I whispered. "This is just the beginning."

"You don't know that," he hissed, struggling with his voice. Yes, I do. The injector in my pocket, Kendall stood away from the fight. If I can just get to him.

Gwen ducked under his swing, tettering. She gasped, her face twisting up. Her eyes fixed on a spot in the room. She shook her head. "This...isn't fair-" she croaked. She's seeing things. "I-I know it isn't real." Gwen turned her head back to me, her eyes pleading for help.

I'm coming. I stepped towards her, Lewis raising his sword. "Gwen!" I yelped, her gaze turning back. The sword sliced her leg. She cried out, collapsing to the floor.

My head was dizzy, warped steps as I ran towards her. My heartbeat in my head, the world moved in a blur.

Lewis lifted the blade. No! Jake ran towards me. I twisted away, slipping by him. I fell off my feet, pushing back off the ground. I cleared my field of vision, just as Lewis ran the sword straight through Gwen's stomach.

Tears stung my eyes, I blinked, the air leaving my lungs. Freya's dead eyes haunted my mind, pushing back against the cupboard door. I have to save her, I have to break through…I have to...

I'm too late...again, and again, and again. Fire building in my gut, my hands shook. I can't save anyone. Kendall laughed, strutting around the pool of blood. Almost mad in how he danced with glee. He's a deadman.

Lewis twitched, dropping the sword. A whimper turned into a howl. He shrieked, throwing his hands up, his whole body in tremors. His words were unintelligible, blubbering. He curled up in a ball.

I stumbled towards Gwen, tears streaming down my cheeks, I crawled over to her side. Shallow breaths, she barely looked at me. "I'm sorry…" I whispered, my voice hoarse. "I'm so sorry." I took her hand, Victor's laugh still ringing in my ears.

She lifted her head, her eyes intense. "You can do this Phyn, you can't let them take you."

"Don't worry about me." I tightened my grip on her hand. "It's going to be fine...you're going to be fine," I whimpered.

She shook her head. "No, I'm not."

This isn't right. I covered my mouth, trembling with sobs. I have to save her, I was supposed to save her. Brown eyes soft, her jaw clenched. She latched onto my wrist tight. "Don't...don't, listen, I've made sure- I-I've...made sure…" Fear mixed in her gaze, her grip weakened.

"Don't speak-"

"I finished it, I tried to say before." She shook her head, her breathing short. "Can you tell Murray...I never minded, not any of it." she pushed through the words, "promise me."

"I will, I promise." I nodded my head, trying to hold onto the life left in her. She smiled, it withered into a sudden gasp of pain. Her face tearstained, she lifted her head. "We've won...we've already won..." her voice fell off, head dropping back down.

"No..." I croaked, her eyes going hollow. "No!" I buried her head in my arms, screaming into her shoulder. Why, why, why? The ache ripped through my heart. Why am I always too late? Why can I never save anyone? I sniffled, tears pouring down my cheeks. She should've never been here, she should've never died.

Kendall's shadow loomed over, a grim reaper waiting to take more. The sun moved behind the clouds, the light choked out. My hands shook.

Kendall took a breath. "If only she had the sense to listen, this is the cost of resistance. She decided to attack me, attack Lewis. She chose her own fate."

Lewis whimpered from his crumpled heap on the floor. "I promised...I promised her it would be okay." You shouldn't make promises you can't keep.

I slipped away from Gwen, wiping the tears from my cheeks.

Kendall ducked his head, catching my eyes. "Are you ready to give up?"

I clenched my jaw, tears blurring my vision….We've already won. I lifted my head, scanning the room. Why would she say that? The trigger in Kendall's hand, the back panel fit loosely, a small wire sticking out. Is it possible…? Gwen was the only one who got close to him.

The door swung open, Helios rolling a stretcher in. Skittish as he studied the room, this whole thing felt like a strange nightmare. His eyes fell on Gwen, swallowing a lump in his throat. Several guards followed in behind him, serious faces.

Kendall stretched out a smile. "About time Helios, we're just about ready. Aren't we, Phynley." I felt sick, my head spinning.

Helios set the cart against the wall, darting his head back and forth. "Nevermind that, Murray's still around here, he's going to-"

Jake pushed him. "I can deal with Murray," he hissed, "Just do your job." Chilling silence, the guards shifted.

Victor seemed only preoccupied with me. He grabbed the edge of the cart, lifting up one of the straps across it. "You may still have your gunner, but she can't take us all out. We can drag you here by force." A sparkle in his eye, he tapped his finger on the button. "Or you can hop up here of your own accord, and I don't have to push this button. Your choice, my dear."

I picked at the dried blood on my hands, shaking my head. I won't do this. Tear stains across my cheeks, I kept my head down. Victor pouted, his finger dancing over the button. "I really don't want it to come to this," he said.

One of the guards stepped out of line. He motioned to Jude bleeding out across the room. "…Is that the Commander?" he asked. The others murmured.

Kendall turned his head, gawking at them. "They shot him, revolutionary scum. You must defend your leader, do your duty-"

Ingrid shouted from behind the desk, "He hasn't called for any medical help, he's letting your leader bleed out on the floor."

"Don't listen to her, she's a liar!" Victor roared. Lewis still curled up in a ball, the guards fidgeted.

Jake barked, "The head administrator is a part of the plot, she's a traitor. We're trying to save him."

I shook my head. "That button in his hand, is a trigger for several explosives placed throughout the capital...he's threatening to blow them up if I don't comply with his demands."

Victor gave a nervous laugh, "That's a ridiculous story...she's a menace, a liar." He pointed at me. "She already ran off to join Vitriol."

The outspoken guard broke from the line. "I don't know what's happening, but I won't let the Commander die." He headed towards the stage.

Victor clenched his jaw. "In the Commander's current state, authority falls to me. We deal with the girl first." He pointed at me.

One of the other guards turned his gun on him. "And why are you so focused on her?"

Victor stepped back. "I'm focused because she's the shooter! We're not safe-"

"I have no gun." I raised my hands. "I haven't hurt anyone."

Ingrid peeked her head back out, resting her arms on the desk. "You're less and less believable, Victor."

Guns raised all around. Victor scowled at the room. "If she's right about the bombs, then you all should be more careful." He kept his death glare. "I will set them off, put your guns on the ground."

Each guard set their gun on the floor, someone murmuring, "So the rumours...those files." I took a step back, Gwen's body next to me. And none of it was enough. I moved my eyes up. Raine stared down from the edge of the balcony. Her expression, lost, sympathy screaming from her gaze. This was never supposed to happen.

"Phyn," Victor called over my shoulder. "Phyn, Phynley," he snarled, "Are you listening."

"No, I'm not," I growled, turning my head. I have to trust Gwen, trust my own gut. This ends here. "And I will not."

Victor tilted his head. "What did you say?" he huffed, "Don't you understand what's at stake?"

I gritted my teeth. "I'm not taking your threats anymore, and I'm not looking for a clever way out."

He pulled on Lewis's shirt. "We may need you again, Phynley is being stubborn."

I won't let him kill anyone else. "Put the trigger down and I won't kill you," I hissed.

Victor laughed, veins popping on his forehead. "You won't kill me? Are you serious?" Jake walked behind me, circling. Victor grinned at the crowd, "Like I said before, you can't win, you're not capable of it. Not when there is something you care about, something I can take away-"

"Ya, the bleeding heart thing," I spat, slipping my hands in my pockets. "You're right, that's a weakness." I wiped a tear from my cheek. "But, it also fuels my wrath."

Kendall swallowed his spit. The door swaying with the wind, I shivered. I stepped towards him, Kendall holding the trigger above his head. "I will do it! I will! I'll take the lives of thousands, pour their blood out on the streets! And it'll be your fault-"

I shoved Kendall into the cart. "No, you don't get to say that."

Jake moved in behind me. Helios waved his hands, running in the way. "Don't shoot her, you can't!" he screeched. "We may never see anything like her again."

I slipped the injector from my pocket, popping the cap off. My stomach twisted up in knots. It's going to be okay. Kendall looked like a scared deer, he backed up straight against the wall. "This is on you," he hissed, "this is your choice-"

I grabbed him by the collar. "I'm not taking the blame for you!"

His face went blank, pure hatred blinking back at me. What if I'm wrong. "I warned, Wanderer, I warned you," he hushed. I reached for the trigger, his finger pressing down on the button.

The world slowed, silence stretching out into agonizing seconds. I blinked at the horizon, the pale blue city untouched. Kendall's breathing ragged, his eyes darted to the window, and back to me. Not a word from anyone.

He pushed the trigger again, and again. Eyes wild, he stuttered, "How? How...is this possible?" He shook his head. "I don't understand-"

"You've lost," I said. "It's that simple."

Jake walking backwards, Victor kept pushing the button. "This should work…it's not possible." His hands found the loose panel, ripping it open. "That vile little-" He looked up, shoving me away, he scattered across the room. The guards redrew their guns.

I lunged after Victor's shoulder. Lewis cried out from behind me. He gripped his head. "I won't do this, I won't-"

Victor wiggled free. "Now's not the time to fight, Lewis. You're going to need all your strength to face Murray, now that he knows it was you who killed his precious Gwen."

Murray? I turned around. He stood over Gwen's body, his eyes lost in terror. He stood up, His whole body shaking with rage "Lewis…you did this?"

Lewis's eyes bugged out, he crawled back. "I...didn't want to, I didn't know-"

Murray lifted his head, his voice steely, "I'm going to kill you."