Author's note:

Thank you so much for the reviews! It's so wicked awsome to get them.

Unfortunately only two more chapters left till the current arc (and probably the whole story) is over. (I said PROBABLY. Originally I wanted to finish it with Helga and Arnold kissing at the Futuretech building, in the end of "Two of a kind", and forget the whole Paige idea (Who's name was Paine back then). So who knows, I have some ideas, how to continue and I may change my mind. :) )

CHAPTER 13

BLOOD OF THE INNOCENT

"Arnold, you're out of your cutie little mind!" - Helga said - "You can't leave this bed now!"

"Well, if you think you will put my baby to danger you're wrong too." - Arnold said, as he put on his shirt. As soon as he learned that Paige is threating Helga's family, he woke up and wanted to go with them into the fire.

"Hey, I peed on a freakin' stick pal, that doesn't change everything."

"No Helga, It changes everything." - he said as he took on his shoes. - "We will go into this together, and we will end the whole story tonight got it?"

"But Arnold, you're barely alive, how can you think..."

"I'm fine Helga!" - he said - "Listen, we've been acting from fear for long enough. This time, we will go to your parents house, and do the right thing."

"What?"

"Talk some reason into Phoebe." - Arnold said - "Listen, we're all alive. Doesn't it tell you something? If she wanted to kill us, she could have done it by now in a million times."

"What are you saying hair-boy?"

"I think maybe we have an ally over there. I bet Phoebe is fighting Paige from the inside. All we have to do, is give her a hand." - he said. Curly just entered the room again, and he was furious.

"Arnold, I told it once, and I tell you again: You can't leave here! Not in your condition!" - Curly said. Arnold walked over with a pretty serious emotion on his face. He grabbed Curly's hands and shake it, then he leaned close to Curly's face and whispered to his ear.

"You're country is very thankful for what you did here today." - he said. Curly showed the face of understanding, stepped back a little and did a little gesture of salutation.

"Sir!" - he said.

"And don't forget: this conversation never happened." - Arnold said.

"Yes sir!" - he said. Helga got the idea of what's happening, so she stepped closer to Curly too.

"And one last thing Mr. Gallenthrope." - she said, trying to be very official - "You're country needs your credit card number right now!"

"Let's go Helga." - Arnold said as he grabbed Helga's arm and led her out of the room.

"Hey, I was just kiddin'!"

"Yeah, sure."

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There were they standing in front of the sinister house of the Patakis.

"That's it." - Arnold thought - "Sinister" is the word he was looking for, to describe the Pataki residence since he was a kid. Long before Paige came here to make it her own little fun-house. Arnold, who supposed to lie on a hospital bed right now, carefully monitored, Helga, a pregnant lady, and Gerald the one who's been sleeping with the enemy for some time. As Helga described themselves cynically "Some heroes".

"So we're gonna do this?" - Gerald asked.

"Looks like it." - Helga answered. Rhonda wanted to come with them, but Gerald convinced her, she must stay behind, and call the police if they're not call her in two hours.

"She's waiting for us, you guys know that." - Arnold said - "This is the last chance to step back."

"Step back? You kiddin'? These are the things I missed so much when you guys moved away." - Gerald said.

"I know... inspecting urban legends, playing on the Gerald field, going up against Phoebe, who went nuts from an experimental medicine and wants to kill us all. Same old, same old."

"You know Helga, you're not even funny right now." - Arnold said with a really serious voice.

"And you're short." - Helga answered. There was no need for more words, they told everything. This may be their last stand, their last "adventure". But they will not surrender, until they can bring Phoebe back . So, they begun walking toward the door. Helga imagined Phoebe standing there with a shotgun in her hands, waiting for them to enter, so she can shoot them all in the moment they enter.

Arnold and Helga walked up on the stairs to the door. There was no point in being too careful - If they're wrong, and Phoebe really wanted to kill them, they didn't stood a chance. Then, they made the wrong decision by not calling the cops, and they will all pay for that with their lives. Gerald was not with them - he played another part in the endgame.

As they got there, Helga opened the door. The place inside was a mess. Not like Miriam was the Housewife of the Year but the house never looked like this before. The mirror by the entrance was shattered to pieces, just like most of the furniture. They all witnessed the marks of Paige's rage. Helga worried about her family pretty much, but she knew if they're hurt, Paige would wanted her to know by now.

Slowly they walked toward the stairs in silence, just like Helga did as a kid, when she was late, and didn't wanted Bob to notice she's home.

"Helga, is that you? Come on, I want to have a word with you missy!" - the sound came from the living room, just like in old days. Except it was not Bob's voice - it was a pretty good imitation made by a girl. They entered the living room, which was more damaged than other places of the house. There was someone sitting in the couch - just like Bob used to, with the TV remote in his hand - but the girl had a gun in her hand instead. A remote control for people - Helga thought.

"Hey Phoebe." - Helga said with a grim expression. Paige stood up from the chair and turned around, so she can face Helga and Arnold.

"It's Paige. Did you forger?"

"Paige doesn't exist Pheebs. Stop pretending." - Arnold said. On the way they decided, they won't support Phoebes delusions by addressing her as Paige.

"Oh, I do exist Arnold, I can assure you."

"No your not." - Helga said, as she went closer. - "Phoebe, if you wanted some more attention, there are other ways to show it, than these threats."

"You forget I've shot Lila you piece of shit!" - she said. For the first time, her face wasn't the picture of perfect self confidence, and cruelty. She was angry. Damn angry, and probably scared too.

"Pheebs. This language really doesn't suit you." - Arnold said

"And shooting Lila surprised you as much as it did us. I bet you just wanted us to take you more serious. It was Lila, who jumped into the way of the bullet. That's why you stopped pretending for a moment Phoebe."

"I'M NOT PRETENDING!" - she screamed, as she raised her gun on them. - "I am not Phoebe! My name is Paige! What do you think you doing? Waltzing in here, and help poor Phoebe to find herself again, and live happily ever after? Maybe having Phoebe in the back of your wedding pictures as your bridesmaid? With a shy smile in the background just like always? - she asked.

"She was my best friend, and you took her away." - Helga said. So, it meant the "don't address her like a different person" scenario is over. - "I'll chase ya' trough hell if that's the only way to get her back pal!"

"Oh, let her believe she's important to you. How pathetic. And your great strategy! Sending Gerald up on the fire escape, while you distract my attention! Who do you think you are Helga, Ender Wiggin?" - she asked. Helga and Arnold was terrified. Yes, they did that exactly. They used the same strategy they used in most of their Football matches.

"Ender who?" - Helga asked. Paige rolled her eyes.

"I always forget I'm surrounded by retards. Don't you people read books anymore?"

"If you want to talk about literature, that's okay too. We just want something to talk about." - Arnold said. It sounded too naive even from Arnold. Paige looked at Helga in disbelief.

"Did you hear that? I can't believe you're actually going to marry this reject."

"I like to know I'm the smart one in a relationship." - Helga said, and with that, she jumped on Phoebe, and grabbed her gun. She knew if she can get the gun and take Phoebe to the hospital, Curly can clean her system from the Salvazin, just like he did to Arnold. But for her surprise the girl didn't let her gun go, but instead, she grabbed Helga, and throw her trough the room, into the kitchen, where she blew over the table. Helga forgot about Phoebe's knowledge of self defense. She never used it since she was a kid. Paige since she was more sure of herself, had better access to these skills. Helga was lying in a world of pain as she looked up, just to see Paige aiming her gun to Arnold's head and asking him the most horrible question she could.

"Okay Prince Charming. Here is the final test of your love. You can live in a world, where Helga is dead, or she can live in a world whey you are dead. But you can't both live. So, what's it gonna be Football head?" - she asked as she took a peak on Helga.

"Don't do this" - Helga begged without words - "Don't let Arnold make an orphan from my child by his own will!". But there was no way back, it was in Paige's eyes. Whatever stopped Paige from seriously hurting them was gone now. Phoebe has left the building.

Helga noticed something. There was a knife lying next to her - it fell down from the kitchen table. She knew what needs to be done right here, right now. It was the mother inside that told her. She grabbed the knife.

She knew damn well, this whole story... must end in blood.

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Gerald climbed into the house by the window of Helga's old room, handling a baseball-bat- He heard legends about this place from Arnold when he was a kid. It wasn't so special now, mostly because Big Bob changed it into a storage of old stuff.

The plan was pretty simple: they try to bring Phoebe back downstairs, while he release the Patakis and lead them down on the fire escape. The oldest one in the book. The only problem was, they didn't knew anything about Brainy. That's why he had a "weapon". He left Helga's room and checked the bedroom of Bob and Miriam. Thinking about things that could have happened there simply terrified him, so went over to Olga's room. He opened the door, and seen the three people sitting on three chairs. They were tided up. The old guy, Big Bob was still a huge man, who looked really strong, but right now he was frightened. Miriam obviously didn't understand what's happening., Olga of course looked incredibly hot, especially tied to a chair. Seeing her like this made Gerald thought about the night he spent with Paige. It was beautiful in all of it's weirdness. He didn't know it was Paige back then of course. He thought he was with Phoebe. And in a way, he was with her. Why did it all turn into this nightmare? He went over to the Patakis to help them, but in a moment he heard Brainy's wheezing behind his back. Last time he went one on one with this guy, only his luck saved him from being stabbed to death. He raised his baseball-bat, and turned around, ready to strike, but Brainy wasn't there. It was only his imagination playing with him. So, he took the bandage from Bob's mouth.

"It was about time boy!" - he said - "What are you looking at, let me free you freak! I have a bitch to kill downstairs!" - Gerald put the shawl back. It was the last thing he wanted to listen right now. So, he decided to free Olga first. He didn't know there was a man in the wardrobe looking at him, trying to keep his breathing as silent as he can.

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It was the moment of truth. Arnold came back from the death, just to die again. He didn't wanted to believe it. A day before he would have said "Kill me now!" without hesitation, but - thanks to his near death experience - he knew it would bee a selfish thing too. Leaving Helga alone with the baby, and the guilt. Making a murderer from Phoebe. He had to find some other way.

"I won't choose Paige." - he said.

"Then I will kill you all."

"Anybody dies today, will kill everyone in soul! You, Helga, me, the baby...! Even Gerald!"

"Baby?" - Paige asked. He seemed to be surprised and confused in the same time. - "Helga's pregnant?" - she asked. She tried to put on her vicious smile, but just couldn't do it.

"Yes. - Arnold said. - "Phoebe is a good person Paige. I can understand he had bad feelings against us that she repressed and you can feed on those. But she couldn't have anything against our child."

"Who cares?" - she asked, but it sounded like she wanted to convince herself. She was fighting again - and Arnold seen it in her eyes. She was able to wake Phoebe up.

They knew this much from Ralph's notes. Any ordinary mind (like Brainy's) would have lost this battle months ago. But Phoebe's mind was nothing of an ordinary mind - that was the reason Paige still had to have Salvazin injections. Phoebe's rational and highly organized mind never gave in to the insanity.

"Like father like son!" - Paige said, but her hands was shaking - "I won't leave this world like this! You won't make me watch Phoebe being your sidekick in the background!" - she prepared to shot Arnold, but then, Helga stood up with the knife in her hand. Phoebe turned around and aimed at her. Then Helga did something unpredictable. With one fast move, she cut her own left palm. Blood was fleeing from it to the floor pretty fast. He risen her bloody hand and looked into Phoebe's eyes.

"Sisters forever!" - she screamed. - "I meant it Phoebe. I meant it with all my heart! Did you?"

The girl just stood there with an empty face. All the memories came back - the good memories Paige and the Salvazin tried to keep in darkness. How Helga was the only one who wanted to play with her on the kindergarten playground. How she protected her from the other girls in high school. How much they enjoyed playing video games like little kids till morning, when they were supposed to study to their collage exams. They late night conversations about the things of life next to a huge pizza. And the most important thing, how they scaled their friendship with blood by the river, when they were teenagers. They sweared they will be more than friends - they will be sisters. Phoebe looked back with horror at what she have done. Only because she couldn't adjust to the fact, even she can mess up sometimes, and injected Salvazin to her blood.

Tears started running from her eyes, just like Helga's blood was running from her hand.

"I'm so sorry." - Phoebe said, as she turned the gun against her own head. "I... didn't wanted to." - she said crying. Helga and Arnold looked at her in shock!

"Paige didn't kill anybody! Nobody knows what happened! But even if they did, it wasn't you Phoebe! Chemicals messed up your brain! You're not responsible! It was only a failed experiment!" - Arnold said.

"That's enough!" - Helga said with a grim expression - "I love you with all my heart Phoebe. I can't live without you, seriously. There is a way to clean all the Salvazin from you're system. A medical team is waiting in the hospital, and they will not ask any questions." - Helga said. But Phoebe didn't move. Now Helga was crying too. - "I want my child know her aunt Phoebe! I am a mess Pheebs. The kid must have a rational female image around him!" - she said.

"A rational female." Phoebe just looked at them, with the gun in her hand, with tears in her eyes. In a moment of dead silence she looked in deep into Helga's eyes. Suddenly, she bust out in laugh. Not in Paige's evil laughter, but Phoebe's cute giggling. It was so funny calling her "rational", in this moment, she couldn't help it. Helga started to laugh too. Phoebe fell on her knees, still laughing and crying in the same time. She dropped her gun on the floor. Helga and Arnold both run to her, in happiness. They've got Phoebe back. Helga crouched down to her, and showed her bloody hand to her. They touched their palms together. It was just like seven years earlier - except now there was no blood on Phoebe's hand. And they were pretty thankful for that. Helga kissed the crying Phoebe and hugged her.

"I missed you so much! I had no idea I can miss someone like that!" - Helga said. Phoebe just couldn't believe it. Helga loved her this much. She tried to kill her, and everybody who is important to her, and she only turned toward her with love. Arnold watched the two girls, and knew deep inside, she will never be this close to Helga. She could have been, if they spent the last seven years together, but he missed his chance. He and Helga will probably grow together in the next years - but still Phoebe will know her better. Maybe that's the way it supposed to be. Helga is meant to be a mystery for him forever.

Gerald just showed up on the stairs with the Patakis. It looked safe enough, and Gerald was incredibly relieved, to see Phoebe's back. Bob, Miriam and Olga looked at them with a pretty stupid expression on their faces.

"Listen, it's a long story, but she's actually one of the good girls." - Gerald said - "And Bob, if you say as much as a bad word, I will tie you up again, okay?" - he asked. Bob murmured something, but he was shocked enough from the happenings of the passed day to shut up.

"So, everything is okay in the end?" - Gerald asked.

"Looks like it." - Arnold said. He was tired like hell. He only wanted to sleep, with Helga's face on his shoulder to the ends of time.

"What happened here exactly?" - Olga asked.

"I'll tell you later sis." - Helga said. She still hugged Phoebe. She just couldn't let her go. Helga looked back at them, her family, her friend, and her love - "I know I'm not saying this too often but... I love you so much. All of you."

"Okay, this is the creepiest moment of the whole day." - Miriam said.

"Oh, about creepy... has anyone seen Brainy?" - Gerald asked. They all looked to Phoebe, who just seemed to frozen by hearing these words. It all came back. How Paige planted those explosives in several places of the house, and how she told Brainy to detonate them if anything goes wrong.

"Oh my god!" - she screamed, as she stood up. "Everybody out!" - she said, as she was running to the stairs.

"What?" - Bob asked.

"OUT!" - she said - "This whole house may blow up to heaven!" - she said, but she was running to the opposite direction - to the stares. Without thinking, Helga, Arnold and Gerald run after her.

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On the rooftop there was a man enjoying the sunshine. He was thinking about the ancient question - to be or not to be. He looked on the cell phone in his hands - he know all he has to do, is to dial the number of the beeper, that is connected to a bomb in the basement. A beeper connected to a bomb. How ironic, in Big Bob's place. That bomb will blow up the other explosives placed in the house. Now, he had a chance to end it once and for all. No more failures. No more humiliation. Only the cleansing fire.

"Let them burn." - Paige said to him a few hours ago, when she gave him this cell phone "Let them all burn!"

He's wheezing got louder and louder, and soon it turned into laughing. He knew the answer after all these years. He will let the fire take all his pain away.

So what do you think?

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