Edie's eyes darted towards the door to her cell. Its soft knock resonated within her, echoing in her ears...terrorizing her. Seconds, minutes dragged on as if lastly hours, days.

When will this torture end? Her mind begged. Edie did not hastingly shuffle towards the door, she did not muster an inch from her position, perched on top of her small bed.

As the cell door steadily unlatches, Edie remained still, eyes fixated at her visitor. "John…" She breathes.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Edith." John vaguely bows to her. "It has been some time."

"Yeah, no shit." Sasses Edie in retaliation, rolling her eyes.

"You're looking well considering your circumstances. In fact," John began to peer at the cuticles of his fingernails. "I've heard of your good fortune. Congratulations on your good news."

Edie remained silent in regards to his comments. Disgust festered within her. She disgusted John's voice, disgusted his face, disgusted his presence. Disgusted in everything he stood for. What happened to the man that she grew up with, grew from the slums with? What ever happened to their friendship which had rose from the ashes of despair and loneliness? Did it all mean nothing to him now like it did for Felix? Did he, too, repress and bury all memories or any reminders of their past together. Was it all a dream?

"Do you know what it is and have you thought of potential names?" John thoughtfully inquired, folding his arms to his chest and bringing his eyes to observe Edie.

Edie's fists clenched to her sides. "What more do you want from me, John?" Her anger fuming as she stared deep into the black irises of his eyes. "Haven't you taken enough from me? Now you aim to take to away what little hope that subsides within my heart? Is this your purpose in visiting me? To torture and tease me for your enjoyment?" She spat. "To watch me wallow in my filth and fear?"

John's facial expression softened and sat himself aside Edie on the cell's bed. "Edith…" He released a gradual sigh and looked away from her face. "Edith, do you think that this what I wanted for you, all along? You must deem me one heartless fuck. You think so ill of me when it was, in fact, I who was cheering for you."

"Ha!" Edie sarcastically gruffed. "I had got the perception that you were the one that ratted me out to Felix."

"Oh, I did and I won't deny that fact. But, don't you see? Ed, you're instrumental to this whole organization. One by one, its founders are dying off which will result in the dismemberment of this group. Which is where you come into play. You are one of this organization's founders, you are the true beginning of La Puerta. Everyone is quick to give Felix all the credit however, they were not there to see the truth. It was you and it has always been you. Behind every great man, is a greater woman."

"I didn't give him the idea to be a crime boss."

"You didn't, you fed him the fuel, the inspiration to be something big though. You were his desire."

"What are you saying, John?"

"I'm saying I want the end, Edith. The grand finale. The closing to this miserable book that has consumed who we used to be and the lives of the those whom we loved the most."

"Yeah, like Ramon?"

John's eyes shot towards Edie's with a blank, empty stare. He hadn't heard that name in, what had felt, like ages. Yet, hearing it still had it's effect on John; he could not dispute the sudden nagging ache in his chest. He really craved a smoke about right now or anything to preoccupy his mind against the thoughts of his dead best friend.

"Why, John? Why Ramon?"

Oh Ramon. A dreamer. An artist. A lover. Most importantly, a comrade. Ramon was this chunky, sensitive kid that lived across the street and was good friends with Felix's cousin. He was constantly bullied by the kids in the neighborhood and who would stick up for him? None other than this string bean, blonde, blue-eyed kid named John. John was no stranger to nasty comments and taunts for being different. Most of the people of Cuba were dark skinned with dark eyes and hair; John didn't quite fit that description and was given hell for it. From then on, Ramon and John could never be separated. As they aged, their relationship blossomed into something more, something even more beautiful. Unbeknownst to most, their love for each other grew pass the boundaries beyond friends. They fell in love, just as madly and as deeply as did Felix and Edith.

"Did they make you kill him like they did me..." Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes. "...Because you loved him?"

"No." John replied sternly. "I killed him because I wanted to."

Edie gasped loudly and attempted to retain the sobs building within her but all to no avail. The pressure in her heart proved too great to fight. "No…How could you?"

John allowed her to sob uncontrollably, uninterrupted, leaving him to mindlessly stare into the wall. Once her cries died down, he shifted his tie. "This must all come to a conclusion." His voice almost to a whisper. "This empire must fall and you are the one to make it fall." John reaches within his suit pocket and fishes a small pocket knife. He places it next to her and erects from his seated position to walk to the door. Before he leaves her alone once more, he turns his head aside. "Fare thee well, Brutus."


Spike's hand does not falter as he directs his gun towards Felix's head while Felix drives to a warehouse not far from his home. Initially, Spike believed the warehouse to be abandoned until closer range he spotted armored men guarding the doors.

"Okay, listen good before things get messy and I don't end up blowing your brains on accident. When we step out of this car, I want you to send your guard dogs over there away. Make up some emergency shit."

Felix exits his car and does as he is commanded, chasing away the guarded men. All the while, Spike continued to focus his aim towards him.

Felix smirks, "Will this all be worth it in the end, Spike? Do you expect to rescue Edith and you two will just run off into the sunset? Be real with yourself. Do you intend on losing another woman to another man and death once more? Guess, history repeats itself."

Spike remained silent and followed as the two men entered the deteriorating building.

"Aren't you curious as to what you're having, hmm? Boy or girl?" He slyly smiled, peeking back at Spike's face. Spike's jaw clenches but his expression remained neutral. "Shame."

Felix pivoted into one of the corners of the warehouse building, leading to a corridor of doors to various rooms. They continued down the hall until Felix stopped at the last door on the left. "Ready?" Felix licks his lips and sniggers. Spike cocks his Jericho in response. Felix opened the door to cell slightly, sticking his head in and smiles sweetly to the girl inside. "I've brought you a present, my dear. One I think you will enjoy very much." He budges the door aside to reveal Spike behind him.

Edith's eyes quickly widen as she jumps to the door. "Spike!"

"Yo Edie, are you hurt?" He doesn't tear his eyes, nor his gun away from Felix.

"I'm okay...Spike! Behind you!"

Just as her words echo throughout the white hallway, the three people hear another gun cock.

Felix clapped softly. "Quite timing, Mr. Tully."

"John?" Edie perked, assuming he was on her side.

"My, my, what a lucky day it was for me to choose to visit Ms. Grimes here." John rapidly lowers his pistol faintly, aiming for Spike's back and fires a single bullet into Spike's chest. Spike shouts out in agony and is winded by the surprise attack. He haunches over, guarding his wound.

"Spike!" Edie shoves past Felix to run to Spike's aid. John, in turn, fires his pistol once more but this time towards Edie, piercing her arm. "Fuck!" She cries, wincing and grabbing her arm while still focusing her attention on Spike's wound. She forces apart some of the fabric to her hospital gown and nestles it upon Spike's bullet wound. Spike breathes raggedly and his hold on his Jericho goes limp. Edie, while compressing the clothing against the oozing hole in his chest, holds on to him to support his body. "It's okay baby, I will protect you." She whispers for only them to hear.

John remains with his weapon pointed at the couple and unreadable facial expression. He shows no animosity, grievance, nor joy at his recent action. Felix, on the other hand, laughs joyously at the scene. "What a hero, don't you think Eddy? A true romantic. And all for what? To die? What a joke." Edie's eyes followed Spike and caressed his pale face. This gesture was not very appreciated on Felix's side. He reaches for her arm and squeezes her injury which causes Edie to roar in its twinge but does not differ her hold on Spike. Felix snarls. "What is it about this cowboy that has got you so swooned? Huh, Eddy?" He grips her arm once more and attempts to snatch her grip away of Spike.

She forcefully spits in his face. "Maybe it's because he isn't you."

This boils Felix past the point of control and he tears away Spike's gun from his hand to aim at Edie's face. "Some replacement." He fumes. Felix points Spike's Jericho towards Spike and fires, striking him in the abdomen.

"NO!" Yells Edie, fleeing from Felix's grasp and running to Spike. Spike winces at the agonizing pain and peers into Felix's fiery eyes.

"Just give it up already, Eddy! Just give up that make believe dream of the white picket fence, the loving, faithful husband, the nice house, dog and kids. It wasn't your destiny. Death is your destiny and you can't fight destiny. You're not going to cheat death this time, Eddy."

"You're right, Felix, you're right. This is it. This is the end and you have won. You are victorious." She stands up straight and closes the distance between them. "I… give up. I beg you to spar Spike. In return for me...and my baby."

"The fuck you think you are you doing?" Gruffed Spike, bleeding profusely from the trunk of his body which was soaking the tile flooring. "That's not your call to fucking make. Bargaining our kid to this monster? Fuck that. No way in hell."

Her heart leaped at his words but maintained a cool disposition. "Felix, before you kill us can I make one request? Can…can you give me one last kiss before you go?" Felix blinked confusedly at her request and was taken aback. He thought to himself for some time, debating. A part of him believed that had he been the one assigned to kill her the first time, this would be the seal of their doing. The kiss to end all kisses. He missed her soft, endearing lips. Felix wanted to see if she tasted like she did before, like strawberries and cream. Like the sweetest dessert ever created. Would he taste what remained of their "undying" love? Would he taste Eddy? Suddenly the urge to kiss her surged within him. Felix strolled towards her and raised his hand to stroke her cheek. Edie closed her eyes and was blasted to the past. She was 16, he 19. Their first kiss.

Felix gently perched his lips against hers and Edie followed suit, beginning her kiss innocent and naive. It was like foreign land. Gradually, he explored their peck into something more passionate, opening his mouth to hers. Sliding his tongue inside her, he could feel her warmth and the elixir of her moisture. Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced the nerves of his back and he returned to reality. He now felt a different type of warmth and moisture, seeping through his clothing. Felix thrusted Edie away, then felt for his back. A knife. A dagger to the back. A loud gunshot rang heavy through the air and he could feel it...the blood flowing from his chest. He gazed at Edie, would possessed the Jericho in her hands. Another shot went off. And another and another. Without any dramatic good-byes or one liners, Edie shot her final bullet into his head.

She heaved as Felix's lifeless body slumped to the floor and blood pooled below him. Another click perked her ears and caused her to hoist the gun in hands once again, meeting John's. "You got what you wanted, John. It's finished."

"No, not yet." His finger embraces the trigger and pulls effortlessly. Edie mirrors his action and puts a bullet between his eyes. John managed a slight smirk before the bullet penetrated his brain and he plunges to the floor, his pistol collapsing to the ground. Edie sighs, disappointingly, and peers down at John's limp body. She rotates her head aside to examine Spike. "Spike, are you okay?" He simply nods, grunting as sits himself against a wall, begging for a cigarette. She turns to back to face John's body.

Why? Why did you do this? Why, when you were close to being free? She scans her body and counts her wounds. Confused, she inspects the floor for another bullet casing. She retrieves John's revolver and pulls out the cylinder to find it empty. Oh John.

He was finally free. Free from La Puerta, free from his past, free from his sins, free from himself. This is what he wanted all along and he finally got it, the ending he so eagerly desired. He was free to be reunited with his beloved in the sky. All that now remained of La Puerta was Eddy, but Eddy has been long dead now. Edie bent down to stroke John's placid face. "Thank you," she murmured. She waited for the tears but none fell from her eyes. Sure, her heart was heavy with sadness and lose but her mind pondered on the little life inside of her.

A new beginning. A new chapter. A new book.