They stopped staring when they heard Krit and Syl rushing at them. Ire went to Brin and took Theo from her.

"Go!" Ire yelled and pointed to Max. Brin just nodded and ran off.

Ire saw Krit jump over the perimeter fence and Syl running over to her and Theo.

"Lets go. We've got to hurry." Syl said in a rush, then took half of Theo's weight of Ire. They went as fast as they could to the perimeter fence, then when they got there, Syl jumped over with Theo.

Just as Ire was about to jump, she heard a gunshot, then she felt a wave of pain before her world turned back.

"No!" Max screamed and tried to run over to the perimeter fence, but Krit grabbed her arm.

"Max there's no time! We have to go!"

"But she's -"

Max was cut off. Syl had applied the right amount of pressure to just the right spot and Max was asleep. Syl and Krit carried her down to the Aztek. Brin and Theo were already halfway through the woods.

When they all got to the Aztek, Krit and Syl placed Max in the back, then they climbed in, along with Brin and Theo.

"Where's Ire?" Logan asked.

"KIA." Krit answered solemnly.

Logan just looked ahead and drove off.

Max had woken up halfway through the ride back and wasn't taking the news well. She had cried for a bit, but now she was just staring out of the car window watching everything as it swept by.

The trip back up to the penthouse was silent as well. Nobody wanted to say a thing, but most of them were thinking what Max was about to just say.

"Every time we go to Manticore we lose someone."

Everyone looked at her, all sad faces.

"It's true." Max said emotionally. "Every time we go there, we come back one person short."

"Max, we don't know that she's gone." Syl said. "We thought you were gone and look. Here you are with us."

"Yeah...ya know, for some reason, I do feel that she's alive. I mean, I knew Ire and she wouldn't let herself die like that." Max said. Most of the people in the room nodded, even though they didn't believe her. Someone, however, totally agreed with Max.

"I know she said that she wasn't my sister, but I know enough about her to know that she wouldn't allow herself to end like that." Theo said. "It just isn't Ire."

"We should get going." Syl said, breaking the silence. "I'd like to stay longer, but they're probably mobilizing."

"Yeah." Max said quietly.

"It was good seeing you little sister." Brin said. "And I'm sure that your friend is fine."

Max smiled for the first time that night, but it was short lived. They all went to the door, hugged and said good-bye, then Krit, Syl, Brin, and Theo left.

"She's alive." Max said suddenly.

"I'm sure she is." Logan said. He didn't know if it was possible, but Max seemed to believe it so much.

"I just know she's alive." Max said firmly.

And to Max and Theo, Ire would live forever.

THE END

A/N: I'm also writing a prequel for this and if the reviews are like what I got for Ire, then I'll post it. =) And yes, the prequel will have a definite ending.