"Well, I know time reveals in hindsight

I can wrestle with the stormy night

Because your love lasts a lifetime

But I can see you through the snowblind

But I wasn't there for you

You are gone (I wasn't there for you)

Goodbyes are long

You are gone (I wasn't there for you)

Goodbyes are long

Goodbye."

-System of a Down


- This will look beautiful, Alice, Leonore said, her eyes shimmering.

- Yes, just imagine how it will be, with the candles and flowers. Oh, I am so happy! I can hardly wait!

They stood in a church, a small beautiful church that still had all the Christmas decorations. It was the beginning of January, and today was the rehearsal for the wedding. Alice felt her heart skipping a few beats as she thought that she was going to be Mrs. Xavier in just a few days. What a way to start a new year!

- I am happy for you, said Leonore interrupting her thoughts. I know, I've been a pain in the ass for Charles, but the truth is that he is a great guy. And he is going to make you so happy. You deserve it, honey.

And just then, as Alice was about to answer, there was a loud noise, a gunshot.

Leonore gasped for air, her blue, pretty eyes wide open with surprise, she fell down. In horror Alice grabbed her, but was unable to stop what was happening. A red stain appeared in the front of her jacket, and began to grow, as she collapsed to the floor.

Alice felt Leonore's mind shut down, like someone had turned the switch off.

Tears burst into her eyes, as she turned to look who was responsible for this brutal act of terror.

On the front door of the church, against the light, stood a familiar figure, and deep inside of her guts, Alice knew the time to pay, had come.

- Well, isn't it the rat that thought she got away? Maria mocked, still holding a gun in her hands.

- You! You murderer! Alice screamed. She was innocent! She had nothing to do with this!

- Nobody around you is innocent.

Alice began to run to Maria, but there was another gunshot. It got her lower abdomen, and her legs went off. She fell to the floor, to her knees, and in disbelief grabbed the place where the bullet had entered. The blood was bursting out. The baby, oh God, the baby. She could feel her tiny thoughts dying inside of her.

- Don't you try to come near me, you demon spawn, Maria hissed, Even if it would do you no good. I am protected now, against you, and your godless powers. You can not hurt me.

- How? Alice breathed through her teeth.

- Thanks to you, my little lab rat. Thanks to your spinal fluid I can now stop you, and everybody like you.

Alice didn't want to believe it, but she felt it was real. She tried to reach her thoughts, but there was nothing but a blank wall, that blocked all her intentions. She tried to get up, to get on her feet, but was interrupted by yet another shot, this time through her shoulder.

She fell on her back. She was spitting blood now, and she knew she was going to die. She glanced at Leonore's body lying near to her, the still surprised look on her pretty face, the blood that stained her white shirt and jacket.

Alice felt her heart breaking.

- Just finish this, she croaked. You got me, just end this already.

- Oh, no. Not just yet, little sister. Maria said, stepping close to her, kneeling in front of her. - I want you to die feeling, knowing, that it is your fault that your friend died. And that your precious Charles is going to die too. I want you to bleed there, on my feet, and savor that for a while.

An iron cold rage bubbled inside of Alice, like a steel knife in her stomach.

- Alright, you win. Do what you want with me, but don't you dare to touch Charles.

- You killed the one thing I loved. So I want you to die knowing that I will kill everyone you love.

- Please, I'm begging. Let him be.

It was difficult to speak now. Tears ran from her eyes, and she felt her lungs filling with blood, it bubbled out as she tried to speak. Her head felt light, and she could not feel her legs.

- Sorry, sis. Too late to bargain, stated Maria.

And with that, she stood up, raised her gun and shot Alice in the head.


Alice lay dead on the cold stone floor, as Maria left the church. Only a few minutes later, a car stopped on the street and Hank helped Charles to his chair. It had begun to snow, and the snowflakes landed to Charles' hair and his shoulders, but he laughed as he shrugged them off.

There was no life left in Alice, as the door opened, and the two men entered. And so she could not hear how Charles screamed her name when he rushed to her, fell down onto the floor beside her.

It was still snowing outside, hours later, when it was all over.

The police had come, and left. The fragile bodies, the empty shells of Alice and Leonore had been taken away, and the day had turned into a night.

It was dark, as Hank, with shaky feet, pushed Charles' chair out of the church.

There was blood in Charles' hands, and his clothes, and when the snowflakes fell on top of him, they turned red.

In fact, they looked like rose petals, and not snow at all.