sorry it's taken so long to post another chapter. my summer was crazy and I haven't been writing very much. so here's the next chapter.

Holly's POV

I gathered up a team of officers so we could head back to the mansion prepared. I told them what was going on and there were more than enough officers willing to help. Rose approached me, her leg bandaged. "I want to come with you guys," she said.

"Rose, it's really dangerous. I can't let you come," I replied gently. I didn't want Rose to get any more injured then she already was. And I knew that Kyle had a gun and would probably shoot when we got there.

"But I really want to help."

"I know Rose. You've helped plenty today. I want you to stay here." Before Rose could reply, I heard what sounded like a gunshot, but quiet.

"Was that a gunshot?" one of the officers exclaimed.

"You heard it too?" I asked. They all nodded. "We're going to the mansion now. I know it's only been about fifteen minutes, but gunshot is never good." We all ran to the mansion that Jo and the others were in.

Marlin's POV

I followed the police to Romana's Villa. I needed to know who the gunshot had been directed at. My biggest fear was Jo, but I knew that I would be just as enraged if anyone was dead.

Holly's POV

We arrived at the mansion and fell silent. I approached the door and listened for a moment. "Can you really shoot me Jo?" I heard someone, who I assumed was Kyle, ask. "Do you think you're capable of taking my life?" There was a pause before Jo answered.

"Yes," she replied. Jo sounded confident, but I knew her. She wouldn't hurt a fly. She was too kind hearted to kill even Kyle.

"Then shoot me." I knew that was when we had to move in. Jo wouldn't shoot Kyle, and he knew it. If we didn't move in, who knows what could happen. I motioned for the other officers to remain silent. I tapped on the door.

Lumina's POV

I was horrified when I heard someone knocking at the door. Another hostage did not need to be taken. Kyle turned to me. "Get the door," he ordered. I slowly stood up and opened the door partway. The officer that had been there before was there. I noticed that there was a team of officers behind her.

"What are you doing back?" I whispered.

"We heard the gunshot and came as fast as we could," the officer replied. I was relieved that they had taken action. I didn't have to worry about telling Jo that they were coming. "Is everyone okay in there?"

"My grandma…" I held back the tears welling up in my eyes the best I could.

"Oh no…"

"Who's there?" Kyle asked me. I didn't answer. I figured getting him outside to the police would keep everyone else safer. "I asked you a question."

"I've got a plan," I whispered to the officer. "I'm going to say something that won't make any sense to you, but don't worry about it. It might get Kyle outside." The officer nodded, but looked unsure.

"Who's there?"

"Get away from here. It's not safe. Go get help," I said loud enough for Kyle to hear, but quiet enough that it sounded like I didn't want Kyle to hear. "Go."

"What?" I heard what sounded like someone hitting someone else, and turned to see Jo on the ground. Kyle grabbed his gun and rushed to the door. He shoved me out of the way and went outside. Once he was outside, I rushed to Jo's side.

"Jo, are you okay?" Jo sat up.

"I think so," she replied. "Who was outside?"

"A team of police officers. I figured it'd be safer for everyone in here if Kyle was outside when the police surrounded him."

"Good thinking."

Holly's POV

I hadn't known what Lumina had had in mind, but it worked. Kyle rushed outside to chase down the person that had been at the door. He hadn't been expecting a team of officers. I drew my gun when Kyle got outside. "Drop the gun Kyle," I ordered. Kyle looked at me and the other officers (who also had their guns drawn). Kyle didn't give any indication that he was going to lower his gun. "I said drop the gun."

After a moment, Kyle slowly knelt down and placed his gun on the ground, and then stood back up. I took a step forward to pick up the gun, then realized that this was Kyle. He wouldn't just give up. "What's wrong Holly?" another officer asked.

"It doesn't feel right. What's the catch Kyle?"

"I'm the catch," Kyle replied. "I'm giving up, and you've got me."

"What are you waiting for? Pick up the gun," another officer said. I studied Kyle. He was smirking, not something that was usually seen when a criminal gave up.

"Something's off," I said. Kyle was waiting for something, or someone. That's when I realized Kyle wasn't smirking at me, but at something behind me. I looked over my shoulder and saw Marlin. His anger was building. That was what Kyle was waiting for. He wanted Marlin to attack him. I turned around so I was facing Marlin. "Listen, you need to leave." Marlin glanced at me, then continued glaring at Kyle. "Marlin, you can't be here."

I nodded at another officer, who led Marlin away from the mansion and Kyle. I turned back to Kyle, who had picked up his gun again. I watched Kyle's every movement, however slight, my gun still pointed at him. I didn't know what he was doing. He stood nearly perfectly still. Without warning, he turned and ran back into the mansion, closing the door behind him. The team I had organized rushed forward to work on breaking the door down. "Wait!" I exclaimed. They all turned and looked at me.

"Kyle's in there Holly," someone said. "We have to get him out."

"But we can't just burst in there. He has hostages." My partners nodded and we started working out how we could get in without Kyle killing anyone else.

Jo's POV

When Kyle ran back in, I didn't know how to react. I was still sitting on the floor. Nina, Muffy, Ceia, Flora, and Lumina were all around me, concerned. I had told them I was okay, but none of them believed it. Kyle had his gun in his hand and looked furious. My heart was pounding. Lumina grabbed hold of my hand and squeezed it. It was somewhat comforting, but I was still extremely afraid.

Kyle scanned the group around me, and then the group of guys. He looked back to the group around me and pointed his gun at Lumina. "You, come with me," he ordered. Lumina shifted, but didn't stand up. I shifted my hand to grab hold of hers. I touched something metal. I looked down and saw the gun. Lumina had run upstairs when Kyle went outside. I realized as I stared at the gun that she had known Kyle would be back inside and had gone to get protection. "I said, come with me," Kyle repeated.

"No," Lumina replied softly. She was confident, but afraid. "I'm staying in here."

"If you want to live, you'll come with me."

"And how does that guarantee my life's saving? Besides, my leaving with you won't save anyone else's lives."

"Brat." Kyle grabbed Lumina's arm and pulled her up. She kept the gun hidden in her skirt. Kyle pushed Lumina against a wall. "You think you can talk back and stay alive?"

"I do." Lumina's tone was calm, though her face displayed fear clearly. Kyle held his gun against Lumina's head. "So you're going to kill me? Just add another murder to your list?"

"Yes I am. And after I kill you, I'll kill anyone else who doesn't do what I say. And I'll leave again. The police will never be able to catch me."

"You're right about one thing. The police will never catch you." A gunshot sounded. I couldn't tell if it was Kyle or Lumina that had fired a shot.