Adam grinned at me with glee, & I cursed loudly in my head. I was captured, & there was no way out.

I averted my eyes toward Haji, who was supporting Saya a few yards away after he got her out of Edmund's path to me. Saya was staring angrily toward Adam, who was in the process of turning to face them.

& that's when Jaab appeared in the door.

"The portal's rea..." he trailed off, seeing the situation. I saw confusion flash across his face, then anger.

"Oh, fuck..." he muttered.

"Go through the portal now!" I shouted at him, making him jump slightly. I felt the blade of Edmund's kunai press harder against my neck, but I ignored it.

"We're not going anywhere without you." Jaab said, but I saw the doubt flash across his face as Adam started walking menacingly toward him.

"Damnit, Jaab, tell Vincent that I order him to go! YOU ALL NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE NOW!" I screamed, & Jaab took a few steps back.

"JAAB! RUN!" I yelled as Adam started running at him. Jaab pulled the door shut & I heard his feet quickly rushing down the steps inside. I cursed again, trying to pull out of Edmund's grasp to go stop Adam, but he wrapped his arm securely around my waist, making escape impossible. My eyes turned a deep orange as I struggled harder.

Adam reached the door just when I heard the hotel room door shut & get locked. I could just faintly hear the whirring of the portal as someone stepped through it. 'That's one.'

A second, third, & fourth person stepped through the portal as Adam made his way down the steps toward the hotel room, & just when he got the hotel room, I could hear everyone else go through the portal, except one.

Vincent.

'Damnit, Vincent, GO!' I screamed in my head uselessly.

Adam kicked the door once, breaking one of the hinges right off the bat. The portal was silent.

It was kicked a second time, the knob breaking. No one went through the portal.

A third time, & the second of three hinges were broken. Vincent was motionless.

On the fourth try, the door collapsed to the ground, revealing Adam to Vincent. I felt a sickening kind of feeling rush down my spine that could only be identified as a mixture of terror & frustration.

"DAMNIT, VINCENT, GO THROUGH THE FUCKING PORTAL!" I screamed, totally destroying my voice. I didn't know if he heard me, but if he did, he had to obey. He had to.

Adam stepped forward, his apparel & weapons clanking together.

& Vincent disappeared through the portal, the swirling mixture of colors disappearing from the trashed hotel room milliseconds later. I let out a surprisingly relieved sigh, dropping my head a few inches. I still didn't feel the prick of the kunai when it broke skin, a small trickle of blood staining my white gown.

I heard Adam suck in a deep, rough breath in fury from the hotel room.

"YOU'RE GOING TO FUCKING DIE, BITCH!" He yelled at me from the hotel room, & I couldn't help but flinch.

Saya & Haji were still on the roof, watching & listening to the frightening events in amazement. I turned to them, & said in a low whisper, "Please go, before they take you, too."

Saya looked at me, tears welling up in her eyes. "No! I can't let them take you! No!"

"I can't let them take you, either. Please." I pleaded, & I felt a small expression flicker across my face. I felt helpless for the first time in my existence.

Haji took Saya's waist, pulling her into his arms effortlessly. He proceeded to the edge of the roof, jumping to the street level. Saya's eyes never left mine until she disappeared from my line of vision. I bit my lip.

Adam appeared just then, growling like a wild animal. He was in front of me before I could blink, & his fist connected with my face. I was out like a light.

Or more like a broken light bulb that's been crushed under the shoe of an angry frustrated evil man that hates light bulbs.

Vincent's Profile

I landed hard on my back when I flew out of the portal, & I didn't bother to get back up. I laid right in the middle of the concrete sidewalk, my eyes shut & my limbs sprawled around me. I couldn't think properly for a few minutes, other than, 'I failed.'

I failed I failed I failed.

Remi's going to die because I couldn't keep my promise. My oath.

I wanted to die so badly right now. Just have a random person shoot me in the head & then run me over a couple times. Better yet, have someone drag me away & slowly quarter me into small pieces, starting with my feet & legs, then my arms, then my torso. That's about how bad I felt, times one thousand. One million.

"Vincent, get the hell up, would you?" I heard Mrs. Jacobs say irritably, & I opened my eyes slowly, locating Mrs. Jacobs lazily. She was looking down at me, with a raised eyebrow. For some reason, it angered me. I was going to act childish & refuse to get up, but then I remembered that I wasn't exactly five years old right now. Although, I wished passionately that I was. I wish I had never been born.

I sat up then, looking around to make sure that everyone was here.

Jaab was standing farthest away, anxiously pacing, along with Calvin. Rachel, was gnawing her lip worriedly, probably reading Jaab's & Calvin's minds. Ken & Alex were looking confusedly at the small group, completely oblivious to the gigantic problem we were facing. Mrs. Jacobs was still standing over me with her raised eyebrow. I concluded that she didn't know, either.

"Where's Remi?" Alex asked, looking at me. I saw Calvin & Jaab stop sharply, turning to me. Rachel turned, too, but slower. Everyone else seemed to be listening, too.

I gazed around the area, the familiar streets looking just as depressing as ever. I brought my eyes back to the group a few minutes later, & I opened my mouth.

"She was kidnapped by Adam & Edmund." Jaab spoke for me, & I quickly brought my eyes over to him. He was looking straight at me.

"They are probably going to kill her off in the next few days if she doesn't provide any information on our whereabouts. If she does, then she has about a week." Calvin informed everyone, & I resisted flinching.

"But we're not going to let that happen." Jaab continued for Calvin. "We're going to save her, & pay her back for all the saving she's done for us."

Mrs. Jacobs smiled, looking down at me. "Sounds good?" she asked me, grinning slightly. I was stunned at this sudden compromise. I didn't know how to respond.

Rachel skipped up to me, smiling at me, then Mrs. Jacobs.

"His speechlessness means that he's okay with it, right?" she said to Mrs. Jacobs, then looking at me. I nodded. Her smile brightened.

"Then let's go bring her bad ass back!" Alex & Ken shouted, & I couldn't help but feel a little better.