As we stumbled into the black van, my mother ordered me to drive. She helped Sark into the back, and looking in the rear view mirror, I could see her wrapping his elbow and giving him some kind of painkiller. I started up the vehicle and pulled away, trying to drive quickly but carefully, so as not to jar Sark's arm. I wiped away the tears that still lingered after finding Marshall, and concentrated on getting us out of there.
I approached the final corner, and took it a bit harder than I had intended. I glanced back at Sark's small cry of pain. He was clutching his elbow, and his face was completely pale. My mother, who had climbed into the passenger seat next to me, suddenly yelled.
"Sydney!" I quickly turned back around, feeling myself begin to panic as I saw the small black government issue car that was coming straight at us. I slammed on the brakes, as did the driver of the other car, but it was too little, too late. The van plowed into the smaller car, sending us both into the street outside the JTF.
I glanced over at my mother, who gave me a look before turning and going back to Sark. She kicked out the back doors of the van, and began helping him out. I struggled with the driver's side door, and soon got it open. Hopping out, I looked back to see my mother and Sark searching for a new vehicle. Sark pointed at a pickup truck parked just down the street, and my mother nodded, motioning for me to follow. I clambered over the wrecked hood of the car I'd hit, glancing quickly into it as I did so. That brief glance brought back the tears I had shed for Marshall, to an even stronger degree.
I leaped off of the car and ran to the banged up driver's door. It took just a few seconds to yank it open, and I reached in and moved the airbag and shattered glass.
"Sydney!" My mother yelled. I ignored her as I continued trying to save the driver.
"We don't have time for this Sydney! We're sitting ducks out here, especially with Sark injured. We need to move… now." I finally acknowledged her with a cold stare.
"I've lost too many people already! I can't let him die too," I sobbed. Her features instantly changed into a look of sorrow and sympathy. She came over to me and pulled me into a hug.
"Sydney, I'm so sorry. I know it hurts. But if we don't get out of here, all of us will die as well." She pulled away and looked over my shoulder at the destroyed car. Her face softened even more, and looking into her eyes, I knew why. I quickly turned back around.
"Syd…" he gasped, having difficulty breathing.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. He looked into my eyes, and then at my mother standing behind me. A look of hurt- emotional hurt, not physical- crossed his face.
"You… her… why?"
"Because I have to get them back. I'd be better off dead if I have to live without them." He shut his eyes and took a shaky breath. In vain, I wiped some blood away, and then reached in to hug him.
"I'm sorry. I tried to get you out… I never wanted this to happen." He coughed, an action producing even more blood, before nodding weakly.
"I know… good luck Syd."
"I'm so sor… no, hold on, please hold on… you can't die on me! Don't go, don't go…" I urged. But as he gasped for breath, blood running down his face and body, I knew I had killed someone else I cared about.
"Oh god… Weiss! Eric, please, wake up... wake up!" My mother gently grabbed me, and led me over to the truck that Sark was waiting in. As sobs racked my body again, she put me in the front seat, and then she got behind the wheel. I turned to look out at Weiss' body, and put one bloody hand on the mirror. I stared after him as my mother squealed away from the curb. Sark was fairly silent in the back, until finally, he spoke.
"Sydney, I apologize."
"For what?" I sobbed bitterly.
"Everything that's happened today."
"Why? It's not your fault. I killed Weiss. And no one can tell me it wasn't my fault- I ran into him and killed him, Sark. I was probably the one that killed Marshall as well." I could feel my mothers eyes on me.
"Sydney, it is not your fault."
"Don't tell me that Mom. I have killed everyone I care about." Suddenly, a thought struck me. "What if I kill Vaughn… and Dad? What if I kill them too?" My mother alternated between flying through the streets and glaring at me.
"Sydney, you were not responsible for all of those deaths. And Weiss… that was an accident, Sydney, an accident! You will not kill your father or Vaughn. It won't happen." I clamped my jaw shut and simply stared at my bloody hands. I knew the truth. I knew I had killed each one of those people, whether or not it had been my hands that caused their deaths.
