Last one.

"Gemma," Simon was here. Living and breathing. "What's going on?"

"I'm sorry." I said simply. "I do not love you." I took a deep breath choosing my words, not knowing what to say. "Goodbye." He made his movement toward, and then reached his hand out. I drew back apprehensively, wondering. His hand came closer and everything dissolved into darkness.

-Kartik POV-

Seeing Simon put a hand on Gemma made my stomach churn. Seeing her collapse was like murder.

"What the bloody hell did you do?"

"This is not your place."

I didn't respond. Some things are better left unsaid. I pulled a knife out, and threw it at my mark. It hit with a solid thud, with nothing in the air except for the vibration of the knife. Simon's eyes had gone wide. The knife was barely an inch from his head. Emily had rushed over to Gemma, waving smelling salts over her nose. Gem rolled her head, but after taking in the scene was back on her feet. I saw Simon, out of the corner of my, pull out a knife. I heard the blade being pulled out of its sheath and reacted.

"Run." Were the only words I remember saying to Gemma. Watching her stumble away I felt a stab of remorse hit me. She wasn't likely to be coming back. I entered the fight. Dodging and remembering the footwork were more like a dance then a fight. Somebody entered my line of view, and all at once everything stopped.

"Tom." Simon's voice addressed Gemma's brother.

"Simon, what is going on?"

"Goodbye."

I turned my head around so I wouldn't have to watch. When I turned back the figure was now crumpled on the ground. There was a stain spreading across the clothes. He was dead.

"Police! Drop everything."

I put my knife down slowly as the men appeared. Simon still carried his. There was blood on it. There was no denying what he'd done. Gemma appeared. She saw the figure on the ground and began to run toward him. I put myself in front of her and held her as she kept trying to get to Tom. She hit me with her fists, but I never let go. Eventually she stopped, tears streaming down her face.

"I'm so sorry Gem."

The sun was beginning to rise. It was a start of a new year, with new promises and new dreams. Year's End had past. Gemma and I walked away slowly from our former lives, each becoming a new person in the process.

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