Chapter Twenty-Eight: Eternal Pain- Part 2

X.N: From here on out it'll be 'Me VS Psycho Me' for the remaining chapters since there's only a one left plus the epilogue and the denouement. (Hehe, big word :D)

February, 2011- Midnight, Los Angeles, California- Penthouse.

Xander stood on the balcony of the second story of the penthouse in his Rejects t-shirt and skinny jeans, shivering against the cold. Psycho Xander's last words rang in his head, probing his curiosity. What had he meant by 'turning up the heat'? The thought picked at his curiosity and Psycho Xander's clue was yelling, 'find me! I'm over here!' in his head.

Psycho Xander shimmered into view beside him, still fully corporeal, and grinned at Xander.

"What did you mean?" Asked the black-haired rocker of his alter-ego.

"Haven't you figured it out yet?" Psycho Xander chortled, clearly amused by Xander's no-brain antics. "Come on, Xander. Use that brain of yours. I said heat, right?" Xander nodded. "So what's a thing that heat radiates from but is a killer at the same time?"

Xander had to think for a moment before it dawned on him. Then his mouth dropped open and he pushed himself from the balcony.

Psycho Xander's evil plan was to kill April, Hailie, Piper, Lara and Jodi inside the Star de Lune as it burnt to the ground.

As he ran through the hotel, Xander heard Psycho Xander's evil laughter.

If you can save them, I'll leave you alone. If not, you're mine… and you can take that to the bank.

~X~

Xander's black, 2005 Ford Mustang GT screeched to a halt outside the Star de Lune and he scrambled out in a fit of panic. The flames surrounding the building were huge and hot, too hot for Xander.

A crowd had formed around Xander and the burning ruins of his home and they watched as Xander crumpled to his knees on the pavement. Tears streamed from his eyes as he ran his fingers through his dark hair. He had failed and now, everything he had ever cared for, everyone that had ever meant anything to him, were gone, consumed by the Devil's Element. He felt like his pain would last forever.

Soft whimpering broke through the dull roar of the flames and Xander's head shot up just in time to see a large shadow emerge from the club. It dove out of the burning ruins and quickly rolled away, coming to a stop a few feet away. Xander instantly recognised the blonde, brunette, black and red-headed forms of Hailie, Lara, Piper and Jodi respectively.

"GIRLS!" Xander was overwhelmed with emotions; his little girls were alive! He scrambled over to them and pulled them into his arms, practically squishing them.

That's when he realised April wasn't with them.

"Where's your mother?" Xander asked of Hailie. The blonde coughed a few times before replying.

"She was right behind us."

Xander's heart sank as he looked up at the burning ruins of the Star de Lune.

Psycho Xander's psychotic laugh and chorus of: I said save them all! Now you're mine! rang through his head. This confirmed Xander's greatest fear:

April was gone, consumed by the flames.