Ugly was heading back to the Lodging House and she didn't know why. Her brain seemed to have quit functioning and habit had taken over. This is what I do, her mind told her. She had left Spot on the docks. He hadn't said a word as she got up and walked away. What am I doing? She thought, but she pushed the thought away. That was the one thing she was good at.

The City sun was out in full force today, making everything sharp and offensive. Ugly felt slimy sweat crawl down her back and shine up her bare legs.

She reached the Lodging House and felt the relief of cool air as she stepped inside. She passed by the bunkroom and headed toward the stairs. One step, two steps, three, four. She couldn't think, was she going insane? Her feet felt strangely heavy, like they were tied to a ball and chain. Why did she feel so strange? Why did she have the sudden urge to turn around? Why was there sudden thought steaming through her mind, screaming run! Her hand was on the doorknob, slick with sweat. The knob was turning beneath her loose grip. It slipped round, the door slid back, opened.

The room was dark, she stepped inside. She could hear breathing, sense life.

"Hey baby, how are you?" Roan's voice curled out of the dark like it was just another day, any other day. Ugly thought for a moment it was. She'd dreamed it all up. Yes, she had.

But she couldn't respond. Her mouth was dead. In fact, it was possible that she was dead. Yes, she had died She wasn't really there. Her body was numb.

She could see the glow of Kyro's yellow eyes in the dark. Her eyes were beginning to adjust. Roan was sitting on a chair next to him. God knew what they were doing, just sitting in the dark. God or someone else.

"We thought you'd left us, sweetheart," Roan said, standing up. He walked over to the shutters and opened them. The light came flooding in like the plague. The sounds of the streets washed in behind. Roan looked at her. His eyes were bloodshot and rimmed with dark circles. He lit a cigarette. She looked over at Kyro, he wouldn't meet her eyes. Roan exhaled a long and gorgeous stream. "So, baby, why are you here?"

"I don't know," Ugly mumbled.

Roan shook his head sadly. "No, you don't. Poor, sweet girl, you don't know anything do you? Why is that, huh? Why don't you know?" Ugly's throat was dry. She didn't know, the answer was in the question. Roan approached her, stood in front of her. He put out his free hand and lifted her chin up until she was looking into his eyes. "I'll tell you why. It's because you're scared." Her green eyes were cold and shiny. "You're scared to think for yourself because you don't trust yourself, you don't believe in yourself." His hand somehow found a way into her hand and he slid something metal into it. Ugly recognized it as the handle of a revolver. "But I've always wanted you to succeed, baby, I've always believed in you," tears flowed from her eyes without any impetus.

"Why?" She said, her voice cracked. It was so vital, so important a question. Roan eyes were glossy, glowing and alive.

He dropped his cigarette and put it out with his toe. Then he took her hand that held the revolver and carefully lined the barrel up with his heart. "With you, baby, I never needed a reason."

"What are you doing?" She asked. Her hands jerked down involuntarily, but he held them firmly.

"I don't like to be stabbed in the back, baby, so if you're going to do this, you better fucking do it," he growled. Ugly's arms went limp.

"Let go!" She cried.

"Jesus, baby, I'm doing this for you!" He cried. His aura was sparkling and crackling, causing waves of fear to roll down Ugly's spine. "I'm dying for you! This is what you want, so take it! Come on, sweetie, don't' be scared, this is what you want, so take it! Take it!" He screamed. His fingers rolled over hers on the trigger. She felt them push down over hers and her knees collapsed.

XXX

Dun dun dun DUN! Wow, could things get any more dramatic? Bet ya didn't see that one coming, didja? didja? But it is not over yet mes amis (because that would be a pretty lame-ass ending). So, let's have some questions…

First of all…what the fuck? Yeah, I mean, Roan is pretty fucking insane. I mean, I thought he was crazy before, but this? Does it even make sense? But then again, does anything he ever does make sense? Must be one of those perks of insanity…hmm…

And then there's Ugly, for a killer she sure is a wimp, I mean, talk about wishy-washy! Jeez!

And yet she still has nothing on Kyro, who is apparently munching on Cheeto's at this point, yeah, way to go mate!

And speaking of AWOL, where the fuck is Spot? He better get his ass down here and do something cute really fast because I am getting mad at him!

Yikes! What is going to happen? What what what what what? Nous allons voir…