Nb: Hello everyone! I am sorry for the delay, here is the final chapter of Captivated! I hope you all enjoy it =) A big thank you to A Meta Nephilim for their patience, guidance and support throughout the course of this story! And of course, an extra big thank you for giving me the honor of writing this in the first place! Thank you! I hope you enjoy it =)

(Alfred's Pov)

The contract drifted slowly to the floor, torn and nullified by the hands of it's creator. The silence was suffocating as Robert Dorson was stunned into silence and Alfred Ashford simply had nothing to say. To him, there were no need for words. His actions had spoken for him, and as far as Alfred was concerned that was all that mattered.

He held out the brief case to Robert with a stern glint in his eyes. "You must take this with you. Do not lose it, Dorson. Do you understand?"

Robert was still speechless, he took the case in silence and stared at it. When he finally found his voice, it was little more then a disbelieving croak.

"Why, Alfred?"

"Because we are under attack, Dorson. Now come, we must get out of here. I have a jet waiting. If any of those fools try to stop you, use the contents of the brief case as a bargaining tool. Do not take the rifle, you will not need it." As Alfred spoke, he walked at a brisk pace towards the room's exit. He did not glance back, he knew that Robert would follow him.

...

Once they reached Alfred's private study, Robert finally spoke. "You are getting out with me, right?"

Alfred sucked in a breath and slowly shook his head. "You know that I cannot." He replied quietly.

Robert placed down the suitcase gently and folded his arms, his expression was unwavering in resolve. "In that case, I'm not going anywhere."

Alfred narrowed his eyes. "Do not be stupid, Dorson. You cannot stay here with me, it would be suicide."

To his surprise Robert roared. "Then why do you need to stay, damn it!?"

"Because..." The blonde man began to speak, but Robert shouted over him.

"Place some value in your own damn life! If you died you'd have people mourn you!"

Alfred looked down and shook his head. "...Only you." He murmered quietly. "You.. are the only one who would mourn me. Everyone who should have mourned my passing.. has left me behind."

Robert threw his hands up in frustration. "Why do you want me to go, if that's the case?! Why are you so damn intent on driving me away!?"

"I do not... Deserve.." Alfred muttered in an almost inaudible tone.

"God damn it, Alfred! Stop piting yourself! I love you, I want to stay with you! So swallow your pride and just-"

"I am a monster!" Alfred screamed suddenly. "I was not meant to exist!"

Time stood still between the two men, the silence floated around them. Nether could move, they stood as though they were rooted to the spot. Eventually Robert Dorson broke the silence by asking.

"What do you mean?"

Alfred wordlessly picked up the suitcase and beckoned for Robert to follow him. As the two men walked, Alfred began to tell his story.

...

"I was a mistake, Dorson. Alexia was the only one who was meant to be born, she was in every sense.. Veronica. But I am getting ahead of myself. I am a monster, Dorson.. Because I was manufactured as part of a project, the same as Alexia. But the difference between us was simple, only she was needed and I was.. Well.. I simply was there.

Our father.. Made no effort to disguise his hatred for me, he told me every single day of my life that I was a monster that should not have existed. He told me that I was disposable and the only thing that mattered was what Alexia wanted and whatever she wanted she would get. No matter what it was.

The older we became, the worst things became. Yet, it may surprise you to know that while I love my sister now.. I hated her when we were younger. But I hated our father far more and so.. Alexia and I.."

Alfred sighed and whispered. "We injected him with the Veronica virus and turned him into a monster.. And laughed."

...

When Alfred finished speaking, he regarded Robert in silence. He had led the other man to the door that would provide him the best chance of escape, the closet way to the private jet that was waiting. As far as Alfred could tell, the way so far was uncompromised, but the window of opportunity was rapidly shrinking. Robert needed to leave, and he needed to leave now.

He had hoped that the truth would drive Robert away, but he saw that Robert looked even more determined to stay by his side.

Alfred cursed the other man's good nature and sighed. "You.. have not heard a word I have said, have you?"

"I've heard, but my feelings aren't changed. You aren't a monster, Alfred. Your father was, and I think he deserved what happened.. So no, I'm not leaving your side, Alfred. Not now, not ever."

Alfred blinked back tears and closed the gap between them, he placed the suitcase upon the floor next to them as he spoke. "Do you promise, Dorson?"

"I swear it, Alfred." Robert whispered as their lips were inches apart.

Alfred placed a hand upon Robert's cheek and kissed him gently upon the lips, although it was not as passionate as their other kisses. This once was a kiss that spoke more then what words ever could, even though it was urgent, it was also gentle. It was a kiss that could only be shared by two people that truly loved one another, it was a kiss that could only be shared by two people who were bound together.

It was the saddest kiss that Alfred had ever experienced in his life, and even though he did not have much experience.. He knew that he would never have another kiss like it. and although his heart screamed for more, he knew that he needed to stop. The longer spend in each other's company, the less chance of survival Robert would have.

'Will you forgive me, Robert?' Alfred wondered as he reluctantly broke the kiss. He placed a finger on Robert's lips, he spoke softly.

"You must survive, Dorson. As long as you are alive, you will never break your promise to me."

Robert took a deep breath. "I'll.. See you again, right? Thing's aren't just going to end here, are they?"

Alfred smiled and picked up the suitcase. "When you next see me, you will meet Alexia as well.. The real Alexia." He offered the suitcase to Robert and whispered. "I promise I will meet you again, Dorson."

Robert took the suitcase and nodded with a serious expression. "I'll wait for you, Alfred. Away from this place. I'll wait for you, for as long as it takes."

Alfred kissed Robert's cheek. "And I will find you, Robert Dorson. No matter how long it takes. Now go!"

The blonde man watched as Robert sprinted out of sight, he sighed to himself.

The lie tasted bitter upon his lips, Alfred knew that the chance of survival was very slim. He was resigned to his death, because he knew deep in his heart that there was only one way his life would end.

Alfred just hoped that Robert would live on and live a happy life, without him.

...

(Robert's Pov)

Robert had sprinted as quickly as he could, he clutched the brief so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. In the distance, he could hear the sound of gunfire and screams. He could hear the sound of death and dying as they drew ever closer, he felt Alfred's kiss still on his lips and a thought flashed through his mind.

'Did he.. Mean for that to be our last kiss?!'

Alfred's face flashed through his mind, the expression the blonde man wore was burned into his memory. All the conversations they had ever had raced through his mind, all their time spend together rushed through his mind's eye.

With every step Robert took, he could see a memory. Alfred's words kept running through his head.

'Survive!'

But how could he live with himself if he abandoned Alfred? Even if Alfred made him promise, how could Robert ever leave him?

'I can't leave him!' Robert thought fiercely.

He dropped the suitcase and turned around, he began to run back in the direction he came from. Towards the sound of gunfire and death.

'We'll survive together!' He thought as he ran as fast as he could. 'We'll find a house, a house that's away from the sea. In the country. With a spare bedroom for Alexia. Alfred's cooking will be bad, but I'll force myself to eat it and Alexia will laugh at us. We'll go on trips together! We'll grow old together! We'll be happy together!'

Robert smiled to himself as he ran, he was so wrapped up his thoughts that he never heard the gunshot that had the power to obliterate even the brightest of dreams in a single stroke.

...

(Alfred's Pov)

Alfred had an intense feeling of dread, he had heard a gunshot that sounded far closer then what he expected. He decided to go and investigate.

'Oh, I'm sure it's just another nameless peon!' Alexia remarked cheerfully as he made his way out.

...

Alfred's hands trembled violently as he poured himself another drink, the drink that sat opposite his own was still full and had not being touched. Alfred gulped back his own, for him, this was the third. He looked at Robert Dorson who sat slumped in the chair.

"Why..?" Alfred whispered. "Why did you come back?"

Robert Dorson remained silent, he could not answer and would never be able to. Death had turned him into a husk, death had turned him into a shadow.

'At least he didn't suffer.' Alexia murmured.

Alfred clenched his eyes shut and did not answer, he began to sob quietly.

'Oh, Alfred. Beloved Brother..' Alexia whispered in his ear. 'Don't cry.. He's only a little dead-'

Alfred jumped up and threw his glass at the wall as he roared. "SILENCE! Do not call him that!"

He panted and began to laugh, a horrible laugh that could be mistaken for a sob. It was filled with sorrow and madness, it was the sound of a man who was breaking beyond repair.

"There must be consequences, there must be repercussions! They cannot take him away from me and simply be allowed to live!"

He gently touched Robert's cold face. "Oh Robert.. My dear love.. You promised that you would never leave me, but in the end... You lied. Now I am alone..Alone for as long as I live."

Alfred stood up with a sudden and sharp movement his eyes danced as he rasped slowly. "Only as long as I live. Until Alexia wakes up."

He made his way to the room's exit, he chuckled to himself when he found what he was searching for.

Alfred slowly picked up the Remmington 700 and cradled it. "A gun for true hunters." He murmured as he looked back at Robert. "Please wait for me, Robert. I will find you soon, but first.. I am going to send some people to you, so you will not be lonely while you wait."

He looked at Robert's corpse and thought he saw the flicker of a smile. "I love you, Robert and in death I will find you.. Once Alexia has awakened."

Alfred Ashford turned away from Robert and strode out the room, his laughter had become high pitched and child like. His eyes danced with an intense and restless light. With every step he took, he shredded the man he once was away like a discarded lizard skin. With every step he took, the monster with the visage of a man emitted a birth cry that sounded like the most chilling of laughs to proclaim it's existence.

The monster in his domain, the king in his castle, all who beheld him would be captivated by the monster that they had all had a hand in creating.

"Alexia...Robert? Let us go hunting together." Lord Ashford whispered as he loaded the gun.

'All his beauty, wit and grace
Lie forever one place,
He who sang and sprang and moved
Now, in death, is only loved.' -Alice Thomas Ellis, The birds of air

(The end)