"I'm going to kill you." The strange note in Murray's voice gave me chills. My head in a fog, I dropped my shoulders.

Murray dragged Lewis up from the ground. Lewis cowering, he tried to worm away. Murray slugged him, Lewis's head spinning. Murray walked after him, pulling him back up. Murray hit his face repeatedly, battering his face till it turned bloody.

I chased after them, pulling on his arm. "Murray!" I yelped. "Stop!" His elbow knocked me back. I pressed forward, catching his fist."It's Kendall, Kendall made him do it," I hissed.

Murray moved his eyes, a dead gaze. "So...I'll kill him too, everyone responsible." I gawked at him. What on earth is happening? His jaw quivered, yanking his arm back.

"No, don't," I shouted. Murray tossed Lewis back to the floor, locking his eyes with Jake.

"John." Jake stepped back, he lifted his gun, training it on him. "Don't even think about it." Murray gave an evil smirk. He vanished, murmurs rising in response. Jake darted his head back and forth. This is bad. Everyone moved to the edge of the room. Helios ducked behind the cart. Ingrid lowered her head. No one's going to stop this.

I stepped back, running to Lewis's side. I knelt beside him, supporting his shoulder. "Are you okay?" I asked. Lifting his head, I wiped blood out of his hair. "Lewis?"

"Get...back," he blubbered, pushing me away. "He's not going to stop...Phyn. He will kill me." I shook my head. He put something in the palm of my hand. "I trust you...I trust you'll do the right thing."

"What are you talking about?" I opened my fist, a thumb drive with a strange symbol, a circle over a circle. "What is this?" I asked.

Lewis lowered his eyes. "The truth…"

The truth? I gawked at him. "I need to know more than that, tell me what this is-"

Murray reappeared, knocking Jake's gun up towards the ceiling, a bullet rang out. Murray kicked him in the stomach, stealing the firearm from his grip.

Jake winced, his voice hoarse. "I'm…your brother."

Murray shook his head. "Only when it suits you." He pulled the trigger, Jake falling back, he hit the floor. Murray has lost his mind. I got to my feet, tucking my head back. Murray turned back, his eyes fixed on Lewis.

Not a chance in hell. I slipped the drive in my pocket, walking out. I stepped in front of Lewis, raising my hands. "Murray, stop this! Killing Lewis won't make things better-"

"That's where you're wrong," he growled, his face stone cold. He continued forward.

"I won't let you." I pushed in front of him.

"Get out of my way, Phyn." He rested the barrel of the gun on my shoulder.

I stared him dead in the eye, my heart pounding. "Are you going to kill me too?"

Murray's eyes flickered "If I have too," his voice broke. "Move."

"That's not what Gwen would want," I hissed, "She would be disappointed-"

"She isn't here to disappoint." He shoved me back. I hit the ground, turning over. Murray continued forward. Lewis whimpered on the floor, curling up in a ball.

I won't let him do this. I reached up for Murray's coat. Missing the seam, I hit the floor again. No.

Murray stood over Lewis, lifting the gun.

"Don't do it, you don't have to do it!" I cried. He winced, his eyes darting back, a sliver of remorse. He pulled the trigger.

Lewis dropped. I squeezed my eyes shut, hissing through my teeth. How could he? Murray lowered the gun, his shoulders falling. This is wrong, this is so wrong. I hung my head, the floor spinning. I didn't want this. I hit my fist on the ground.

Murray turned, surviving the room. His eyes fixed at the back wall. I lifted my head, Helios alone, hiding behind the cart. Where's Kendall?

The room stood in horrific silence, I held my breath. How did we not notice? How did I let him slip away? All this blood spilt in vain.

"Where did he go!" Murray roared, his voice rising. He spun around. "Where is he!"

Oliver stopped in the doorway, his eyes over the room. His shoulder's fell. I bit my cheek, stifling a sob. Gwen's dead, Lewis is dead. Tears blurred my eyes, I shook my head....I don't have time to cry. I opened my hands, the auto injector in my grip. I still have this.

My eyes drawn to the blue city on the other side of the window, I got to my knees. Movement over the corner of the roof, I crawled closer. Kendall stumbled across the roof, a chopper on the landing pad. He's getting away. I rose to my feet, clearing my throat. The injector in my hand, I looked back at Oliver. His eyes went wide.

"Phyn, no!" he ran after me. I can't live with Kendall escaping.

I stabbed the epi-pen in my thigh, gritting my teeth. I clawed for a sliver of the rhythm. Oliver ran after me, the room ripping away like fire. A thousand needles scratched over my skin. I screamed, my voice echoing into the void. Tumbling through the dark, I sped up. The burn intensified, ripping through my lungs.

The battle cry roared, mixing into my screams. Something clicked, fire mixing with my blood. It became my voice. The echo thundered through my being, shaking away the darkness.

The world built up around me, keeping time with the rhythm. It grew louder, the sound overwhelming. The world is crying out. Louder than anything, the sound drained out, wharping to nothing. And then…silence.

I gasped for air, hitting the roof. I rolled, my hands clutched the concrete stones. The wind stung my eyes. Every breath burning, my vision blurred. Something's wrong, something's really wrong. The icy air made me shake. I have to stop Victor. I turned onto my back, the silver clouds crawling across the sky. The ache slowed my movements. I have to get up.

Pushing onto my arm, I lifted myself off the ground. Weak footing, I managed to stand. The wind shaking my stance, I steadied myself. One step at a time, I walked after Victor.

He stayed in the doorway of the chopper. Pursing his lips, he stepped down. He cleared his throat. "If you insist on following, I can't just leave you behind." He started towards me.

I shook my head, my steps growing more stable. "Neither of us are going anywhere," I growled, the ache traveling through my lungs. I bit down on my cheek.

Victor lifted his hands. "I appreciate the effort, but you're too weak to fight me. Look at you unarmed and limping...you look awful-"

I shoved my hand at his throat. He gagged, eyes wide. Victor peeled my fingers off, grabbing my wrist. "You want this to turn ugly?" He twisted my wrist, throwing me towards the ground. I hit the concrete, rolling around. Victor kicked my side. "This can get ugly-"

I slammed my heel in the shin. "This is already ugly," I huffed. He hissed, grimacing. I crawled to my feet, stumbling back.

I charged after him, knocking him off his feet. He hit the ground, reaching after me. I whacked his hand away. Stay back.

Kendall caught my wrist, yanking forward. He kneed me in the face. Eyes watering, I stumbled back. The world was blurry, as I tried to wander back.

His snarl chased after me, he latched onto the neck. "Learn to give up," he spat. "You're defeated."

I flailed, fighting for air. No, I'm not. Gagging at the blue sky, it melted into the clouds. Spots darted across my vision. He let go, air refilling my lungs. I'm not defeated. I crawled after him, scratching at his face.

He threw me back down on the concrete. "This is pathetic," he sighed. "You're in no shape for this."

The ache, awful, I tried to lift my head.

Victor dragged me along the concrete. I tried to kick, my legs not working. I squirmed, turning. He yanked me back. "Oh no, you're coming with me," he hummed. "We're going to lock you up somewhere small and dark. Somewhere you can never escape. In time we'll make my plan a reality."

I won't let this happen. "Your plan is falling apart," I coughed.

Sweat on his forehead, Victor clenched his jaw. "This is just a setback. I'll find a way around this, I always do," he grumbled.

The sun shone off the slated roof, the glare on the windows in my eyes. He'll eventually slip up, I'll get out of this…somehow.

I grabbed on the edge of the tile, my grip slipping free. I growled, "You're losing allies, respect...you won't have anything left."

"And what do you have?" He darted his eyes back.

I stole a breath. "The people will never stand with you."

He let go of my legs, looming over me. "You shouldn't underestimate human nature. Everyone has a weakness, a price."

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I sneered. "Even you-"

He kicked me back to the floor. Victor scowled. "You think you are so clever," he hissed. "This could've gone so much easier if you weren't so stubborn."

I lifted my head, wiping blood off my lip. "That's because you're wrong, I don't have a price."

Victor blinked at me, breaking out into a cackle. "This is where your cleverness fails you." He grabbed my head, lifting my gaze towards the roof. A woman slid down the panels, skidding with her heels. Raine. Gun drawn, she headed straight for us.

Victor snickered, letting my head fall. "Your price has always been the lives of your friends."

He lifted me to my feet, swinging me into a headlock. I shoved at his arms, trying to worm free. He hissed in my ear, "You can get in the chopper, or you can watch Raine die too."

My stomach twisted in knots, I shook my head. No, I won't let him. I elbowed his side, yelling out, "Raine, get back! Stay away!"

Victor sighed. He flicked out his phone, typing in numbers. What is he doing? I kicked at his ankles.

Raine jumped off the roof, leaving the ground running. "Let her go!" she called out. She slowed ahead of us. Gun poised, she snarled at Victor. "You're not going anywhere old man," she spat. "This stops here."

Victor sighed, "How tiresome." He lifted up his phone again, finger on the call button. "What you're going to put that gun on the ground, and slide it over."

Raine stomped closer. "Like hell I will, you're not even armed!"

"True." Victor nodded. "But once I dial, a soldier outside your family's home will pick up." My eyes went wide. No, he can't. He wouldn't.

The colour drained from Raine's face. "H-how did you …"

"You're not as careful as you think. I've had this in my back pocket for a while." Kendall grinned. Raine's face twisted up. Kendall tilted his head. "Do you want your family to die, or just for Phyn to get captured?"

Raine clenched her jaw, slowly lowering the gun. I pushed forward. "...I'll be okay, I will." I'll find a way.

Kendall smiled with bright blue eyes. "Nice lie," he chuckled, raising his chin. "Toss the gun over, or I dial."

Raine glared at him. Putting the gun on the ground, she kicked it over. "Now put the phone down," she growled.

Victor snarled at me. "Not until I get her in the helicopter." He stepped back, dragging me with him. The phone in his other hand, he kept his eyes on Raine. I'm done with this. Kendall steadied the door, loosening his grip. "Get in," he hissed, tossing me towards the entrance.

Stumbling into the lip, I pivoted. His eyes still on Raine, I slapped the phone out of his hand. Kendall reached after it, missing the catch. The screen cracked on the pavement. I shoved him aside. Stomping on the screen, I ground the glass with my boot.

"What have you done!" Kendall shouted. I smirked in his face, his hand swooped after me. He latched onto my hair, slamming my head against the door.

I hissed, slipping down the wall of the helicopter. I sat at the base. My face pounded, my vision cloudy. I'm in no shape for this. I leaned my head back.

Raine charged Victor, he ducked under her fist. Jumping around the door, Raine chased after him.

I focused on breathing, the throbbing grew worse.

Raine knocked Victor back, he stumbled, staying on his feet. She tightened her stance, blocking his next strike. Raine shoved him. "You're gonna pay for everything you've done," she hissed. "I won't let you escape, even if I have to rip you limb from limb. "

He smirked at her. "So I can look more like you? Maimed and broken, an annoying eyesore." He swung another punch.

Raine growled, ducking under his fist. "Least my heart is whole. You're something that can't be fixed." She kicked him, his hands catching her leg. Raine shoved back, Victor jamming a spot on her knee.

Victor laughed, letting go. "Your prosthetic is an exceptional model, but not without defects."

Her leg swung down, the knee locked stiff. She stumbled, raging building behind her eye. No. I pressed forward, crawling closer.

Raine limped after Kendall. He threw her straight to the ground. "Not so tough now, mercenary." He dusted off his hands," he said.

Raine rolled over, dragging her leg over. She slammed her fist at her knee, trying to dislodge it. She ripped the fabric, the metal exposed, she frantically pulled at the mechanics. She looked up with panicked eyes.

Kendall stood above her, he turned his head, grinning at me. "Look at that, we have a chance to teach Phynley a lesson. If you pick the hard way, people will get hurt." He stepped on her prosthetic leg.

Raine moved her effort further up the leg, she fought to wrench free from the piece. Kendall shoved her down. Raine twisted back up, her hands working fast. His fist coming around again, I shut my eyes. I need to do something. Raine spit out blood, moving back to the limb. I can't let this happen again.

My head spun, blinking at Raine's gun lying on the concrete floor. Oh... I rolled onto my stomach, pushing off the helicopter. I crawled after the gun, my focus narrowed.

Kendall threw Raine back again, I jumped. Kendall turned his head, grinning ear to ear. "How about I finish off the rat, and we get going, huh?"

I pushed forward, getting to my knees. "You're going to stop," I murmured.

"Keep breathing threats, you have nothing to back them up," he laughed. Raine clipped herself out of the prosthetic, worming away. Kendall kicked the metal leg away, stalking after her. "I'm tired of it," he sighed.

My hands formed around the gun. I stepped up on one leg. Lifting the gun, my hands shook. "I said, you're going to stop."

Victor turned his head. "Now Phynley, don't jest with me. You're not going to shoot anyone."

I got to my feet. My steps, weak, I walked closer. "You're...not giving me a choice."

"Have you ever killed anyone before?" He placed foot on Raine's neck, his eyes cackling at me. "No, definitely not."

"That doesn't mean I can't," I roared, lazy clouds reflected off the windows. My head felt dizzy. "I...will stop you."

Victor nodded his head. "Yes, of course." He put more pressure on Raine's neck.

"Stop!" I shouted, tightening my grip. "Stop it!"

Kendall's face went blank, he shrugged his shoulders. "Huh? Where is the bullet in my brain? Somehow I'm still breathing." He released his foot, Raine gasping for air. "I remember clearly killing people was off the table in your contract, and those tears you shed for Walter," he laughed, "you can't even stomach killing your enemies."

Merle's eyes in place of Victors. I thought I could...I tried too. He continued to cackle at me, nearly kneeling over. "You're too weak for this, for winning, for destiny. You need to stop while you can."

I shook my head. "I can rise above, I can do what it takes!"

Kendall dropped his smile. "But can you live with the guilt?"

I froze. What did he say? My mind reeling, hating the truth in his words. "I don't have a choice." I shut my eyes.

"You can't even stand being involved in someone's death. Your life has been wallowing, wasted on guilt. It's pathetic, you could do incredible things, if you only-"

"I lost everything! Absolutely everything!" How am I supposed to deal with that?"

"Not by challenging giants." He pressed his foot back down. "Now others will pay for your mistakes…."

"I'm warning you." I stumbled, catching my balance. "I will shoot." My head throbbing, I blinked back at the pain. I'm going to collapse. I stole a breath, cursing.

Victor sighed, "Are you going to keep pretending like this is going to work? Put the gun down...maybe I'll let her live." He's lying, he wants them all gone. Raine's face turned purplish, a sickening hiss from her lips. I don't have time for this.

I lowered the gun. "Okay, fine, just stop," I cried. He's not going to stop, I couldn't shake the thought.

Victor's eyes lit up, a smile curving off his lips. "That's a good girl," he hummed, stepping away from Raine. He walked towards me, holding out his hand. "But now you need to give me the gun."

He's going to kill her anyway. It was hard to breathe. His hand outstretched, eyes wild with the audacity. "It's time to make up your mind, should we add another body to the count, or will you save her," he hushed.

I blinked through the fog, my head getting worse. Emery's growl in my ear, something of a distant memory. If you don't kill the bad guys, they kill you. I took a breath, readjusting my fingers. I have to save her. Swallowing my spit, everything slowed. "I warned you..." I muttered. I warned you.

He waited with a patient gaze. "You're tired, Phyn, just give me the gun. No one has to die." The wind rushed through, brushing my hair across my face. I stayed paralyzed. He rested his hand on my shoulder, his eyes softened. "You can sacrifice your life to save your friend's, you can be the hero." The victim, you want me to be the victim.

"You are wrong about me," I said through clenched teeth. His eyes stopped, a moment of panic in his deep blue eyes. The twinkle faded.

"Phynley...think about what you're doing," he hissed. I told you not to underestimate me. My finger twitched. He stepped back, raising his hands. "This isn't who you are…"

I pulled down on the trigger. The world stopped for a moment, slow as my heart jumped. The bullet struck him between his eyes, shattering his skull. Blood scattered as he fell, dust kicking up.

I breathed, the gun rattling in my hand. I killed him. My lip quivered. His body slumped over, a lifeless hollow shell. Tears welling in my eyes, I blinked them away, my vision clearing. I killed him. The gun slipped from my hand, shaking tremors. I took a desperate breath.

Blue silhouettes of skyscrapers, the height messed with my head. Wind rushing against my face, I shut my eyes. Frightfully cold, the shock almost comforting. Is this what you wanted? I asked the voice, fire rising in my gut. To make me a killer? My breathing grew worse, the ache burning. Only a hollow silence left to keep me company. So I really am just alone...

"Phyn," Raine croaked. She crawled past Kendall's body, waving her hands at me. "Phyn, stay with me! Hey, hey, listen."

Listen? The ground growing closer, I hit the ground. The air knocked out of my lungs, the pain traveling through me. Maybe I'm not fine. The clouds passed overhead, so calm and serene. Oliver did say this could kill me. I swallowed all my courage.

Raine's shouts grew more frantic, "Phynley, focus, stay present." She shook me, the ache screaming back. Just let me rest, I want to rest.

My vision blurred in and out, Raine's shouts louder. My eyes fell shut, Raine holding onto me. "You have to be okay," she hissed. "You have to."

I opened my eyes a crack, specks of blood across her cheek, her face blurred. At least Kendall can't hurt anyone ever again. My eyelids were too heavy to hold, the world slipped into black....It doesn't feel like I've won.

A distant shout kept my mind present, I tried to turn my head. "Raine! Phyn!" Oliver's voice was panicked.

Raine trembled, slipping away from me. "She stopped breathing, she's not breathing."

I'm not? My mind was frantic, blaring like an alarm. I'm not breathing? My lungs lit on fire, the pain unraveling back to a violent intensity. Breathe! Just breathe! Why can't I breathe? My body remained paraylyzed, unmoved by my panic.

Drowning...I'm drowning...always drowning.

Oliver's voice rattled in my ear. "You're not going to die here, I won't let you die," his voice clouded, the burn fading. So this is dying. A quiet voice called out from the darkness, "Hold on...hold on." Shivers rushed down my spine, calm filtering back. Luca's voice. My lungs expanded, the burn coming back unbearable. Everything else was lost to darkness.