"Alright now just don't stress your fingers for a few hours. They still need to heal." Alexis said as she removed the splints from my fingers. I finally got the last of my arm cast off and Patrick was removing my leg cast.

I nodded in thanks as I made my way up to the guest room where I had been staying the last week. I grabbed my boots and jacket and laid them out. I heard a knock on the door and Patrick was standing there with a bundle of clothes.

"These are some of my old clothes, they look like they may fit you." he said and I thanked him before making my way into the shower. After washing up I looked at myself in the mirror, god if there was a god of scars and physical trauma then I would be his fucking golden child!

My arms looked as if a tiger had clawed them, my chest was just riddled with rips and old wounds, and my fucking face...goddamn it. A long slash now was running across my forehead from my most recent fight, it wasn't deep but it was certainly noticeable.

I sighed at the devastation my body has endured throughout my life, fucking hell not even the Ares kids have this many scars. Hell not even Ares has this many scars...at least I don't think.

I put on my new clothes and walked out, I heard the door open and I heard Shane greeting Alexis. I wonder if my life will ever be as lively as this family is, will my siblings visit when we are all older? Will they be there to watch my son grow up?...Will I?

I shook the thought out of my head, of course I'll be there! I'm Samuel Fucking Strife! I don't die!

I walked down the steps where Shane was waiting for me "Hey, so I'm pretty sure my plan will work, come over here." he said gesturing to the table. I sat down and he pulled out a dagger and placed it in front of me "Cut my hand off." he said calmly.

I leaned back in shock "Say what?!" I asked incredulously.

"I need you to cut my hand off, right here at the wrist, it needs to be one fluid motion if there is any hesitation then I'll bleed out for sure." he explained.

I stuttered incoherently for a second "Dude, why would I cut your hand off?!" I asked.

"If you cut my hand off and I head to the base then they will be forced to take me to medical. That happens to be right next to the security room, if I can sneak out I can shut off all the security gates and you can slip in during the confusion." he told me.

"And that requires you getting your hand chopped off?" I asked slowly and he nodded.

"It would have to be a serious injury otherwise they'll just give me ambrosia and tell me to walk it off." he said pushing the dagger closer to me.

I felt sick to my stomach as I picked up the dagger, really? I have to do this?! I don't want to!

Shane seemed to notice my hesitation and glared at me "Oh, so now you have a conscious? Where was that when you murdered all the Gargareans last year? Where was that when you executed people with a grin!? You are such a coward!" he shouted at me out of nowhere.

I glared at him as I felt anger bubble inside me, a coward?! I'm a fucking coward?! He's calling me a coward?! Oh I'll fucking show this smug piece of fucking shit!

I grabbed the dagger, then his arm, then brought the blade down and sliced through his wrist in a second. Shane shrieked in pain as he pulled his now severed arm back and applied pressure. The reality of what just happened set in and I dropped the blood covered knife as Alexis and Patrick stared at the scene gaping.

"Oh my god...Oh shit I am so sorry!" I shouted staring at the now chopped off hand laying in a puddle of blood on the table.

Shane whimpered slightly as he looked at me with tears in his eyes "You're good...all good. Sorry about the insults...had to get you mad enough to go through with it." he said softly as Alexis quickly started to bandage his stump, Patrick quickly put the hand in ice to preserve it.

"Patrick? Can I get a lift to the base?" Shane asked turning slightly pale. Patrick nodded as he grabbed his coat and his car keys. Shane looked at me "You stay here, give us a half hour head start. After that take my car and drive to the base, that should be enough time for me to turn off the security measures." he said shaking a little as blood started to soak his bandage.

I nodded as I handed him his iced hand and he took it with a nod. They walked out the door and it was quiet in the house except for the faint dripping sound of blood on the hardwood. Finally I looked at Alexis as she grabbed a towel to clean up the mess.

"Your brother is fucking insane." I said and she laughed loudly as she cleaned all the blood up.

"Tell me something I don't know, that kid is reckless as hell. You have to admit though he is a determined guy, nothing really stops him. I'm sure you noticed that when he willingly got his hand cut off." she said gesturing to the bloody towel.

I smirked and nodded in agreement, I needed to clear my head and there was only one way for me to do that. I opened the door to the basement and walked down, this had become almost a daily thing. Thinking about the horrors outside made me very anxious and I needed a way to calm down.

I flipped on the lights and in front of me stood a piano, I sighed heavily as I sat down and cracked my knuckles. My hands began to move themselves as I started playing my most favorite piece.

The Sonata No. 29 in B major, Beethovens greatest work.

As I played the keys, my mind settled, it felt as if the world melted away and all that remained was this song. The world was not always horrifying, at times it could be kind, even beautiful. As I played I recalled the day my father took me to a symphony, I was only five at the time but seeing all the instruments making such beautiful sounds had captivated me.

Then a man stepped out and had begun playing the piano with such elegance and emotion that I truly didn't understand what I was hearing, I couldn't comprehend the beauty of it. My father saw how much I enjoyed it and bought a grand piano the next week. I practiced every day, I fumbled the keys, I read the sheet music, and every time I played I felt happy that the sounds being made were because of me.

As the Sonata came to an end I took a deep breath and lowered my hands, I smiled as the music reverberated in my mind, calming me.

"Sam! It's time to head out!" I heard Alexis shout, I sighed and stood up, as I turned I froze. There was a bathroom in the basement and the door was wide open. I could see the mirror over the sink and my reflection in it...

And the reflection of someone standing behind me!

I turned ready to fight but no one was there! I started to sweat as I looked around but found nothing, I looked back at the mirror and the figure was gone. I gulped hard, had I just imagined it? Was I starting to lose it again?

"Sam?!" Alexis sounded at the top of the stairs.

"Y-Yeah?" I asked softly.

"It's been an hour! You have to go!" she said and I nodded before starting towards the stairs. As I hit the top step I felt a rush of wind behind me, I turned but saw nothing. I felt that same feeling of being watched, just like when I met up with Amos in Boston Harbor.

I made my way up the stairs and Alexis handed me my jacket and sword "Thanks." I said and she nodded with a smile.

"Good luck Sam." she said and I walked out the door to Shanes car. I started it up and as I looked into the rear view mirror I saw the figure again!

I turned around but no one was standing there, I was breathing heavily as I stared at the spot the figure had been at. I shook my head and took a deep breath before going in reverse and then starting down the road.

Time to fight Fitzpatrick!

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