AN: Once again, sorry for the long wait for another update. I finally finished teaching for the school year and now I'm on break. I just got back from a cruise yesterday and I'm back to writing again. I hope you enjoy this lengthy chapter!

•~•

After receiving a text message to shift their meet up location, Sonic and Silver pulled their car off to the side of the road, surprised to see the charred remains of a car in the middle of the road. Sonic hopped out his car and rushed over to his friend. "Knuckles!" he exclaimed with concern. "Bro, are you okay?"

Knuckle waved a hand with a sheepish grin plastered on his face. He was a bit banged up and had a few minor cuts, bruises, and was filthy. "Hey, thanks for coming! It would have been a long walk to Station Square," he joked.

Following closely behind Sonic, Silver looked the echidna up and down, skeptical of his intelligence level. He didn't quite give off someone with a high IQ, but he did bear the body type of a hunter. He was fit, muscular in all the right places, and fit the stereotype of one. "Don't tell me this is your expert Amy and you speak so highly of?" Silver mumbled under his breath.

Knuckles shot the white hedgehog a look. "Nice to meet you too, friend," he rebutted passively.

"Crap, I almost forgot introductions," Sonic scolded himself. He placed a hand on Knuckle's shoulder. "Knux, this is Silver," he gestured towards the other hedgehog. "And Silver, this is Knuckles."

"Lovely to meet you," Silver replied half-assed.

Knuckles rolled his eyes at Silver's sanctimonious attitude. "Yeah, of course."

"Anyway," Sonic interrupted seeing their meeting wasn't going smoothly. "What happened here, Knux?"

He glanced over at his burnt vehicle. "Well, aside me forfeiting my lease, I blew up some vampire, witch, werewolf guy when he tried to take the bone," he answered.

"What did he look like," Silver inquired, curious to get more details.

"Oh, he was a scruffy looking dingo, possible late-thirties?" Knuckles conjectured. "He had on a blue denim jacket, long cargo pants, and brown boots," he listed.

The color drained from Sonic's face by the description. "…Caleb?" he gawked. "That means Infinite's inside Caleb, probably possessing him…"

"He's been trying to use all of us," Silver added.

Sonic did a few paces, trying to work up a new plan. He tapped the side of his chin. "Alright, we got to find a way to save him."

"…Or put him out of his misery," Silver mumbled.

Sonic did a double take, looking taken aback by what he heard. "I'm sorry, what? Did I hear that right?"

Silver shrugged innocently, not ashamed of what he had suggested. "I'm just saying; it may be the only way."

"Yeah sure, why try to save someone when you can just kill them?" he said sarcastically. "We all know that if it happened to be someone you loved or cared about, you'd do everything in your power to find a way," he shouted, pointing a rough finger into his chest.

"Hey, Sonic," Knuckles cut off, seeing a fight brewing. "I love a good grudge just as much as the next guy, but do you wanna stand around whining about your friend, or do you want to talk about where the other bones might be?"

"What?" Sonic blinked in puzzlement.

"One of my interns did some research and found another bloodline that was guarding the bone. Unfortunately, their line died out but it is believed to be buried in a tomb with one of the family members."

"Where?" Silver questioned.

"Black Clay Cemetery on the outskirts of Mercia," he replied.

"Who knows if Caleb is aware of its location, either way, we need to get a head start."

The two hedgehogs rushed towards their vehicle while Knuckles limped behind them, groaning slightly. "Hey fellas, mind if you drop me off at the closest ER on the way?" he grinned.

•~•

Coming back to in the real world, Sally shot upright from her lying position on the floor. She panted, trying to take in her surroundings, but realized she was back in the real world and no longer in that purgatory. She looked at Ivy who appeared to her in the flesh within the spell circle. "What the hell?"

"I'm sorry," she apologized. "This is what's needed if we want to stop Infinite."

"Wait, you don't need Shadow involved?" she asked baffled.

"No," she snapped quickly. "We only need you," she smiled softly, placing a hand on her shoulder.

She tilted her head. "Uh, why only me?"

"It all comes down to the bloodline," she made clear. "That's the only thing that worked against him."

~Continuation Flashback 2000 Years Ago~

"When his evil became too great to bear, the tribes united to defeat him."

Now 18 years old, Zero walked through the tall grass in the dead of night, knowing that he was being followed. Members of his mother and father's tribe stalked the young male, trying to find their moment to strike. Feeling them circling and closing in on him, Zero stopped dead in his tracks and looked around his environment. All he heard were the crickets playing their soothing melody but smirked when a group of hunters emerged, rising from their hiding positions within the tall grass. They each held their weapons of choice: spears, bows, and arrows, pointed in his direction.

Zero said no words and instead violently lifted his right arm into the air and formed a fist. All of the tribe members felt their spines ripped from their bodies, making a gruesome crack and gush. Their bodies dropped in unison causing him to cackle maniacally. However, before he could gloat and take in his victory, a figure came up from behind him and wrapped an enchanted rope around his neck, strangling him. He grunted and thrashed in their hold, desperate to escape.

"Tribe elders managed to capture him using mystical bindings. But even with all that power, Zero was too strong…Death seemed the only solution."

Once they returned him to camp, they kept him restrained on his back on the ground, one binding on each arm and leg. A tribe member held each enchanted rope, keeping him restrained. Zero thrashed at the bindings while his entire tribe surrounded him, looking on in disappointment and hatred.

"Four of the strongest elders each imbued a part of their magic into a mighty ax."

The elders passed an ax around, allowing each to embed their magic into the weapon. Zero watched on, knowing where this was headed. "Release me!" he bellowed.

"When the weapon was ready, they relied on his mother, the one who gave his life to be the one to take his life."

Trembling in sadness and fear, Zero's mother walked towards him, wielding the ax tightly in her hands. Tears ran down her face as she lifted the ax above her head, ready to chop off her own son's head and end his life.

"…But before she could kill her child, Zero cast a final spell. One powered by his own death."

He grunted, feeling the rope become tighter around his throat. He locked eyes with his mother. "On every full moon, you will suffer the fate of the beast you believed I was. The pain will be unbearable as you live the life a true monster."

Not wanting to hear anymore, his mother brought the weapon down, severing her child's head and decapitating him. Blood splattered in all directions and many gasped by the atrocity.

"…A curse was placed upon all present that night. He bound them to the full moon so that once a month, they would turn into the very monster they believed he was."

Now covered in her child's blood, Zero's mother looked up to the sky, staring at the full moon that came out from behind the clouds. She screamed out in agony, feeling her bones begin to crack painfully, one by one. Sharp fangs formed in her mouth and her eyes glowed a bright yellow. The rest of the tribe screamed out as well, feeling similar effects take place.

~End Flashback: Back to Present Time~

"Infinite created the werewolf curse," Sally said in realization.

Ivy nodded. "You are the only one left of your lineage, correct?"

Sally bowed her head sadly from the reminder. "Yes, over the years, most of my family has been wiped out by hunters, tragedy, accidents, or suicide… They used to say our pack was truly cursed…I'm the only one left."

"Infinite is from the same pack you come from and so was his mother," she specified. "It was your line that began it all and yours alone that still has power over Infinite to end him."

Suddenly everything was starting to make sense. The hunters that seemed so obsessed with trying to track and kill her—all the strange murders or accidents that had happened to members in her family over her lifetime. Perhaps they weren't truly accidents but were actually intentional. "That's why we've been inundated with hunters coming after me and our pack…"

"Exactly," she concurred. "He fears you and wants you dead. Now, at this moment the ancestors can't find Infinite, which means, he's chosen a host," Ivy explained. "If you can track him down, you can fight him."

She blinked in surprise. "How exactly?"

"Your blood is his weakness, so use it against him. Once his spirit is freed from his host, I can use Shadow to cast a spell to imprison Infinite for good," she explained.

Sally felt a buzz in her denim vest and pulled out her phone. Inside she spotted a text from Sonic explaining everything they had discovered.

Seeing her concentration on reading the message, Ivy became intrigued. "What is it, dear?"

"It's a text from Sonic. Apparently, Caleb is the one being possessed by Infinite. They are at the location where the next bone is hidden," she answered.

"This is your opportunity then. You must go," she encouraged.

Sally looked down at Shadow's unconscious body apprehensively. She didn't want to abandon him here. What if Ivy was lying and would actually hurt him in her absence? Sensing her hesitancy, Ivy pulled her attention back towards her.

Ivy placed a hand over her heart. "Remember, Sally, this won't work if you don't trust me."

"Alright, but please take care of Shadow in my absence. Amy would kill me if she found out something bad happened to him."

"Of course," Ivy bowed respectfully.

Sally ran out of the church, determined to figure out a way to track down Infinite in hiding. Once she was gone, Ivy looked over to the Harvest girls standing obediently in the background. "You know what to do," she encouraged. Without another word, they walked off to get supplies for their next move.

•~•

After dropping off Knuckles at the hospital, Silver and Sonic resumed their search for their next bone. They arrived at the new cemetery and scoped the grounds to find the bloodline that had guarded one of the final bones. After twenty minutes of searching, Silver stared at one of the wall tombs in deep thought. "I think this might be the one," he finally spoke.

Hearing his certainty, Sonic approached him and looked at the name. "Clarissa, huh?"

"I just have a feeling," he shrugged.

"Okay, let's take a look." Sonic took a few steps back and brought his arm back with him. Quickly, he brought it forward and punched a hole straight through the concrete. Bits of rubble crumbled down and around his arm as he fumbled around inside. He pulled at the remainder of the rock blocking their view, revealing a single leg bone lying in wait on top of a coffin.

"And there's our bone," Silver noted.

Sonic reached in and took the bone in his hands, but froze when he heard a very demanding snap of the fingers. He turned and looked only to see Silver stood directly behind him with his left arm held out, demanding to be handed the bone. "Now, give it to me," he ordered softly.

Sonic looked long and hard out at his offered hand before looking back to his eyes. "Yeah, about that. I don't think that's a very good idea, man."

Silver was starting to lose his patience. "I'm not going to ask you again, Sonic."

"You have one of the bones already," he reminded. "The smart play would be to keep them divided, yet still in the hands of an ally you trust."

Growing frustrated, Silver used his vampire speed to grab Sonic and smash him up against one of the nearby walls. He kept a tight hand coiled around the blue hedgehog's throat causing him to grimace. "Careful, Silver," Sonic grinned, remaining unfazed. "Your true colors are starting to show," he chuckled, despite losing oxygen.

"Shut your mouth," he seethed, glaring into his viridian eyes.

"What are you trying to prove here?" he panted. "You trying to be the poster boy for violence first?" he cracked.

Absorbing his words, Silver faltered in his kill stance. He released his hold on Sonic's throat, allowing him to breathe again. Sonic moved away from the wall he was held against, rubbing at his throat with one hand, while he held the bone with the other. "Damn, they weren't kidding when they said you changed…"

Suddenly, footsteps approached in the distance near the entrance of the mausoleum, and an evident male chuckle echoed in the building. Sonic and Silver stood and watched the entrance, expecting their new arrival. Finally, Caleb appeared from around the corner, looking as sinister as ever. "You two should know better than to fight one another," he tsked, taking a few steps down the stairs. "After all, your prize already belongs to me."

Sonic took a few cautious steps forward. "Caleb, I know you're still in there."

"He is," Caleb confirmed. "Strong soul rattling around in a dying shell, but like all the rest of you, he's nothing compared to me. Now, one last time, give me what I seek," he commanded.

Silver bared his fangs. "Why don't you come and get it," he goaded.

Caleb smirked, amused by their fearlessness. "Fair enough, so long as you're prepared to die," he noted. He brought his hand up and wafted it to the left, causing Silver to be violently thrown against one wall.

While he was distracted with keeping Silver subdued, Sonic went in to attack, but Caleb grabbed him by his throat as he neared and chucked him in the opposite direction, forcing him against the wall. Sonic grunted as he made an impact with the wall, dropping the bone in the process.

"Now the game comes to an end," he chuckled darkly. However, he tensed up when he felt another presence nearby. He spun around only to see Sally standing there defiantly.

Sally marched down the steps to confront him. "Not just yet!"

•~•

In the meantime, in purgatory, Shadow idly walked around the prison world, growing anxious with lack of communication with his mother. He had no idea where she had gone and taken Sally. For all he knew, she could very well be dead and there was nothing he could do to help. Coming out of his grim thoughts, he spun around when he noticed his mother had reappeared in the realm to join him. He stormed towards her. "What have you done with Sally?"

"Calm down, I sent her to save us all," she replied.

"Really?" he responded skeptically. "Or is this your idea of revenge? Holding me captive here?" he pointed.

"I don't care about revenge, Shadow," she snapped. "I'm a witch and I will protect my home. Not just for me, but for my granddaughter, too," she added.

"Release me."

"No, I need you here. You see…we have the same problem that the tribes did. After the tribe killed Zero, his spirit became more powerful. He haunted them."

"The red lights?" Shadow surmised.

"Yes," she nodded. "So they burned his remains, but not all the pieces could be destroyed. As long as those pieces were together, his power only grew. The indestructible bones were distributed among four families. Each was charged with keeping the bones apart so that they would never come together again."

"Yes, yes," he droned. "Very interesting but what does this have to do with me?"

"Now that he's free, he won't stop until those pieces are gathered."

"Well, then put him back in the prison that held him for the last eon," he instructed passively.

"I will," she replied, before turning her back on her son. "And that's what you're here for…"

Shadow cocked his head by her response. "Excuse me?"

•~•

Back with Sally, Sonic, Silver, and Caleb, Sally faced off with Infinite inhabiting Caleb's body.

Still rendered helpless by a force against the ground, Sonic weakly looked up after hearing a familiar voice. "Sal, is that you?"

Trying to free his hold over the invisible force, Silver was unable to pry himself away from the wall. "Yeah," he grunted. "It's her."

Caleb watched as Sally pulled out a switchblade and dragged it across her hand, drawing blood. With a swift movement, she stabbed the knife coated in her blood into his upper thigh with quick precision. Caleb hissed and stepped back, putting a hand to his injury. "Hurts, huh?" Sally smirked triumphantly. "My blood?"

Caleb only chuckled lowly as he recovered from her minor attack. He lifted both arms up and then brought them down swiftly, causing Sally's legs to give way, forcing her into a kneeling position. "Aahh!" she screamed.

Caleb watched her writhe on the floor. "Whoever told you how to destroy me left a little something out…" He sent another wave of energy out, making Sally scream out from the pain he inflicted. It felt like something heavy was on top of her, suffocating and crushing her body. Sonic and Silver watched on, rendered helpless themselves and unable to assist her. "Trapping me requires the release of power. You know, the kind you get when you sacrifice the life of an immortal?"

•~•

At that same time in purgatory, Shadow was starting to piece things together. He walked up behind his mother and spun her around to face him. "So you channel my power and you imprison Infinite, but how long exactly am I to play battery?" he inquired suspiciously.

Ivy chuckled lowly. "You still don't get it, do you, Shadow? You're not a battery, you're a sacrifice," she corrected with a Cheshire cat smile.

Shadow's bold bravado, faded the moment those words left her mouth. He was trapped inside a world where his powers were nullified and he had no way of sending for help. He was doomed.

•~•

Back in the mausoleum, Caleb looked at the three kept restrained on the floor with his magic. "Tell me, which of you will die to stop me?" Caleb beseeched.

"No one is dying today," Sonic grumbled.

"Well, then I guess we're done," he smirked. With that, he leaned over and grabbed the bone off the floor before vanishing into thin air.

Once he was gone, Sally rolled over on her side, grunting. Silver got up and dusted himself off. Sonic rushed over to Sally and extended a hand towards her. "Sal, are you okay?"

She allowed him to pull her back upright and shot him a smile. "Yeah, I'm okay."

Silver eyed her in confusion. "I thought you were supposed to be with my brother. What happened?"

"I was but one of the ancestors gave us a clue to killing Infinite," she said before pausing as something dawned on. "Speaking of which, I think someone really is going to die."

Sonic cocked a brow at his wife. "What do you mean?"

Sally looked over to Silver. "Your mother…she has Shadow with her."

"Wait—my mother?" Silver parroted in alarm. "Crap," he cursed. "If the ancestors need a sacrifice to put Infinite down for good, my mother will not hesitate…"

•~•

Back in purgatory, Shadow did his best to stall for time. "So to cage Infinite, you need to kill me?" he questioned with suspicion. "It's a bit convenient, isn't it?"

"I helped break the link to the Ancestors which is how Infinite escaped. If you have to blame someone, blame me. I don't care," she shrugged. "You're going to die a slow, painful death."

He narrowed his ruby eyes towards her. "Mother…"

"—I'm sorry," she said cutting him off. Ivy lifted her right hand out towards him. "The best I can do is make it a little easier for you."

Suddenly, everything around him started to feel very heavy. His head began to spin and the world shifted. "Mother, stop," he pleaded before he collapsed to the floor, unconscious in purgatory.

•~•

At that same time, at the motel, Faith sat near the window reading a book until she felt a chill in the air. She looked up from her reading to focus on the voices she could hear within her mind. She heard her father pleading for his life.

"Mother, stop."

Lying on one of the beds and reading herself, Faith ran over to Amy and yanked on her left wrist. "Mommy, we need to go help daddy!" she begged frantically.

Amy looked down at her daughter, troubled by her words. "Sweetie, what are you talking about?"

Faith yanked harder, forcing Amy to rise off the bed. "C'mon, mommy. Daddy is in trouble, I need to go rescue him!"

Faith managed to guide her mother to the front door of their motel. "How do you know?"

She reached for the doorknob. "I can hear his voice," she answered. "He's with the ancestors and they're trying to hurt him!"

Believing her daughter's words, Amy lifted Faith up into her arms and used her vampire speed to whisk them to the church.

•~•

Thankfully, Sonic, Sally, and Silver arrived at the church in the knick of time. Silver stopped just outside the church, refusing to go any further. "I'll leave this next part to you two," he instructed.

"You're not coming?" Silver gestured.

He shook his head. "No, I believe I've done enough meddling with the ancestors. I don't want to upset them any further by going inside."

"We'll save your brother," Sonic vowed. With that said, the couple entered the church, spotting Shadow's unresponsive body still trapped in the chalk-drawn triangle.

"Ivy?" Sally called out as they walked down the aisle towards Shadow.

Appearing in the flesh, within the triangle, Ivy stood boldly before her son's body. "Don't try to stop me now. Because if I don't kill Shadow, if I don't put down Infinite, he'll come for all of you," she threatened. "He'll burn down this entire city!"

"Ivy, please!" Sally cut off, taking a few cautious steps closer.

"For real," Sonic added. "There's gotta be another way."

"No," she denied. "He's lived more than ten lifetimes, he should die," she reasoned.

Sally shook her head pleadingly. "No, please, he's Faith's father!"

"She'll still have her mother," Ivy argued. "But if we don't stop Infinite, then Faith will die, too," she shouted in absolute certainty.

After eavesdropping in on the conversation outside long enough, the doors to the church burst open, and Silver came running down the aisle towards them. "Wait, take me instead," he volunteered. Everyone looked surprised by the call.

Ivy shook her head. "It's too late. Shadow will die."

He pressed his hands against the invisible force keeping Shadow and Ivy bound from escaping. "Please, Faith needs her mother and father alive. I'm willing to sacrifice myself if that means she can grow up with both parents."

Sonic looked dumbfounded by the alleged noble act. "What about Blaze? Aren't you going to consider her in all this You'd be leaving behind your wife…"

He looked over his shoulder at the other hedgehog. "Blaze doesn't love me anymore. She won't miss me…"

"That's a shame, but I can't blame her," Ivy noted, before snapping her fingers and pushing Silver back. He fell on his butt and collided into Sally and Sonic. The two nearly toppled over from the shove but managed to stabilize themselves.

Ivy knelt down to Shadow's body on the floor. She extended her hands just a few inches above his head. "Now, allow me to finish draining his life force."

"—No!" a small voice shouted from the back of the church.

Everyone turned only to spot Faith standing in the doorway with her mother standing behind her. Amy's eyes widened in horror when she saw the state her husband was currently in. She gasped, "Shadow…"

Faith glared at Ivy standing over her father's body. "You promised to help, but you're not helping, you're hurting us," she said in disappointment. "And I won't let you." Faith brought her right fist out and punched the air, causing a powerful wind to cascade through the entire church in a wave-like motion.

Those in its crosshair felt its effects. Sally held onto Sonic, bracing herself from the powerful winds. Even Ivy stumbled back, amazed by her granddaughter's strength. However, she panicked when she saw the chalk triangle containing both her and her son, being swept away by the winds. If the chalk was completely wiped away, she would be kicked out from being able to tether herself to their world to complete the spell. "Please, child, you must stop!" Ivy screamed over the powerful winds.

Even Amy tried to reach out to her daughter, worrying this may be too much power for her to channel on her own. "Faith!"

Ignoring the pleas to stop, Faith furrowed her brows even more by her own defiance. "No, now go away!" she shouted and clapped both of her hands together.

After her hands met together, the winds ceased and Ivy disappeared in the blink of the eye, no longer tethered between their world and hers. Sally and Sonic looked behind them as they heard Shadow begin to stir. Shadow grumbled as he sat upright, pinching the bridge of his nose. Faith beamed at the sight of her father in good health and rushed down the aisle towards him.

The group moved apart, allowing her to get through and leap into her father's arms. Startled by her appearance, he held his daughter close as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Amy came rushing down the aisle and embraced her family, happy to see them all alive and well. Sonic and Sally, in the meantime, smiled at the reunion amongst the family.

•~•

Later, once finally returning to their real home, Faith entertained their new guest who had dropped by just to check in on everything. Faith sat in the living room of their home with some magic totems and items to show off her knowledge. Knuckles watched as the young girl laid out assorted crystals, herbs, and rocks on the coffee table. "My dad said you and some of your friends study this stuff," she started.

"Yeah, that's right," he confirmed. "There are a lot of amazing things in the world to study.

"I can't wait to explore the world," she daydreamed.

"Well, one day you'll get the chance," he smiled. "Now, what do you have here?" he asked, observing the objects laid across the coffee table.

"These are for serenity," she explained pointing to the purple crystal. "And this one is for stillness," she gestured towards a dead oak leaf.

"Wow, did you teach yourself all that?" he questioned, quite impressed with her knowledge for her age.

She tucked her arms behind her back and looked up at the male. "I read about it in one of my aunt's books. She's helping me learn, but some stuff I figured out on my own."

"I gotta admit, kid, that is pretty impressive," he nodded with a smile.

"—She's an impressive young lady," another voice piped in. The two of them turned only to see Amy enter the living room with a tray of assorted cookies. Faith's interest peaked at the tasty baked treats being brought towards them.

"It was good meeting you, Faith. I'll be seeing you around," he smiled. Once finishing his goodbyes, Knuckles departed from the living room, leaving Faith alone with her mother.

The young pink witch looked up at the tray of desserts curiously. "Those for me?"

"Yes," Amy chuckled. "After what you did today, your dad compelled the entire bakery downtown to bake you a batch of your favorite cookies."

Faith laughed at the thought, but then faltered in her smile as another thought came across her mind. "Daddy seemed sad after I rescued him." She reached for one of the cookies. "Did I do something wrong?"

Amy watched as her daughter took a bite of the sugary treat. "I think he wanted to be the one doing the helping today. However, we both agreed on one thing: you were very, very brave," she commended with a smile.

Faith blushed by the compliment. "I just thought about what you would do. It's like you always say, if we stick together, nothing can hurt us. Always and forever," she quoted sweetly.

•~•

Out on their front porch, Shadow soothed his stress with a hard drink. He drank some scotch out of a small glass as he looked up at the night sky. Unfortunately, his time to meditate would be ended when another figure came up behind him. Shadow sighed, recognizing the presence. "I suppose I owe you thanks."

"Hey, I've heard about your reputation." Knuckles crossed his arms over his broad chest. "Staying the hell out of Mercia is all the thanks I need," he smirked.

Shadow turned around to face the red echidna. He leaned his back up against the railing to the porch. "Well, then perhaps we should forgo a trip down memory lane."

"Look, I just want to give you a heads up about an observation I made on your daughter."

"Oh?" Shadow asked with intrigue.

"You're not gonna be able to keep Faith locked up much longer, and I'm guessing you know that…"

Shadow sighed regrettably in agreement. "What is your suggestion then? I know you have one coming."

"My cousin and I have built a school for kids like Faith. It's a place for kids with supernatural leanings, just like her. Many children are thriving there. They are learning to use their powers for good, and to embrace their identities without fear," he smiled. Shadow stared at Knuckles in thought, it sounded like a good idea, but could he allow her to go away to some boarding school without his watchful eye? Seeing his hesitancy on the idea, Knuckles patted Shadow on the shoulder. "Faith would always be welcome there if you're interested—whenever that is," he added.

•~•

In her bedroom, Blaze looked at her reflection in the mirror as she smoothed out her pajamas for the night. Hearing footsteps approach, she turned only to spot Silver standing in the doorway to their bedroom. "What were you thinking today?"

Silver stepped further into the room. "What are you talking about?"

"You can't act like you want a future with me and then offer yourself up to die," she berated.

"Survival demands sacrifice," he stated factually.

"There is always another way, Silver," she reprimanded.

Silver scoffed. "There wasn't time for another way," he corrected.

"Well, Faith needs you," she argued

He shook his head, denying her argument. "Faith needs her father."

"Fine," she huffed, crossing her arms and turning away from him in defeat. Her ears went flat against her head. "…I need you."

Silver froze in place, shocked at what he had just heard his wife say. "What did you just say?"

"You heard me," she mumbled before turning around to look at him again.

Silver approached her. "I thought it was over between us, are you suggesting we start over again?"

She nodded slowly. "Yes, I-I love you, but we've got to figure out a way to fight and win and still have something that I recognize as a good life."

He wrapped his arms around his wife from behind and kissed her on the cheek. Blaze relished in his embrace. "When we end this war, I will promise you that I will never be this person again," he pledged.

Believing his words in that moment, she turned to face him and gave him a soft kiss. "Thank you," she smiled.

"Wonderful," he breathed in relief. "Now, there's just one last thing I must do."

•~•

Taking a walk around the block, Silver dwelled in deep contemplation with the right steps he was taking in mending his relationship with his wife. However, he

froze when he picked up on a presence looming behind him. He turned around, looking in every direction for the unknown follower. Every direction he looked he spotted empty driveways, empty sidewalks, and empty alleyways.

Relaxing his tense stance, he backed up just as he felt a painful stab to his spine. A sharp stake wrapped with the poisonous vine drove into his back. The hand that pushed it in further placed another hand on his shoulder from behind as Silver was immobilized by intense pain. The figure revealed themselves to be none other than Infinite in Caleb's body. He smirked behind him. "Are you ready to die, Silver?" Silver could only wince, unable to utter a response. "Because I'm quite ready to live."