Alfred stood, silent, his gun held at Ivan. Finally, he spoke.

"You betrayed me. I trusted you. Arthur told me I shouldn't have. He was right. You were my friend, but you lied to me. I hate being lied to."

Ivan stared back. He had not realized that he'd lied to Alfred.

"But, Alfred..." Ivan started.

"Don't call me that," Alfred growled.

Ivan was starting to get scared. Alfred had never done anything like this before.

"When have I lied to you?" he asked.

"When you told me that you had nothing to do with Yao going red, for instance," Alfred answered coldly.

"But, I didn't!" Ivan insisted.

"I have proof. You're lying again."

Ivan felt himself beginning to panic.

"But, we're friends! I'd never try to hurt you! You know that!" he cried, trying to keep Alfred from using his gun.

"You're lying again," Alfred stated.

He doesn't believe me. Ivan thought.

"Nyet! I'm not! It's true!" Ivan yelled, fear building up inside, threatening to break him.

"Yes you are. If you were my friend, you wouldn't have betrayed my trust by lying." Alfred cocked his pistol.

"Альфред, пожалуйста, поверьте мне!" Ivan screamed in terror. Help! he thought, desperate.

The sound of a gunshot echoed around them. Ivan felt a sharp pain in his chest, and he instinctively drew his hand to his left breast. As he crumpled to the ground, he realized his glove felt warm. He examined his hand, shocked to find it reddened with blood. As he fell backwards into the snow, he saw Alfred coming toward him. Ivan looked up at the younger man, now looming over him. He seems so tall from down here.

"Now you'll never lie to anyone ever again," Alfred said, colder than the snow Ivan was laying in. He turned and walked away, leaving the bleeding man to die alone.

Ivan shut his eyes against the tears threatening to fall. He hadn't imagined it this way. He opened his eyes to give one last gaze to the hazy-clouded Siberian sky. He watched as the purple and grey faded into black.

Ivan blinked his eyes open. Where am I? Oh, it's warm! He sat up and took his coat off. Looking around, he found himself in a field of golden-yellow sunflowers. He looked up and saw the sun, shining warmly, not too hot, not too cold. Perfect. Ivan smiled, and his tears fell happily.

Альфред, пожалуйста, поверьте мне!= Alfred, please, believe me!

Al'fred, pozhaluysta, pover'te mne!