Author's note: Okay we're back to the present day, I know I left the Black Flag storyline on a cliffhanger but that is deliberate, Rest assured it will be finished in a much later chapter. This is the chapter that will start breaking off from the canon storyline. anyway, read and review.

Desmond went to his sleeping bag immediately after his moment with Lucy. For the first time in months, he fell asleep happy. Honestly, he was scared of the kiss he gave her. He had expected her to pull away and walk back in. He feared that she only thought of him as a friend. But when she returned the kiss with equal passion, Desmond reached nirvana. His mind leaped up and down with joy screaming 'she likes me, she likes me.' If he was going to die at that moment Desmond knew he could die happy. No nightmares plagued his mind tonight.

When Desmond woke up he felt rejuvenated and ready to do one last session in the animus. He found Holliday still in it. He had a huge smile on his face. He looked around and found Lucy at her desk. Upon seeing him, Desmond was sure he saw the slightest trace of a blush before she went back to her computer.

"Did you sleep well Des?' she asked.

Desmond smiled at the nickname and nodded. He turned to Rebecca who was monitoring Holliday's vitals. "How is he? he asked.

Rebecca shrugged, "for a man who never used the animus before he's doing rather well. No crashing, no signs of discomfort. I wonder how much he can take."

"So who is he this time?" Desmond asked Rebecca.

"A pirate," She answered with a smile. "This guy's ancestors are almost as exciting as yours."

"Is it anyone famous?" Desmond wondered, Honestly it would not have surprised him if he was related to Blackbeard.

Rebecca shook her head, "No, he's known only as Caedus, but why he's not famous is beyond me. Honestly, this guy makes Blackbeard look tame in comparison. How is it a pirate this successful not known at all in the history books?

"I think it's politics," Shaun replied. "They don't want people to read about those that fight the law and win. In the 1600s there was a pirate named Peter Easton. He terrorized the Atlantic for decades the only reason he stopped is that he simply got tired of it."

"What happened to him?" Desmond asked.

"He ended up retiring with a wealth of over two million pounds," Shaun replied. "Imagine how much that wealth is worth in today's economy."

Rebecca decided to pull Holliday out now that Desmond was awake. They had stopped just as Caedus was rescuing Bonny and Read. Though they were dying to know what happened next, the assassins knew that Desmond sessions were more important for now.

As Desmond played the last sequence of the memory, Holliday decided to get some sleep. Lucy contacted Vidic inquiring about the Observatory suspecting that it might be a First Civilization Site. Her instinct proved correct. She learned that the Observatory was a Precursor Complex used for surveillance of humans. Vidic intended to inform the inner circle about this discovery. With the knowledge he may possess about the Observatory, Mike Holliday was to be taken alive.

Holliday awoke a few hours later and decided to make rounds to check for any uninvited guests. Lucy mused that at the rate Holliday was going through their agents, the Templar rite in Italy would find itself very low on manpower. Holliday returned with some bags of food and a look of disappointment.

"Anyone this time?" Rebecca asked.

Holliday shook his head sadly, "no victims today." Holliday came towards Desmond, "How's angel eyes doing."

Rebecca scanned his readings, "His brain is far calmer than it has been in his previous sessions. It seems more relaxed and energized."

Holliday nodded in approval, "Well that's better, perhaps he finally found something to ease the tension." Behind Holliday, Lucy blushed hotly at the indication.

Suddenly Rebecca started typing furiously. "Lucy something's happening."

Holliday and Lucy came forward, "what is it?" he demanded.

"Desmond just entered something," Rebecca replied. "Strange, it's not a memory but there is a massive amount of data."

"Is he okay?"

Rebecca shook her head, "I don't know, I can't connect with him. Desmond's brain waves are off the chart and his heart rate is increasing."

Lucy knelt down and put her hands on his shoulders, "Desmond," she begged frantically, "Desmond please, come back to me." No response came and her hysteria increased as her pleas became louder.

Finally, Desmond's eyes snapped open and he practically bolted out of the animus. Holliday restrained him enough to avoid serious injury. "Easy does it now," Holliday said, "don't want you hurting yourself.

"It's okay Desmond." Lucy cooed cupping his cheek, "You're safe now." She breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought we lost you."

"I'm okay," Desmond reassured them. "I saw Clay Lucy, I-I don't know what it was, it felt like a dream."

"Whatever it was it's gone now," Rebecca reported.

Desmond shook the stray thought from his head, "Well at least we got the location now, The apple is in the Coliseum."

Lucy nodded and agreed to allow the team a day of rest before they set out that night. Holliday helped the team load the heavy equipment into the van before going out to get pizza and fettuccini alfredo for the party. he also got the necessary ingredients for Desmond to make a Shirley Templar. Due to the lack of glasses, the group made due with plastic cups. Much to Holliday's hopes, the movie Rebecca manage to get was The Princess Bride. they ate, talked and laughed. Lucy found herself next to Desmond. Her head rested on his shoulders and he had his arm wrapped protectively around her waist.

Holliday raised his cup, "you have no idea how much I missed this Dezzy," he said with a grin. "To being ahead of Abstergo and the Templars, everyone raised their cups and clashed them together.

"So Holliday," Rebecca started, "are there any ladies in the life of a contract killer."

Holliday sat back putting his hands behind his head as a grin spread across his face. "One," he said after a moment, "Heather Beauregarde."

"The red-headed doctor you told me about?" Desmond asked.

Holliday smiled softly and nodded.

"Wait," Lucy raised her hands as her mouth dropped in shock. "Dr. Heather Beauregarde?"

"Yeah," Holliday replied, "do you know her?"

Lucy exhaled, "I read her book on cognitive neuroscience, it was what drew me to the subject in the first place.

Holliday smiled, "You and Heather would have gotten along well together. Her mentors disapproved of her topic of study so she studied it in secret. After she graduated and got her MD-PhD she wrote a book on it on the subject much to the chagrin of her mentors. In the book, she condemned her mentors for being ridiculously narrow-minded. eventually, she went on to work for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital."

"So how did you two meet," Shaun asked. He was unable to believe that two people of completely different backgrounds could possibly become a couple.

Holliday smiled slyly, "That is a long story for another time. One day I'll tell you all about it."

Nobody wanted to pressure him about it so Rebecca changed the topic, "There's something about that door to the temple, I didn't see a handle on it."

"So we need some sort of key?" Shaun asked.

Rebecca shook her head, "no, think its voice-activated, I've never seen anything like this."

Lucy turned to Rebecca, "you mean it needs a password?"

'Maybe it has something to do with that triangle drawing at the villa entrance. Holliday suggested. "Didn't it match the pattern on the temple door?"

Rebecca jumped up, "yeah you're right."

Quickly the group rushed to the drawing, "So this is the key to the temple," Lucy said, "but the question is how?"

"I still can't make sense of the dates," Desmond saw Shaun added, "1419, 1420, 1421."

"Maybe they're bible verses," Holliday threw out in the open.

Shaun thought about it for a moment and it was as if a light bulb shined in his head. "Oh my God, of course." He turned to Holliday, "you're a genius."

Everyone turned to the historian, "What is it Shaun tell us already.

Shaun grinned. "The answer is God, The Tetragrammaton, the seventy-two names of God. See they're all contained within three verses Exodus 19 to 21. If you arrange the four letters of God's name into an equilateral triangle, the numeric value adds up to the same number, 72. And here's the real kicker, construction of the Coliseum started in the year 72.

"Well that settles it, Desmond said, "we got our password."

"All their advancement and their password is a two-digit number?" Holliday laughed, that is just sad."

"Are you complaining?" Desmond asked.

Holliday shook his head, "nope, but if that is the best they could come up with then no wonder they fell."

Later on, Desmond approached Lucy, "can-can we talk in private?"

Lucy nodded, and Desmond led her to the place behind the statue. as soon as they were there, Desmond pulled Lucy into a kiss. Lucy was caught off guard by it but after a moment she relaxed and moaned into his mouth.

When they finally broke apart, Lucy was blushing furiously. "Des, did you bring me here just to do that?"

Desmond smiled, we are about to leave soon and I don't know when I will ever get another chance to do it."

Lucy returned the smile and she kissed with more hunger and passion than their first time. Not wanting to risk getting caught, They went back to the main chambers and they simply played together in each other's arms.

By nightfall, everything had been loaded onto the van, and the team heads out for the Coliseum. Desmond sat on the passenger side for once while Lucy drove. Desmond was glad for the change, he had grown awfully tired of the animus now.

When they arrived everyone geared up, with glow sticks and batons Desmond put on his hidden blade. Holliday, on the other hand, looked to be gearing up for war. He had his trusty Maglite, a cross-handle baton, an Automag .44 and a knuckleduster/dagger.

"Overcompensating are we?" Shaun asked amused.

Holliday shrugged, I always going prepared he said as he donned a black trenchcoat which hid his arsenal. He also took a backpack with various items. The groups exited the van and walked towards the courtyard of the Roman Coliseum

Desmond stared at the ancient Roman structure in awe. Seeing it through the eyes of his ancestors was one thing, but seeing it in person was another case entirely. All around he could see the ghosts of those who used to walk this place, "Deja vu."

"I bet," Rebecca agreed

Lucy didn't want to waste any more time, "let's go." But before anyone could move, Shaun stopped her. "

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, what about us eh. you may need a historian down there and in case you didn't notice. Rebecca and I can't exactly maneuver through this maze-like you three.

Lucy thought about it and realized his point. "Shaun's right, the tunnel should lead under capitol line hill." She turned to Desmond. "I'll help them find another entrance."

Holliday turned to Lucy "I'll stay with Desmond, you never know when he might have another episode."

Lucy nodded and turned back to Desmond with a worried expression, "be careful Desmond."

"You too Lucy," Desmond replied.

"I'll drive," Rebecca offered.

Shaun shook his head, "Nice try Rebecca, remember I've seen your car." Rebecca frowned and reluctantly gave the brit the keys.

"Just try to go faster than .5 kilometers per hour." Holliday quipped.

Shaun's eyes narrowed at Holliday as the trio left the two men alone in the ruins of the Coliseum

"Do you think you can do it?" Desmond asked half-heartedly.

Holliday merely smiled, "just try and keep up angel eyes."

Despite his more powerful build, Holliday proved to be surprisingly agile. While Desmond was Desmond was a much faster freerunner but when climbing was involved Holliday had superior dexterity allowing him to scale walls much faster.

"Lucy, I'm making my way towards the entrance now." Desmond spoke through his comlink."

"Okay, good, we're almost there," Lucy replied.

Desmond shook his head in mild disbelief, "I can't believe I'm actually going to hold the apple."

"It's has been a long time coming," Lucy said, "you've earned it."

"For some reason, I'm not so sure about that," Desmond muttered to himself. "I wonder if it will truly change things and tip the scales in our favor?"

"I'm sure it will," Shaun reassured him.

"Wait, did Shaun just offer some words of encouragement," Holliday asked amused.

"Is that a problem?" Shaun wondered.

"No, not at all," Holliday said with a laugh. "It is certainly a better change from japes and tedious college lecture talk.

"Thanks, I guess."

"So what do think we'll find?" Desmond wondered.

"Hopefully a map to the Temple," Lucy replied.

Oh, so the apple is just going to show us the map right?" Shaun's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Shaun's right," Holliday agreed, "we should be ready for some form of security system."

'Hey, maybe this time we'll be lucky," Desmond said trying to be optimistic.

Holliday shook his head, "do not trust to luck Desmond, only a fourth of everything is luck."

"And the other three fourths?"

"Fate," Holliday finished bitterly.

As they moved Desmond couldn't help but notice that while both of them were going in the same direction, Holliday had a tendency to take the quicker but riskier routes. 'No risk, no reward," Holliday often said. While Desmond didn't argue the point, he felt that he had enough risks for a lifetime. The pair were no longer above ground and were now going through deep caverns.

"Something had been bothering me ever since we left," Lucy said over the comms.

"What's that?" Desmond asked with concern.

"Today's date is October 10th.

Desmond shrugged, "so."

"Guess how many days before the satellite launch."

Desmond thought for a moment, "let me guess 72."

"Why is today so important," Lucy wondered. "We're just picking up the apple and leaving."

"It's the door code," Desmond reasoned. "Someone wants to make sure we get it right."

"Maybe Holliday is right and it really is fate," Shaun suggested.

That thought caused nervousness in all the assassins. 'If fate had led them here on this date than there must have been a reason.'

Finally, Desmond and Holliday came across a huge pit in the cavern. While Desmond took a leap of fate, Holliday descended by leaping from beam to beam at an impressive rate. When they reached the bottom Desmond was now on terrain he was familiar with from his time in the animus. Desmond and Holliday pushed through the hidden door and entered what appeared to be a temple. Just then a tall glowing figure appeared in front of them. A woman with beautiful features and judging by her attire she was a member of the first civilization.

The figure before them spoke. "We commit to this space the epilogue of our ending," the woman said in a throaty voice. "Let it be found by he who is deemed worthy. Let it guide him, let it shape his path onward, let it save the world we leave behind."

While Holliday had drawn his Maglight, Desmond moved forward to touch the figure's arm but it was clearly an apparition. "Who are you?" Desmond asked as the figure disappeared.

"What's going on Desmond?" Lucy asked overhearing what Desmond said.

"Nothing," Desmond shook his head believing he had just imagined it.

Desmond began to walk again when he realized that Holliday wasn't following, he turned and saw Holliday staring at him, Desmond raised his arms, "what."

Holliday's eyes narrowed, "don't play dumb Desmond, I know you saw it too."

Desmond's eyes widened, "Wait, you saw her?" Holliday nodded, Desmond exhaled in relief, 'so I didn't just imagine it then."

"What the hell was that?"

Desmond shook his head, "I'm guessing it was a member of the First Civilization."

"One of those Godlike beings you lot keep going on about?" Desmond nodded and Holliday looked confused. "What was she talking about anyway."

Desmond shrugged, "Your guess is as good as mine Micheal."

As they came across the second hidden door the figure appeared again and spoke. "In the beginning, we set out truths to parchment, to stone and to the memory of man. These proved impermanent things, cleansed by fire, cleansed by famine, cleansed by flood. All the world is innocent once more, innocent and ignorant." Then she disappeared once more.

"Do these people ever talk in something other than riddles?" Holliday asked, "why can't these ancient goons speak in terms a layman can understand."

"Maybe that's the only way they talk," Desmond suggested.

"Desmond, Holliday, we tracked your position and we manage to find an entrance," Lucy reported.

"Okay, we're on our way," Desmond replied.

Holliday and Desmond pushed through the hidden door to find themselves at the bottom of an octagonally shaped pit. Once they climbed out and found themselves in the middle of a gigantic cathedral. Holliday looked behind and down into the pit they came from. "Did we just climb out of a well?" He asked pointing to the pit with a cocked eyebrow.

Desmond shrugged as he went to the door to allow the rest of the team in.

"Took you long enough?' Shaun said in exasperation.

"Yeah Desmond and I thought we'd say the rosary first." Holliday quipped.

Desmond looked around the cathedral, "So what is this place?"

"Santa Maria Aracoeli" Shaun explained. "These columns along the aisles were lifted from ancient Roman ruins. Now supposedly, this church was built on top of the ancient Temple of Juno."

"Juno?" Holliday cut in, "Isn't she a member of this 'First civilization?"

Shaun nodded and Holliday turned to Desmond. "Well, that might explain the glowing lady character that has been stalking us everywhere."

Lucy Rebecca and Shaun looked at each other and turned to Holliday, "What glowing lady character?" Lucy asked fearfully.

"Micheal," Desmond muttered, "there's a reason I didn't tell them."

"Look If I saw her too then you're not crazy Des," Holliday reasoned. He turned to the group and explained to the woman that had twice appeared to them speaking confusing nonsense.

"Maybe it was set up that way," Shaun tried to explain, "Like a recording, You know to help guide whoever found this place to the apple."

"Wee if that's the case why didn't she say anything "helpful as you put it." Holliday pointed out.

"Maybe it's in the riddle to keep the unworthy from figuring getting in easy."

Holliday nodded, "fair point." he looked around, "Okay we're all here, now what?"

Desmond then sprinted to the other end of the church, "I see a lever up there!" he explained as he ran, desmond scaled the wall and into the platform where the lever was. He pulled it and a series of beams and poles dropped from the ceiling and after than a platform with another lever dropped down on the end over where the group was standing. 'Oh this just gets better and better,' he thought.

As if reading his mind Holliday called out to him, "You want me to take care of this one!"

"That would be appreciated," Desmond called back gratefully. He made his descend and returned to the group. as they watched Holliday work.

Fortunately, when Desmond pulled the lever, a trapdoor opened on one of the balconies and a ladder appeared allowing Holliday to get to the second platform much more quickly. Holliday climbed up and started leaping from beam to beam. As soon as he felt he was close enough Holliday jumped to the balcony. He came very close to missing and found himself hanging off the edge with his fingers. He quickly recovered, however, climbing on top of the platform and pulling the lever.

The moment he pulled the lever a small pillar shot up from the floor nearly hitting Desmond. As he made his way down, Shaun was examining the pillar. "Whatever is it doesn't do anything, it's a dead end."

Desmond walked over to the pillar, "I'm not so sure," he said placing his hand over it. Almost instantly, it reacted, and the floor around them began to glow. Holliday made it to the floor just as the part around Desmond, Lucy, Shaun, and Rebecca started to descend.

"What's going on?!" Lucy exclaimed in a panic and instinctively grabbed Desmond's arm. Desmond to a hold of her hand in reassurance."

"Hey wait for me!" Holliday called out as he jumped down after them. The platform had already gone own a ways as Holliday landed heavily onto it with a grunt."

"You okay?" Desmond asked concerned.

Holliday got up, brushed himself off and grinned, "Peachy." While the rest of the group tried to steady themselves on the fast-moving elevator. Holliday stood perfectly straight and still. He looked at Shaun who was holding on to the pillar for dear life. His eyes were wide and his face was pale. "Though I think the brit is ready to piss himself."

The other's laughed at that as the elevator finally reached the bottom. Shaun finally lets go of the pillar and glared at Desmond "If you want to kill us mate you are going have to try a little bit harder." The groups stared in awe at the ancient construct.

"Is this the temple of Juno?" Holliday asked in equal awe.

"Most likely," Shaun replied.

"Incredible."

As they exited the platform, the floor opened up and ramps appeared leading to the other end of the chamber. They reached the end they recognized it as a door.

"Now for the password, Desmond smirked, "if Shaun's right that is."

"I'm always right, Shaun said defensively'

Desmond cocked an eyebrow, "about that password-"

Shaun blushed, "That never happened I was misquoted."

Holliday laughed, "Oh come now just say it, three simple words (I was wrong)"

Desmond looked at the door, "Do you think it speaks English?"

"Just say it," Rebecca insisted

'Desmond nodded and said in a clear voice. "Seventy-Two."

Shaun proved to be right about this as te door opened and the group walked in through a narrow corridor and into the room where the apple was held.

Desmond and Holliday were the first to enter. the sight before them was truly something to behold. "You guys need to use this," Desmond called to the others. Lucy was next and she too was amazed, "this is unbelievable."

Holliday pointed to a small glowing dot on a raised platform in the center of the chamber, "is that your apple?' he asked.

Desmond nodded, "that it alright. Now it's time to find out where the temples are." he leaped to the lower level and activated another pillar he saw. This pillar activated a set of stairs leading to the center platform.

As the group made their way down to the spot, Desmond turned to Lucy and smiled, "We did it, Lucy."

Lucy returned the smile, "I can't believe it."

The group ascended the stairs to the Platform and looked around.

"So where are the Temples?" Shaun asked.

Desmond shrugged, "do you want me to ask it?'

"Or think it, or something," Lucy suggested.

As the group neared the pedestal holding the apple. It suddenly started to glow and projected a series of symbols all around them. The group looked around at the display in awe.

"Are you sure you asked it the right thing?" Lucy wondered nervously.

Holliday pointed to one symbol in particular. "Isn't that Abstergo's logo?"

Shaun nodded, "Good eye Holliday, so this is where Oscar Routersvard got his inspiration from." Shaun studied the other symbols. "I know this, I know those symbols." He started pointing to them in turn. "That's a Phrygian Cap, it stands for freedom, and that one is a Masonic Eye. Now those two come together in only one place."

As Shaun was explaining the symbols Desmond approached the pedestal, the temptation to hold it became too much to resist. Reaching out with both hands Desmond clutched the apple.

The moment Desmond touch the apple. It was as if Time had stopped Lucy, Holliday, Rebecca, and Shaun were all frozen in place. But Desmond was different, his body was frozen but he could still speak."

"What's happening," asked to no one in particular. "I can't move."

As if to answer his question a female voice answered, at first Desmond believed it was Minerva but Desmond quickly realized that this was someone else entirely.

"Your DNA communes with the Apple, you have activated it."

Desmond recognized Juno as coming from the woman he and Holliday had seen earlier Juno. He strained against the invisible force holding him at bay but he couldn't break free. "Let me Go,' He demanded.

Juno ignored him and continued."On the seventy-second days before the moment of awakening. You, birthed from our loins and the loins of our enemies, the End, and the Beginning. Who we abhor and Honor, the final Journey commences. There is one who would accompany you through the gate. She lies not within our site, the cross darkens the horizon."

'What is that suppose to mean?' Desmond was now utterly confused. 'Moment of awakening? End and the Beginning? What gate? What the fuck is this lady talking about?'

Suddenly Desmond felt himself get lifted off his feet and started hovering to the other side of the platform. as this was going on, Desmonds left hand was released from the apple which now rested firmly in his right hand. Desmond felt the fingers on his left-hand twitch and his hidden blade extended. "What are you doing?" Desmond demanded the fact that his weapon was out could not possibly be a good thing.

"The path must be opened, you cannot escape your part in this, the scales shall be balanced."

Then the force started making Desmond walk slowly. Desmond looked at the blade and then ahead and that was when the horrible realization dawned on him. Desmond was being guided towards Lucy. Panic set in and Desmond started to struggle was hard as he possibly could as he took another step

"Stop... Please." Desmond begged. 'No god, not Lucy, She's my anchor, she holds me together. The only thing stopping me from falling into the darkness. Please not Lucy, she didn't do anything, why her, why her!" He took another step.

"You know very little, we must guide you! Juno insisted. Desmond took another step

Desmond stopped caring about the damn voice. all that mattered to him right now was making sure that his blade didn't touch Lucy. 'I can't, I won't do this without Lucy,' Desmond declared. 'I love her, god and I never told her, I'm about to kill her and I never told her how I felt about her, How much she means to me.' Regret filled Desmond as tears built up in his eyes, he took another step.

"CEASE YOUR STRUGGLE!" Juno demanded as Desmond took another step.

Desmond's eyes narrowed, "NO, fuck you bitch!" By now his face was inches away from Lucy's which meant that he was inches away from ending her life. But Desmond continued his struggled, now more determined than ever to stop this. and for a moment he seemed frozen in place, his blade arm had yet to move. But even as this happened a vision appeared in his mind. In it, he saw Lucy and Vidic talking in the Doctors office at Abstergo. 'Why am I seeing this?' Desmond wondered. He remained silent was Dr. Vidic began to speak. What followed next tore into Desmond like a bear's claws.

"Lucy, this is where your background comes into play. If our experiments with Desmond aren't going well, you will remove him from Abstergo. Take him someplace where he will feel comfortable, divulge in his secrets. Your assassins should do the trick. Since Desmond will be reading our emails, we will ensure that secret communications with between you and the assassins go through unimpeded. Once you are embedded, I will come by to pick up the Animus tapes. Make sure to look very upset, you need to be convincing. Desmond will lead you to the apple, and then you will bring it right to us. We're counting on you Lucy, you have served the Templar Order well and we never forget loyalty. Oh yes, once you're inside their hideout, perhaps you might ask why they left you alone for so many years."

As if to add salt to the wounds another set visions filled his mind. Desmond couldn't believe what he was witnessing, Lucy, his mentor, his friend, 'his love', was allied with the Templars. Desmond felt his world come crashing down around his heart, how could she do this to him. 'Why,' he thought grievously, 'I thought you cared about me.'

Desmond looked at Lucy and for a brief moment, he felt that he would have to do it no matter how much it hurt him to do so. But before he could act a firm voice in the back of his head started speaking.

"LIES," it screamed, "filthy lies. Don't listen to that bitch, she puts visions in your head so you would comply with her demands. This apple plays tricks with the mind you saw that yourself. Lucy isn't like that, she wouldn't do that to you, not ever!"

That gave Desmond pause and he mentally slapped himself. 'Wow, how gullible have I become?' He thought. Throughout the time he was seeing the visions it never occurred to him that they might be false. Desmond looked into Lucy's eyes, those big beautiful, blue eyes of the one who had helped him through everything these past few months. As he stared desmond caught lucy's scent and at that moment, the kiss they shared at the villa entered his mind. The sweet memory of that intimate setting was what caused Desmond to make up his mind. 'No, I won't do it, I'll kill myself before I harm Lucy.'

"I will not release my grip," Juno said. "You will break sooner or later, so you best get it over with."

Desmond's eyes narrowed, "get over this then." With all his might Desmond began to direct his arm, he could only move his arm a few inches, but those few inches were all he needed. Desmond let out a scream as he forced his arm and plunged the blade in.

Desmond gasped from the pain and Juno let out a scream of rage as blood began to pour. "Your arrogance will be your undoing cipher,' she snarled. At long last the force holding Desmond and keeping everyone in place released. Lucy saw Desmond right in front of her holding the apple. A smile broke into her lips, that smile turned to confusion as she noticed Desmond pained expression. It was then that she noticed the blood pouring from Desmond's abdomen. A look of horror dawned on Lucy's face, the same look was on Shaun and Rebecca's face. "Desmond?"

"Lucy," Desmond began, but before he could say more, darkness overtook him. Desmond exhaled and collapsed to the floor, the last thing he heard was Lucy's scream of anguish.