A/N: Thanks to Princezzshell101 for your review! Okay, now for the second part of 'To Defeat Death'. 4,000 words, eh? I'm almost impressed with myself! XD Warning: 'Tis not a happy chapter. Read on!

Chapter 92

To Defeat Death – Part Two

"David!"

"It's all good." David panted, tightly holding Dorothy's hand as they fled the first room into another. The room was empty apart from a staircase heading up. "Damn!"

"What is it?" Dorothy asked, shaking, her eyes wide with fear.

"Dead end." David grunted, turning around. "We gotta go-" David was cut off as the doorway caved in, concrete falling and piling up, blocking the door. "Son of a…" David took a breath. "We gotta go up."

"Up? That is a death wish!"

"And staying here is even worse." David said, heading for the stairs but Dorothy held tight, standing her ground. "Dorothy…"

"David… perhaps it is best to just… just stop." Dorothy looked down at the ground. "I think it is obvious Joshua's plan did not work. Lukas died… Joshua would have gotten in at that point. I think he could not get in and did not want to tell us."

"Bullshit." David shook his head. "Joshua knows what he is doing."

"You protested about him before, David. I think that it has failed."

"Yeah, I protested before…" Death took a deep breath. "But now more than ever we gotta believe in him. But now we gotta move. When we're next, then this is not the place to be." David tried moving again, but Dorothy remained stubborn. "Please, Dorothy…"

Dorothy just shook her head, shivers running up her arms. "This is not going to work… David, you have to watch out for both of us. It is not fair. I cannot look out for you, for clues, to save you. I am blind." Dorothy crossed her free arm over her chest and bit her lip. David looked at her, surprised. Dorothy was always the first to protest when people viewed her as 'invalid' because she was blind. She preferred it when people treated her as if she weren't blind.

"C'mon Dorothy, that doesn't matter."

"It does, David. We need to watch out for each other, but I cannot watch out for you!"

"But you can hear for me, Dorothy. If you… if you just give up now, I'll be in an even worse position because there wouldn't even be a chance of you saving me." David put his hands on Dorothy's cheeks and held her head firmly. "Listen to me. You have always said that you were just as able as people who could see, and I believe that, I do. You've always given people a hard time if they hold a door open for you, or if they hand something to you that you are perfectly capable of doing. Blindness has never affected you before and it shouldn't now." David pressed his forehead against Dorothy's. "And besides, even if you wanted to give up for real, I wouldn't let you. I've lost far too many people to lose you. Losing you would simply break me. It doesn't matter that you are blind, Dorothy. Your other senses are better than mine are. When the time comes, you'll be able to save me. We're partners Dorothy. We always have been. I'll look out for you, and you will look out for me, okay? Don't give up. You've been strong throughout all of this, you cannot give up now!"

"But…"

"Don't give up on me Dorothy!" David said firmly. "Don't give up on yourself. If you don't want to believe in Joshua, then believe in me. I'll get you out of here, okay?"

Dorothy faced David before nodding. "Okay. I am… I am sorry for that."

"Don't be. We're all scared." David started forward, this time with Dorothy moving. He started up the stairs.

Nick, Grace and Derrick stood outside the apartment door. Nick's hand was raised to knock but he wasn't doing it. Derrick put a hand on his shoulder.

"What's wrong?" Derrick asked sternly.

"I…" Nick paused, his face downcast. "I-I hate bringing this back to her. I mean, this man has done horrible things… and I hate bringing him back into Beatrice's life."

"Then walk away." Derrick crossed his arms. "You are the one who wants to talk to him, and not even for the plan. You can just walk away here."

Nick shook his head. "No… either way, I need to know where Gerald is. I cannot let him roam around free to do other horrors."

"Then knock. It ain't a hard decision to make if you only got one choice."

Nick took a breath. "Yeah, thanks." Nick nodded to himself before knocking three times on the door. There was a pause, before the sound of soft footsteps. The door opened to reveal one of Beatrice's young girls. Nick blinked in surprise. "H-Hello."

"You're the man who saved us." Abbie said, her eyes wide. Abbie's brown hair was brushed back so it hung down her back other than two bangs that framed her face. "That's what mom says."

"I…" Nick paused before shaking his head. "Where is your mother? I need to talk to her."

"She is shopping. She'll be coming back soon." Abbie looked up at Nick. "Do you want to come in and wait? I'm sure mom won't mind."

"Doesn't your mother tell you never to speak to strangers kid?" Derrick put in over Nick's shoulder. Abbie looked up at him without even blinking.

"Nick isn't a stranger. He saved us from a bad man. Mom considers him a family friend. If you two are Nick's friends, you can come in too." Abbie opened the door wider.

"Okay, thank you." Nick tipped his head before entering the room, following closely by Grace and Derrick. He walked in the room and sat down on the nearby sofa. Grace sat next to him, while Derrick sat on another chair, watching the both of them. Abbie shut the door and padded over to a door, peering in.

"Mary, we have guests." She called lightly. After a few moments, the younger Mary appeared in a pale pink shirt. She was smaller than Abbie, her hair tied back into a pony-tail. She seemed to shrink and stand slightly behind Abbie as if to hide. She waved nervously.

"H-Hello."

"Hi there." Grace said, leaning forward. "What's your name?"

"M-Mary. That's Abbie, my sister." Mary said with a slight stammer.

"Those are nice names." Grace smiled.

Mary seemed to blush slightly and hid further behind Abbie. Abbie just looked at her before looking back up at Nick. "Would you like something to drink? Mom says that's the first thing I should ask a guest."

"No, I'm fine." Nick shook his head.

"Actually, I would like so-" Derrick started but was interrupted by Abbie.

"I asked Nick. Not you." Abbie said firmly, her eyes narrowed. "You are still strangers. I just let you in because you are Nick's friends."

Derrick seemed lost for words at the nerve of the thirteen year old girl. Grace giggled, and when Derrick glared daggers at her she burst out laughing. Abbie looked unnerved and glanced at Grace, worried. Grace managed to hold back her laughter and explain. "D-Don't worry… it's just, not many people can get Der-Bear to hold his tongue."

"Der-Bear?" Mary asked, speaking up. "I have a bear. His name's Freddy Krueger."

"The guy with the clawed hands?" Derrick put in. "Weird to name your bear after a movie killer…"

"Mom doesn't let us watch those movies…" Abbie leaned in with a small smile. "But we do anyway. I like Jason better though. He really kills people, not just kills them in their dreams."

"But it's cooler to kill people in their dreams!" Mary protested, all nervousness disappearing.

"No, it is cooler to cut people's heads off!"

"I personally like Jason more." Grace put in.

"See!" Abbie pointed to Grace. "She agrees with me!"

"Gracie, don't egg them on…" Derrick narrowed his eyes. "Besides, when did you ever watch movies like that?"

Grace stuck her tongue out. "When you weren't looking."

"Hey, do you want to come see some drawings?" Mary tugged on Grace's hand. Grace smiled down at her.

"Sure I would. What sort of drawings have you got?"

"All sorts! I draw animals and fantasy things, like dragons and centaurs. Abbie likes to write stories in her notepad, but I like drawing." Mary grinned and pulled Grace through the open door into what was obviously the girls' room.

Derrick was about to protest Grace going out of his sight, but he stopped just before he was about to say something. He slouched in the chair, watching the doorway instead.

"Are you here to talk to mom about our fake dad?" Abbie suddenly asked, sitting cross-legged and looking up at Nick.

"What would make you think that?" Nick questioned.

"I always knew he was weird. His personality was so… creepy and nothing like I remember dad being like. But Mom seemed to think he was real, at least until you came and shot him." Abbie said. Nick winced.

"H-How are you… feeling about that?"

Abbie looked to the floor. "Mom says that it was necessary. That fake dad was a bad man. I'm okay though. Mary has nightmares, but I've seen worse."

"Y-You have?" Nick blinked, surprised.

"Yeah. Mary had a cold and had to stay home, but Mom took me shopping last year. It was one of the only times our fake dad wasn't with us. This guy went onto the street but was hit by a car. Mom tried shielding my eyes, but I could see the way his skull was cracked open. I could see his brain."

"Are you okay?" Nick asked, eyes wide.

"I wasn't for a while, but I got over it." Abbie shrugged. "I see worse in the movies anyway. I mean, have you seen Walking Dead?"

"I-" Nick started but was interrupted by a voice.

"That's something you shouldn't be watching Abbie." The door had opened quietly and Beatrice was standing with her hands on her hips, a small smile playing on her lips. She looked more refreshed than when Nick had last seen her. She had a few plastic bags of shopping in one hand and was wearing a black t-shirt and jeans, with her hair tied back like Mary's was.

"Mom!" Abbie went forward and hugged Beatrice's legs.

"Hugging me isn't going to make me ignore that." Beatrice chuckled and rubbed Abbie's hair as Mary appeared out of the doorway. Grace stood in the doorway after her. With both girls hugging her legs, Beatrice looked up towards Nick. Nick rubbed the back of his head.

"I'm sorry. They invited us in and-"

"What are you apologizing for? The girls seem to like talking to adults more than kids their own age. It's good for them." Beatrice placed the bags down on a nearby table and looked at Grace and Derrick. "Who are these two?"

"It's Derrick, ma'am. That's my sister, Grace."

"Hello, you must be Beatrice." Grace extended her hand and shook Beatrice's. "It's nice to meet you."

"Such polite friends you have Nick. I have to say I'm almost surprised. Policeman seem to always have violent, swearing companions."

Both Grace's and Nick's head turned towards Derrick.

"What?" Derrick asked.

"Anyways, to what do I owe the visit?" Beatrice asked, sitting down in the last free chair.

Nick took a breath. "I… I need to talk to you about… well…"

Beatrice took a breath and nodded. "I understand." She turned to Abbie and Mary. "Girls, can you go to Mr Jefferson. He was asking to talk to you girls." Beatrice turned back to the trio. "He's going on in years, and he says that these two remind him of his own children when they were younger." Turning back to her daughters, Beatrice leaned down. "Now, remember what to do if he does anything weird?"

"Hit him with the closest blunt object and scream really loudly." Abbie recited proudly, earning a rub on the head.

"Good girls. Now, off you trot. I think he's even baked cookies from the smell."

"Oooh, cookies." With that, Mary and Abby left the room. As soon as they were gone, Beatrice seemed to deflate, her shoulders slumping.

"It's so much energy taking care of those girls… I love them to bits but…" Beatrice shrugged. "I almost can't wait until they start becoming independent and then moaning at me at every little thing." Beatrice chuckled before looking to Nick. "So… you want to talk about… him…"

"Unfortunately, yes." Nick nodded.

"Okay, let's get this over with." Beatrice crossed her arms. "Hit me."

"Are you okay, Chloe?" Jeremy asked, his eyes wide with worry. Chloe just panted, hands on her knees. They had just ran up four flights of stairs as they crumbled behind them, although it seemed to stop.

"…Fine… just… just outta breath…" Chloe took a few more seconds before straightening up and looking at the remnants of the stairs. "Guess it stopped, huh… does that mean we're not next?"

"Who knows?" Jeremy just shrugged, stepping towards the only window. It looked as if the doors hadn't been put in yet, since there was only a black rectangle of marker pen where the door should have been. "Damn, no way down this way. That's almost a forty foot drop, if not a bit more."

Chloe frowned and looked down the way they had come, but the stairs were now crushed up into rubble far down the shaft, with bits of metal railing and rebar stick up. She moved backwards, feeling a bit of vertigo. Chloe turned back towards Jeremy with a small smile. "You know, usually when I was stuck in a small room with a boy… I'd know a good way to pass the time."

Jeremy managed a smile but also sighed. "I don't think now is the best time. We're trapped."

"But not actively about to die." Chloe said and sat down with her back on the wall and drew her knees up to her chest. "Y'know, I never actually became a Hollywood starlet like I always wanted to be…"

Looking towards her, Jeremy raised an eyebrow. "Where did that come from?"

Chloe just shrugged. "I was just thinking. You know I wanted to be an actress. The typical dream but hey, I wanted it more than anything. I took drama at school, once again you know that… but I never followed up, did I? I was too busy screwing around…"

"Chloe…"

"Have I ever told you how sorry I am?" Chloe ran a hand through her hair with a sigh.

"You don't need to tell me." Jeremy sat down next to Chloe. "What happened in the past happened in the past. What matters is now. And the future." Jeremy put a hand on Chloe's stomach. "And the baby."

"We ought to name the baby." Chloe suddenly sat, grabbing Jeremy's hand and keeping a hold of it.

"We don't even know the gender yet though."

"So? We'll just create two names. I'll do the boy and you do the girl." Chloe said and leant her head on Jeremy's shoulder. "Besides, we don't have anything better to do."

"True…" Jeremy smiled. "I've always liked names that are after flowers. So maybe Rose, or Tulip, or something like that."

"I like Rose…" Chloe smiled. "Rose is a nice name. For boys, I've always veered towards 'normal' names. I mean, 'Jeremy' is normal right? Although, let's not name our son Jeremy. I've always found it weird when family's name the kids after them. I mean, how self-centred can you get?" Chloe chuckled. "I like William. He can be Bill when he grows older."

"I like that. William and Rose." Jeremy smiled. "Hey, maybe it could be twins? That'd be nice, to have both a girl and a boy."

"But do you know how much work that'd involve? And the money?" Chloe lamented, but then stopped. "Well… it's not like I have a lack of money. So, William or Rose. I like them a lot. William Edwards. Rose Edwards…" Chloe looked Jeremy in the eyes. "Chloe Edwards. We still gotta get married remember." Chloe raised her hand with the ring. "Since you proposed and all."

"We'll have the best marriage you could ever want." Jeremy said with a wide smile. The smile faltered as a loud CRACK echoed around the room. Both Jeremy and Chloe looked at a crack that had appeared in the middle of the floor, slowly growing bigger. "No…" Jeremy got to his feet, eyes widening. "No… no…" He gulped, bottom lip quivering. "There's nothing underneath us… is there?"

Standing up also, Chloe shook her head. "N-No…"

Jeremy looked up to the roof, seeing more cracks appearing. "Oh… Then… then we're trapped… nothing underneath us… nothing… It's over…" Chloe grabbed a hold of Jeremy's shoulders and pulled him close, wrapping her arms around him.

"I got to be honest… when worst comes to worst… I'm glad I'm with you Jeremy." Chloe said quietly as the cracks grew under their feet. "Nothing like childhood promises, eh?"

"Forever and ever…" Jeremy muttered. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry Chloe…"

"You've got nothing to be sorry about." Chloe responded.

"I couldn't protect you…" Jeremy grit his teeth, unwilling tears falling from his eyes. "I couldn't protect the baby… I wasn't strong enough…"

"You are strong Jeremy. You've always been strong. I mean, you gotta be strong to deal with a girl like me…"

"We shouldn't be here…" Jeremy tightened his embrace, tears freely falling from his eyes as cracks grew in a spider web outwards on the floor and the ceiling. "I was never on the list… you were prevented from the list… we should have never been here…"

"But we are. Because we thought we were. Come on, Jeremy, we can't change that so there is no point lamenting it." Chloe sniffed, her own cheeks wet now. "But look on the bright side-"

"…there's a bright side?"

"In David's vision, we must have died together. I mean, I wanted us to be old but it always had been what I wanted… to die with you…" Chloe pulled out of the embrace with a soft smile. "I wanted us to be together forever and ever like we promised all that time ago. We've been through our ups and downs… mostly because of me."

"…Don't blame yourself…" Jeremy shook his head. "Not now. You said I was strong? You are even stronger. Because you came back to me…"

Chloe bit her lip as the first bits of concrete starting falling from the roof, and holes appeared in the floor. She looked down and then back up at Jeremy. "Yeah… Yeah… You're right. I came back to you… And I don't regret a damn thing. Jeremy Edwards… For years I treated you like dirt… but no matter what, you stuck by me. You saw something in me that I never saw myself… You got me to see the light… and now I see it, now more than ever… I love you…"

Jeremy smiled, stepping forward, placing one hand on Chloe's cheek, lightly stroking it. "Chloe Marvin… I always stuck close to you because I knew you were the one for me… for me, I didn't care if you didn't care for me but I always cared for you. I wanted to protect you, I wanted to be with you… I didn't care if I was used… all I cared about was that I was doing it for you. You are that guiding light of my life… the lighthouse in the darkness, the beacon in the shadows… I am glad…" Jeremy's other hand touched Chloe's belly. "That we had the chance to know that we were going to be parents… that we were going to get married… I am so… damn glad that we were going to be together forever…" Jeremy pulled Chloe had in, not even trying to wipe away the tears running down his eyes. "…And now we are. From the day we met to the day we die… today… we were together… and for all of that, throughout everything that has happened… when I thought you were dying in front of me… when I thought I was dying in front of you… I have never, ever stopped loving you, Chloe… and I really, really do love you… More than anything…"

Together, the duo hugged each-other tight even as the floor started to fall. Then the floor collapsed, and together as one, both plummeted down to their deaths below, never once letting go of each other.

Here's my chance! Think about what happened later, go now! Now! Joshua was in Death's domain, eternal blackness with only one bright shining figure. He was sprinting towards it, one hand reached out. I got it! I can do this! All I need to do is touch him and it's over! There were sacrifices, but I've done it! I've-

A wall of light burst downwards, and as soon as Joshua touched it he was propelled out into the real world.

Joshua opened his eyes and instantly slammed his hand to the ground. "Fuck!" His gaze turned to the far end of the room, where the staircase had collapsed, and now where two bodies were lying broken and blood. Joshua grit his teeth. "No… Fuck… fuck!"

"Joshua…"

Joshua looked up to see Detrikov's eyes asking the question. "No… I didn't get in… but I think… I'm close, I think next time-"

"There is not going to be a next time." Detrikov said softly.

"What?" Joshua's eyes widened. "Are you doubting me? I can do this!"

"Look with your eyes Joshua!" Detrikov growled, pointing down at Lukas, where Dominika was still holding his body close. "Lukas is dead!" Detrikov turned and pointed towards the bodies of Chloe and Jeremy. "Chloe and Jeremy are dead! Now only two more remain abandoned up there!" Detrikov pointed up. "We got to end this now!"

"I am not ending this! I can do this!" Joshua growled.

"You cannot! It is over, Joshua! Three people have died, I cannot allow more to die because of a failed plan!"

"It is not a fucking failed plan!" Joshua snarled and stepped forward. "I can do this!"

"Stop this, Joshua, you cannot!"

"I can!" Joshua shouted, pushing Detrikov with both hands. Detrikov stumbled backwards, just as a heavy piece of concrete slammed just where he was standing.

Detrikov paused, evidently surprised, but he hid it well. "You are next, then. As we know Dorothy was still alive when David was."

Joshua grit his teeth. "I don't care. Just save me, and then I can get-"

Joshua was interrupted as Detrikov slammed his one hand on his chest. Joshua fell backwards hard onto his rear just as another heavy slab of concrete slammed down to the floor.

"Did you get in?" Detrikov asked quietly.

"No… I… what? I didn't even get the goddamn chance!" Joshua pushed himself back up to his feet. "Now let me-"

"David and Dorothy are next!" Detrikov said firmly, pointing up towards where David and Dorothy had gone. "Do you want them to die?"

"Of course not, but if they save each other then-"

"Stop fooling yourself!" Detrikov suddenly yelled, stepping forward and getting in Joshua's face. "There comes a time, Joshua, there comes a time when you must admit that you made the wrong call!"

"I-"

"No! Don't even try to protest! You had a plan, and it didn't work out! Three people have died! You've had chance upon chance to do what you wanted, but you could not! Instead of letting two more die, why not save some lives today? They depended on you Joshua, and you failed them. The least you could do is save them!" Detrikov squeezed his fist shut, staring hard at Joshua. Joshua looked up at him before slowly nodding.

"Okay…" Joshua put a hand on his face, glancing to Lukas, then to Chloe and Jeremy. I killed them… "Okay… Stay with Dominika. Keep her safe when the list turns around again." Joshua looked to Lukas once more, seeing the ragged wound in his throat. Then towards where Chloe and Jeremy had fallen, seeing them pierced but embracing each other. He felt something twist in his heart. I'm so… so sorry… I… Joshua shook his head before heading for the doorway David and Dorothy had gone through. There was a small hole, just big enough for him to get through.

I'm sorry.