Note from author:
Please be advised that the remaining chapters (around 45) do contain angst but also contain humor...yes, you read it correctly, humor. Please stick with the story, laugh over the twist and turns and in the end enjoy a nice GSR ending. I want to thank all of you who have remained loyal by leaving a review after each chapter. It has not been easy posting this story with the holidays and craziness that has been going on but if you can read...then at least be considerate and leave a review even if it is only a few words. I don't expect a full page critique but encouraging words are nice. It never ceases to amaze me of those that are compelled to leave a review only when they don't like something...I'm ranting so forgive me. I had no intention of posting tonight, letting my crazy busy life take over and not find a moment of sanity to post and use this as my excuse for skipping a day of posting but a thoughtful note in my email made me reconsider. This is a very long chapter so enjoy. Happy New Year!
Chapter Thirty Three:
The Lamb Strays
Francis didn't know where she was going with her questioning.
It was as if she was taking a crash course into angelic/demonic behavior.
"Are you sure Fallen angels/demons have no sense of remorse?" she asked.
"None."
"Heather did. You considered her fallen."
Francis felt like she had kicked him in the gut. "Yes, she did. Perhaps by sacrificing herself, she redeemed her soul."
"But what about those that were fallen...to begin with. Those that were not angelic but fallen. Could they..."
"No! They can never change," he snorted. "They are evil from within."
"Do you think any part of Heather...Elena may have been instilled in Darius?"
"He raped his own mother! He is pure evil."
"What if..."
"Sara, you look for the good in everyone. Gracen often mentioned this to us, hoping we would permit or at least understand why he chose to leave the sect and mate with you."
"I wasn't good enough in your eyes," she spat. "You condemned Heather because she was raped and chose to live in order to watch over her child. Christians have killed their wounded for centuries."
"Our creator did not intend for us to mate with humans. This is the same reason Gracen forbid it; he lost sight of this because of his love for you."
Sara started to get up from the couch but he blocked her. "Christians often attack other christians when they slip into sin. Some are even spurned until their sins consume them. Sara, where are you going with all of this?"
She took a deep breath. "I will never forget or heal from the loss of my child. I will ache for him...forever but I forgave Heather. I had to...I had no intention of letting that hate consume me like so many do. It doesn't mean that I wasn't angry or didn't want Heather to pay for what she did...I just let go of the hate...through forgiveness."
"You sound like a christian," he said softly. "Was Gracen able to persuade you?"
"His life...his sacrifice convinced me...to reconsider the One who sacrificed first...our savior."
Francis smiled deeply. "Thank you, Sara. Even if we are condemned in the eyes and can not be redeemed at least we can know that we led some of His flock home."
"Is it possible that I could have another child?"
"Yes but Sara, it might not happen for some time."
"How…how can I know if I'm pregnant? I mean would a pregnancy test determine…"
"Yes, it would. In fact our women could know within a matter of hours."
She nodded.
He held her hand. "I know this is not easy for you. You're still mourning the loss of your son."
"Darius would have raped me if I had not been pregnant. How did he…know?"
"Pheromones. Yours changed when you became pregnant. It's not noticeable until a few weeks into the pregnancy."
"I didn't even notice I was pregnant…except feeling off."
"The pain will get better with time," he whispered.
"Do you promise to watch over Grissom…forever?"
"Yes, as well as you," he added.
He refused to release her hand when she started to walk away.
"I sense something is wrong," he said as he tried to pull her toward him.
"It's not," she assured him but he refused to release her.
"Francis, let me go."
"Sara…"
The door opened and Grissom stood there with Brass.
Sara rushed over when she caught sight of the bandage.
"Jim, what happened?" she quickly asked.
"Oh this? Some guy decided to assault a lady in an alley and I got clobbered trying to help."
Sara gently touched the bandaged area.
"It looks worse than it really is," he urged.
She glanced at Grissom.
"I'm fine…slow shift. Stayed in the lab most of the night," he stated. "What's for dinner?"
"Dinner?"
Grissom frowned. "I think it's take out, Jim."
"Oh, sorry Jim," stated Sara. "I…lost track of time."
"It's okay. Take out sounds good to me as long as he is paying," replied Brass.
She felt a bit uneasy throughout dinner as Francis stared at her.
Grissom could not help but notice.
"Francis, is everything okay?"
"Ask Sara."
Grissom squeezed her hand. "Sara?"
"It's nothing."
"I don't believe you," stated Francis.
She glared at Francis when Grissom pressed for an answer. "Honey, is everything okay?"
"Yes."
"Something is not right," began Francis.
"Will you stop it?" she yelled.
"Has Darius done something?" asked Francis.
Grissom gripped her hand firmly. "Has he had any contact with you?"
She snatched her hand away as she began to clean up the empty containers.
Grissom blocked her in the kitchen.
"Sara…"
"Stop it! Stop it both of you!"
Grissom stepped toward her but her hands flew up. "Don't! I don't need this right now."
"What do you need?" whispered Grissom. "Tell me honey. I've felt your restlessness...something is wrong. Tell me how to help you."
She flew into the bedroom shutting the door rather hard.
"I'm sorry, Grissom. She doesn't want us to know."
"Did she say anything to you earlier?" questioned Grissom.
"She wanted to know…about pregnancies. She desperately wants another child. I'm afraid she's still mourning."
"I know," admitted Grissom quietly. "I'm not helping much."
She slipped to her knees, fearful that the others would hear her.
"I need you," she begged. "I don't know what to do. I don't want to lose Grissom…or the others."
She remained there for over an hour and then she laughed bitterly.
"You took Gracen from me and now I have no one to watch over me," she wept. "Tell me what do I have to do...to have you hear my voice?"
She cried in frustration, feeling angry for even thinking that God would hear her plea.
Later, she felt the bed give as Grissom molded his body next to hers.
She remained still, relieved he fell asleep immediately and did not push her to talk.
She didn't like keeping anything from him much less lies.
Heather's words still haunted her.
She tried to imagine what it would feel like to be separated from loved ones, to be treated so cruel.
The only comfort for Heather had been her friendship with Grissom.
She felt guilty for the times she let her jealousy get the better of her.
Grissom was no more attracted to Heather than she was to Hodges.
He had extended his friendship to a lonely soul.
She knew he blamed himself still for the loss of their child.
It grieved her that he kept the bulk of his giref to himself, afraid to burden her.
She gulped down a sob. "Please," she whispered under her breath. "Please protect him."
"What are you willing to do in order to save him, Sara?"
She rose, looking around the room.
Slowly she slipped back underneath the covers.
"Sara, the only way to save Grissom and the others is to sacrifice yourself. Can you do that?"
She bolted upright from the bed.
"Sara, are you alright?" whispered Grissom.
She slumped back into the bed, as she tried to slow her breathing.
"Yes," she whispered.
He pulled her close to his body.
Silently she prayed. "Please don't let any harm come to Grissom or the others."
She thought her heart would stop when she heard a clear response, "Sacrifice yourself for them. Do this and you will save them all...including the lost lamb."
Days passed as her behavior became erratic.
She kept to herself researching the internet, as well as cryptic notes she bought from strangers and even had a visit to the church to meet with Father Brannigan.
When Grissom questioned her about the odd errands, she refused to answer and seemed withdrawn.
Francis was highly suspicous, trying to discover what she was hiding, bellowing each time she managed to slip away from him.
She initiated intimacy until Grissom was exhausted trying to keep up with her.
He feared he had pushed her into making love when she was not ready but now, he wondered if she felt the urge while he didn't.
As suddenly as her behavior began, it stopped.
She seemed a bit distant as he rubbed her bare back as they lay there just after an hour of lovemaking.
She stiffened by the touch.
"Sara, is everything alright?" he asked.
"I should have told Heather I forgave her…myself."
"I told her. It was enough."
"Francis didn't even…he was so cold toward her."
"He was still hurting. He felt betrayed."
"She was taken by force. She didn't have a choice," she replied angrily.
"Let's not talk about this."
"She did everything…to protect her child."
Grissom took a deep breath, "Sara, you'll have another child."
"Yes, I will," she said as she rolled over to face him.
It pained him to see tears.
"Honey, you've been crying."
"I'll do whatever it takes to protect mine."
He leaned down and kissed her.
She clung to him for a moment and then slowly released him.
"I love you," he whispered as he got ready for work.
She watched him get dress for work for the last time.
Sara sat in her car as she tried to stop the trembling in her hands.
The passenger door opened and Darius slipped inside.
"I was surprised when you told me to meet you alone," he smiled.
"I want an agreement from you," she began.
"Sara, you're in no position to be bargaining. I'll soon have what I want…you."
"An agreement."
"Right. I won't kill any of them."
"You won't harm or kill any of them."
"Agreed," he huffed.
She swallowed, trying to stick to her rehearsed plan.
"You agree to give yourself to me," he stated. "And I won't harm or kill any of them."
"No."
"I'm not playing games, Sara," he barked.
"I agree to give you an heir…who will continue your blood line in exchange that you won't harm or kill any of them."
His stare was intense. "Alright."
"Our blood will be merged…"
"Wait…you mean the mating ritual?" he gasped.
"Yes."
"You're not even a virgin and you expect me…"
"We have to be bound…together….just you and me."
"Jealous huh? Don't want me to have anyone else while you're knocked up?"
"You're disgusting."
He chuckled. "You are not enough for me. I like women…lots of them."
"Then the deal is off."
"So you're willing to be bound to just me?" he questioned.
"Our blood has to be merged."
"Okay. So if I agree to this lousy ritual where you drink my blood and I yours, you agree to let me screw you anytime I want…how ever I want and give me an heir."
"Yes," she swallowed.
"I can just break the bond, you know," he said rather smugly.
"I can rid myself of you."
He chuckled once more. "You sound so tough. How would you rid yourself of me? You couldn't possibly harm me."
"I could kill myself."
"Such dramatics, Sara."
"Do we have a deal?"
"What if I say no? What if I just take you right now?"
"Would you prefer that I came with you willingly? Rather than worrying if I'm going to stab you in the back with the first chance I get…or worse…do what Heather did and rip out my uterus while carrying your heir?"
His eyes darkened. "You wouldn't like me when I'm angry Sara!"
"The feeling is mutual…I can be…a bitch….remember the stab wound?"
He grinned. Her spirit that day had excited him tremendously.
He wanted more than anything to have her…but she was right, it would be easier if they were not trying to kill one another at every turn.
"Does Grissom know what you are planning?"
"No."
"But you are going to just walk out on him…leave him…for me?"
"Yes."
"You are a little she-devil."
"Do we have a deal?"
He eyed her.
She sat there showing no fear.
"It's a deal. On one condition," he spat.
"Name it," she said calmly.
"Once I have my heir, you are treated like any other she-devil in our clan…Understand?"
"You mean like…Heather?"
"Yes."
"Agreed," she announced.
"I want you with me tonight," he said almost drooling.
She swallowed. "Then I will go and get my things."
"You don't need anything," he griped. "I prefer you without clothes."
He watched to see if he frightened her but she was emotionless.
"A few things…a small suitcase," she explained.
"Fine. Drive."
She nervously started the car and drove to the townhouse.
She opened the door and met Francis.
He quickly got to his feet when Darius stepped inside.
"Sara, where have you been?" he bellowed. "I can't protect you if you're sneaking out!" His tirade ended as soon as he caught sight of Darius.
"Move away from him!" ordered Francis.
"I'll just be a minute," she called to Darius.
"Gee Grissom is not here to see you leave…with me."
"Sara, what is he saying?"
"I'm leaving. I'm going with Darius."
"You can't be serious!"
She stepped into the bedroom and began throwing some things into a suitcase.
Quickly she checked under the bathroom sink to ensure the bag containing the test remained in plain sight.
She grabbed a few more things and then returned.
"I'm ready."
"Sara, I'm not going to let you leave with him," insisted Francis.
"I am going on my own free will. If you try to stop me, I'll…call the police."
Darius chuckled. "Good thinking, Sara."
He extended his hand and Sara took it without flinching.
"Sara, wait for Grissom!"
"He won't change my mind."
She turned with Darius and the door opened.
Grissom stepped inside.
Sara took a deep breath.
She had hoped she would have been gone by the time he arrived home.
Grissom reached for Sara but she stepped back.
"Let go of her!" glared Grissom.
"Sara…do you want to handle this?" smiled Darius.
"He's not taking me against my will," stated Sara.
Grissom looked confused. "Whatever threat he used Sara, it's going to be alright. Just come to me, honey."
"No," she said as she moved toward the door.
"Sara…don't do this!" cried Grissom as he blocked the door.
"Move," she said quietly.
"No."
Darius huffed. "She doesn't want to be bound with you anymore. She prefers me. Don't you Sara?"
Sara's eyes widened as Grissom pulled out the dagger.
She quickly covered Darius with her body but extended her hand silently pleading with her eyes for Grissom to give her the dagger.
He released it immediately, thinking Sara would turn and stab Darius.
He felt the air leave his lungs when she gave the dagger to Darius.
Darius pulled Sara's body taunt against his as he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
"That's my Sara," he grinned.
Grissom started to stop them but Francis grabbed his arm.
"Sara, please don't do this," begged Grissom.
"You were right. You're not enough," she replied hoping his anger would kick in.
I have to protect you, Grissom.
"She made her choice," Francis bit out. "She's fallen."
She trembled slightly when they managed to walk through the door, it shutting behind them with a loud thud.
"You did that very well," stated Darius as he took Sara's keys from her hands.
"I keep my agreements," she stated boldly.
She had no idea where they were going.
She stared blankly into the dark.
Every time she shut her eyes, she saw Grissom's face as she had protected Darius with her own body.
Please understand, Grissom…
There was no other way…
He would kill all of you…
The car stopped and yet she couldn't seem to move from her seat.
The door was thrust open and Darius extended his hand.
She took it, fighting back bile with each touch.
"Welcome home, Sara," he said with a smile.
A young blonde slinked forward but Darius waved her away.
She glared at Sara.
Several men stood on guard.
"She is to be protected at all cost. She is the future mother to my heir and I will kill the first person who touches or harms her in anyway. Do I make myself understood?"
There were several grunts as they walked past.
She felt the men's eyes on her and tensed when some of them practically unclothed her with their eyes.
Darius stopped abruptly. "That includes looking at her."
Eyes shot to the ground.
"See Sara. I can be nice…sometimes."
He smiled at the blonde as they passed her. She made a lewd gesture and he chuckled.
"Our agreement," whispered Sara.
"I'm not bound to you yet."
Sara halted.
She turned and spoke directly to the blonde. "Leave."
The woman scoffed but with a single nod of Darius' head the woman was escorted to a vehicle.
"That was a freeby but you had better be worth it. Let's get this started," he whispered.
They passed through several doors and then steps before entering into a bedroom.
Sara took one look and stepped back out.
"I'm not staying in that."
Darius grunted in disgust. "That's been my room for years!"
"No bondage chains or…." Sara did not finish but walked down the hall glancing into several rooms before stopping in front of one.
"This one."
"No."
Sara stepped inside and shut the door.
She took a deep breath when the door was thrust open and he grabbed her by the arm.
"I said no," he barked.
"Why not?" she challenged.
"This…this was my mother's room."
"She's dead. It's available," replied Sara.
He pulled her toward the entrance. "You will listen to me. You will obey me or I'll…"
Sara halted. "I'll compromise."
"You will not! You will do as I say!" he bellowed.
"I'll agree to a room that's…normal…like this one."
"This was not in the agreement," he sneered.
"If you want me to feel…comfortable…not…resist…then…"
"Get in there," he grumbled.
She began to panic when she felt his mouth on her shoulder.
"Don't!" she cried.
"What? You agreed to be bound…fine, I bite you, you bite me."
She frowned. "That's not the way it's done."
She went to her suitcase and pulled out the vials she and Grissom had used.
Her hand trembled slightly as she handed one to Darius.
"You're kidding, right?"
"Fill it. I'll do the same. It must be ingested….slowly."
She gasped when he pulled out a knife and slashed his palm then let the blood drain into the vial.
"Your next," he said as he reached for her hand but she jerked it away.
"You said you wouldn't hurt me."
"Well how the hell do you think you're going to fill it with your blood?" he griped.
She took the knife and gently cut her finger.
The blood slowly filled the vial.
"We don't have all night," he grumbled.
"Yes, we do. Like I said we have to ingest the blood slowly…unless you want me to die."
"Die?"
"The first time I drank…all of it at once…I almost died," she said quietly.
"In a hurry to get laid?" he chuckled.
"No," she said sadly.
Once the vial was filled, she handed it to him.
"You're human…it figures you would need to ingest it slowly on the other hand…" he gulped down the vial and then licked his lips. "Still taste sweet."
He looked at her. "drink it!"
She took a sip.
She resisted vomiting into the floor.
"Weak stomach!" he laughed.
He doubled over and reached for the bedside table.
Sara did not know what to do.
"What the hell have you done to me?" he gasped.
The pain eased and he stood quickly. "Stuff has a kick to it. Maybe I should have some more," he teased as he moved toward her but she stepped back feeling her knees hit the bed.
"The way I see it, you have three more drinks and then I get to have you."
"You have to wait. You have to desire me."
"I already desire you," he said as he forced her into his arms.
"Darius….please."
"You act like a virgin. Such a waste to only have experienced one man, Grissom."
"The best man," she said proudly.
"We'll see about that when you're screaming for more."
He stumbled back, taking the chair next to the bed.
"I don't feel well."
"You shouldn't have drank it all at once."
Sara sat down abruptly. The room was already spinning.
"Sara?"
"I feel a bit lightheaded," she whispered.
"Lie down before you fall down," he ordered.
The first vision hit her with force.
She dropped to her knees onto the floor.
She saw a small Darius crying for Heather.
"You're corrupting him," yelled Silas.
"Please, he needs me."
"He doesn't need you! You are making him weak. He's a fallen angel…not some snot nosed…kid."
"He is a child!"
"Momma…Momma…Momma!"
Silas grabbed the small toddler letting him dangle by his arm.
"Please Silas, he's only two. I'll do anything," she wept.
Silas tossed the toddler to the floor and he wailed as his head struck the floor.
Silas grabbed Heather and pulled her out of the room.
"Darius!"
Sara took a deep breath as another vision flashed before her eyes.
It was an older Darius.
His body was lying on the floor in a fetal position.
"Did you hear me boy? You dare challenge me!"
"It was just a dog," Darius cried.
Silas grabbed a sword and gutted the dog in front of Darius.
"Weakling! Now clean up this mess!"
Vision after vision flashed before Sara of the cruelty heaped on a young Darius.
She felt his pain as he cried alone, praying that Heather would return.
She felt someone looming over her and she moaned.
"Sara?"
"So cruel," she wept. "They were so cruel to you."
He lifted her off the floor and dropped her onto the bed.
"I don't want your pity," he spat.
"It's not pity," she wept. "I feel what you've felt…it's been nothing but pain."
"Yeah, well your happy life has so much fluff in it, I want to gag…didn't you kill…do anything nasty?" he griped.
"It wasn't….happy...all of the time," she whispered.
"Oh boo hoo for poor little Sara whose mother killed her father….hated the mom…loved the dad."
He'd not seen it in his vision but had heard about it from his sources.
"You don't feel…anything?" she questioned.
"No," he lied.
Sara rolled to her side, gasping through the pain.
This is too hard Gracen…
I'm not strong enough…
Darius lay on the other side of the bed.
"Some fucking bonding."
He shut his eyes as a vision flashed before him.
He felt Sara's fear as her father found her hiding spot and proceeded to beat her.
"Bastard," he whispered, remembering the many beatings he endured from Silas.
He rolled so that he could watch her.
Her shoulders shook as she lay beside him.
Another vision flashed in front of him.
This time he was witnessing the death of her father.
The mother stabbed him just as he attacked Sara intent to rape his own daughter.
Darius swallowed, seeing the same horror in Sara's eyes that he saw in Heather's after she discovered she'd been raped by her own son.
He understood Sara's pain as she was led away by a social worker, begging to remain with her mother.
He recalled his own. It was very brief, like flashes of photos before his very eyes.
He could see Heather's distorted face as she cried out to keep him while Silas threw her out of the room.
She cared for me and yet look at what I did to her…
Other visions followed.
They didn't seem to affect him much until another vision flashed before him.
Suddenly he was there in the room when Sara was having the miscarriage.
She screamed through the pain and he tensed, knowing what was going to happen.
He gasped when the small life slid out of Sara's body, feeling the same loss as she did.
He fell to his knees from the force of the emotional pain he felt from Sara.
He scrambled to his feet, glancing over his shoulder to see if she'd seen his weakness but she remained curled into a fetal position, crying softly.
He made his way into the bathroom and stared into the mirror at the tears that slipped down his cheeks.
He was surprised that anything could invoke such a response from him.
He'd been beaten enough times in his lifetime to learn not to show any emotion.
Emotion was a weakness that a fallen angel did not possess.
They'd blamed it on Heather.
He was beaten until he hardened.
He learned to do as they did.
If Silas handed him a whip, he beat the person put in front of him to avoid the same beating.
Women were passed around like candy.
He took what was given to him.
He learned by example as he followed Silas's lead and yet the man snarled at him, berating him at every turn.
Even now, he allowed his father entrance to his mansion but only out of clan law.
He hated Silas and by law, Silas would come when Sara gave birth.
The child would need to be trained and Silas would be there to ensure it.
Sara would then be passed around to the other men with Silas getting first dibs.
The thought turned his stomach.
He loathed the man.
He could fight the other men to keep them from mating with her but by clan law, his father would be permitted to take Sara as many times as he wanted.
Darius swallowed, not sure what this feeling he suddenly felt.
He blamed it on the ritual.
Feelings that he never thought he possessed were surfacing.
Feelings were not permitted.
He glanced at the clock as he watched Sara take another sip of the vial.
Her eyes were swollen from crying.
He gulped at the sight of her.
No one had ever cried for him.
He took the vial from her hand as she opened her eyes.
"One more dose," he announced.
"One more," she whispered.
Darius stretched his hand out just as he caught himself about to stroke her hair.
He recoiled immediately.
She lay there with her eyes closed, clutching at the bed covers.
"What did they do to you?" she whispered.
'They made me who I am," he pronounced.
"They made you into a killer…evil," she clarified.
She doubled over from the burning sensation in her abdomen.
"Oh…it hurts," she gasped.
"What? Is it supposed to be like this?" he asked.
"I…don't know. Darius!" she gasped as she tried to breathe.
He pinned her down as she screamed through the pain.
Slowly, the pain eased and she relaxed.
"What…did you see?" he questioned.
"Nothing…just pain," she lied.
She'd witnessed the horror of the rape Heather endured at the hands of Darius.
She felt his remorse when he had been told later of the identity of the woman Silas had given to him as a gift.
He knew better than to reject anything from Silas.
It didn't bother him to rape a woman knowing that most of the women who entered their mansion would be passed around from one fallen angel to the next.
Most of the women these days came from Lady Heather's Dominion, women who were used to rough sex in exchange for money.
He wasn't prepared to find out that this woman was his very own mother, Heather AKA Elena.
Silas had orchestrated the entire event.
"She left you because she can't stand the sight of you but she yearns for her firstborn, Joseph," sneered Silas. "She didn't even recognize her own son."
"Why did you do this?" demanded Darius.
"Didn't you enjoy it, son? I share everything with you," Silas barked.
Sara felt the inner pain Darius kept inside as he kept his distance from Heather.
It was just weeks later that he learned she was pregnant.
He was horrified and had gone to speak with her, intent to offer her a way to escape but he had found Heather in a pool of blood.
"You won't get the satisfaction," she wept.
"I've ripped out my uterus…you disgust me. You are nothing like my son, Joseph. He is precious and…"
Sara gasped through the other vision as Darius watched Silas kill Joseph and his wife.
"She killed one of our own so we'll kill one that she cherishes," snarled Silas.
Silas glanced back as Darius stared at the lifeless body lying at his feet.
"She loved him….while she despised you!"
"He was good…while I am evil," Darius said without thought.
Silas slapped him on the back. "A pity I got carried away and killed his woman. We could have had some fun…she may have been able to give us an heir."
"She's human," stated Darius.
"She bore him a child. Gracen Merci," snorted Silas. "Grace and mercy…from the almighty. I think not!"
"Grace and mercy," whispered Darius. "Grace and mercy."
His thoughts were interrupted by Sara's wails.
She felt hands on her shoulders as she thrashed about.
"Grissom?" she cried out.
"Guess again, Sara," Darius bit out.
Her eyes opened and he was taken aback when she grabbed him into her arms.
His first instinct was to force himself on her but then anger surged out of nowhere and he started to shove her away.
"Darius, forgive me," she cried over and over.
"Sara, you're not making any sense," he said as he released her but she clung to him, seeing the small frightened child rather than the man who had attempted to rape her and later caused the death of her child.
"You didn't deserve any of this," she wept.
"That's where you are wrong," he said as he pushed her away. "I'm fallen. Don't ever forget that."
She emptied the vial.
"It's time, Sara."
Note from author:
Wow...what a place to end it...