Footprints – Chapter 10

The sound of the bullet rang through her ears and Skylar took a moment to regain her focus. Her heart thudded and her breathing came out as ragged gasps. She moved her gaze towards her mother and Henry.

"Did it get you? Were you guys hit? Tell me if it hit you!"

"I'm fine."

Lou shifted uncomfortably. "Same here."

Skylar reached for Henry and her mother, pulling them towards her. Her eyes flickered to Tavio, preparing to run the moment he pounced.

"Come on, keep moving!"

They kept sprinting, hearing Tavio in close pursuit; his footsteps pounding as he advanced closer – and closer. Skylar's eyes remained alert and blood and adrenaline pounded through her veins. Her eyes shifted towards Lou. A feeling of dread rose in her stomach.

"Mum, you're struggling!"

"I'm not as young as you are, love."

Skylar's eyes darted to a gap in the wall, a sudden idea coming to mind.

"This way," she whispered.

She shoved them inside, making sure they remained in the shadows. The pounding of her heart remained a violent beat and she could do no more than stare as Henry's tiny hand reached for hers. Her finger pressed against her lips, gesturing for him to remain silent. Tavio advanced closer, his footsteps louder.

"I've gotta go out there." Skylar released a quiet sigh. "I have to face him."

Her mother grasped her wrist, struggling to keep balance. "You're joking."

She shifted her gaze back in the direction to where Tavio was approaching.

"Mum, Henry…"

…"There's no other way, is there?" Lou finished.

Skylar shook her head.

"Sky, he might kill you."

She contemplated this for a moment. "At least I'd die trying."

Her gaze moved between her mother and Henry. The terrified look in her son's eyes nearly made her reconsider. But she couldn't do that. She could not afford to lose anyone else who mattered. Feeling herself moving away, Skylar glanced back one last time.

I love you, she mouthed.

Then she paced into the corridor, heart thudding, muscles tensing. Tavio's dark eyes locked with hers. Despite feeling a jitter, she remained moving his way.

"I'm not usually one for confrontations."

He laughed. "Hmmm, so brave of you. You certainly have your father's courage. Not bad. Not bad, Skylar, for an amateur."

"Thank you."

"You surrendered. Now you know your prize."

She nodded. "Trapping Henry here too. Yeah, it's not exactly difficult to work out."

"Such a smart girl," he taunted.

Skylar couldn't let him win. What would my father do? Her eyes stayed locked on his and she remained calm, emotions masked beneath her face.

"Do you ever think about Henry? That boy is your son. Do you seriously think this is fair on him? That child of ours doesn't need this. Every moment, all this does is scare the living daylights out of him; and he's five years old. I know now you never loved me but there's one thing I understand, Mark, you did love that boy."

All of a sudden he lunged towards her. Skylar reached for the keys, raising her arm high.

SQUELCH.

Blood gushed from his eye, pooling around the wound and soaking it in a dark crimson. Her key stayed rooted in his eye and his body fell towards her.

Skylar stared at the blood on her hands, eyes wide, transfixed. For a second she forgot. She didn't have a clue as to why he was on the floor, his body lifeless. Then it was like she'd jolted to life. She attempted to step back, but it was more of a stumble that left her trembling against the wall, understanding that she'd killed a man…and was no different to being like her father.

It took a moment to register the sound of footsteps close behind her and jerked at the moment she felt a hand on her shoulder. It took a moment before she turned round and met her father's emotionless eyes.

"You did what was right."

Bond remained calm, despite being close to a heart attack the moment he'd seen the body. But it was registering the fact his daughter had blood on her hands, which surprised him. He knew, however, she'd had no other choice.

Straight away, Lou and Henry appeared behind them. Bond glanced at Louisa, understanding that she was having difficulty walking, while following behind their trembling grandson. It caught him unexpectedly the second Henry hugged him, burying his face against his jacket.

"Is everyone alright?"

"Physically," Lou answered, "Where…where did you get to?"

"Oh, I was looking for him too."

Without warning, Lou gasped. The pain was no different to a knife in her side and she found herself collapsing, feeling James' arms around her.

"Mum!"

Henry's voice quivered. "G-Grandma?"

Skylar hurried to her mother. Bond caught sight of the crimson patch darkening Louisa's coat. Skylar remained staring, her mouth open while tears brimmed in her eyes, as the realisation clouded over. Time slowed and she felt only a quiet thudding of her heart.

"I guess it's too late to try," Lou rasped.

Skylar's eyes flickered towards Bond. He saw the plea in his daughter's eyes. All he could do was hold her hand as he glanced down towards Louisa. It reminded him of the time he'd lost M and now watched as Skylar blinked her tears away, not wanting to accept that she was losing her mother.

"I'm willing to try if you are," Skylar said, breath hitching and her voice choking.

She held her mother's hand, looking at her with teary eyes. Lou glanced at her daughter one last time, gasping out her final breath.

"I did get something right." Her fingers loosened on her daughter's hand…and she was no longer moving.

Tears streaming down her face, Skylar closed her mother's eyes and did nothing but cradle her lifeless body.

A/N: Aww, this really made me cry. Don't forget to leave reviews. It was a real toss up between Lou, Skylar and Henry; but in the end, I had to make a decision. Hope this was a good, yet emotional chapter.