This is kind of a dark chapter, so if you don't like that I'm warning you now. So if you think that you might be upset, I suggest that you just skip this chapter and read the much happier next chapter when it comes out. It's not too bad though.

Chapter 13

"Now, no more games. It all ends now."

If possible, the Lion held his victim just a little tighter. One small droplet of blood fell from Seth's throat and found its way onto the hand of the other of half of its soul who was lying helplessly on the floor. One small tear fell from the depths of Lillian's blue eyes mingling with the crimson liquid. Lillian forced her eyes to stare into the frightened gaze of her brother. In that one moment that they shared, more was said between the two than could ever have been said with words. Seth had quietly accepted his fate and Lillian had vowed to follow her twin, the savior of her soul, wherever he went, even if she had to follow his soul to the afterlife. There was no place that he could go where she could not follow.

Lillian reached her hand upwards towards her brother. Even with his limited mobility Seth was able to reach down and grasp her hand, completing the unspoken pact as they joined hands. Seth gasped as he felt the knife slip deeper into his skin.

Shane noticed the small exchange between the two siblings. The eyes are the window to one's soul and what Shane saw within their souls was peace, resignation, acceptance and loyalty. They would follow each other to the end if need be. If one died in this cold, damp warehouse, then the other would follow shortly. Shane could not, no, would not allow that to happen. He had already lost their father on a mission; he would not loose another Plummer. This family has been through enough. His options were limited though. For the first time in his life, Shane didn't know what to do. Even when he had first arrived at the Plummer's house, he had never been this far out of control of the situation. What they needed at this point was hope, which can be found in any situation when one looks hard enough.

At this point, the three trapped occupants had forgotten about their counterparts that had led them to the warehouse in the first place. When Lillian tore her eyes from the disturbing sight of her distraught brother, a moving figure and a thumbs up from the least likely person cast away the hopelessness and dread that had wedged itself deep within her mind. London dared not alert Shane though for fear that the Lion would pick up on the exchange. Brightened by the sudden turn of events Lillian focused her thoughts back on the situation with the Lion.

"All I want is the twins. Why don't you spare yourself the trouble and just leave."

"I can't do that, Riley." Riley growled. He didn't wish to hurt Seth any further; Seth was his friend no matter how neglectful he had been in recent times. Lillian, however, well, if he was going to die here today, then Lillian would go with him.

Riley pushed Seth towards Shane who gracefully caught the stumbling teenager, but before he had even realized the Lion's intentions, the knife was poised to kill. And that's when the two most unlikely knights in shining armor emerged from the debris that littered the warehouse.

"Charge!" Slick yelled to his companion. Demon rushed forward and stopped the deadly path of the knife before it could reach its intended target. Riley, enraged how the situation had turned against him yet again, violently lashed out and kicked Demon in the stomach leaving the man to gasp for air, the knife falling harmlessly to the ground.

"Are you just going to stand there?" Demon managed to rasp out to the unmoving Slick.

"Yeah." Demon scowled at his friend. There was nothing to be done, though, for when Demon looked up, Riley and Shane had both taken off.

Shane was not about to let Riley get away so that he could further terrorize the Plummers, so when the teenager took off, Shane followed. Most people would have been unable to follow the boy through the maze of the warehouse, but Shane was a trained Marine. He followed the boy to a set of stairs he had not known existed. Making sure that there were no traps, Shane peered up the stairs before cautiously following the boy. But Riley had no escape plan, he had not expected to loose. There was no lurking danger.

Shane opened the door on the top of stairs and realized that they were on the roof. He could hear sirens approaching from the distance. Shane searched the rooftop and found one lone boy standing on the edge of the roof. Slowly, Shane approached the boy, not wanting to scare him.

Riley heard his approach though and sorrowfully looked up at that stars as they twinkled in response. He turned around and looked at Shane, tears streaming down his face. Riley backed up till his feet were partially over the edge of the building. He was teetering on the line between death and life.

"I just wanted someone to be my friend." Tears rolled down the teenager's cheeks and Shane could see the desperation and the immense pain that flowed from the child's eyes. He had given up. Shane rushed forward, intent on saving the boy, but he was not quick enough. Riley had been emotionally plunged over the edge, and as the teenager took his last step, he felt joy, for the first time in a long time. He was finally free from his suffering.

This is not the end.