"The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it."

Will sniffled after his breakdown, trying to control his breathing. He wiped at his nose and face, curling toward EJ's warmth.

"It's alright," EJ insisted, slumped against the wall next to Will. "Here," EJ nudged Will's bottle of water toward him. "Finish this."

Will nodded, swallowing down the rest of the water. His throat ached from overuse. It had been months since the last time Will talked that much.

A whole lifetime ago, Will thought, closing his eyes. Back when I was young and naïve. Back when I thought people cared.

"Is that," Will licked his lips, voice cracking. "Is this what you felt like?"

"Almost," EJ acknowledged. "It's-it's strange watching your own death, seeing the aftermath. Unlike you, I knew no one would care. Most wanted to throw a parade, you included."

Will shook his head forcing the words out. "I didn't want you dead. Not for Mom or the kids. Hated it."

"That's reassuring, at least," EJ admitted. "I ruined everything before I died. Maybe it was better without me."

"Missed you," Will confessed as it dawned on him. "Especially the last months."

EJ smiled for a few moments before sighing.

"When Samantha packed up the kids and left," EJ said. "It was terrifying. When they were in town I could see them. But she left. She left and I didn't see them anymore. I haven't seen them."

"Happy," Will promised. "I know they are."

"They deserve a life out of Salem," EJ decided. "A life without chaos and scandal. A life without a low-life father."

Will shook his head. He opened his mouth to object and only emitted a tiny squeak. Frustrated, Will grabbed EJ's hand and traced the letters n-o-t.

"I know what I am, William," EJ said. "I had almost a year of solitude to contemplate life and my existence in the world. I'm not a good person and I doubt I ever will be."

Will traced the words -me too- on EJ's hand.

"Maybe that's why we're both here," EJ surmised. "Everyone needs a good anti-hero."

EJ patted Will's knee.

"Let's get you up," EJ suggested. "I'll start the shower for you. You'll feel better with some steam and privacy."

Later, as Will and EJ settled down to sleep, EJ whispered, "You know what's ironic? Ben Weston tried to kill you. Clyde Weston hired someone to kill me. And no one cared either way. No one wanted justice."

"If my father is keeping us here, if he knows who did this to us," EJ mused. "Why hasn't he done anything about it? Why didn't he seek retribution? Why didn't Samantha?"

"Why does that look different?" EJ demanded as Dr. Otero attached a new bag to Will's IV a few days later.

EJ's eyes moved between Otero and Luca.

"This?" Dr. Otero shook the bag before connecting the tube to the cap in Will's hand. "Nothing to worry about. Just a new strength in the solution. I'll start weaning Will off of everything in a few days. Soon he won't need this little baby at all," the doctor flicked the IV bag.

"You didn't keep me on an IV this long," EJ pointed out.

"Your injuries weren't as extensive," Dr. Otero explained, annoyance seeping into his tone. "Besides, each case is different."

EJ opened his mouth to snarl something back when Will whimpered.

"It feels weird," Will admitted with a hoarse voice. He leaned the side of his head on his pillow.

"What?" EJ kneeled down in front of Will and stared into his eyes. "What's wrong?"

"It's itchy," Will shivered. His whole body began to twitch. "Inside, it's all, all," Will mouth open and closed, making wet smacking sounds.

"William?" EJ reached out to push against his shoulders. "William?"

"Tired," Will slurred, eyes fluttering. "EJ," Will whispered before he was out.

EJ stood up, towering over Dr. Otero. He grabbed the man by the lapels of his jacket. "What did you do?"

"Nothing," Dr. Otero said, motioning for Luca to come closer. "I told you, it's a different dose. He needs to adjust. It's nothing to worry about."

"If you hurt him, I swear to God," EJ hissed in the doctor's face. "I will-,"

"You'll what?" Dr. Otero lifted one brow as Luca pulled one of his guns out of his holster. When EJ didn't say anything, the doctor stepped out of his hold and adjusted his lab coat. "That's what I thought."

EJ backed away, glaring at the man. He stood next to a small metal tray of supplies underneath the IV bag.

Dr. Otero lifted a clipboard and jotted things down on a sheet of paper. He'd whisper things in a language EJ didn't understand to Luca.

While Otero occupied Luca, EJ reached behind him. His fingers drifted over a few instruments until he found the one he wanted.

Luca and Dr. Otero never noticed as EJ slid an IV needle into his long shirt sleeve.

From that day on, EJ began to watch and listen. He followed Maria's every move as she cleaned. He observed Antonio when he came in every so often to check on Will's progress and bring their meals. He kept a close eye on Dr. Otero and Luca.

EJ didn't know what he was doing or what to expect. He had no clue where they were held or what they'd find upstairs. But EJ planned. EJ planned and collected.

Every few days, EJ stole a knife when Antonio wasn't looking after a meal. He stashed all the thickest, heaviest books in his bedroom. He even splintered off pieces of framing around his closet door. Stowing the sharpened fragments of wood away.

Any and everything that could substitute for a weapon, EJ kept. He hid them in a pillowcase on his seldom used bed. On the days Maria came down to clean, EJ switched it with one in Will's room so she wouldn't find it.

Whenever breakfast, lunch, or dinner included something long-lasting, EJ stashed it in his pillowcase. Just in case.

As EJ planned, Will faded.

After the change to IV solutions, Will changed. He spent most of his time staring up at the small sliver of sun or stars through his window. Despite regaining the ability to speak, Will quieted. He only spoke when necessary.

EJ feared the worst. Feared that Will would die down here. That watching those videos sucked the life right out of him. That, now, Will no longer had the spirit or the strength to go on. That the new IV bags were robbing Will of his second chance at life.

After each IV, Will crashed, sleeping for long hours at a time. It left Will groggy and dazed. When Will would talk he'd complain of a burning inside his veins. EJ didn't know what sort of nutrients, if any, were in the bags of solution. Will never looked so skinny.

The small amount of actual food they gave Will ended up stirred into a mess instead of in Will's stomach. Whenever questioned, Will insisted he was too full to eat.

Dr. Otero dismissed all of EJ's concerns. Always had an excuse at the ready for keeping Will drugged. EJ wanted to punch the man's condescending teeth out.

"It's been a few days since you did anything," EJ pointed out to Will one afternoon. "Come on, get up. We can walk around the room."

"Tired," Will mumbled, curling into a ball on his bed.

"You must have slept for close to twelve hours," EJ said. "Just a little walk. Ever since they started you on the new treatment all you've done is sleep. Come on."

Will ignored EJ, burrowing into his pillow.

EJ was fed up with confinement. Fed up with not knowing anything. Powerless as he watched Will deteriorate before his eyes, EJ shook his head.

"No," EJ hissed, frustration leaking through. "You're getting up. I am not letting you sit here and waste away right in front of me. Now, get up, William!"

Will huffed but nodded. He sat up, joints breaking and popping, and held out his hands.

"It's hard," Will admitted, voice cracking.

EJ let Will use him as a handrail. He didn't understand how in such a short amount of time Will's musculature decreased again.

"What's hard?" EJ wondered.

"Moving," Will said taking a few small steps around the room.

"You were fine a while ago," EJ said. "More than fine. You could walk and run and you were doing push-ups. This doesn't make any sense."

Will let go of EJ to walk on his own. He made it a few steps before one of his knees buckled and he tumbled to the ground.

EJ rushed to help Will back up. As EJ guided Will to the small seating area, he felt Will's waist. It was small much smaller than it was before.

"Let me see something," EJ requested after Will settled into a chair.

Will nodded, eyes closed.

EJ grabbed the bottom of Will's basic white shirt and lifted it up. With a frown, EJ let the shirt fall back down.

Will's stomach was skinny, too skinny, especially compared to a few weeks ago. Ribs sticking out, hip bones too sharp, stomach curving inward.

"You have to eat more," EJ told Will. "Do you understand? You have to."

Will shook his head. "Not hungry."

"You're never hungry," EJ said. "That's the problem. You are wasting away in here. Just tell me you'll try, William. Please. I can't let anything else happen to you."

Will, opening his eyes, agreed. "I'll try. I will. I promise."

"Okay, good," EJ let out a slow breath. In a low voice, EJ whispered, "I need you at your best. I can't get us out of here alone."

Will watched EJ without saying anything. He didn't have much hope they were going anywhere, especially him.

"We haven't received any messages in weeks," EJ told Will. "We have no idea what's happening outside these walls."

"Not since the new treatment," Will mumbled. "Everything comes down to that. I want to look out the window."

EJ nodded. He helped Will stand up and walk over to the small window. Once he was certain Will wouldn't keel over, EJ sat on the edge of Will's bed. He wanted to distract Will, distract himself. Think of better times and better memories.

"Do you remember when you first moved into the mansion when you were a teenager?" EJ asked. "Our family game nights? How you always made sure Johnny or Allie won?"

Will, staring up at his small sliver of sunlight, thought for a moment. With a sigh, Will shook his head.

"You don't remember or you don't want to talk about it?" EJ narrowed his eyes.

"When did we have family nights?" Will turned to look at EJ, eyes blank.

"When you were in high school," EJ explained in a slow, steady tone. "When the twins were toddlers."

"Oh," Will blinked. "…What twins?"

"William," EJ pushed off the bed and moved closer. He placed his hand on Will's forehead and neck, checking his temperature. "Are you alright?"

Will turned back to lean against the window frame and stare up at the sky. "It's dark down here even when it's morning. I don't like it."

Will scratched at the bandage covering his throat. Without thinking about it, EJ reached out and pulled Will's hand away.

With a start, EJ turned the hand over to stare at the IV injection site on the top of Will's hand. EJ expected it to look a little bruised since Dr. Otero subjected Will to several doses of medicine each day. But this was too much.

Instead of a light purple or green or even yellow, the skin of Will's hand was bright red.

Infection, EJ knew. If Otero saw it, why hasn't he done anything?

"Ow," Will yanked his hand away and curled it against his chest. "Don't do that."

"How long has it been like that?" EJ demanded.

"I don't know," Will answered, shaking his head back and forth. "I don't remember."

EJ tried to think. When was the last time he saw Will's hand? Did Otero sterilize everything before attaching things to Will?

"Damn," EJ mumbled under his breath. "Damn!"

Will jumped, backing further into the window.

"Damn that man!" EJ yelled, grabbing Will's hand again.

Every time Dr. Otero gave Will an IV, EJ was too busy looking at Luca. Too busy trying to find a way out that he didn't pay enough attention to the doctor.

EJ knew from previous hospital stays how important it was to use sterile caps and disinfect the IV site. For the life of him, EJ couldn't remember if Otero took proper measures during all this.

"Why didn't I check? Why didn't I take better care?" EJ paced back and forth. "So focused on finding a way out and I didn't see what was right in front of my face."

Will trembled against the window, knees shaking.

"Right in front of my bloody face and I-," EJ paused when he saw a bright flash of white on the bandage across Will's neck.

On a hunch, EJ reached out and ripped the white bandage off Will's throat.

"Oh, God," EJ stared, face twisting as Will yelped.

Whenever the bandage changed, EJ always looked away. He got squeamish looking at a gaping hole in Will's throat. Dr. Otero always made a big fuss about how it was healing so well, how good everything looked.

He lied.

"Will," EJ whispered staring at the mess of yellow pus and grotesque swelling. Trying not to panic, EJ settled his breathing.

"I told you," Will's forehead scrunched together, pained. "It hurts to talk."

"Come here," EJ put his arm around Will's waist and assisted him to the bathroom. He set Will on top of a closed toilet lid and searched for something to clean the dressing.

The bathroom contained the basics. Toilet paper, hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash. The medicine cabinet contained cotton swabs.

EJ picked up the mouthwash and read the ingredients.

"Well, it's antiseptic," EJ said. "This should work. Not my first choice but oh well."

Will kept his eyes on EJ. He watched as EJ dipped a cotton swab in the mouthwash. He stayed still as EJ wiped across Will's throat and the top of his hand. He did his best not to let anything drip where it shouldn't.

"EJ?" Will whispered as EJ threw everything away.

"What? Did that make it worse?" EJ kneeled down in front of Will, turning his head back and forth.

Will pulled his head out of EJ's reach. "Otero tells me things. Whispers them so you can't hear."

"Tells you what?" EJ questioned, holding Will's gaze.

"Tells me to forget," Will answered.

"Forget what?" EJ pressed.

"I don't remember," Will answered, tears lining his eyes.

"Okay," EJ inhaled and exhaled while nodding his head. "Okay. I'll fix this. I will."

EJ slept with his head leaning on the wall behind his usual chair. He hadn't gone much rest, not since Will's relapse. It wasn't healthy but EJ didn't care. He'd sleep when this was all over.

EJ did his best to stay alert even in sleep which was how he knew someone was watching him.

EJ opened his eyes and jumped.

Will sat on the edge of his bed, legs crossed. In the pitch black, all EJ could see were two big blue eyes staring at him.

"Jesus, William," EJ settled in his seat, rubbing across his face. "It's early. What are you doing?"

Will stared at EJ. Just stared.

"Will?" EJ questioned when he didn't say anything.

"I shot you," Will whispered in a strangled, coarse voice. "When I was younger, didn't I?"

"Yes," EJ answered. Licking his lips, EJ asked, "Why are asking about that?"

"I hated you," Will's forehead wrinkled, concentrated. "You did something and I hated you. And I shot you. I shot you."

"I did something awful," EJ said. "You were young and angry and intoxicated at the time."

"I tried to kill you," Will stated still staring at EJ.

"But you didn't," EJ countered. "Even if I had died, my father's pills would have brought me back. Remember?"

"Tried to kill you," Will mumbled.

"But we're past that," EJ insisted. "It doesn't matter anymore not to me."

"Tried to kill you," Will repeated. "Tried to kill you."

Pushing himself up, EJ placed his hands on Will's shoulders. "It doesn't matter."

EJ shook Will back and forth a bit, jostling him.

Will, blinking for the first time since EJ awoke, startled.

"What are you doing?" Will asked, craning his neck to look up at EJ. "Why did you wake me up?"

"I didn't wake you," EJ put his hand on Will's forehead. "You were already up."

"I don't understand," Will said.

"That makes two of us," EJ murmured.

"What?" Will wondered.

"You were talking about when you shot me," EJ explained. "You don't remember?"

"No," Will answered. "I remember going to sleep and that's it."

"That's what I thought," EJ put his hands over his face and groaned. "What the hell are they giving you?"

Will glanced up at EJ before bowing his head. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," EJ said starting to pace.

"No," Will sighed. "For shooting you. I'm sorry about that."

"Oh," EJ stopped walking. "That's alright. It's water under the bridge now."

"I shot you," Will insisted. "I tried to kill you. That's not something you just get over."

"Well," EJ paused, "In comparison to everything else we went through it's not that bad."

"How pathetic is that?" Will whispered. "Shooting you is the least of our problems."

"Is that what you want to talk about?" EJ sat down next to Will on the bed. "Discuss all our indignities."

"No," Will admitted, voice hoarse and painful. "I just wanted to say it. That I was sorry. Sorry for a lot of things. Just wanted to say it before I forget."

"You aren't going to forget anything," EJ argued. "I won't let you."

"Every night before I go to sleep," Will's eyes watered. "I think about Ari. And tonight, tonight I couldn't remember her name. I couldn't-and I-I didn't, I don't want. I don't want that," Will forced out. "I need you to promise me something."

"What?" EJ asked.

"If-if something happens to me," Will said. "You have to look after Ari. I don't trust anyone in Salem anymore. It has to be you, EJ."

"Will, I-," EJ tried to say.

"No!" Will angled his body to face EJ. "You have to promise me. You have to."

"Alright," EJ nodded, holding Will's gaze. "I promise."

Will blinked a few times, eyes glazing over. "Promise what?"

"You don't, you don't remember?" EJ titled his head. "But you just," EJ closed his eyes. "Right. I promise. I promise."

EJ didn't know what purpose they kept himself and Will down here. He didn't know why Will wasn't healing even with the peppermint flavored vitamins. He didn't know what plan his father had for them but he had enough.

Will would not die down in this prison. Will would not lose his mind, his memories. EJ would make sure of that.

Three nights later, Antonio, the nurse, got sloppy.

As EJ heard the door at the top of the staircase open, he walked out of Will's room to investigate.

Antonio carried a tray with their dinner on it as he did every night. He always kicked the door closed behind him. But this time, his aim was off. The door didn't shut all the way.

Seeing the door ajar by one small little inch, EJ steeled himself. Just one little inch separate EJ and Will from freedom.

EJ, remaining calm, walked into his own bedroom. He grabbed the pillowcase he stashed all his makeshift weapons. Everything depended on this. He only had one chance.

EJ walked back into Will's room with a large book, a hardbound copy of War and Peace.

Will glanced away from his window when he noticed EJ carrying something. Will's eyes got bigger and bigger as EJ walked behind Antonio.

Antonio, arranging both trays of food on a small coffee table, never suspected anything.

Whack

EJ bashed the man upside the head with the book as hard as he could. Antonio dropped to the ground in an instant, head smacking on the edge of the coffee table on his way down.

"Get up," EJ ordered staring at a shell-shocked Will. He knew there were security cameras somewhere, watching them. They didn't have much time. "We're leaving."

EJ grabbed the mouthwash from Will's room and as many bottles of water as he could carry. He grabbed a handful of extra clothes for them both as well. Tying the pillowcase so it wouldn't spill open, EJ flung it over his shoulder.

Will nodded, stepping over the prone body on his bedroom floor.

EJ righted Will when he stumbled toward the door. Cursing himself for not making Will eat more, for not making him keep up his strength. For not doing this sooner.

"I don't know what's out here," EJ whispered, grabbing Will's shoulders and forcing him to look him in the eye. "But I swear to you, I won't let anything happen to you."

Will nodded, trembling.

"Here," EJ reached into his pillowcase and extracted a large, sharp piece of wood. "Just in case."

Will held the wood out in front of him, creeping up the stairs behind EJ.

EJ pushed the door open, peeking his head out. The coast was clear.

With EJ leading the way, the two slinked through the upstairs. As they explored, they realized it was nothing more than a house. A large, well-furnished Mediterranean mansion, meaning they were kept in a basement.

"This way," EJ whispered, grabbing Will's hand.

Noticing an open door, the two stepped inside. It was a study. There was a large, ornate desk and an array of sculptures and priceless works of art. All were to Stefano DiMera's tastes.

"Keep watch," EJ ordered to Will. He rushed towards the desk and rummaged through the drawers. He found several bottles of the pink pills.

Will leaned near the door, out of breath.

EJ pushed through a bunch of nonsense before finding paperwork that looked promising. Something that might give them answers. EJ grabbed everything he needed and slammed the drawer closed.

Underneath the desk, he found a duffle bag. Inside, there were several thousand Euros.

"Might need this," EJ whispered. He stuffed his pillowcase inside as well as a few bottles of the pills and the paperwork.

"Can we go now?" Will questioned, voice raw.

"Yes," EJ adjusted the strap on the duffle bag and carried it across his body.

As EJ motioned to leave, he noticed the fireplace.

Above the mantle was empty but for an outline of a former portrait. Someone removed whatever was up there recently.

Will tugged on EJ's hand, pointing to a corner in the room. Thrown to the ground was a picture of Stefano DiMera.

EJ stepped closer to it, staring. It looked similar to the one in the DiMera mansion in Salem. EJ had seen that picture every day for years. He'd seen that face, known that face, loved that face.

It was the same face that imprisoned EJ for over a year. The same face that kept Will down here without proper medical treatment.

"EJ," Will whispered, looking over his shoulder out the door. He didn't know why someone would rip that portrait off the wall in Stefano's own home. "EJ, please."

With a deep breath, EJ lifted the portrait.

"Please," Will pleaded, eyeing the door. If someone caught them he didn't know what would happen.

EJ looked at the painting, at the likeness of his father and snarled. Without another thought, EJ threw the picture in the fireplace. With a press of the button, EJ turned on the gas and the picture erupted in flames.

"EJ," Will begged one last time.

"One moment," EJ promised. He grabbed a few books off the wall and lit them. He tossed them on an expensive rug in front of the fireplace, waiting for it to catch fire.

EJ grabbed a fire poker and Will's hand and ran out the door. With the room smoking behind them, they searched for an exit.

"What's happening?" a loud voice called, Dr. Otero.

Will looked over his shoulder as he saw two figures running toward the basement door.

EJ helped Will run down a flight of stairs. He didn't know which direction to take next. The mansion's layout was odd with several winding hallways.

Taking a chance, EJ went right dragging Will behind him.

Footsteps echoed behind them across the marble floors.

The hallway led them to an expansive kitchen. In the back corner, EJ saw a door.

"Hurry," EJ ordered.

Will, limbs tired and sluggish, tripped, falling to his knees. The footsteps grew louder, closer.

EJ left Will on the floor to crouch behind the kitchen island. The fire poker he stole in a tight grip.

"Qui!" came an angry voice behind them. Luca rushed into the kitchen, his hunting knife in hand.

Luca spotted Will struggling to get off the floor and advanced.

When Luca walked past the island, EJ reached the fire poker out low to the ground. Luca tripped over the poker and stumbled. Before Luca could right himself, EJ lashed out.

The fire poker rained down on Luca, hitting him in the head over and over again.

Will crawled toward the door. With a shaky hand, he held the piece of wood out in front of him.

"Go!" EJ screamed, bringing the fire poker down again and again with a sickening crunch of bones and flesh.

Moving to his knees, Will pulled at the doorknob but it was locked. He yanked and yanked but it wouldn't budge.

EJ bashed Luca over the head one last time just to be certain. He could hear footsteps approaching. EJ dropped his fire poker and tried to grab one of the guns strapped to Luca's hip.

Loud footsteps sounded down the marble floors causing EJ to give up on the gun.

Ensuring he had the duffle bag secured, EJ grabbed the hunting knife and ran.

EJ pulled Will up and threw him over his shoulders. EJ kicked the door as hard as he could as Dr. Otero burst into the kitchen.

"Stop!" Dr. Otero yelled stumbling to a halt beside Luca's mangled body.

Will lifted his head, staring. Dr. Otero dived for one of Luca's guns, struggling to get it loose.

EJ, staggering his best under Will's weight, ran out into the dark, cold night. He ran across a sprawling garden. On the other end, EJ could see a forest.

Dr. Otero rushed out into the night, aiming a gun.

Will squeezed his eyes shut tight. He couldn't look.

EJ ran in a zigzag pattern toward a patch of forest as gunshots rained down around them.

Will's eyes snapped open when he heard EJ scream in anguish.

EJ ran as far as he could under Will's weight before stopping inside a thick copse of trees.

"Gah!" EJ fell to his knees, throwing the hunting knife at the ground.

"EJ!" Will yelled, sliding to the ground. He pulled the bag off from around EJ' shoulders, dropping his piece of wood.

A bright red stain spread across EJ's shoulder.

"Run, William!" EJ ordered, pushing onto his hands and knees. "Run!"

Will could hear Dr. Otero gaining on them, only a few seconds away.

"I can't leave you here," Will argued, panting.

"Go!" EJ growled, shoving the hunting knife he stole and the supplies toward Will.

Will shook his head. Even if he was strong enough, he wouldn't make it far. And he couldn't leave EJ. He couldn't.

Dr. Otero thundered through the trees, alerting them to his nearby presence.

Will, knife in hand, crawled behind a tree, waiting.

Dr. Otero slowed to a jog as he approached EJ. He stood over EJ, towering over him for the first time. His gun trained on EJ's back.

"I wish you hadn't done that," Dr. Otero scolded. "Now, I'll have to start all over again. Although," the man chuckled. "This might make it easier to get Will under my full control."

EJ lifted himself up higher. "You won't find him. He's long gone."

"Oh, I'll find him," Dr. Otero insisted. "He can't have gone far. I'll give him some more of his, uh, medicine," the doctor flashed EJ a wide smile, "And he'll be all better."

"No, he won't," EJ argued, spitting out each word.

Will, listening, tightened his grip on the knife. He held it in front of him like a shield, hands shaking.

The knife was long and serrated, long enough to slice right through Dr. Otero.

"What do you think you'll achieve?" EJ demanded, spitting out the words. "What do you even want?"

"I'm refining your father's ideas," Dr. Otero lowered his gun. "And I'm going to use you and Will to get them."

EJ shook his head, "No, no."

"Soon, Will won't remember his own name," Dr. Otero taunted. "And you? You won't be able to stand it. You'll spend all your time, all your energy trying to get him back. Because you'd never forgive yourself if you didn't. Because Samantha Brady would never forgive you. Because all you have left of her is that boy. So, yes, I think you'll do exactly what I say."

Will did everything he could to keep his breathing steady, to make sure he wasn't making any noise or giving himself away.

Dr. Otero couldn't do that. He couldn't. Will wouldn't let him.

"Now," Dr. Otero ordered, "Call out to him."

EJ shook his head, shaking so hard he almost couldn't keep himself up.

"Call out and make him come back," Dr. Otero yelled.

EJ refused, steeling himself for whatever came next.

"Do it!" Dr. Otero screamed. "Or I'll make you."

Before Dr. Otero could lift his gun again, Will charged out from behind his hiding spot.

Dr. Otero was the man holding Will and EJ prisoner. He infected Will, scrambled his memories. Kept Will from his daughter and shot EJ. Threatened EJ now, even when he was bloodied and shaking, with Will. EJ risked everything for Will to escape. Will wouldn't fail him now.

With a strangled scream and a strength he didn't know he possessed, Will shoved the knife into Dr. Otero's stomach.

Will almost gagged at the sickening crunch and rush of warm blood dribbling down his arms.

Stumbling back, Will fell on his bottom. He watched in horror as Dr. Otero crashed face first into the ground. The entirety of the knife wedged into his stomach.

"Will," EJ reached out to grab the gun near Dr. Otero's body. "William, we have to go."

Will couldn't look away. He couldn't take his eyes off the growing blood stain around Dr. Otero's body.

"Will," EJ urged, tugging on his arm.

"I killed him," Will breathed, eyes wide. "I killed him."

"And I killed Antonio," EJ said. "Luca too. We had to do it, Will. We had to."

"I killed him," Will sobbed, tears falling down his face.

"Look at me," EJ grabbed at Will's face. "Look at me. You did what you had to do."

Will, blood-spattered and wide-eyed, held EJ's gaze and nodded.

"Now, we have to move," EJ told Will. "We have to get as far from here as possible."

"But you're hurt," Will whispered.

"So are you," EJ acknowledged. "But we have to do this. We have to keep moving. No one can find us here. No one."

Will nodded and stood up. He turned to look behind them in the direction of their one-time prison. "Look," Will pointed.

The putrid scent of smoke tainted the forest air. It crackled, casting an orange glow over the forest surrounding them.

"We have to keep moving," EJ insisted after they watched the mansion erupt in flames. "We have to move."

Will and EJ leaned on each other for support. The duffle bag of supplies held low in EJ's hand, dragging on the floor. Gun tucked in the back of EJ's pants.

They walked deeper into the forest, leaving their life and their prison behind them.

Author's note:

Please let me know what you thought. Thanks for reading!