Chapter 25: Silver lining

She flinched at the sound of his voice. Oh my god.  Her stomach churned in dread. He has completely lost it!

"Don't listen to him, Ren. Come on, get out!" Louis yelled. He was still struggling to break free from his grasp. "Get… off… me!" Louis finally managed to bury his elbows in Will's gut. In an instant, Will had released him and staggered backwards. "What are you waiting for?" He shouted urgently, turning towards his sister.

"But – "

"I said get outta here, NOW!" He repeated. "Don't worry about me, I got this. Go on, get out!"

Ren scrambled to her feet and headed for the door.

"NO!"

She turned around and, as if in slow motion, watched as Will pulled out the knife from his pocket and lunged at Louis. She could not believe at what was happening. It felt as if she was trapped watching a horrible movie as Will and Louis wrestled to control the knife. A few more seconds and they suddenly stood still. Louis let out a small gasp. The knife made a sickening sound as Will pulled it out from Louis' stomach. 

Ren felt lightheaded as she watched the whole thing unfolded before her eyes. She stood there, strangely numbed and nauseated at the same time, as Louis slowly crumbled to the floor. Ren then noticed a tightening in her chest, and realized that she has been holding her breath the whole time. No, no, no! This can't… no! Come on Lou, get up. Don't scare me like this… Please don't… Please get up. "Louis…" she choked back a sob. There was a small pool of blood starting to form on the ground. No, her brother can't be dead. He can't be… he just can't.

Will, who had her back against her, slowly turned to face her. He was standing over his brother, the knife still firm in his grasp. "I told you to stay," he said, breathing heavily. "Didn't you hear me?"

Ren still stood there, frozen in terror. Run… get the hell out of here! Unfortunately, it was as if her feet have suddenly turned to stone.

"Look what you made me do," he said quietly, nudging Louis with his foot. "I killed your brother…" Will shook his head. "I… killed… your… brother.  I – I'm a murderer!" He grasped his head with his hand. Frustration was etched all over his face.

"There's nothing I can do." Will slowly made his way towards her. "I – I gotta finish this now… I need to finish this." The despondent reaction on his face told Ren everything.

Stupid, stupid! Come on, move! Do you want to die?! Finally, Ren felt her right foot take a slow step backwards, followed quickly by the left foot. "No, listen to me Will. You don't have to do this." she begged him. "You could stop this. Just please... listen to me."  

Will shook his head in response. "I can't," he answered dejectedly. Instead, he quickly made his way towards her.

The blade at his hand glistened; light from opened door reflecting on it. Ren could see a streak of blood trickling down the knife – his brother's blood.

Ten feet… six feet… four feet. In an instant, he was almost in front of her. "I'm sorry things have to come to this." Will looked at her in the eye, almost apologetic.

Ren took another step backward. Damn it, no! She realized that she was just a second too late as Will lunged at her with the knife. Ren was prepared – or at least she thought she was – for the knife to pierce her stomach. What she wasn't prepared for, however, were the pieces of furnishings right behind her. She cried out in pain, stumbling backwards. There was a hot searing pain on her already battered left arm. Ren grabbed her it, making sure her arm was still attached. It felt as if somebody has set it on fire and was about to fall off.

Will was slightly surprised at the sudden turn of events. However, he was not about to be deterred. Again, he inched his way closer as Ren desperately tried to scramble away.

Death was inevitable for every human being, but it would be a lot earlier for Ren Stevens.

This is it. She looked at him, every shred of her hope gone. No more school, no more friends, no more family. Her family. Resigned to her fate, a feeling of guilt overwhelmed her. How could she put her family through this kind of ordeal? How would a mother cope with the loss of two children? Ren quickly snapped back from her thoughts. In one last show of bravery, she slowly tipped her head upwards and stared at Will's face.

He raised the knife, intent to finish the job he has started. There was a beat before he finally swung it down.

Ren's eyes went wide with shock. The wood made a sickening sound as it connected with the back of his head. The knife stopped inches from her face. All of a sudden, Will slumped on the floor, on her feet. Standing just behind him was Louis, heaving furiously. His one hand was holding a big piece of wood, while the other was clutching his stomach. There was a rather huge stain of blood on his shirt.

"Louis!" she exclaimed in tears. She scrambled towards her brother, who slowly crumbled to the floor next to hers. Ren hugged her little brother tight, shedding tears of utter relief.

"Shhh," he hushed her. "It's going to be alright, Ren," Louis whispered as he put his arms around her. He gave her a light kiss on the cheek. "We're going to be alright."

Distant sounds of sirens reverberated as everything around them slowly faded into darkness.

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