"Powder, what… what's going on…?"

"I need to tell you something." she replied.

"You can tell me anything, but why are you pointing the…"

"Ekko, it was me. That night."

"..what do you mean it was you?"

"...I mean it was me. I killed them. I was… I was trying to help them. Love them, the best way I knew how. But instead I killed them. All of them."

"...you mean…"

"...yes. Vander. Vi. Mylo. Claggor. I killed them all."

"But how…"

"...it was an accident, like I said. It wasn't my fault.. I mean it was… Vi told me to stay home but I… I had a way to help… I did help.. I just… helped too much…"

She looked down for a second to find her thoughts. He took one step closer to her. He knew her movements, intimately. If he could get close enough to the gun, he might…."

Powder cocked the gun back without looking up. Without hesitation.

"Stop. I know what you're thinking. Don't." she muttered.

"Powder, I don't care what you did. I know you didn't do it on purpose! I know you didn't!"

"I know Ekko.. but what happened, it… changed me. It changed everything."

"Silco says…"

"FUCK SILCO." he screamed into the ether. "I knew I should have never let you…"

"It was never your decision to make, Ekko. I left on my own." she said with determination.

"He says things are going to be harder, from now on. More complicated. He says I have to… focus. That I can't be of two minds. Of two hearts." she continued.

"Why are you telling me this now, Powder? Why now?"

"Because I need you to hate me, Ekko. I need you to hate me like you've never hated anyone else. Remember our friends. Remember I killed them. Use that as fuel."

"But WHY? Just put the gun down and we can…"

"Because everyone… and everything I care about turns to ash in my hands." Powder said, coarsely.

"There's nothing more in the world that I.. that Powder wants than to stay here, with you. In this room. But Silco's right. You have my heart. And I have to bury it."

"I would rather destroy us on purpose than lose you by accident. At least with one, I get to choose."

Ekko stood there for a moment, in disbelief. He didn't know what to do, but he knew he wasn't going to leave her. He knew she knew as well.

He knew what she had to do. He thought she wouldn't do it.

"Powder… you know I'm not going anywhere. You're going to have to…"

"...I know".

Two shots rang out.

"Thank you. For everything."