Some action in this chapter. Potential trigger warning.

Rita whirled around at the noise and gasped. She couldn't help it. There was a woman tied to the bed shouting at her through her gag. Rita looked and saw the light turn off in the bathroom. They weren't alone. She drew her knife and hurried over. When the man came out, she attacked him viciously, killing him on the spot. She then went to lock the door and put a chair under it, hoping it would keep out anyone else. She finally turned her attention to the woman.

"Are you hurt?" she asked when she removed the gag.

"Get me out of here," the woman whimpered back. Rita cut her free and helped her to her feet.

"I'm Rita," she said.

"I'm Amy."

"Can you shoot a gun?"

"Yes," she nodded. Rita went over and picked up the dead man's gun and handed it to her. A voice came on the loudspeaker then, startling them both.

"For those who want to help rid the world of scum, come to the basement," Scott's voice said. "Now!"

"My friends have been captured I think. Can you help me?" Rita asked, feeling nauseous. That message could only mean Barney and the team were back where they started.

"Where's John?" Amy asked, panicked. "Is he here too?"

"John?"

"Yes. He's an expendable."

"John Smilee?"

"Yes."

"He's with Lee..." Rita trailed off. "Does he know you're here?" Amy nodded vigorously. Rita suddenly had a very bad feeling.

"Look, if you want to get out of here in one piece, you do what I say, all right?"

"Okay," Amy agreed.

"I need to get back to the basement without being seen," Rita said.

"The laundry chute," Amy pointed. Rita regarded it for a moment.

"It goes all the way down?"

"I think so. That's what the one maid said anyway."

"Okay," Rita nodded firmly, going over to it. She opened the door and peered down.

"I...I'm claustrophobic," Amy said, shaking. "I can't go down there."

"It's okay. You stay here and shoot anyone who enters unless it's me," Rita ordered.

"Okay," Amy replied.

"You're a very brave woman," Rita told her, trying to make her feel a little better.

"I don't feel so brave right now," Amy cried.

"You are. Now hide. I'll be back," Rita promised. She lowered herself into the chute and pressed her hands and feet against the wall. She tried not to think about how far down it was. It made her dizzy. She was frantically trying to come up with some sort of plan for when she got to the bottom.

...

Lee didn't even flinch when the guard smashed his head into Lee's after tying his arms over his head. They were doing this with everyone, and Lee knew what was coming next. He was glad Rita wasn't here for this. He hoped she escaped and was far from here. A part of him knew that wouldn't be the case, though. He was filled with dread wondering where she was and if she'd get caught.

"Well, this is more than what I had hoped for," Scott said, pacing. He was back from his phone call, and he was feeling great. The deal was going the way he'd planned. Things were looking up. John was standing apart from the others. Luna was glaring at him, which made him uncomfortable. He avoided eye contact with all of them. Lee wanted to strangle him.

"So, who shall we shoot first?" Scott asked. The guards all started talking excitedly.

"Well, it's been real," Barney said to Lee as they watched.

"Who knew it'd end like this huh?" Lee said back.

"I'm sorry."

"So long as she escapes, I don't care."

"She's something, Lee. You did good."

"Thanks."

"Aaaand the vote is the famous Lee Christmas!" Scott said loudly. Lee kept his glare even as Scott neared him with his swagger.

"Fight, fight, fight!" a guard shouted.

"Oh, you wanna see him fight to the death?" Scott egged them on.

"YEA!"

"Unfortunately, I disagree. They're too good to be set loose. Sorry, folks, but on the other hand, I don't have a problem teaching 'em a lesson while they're incapacitated."

Sounds of encouragement went around the room. Lee braced himself for impact as Scott cracked his knuckles, looking at him. This was gonna hurt.

...

"Okay," Rita whispered to herself. She was at the bottom, and she could see the bin of clothes under her. She could drop into it no problem. She just didn't want anyone to see her. She pulled out her knife and held the blade below her. A quick scan showed her that everyone had their backs to her. She made her decision. She dropped into the bin. The clothes muffled the sound of her fall, and she waited a moment before peeking over the side. She saw them all strung up in a line. She studied the situation. She could shoot them down quite easily, but all eyes would be on her after that, though. Then Scott started pounding on Lee, making her bite down her rage. Scott wouldn't be so gleeful if Lee wasn't so helpless. Trying not to watch, she pulled out her rifle and clutched it for a moment. She was probably going to die. There were no resets, no chances to try again. This was her only chance. At least she'd go down fighting. She carefully set the barrel of the gun on the edge of the bin, and she aimed.

...

Barney felt rage inside that it was ending this way. How could this have happened? He was furious at John, who was not looking at him at all. The betrayal was beyond disbelief. Barney wanted to kill him with his bare hands. He knew Lee was just as angry and getting even more so with every punch and kick Scott was giving him right now. Barney was glad he'd shoved Lee's wife into that room to spare her this horrific death. He hoped she had gotten out. Just when it seemed all hope was lost, a shot sounded, and miraculously, Lee was no longer dangling by his wrists.

For a split second, nobody moved, then all hell broke loose. Lee lunged for Scott, who dodged and hid in the crowd. More shots sounded, and Barney, Toll, and Gunner leaped onto the guards in front of them and snapped their necks. They took their guns and started firing, using the dead bodies as shields. Barney set loose the rest of his team one shot at a time. Scott had slipped away.

"DIE!" Gunner roared, spraying bullets with Yin and Toll copying him. The others joined in the fray and took down their captors slowly. John slipped away into the darkness, and Barney saw him go.

"Oh no you don't," he growled to himself. He charged after him.

...

Rita felt triumphant that her plan worked and that no one had sought her out yet. She took more shots as she could, taking out some guards as all their attention was focused on the team attacking them. She made to get out of the bin when a hand yanked her up by the hair. She screamed, receiving a hard slap right away.

"Come on, bitch," Scott snarled, hauling her with him. John was beside them, looking behind them nervously as they made their way up the back stairs.

...

Lee followed Barney, knowing he'd be going after Scott and/or John. He wanted to end this too. He skidded into view where Barney was standing, and immediately his heart dropped.

"Drop 'em," Scott ordered, his gun pressed against Rita's head.

"It's okay," Rita said, looking at Lee. One person dying instead of almost 10 was better.

"It's us you have the beef with," Barney said, holding his hand out. "She's not a part of this."

"She became a part of this when she married Mr. Lee," Scott snapped.

"How could you, John?" Lee demanded. "Huh?"

"He paid better," John answered, his tone shaky.

"Good to know who your friends are, eh?" Scott said, sneering. "So in a way, he's murdered your wife, Lee."

"I'll finish him," Lee snarled. John gulped, afraid. He had seen Lee in action plenty.

"Say bye bye," Scott said, grinding the barrel into her temple. Rita held her gaze with Lee.

"I love you," she mouthed. He went for his knife when Scott pulled the trigger.