PART NINE

Lily stared, opened-mouth. The two men in front of her looked exactly the same. Her mind reeled at the thought of two Nigels in the world then quickly was horrified that one of these men had brutally killed two of her friends.

"Nigel?" She looked from one man to the other. "I…don't know what to do?"

"Start by stepping away from him Luv." Nigel said, still holding the gun steady at Tyler. "Just move toward me."

"He is lying, Lily." Tyler whispered as Lily started to take a step. "If you move he'll kill you. Just like he did Christina."

"SHUT UP!" Nigel screamed. "Don't ever say her name again." Lily jumped and took a step backward. "Lily, no please, I'm sorry. Please, just move away from him." He saw the confusion in her eyes. "Lily, listen to me. Ask me something; something only you and I would know the answer to."

"What?" Her eyes widened as she realized what he was asking her to do. "I don't know…"

"Lily, he's trying to trick you." Tyler spoke quickly. "Don't listen to him."

"Look, I met Christina when I went with you to a party after you're original date was injured." Nigel looked hopeful at Lily.

"Lily, don't listen to him." Tyler was almost growling. "He knows all about us, about the parties and…"

"Who was my date that night." Lily asked softly, looking at both men. "Who did you fill in for Nigel?" Both men were quiet for a moment.

"It was Victor." Nigel said as he allowed a small smile to play across his lips. "I never did find out why skiing was a bad idea for him, Luv." As Lily took a tentative step toward him, Nigel felt first relieved but realized too late that Tyler was making a move. Before he could do anything, the man with his face had reached out with lighting reflexes and grabbed the woman. "LILY!" Nigel fought to keep himself in place. "Let her go Tyler. This is between you and me."

"I don't think so Nige." Tyler held Lily tightly as he stroked her hair. "See, now she knows I'm not you." He paused and glared at Nigel. "Now, kick the gun over here and get down." When Nigel didn't move, Tyler increased pressure around Lily's neck. "Look Nigel, do what I tell you or I'll kill her."

"You're going to kill her anyway."

"Yes, but if you don't do what you're told, it will be very slow and painful." He grinned as Lily whimpered in distress. "And you know I am capable of drawing out death for a very long and very excruciating time."

Sighing deeply, Nigel slowly bent down and placed the gun on the floor. Standing back up, he gently kicked the weapon toward the man holding Lily.

"Get down Nigel." Tyler growled as he pulled Lily down and grabbed the gun. "You know how I want you and why. And frankly I'm running very low on patience." Tyler grinned as Nigel fell to his knees and laced his fingers behind his head. "That's a good soldier." He saw Nigel grimace as the word. "What? Don't you want Lily here to know what a good soldier you are Nige? How you always follow ever order to the letter? How you…"

"I'm not that soldier anymore. I haven't been for a very long time." Nigel said quickly, avoiding Lily's eyes. "I try to forget that time in my life."

"But why? You were so good at what you did." Tyler looked truly surprised. "You really are trying to forget, aren't you?" He laughed as Nigel looked away. "I can't believe you would want to…"

"Just drop it!" Nigel growled, suddenly glaring at the man. "What do you want Tyler. Why have you done all this?"

"To make you suffer the same way I suffered." Tyler's face darkened in rage. "You always said, anyone still breathing would not be left behind."

"Tye.."

"You left me Nigel. You left me and forgot about me." His voice was soft and dangerous. "Why didn't you come back for me?"

"I did come back for you Tyler. More than once…. and against orders." Nigel felt a chill run up his spine as he spoke. "I couldn't…"

"Shut up!" Tyler ordered as he pointed the gun at Nigel. "Just shut up…"

Nigel's eyes widened in horror as Lily took that split second to reach up and rake her fingernails across Tyler's face.

"YOU BITCH!" The man screamed as he instinctively threw Lily across the room, sending her crashing into crates. "You fucking whore!" As she lay unmoving, Nigel started to rise but stopped as Tyler, holding one hand to his bleeding face, pointed the gun toward him. "Don't you move Townsend!" He glared through one brown and one blue eye. "Don't move." Lily moaned softly. "You stay right where you are."

"No." Nigel spoke calmly as he stood. "Go on, you're going to kill us both anyway. Just get it over with."

"You're right. I am going to kill both of you, but I was so looking forward to killing Lily here slowly and forcing you to watch. It would have been the last thing you saw." Shrugging, he pointed the gun at Lily who was slowly beginning to stir. "And you're face would have been the last one she saw, just like the other two whores…" Tyler was shocked as suddenly Nigel lunged, knocking the gun out of his hand.

Then it began. Nigel was in a fight, not only for his life but also more importantly in his mind, a fight for Lily's life. He tried to call on every bit of training he had for so long, tried to forget. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Lily moving slowly to where the gun had fallen. He wanted to call out to her to escape but could only continue to struggle.

He thought he was getting the upper hand, to a place where he would be able to overwhelm Tyler. Abruptly, however he found himself falling to his knees, unable to take a deep breath without experiencing excruciating pain. He was suddenly jerked back by his hair. Lily looked at him horrified as she raised the gun and Tyler passed a bloodstained knife in front of his face, placing the wet blade against his throat.

"Get away from him." Nigel heard Lily say as he found it harder and harder to keep his eyes open. "Leave him alone!"

"Fuck off bitch." He heard Tyler growl as the gunshots began. As his hair was released, Nigel found himself falling forward, and Lily screaming. Finally the room was filled with the sound of Lily crying and the clicking of the empty gun. Nigel closed his eyes, knowing Lily would be safe now.

"Lily!" Another voice entered. "Give me the gun Lily." It was Woody. "Come on Lily, give me the gun. It's all right now."

"Woody!" Nigel managed a grin as he heard Bug next to him. "Get help! Nigel's hurt!"

"Where's Lily?" Nigel managed to whisper painfully. "Is she…"

"I'm right here Nigel." Lily was next to him, softly touching his forehead and cheeks. "I'm fine and you're going to be just fine too."

"Doesn't matter now." He could barely form words. "Lily's safe." He closed his eyes and felt himself drifting off.

"Don't you leave me Nigel." Lily's voice seemed to get farther and farther away. "Bug? Bug! Help him!"