Chapter 18

Alyson ran down the hallway, her heart pounding in her chest, her muscles screaming in protest as she increased her speed, her thoughts focused solely on the image of a girl with pale blonde hair and terrified violet eyes.

The American grunted when another set of stairs came into view, her eyes narrowing beneath her tangled hair as Tink gestured for her to follow. She bit back a whine and made to hurry after the fairy, her foot raised to step on the first step...

Crack.

Alyson gasped and tumbled to the ground, her hand clutching automatically at the pain that was now searing through her left thigh, her green eyes widening as they went from the blood running down her filthy jeans to the woman that had come up behind her, her eyes as cold as the metal of the rifle in her hands as she aimed the weapon at the wounded girl for a final shot.

New York City whimpered and closed her eyes, not wanting to see the bullet that would end her life...

"NO!"

The thud of a body slamming into the ground, the sound of metal scraping against its sheath and a muffled hiss of pain, another furious yell, the snap of breaking bones. Alyson wrenched her eyes open at the last sound, her eyes widening when she saw her attacker curled in a limp ball on the ground with a bloody knife by her side.

Magnus and Francisco crouched over the woman, their faces drawn and streaked with more blood than before, their expressions a mixture of anger and sorrow that Alyson had started to become familiar with.

"W-what the hell?" Alyson gasped.

The twins glanced up immediately at the sound of her voice, their lips curving into tiny, identical smiles of relief.

"Hey," Francisco called weakly. "Ve... I hope you don't mind, but we decided to help you find Kat."

Alyson frowned and slowly forced herself to stand, her eyes widening in alarm when she caught sight of the scarlet stain that was slowly spreading across the bottom half of Francisco's t-shirt. The Italian grimaced and flashed her a reassuring smile, his hands wrapping carefully around the wound.

"Ve," he murmured. "I'll be okay..."

Magnus frowned and glanced over at Alyson, his expression conflicted.

"Where's Kat?" he demanded.

Alyson glanced back at the stairs that she had attempted to climb moments before, her eyes zeroing in on the anxious fairy that was still hovering at the top of the staircase.

"Up there," she told him. "Tink's been leading me, she-" The American hesitated, her emerald eyes darkening behind her cracked glasses as she met Berlin's anxious gaze.

"What?" Magnus pressed, his blue eyes flickering back to his wounded brother as Francisco barely bit back a moan.

"Tink says that... that Katerina is with Annette."

Magnus swore and nearly ran towards the stairs, only to slow to a stop as he glanced back at his twin. Francisco frowned and motioned weakly for his brother to keep going, his identical blue eyes tightening as his auburn curl seemed to droop.

"Andare (Go)," Milan whispered. "I'll be fine."

It was a lie, they all knew it.

Magnus held his brother's gaze for a moment longer, his expression twisting before he turned away.

"Warte auf mich (Wait for me)," he called quietly over his shoulder.

Alyson gritted her teeth and made to go after the German, only to freeze when she met Francisco's kind blue eyes.

"...I don't want to leave you," she told him.

Milan sighed and wordlessly held out one of his hands, his expression softening when New York City took it without hesitation and sat heavily by his side.

"Aly," Francisco murmured. "Can you promise me something?"

"Yes," she replied immediately, causing the Italian to smile.

"...You don't even know what I'm going to ask," he pointed out wryly.

"Doesn't matter," the American scoffed quietly. "I'll do it."

Francisco chuckled quietly and tightened his grip on Alyson's hand, his eyes narrowing as if he was struggling to focus. The Italian took a deep breath and gritted his teeth.

"Promise me... that this won't happen again," he gasped. "P-please... promise me that we won't have to suffer like this again."

Alyson frowned slightly and reached out to steady the Italian as he slumped onto his side.

"What do you mean?" she whispered. "How can I... I don't know if I can-"

"Per favore," Francisco murmured, his eyelids fluttering before finally slipping closed. "...Make the pain stop."

"N-No, wait! Don't close your eyes, dammit! You're not supposed to!" Alyson gasped. "Cisco, I-"

A strangled yell came from above, immediately sending the American to her feet. Alyson hesitated before tugging Francisco's limp body across her shoulders, her injured leg burning as she forced herself up the stairs towards the cry. She limped hastily over the last steps, her eyes zeroing in on the only door on the floor. She made to step towards the door, only to be pushed gently to the side by a silver blur. A teen with reddish-brown eyes shot her a sympathetic glance before darting into the doorway, his slim frame stiffening as soon as he entered the room. Alyson heard another cry echo from the room and forced herself to move forward once again. She paused for a moment to lower Francisco to the ground outside of the room, her fingers brushing against his bloodied auburn locks. She clutched the half-open door and stumbled into the room beside the silver-haired teen, her breath catching in her throat when she saw Magnus in the corner of the room, his arms wrapped around a barely-conscious Katerina.

The German didn't seem to be aware of his audience. His gaze was focused solely on the Russian in his arms, his lips forming quiet pleas and encouragements to the girl who simply gazed up at him with sad violet eyes.

Alyson choked on a sob and turned away from the sight of Katerina's bruised face and blood-soaked hands, her tear-filled eyes locking once again on Francisco's unconscious body.

Please... make the pain stop...

"I-I don't know how to make it stop," she whispered. "I'm sorry... I want to make it stop..."

She stiffened as an unfamiliar hand clasped her shoulder, her eyes narrowing at the sight of the silver-haired teen's challenging gaze.

"You want to make it stop?"

Alyson nodded, noticing for the first time that Tink had come to hover over the other teen's shoulder. The fairy met Alyson's gaze with tears streaming down her cheeks, her tiny chin rising as she took a deep, steadying breath.

"I know how," the fairy insisted quietly. "I know how to make it stop."

"Show me," Alyson whispered. "Tell me."

"...Magic."

Hmm... Not sure I liked the ending there. Eh, oh well. So, I really shouldn't have written this tonight (It's close to midnight and I have to be up at 6 a.m.), but I felt bad about leaving you guys with such an awful cliffy last time, so I decided to help you out! ...by writing another cliffy... /ahem/.

Anyways~ thanks again to everyone who has reviewed/read/favorited/followed this story. You guys are amazing and make me happy-smile. Also, to everyone who thinks that I'm being incredibly cruel right now... Well, I am, but it's all part of the plan! :p