A/N – Here's the first chapter of the next story in the series. If you haven't read it, it's You Can't Handle The Truth, and I highly recommend you do. The information in that story sets up this one, and this story's purpose is to set up the next one.

And don't hate me, I promise this will all make sense in chapter two!


Chapter 1

Pete ran as fast as he possibly could. He kept going until his legs ached and his lungs were on fire, and then he forced himself to run even more. Around corners and down hallways, left and right through the twisting labyrinth of corridors that this place seemed to be made up of. He had to get to Myka, he was vibing out, bad. Something was horribly wrong here and he had to find her, he just didn't know why. Pete was running blindly, not knowing where he was going or how to get there. All he knew was that he had to find Myka, and he had to find her now.

Another fork up ahead. Pete skidded to a halt and looked to the right and-

"PETE!" Myka yelled from behind him in the other direction. He whipped around to see Myka running toward him full tilt. He didn't even get a full step towards her before he heard two sharp cracks. Myka's body jerked at the sound, causing her to stumble and pitch forward, crashing into the soft carpeting underfoot and revealing the man with a gun behind her, wearing a long dark coat with a hood thrown over his head, completely obscuring his face.

The unknown man sprinted down a corridor and disappeared from sight, leaving an echoing laugh that would haunt Pete for the rest of his life. Pete ran to Myka lying face down on the plush carpet, dark red stains blossoming from the grisly entry wounds in her back. He ripped off his jacket and wadded it up, pressing it against the wounds to try and staunch the bleeding as he gently rolled her over and cradled her in his arms.

"You're going to be okay, Myka," Pete lied. He knew damn well there was no way he was going to be able to get her out of here, let alone to a hospital, in time. In fact, he wasn't even sure how to get out of this place at all. "Don't worry, everything's going to be fine," he choked out, yet another lie that tasted horribly bitter on his tongue.

Myka's eyes fluttered open and she looked at Pete. "Where were you, Pete?" she asked softly, groaning in pain as he pressed harder on the holes in her back. "Why did you let him shoot me?" she questioned accusingly. "I thought you loved me?"

"I do, Myka," he whispered, tears rolling down his cheeks. "I do love you."

But Myka didn't hear him. She was already gone.

Then Pete's world went black.