Crimson Ties in Lullabies

by Ferris Ulf

Sequel:Not all of Apophis is gone,forcing Ryou and his friends to flee.Accompanied by a reluctant Minkah,they find there are things about the Egyptian that will decide who he protects and who he kills...But do all the assassins truly have the same goals?

26. Chapter 26: The Seventh Hour

Oh frabjous day! Well that took longer than any of us anticipated. At least they fixed the site. :) We are nearing the end of this wonderful story! I shall dedicate this chapter to all of the new reviewers and my dear cousin. It's a nice long chappie of 36 wonderful pages (the lyrics not included in that) Do enjoy! Lyrics are from the song "Mordred's Song" by Blind Guardian. Holds significance and hints in it. Onward lovelies! (sorry the site is messing up spacing)

See hate will rise
So don't come closer
Fear your child!
Born with a king's heart
But fate fooled me
And changed my cards
No one asked if I want it
If I like it

I've gone beyond the truth
It's just another lie

Pain inside is rising
I am the fallen one
A figure in an old game
No joker's on my side
I plunged into misery
I'll turn off the light
And murder the dawn!

Wash away the blood on my hands

In agony we unify
I never wanted to be what they told me to be

Fulfill my fate and I'll be free

God knows how hard

I tried to change fate!

Chapter 26: The Seventh Hour

(Dimah's POV)

"I'm going to tell you a new story," I whisper as the boys get themselves settled on the worn mattress. "It's the story of where the sun goes at night."

Ancient Egyptian lore were bedtime stories in our household growing up. With my father being one of the chief Egyptologists in the world and the majority of the relatives involved in archaeology and history, it was inevitable. Our cautionary tales were versions of ancient Egyptian myth my family revised to make appropriate for children.

"It goes to sleep!" Minkah pipes while falling backwards dramatically onto one of the rumpled pillows. "Right Um?"

Afika gives him a dubious look, a frown upon his young face. There is no doubt in my mind they still teach the story to the children—at least the story of the seventh hour. From it the leaders of Apophis use metaphors and the likes to twist the innocent minds, purging innocence and replacing it with a despicable outlook on life.

"Not in this version," I smile at my son while unfolding the blankets that are stacked in the corner during the day. "The people that lived in Egypt a long time ago believe the sun was a god. The leader of all gods. His name was Re."

Minkah's eyes are wide like saucers. "There's more than one god?"

"Leh. It's just a story," I chide him lightly. "And he did not get any sleep at night. He was too busy traveling through the Underworld…"

"Like underground?" my son ventures.

"Exactly."

They listen attentively, Minkah interrupting repeatedly until Afika teasingly threatens to hold the pillow over his head. My son decided not to call his bluff, snuggling against the black-haired child.

So began the eventful, hazardous journey of Re the sun god into the depths of the Underworld. All along the way countless deities protected and served him. I had to alter quite a bit considering the brutality that ensues. Minkah loved all of the fantastic creatures that I go into detail to describe. From the snakes with human heads and wings that guard the entrance to the passage to the many gods Re encounters. I describe each god as they appear throughout the adventure, allowing Minkah to add crazy features and antics to their already bizarre appearances and actions. Suddenly the baboon god Thoth would not allow passage unless Re supplied a fresh bunch of bananas and the Osiris wanted Re to stay and throw a party.

All of this was much to Afika's annoyance who eventually did leap atop Minkah and act on his pillow threat. A great struggle arose that ended with Minkah getting hiccups from his giggling fit. It takes half an hour to get them settled down again. The tussle was apparently what Minkah needed, for he's fast asleep cuddled against Afika before I reach the vital part of the story: the battle of the seventh hour.

Afika, of course, already knows this part. He could probably tell it just as well as me. I am actually relieved Minkah is sleeping. This enables me to recite the myth as it was written in hieroglyphs thousands of years ago. A violent story of gods and beasts is nothing to someone who has witnessed much bloodshed.

So I quietly recall the story of the great boat sailing into the most dangerous part of the Underworld where the enemies of Osiris lurked waiting to prey upon the gods. Afika does not say anything as the villain makes himself known.

"The enormous snake demon Apophis was Re's greatest enemy," I say in that tension-filled storytelling voice my father would use when he came to a scary part of the story such as this. "It was the demon's one desire to swallow the sun."

"Re wasn't so strong," Afika disrupts for the first time. "If all his consorts hadn't stuck Apophis full of knives he would have lost. That's the only reason he escaped each night."

"Maybe that's true…" I rejoin carefully, not sure of his feelings. To Afika who is the villain? Is there a hero at all? "Here's how I like to look at it: Each legend has a lesson we can learn from it. For me, Re represents all of the people in the world living their lives as best they can happily. Don't you find you're happier in the sunlight than in the shadows, malak?" He stares at me blankly. I decide a different approach is in order, one that doesn't involve 'normal' people with whom he cannot relate. "Apophis wanted to swallow the sun, right? How could that be its only goal? Only one dream?" I shake my head dolefully. "That would be sad to only have one thing you want."

He mulls over this in silent deliberation. Never has this boy spoken of what he wants. While I know he's here to find and report us to his superiors, it's been too long. More than anything, Minkah has grown on him. It's become a matter of not being able to turn us over.

"Who's Apophis then?"

I gaze into those brown eyes that stare right back. Reaching out I trail my fingers across his cheek lovingly. He doesn't flinch like he used to.

"Apophis is all of the people who would ruin that happiness," I speak softly tucking the blankets around them. "In the story he wants to swallow the sun. Think what would happen if the sun never came back. We have to make sure nothing like that ever happens. We need the sun."

Again he lapses into quiet. I lie down on the other side of Minkah, resting on my right side so I'm facing Afika. He remains on his back, my son tucked against his ribcage. I catch the gleam of his eyes that seize moonlight that slips through cracks in the shutters.

In this stillness I wonder if I got through to him. They used the story of Apophis on me when they dragged me into that hell. They made it a story about glory. What a feat it would be if the great snake swallowed the sun. What a tragedy if the Apophis organization became so successful that no one fought back. That they became so infamous people forgot they were also humans?

Mortal damaged humans.

"Know what's silly?" I ask evenly in the darkness, as if having had this nagging thought in my head for a long time. Time to plant the seed. "Why didn't they just kill Apophis?"

In the story the deities stuck Apophis through and through with knives to disable him, giving Re safe access. But each night the demon was there at the seventh hour waiting for another opportunity to swallow the sun. Every single night it returned to wreak havoc once more. Until they are all dead the organization will live on. Until there are no more assassins or recruits it shall survive, preying upon an unsuspecting world.

"Apophis was a god. He was immortal," Afika scoffs at me incredulous I could even think something so dense.

"Anything can be killed," I insist steadfastly holding my hand to my heart. Afika stares up at me in bewilderment. Is he bothered at the thought of immortality, especially for the demon? If this goes as I intended, it won't be the supposed immortality of a snake demon he's dwelling on anymore. While I hate to do it, I must cover all my bases, be willing to sacrifice whatever is required of me. In case our little family falls through I need to make certain it wasn't all for naught.

(Mr. Mutou's POV)

"There's nothing else we can do," I enlighten Honda and Yugi where we are huddled inside of the armoured vehicle Honda, Jou, and Niu stole for us.

The brunette has not uttered a word after we were escorted in here where we would not be a hindrance. We are easily accessible for information here. They adamantly refused to fly us out to be with Marik, Yami, and Jounouchi at the hospital, insisting we must remain for the time being should a need arise for our assistance. The situation is getting graver, any sense of control we maintained slipping from our grasp as they tighten the noose. To these men we are expendable; on hand should a need to use us as bait arise.

"There must be something!" Yugi pleads with wide violet eyes teary, smudges of ash on his face, hair wilted. "Honda knows how to drive this! We could go after them…!"

"Keep your voice down!" I admonish him while glancing out one of the fogged windows. "If they hear us saying such things…An act of outright revolt on our part could easily get us killed. Brazen actions will not help anyone."

My grandson slumps in his seat in a defeated posture. I feel similar in regards to the helplessness. I'm the only adult. Shouldn't I be the one doing the protecting? Instead it is the troubled youths out there in the elements killing one another. This isn't right. None of this is right.

"Honda, you haven't spoken in quite a while," I observe quietly as he clenches his hands together in front of him.

He doesn't reply, glaring at the window where Manzo is ordering his men about in chaotic order. Engines drone, loud at first and then tapering off as they depart. The hunt has begun. In my heart I know they will pull the trigger on anyone they come across out there. There will be no hesitation, no guilty conscience for these men. That's what makes them elite.

They're trained not to feel. Emotions are driven out of them, replaced with a driven resolve to seek and eliminate. Like the assassins, they have sunk as low as humans can go. In my eyes they have become nothing more than animals.

"Did I make the right choice?"

The question is soft, nearly inaudible. With the clamor of the army in the background I almost dismiss it as the mountain winds. Honda hasn't moved, still gazing out the window with a haunted look etched into his features. His face is wan, dark circles under his eyes that are wild. It's like he's a captured animal staring through the bars, having already tasted freedom. This is far from the truth. Something else happened out there.

From what I gathered from the little they revealed and the injury Jounouchi sustained, I deduced who they confronted deep in the woods. The duo and Niu came out victorious but at what cost? The army would not step aside nor give them access to one of their vehicles.

Honda is agitated and on edge. He's ready to take action. Staying still and waiting is more than he can handle after what he's been through.

"You did what you had to do in order to survive." I don't move to him, sensing a wall of some sort he's placed between himself and us. "It was live or die. You boys chose to live."

Lips thin in a tight line, he does not agree nor disregard what I've said. Agitated brown eyes watch the moves of the army intently, wrathfully. He sees in them what I can only begin to imagine. He sees in them the soldiers he killed. But these men are here and very much alive. That is a threat.

"Honda, we must not do anything rash."

"They're going to kill them!" he snarls, fingers digging into his knees. "These bastards will kill all of them! They don't care about Malik or Niu or anybody! And I know find them!"

Yugi and I balk at him.

"You know where they are?"

"No!" he grounds out, standing promptly and pacing. "We took two of these vehicles," Honda reveals to us in a hoarse voice. "Niu told me the signal between the two would be lost a few miles past Ryuuji's place. If we even backtrack a mile or two we should be able to get a signal. From that we can get exact coordinates for the other vehicle's location. I could send these guys to help except they're nothing but a bunch of two-faced bastards! They could help them!" He slams his fist into the window, a slew of curses spewing from his lips.

Yugi cowers against me, watching his friend with fright. Honda has been pushed too far already. I exhale, releasing some of my own pent up anger in order to remain level-headed.

"But they won't, Honda."

"But they...!"

"They won't help Minkah and the others," I cut him off. "It's good that you said nothing."

He's glaring. Not at me. At the people he cannot accuse face to face.

"Minkah and Niu have been in many life or death situations with dangerous people," I remind them both, saying it aloud partially for my own benefit of hearing it as well. "And Malik is no pushover. He has smarts when it comes to learning about what he's up against and choosing the best way to react."

"What about Ryou?" Yugi tugs on my sleeve.

"He's probably incapacitated," Honda mutters, a hatred for the assassins now springing to life. "He's also the only one of the four that isn't from Egypt."

"What's that go to do with anything?" my grandson asks nervously, fear rising.

"Apophis was based in Egypt," Honda states somberly, turning his back to us in favor of keeping a close eye on the army. "If by some remarkable chance the army decides to be merciful, they'll only pick the ones that are obviously not from that area of the world. That spares Ryou alone. And I doubt they'd bother."

"Maybe they're okay," Yugi offers with a sliver of hope, not wanting to give up on the boys. "Like Grandpa said: They're all strong. Maybe they've already won."

Honda is not eased by this. If anything, he becomes panicked. Turning around he hurries out of sight into the front room where the controls reside. I quickly follow him, not trusting him to be in the right frame of mind. I reach the doorway in time to see the wrench come down hard on the radio transmitter, smashing the machine to pieces.

"Honda!"

He raises his arm, the metal rod coming down five times more across the control panel. Yugi cringes behind me, trembling as he peeks at his incensed friend. Only once there are no lights or sound emitting from any of the transmitters does he finally lower his arm slowly, shoulders heaving as he breathes.

"Now they can't call us," he says tightly, tossing the wrench to the metal floor with a loud clang. "The army would use that and ambush them if they knew they were coming." For the first time a grim smile appears on his face. "The others might not have been on high alert if they are on their way. With this signal gone they will pay attention. And Niu will sense these bastards long before they do him."

"B-but you said they can't call us this f-far…!" my grandson stutters from his hiding place behind me.

"Yeah," Honda nods with a dismal satisfaction as the electrical board flickers. "But Niu of all people should be able to hone in on us nonetheless. He'll figure it out."

"Let's pray he does," I murmur passing my hand over my face. "Just how shall we explain this to Lieutenant Manzo?"

Honda shrugs, seeming unbothered by the potential wrath from the obstinate combatant. I can feel Yugi trembling beside me, wide violet eyes gaping at the irreparable damage to the controls.

"What if…?" he takes a shaking breath. "What if they need help?"

"They wouldn't get it from the army," Honda reasons in a quiet voice. "They're better off on their own."

(Ryou's POV)

With much effort I'm able to strain my aching muscles and turn Malik onto his back. He's wheezing through his mouth. Both eyes are blackened, gums bloodied, his nose crushed from the multiple blows to the face. Blood's oozing from a wound on his forehead; too much for me to distinguish its exact size or location.

I shake him even as pain throbs like a lance to my ribs. He moans in agony, features twitching as he fights for consciousness. He has to wake up. I have been unable to rouse Niu. His pulse has slowed and his skin is frigid. None of us can withstand this cold much longer. We have to go now.

'Malik.' I try again, my lips forming his name. At least, I think they are. It's possible they've gone numb and I only believe I can still manipulate them.

I bury my head against his chest when three gunshots go off, one following the next without hesitation. Trembling I focus on my own body, certain there will be fresh pain. Nothing. Malik's heartbeat drums steadily against my ear as I stay crouched above him. Opening my eye, I look to Niu. He's still breathing. Still alive.

Those gunshots weren't for us.

Kek didn't kill me for stabbing him nor did he finish off Malik. Despite his rage the assassin isn't interested in us. He wasn't willing to risk time with us and miss out on whatever is so important to him.

Head pounding, I rest my chin on Malik's collarbone to get my bearings. Heated voices rumble back and forth across the room from us. The couch is between our group and theirs.

No, not their group. Minkah isn't one of them anymore.

There is only one way I can help him now.

Biting my lip, I fight back tears as I grip the front of Malik's coat as tight as I can, inching slowly across the ground towards the door. I keep stealing glances at Niu while remaining as low to the floor as possible. The swishing sound Malik's coat makes is deafening and the floorboards creak under our weight. I keep waiting for them to stop quarreling and come after us.

It hurts to move. Hell, it hurts to breathe. There aren't too many choices though. Lie still in pain and die, or move and endure even more pain…with a small possibility of survival. Even if it's only a splinter of hope, I'll take it.

Reaching the doorway after what felt like a tortuously long journey, I tug him around the corner where we're out of sight. Panting, I prop him against the wall, collapsing beside him. There are stairs ahead of us. I'm not sure how he and Niu made it here, but I know Afika and Kek were on snowmobiles.

That brings a new kind of fear as the voices in the room grow louder. Even if I get us down the stairs and out of the house, how will I start those things? I've never driven a snowmobile before. How are we supposed to get out of here? I don't even know where we are or which way we should flee. How far are we from the Mutous'?

Choking down the sobs threatening to burst from my throat I grab a hold of Malik's arm and pull him after me as I scoot backwards down the windowless hallway.

I swear I'm hallucinating when a buzzing fills my ears. It sounds like millions of bees. That would be impossible. Looking around nervously, I keep moving even as the noise gets louder and louder. I need to get Malik as far away from here as possible before these hallucinations can worsen and I become completely incapacitated and still have enough strength to come back for Niu. This is my way of aiding Minkah.

With the three of us gone, my brother won't have to hold back.

(Afika's POV)

"I'll never get it right," Minkah pouts as he and I sit in the shadows of one of the storage rooms littered with dirty linens soaked with blood and rusted pieces of metal.

I smile, pulling the rag away from where I've been holding it under his nose. "It was only your second attempt. The bleeding's stopped."

"They look so scared tied to those posts," he nearly whimpers. "Burhan said…not to look in their eyes but…"

"Burhan says a load of crap," I dismiss the head instructor's lectures.

Minkah doesn't reply, bringing his legs against his chest and resting his chin atop his knees. I toss the bloodied piece of cloth away carelessly. In the few weeks he's been here he's learned how to handle several types of weapons. Before that he had to get in shape. Having hid in a two-room house for practically his entire life, he wasn't exactly in great physical condition.

"Do you, Afik?" He's looking at me with curiosity.

"Do I what?"

"Look in their eyes when you kill them?"

Smiling, I place a hand on his shoulder. "Every time." I can't help but feel pride at the admiration I receive for this simple answer. "The leaders will tell you not to. Know why that is?" Minkah shakes his head with wide grey eyes. "It's because they're afraid."

He cocks his head to the side in perplexity. "Of what?"

"Of us being too strong," I whisper and he leans closer in excited fright. "If you kill people the way they teach, then you are a coward. But…" I tap him lightly on the forehead with a finger. "Don't let them get in here. If you look at the eyes you see everything the leaders don't want us to see."

"What do you see?" he entreats crawling closer when I beckon.

"I don't want to ruin it for you. You'll find out when you do it yourself."

He slumps back in disappointment. Minkah has learned that, while I do protect him, I don't let him take the easy road if it isn't imperative. Because of this, he no longer describes the leaders as "mean" or "bad" men. The innocent bliss has been torn and tarnished by reality. Come to think of it, he hasn't asked about her in over a week. The mother that abandoned him is but a distant memory now.

I nudge him in the side with my elbow, drawing him from his glum mood. "I've got something for you."

Sitting up straight, he waits in anticipation as I pull the bundle of cloth from behind a crate. I'd hid it here earlier, as many would covet it. Gingerly placing it in his small hands I press my back into the scratchy wall and watch as he eagerly unwraps the layers. Grey eyes brighten in awe as he reverently lifts the knife with quivering fingers.

"It's just like yours, Afik. The one you carry!" he exclaims upon examining it; jubilant that I would share something so precious with him.

"They're both from ancient Egypt. I got authorization from Nimr for us to carry them," I inform him smugly, not revealing the former owner. It poses no threat to give him the khepesh. She never showed them to him. She was naïve enough to believe she could hide this life from him. "You can use it tomorrow during training. Remember to look in the eyes." I point two fingers at the wide grey orbs. Minkah nods, entranced by the ancient sword, eyes tracing its curved blade.

He has no need to know they belonged to his wretched family. He doesn't need to know his mother is being held in the very same compound. Nor does he need to know the useless bronze has been thrown out and replaced with deadly steel.

Why trouble him with such trivial things that no longer have a purpose?

I can't shake the feeling. Even though I know I shouldn't, that I'm forbidden from doing so, I keep going back to her. Every time she is in a worse state. I don't want to believe the things they've said about her. So many things she said contradicted everything I've been taught. She said she would protect Minkah and me. We were her world, according to her. Why is she still alive then? They say she's a runaway from Apophis. She recruits children, using Minkah to reel them in and trust her. If it's true, I hate her for that.

No one will use him like that ever again. I'll protect him. Together, someday, we'll prove her wrong. We'll prove everybody wrong. Despite their teachings, we aren't living in an ancient myth. We are the in the mortal realm.

Her words about immortality rings in my eardrums as I watch Minkah awkwardly lift the blade to inspect the brand new steel. That's why I keep going back. I cannot shake the feeling she was trying to tell me something.

(Minkah's POV)

"And here I thought you wanted vengeance. Don't look so malevolent. I wasn't the one who killed her, kid." Kek inhales the stench of blood from his weapon, eyes rolling as if intoxicated. "Why not work on your past and work your way to present enemies, eh? That would be less confusing."

"As long as I get to slit your throat I don't care what order it falls!" I snarl at him, cursing his boot atop my gun on the floor. The khepesh is gone, somewhere behind him, beyond my reach. Afik still has his, but the inability to stand is too great a disadvantage with Kek sustaining so few injuries.

"I'll give you a hint then, since you don't feel like being cooperative," he says lazily while glancing at Afik. "Her murderer is in this room."

I grit my teeth, not wanting it to be true. Not wanting it to matter as much as it does. Why did my gut twist when he said that? Is it because I've been in denial, trying to avoid the possibility Afik killed her? Kek has just singled him out.

"Keep…your mouth…shut," Afika growls, fingers tightening around the ivory hilt with ancient symbols I memorized from childhood.

"She died by the sword." Dark eyes land upon the blade in Afik's hand. "Her murderer showing her no mercy. Intent upon only one thing." Kek looks back to me with a smirk. My breath hikes even as I try to stay in control of myself. I can't lose it here! "Does it bother you that she died unwanted covered in blood and shit? She lay there twitching…"

"Enough!" Afik barks swinging the khepesh at Kek's legs.

Don't let it matter. Just keep focused. You can think about this later when you and the others are out of here and safe. Then you can crumble and curse Afika's name until your throat is raw.

Just not now!

"Look at him try to hold it together," Kek mocks, having easily dodged the attack. "Such false bravado."

Unlike the other times I've had a meltdown, her voice is absent. There is nothing. While I do not miss the false mother that spited me, I yearn to hear Um's soft crooning. Even a line of some absurd children's song would harden my resolve.

"But why am I telling the story? Surely you remember that night, Bakura?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" I snap at him, pressing the fabric of my shirt around my wounded hand.

"You really don't remember, do you?" the large man looms over the two of us, basking in the power he wields.

"I repressed many things…" I ground out while calculating the distance my gun on the floor is next to his foot. "But I would have remembered witnessing my own mother's death!"

"Hn," he grunts in agreement, a sly smile creeping onto his lips while glancing back to Afik. "Unless you didn't know it was her."

The little confidence I was clinging to is torn from my grasp with that one sentence. My entire body begins to tremble, and this time it has nothing to do with the plummeting temperatures. Inside my chest my heartbeat speeds up, beating faster than I can count. The air is too thin…too cold…I can't breathe…!

Do I remember? Has it been there in my mind this whole time?

But how could that be? I would have remembered…

A sound like skeletons' stripped bones hitting fills my ears. Are my teeth chattering? It's so loud. Does anyone else hear that?

"Minkah!" Afika's voice orders me from falling victim to my own subconscious in the midst of a fight.

"Is it coming together yet?" Kek asks with impatient eagerness as the noise gets louder.

Still she remains silent. Where is Um? The real Um. Why hasn't she ever said anything? She would have spoken to me if I was there! I would remember!

Wait.

I…

I remember…wild angry eyes that shook me to the core. It has been years since I have thought of them. Sometimes I had nightmares about those eyes boring into me, dilated pupils swallowing me whole. Afika would awaken me as I screamed and hold me. It was just a dream, that's all. Nothing but a silly dream…

"It wasn't real," he assures me, grip tight for someone so confident. "You were only having a nightmare."

"B-But…!"

"It was a bad dream," he cuts me off, slicing through the cords of doubt. "That's all."

My eyes shoot to Afika for some type of sign. He's gazing right back at me determinedly.

That's why he would never allow me to delve into the past or daydream. He was afraid the memories would come flooding in. He didn't want me to know what he did to her.

My lip quivers when I open my mouth.

"Y-You…" I shake my head, not wanting to remember any more. It's enough to know. "You…"

"My reasons are meaningless now. It's done," he finally states calmly in that stoic manner he used to discuss our assignments. As if she were no better than the strangers we killed!

"She was our mother!"

"She was your mother," he rejoins effortlessly.

Kek kicks him into the wall with a mighty force. Afika coughs as the wind is knocked from his lungs, collapsing to the floor while hacking for air. Incensed, Kek turns on me and I stagger back in surprise. What is he doing? Isn't this what he wanted? Me to know what Afik did?

"Your whole life you've eagerly let him force lies down your throat, kid!" he sneers at me, large hand flying forward and latching around my neck. He glares over his shoulder at Afik who hasn't risen, gasping to breathe. "I've waited long enough. It's time for you to reap what you've sown." Grinning widely he slams me into the wall, leaning close so I can smell the pungent odor of blood wafting from his body and breath. "Let's take a trip down ol' memory lane, shall we?"

(Kek's POV)

Another of the little wimps lets out a pitiful squawk before the knife tears straight through his throat and out the back of his neck. I have to tighten my muscles in order to hold the dead weight up. He hangs on the blade limply as the others try to muffle their sobbing as they scatter through the maze of corridors. They have become lost in their hysteria. Lowering my arm I hold the head down with my foot, pulling back to free my knife. It gurgles at this action, blood pouring from the two gaping holes. As I do this I can't help but cast a quick glance over my shoulder.

Nimr and the others had warned me about her. She was the best of the best in close combat before she high-tailed it. In her absence Afika has become the crème de la crème. Blades and stealth are his specialties. All the leaders gloat at his achievements that are increasing rapidly in number, looking over the rest of us. My potential is far greater than his ever will be. I'll make them see it.

Afika doesn't realize how taken he is with her. I watched him visit her in her cell. Even though he only stared, never spoke or touched her, I could see how torn he has become. This doubt is consuming him from the inside out. Is it any real surprise? Especially given who she is? The leaders were troubled about this—did not expect their perfect puppet to develop an attachment to its prey. Uncertain of how to handle the delicate situation, they allow her bastard son to remain close to Afika so he will be content.

While I want to watch she and Afika face off, I have to catch the last of those kids first. It would do no good to have them running around sobbing and causing a ruckus. That'd only earn us a lashing for letting them meander.

The sounds of a violent scuffle reach my ears and I grin. She's extracted her claws. The Rabiya woman won't die quietly. Especially not with her little brat being kept here.

Quiet footsteps approach cautiously from a side hall. I raise my weapon to strike. It doesn't matter to me if it's one of those runaways or an assassin in training. Anyone who lets their guard down in this place is fair game. The kid, like the majority of them, is much shorter than me. He lingers back just out of range.

"Kek," a wavering voice addresses me timidly. "Nimr wanted to know what…"

"The new ones escaped their quarters," I reply gruffly while admiring the blood my knife has already connected. It draws his grey eyes as well. "You're late. I only have a few more to take care of."A smirk twitches on my lips at the muffled voices down the hall behind me. "Your precious partner seems to be having problems with an escapee. Why don't you go help him, hmm?"

"Afik?" he breathes taking a step in their direction.

His small hand wraps around the hilt of a knife. I narrow my eyes. That's no ordinary weapon. The blade is deadly curved steel. It's practically identical to the one Afika carries. I bristle at the fact this frightened useless brat would have such a weapon. What has he done to earn that besides become Afika's lapdog?

"She's extremely dangerous," I add offhandedly watching the fear intensify in his face. "Better hurry."

Gulping, he pulls the ancient Egyptian sword from its sheath with unsteady arms. The new blade flashes in the darkened halls. I do not bother to contain my amusement any longer, grinning as he rushes off holding the sword up awkwardly ready to vanquish this nemesis whomever would dare threaten the closest person he has left to family…

…or so he believes.

The white-haired teen is trembling so badly as one having a seizure. I release him and sure enough he sags against the wall, bracing himself in a losing effort to keep himself standing. He holds his hand over his mouth, breath hissing between the crevices as he hyperventilates. Grey eyes are wild, lost in the horror as his manic brain opens at last.

"Get it now, kid? You did it for Afika. Didn't even know it was her."

"Minkah…" Afika rasps, recovering from the last hit where he's laying on his side on the floor.

"You can't reach him now," I inform my nemesis triumphantly as the thunder of the choppers draws closer. "Even if he heard you, what would you say?"

Sharp eyes strike me as he rises to his busted useless knees, khepesh clutched in hand. He still wants to fight me. But what's the point now, Afika? I suppose he doesn't have much left to lose.

"I realized a while back that I was going about this the wrong way," I admit kicking the gun so it goes sliding away from us. "I kept challenging you head on. That never worked out. But this…" I smirk at Minkah who is as pale as his half-brother, strangled sobs catching in his throat as his knees knock. "I figured out this is how to hit you best. Rather than make him hate you, like I thought I should, I'd make you watch me break him." Returning my full attention to Afika, I leer at him, "Because not even you can fix this."

Minkah lands on the floor with a thud, curling into a ball while releasing a series of choked sobs. In the near-distance the army draws near. Even though it's still dark out they'll be able to locate us with heat-sensing equipment. Nowhere to run now.

"Do you hear that?" Those choppers are mere miles away. It's overdue the bastards sent backup. "We don't have time to sit around and reminisce."

"You're the only one itching to do so," Afika rejoins, curved blade covered in his own blood carpeting the floor. Our eyes lock. "Well?" A smirk creeps across his lips as he bends his torso, injured arm bent into it, curling himself in a defensive crouch like a cat. Only one claw left now. "What are you waiting for?"

(Ryou's POV)

The air is frigid, burning down my throat like scalding water; so cold it seers. Gulping shallow breaths in a fruitless quest for less pain, I drag Malik along the path of footprints in the snow. There are several different sizes. Aside from two sets near two snowmobiles parked outside the house, the rest come from this one direction. It's easier passage.

It didn't matter that I had never operated a snowmobile before. Someone—Kek most likely—had cut them open and shredded the wires rendering them useless. They had belonged to Afika and Minkah. Kek is trying to trap us here. There is no sign of his snowmobile or the ones Niu and Malik used to get here. These tracks should lead me to them.

My muscles clench as I tumble onto my back with a grunt. The deep snow makes it challenging to walk as it is. Trudging backwards while pulling along the deadweight of another person is far worse. I can't keep my footing with numb shoeless feet. Chest heaving I gaze up at the fir trees far above us with my good eye. The smoky black sky is starless. How can it not be dawn yet? This is by far the longest night of my life.

'Let's not make it the last,' I push repeatedly to pack down the snow beneath me so it is more firm. 'I need to keep moving. To stay still out here is to die.' Once I've done this I'm able to get leverage, pushing myself upright.

The buzzing has gotten louder. I now distinguish it's not a continuous noise. Rather, it's choppy. Like the twirling blades of a ceiling fan. And it's getting closer.

'What are we going to do, Malik?'

I want to cry but I don't. Crying won't help anybody. Mustering all of my strength in the parts of my body I can still feel, I grip Malik under the arms, tugging him through the snow once more. I keep stumbling, unable to tell when my foot is actually planted on the ground. Surely all my toes are black from frostbite by now.

The only thing saving me now besides sheer willpower is the coat Afika placed over me. I brought it with, only shrugging it on with much effort once we were outside of the house.

'He should side with us, right, Malik?' I ask my unconscious friend as we leave the forest clearing the house resides in. 'That would be so much easier for Minkah. If he cares for Minkah, he'll do that.'

It's the simple deduction of right and wrong. How can it be so hard for them to comprehend now that they're free? Not having lived the lives they have, I could never understand.

And I never want to.

My brother isn't one of them anymore. He doesn't think like he used to. He's opened his mind, allowing himself a broader view of the world; not the small portion Apophis threw at him like a bone to hungry dogs. The assassins took what they could get.

I gasp as I shove between several bushes, ignoring the way they scratch at and cling to my arms and legs. The monstrous metal machine is an alien in this frozen wilderness. It somewhat resembles a tank, but taller and the door is on the side. No doubt bulletproof and more. It must be one of those army vehicles. The anxiety returns full-fledged before I notice the tracks I've been following lead straight to its large plated door.

Teeth chattering, I look down at Malik beseechingly for guidance. He doesn't show any indication of waking up soon. I'm sure my arms are aching as I heave him up the slippery ladder steps. Grunting, I turn the large latch, bracing myself against the cold metal.

It releases a god-awful screech as it swings inward. While it's not heated in here it's not nearly as cold as it was outside. I'm certain it's still below freezing, but it feels blissfully warm. I only manage to close the door behind us before collapsing onto my hands and knees, choking horribly. My side stings each time my lungs expand. Malik doesn't move as I wheeze beside him, breathing through his mouth shallowly, with any luck blissfully unaware of what's come to pass.

The room is lined with chairs. Seatbelts hang around each of the stiff looking cushions like black vines. Raising my chin causing the bandages wrapped around my head to tighten I spot another door. It must be the control room…

'Can't operate this thing either,' I realize, disheartened at my inability to aid my brother. Not willing to give up yet, I edge across the floor to the small room. The door is slightly ajar and I need only shove it a bit with my shoulder to enter.

The entire front is like a giant switchboard. All buttons and lights and gadgets. Through the large tinted front window there is still no trace of the sun.

'Weapons.' My eye scours the small area for anything Niu might have left behind in case of an emergency. Who am I kidding? They were going into a battle zone. They would take all the weapons they could carry.

The gun feels so cold pressed into my side where it's tucked beneath the jacket; the safety on. It's one of the ones Niu made. How did it end up in the doorway of that room is no great mystery. In all of the scuffles is it really surprising?

It doesn't help me a great deal. I checked it like Niu instructed us back at the mansion. There's only two shots left. I've never fired a gun in my life, my body is ready to give at any moment, and to top it all I only have one eye to aim with. There's no way I could hit a moving target let alone a stationary one.

Shaking my head I scoot in a circle on my knees, returning to Malik. Regarding him worriedly, I move to his feet and undo the ties on his heavy black boots, tugging them from his feet. My fingers are too numb to manipulate the thick laces. I settle for sloppy bulky knots on the boots several sizes too large.

I swallow the knot of fear that has wedged itself in my throat. It's like a jagged stone travelling down my esophagus and dropping into my stomach. There it rolls over and over, churning in my gut making me nauseous. On wobbly legs I lean against a seat in order to brace myself. My teeth are chattering incessantly as my arms give and I fall back onto the seat.

'I can't rest anymore. Not yet. First, get Niu out of there!' I urge myself, knowing this second trip to the house will be even more treacherous. Not only am I exhausted but sneaking another person out from under their noses?

Malik can't help me. None of our friends are here. Minkah is fighting his own battle. He's the only reason Kek and Afika haven't torn Niu, Malik, and me to shreds. It's been a long time since I had to depend so much upon myself.

Stumbling to the door by resting my hands on the seats, I grip the latch in my bare hands. Glancing over my shoulder at Malik I don't bother making any promises. There isn't anything I could be sure I could keep. The cold air hits me like a freight train as I thrust the door open, staggering out into the elements once more.

(Minkah's POV)

What have I done?

How could I have followed her all of this time…pledged my life, everything I am to her…when I was the one who killed her? What kind of person am I? Everything I've ever believed in was nothing but a lie!

I did it.

After all of this time in the darkness wondering what happened…of Afik forbidding me to look for the answers or put the pieces together…

I killed Um.

I killed her. I killed her. I killed her.

Screaming into my hands I curl into myself, wanting nothing more than to have this pain inside to burst. Let me explode. Tear me to shreds!

Why isn't she here? Why has she left me? Is it because of what I did? Is that it?

She hates me! That's why the real Um has never spoken to me. That's why Afika or whoever it was created echoes for me to follow. I've been alone this entire time.

And it's all my fault!

"Um!" I sob like a small child, digging my fingers into my eyes as the tears surge like molten liquid. "I'm sorry! Please forgive me! Please don't leave me!"

"…inkah!" a faded voice calls from the despair. "Minkah, get up!"

I shake my head, whimpering. It's not Um. Why can't he leave me alone? Why can't everyone just leave me alone? I don't want anyone but her! Until she has forgiven me…

"Stand up!"

"Shut up!" I shriek from beneath my hands. He could never understand what I'm going through! None of them could! I don't want to fight anymore. There's no reason left to fight.

All of this time, Um, I've been fighting for you.

But that doesn't matter, does it? Not after what I did to you. None of that matters. The relentless training I survived, the grueling missions, nearly losing myself to madness countless times…

It was for nothing.

"I killed her."

Opening my stinging eyes I glare at Afika only to feel every cell in my body tense. Why is he still trying to catch me with his lies? He's backed into the corner, both legs and one arm useless. Blood's oozing from the long cut on his face. Kek is standing over him, keeping just out of reach of the khepesh clutched in Afika's good hand.

"Who do you think you're kidding?" Kek ridicules, having put away his guns in favor of the jagged knife he likes to use on his victims. "He remembers, Afika! It's over. Give up the charade already."

"I c-can't trust you!" I accuse hollowly, clutching my sides as I tremble.

"But you can trust Kek?" Afika snaps, eyes steeled. "You trust yourself? Memories you're not even sure you have? I killed her!"

Steel sings as their blades clash. Kek's back is to me, focused on silencing Afika. Doubt creeps into my mind. But should I trust it? It would not be the first time he has led me astray.

Yet…I want it to be true. Even though she loved him. Even though it would mean he betrayed us. It's still better that way. It's far better than me taking her life.

"That's enough out of you!"

"Ask Niu!" Afika grounds out while using his one arm against the force of Kek's entire body. The two crossed blades shudder dangerously close to his face. "If it will…Keep him alive and ask him!"

My mouth goes dry at this epiphany. Kek told Niu. And Niu wouldn't lie to me. If Afika is confident enough to suggest…Could it really be?

"Minkah!"

Um…

Did he…?

(Kek's POV)

This is ludicrous! How could he still be listening to Afika after all of this? I told him! Doesn't he have any memories of his own? Doesn't he have a functioning brain?

I growl, bracing myself so the knife blade is mere inches from Afika's face. He's sweating profusely, complexion wan as he struggles to hold me off with just the strength of one arm. He grunts in pain, straining to fend me off.

There is so much more I would do. It is not possible with this short amount of time. Hells, I would draw it out for days if given that option. But I neither of them would come willingly, and I don't have the time to restrain them both properly and get out before the army maggots arrive. While I would enjoy another meeting with the soldiers, I cannot outright face them all. That's just plain suicide.

"I'm actually gonna miss you," I leer at Afika, excitement mounting as the edge of my blade scrapes across his cheek. Blood surfaces, causing my pulse to pound. "It will take me time to find someone up to par. However…" Leaning over him, our knives quivering, I hiss, "I've been waiting of this moment for years."

Brown eyes dart past me for a split-second as something moves behind me. I curse the stupid kid, realizing his mad ramblings have muted. Something clicks. Afika looks up at me with a gleam in his eyes.

"So have I."

What the…? Adding pressure to assure Afika won't budge, I turn my head to glance over my shoulder. No more than five feet away, Minkah is kneeling, a large rifle pointed directly at my back. His hold is steady, grey eyes hard. The fuck! I jerk my arm to pull the knife free only to be thrown off balance by Afika yanking hard on the locked blades.

"You…!"

Minkah's finger curls around the trigger. "You're no longer needed here, Kek."

(Ryou's POV)

I scurry behind a tree as something explodes in the direction of the house. Icicles chink on the branches above me. Did the entire place detonate? I don't remember any of them carrying a bomb! What's going on back there? Minkah can't fight that!

Trembling I wait several agonizing minutes to make certain it's over. Keeping my back pressed against the bark, I slowly edge around it and peek. The trees deny me a clear view. No smoke or other indication the house was destroyed. What was that?

This fear of the unknown immobilizes me. It's like there are bricks tied to my feet and cement injected in my veins. I cannot will myself to move so much as a muscle. The gun is useless to me if they have explosives. This has become a whole other level of warfare. I'm not supposed to be involved in something like this.

Shutting my eye tight I try to block it out. In doing so, I hone in with my other senses. There are sounds in the distance. The buzzing has gotten quieter. I wonder if my hearing is damaged and there is no droning at all. It would explain why I haven't heard my own voice when I speak. Though I remain convinced my throat is raw from the frigid air.

There's a pungent odor that smells like a campfire mixed with something else. It's the odor I would imagine damp wood to give off with mildew or mold. The stench creates more knots in my stomach as I quiver against the rough bark.

We're never going to get out of this. No one is looking for us. Malik and Niu are not only unconscious but their lives are now at great risk. And I left Minkah alone to face Afika and Kek! At this rate…

Catching my own panic, I quickly open my eye and pick up one foot to gauge how much control I still possess. The reaction is slow, having to stare at the boot a few seconds before it responded. I shouldn't have waited here so long. My mind was growing hazy. Standing still is no good in this weather. I'll freeze much faster remaining in one spot.

Shit.

With awkward fingers I draw the gun from inside the coat, the metal instantly bitter against the tender flesh of my fingers. Crouching low I climb the snowdrifts, returning to the uneven path packed down by the foot traffic. Staggering through the rough trail with its invisible traps that swallow my leg up to my knee, I trek back toward the house on numb limbs.

(Minkah's POV)

Trembling in both fear and anticipation I quickly scramble to my knees, reaching behind my shoulder as the serrated blade slices into Afika's cheek over the earlier wound. Kek is ranting about something or other. I cannot hear what he says.

The muscles in Kek's back ripple and he glances over his shoulder at my movement. Brown eyes widen in surprise and he halts his current attack, keeping his weapon locked with Afika's so the other assassin cannot attack him. I aim the altered rifle between his shoulder blades. He stoops as Afika adds pressure to the blades to catch him off guard. Kek's other hand flies to his belt for the other gun.

"You…!"

"You're no longer needed here, Kek," I hiss at the reviled bastard.

There's an explosion of crimson where his torso was milliseconds ago. I tumble onto my back from the force of the gun, scrambling even as my ears ring. Blood flies everywhere in a torrent as the body lands on the floor in several separate thuds. An arm lies directly under the window spattered red, severed at the elbow. The bulky fingers are still gripping the hilt of the serrated knife. My shoulders heave as I gape at the spot Kek stood. His boots, and no doubt his feet, remain planted upright on the ground like cut tree trunks.

I had no idea…That gun was definitely meant for an outlying target! Niu, what the hell?

Afika is kneeling amidst the remains, Kek's upper half laying to his right. He's coated in gore. The room reeks not only of blood but of bodily fluids and waste as well. Despite all of this and the large hole in the wall next to his head, Afika remains composed as if it was merely a bucket of water thrown on him, not drenched in the tattered remains of his arch-enemy. The gaping wound in the wall is large enough for me to crawl through, bitter wintry wind not failing to notice; cold gusts plunging inside at this unintentional invitation.

After glancing around himself apathetically, Afika looks at me with a smirk. "And you said you were done killing."

That nearly earns him a bullet himself without a thought from me. I swerve, regaining my balance, aiming directly at his chest. He doesn't say anything, just stares at me from under bangs dripping with Kek's blood. There is no fear in his eyes as he stares me down as if there wasn't a powerful gun that had just ripped Kek to shreds pointed at him.

A million questions and curses flood my mind as it stirs for a memory to latch on to. Never has an opportunity like this been presented. Then again, until the past twenty-four hours I had never desired any harm to befall him. Just the opposite. We've always looked out for one another; he being my sole guardian and protector. But he's never looked so pathetic and vulnerable. Unable to stand or barely move on his own. His confidence has returned despite these things. No doubt having to do with the fact I followed his words of wisdom.

Again.

It's not the same. Can never be the way it was again. We can't pick up the pieces where we left off as assassins. That's not what I want. This life that Mr. Mutou and Ryou have offered me…the one Niu insisted I not turn down…

"I'll give you the chance to tell me now," I state waveringly, not wanting him to know how frightened I am.

"I don't feel much in a talking mood anymore," he answers monotonously while allowing his good arm to lower. An odd sensation of relief spreads through me. Either way the answer will make me sick. "And I've never been one to converse while someone's aiming at me pointblank."

"I won't be so merciful if Niu confirms you killed her."

"You won't be able to choose at all if he's dead."

My anger subsides as his words throw me roughly back into reality. For now I need to cast aside my trepidations about Um. Even if Afika did agree to talk, how could I be sure? I must focus on the here and now, on the things I can control.

Sending Afika a warning glance I sling the rifle over my shoulder and rush to Niu's side. My heart skips a beat at the trail of blood smeared across the floor leading out of the room. It isn't continuous, patches and droplets. Nothing compared to the pool of blood growing around Niu's head. The person wasn't mortally wounded.

Ryou and Malik are gone. I don't know the condition of either; having not seen what became of them when they faced off against Kek. Ryou was unconscious last I knew. So Malik must have gotten him out of here.

I gently hoist Niu into a sitting position and he slumps against me. Quickly I catch him by the shoulder and the back of the neck to prevent his broken jaw from falling against my body. I must be diligent in assuring no more damage is done. His breath hisses in agony, eyes fluttering as I examine the injury as best I can without forcing his mouth open further. Reaching in with two fingers I cautiously retrieve a piece of material that had been placed over the ugly wound where his tongue used to be. His limbs tremble, fingers twitching as they grasp weakly at my arm wrapping around his shoulder, not coherent enough to comprehend what's happening.

Neither Afika nor I are wearing coats. I have no method for retaining Niu's remaining body heat. The blood loss is substantial. He needs immediate first aid. There's no way he'll survive a long ride on the snowmobile back to the mansion.

Carefully I lift him off the ground, raising him across my back with one arm and one leg hooked over my shoulders the way we were trained to carry wounded and unconscious prisoners. I'm almost glad when he moans in protest. Any reaction to what's going on around him is good at this point. Shakily I rise to my feet, ignoring my own wounds. The hole in my palm giving me some difficulty keeping my hold on him tight.

I don't even look at Afika as I tread to the door. It feels like the distance has multiplied under his scrutinizing watch. A shiver crawling up my spine, I can feel his gaze stabbing straight through Niu into me. To my surprise, he doesn't say anything either. He doesn't try to follow or even move. Just mutely watches us leave him behind.

I've changed. Whether it's for the better, I would like to believe so. It's not my fault he can't get past these things that shouldn't matter so much.

Immediately I regret thinking about him like that. It would be easier to despise him if I could get valid confirmation about Um from someone. Niu's dead weight across my shoulders is my only tangible piece of hope for that.

The droplets of blood are like a trail of bread crumbs only even easier to follow. Easing sideways down the creaking stairs so as not to hit Niu against any walls, I maneuver us down another hallway. The door leading outside is open, swinging back and forth in the blistering wind. I pause a moment, assassin in me on guard for an ambush that may be awaiting us.

Edging forward slowly I peer out into the frozen clearing. Footprints and blood lead into the woods beyond. There is muffled noise in the distance. Hope and fear rise in me when I recognize the sound of helicopters. There's only one group that would be this far out here. Still, they are Niu's only chance now. I have to get him to the army. Snow crunching around my boots, I carefully step out after detecting no one in the vicinity.

Everything shatters when I come upon the snowmobiles. Both mine and Afika's have been dismantled beyond repair for anybody save Niu perhaps. It will take time and energy to locate Kek's vehicle. He would have invested a good effort into hiding his mode of escape.

My eyes follow the rather deep trail that's turned into a trench by the foot traffic. As I step into it I begin counting the people. Four. Though some have gone back and forth through it, making the number appear greater at first glance. I surmise the largest prints to belong to Kek. Then there are two pairs similar in size. That must be Malik and Niu.

My fingers tighten on my friend when another imprint appears. Someone was dragged. There are prints much smaller than the others partially due to the fact the individual wore no boots. Yet the imprints are deep, a larger impression in the snow appearing on its trail where the person repeatedly collapsed.

All at once it hits me as my mind wraps around my discovery: Ryou dragged Malik.

Relief overwhelms me as I trudge hastily after them, following their uneven path. There is a chance Kek did not wreck Niu and Malik's means of transportation. We could still make it out of here!

"Hang on, Niu!" I whisper stumbling in a larger hole where numerous people have already stepped. His weight sags further onto my neck, but I don't fall. I won't let myself fail now.

"Ryou!" I call into the cold eagerly as we plunge into the forest. "Malik!"

There is an amber glow in the sky that seems darker than before. Much darker. I ignore any omen it may be trying to proclaim. The glow of the morning light is a beacon announcing we survived.

(Afika's POV)

There's no time to waste.

Ignoring the pain festering in my broken arm and shattered knees, I brace myself on my good arm. With my fingers wrapped around the ivory hilt of the khepesh I scoot forward slowly, putting all of my energy into my right arm and my torso, depending completely upon upper body strength. The muscles burn as I've already pushed my body well beyond its usual limits. It's been many years since I sustained such severe injuries.

I cannot be bothered by trivial worries like if I'll ever be able to operate my legs again. This battle isn't over yet. Apophis did teach us how to survive in the most precarious situations. Until a mission is complete one does not waste energy fretting about the future. It's all about endurance and carrying out one's task.

Wooden boards from the wall are uneven and splintered from the impact of the ammunition and parts of Kek's torso. It was a fitting ending for him. One that would have him incensed to know that, not only did he fail to kill me, but he also died pitiful and insignificant. It was so bizarre that it failed to be spectacular. The oaf was killed in one of the most pathetic ways imaginable.

A gun.

For all of his strength and threats he didn't even get to go down fighting. Like so many assassins before him he was another faceless nobody. What a tragic waste of an existence. In the end he accomplished nothing.

He had always yearned to be the number one assassin in the ranks of Apophis…something I never understood. Why covet such a position? Even then you're only the top of the food chain amongst a pack of whipped dogs. He never sought what was beyond Apophis…just out of reach.

I'm going to find it. Whatever it is I shall lay claim to it. Then Minkah will see what I've been working so long to achieve. He'll comprehend. Then he will beg me to forgive his recent transgressions against me.

And I shall.

The bandages wrapped around my good hand are a reminder of my own limitations. Reflections in the glass having been a lesson that I must not second-guess anything now. I must ignore such trivial things as reflections. They catch your attention and captivate, but focus upon them and you accomplish nothing. Right now Minkah is trapped in a maze of mirrors. It's time to shatter them.

The faint scent lingers on the frigid air as it enters the jagged hole in the wall. It kills any false hopes that I have gained the upper hand at last. Grimacing, I shuffle forward, a trail of blood painting the floor beneath me as I move. My bangs wilt into my eyes, thoroughly saturated with Kek's blood. The metallic tang is in my mouth, the liquid dripping into my eyes as they search the room.

At this point there aren't many options other than this. It may already be too late. For the sake of everything I've strived for, I must stoop to their level as Minkah has done.

(Ryou's POV)

"Ryou!"

My mind needs several seconds to process what my ears are picking up. It sounds so foreign after all of the horrible stories and reverberations of warfare. A hunched form with enormous shoulders bounds towards me through the snow. Fear pounding through me, I whip around and scramble back in the direction of the army vehicle.

The toe of my left boot catches in a deep print and I fall face first into the snow. Gasping in alarm I claw at the cold wet clumps, eyes landing on the gun I dropped as I fell. With trembling fingers I snatch it up and flip onto my back, aiming at my would-be attacker.

The figure halts, almost upon me. He straightens just a bit and Minkah is suddenly looking down at me with hope-filled eyes. I realize now what I had mistook for massive shoulders was, in fact, a second person. I exhale the breath I was holding in fear, relieved to see both my brother and Niu.

Minkah is bleeding from his arms and legs. One hand is covered in blood, the center oozing the red liquid as he holds onto Niu. He looks ready to collapse from sheer exhaustion.

"Where's Malik?" he prompts hoarsely, seeing we are alone.

"Ah…" I began before the air steals my words away, leaving me choking on my own voice.

He hurries to me and carefully gets on one knee. My lungs are on fire as I cough harshly, each time feeling like another match has been lit in my throat; someone scraping it across the inner walls until it's scorched. Wheezing, I gulp deeply several times as Minkah waits.

"Kek is dead," he informs me bluntly as I recover.

Wiping my sleeve across my mouth I gaze at him in wonder. Minkah killed Kek? My mind cannot wrap around the idea that such a powerful, terrifying man could exist, let alone be defeated. No, he's not dead. If we make it out of here he will live on forever in my nightmares. I'm sure that's a legacy he would take great pride in.

Unable to summon my voice, I mouth: Afika?

Minkah's eyes harden and he averts his gaze, staring at nothing but the trees and white. His features twitch as if he's having an inner war with himself. The distress is building up inside him as he's torn straight through. I don't know what this reaction means. Is Afika dead? Did Minkah kill him? Maybe Kek?

"Where's Malik?" my brother repeats in a frighteningly calm undertone.

Resisting my automatic response to shrink away from him, I somehow manage to climb to my feet. Minkah rises, Niu unresponsive on his back. Unable to speak, I simply turn and begin leading them back through the brush. There are questions and fears spiraling out of control in my head but they all die upon my chapped lips. Even if I could ask him he would not answer. He's closing up. Niu and Malik aren't the only ones in danger. Minkah's psychological state is more fragile than ever.

Snow crunches under our boots as we cautiously make our way along the uneven terrain on the crude footpath. Every so often I cast a glance over my shoulder at Minkah. His eyes are misted over, mind somewhere else entirely. That must mean Afika's dead. They're all dead. He wouldn't let his guard down like this otherwise. Niu's arm swings back and forth as Minkah's fingers dig into his left arm and leg. I nervously eye the blood both of them are leaving on the snow behind them, praying that my brother will be able to operate the machine.

The sun has not risen any higher for some strange reason, remaining a bright orange glow far to the left. Perhaps not as much time has passed as I thought. At this point it would come as no surprise my mind is playing tricks on me. I look up as something small like a feather brushes against the exposed side of my face. It's snowing. The flakes flutter down, quickly increasing in number as the sky above grows blacker.

I inhale a sigh of relief only to end up on my knees choking on the snowflakes that didn't melt as they should have when they entered my mouth. Minkah snaps out of his trance, narrowing his eyes and tilting his head as far back as Niu's body will allow. Quite suddenly he turns to our left, scanning the horizon of trees hiding the sunrise.

"That's not east," he mutters under his breath, nose scrunching as he tentatively inhales. Reaching out he snatches several snowflakes in his hand. I blink in awe when his fingers uncurl and see the cinders resting on his palm.

This isn't snow at all. It's ashes. And if that's not east…

"Shit!" Minkah leans over, gently transferring Niu from his back into his arms in one fluid movement. "Ryou, take Niu to wherever Malik is. Wait there for me." He catches me by the arm when I reach for our unconscious friend. "Ryou, did you hear me? Stay with Niu and Malik. Do not follow me. Got it?"

Too numb with fright to do anything else, I nod vigorously. To my abject horror he turns without any explanation and hurries back in the direction of the house. My heart pounding like a drumbeat I prop Niu in my arms, his jaw sticking to the side at a painfully unnatural angle. Why is Minkah going back there? What suddenly changed his plans? If there's a fire shouldn't we be trying to get out of here as quickly as possible?

Sloppily I try to mimic the way Minkah was carrying Niu, nearly dropping the poor tech expert in the process. I'm hurt and I was never trained for a disaster like this. I don't have muscle or stamina like my brother. Niu's already shaking awfully. He's lost more blood than any of us. Dragging him through the snow as I did Malik would probably kill him. He moans quietly as I adjust my hold on him, hunched over so much I'm afraid I'll fall on my face. With no other choice I do as my brother ordered, every unsteady step leading putting more distance between the two of us.

(Minkah's POV)

'How could I have not seen it?' I berate myself tramping back to the house as ashes fall all around like dead leaves in autumn.

The fires are not just in the east. Upon studying my surroundings I saw the flames shooting up from all directions. Some are located farther away than others. No doubt they are the other houses dotted throughout these mountains. I can barely hear the helicopters anymore. The army no doubt is busy scouring the areas of the most recent fires.

It is no coincidence the house we were fighting in was spared.

I should have left Ryou with something more to defend himself and the others! But all I have left is the rifle. I lost all of my other weapons during the clash with Kek. I almost turn back and go with my brother.

Almost.

All at once I'm racing across the clearing to the lonely house where I left Afik. It doesn't make sense what that I left him…or that I am now coming back. Nothing I do is rational anymore. Does it have to be rational to be right? Even I don't know what his fate will be if I leave him to be found here. A shudder running up my spine I look around warily at the trees encircling the house before going through the door.

I suddenly am yearning for my khepesh; the familiar, reassuring feeling of it against my hip. The rifle does not work to my strengths. It won't matter if I have quick reflexes with such a weapon. It needs precision and aim despite its power. There have been few times I have not had my khepesh. And I left here with Niu without it.

The soft creak of the stairs and floorboards is deafening this time now that I am alert. There is no other noise in the house. Even though I know the way, find my attention on the brown trails of dried blood where Malik was dragged and I carried Niu. They lead me right back to the room. My heart is lodged in my throat as I approach the open door, fearful of what I may or may not find.

I stop in mid-step in order to avoid brining my foot down on the khepesh laid neatly in the doorway. My fingers cling to the doorframe on either side as I stare down at the weapon. There are bloody fingerprints on its ivory hilt where I had held it. Only it still looks wet…

"Took you long enough to figure it out."

My head snaps up as my eyes dart about the destroyed room of overturned furniture, blood, and Kek's remains. I almost miss him amidst the unrecognizable remnants of the larger assassin. Afika is leaning on his right side against the wall, facing away from me. He's staring out the large hole in the wall where Kek had died.

"You knew?" I ask shifting edgily, feeling insecure standing in the doorway like this.

"Sooner than you did."

Afika seems unaware of the magnitude of his wounds. I gaze in horrified wonder at the trails of blood tracing throughout the room. What on earth was he doing? He's in no condition to be moving around!

Suspicions aroused, I take a closer look on the tortuous strokes of blood leading this way and that around furniture and to the door and back. What was he doing?

"Afik, you…"

"Why did you come back?" he interrupts me darkly, attention never leaving the world being littered with residue.

How do I answer that when I myself don't have a clue? I could be escaping with my brother and friends right now! My feet planted before the khepesh I suddenly feel so lost. What am I doing here?

"Afik…"

"I don't need pity if that's all you have come to offer," he sneers while angling his neck to get a different view of the outdoors. Does he really expect to see the assault coming?

His legs are bent slightly, unmoving when he shifts. Afik's left arm is curved into his torso; also immobile. His good arm is pressed between himself and the wall. I'm relieved that I cannot see his face from this position, not wanting to view the beginnings of the wound Kek gave me repeated on his cheek.

"You can't get out of here on your own," I manage quietly, allowing the side of me that still loves him to take charge. "Afik, look at yourself! You're a mess."

"And that's an understatement," he snorts, not paying me much heed.

"The fires are all around," I inform him of what he cannot see from his post. "Every direction. You know what that means, Afik!"

"Then there's not much time, is there? Why don't you run then?"

I bristle at the condescending tone. "That's what you expect of me? To run?"

"It's what your new friends would do," he shrugs off my anger with ease. "I thought you said you wanted to be more like them."

"That's not what I said!" I snap, empty fingers itching.

Wait. Isn't that what I want though? Don't I want to be like them? Is their life the kind I could live if I tried? Hasn't that become my new goal?

Afik pauses from his surveillance, glancing at me as if sizing me up. "Oh that's right. You aren't going to kill anymore. Wasn't that how it was?"

"That's right!" I rejoin before I can stop myself.

His lips form a mirthless smirk, blood trickling from the gash on his cheek. "You think it's that simple? That you can just decide to stop? It's more than an addiction, Minkah." Brown eyes pierce me through and through. "It's how we live."

"It doesn't have to be," I argue heatedly, wanting more than anything to believe myself. "It's not an automatic change of thinking, but I can choose not to kill any more people!"

The smile vanishes, his face becoming grave. "And when will you make such a decision, pray tell?"

My muscles tense up when he lifts his right hand, one of Niu's guns appearing. Numerous weapons were mistakenly discarded during the fights in here. Gaping at him in bewilderment I fight the urge to step back. He doesn't aim at me, just holding it so I am aware of it. He doesn't use guns! Where's his khepesh? What happened to using guns being cowardly when given the option not to?

"Afik, what are you doing?" I demand, not showing the vulnerability I'm experiencing. The rifle's weight is quite suddenly apparent. I don't want to use it though. What happened to Kek…I can't do that to him. I never want to use it again.

"I'm going to test that declaration of yours," he reveals before leaning his head against the wall to peer out the hole again.

Brow creasing I take a step into the room, reaching down and retrieving my khepesh from the floor. I feel more secure with it even if I don't use it. Just holding it settles my nerves a bit. Afika doesn't look at me, but I know he was waiting for that action.

"See there comes a point and time where we have to choose. And what we choose will ultimately decide who lives and who dies," he murmurs, eyes searching for something out there.

"I have chosen. I told you!"

"Yes, that's what you've said," he cynically agrees while correcting me all at once. "But that's not really making a choice. Anyone can say something and make an oath. It's complete bullshit until you act—or don't act upon it."

I watch as his eyes light up, locking on a target. Slowly he brings the shaking arm holding the gun forward, aiming as best he can given his poor condition and no sniper equipment. It's only now I realize which direction he's aiming. Then there is no doubt in my mind who has stumbled into his line of fire.

"No!" I scream, racing at Afika in a madden haze, knowing that I will not make it in time.

Don't do this!

In slow motion I watch the gun level as he takes aim.

Please don't kill him!

Lifting the khepesh, I pray for just a few more seconds. That's all I need to save him!

Afika…

Don't kill him!

"Don't…!"

The rest of my plea is muted as a gunshot explodes in my ears. Afika's entire body jolts like a bolt of electricity as the shot through him. I skid to a halt as he wavers before falling forward, his right arm and shoulder hanging out of the opening in the wall. It's like a puppet whose strings have been cut falling limply off the stage. Then he begins sliding forward out the timber fracture.

Coming out of my terrified stupor I lunge forward and catch him by his broken left arm before he falls any further. The bones of his wrist splinter in my grip, cracking from the pressure as I heave him back up. To my surprise he doesn't struggle, quite limp as I haul him into the room. I'm even more shocked when I see his right hand is empty, weaponless.

Dropping him abruptly I hurry to look out the window in time to see Ryou picking himself up off the ground. Wide brown eyes are filled with terror as he doesn't waste any time. My brother quickly scurries back into the forest, apparently unharmed by the gunshot. I watch this in relief and amazement as it dawns on me what just happened. I nearly lost everything. Afika nearly killed Ryou, and I nearly…

Ryou is safe. That's what matters. But my presence didn't matter. I didn't stop Afik. I didn't reach him in time. So then…

Shoulders heaving, I stand over him with the khepesh clutched in my bleeding hand. He's on his back, gazing up at me as he breathes heavily through his mouth. With my good hand I swing as hard as I can, nailing him across the face. Blood spurts from his mouth and he coughs, turning his head back to face me nonetheless.

"What is wrong with you?" I hiss at him, kneeling over him and pressing the blade to his throat. "You want me to kill you now? Is that it? Is proving me wrong worth dying for, Afik?"

He closes his eyes, sweat dripping down his face caked with Kek's blood. "I was…too late."

"I wouldn't let you kill him! – or any of them!" I swear, hoping this time he'll believe me. After what just happened there's no telling how far he'll go.

"Hn." He grunts, clearing his throat. "You were going to kill me for him?"

"Yes."

I am not meek when I answer. And I tell myself not to be ashamed. He forced my hand. What choice did I have? If I had stood and done nothing he would have killed Ryou. But then why…?

"You missed," I state, gauging him for a reaction but his eyes remain closed. Did he feel guilty and was unable to go through with it? Or was it just his poor condition? "You don't usually miss."

"Well I didn't do it on purpose," he assures me with a frail chuckle, still not attempting to rise. There isn't much of a point now seeing as how I have the weapons and he can barely move anyway.

I don't understand him. Not his logic nor his words. How can that be? He's always been my ultimate truth, always been the one I could turn to. When did things become so twisted?

When did I stop believing in you?

"Don't act so dismal," he chides me, chest rising and falling faster as if he cannot catch his breath as blood leaks from his mouth from the hit. "This is what you…wanted after all."

"No it's not!" I shout at him. Again my fist slams across his face. This time he does not turn back to me right away, lying with his head turned, blood flowing steadily from his nose and out the corners of his mouth.

"Afik, I never wanted to go against you! I believed you! I've always trusted you!"

"That was the general idea," a detached voice states from behind me.

I whip around, khepesh ready. How did I not detect...?

"In a way I must thank you, Afika," Severa states monotonously while casually approaching. In her hand is a gun with a rather long barrel; an oddity that I've never seen her use before. "If it were not for your intervention I would have ended up like the two of you here. It was good he was killed."

"You've calmed considerably," Afika remarks hoarsely, blood flow not ceasing.

I remain over him, poised for an attack from her. Never have I squared off against Severa. The pyromaniac's techniques by no means matched up with the rest of our elite. I didn't pay her much attention, as she kept to herself and never outright challenged anyone. She's never been a threat. Not with Kasiya by her side.

This reiterates Afik's claim that that Kasiya is dead. He didn't reveal any details, not even how our chameleon perished. Now it is becoming all too clear.

"The fires pacified me. They always do," she reveals in her impassive tone that gives no clue as to what she's thinking. This isn't going to be easy. Especially given the fact she hasn't been in combat. "The madness has dispersed. Such ranting about vengeance is the rambling of fools. Kasiya is ashes in my mind. I have no use for a comrade who was so weak as to leave himself defenseless."

My body quakes as she talks and I realize where I have seen that gun before. It is one of Niu's creations, but it belonged to another assassin. The poisons and toxins expert.

Kasiya.

"I am not here for you. I already gave you your parting gift," she addresses Afika evenly, intense blue eyes moving over his battered form. "Though it appears it was not all that necessary."

My breath intakes sharply at the crimson trails streaming from his eyes like tears. Afik coughs up more blood as it flows amply from wounds as well. He's bleeding even more than he was just minutes ago! As his tilts his head to look at her I see the red liquid oozing from inside his ear. What's happening to him?

"Kasiya's supply was plentiful. I finally decided upon this mixture for you. It's composed mainly of haemotoxic venoms." Severa stops no more than a foot from us, watching the poison's results with simple satisfaction.

Poison.

He's been…When did she shoot him?

"What's it doing to him?" I demand while being careful not to touch him or the blood quickly pooling around us.

"It destroys the platelets in the blood."

Swallowing I look down at Afik who is struggling to breathe, each gulp of air bringing up more blood. Every time he blinks more crimson tears. The wounds are bleeding as if freshly cut.

While I am not versed in poisons like Kasiya, we were all learned in the basics of venoms. Haemotoxins. His blood can't clot. He's experiencing massive internal bleeding to all of his major organs. Blood will leak out of any orifice of the body. All wounds including bruises will bleed out. And he has plenty of them.

"Give me the antidote!" I growl at her, wishing I held one of Niu's guns in place of the khepesh. I can't get near her.

She stares at me with dead eyes. "There is no point. He would only get in the way."

"Of what?" I shout stepping over his fraught form towards the girl. "If anything, he's going to come after me!"

"Exactly," she emphasizes unwearyingly as if lecturing a dim-witted child. "I am doing you a favor by eliminating him and breaking that bond you are incapable of cutting yourself."

Enraged, I promptly swing at her with the khepesh. She was foolish enough to step in range. Amazed, I straighten up as the ancient knife meets only air. Severa stands several feet closer to the door, having evaded me with ease. Those movements...Severa's speed could match Afika's! Her hand with the gun is lax as she stares me down.

"I saw what your new comrades have accomplished," she discloses in a hushed voice, a spark in her eyes as it replays in her mind. "Several of them have potential."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" I snarl, cursing this helplessness.

Blood gurgles in Afika's throat as he chokes, rolling onto his side. Severa's features remain stony. Not once does she allow emotion to show through that mask.

"I saved the one you call 'brother' when you could not." She nods towards Afika whose body is curling in agony in a pool of his own blood. The cold dread of revelation slithers up my spine. That's why he missed Ryou and dropped his gun. My brother wasn't the only one out there.

"It was essential. That is all."

She turns on her heel, feet silent even with the bulky winter boots.

"Stop!" I bark taking a step after her. "No more using me! No more using other people to get to me!"

What could she possibly want from me? Her beef was with Afika and she's gotten it! What do I have to do with any of this?

The girl tilts her head. "Then lose them. Otherwise you become weak defending them."

"What do you want from me?" I bellow not only to her but everyone who has moved me about like a pawn on a chess board.

She gazes at me; Afik's tormented wheezing the only sound in the room. For once, just once, I want someone to reply. Why does everyone do this to me? Am I so despicable that I deserve to be treated like this? No one ever has given me that answer I have so desperately sought.

Not even Um.

"Do you hate me?"

I'm caught off guard by this odd question. For a moment I am certain I misheard her. She did not ask me something so absurd. Looking at her standing there, it is clear she is waiting for a response. My knuckles whiten as my fingers tighten around carved ivory, thumb running down ancient symbols as Afika moans in anguish on the floor behind me. She did that to him. I don't know what I wanted for Afik – how I was going to deal with him…but this is not it.

"Yes," I hiss between gritted teeth.

A thin smile of approval lifts the corners of her lips.

"That is all I want."

Once more she turns and begins to leave. We're not done here! This time I get the final say! With a feral snarl I charge, not making it more than two large gaits before she spins back around. This time the gun is aimed directly at me.

Pain flares like a hornet's sting to the base of my neck as I stagger to an undignified halt. Quickly I run my fingers over my own skin, fingers detecting what feels like a sliver just beneath the surface. With my fingernails I dig into the tender flesh, pulling forth a single needle. Tossing it to the floor I glare at her anxiously, wondering what she coated it with.

She lowers her arm and turns around without a word. Severa stalks noiselessly through the doorway, disappearing from view as she rounds the corner leading down the hallway. I take an unsteady step, vision blurring from the abrupt movement. Damn it! The poison's already taking effect. There's no way I'll catch her. Not in this state. If I run it will only spread the poison faster. Gripping my hand over the entry point near my collar bone I stumble back towards Afik.

"D-Don't…" He warns, blood spurting from his mouth into the red pond surrounding him.

I comprehend, biting down on my lip as he gasps for air with ragged lungs. He's drowning. I'm covered in open wounds save for my one hand. I can't risk getting that in my system. Even though I'm dying too, I don't need to be dealing with more than what she injected me with. Maybe I was shot with something different. And I got the needle out fast. There's a small chance it won't be as toxic because of my abrupt response. The venom in his body is much more potent than one would find in nature. Kasiya, being a genius chemist, altered it for a more rapid reaction.

So this is absolute helplessness.

"There's something…" Afik clears his throat, spitting more blood as his lungs rattle. "She was wrong, you know."

"About what?" I take several steps away from him, trembling as I realize this is the last conversation we'll ever share.

Despite everything...despite that he nearly killed Ryou just now...

I don't want to die as enemies.

It's impossible for me to wipe out emotions I have felt for him my entire life in an instant. My new friends would call me insane and disapprove, but I can't simply cast everything aside. That being said, I don't love him like I did before. I've changed and he can't accept it.

"Snakes."

When did Severa mention snakes?

I lean against the wall, certain the poison is affecting my mind. Then I understand: It's affecting his mind. He's staring at his empty hand with perplexity-the one that usually holds his own khepesh, as if confused why it is missing. I'm not sure where he hid it, for I haven't seen it since returning to the house.

"Snakes?"

"Hn," he groans shifting as much as he can, torso bent in agony. "Snakes are snakes…no matter how many…skins they shed. And some things…won't ever die."

"You are dying," I whisper the harsh reality, eyes stinging as I watch him shudder. Bulging brown eyes are hazy as blood leaks from the crevices surrounding them. He's always told me to never believe we are immortal. Remember your limits. Don't get so confident that you think you're immortal.

He makes a strange noise deep in his throat. It could have been a chuckle or a muffled whimper. I shut my eyes tight, just wanting it to be over. A sob escapes me as I sink to the floor.

After fighting so hard and nearly escaping with Niu, Malik, and my brother...I had to come back here. I had to come back for Afika, knowing Severa was lying in wait. She had the army running like headless chickens around the mountains to all of the residences she had set ablaze. Afika had just attempted to murder my brother and I was resisting the urge to kill my former lover.

Knowing all of this I still came back.

I lost everything-my new life...

All for Afika.

"Don't leave me too," I plead with him like the hapless child I used to be, always hiding behind him and clinging to him. I relied upon him to settle my fears and soothe me. First Um and now Afik. He offers no response, no comfort.

There's humming in my ears as everything blurs. I cannot tell if my vision is worsening or if it is because of the tears I'm trying to keep at bay. It's getting harder to manipulate my limbs. My eyelids are growing heavier and my chin keeps slipping towards my chest.

"Just tell me you killed her!" I beseech him as the tears escape, crawling towards my lifelong companion on wobbly arms as my sense of equilibrium begins to fail. "Afik, we're both dying! Let me know the truth before...I want to know before I die!"

Brown eyes open, no longer full of life and cunning. They are dull, glossed over with death's blue cloak. His stained lips quiver as his failing mind searches for words.

Just say it.

"For once just give me an answer," I beg him stopping short of the warm lake of tainted blood on my hands and knees. "Promise me you killed her!"

Clouded eyes gaze toward me, unable to focus upon my face.

"Of course...I did."

"Promise me, Afik!"

"I ki— "

Afika's limbs convulse slightly, his breath catching as his organs fail. I watch the muscles of his throat clench as he trembles from the pain. He's pallid, skin going pale like my brother's. He's almost gone. Despite this, his chest heaves, determined to finish this his way.

"I killed her," he murmurs almost inaudibly.

An onslaught of fresh tears pour down my cheeks as I fall onto my side, not fighting the poison any longer. I close off all of Kek's stories and Malik's doubts. I shut the doors I had been prying at in my own mind. It's the best consolation I can receive before dying.

Afik did it. I didn't kill Um. It wasn't me.

His wide glazed eyes gape in my direction, no longer seeing me.

"I p-promise."

"Afik..."

A frail smile twitches on his lips as he takes his last shallow gulp of breath.

"Would I lie to you?"

---

*hums*

I'm thinking one or two chapters ought to do it. Haven't decided whether to do it in two parts or one. Don't think I'll make comments on this chapter here. Let you guys digest it and will discuss it when reviews come in. ;)

Thanks for your patience! I know it's been a long wait there. AIF chapter update is on the way now that the site up up and running! Watch for that one!

Reviewsies!