A/N:- Huh? I'm up here? Thanks to Princezzshell101 for your review!

Right then, the reason I'm up here is 'cause I want to leave a lasting feeling at the end of this chapter with no distractions. So, I'll just say this: Remember that there IS another act.

So, with that, read on for an extra-long and perhaps my favourite chapter of the story thus far! Thanks, and 'till next time!

Chapter 65

A Single Shot

Pacing back and forth in front of the door, Jay was finding it surprisingly hard to actually knock. Ever since Joshua had talked to him, he had kept meaning to talk with Alexander, but had continued to avoid doing so. Thinking he had finally got the courage to knock, he just couldn't do it. Jay bit his bottom lip and tried to force himself to knock but he still couldn't do it. "Come on!" Jay growled to himself. "You can do this… you can do this…"

"Jay?"

Jay froze at the voice. Taking a deep breath he turned around to come face to face with Alexander for the first time since their argument. "Alexander…" Jay managed to say after two failed attempts at talking.

"Are you okay?" Alexander asked carefully, well aware that the situation could dissolve into an argument again.

"I'm fine…" Jay sighed and shook his head. "It's stupid, really. I've been garnering up the courage to actually come and talk to you. Y'know, about…" Jay waved his hand slightly. "…that night."

"We don't need to talk about it if you are not comfortable. Take your time." Alexander said sternly.

"No. No, I am ready to talk. It's been festering in me like some kind of insect and I just need to get it off my chest." Jay said. "What happened was wrong. It shouldn't have happened and it won't happen again. But…" Jay shrugged slightly. "It wasn't your fault. You were only trying to make me feel better, and I guess it worked for a bit. I did need it and I did accept it. I was on the verge of breaking because of Josie. You fixed me."

"That's good to hear." Alexander was still careful, not wanting to invoke any reason for raised voices.

"But in this time, in this situation, we need friends. And I do want to be friends. I do. I acted stupidly. So… I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being an ass and, well, if we can just be friends then I think that's better for both of us."

Alexander allowed himself a relieved smile. "You don't know how much I've been beating myself for that day. I'm glad you gave me this chance, Jay. I'd happily stay friends and nothing more. You're right, we each need people to support and keep us going."

"Thanks…" Jay let out a relieved sigh. "Thank you."

XXX

It was like walking into a lion's den. That was Nick's immediate and lingering thought as he followed Fisk through the apartment door. While all the people looked unrelated and seemingly normal, Nick could tell that they were all somehow on Myers' side. The look in their eyes, the suspicious lumps at their waist, the one man giving the evil eye to Nick. This whole apartment building was a farce filled with Myers' men.

Nick also noticed as they climbed the stairs that everything seemed immaculately clean. Even the best hotel had some patch of dirt, perhaps hidden in the corner of the roof or the floor, or in the doorframe. But as best as he could see, there was nothing. The police part of his mind wondered if the intense clean-up was to prevent evidence in case the cops would ever enter here.

'Well, they've entered now, haven't they?' Nick thought as they continued to ascend. His thighs were starting to burn as they reached the twelth and final floor. "Why don't you use the elevator?" Nick asked. Myers stopped a moment and turned around with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"It's a small secluded place. Anyone could be waiting outside with a gun in hand. You can't just get out of the hatch like the movies, since that takes a good jump and good arm strength. But go ahead, call the elevator up. You'll find yourself walking into open air." Myers chuckled as he brought Nick down a red-floored corridor. "I got the actual elevator removed when I first brought the building."

"You own it?" Nick had figured this in his mind, but had expected Myers to keep it a secret from him.

"Of course. You think I would be residing in a simple apartment? No, I have everyone I would ever need at my beck and call. However, this floor is reserved only for extremely important people."

"Is it just you here?"

"No. Three rooms are currently being used." Myers looked into Nick's eyes with a gleam in his own eye. "Two of which I'm sure you know."

Before Nick could ask anything else, Myers stopped outside a door. "This is mine. Come on in." Myers opened the door, allowing Nick to pass through.

The room was a simple one. A medium sized space with three doors leading to other rooms. The bathroom, the bedroom and the… kitchen, perhaps?

"A simple place." Myers said as he walked in and shut the door behind him. "But simple is best for me. No need to waste money on things that are useless. Please, sit down." Myers motioned to one of the three, comfortable-looking chairs in the main space. "Would you like a drink?"

Knowing better to decline, Nick nodded. "Do you have coffee?"

"I do. Milk and sugar?"

"Neither." Nick answered.

"Of course. Just the way I like it too. Perhaps minds that share ideals share coffee taste as well." Myers chuckled slightly before heading into one of the rooms.

Now on his own, Nick let out an almost silent breath. It was nerve-wracking being in this room. He was right next to the alpha lion and could almost feel it's heavy breathing. To think that such a man could live in something so normal scared Nick. Then again, most killers were normal on the outside. He almost could just run the hell away, but the feeling of his Glock 19 kept him sitting on the seat trying his best to act the way he needed to.

The Glock was the same one he was trained in and given to when he first got into the Police Department. A dark grey pistol with a slightly silver slide. It was something Nick was familiar with and more than comfortable with.

Taking another deep breath Nick stood and up and did the second risky thing of the day. He walked over to the window and looked out. As expected, at the sound of his footsteps, Myers came out of the kitchen.

"It's a nice view." Nick said with his back to Myers. It was true, the view was good. The building was right at the end of the street and Nick could see all the way down for a long while. However, it wasn't quite the situation to be able to admire the view. The whole point was once again a test of trust.

Nick knew that Myers didn't properly trust him yet, but displaying a weakness, an exploit, Nick could leave it to Myers to decide. Either Myers could not do anything and the next stage could go on. If not… well, Nick wouldn't have long to do much.

"Yes. It was one of the reasons I moved into this room." Myers said. "So, let us not lie to each other now. We both know that we don't trust each other and have been testing it. I displayed my back to you and you displayed yours to mine. You can turn around now."

This was perhaps the most tense and fear-inducing moment of Nick's life. As he turned around, he was expecting a knife, or a pistol, or something even worse. His mind raced of thoughts that he would be knocked out and tortured for information. He wasn't certain he could be as strong as Richard was. Then again, even he wasn't strong enough. He didn't say anything, but he also didn't live.

Instead, Nick was faced with a hand.

Myers eyes gleamed, this time the smile reaching his mouth. "I do not believe somebody out to get me would turn his back on me. That would be a foolish mistake. Plus, you would have to be an extremely good actor. I place my trust in you and we can talk business."

Nick nodded and shook Myer's hand briefly. "Thank you." He half-expected Myers to keep hold and put him into the ground, but Myers let go and turned around, walking towards one of the chairs.

"So, let us start with you, Nicholas. I like to know the-" Myers suddenly stopped as Nick clicked the safety off. If was a noise Myers was so familiar with. "Ah." Myers simply said.

"Turn around." Nick said, both hands latched around the Glock's grip, one finger resting on the trigger. Legs firmly placed apart, shoulder spaced, the best position to fire a pistol. "Slowly."

Obeying Nick's words, Myers turned around, an expression it took Nick a few moments to register. Surprise. Nick didn't even know Myers was capable of anything other than a smug grin.

"It appears as if I have been fooled." Myers said slowly.

"Raise your hands." Nick said lowly, his voice unwavering. Stay strong, this is it, it's gonna be soon.

"I almost feel embarrassed." Myers continued, raising his hands as directed. "To have been tricked like this."

Nick didn't respond, mentally checking his position in the room. The kitchen was behind him and to his left, meaning that if the door was opened it would block view of Nick. Behind Myers were the other two doors and straight in Nick's sight. The main door was on the side of Nick's vision. He could see every point of entry with relative ease. There was no way anyone could get in without Nick knowing, nor anyway Myers could escape.

"So, Nicholas, are you here to kill me?"

Nick just stared at Myers, his pistol trained on Myers' forehead.

"Perhaps that is a foolish question, judging by the circumstances. Is this Gregory's work?"

"This was my idea." Nick finally spoke, his voice firm. "Fisk merely accepted it."

"Of course." Myers blinked slowly. "Gregory is known for being far too complicated. This is such a simple plan, which is why it has worked. I congratulate you, Nicholas. You got me to trust you. You showed amazing bravery in showing your back to me. I was sure no man would do that." Myers sighed. "It seems that I am not nearly as intelligent as I thought I was. I am naïve."

"I am not a bad man." Nick said and it almost sounded as if he were trying to reassure himself. "This needs to be done. I will give you the chance for last words."

"Last words are not needed." The surprise turned into that familiar smug grin. "You have won. I have lost. It seems simple."

Nick did not like that grin one bit. He's only trying to unnerve you. Everything is covered, the doors, the windows, everything. He's just trying to get into your head. Do not give him a chance. Do it! Nick took a deep breath and stared into Myers' eyes. He was not going to regret this. He couldn't. Myers was an evil man, a man who killed Miles, killed the people in Willingboro. If anyone should die, it was Myers. Nick slowly tightened his finger when the door opened to the right of Myers.

Nick's eyes darted to the doorway, the pistol still trained on Myers, but instead of any kind of ally, Nick saw two small girls and a woman. The woman had her hands on the shoulders of the girls.

"Gerald, honey, the girls both have coughs. We should have them-" The woman stopped, her eyes widening as she took in the scene in front of her.

"Take her to the doctor later." Myers said, his eyes never moving from Nick's eyes. "Nicholas, meet my wife, Beatrice, and my two daughters, Mary and Abbie. Say hello, girls."

The two girls were silent for a moment before Abbie spoke up first with a slightly wavering voice. "H-Hello." The other, Mary, waved nervously.

"Good girls." Myers said.

"What is this, Gerald." Beatrice asked carefully.

"This is Nicholas. He is… an acquaintance of sorts." Myers said.

"Please, go back to your rooms." Nick said, trying not to let his voice to waver. He did not need this, not now, not when he was so close.

"Stay here." Myers said firmly. It was obvious that Myers had control over the family. "I want you three to watch everything that happens here. Do not say a word and simply watch, okay?"

Beatrice nodded, pulling her two girls close to her.

"Are they not lovely girls, Nicholas?" Myers asked. "And my wife is perhaps the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Not many would take me. After all, I am a small man with glasses and a penchant for anger fits, but Beatrice saw the real me."

"Do they know what you do? Do they know what you are?" Nick asked, trying to stay focused on Myers.

"I am Gerald Myers." Myers said firmly. "A family man with a successful business. Is that right, Beatrice?"

Beatrice nodded slightly.

"They know nothing of my plans against Death. They would not understand. They would not want to understand. Is that right, Beatrice?"

Beatrice nodded again. The command Myers had almost disgusted Nick. They were like obedient sheep to a shepherd.

"So, Nicholas, do you care to explain why you are hesitating?" Myers asked.

Nick didn't say a thing, just forced himself to focus.

"I am an… evil man, am I not? I have killed innocents, correct? I deserve to die, true? So why do you hesitate?"

Myers caught Nick's eyes flitting towards the family and he couldn't help but laugh.

"My family? You feel comfortable killing when nobody is present but when my wife and children come you can't do it?"

"I can." Nick said firmly.

"Can you? Really? You can take away a child's father, you can take away a husband? You can kill a family man who provides for those he loves?" Myers didn't even blink. "Because I love them dearly, I do, with all my heart. I am happy with my wife and my children. I feel warmth in my heart whenever my children laugh or my wife kisses me. I have dreams of more children, of being a grandparent, of dying with a heritage below me. Do you wish to take that all away from me?"

Nick shook his head. "You don't care. I refuse to believe that you can kill a child in cold blood and have the emotion of 'love'."

"Do you consider me a monster?" Myers asked. "Am I a beast that needs to me slain? A feral dog to be put down? Is that how I portray myself?"

"You are evil." Nick said. "You are an evil man who wants to stop people dying."

"And is that so bad?" Myers asked.

"Yes. The world would become overpopulated, we wouldn't have enough resources, everything would collapse."

"Oh, but it wouldn't. Because when a man or woman reaches a certain age, I am thinking perhaps sixty or seventy – retirement age – they would be put away in camps. Resources would be left to the working people."

Nick's eyes widened in disgust. "You would let people just… just starve forever? To be lonely forever? To be in constant pain that would drive them to madness?"

"If this is the toll that stopping death takes, then I will accept it. Nobody deserves to die."

"It is natural!" Nick growled, remembering his argument with Lukas. "It is unfortunate, but it happens. It has been since the start of life itself, and will always be. You cannot fight against nature."

" But I am succeeding in my fight. I am learning. I will do it." Myers shook his head. "But why do you falter, Nicholas? Why is it you talk?" Myers laughed. "You cannot do it. You cannot kill a man in front of his wife, his children. You are an officer of the law."

"I will do this." Nick said slowly.

Myers' face suddenly twisted in anger. "You cannot! You would have done so already, but you cannot! You cannot admit when you are defeated, can you Nicholas Casey? See, you humans have weaknesses! You have 'feelings'! This is exactly why they are bad. You cannot make the hard decisions, even if they are the better solutions! Come on! Kill me! Do it! Fire that damn bullet, end it, do it!" When Nick didn't react Myers roared with mad laughter. "You cannot! You cannot, you cannot do it! You fool!"

"You say humans as if you weren't one." Nick said. It was true, he was fighting for time. He had to do it, he knew it, everything was resting on it, but those children, they looked so innocent… the wife… was it right? Was it right to kill a man like this?

"Hehe… haha!" Another set of laughter overtook Myers. "No! No, I am no human! Do you know what I am, Nicholas Casey? I am no mere mortal. I am God himself! Death is the devil and I shall vanquish him from the lands. When Death is defeated, I will be praised. I will be a hero, a saint, a knight in shining armour! Gerald Myers, God of this world!" Myers continued to laugh, his face going red with the effort. "My wife will be my queen, my children my princesses! Nicholas Casey, nothing, no-one, nobody can stop God! You cannot stop me!"

This point of view struck Nick hard enough to almost hurt him. The view was so extreme, so horrible that Nick felt like simply throwing up. It was this view that made up his mind.

"God will lead his subjects and they will obey him. They will obey me." Myers continued. "Gregory will obey me! Joshua and Lisa will obey me! You will obey me, Nicholas Casey! For no matter how much you fight against a God, a God cannot die!"

"You keep spouting this nonsense…" Nick whispered. "You are nothing but a man who has lost his mind. Sometimes it is humane to allow a madman to be let go of the thoughts that drive that man crazy. They suffer, much as you suffer. You are fooled by your own mind." Nick took a deep breath and tensed his muscles. "Beatrice, Abbie, Mary, I would hope you will not look. I can see that you can't stop looking. So… I'm sorry."

Nick pulled the trigger.

Time seemed to slow for Nick. He watched the flash, the bullet exiting the barrel and flying through the air. The bullet entered Myers' forehead, creating a relatively clean red hole. Then the back of his head seemed to cave outwards, chunks of bone and brain and gore all mixing into a pink and white mess. It splattered against the wall, flecks of it hitting the girls and Beatrice.

Myers stayed standing for a moment, a trickle of blood running down the hole in the front of his head. That grin was still on his face, the eyes staring hard into Nick's. Then Myers' fell onto his knees. The life already left him, Gerald Myers collapsed to the side, eyes staring painful holes into Nick's own.

Both Abbie and Mary screamed, clambering over to their dead father, tears running down their faces. Beatrice stood still, shocked, face pale. Nick himself felt his legs fall underneath him and he slid down the wall into a sitting position. The gun fell onto his lap from his shaking hands. It was hard to control his breathing. Hard to tear his eyes away from the dead man. The thought that he had just killed a man, no matter how bad, in front of two children and a loving wife tore a ragged hole in Nick's heart. He was an officer of the law, sworn to protect, and he had just done the complete opposite, sending three innocent's into spiralling misery.

Nick faced the main door, managing to pick up his pistol again. Some part of him stayed sensible. He knew Myers' men would be attracted by the gunshot and come looking. And Nick would be waiting. He knew this was likely a one-way trip and he was not planning on going out without a fight. He would have been scared, he should have been scared but instead Nick managed to stand up again and point his gun at the doorway. Only one thought keeping him sane enough to think clearly.

I did it. It's over. I saved everyone.