Near

He turned around at the sound of the odd noise made by Avon. I know that sound. Noxa and the others looked at Avon, who had slowly turned back around. His ocher eyes had glazed over; the eyes of a corpse. His body was languid and he took a few stumbling steps forward.

"A-Avon? What's wrong?" Noxa asked nervously.

Near had seen that facial expression before. He remembered. He remembered the gun being fired and then his hair was red and the body was slumped on the ground before him. So, Inclementia decided to kill him, huh? What is he going to have hi- The answer hit him before he completed his thoughts and he studied Halle and Rester. Rester would be the better choice.

"Rester, go upstairs and protect Sam." He abruptly ordered.

Rester hesitated, obviously reluctant to go around someone whose actions were yet unknown, but he obeyed and quickly left the room. Avon ignored Rester when he skittered past and pulled out his gun. He took a couple steps closer to Near. Halle pulled out her own gun, aiming it at him.

"Put down your gun!" She commanded, finger on the trigger.

Noxa pulled her gun out as well, uncertain on who to point it at; Avon or Halle. Near watched the events calmly, fingers twirling his hair. He wasn't afraid; he learned there was never anything to fear.

"A-Avon, why are you doing this? We're supposed to be helping him!" Noxa cried.

"He can't hear you. He's become nothing more than a puppet doing Inclementia's bid before he dies himself." He said to Noxa, who finally chose to aim the gun at Halle.

She paused, then shakily aimed it at Avon, tears beginning to fill her eyes.

"Avon, please, snap out of it! Don't make us shoot you!"

Avon laughed shortly. "Please. I'm still conscious enough; I just can't fully control my body. I only have three things to do and I intend to fulfill all of them."

He cocked the gun and aimed it at Near. Near's expression darkened considerably as he stared at Avon. I believe this is the third time I've had a gun pointed at me. I never even got to tell Sam that I do harbor feelings for her

For a minute, Avon just stood there, finger poised over the trigger. Near stared blankly at him. "It would appear you get what you always wan-"

There was the sound of a trigger and blood splattered onto the monitors. Halle fired and Noxa shrieked. There were several more gunshots and then it was silent.

Sam

Rester barged into her room, looking urgent. She had just begun to drift off to sleep, but the sound of her door slamming open startled her and she sat up, hoping it was Near. She needed to talk to him.

"R-Rester? What's wrong?" She rubbed her eyes, trying to wake herself up.

"Something's wrong with Avon. Near sent me up here to protect you."

Sam's eyes widened slightly. "W-what do you mean? What's wrong with him?"

"I think Inclementia got to him. He started to act strange and he pulled out his gun and I think he's being controlled by the notebook. I don't know what he's going to do." Rester quietly explained, pulling his gun out and turning his back to her to watch the door.

"What about Near? You should be protecting him!" She protested.

Rester didn't turn around. "He gave me orders. Besides, he has Halle and Noxa down there. They'll protect him."

For a few moments, the two strained their ears for any sounds of distress, but heard nothing. Sam was clutching her quilt fearfully. There was the sound of a gunshot and she jumped. The next ones were louder than the first, ricocheting off the metal walls and assaulting their ears. She whimpered and hugged one of her pillows to her chest, tears beginning to prick the corner of her eyes.

Then, a bloodied Avon kicked the door down. Before Rester could even fire his gun, Avon rushed toward him, hitting him in the head with the butt of his gun. The larger man collapsed, unconscious, and Avon stepped over him, staring at Sam. Her eyes were wide with horror at the sight of the blood. He had a wound on his shoulder, but he seemed hardly bothered by it. There was far too much blood on him to be his, she noticed. It sickened her to think about whose blood was on him. She hoped it wasn't Near's.

He walked over to her and grabbed her roughly, slinging her over his shoulder. The smell of copper in the blood nauseated her and she struggled vainly.

"Let me go! Why are you doing this?" She thumped his back with her small fists.

He didn't say anything and he exited the room, walking down the hallway. The building seemed eerily quiet and Sam asked hesitantly, "W-what did you do to Near and the others?"

Again, he ignored her and walked past the monitor room. She looked in and screamed.

Blood was everywhere. The most was on the monitors where Near always sat. His white clothes and hair were stained crimson and he had fallen out of his chair. She couldn't tell where he had been shot, but hoped it wasn't somewhere fatal, if he was still alive. He was on his stomach, his right arm outstretched as though he had reached out to Avon, trying to stop him. His head was turned away from her. She wasn't sure if she wanted to see his face anyway. Halle was slumped against the wall, blood steadily pumping out of her chest. Her head was ducked down, and her gun was still in her hand. Noxa was nowhere to be seen, at least as far as Sam could see.

"Y-you..." She couldn't finish as she wretched, disgusted by the carnage.

He carried her to the garage where all the vehicles were. There were far too many, but Near had insisted they would use all of them at one point for a means of escape. Avon pulled out a set of keys and pressed a button. A black SUV nearby chirped in response. He threw her in the back unceremoniously before getting in the driver's seat, screeching out of the underground lot and onto the street.

Sam laid on her side in the back seat, tears beginning to pour down her face. She hiccuped when she thought back to the monitor room. I-I don't understand...why did Avon betray us? W-where's he taking me? Her heart stopped when she figured out the answer.

Noxa

He missed her. Each shot he fired was aimed either above or just to the right of her, never once hitting their designated spot. She didn't know if she wanted to laugh or cry. She had fallen to her knees when Halle was killed by him, too shocked to do anything else. Near hadn't gotten up and she didn't expect him to.

Noxa's legs finally stopped shaking and she got back to her feet. She just had to check. She slowly walked over to Near, kneeling down in the puddle of blood surrounding him. She gently turned him over onto his back. His eyes were closed and his mouth was parted slightly as though he were only sleeping. She frowned when she didn't see a wound in his forehead; Avon had been aiming there. She looked at his chest and was floored when she saw it slowly rising and falling. Yet, there was a hole where the bullet had struck him. She unbuttoned his shirt and let out a shaky laugh.

"You sneaky bastard. Fake blood and a bullet proof vest?" She murmured, glancing down at him.

"No, some of the blood is real. From my head; he grazed it. I don't know how, but he somehow managed to remain slightly in control despite the notebook controlling him." Near replied, opening one of his eyes.

Noxa looked over at Halle. "What about her?"

He opened the other and looked over at her. For a minute, his eyes clouded over. "Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for her. She's dead."

She hummed solemnly and helped Near to his feet. He pouted when his socks began to soak up the artificial blood, staining them. Rester appeared, holding his battered and bloody head. His eyes widened in surprise.

"S-sir, are you al-"

"Fake blood. I am fine. But, Halle is dead. It's just the three of us. We need to go after Avon and retrieve Sam before Inclementia has the opportunity to kill her." Near began to shuffle over to the door.

Rester glanced at his fallen partner, eyes saddening before they hardened with raw determination. "Yeah."

"How do you propose we do that? We don't know where Avon's heading." Noxa pointed out, puzzled.

Near placed a hand in his right breast pocket, pulling out a flat remote. "I've bugged all the cars in the garage. It will be simple. We should go."

The three quickly went to the garage. Near and Rester got in a black Town car and Noxa placed her helmet on, straddling her motorcycle. Near sat in the back of the car and pulled out his cell phone, pressing a button.

"Watari, please follow us. Once we locate Sam, be prepared to use any means necessary to ensure her survival." He instructed.

"Yes, sir."

Near pocketed his phone and Rester started the car, backing out. He and Noxa turned onto the street and followed the blinking "A" that represented Avon. Near looked out the window, hugging his knees to his chest.

He hoped he wouldn't lose another person dear to him.

Sam

The car ride seemed to last for hours. She still laid on her side, her tears sliding across the slender bridge of her nose. She was done pleading with Avon; it was obvious he would not listen to her. He had the radio off, the only sound was coming from the tires rolling and the other cars rushing by. He stopped the car and got out, opening the back seat. Sam didn't struggle when he grabbed her, and began to drag her toward the one level house. She whimpered when she recognized it and began to thrash as he opened the door. He pushed her inside and shut the door behind him. Garrison was standing there expectantly, grinning ominously.

"Hello, Searlait Sloan. So nice of you to join me."

Sam's eyes widened. H-how does he know my real name? I never told anyone! Avon released his grip on her arm and took a couple steps back. Garrison grabbed her, yanking her over to him. She turned her head to look at Avon, who had pulled his gun out. Garrison was watching with sadistic mirth as Avon aimed it at his own temple. Avon met his eyes with barren amber.

"Inclementia. Congratulations; you finished what Beyond Birthday failed to do. You killed me." He pulled the trigger and fell backward, the gun clattering away from his body.

Sam let out a little scream, turning her head away from his body. Garrison let out a short bark of laughter before forcing her down into the basement, throwing her down the stairs. She felt her rib crack again and she hit the cement wall hard. Wincing, she wrapped an arm around her torso, trying to stop the throbbing pain.

He walked down the stairs toward her, grabbing her sprained ankle and dragging her forcefully toward her. She cried out and he pinned her down, holding his gun to her head.

"I loved you, did you know that? But, you took my heart and stomped on it and ran off! I can't forgive something like that! I could have killed you with the notebook, but that's so impersonal. Killing you so I can see the last terrified look on your face and see your blood pooling around your dead body is much more personal." He hissed, eyes wild.

Sam's eyes flickered from his face to the gun, staring at the weapon worriedly. He aimed it at the center of her forehead. She heard the safety click off and her breath hitched.

"It's a shame. Things could have turned out so much differently if you had given me a chance." Garrison mused, standing up.

She scrambled back from him, curling up in a little ball. He circled her like a predator as she tried to make herself as small as possible.

"Now, how should I do this? Should it be quick, or shall I prolong the suffering?" He asked himself, continuing to circle her.

Sam curled up tighter and shut her eyes. She didn't want to see his plans. His footsteps grew closer and something collided with her face. She fell onto her side, her cheek cut open. Her eyes flew open and she gaped at him. He was standing over her, glaring venomously at her.

"Look at me!" He commanded, his voice echoing around the room.

She cringed at the volume of his voice and reluctantly kept her eyes on him. He smirked at his insignificant triumph and tapped the gun thoughtfully against his chin.

"Even though you are still my idol, I think torture would be better suited." He finalized.

He approached her ominously and she began to crawl back, tears spilling down her face as she whispered, "Please, no!"

Near

They seemed to be moving in slow motion. Each traffic light lasted for hours and it seemed they stopped at every one. Near dropped his legs and began to bounce his right leg nervously.

"We don't have a siren?" He asked irritably.

"No." Rester admitted, looking just as irritated, though Near figured it was because of his jiggling leg as Rester glared at it.

Noxa's voice filtered through one of the speakers set up in the car. "I am going to go ahead. Maneuvering a motorcycle is much easier than a car. Catch up when you can."

"Alright, but do not do anything once you get to the location, no matter what you see. Wait for me." Near instructed.

"No promises." She turned off her speaker and a second later, revved past the car.

Near sighed and rubbed his temples. The light turned green and Rester sped after Noxa, who had just rounded a corner. They came across another red light and Rester stopped again. Near huffed and crawled into the front.

"Rester, switch seats with me." He ordered.

Rester stared at him in bewilderment. "Huh? Can you even-"

He immediately shut his mouth when Near's eyes flashed. He obediently went into the passenger seat and Near took over the driver's seat. He slammed on the gas, going into oncoming traffic. Rester gripped his seat, eyes wide, and he yelled, "S-sir, I understand the situation, but don't you think-WATCH OUT FOR THE STOP SIGN!- t-think this is a little...unnecessary?"

Near turned sharply down Mountain Road, scanning the house numbers rapidly. "The ends justify the means. Besides, we're insured, and the idiot who hits us better hope he is as well."

He hit the brakes when he saw the car Avon had taken and Noxa's motorcycle parked beside it. He undid his seatbelt and ran to the house with Rester behind him. The door had been kicked down and Avon's body was in the doorway, his blood flowing down the steps. Near stepped over the pool and spotted Noxa standing in the living room, facing the corpse. Her lacy fists were clenched tightly and her jaw was set. Near went over to her and whispered, "Do not do anything rash, please."

Then, he touched his ear, turning his earpiece on. "Watari, please keep in mind; do not kill him unless I approve it and we have secured Sam. Are you in position?"

"Yes, sir. I've located two heat signatures in the basement." Roger responded a second later.

Just as he was speaking, a thin wail split through the air and a resounding smack cut it off. Rester and Noxa pulled out their guns, following Near down the stairs. They nearly ran into their superior when he abruptly stopped at the foot of the stairs, his whole body shaking. They looked over his shoulders and both gaped in horror.

Garrison was standing over a bruised and beaten Sam, holding a lighter near her face. The flames licked at her skin and she let out another wail, trying to flinch back. Her clothes were tattered and bloody, her skin covered in bruises and cuts ranging from deep to superficial. Her right leg was the worst; he had shot her, possibly to keep her from escaping. Near couldn't tell if he was aiming for the bone or not.

Rester and Noxa aimed their guns and Near commanded, "Inclementia, step away from the girl."

Sam

Garrison snapped his head up at the voice and narrowed his eyes. Sam weakly turned her head and saw Near standing there, clothes and face bloody, but unhurt. His hands were curled into shaking fists and his mouth was pressed in a thin line. Garrison grabbed Sam roughly by her arm, pulling her into his body uncomfortably. He wasn't warm or safe like Near was. She felt the gun bump against her temple.

"Don't come any closer! I'll shoot her!" Garrison bellowed.

Near said, "Let her go; you've done enough."

Garrison struggled to discern their names for a minute. Ryuk was hovering in a corner, studying everyone's life spans. Sam's had decreased considerably once again and he quickly calculated how long she had before he turned to look at Near's. Hehe, his is by far the longest. Looks like he'll be alone for the rest of his life. He studied Garrison's. Ryuk laughed gratingly and floated up through the ceiling. Garrison paid him no mind, too busy screaming threats while trying to think of a plan.

Near took a half step near him, but froze the second Garrison jabbed the gun into Sam's temple. She cringed.

"You're killing her, Nate!"