"I find all this bloodshed rather interesting," Hope spoke from beside Noah. The way she stood next to him, commentating on the events, unnerved Noah. In some ways, it was similar to what brief moments he had seen with Lily Talbot. No one could see Hope, no one could hear Hope. But unlike Lily, whose attitude had always been true, Hope felt like she was simply acting. Every word she spoke, every movement of her graceful limbs. She was beautiful, yes, but Noah found himself struggling to see her as anything more than some phantom with an ulterior motive. Yet despite that, there was a strange magnetic pull to her. "Don't you think, Noah?"
Noah did not respond. They had left the library through the near-hidden door at the back of the room, and were making their way to the medical bay. Noah wasn't certain what Conner's plan was but he wasn't entirely certain he cared.
"No, you don't care. You care about something else, don't you?" Hope suddenly stopped and Noah stopped as well, glancing at her. "You want to know about me."
I just want you to go away, Noah thought to himself.
"Well maybe it is time I introduce myself to you properly? I am not a spirit, nor a phantom, nor a ghost, nor a ghoul. I guess you could consider this a projection. Noah Barker, if you would like the truth, then follow me." With those words that seemed to drip from her lips, Hope turned on her heel and walked into a corridor branching away from the one Conner had just turned down.
Noah felt suddenly nauseous. It was so hard to consider what was happening. The shots from this sniper that Conner had said, these deaths… he had watched Theodore Hearthome and Rebecca Cox both fall but they seemed like toys, not real bodies, not real people. It was too much to handle. Perhaps answers could save his mind, for he feared that soon it would crumble and Noah would lose himself once more. He watched Conner head the party, with Charlotte and Penelope close behind him, with Johann. Robyn and Ollie both took up the rear. None were paying attention. None were watching.
Noah glanced down the other corridor and saw Hope beckoning for him with a slender hand. The temptation for knowledge and answers was too much.
Silently, Noah slipped down the other corridor, following Hope, and leaving the others behind.
"Alright, keep your heads down, keep your backs against the walls," The big Rhino said in a low voice from his position hulked down against the far wall. "I don't think the shots are coming our direction but you never know. John, how are you holding up?"
John had one hand on his stomach, resting on the stitches of his gunshot wound, and the other snaked around the shoulders of Cynthia Waters. Usually, John would have abhorred this kind of physical contact, but even he could cast aside a little bit of his pride for the welcome support. Cynthia had been visiting at her usual time, as she did every day, when the gunshots had echoed out. Rhino who had also been resting, recovering from his own wounds, had been quick to usher them against the wall. Thankfully there was no one else in the room, only the three of them.
"Probably about as well as you," John said with a wry smile. Rhino was in a similar state of clutching his stomach from where he had been stabbed by Charlotte. The two of them both wore medical gowns and both couldn't help but feel amused at the sight of themselves. One, tall and lanky, the other big and bulky, both in slips with cloud patterns etched on them.
"Gunshots…" Cynthia muttered. "I can't believe it. Just what is happening at Hearthome? This is supposed to be a place of recovery. I can only imagine how the patients are reacting."
"At least it is not wild shots," John said. "Else we would have heard a lot more. Targeting particular people, if I'd have to wager a guess. The people in masks, I have no doubt."
Cynthia frowned. She had heard a little from John in her visits but the man had a special way of remaining tight-lipped about anything he didn't want said. Although it did make it enjoyable coaxing information out of him.
"Are we just gonna cower here?" John asked.
"For now, yes. There's been a little break between shots for now," Rhino frowned. "I bet the others know what's going on. I might go and try to find Jason—"
"I'll be coming with you if you do," John said.
"Don't be stupid. It was bad enough you were part of Shepherd's plan. The only person who could look similar to Derek," Rhino shook his head. "It's too risky."
"He's right, John. You've not nearly recovered, no matter how much you try. I can see you hurting even now."
John grinned his skeletal grin from the side of his burned face. "We just work through the pain, Cyn."
Cynthia rolled her eyes. "How macho of you, John. Just stay here, where it's safe. I don't want to see you shot again."
"With that settled," Rhino made to move. "I'll go meet up with Jason and find out—"
"And you're staying here too, big guy," Cynthia put a hand on Rhino's shoulder. Even though there was no chance that was as strong as the big agent, Rhino shrunk under her touch. "You're just as injured as John, perhaps even more-so. Yes, yes, it's all very noble that you want to be the big boys and solve all the problems around her, but it's time for rest and recovery." She glared at Rhino. "Don't you trust your friends?"
Rhino rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Wow… You certainly know how to guilt-trip someone you barely know."
"You may not be an official patient of Hearthome, but you are at least a patient of this medical bay for the time being, and I am an orderly. So we'll all just stay put, got it?"
"Got it…" Rhino nodded.
"Fair enough," John winced slightly as he adjusted his footing. "I'm not going to argue with you."
"No, you're not," Cynthia flashed as smile that seemed to light up her whole face. When she smiled like that, John found himself getting momentarily distracted, and would feel pleased with himself that he had drew out that smile, but then he would see the echo of another smile, a Cheshire smile, and a girlish giggle, and could feel guilt wash over his shoulders. Pesky bloody feelings. Who needed them?
Just then, the door to the hospital bay opened. Rhino stiffened but in walked the strangest procession John had ever seen. Conner Shepherd led the half-shuffling, half-crouched group. Behind him was none other than the evil twin of the evil twins, Charlotte Hayes, her wrists bound. Next to her was Penelope Hayes. Professor Johann Schneider made the middle. Behind them were both Robyn and Ollie.
"Shepherd?" Rhino looked from Conner to Charlotte, his eyes wide. He may not have been involved in the plan to capture her, but he knew all about it.
"It's okay, he can't shoot us here," Conner said, straightening up and cracking his neck. "Rhino. Have Wasp and Berlin found you? Do you know what's going on?"
"What? No. Why?" Rhino tried to control his questions. "Shepherd, explain."
Conner sighed a deep sigh. Why was it up to him to deliver the bad news? This day just couldn't get any worse. "Rhino… Berlin and Wasp are getting ready to confront the sniper after the eleventh shot. The sniper is Gareth Griffiths. He has already killed the fake sins."
Rhino's eyes widened. "If this is some kind of sick joke, Jason will throw you—"
"Jason Ryan is dead," Conner announced grimly but firmly. Rhino's words disappeared and his jaw dropped for a moment. Even John was surprised at this. Jason was one of the survivors from Epsilon, just like the bright-haired Ruby Ascot. It was like losing a member of some special club.
"You…" Rhino blinked. He looked around at the others as if looking for some kind of prank, someone to yell 'Fool's on you!' but there was no-one. Rhino rested his eyes back on Conner. "…Berlin and Wasp. You say they are going after Gareth?"
"Yes. On the eleventh shot."
Rhino straightened up. When he did so, he came awfully close to reaching John in height, although he was easily about four times as wide, made of nothing but pure muscle. "Then let us go give Gareth judgment."
"Settle down," Conner put his hands up. He glanced back at Charlotte. "We need to be smart about this. You're not exactly stealthy like the other two. Injured as you are, ain't no way you're sneaking up to Gareth. You need to sit back."
"Hang on," John looked at the group. "Where is Noah? Is he okay?"
At his question, all eyes turned inward to where Noah had been following them.
"He was just… he was right there…" Robyn sputtered. Shame filled her. She had been so preoccupied with her own mind that she hadn't even noticed him disappearing.
"He couldn't have gone far," Ollie said.
He was just with us." Johann continued, frowning. His mind just wasn't what it usually was. He was usually a lot sharper than this.
Conner groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Well, he can't have gone far. He's not stupid enough to try and leave the administration building with Gareth covering it. We'll just have to—"
"I'll go find him," John said. "I don't expect his mind is in a very good place right now. I'm not going to be much good with whatever plan you're cooking up this time, Shepherd. With the List acting haywire, we need him in our sites."
"Do what you want," Conner shrugged. "You're sensible enough to keep your head down. The shots are coming from the Hearthome entrance."
"I've had my fair share of shots today. I'm not going to get another one," John smirked.
"I'll come with you, John. I don't want to let you walk around like that but if you're finding a patient… well… it's my job as well. I can kill two birds with one stone then. Keep you safe and help. Besides, I suspect it might not be as safe here as I thought…" Cynthia said.
"Please, allow me to come as well," Johann said. "You may need my help if his mental state is at risk."
"And I'm coming to," Robyn said earnestly. "I should have been paying attention."
"I think you're worrying a little too much about him," Ollie said quietly. "We need to keep our attention on the Hayes sisters and keep ourselves safe. It should be Conner next on the List anyway, and with no accident coming his way, Noah should be fine."
"…Fine is a relative term," John said, tapping his forehead. "C'mon boy, you should know that. I'm not so much worried for Noah's physical health."
"…Alright," Conner looked to Robyn. "Hey, keep safe, alright?"
"Head down, got it." Robyn nodded.
"You're a brave girl, Robyn," Conner muttered.
Robyn suddenly beamed. "And you're doing a great job yourself, Conner. Look at you, leading us all. This is why I never went along with the rumours. I can see who you really are, no matter what you were."
Charlotte suddenly scoffed. "…You're being blind if you think that's who he really is."
"Char…" Penelope said quietly. "Don't."
Charlotte looked to her sister and scoffed again, but remained silent.
"You've helped save lives, Conner," Robyn insisted. "I'm not smart or philosophical enough to know what kind of balance that does, but I never knew the Conner of the past. I know the Conner of the present. And that Conner, the Conner standing before me now, the Conner who was in tears when we first met because he was losing control, the Conner who didn't hesitate to step in and help with the List, who didn't hesitate to come back to Hearthome even amidst a manhunt, this Conner is a Conner that is truly good for the world." Robyn nodded vibrantly.
Conner stared at her. Stared at her bright eyes. There was no lie in her voice. Just conviction. She was scared, Conner could see it, but she was brave. So very brave.
Who are you trying to be, Conner? What are you trying to accomplish? Don't even think on it. Don't even dare.
"…Fuck it…" Conner suddenly moved forward and embraced Robyn tightly, ignoring the voices in his head. Robyn's face suddenly went a bright red as Conner pulled her in. "…Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for seeing the best in me." He pulled away, still holding her shoulders. "I won't let those words go to waste. Keep safe, Robyn."
"U-Uh-huh," Robyn just nodded, lost for words. "Yeah, safe, got it."
"Shepherd!" John's voice was loud in the room. All eyes were on the tall man as he stepped in front of Conner, grabbed his shoulder, and pulled him away from Robyn. Conner didn't fight back, but didn't run away either. He stared John in the eye, even if he had to stare up to do it.
"John." Conner replied back, quietly.
"I was already planning on my next set of songs after Epsilon all those years ago. Those songs I performed there were about the Sins. After that, I wanted to do a series of songs about the biggest killers of our time. Charles Manson. Ted Bundy. People like that. And someone I didn't know came up. A man named Conner Shepherd. I do my research when it comes to my songs. I learned about your past. About your uncle. I learned about what made you become who you were. I hated you for what I learned. I still hate what you did." John took a deep breath and raised his hand. His fingers seemed to tremble a moment but he finally placed his hand on Conner's shoulder. "We cannot forget the sins of our past, but we work towards our future. People can change, Conner. I should know. If we hold onto our pasts… they act like a parasite and they eat away at us. I will never forgive you for the things that you did. You will never be able to be free from those sins but you can at least take steps to be different. Whether right or wrong, you were given a second chance. Maybe one day I'll write a song about the actions Conner Shepherd took after, instead of the actions Conner Shepherd committed before."
"…Talkative, aren't you?" Conner grinned lopsidedly. "Sorry, but I'm not going to hug you. I might vomit if this continues any longer. Go find Noah. Make sure he's safe."
John nodded, and he, Cynthia, Johann, and Robyn quickly left the room the way Conner had entered. For a moment, Conner allowed himself to feel something that was closely related to happiness, before he focused back on the job at hand.
"Here's what's going to happen. Ollie, I'm trusting you to look after Penelope. Charlotte, you'll stay with me. Rhino… can I ask for your help?" Conner looked at the big man.
"Well, you are the smartest man in the room. You say Berlin and Wasp are ready for Gareth. I trust them. Tell me what you need, Shepherd." Rhino nodded.
"Well then, let's get to it," Conner clapped his hands together. "Follow me."
Charlotte looked at her sister, but didn't protest as she followed Conner, leaving Ollie and Penelope together. She, Conner, and Rhino went to the exit of the medical bay out into the open, and slowly crept to the corner. Conner looked at them. "We have four more shots we need to lure out. Charlotte, I've already concluded that you're not a target. Rhino and myself are. So here's—"
"Conner…" Charlotte's voice was surprisingly low. Conner looked back at her with narrowed eyes. "Looking at those two… Robyn and John Doe… talking to you like that. Treating you like you're someone different… at first it angered me. How dare they see you as something you're not, treating you like you're this big heroic figure… but then…" Charlotte sighed. "My sister does the same for me. She knows of the things I do. Who I work for. Yet she admires me. Helps me when I ask for it. Does so without question." Charlotte grit her teeth. For a moment it seemed as if she was struggling for words. She looked down at her feet and took a few moments, before looking back up to Conner. Conner was surprised to see the wetness of her eyes. "I got Penny into this mess. I committed her to this hospital. I wanted to help her. She sees things, you know? Hears voices that aren't there, sees a figure she calls… Lord…" Tears glittered on her cheeks. Conner's gaze grew more suspicious. "It was supposed to be simple, Conner.
"The plan was all about getting you to be who you were. We were going to get you into the building before your meeting with Doctor Evans back when this began, and she was going to get a hold of you. She was going to make you kill people. How was I to know that the plan I had for you would turn out to be the vision that Noah saw? It is as if fate itself did not want you to be a killer anymore." Charlotte shook her head. "When Noah told of what his vision was, I was amazed to hear at how such an effective killer you were. It frightened me, truth be told. To think, that if it had not been a vision, you would have killed me as well. So I guess I should thank that this List came about. It gave us all another chance. You seem to have taken the chance and ran with it.
"…So I'm wondering… I can't help but wonder… should I have taken that chance as well? I was so preoccupied with my plan, to get access to those weapons. You see, the only way to get to those weapons is to get one of the key holders to open them up, and there are only two of them. Not much would bring them to Hearthome, not after everything that has happened this year. One thing would though. If Conner Shepherd went back to his old ways. I tried, Conner, I really did. I had people hunting for you, I tried framing you, I tried to make you doubt yourself, I put you on the damn List but you saw through it all and you never succumbed to it." Charlotte raised her chin, showing her pale neck. "When you were strangling me… John thought he was preventing you from killing me. But I could feel it in your grasp. Your fingers were loosening." Charlotte looked at Conner with strength in her tearful gaze. "You were never going to kill me, Conner, I realise that now. You have truly cast off that cocoon of death that surrounded you. It is… awe-inspiring… and it makes me think…"
Charlotte took a deep breath. "They all talk of change. And if a killer like you, a man who has murdered innocents, can be a catalyst of this change… then can I? Can someone who has not only committed sins… but been a sin… can I change? For myself? For Penny?"
Conner looked at her closely. He felt genuine emotion in her voice. If she had asked this question to the Conner of three months ago, then Conner knew what his answer would have been. Fuck no. People stay who they are. People are who they were born to be. But now… it wasn't quite so simple. It wasn't so black-and-white anymore. John Doe had changed from the enigma Bridge who had himself changed from Gerald Ryoushi. Jason Ryan had changed and decided to place some fragment of trust in Conner. Robyn had changed herself in so many ways; she would never have to tell Conner, Conner knew and it was her choice to tell him if she wanted to, it didn't change how he felt. He himself had changed… Conner knew that he had. He could feel it in his soul. And changed in more ways than he could ever have guessed. So if Charlotte Hayes was asking such a question now, to the Conner of now, then Conner only had one answer that he could truthfully give.
"I believe that we are all capable of change," Conner said strongly. "And change starts with actions."
"It certainly does," Charlotte said, and suddenly pushed her bound hands as hard as she could against Conner, palms flat against his chest, putting her whole body into the tackle so both of them went hurtling past the corner and straight into the line of sight of Gareth Griffiths.
"Shepherd!" Rhino's gruff voice sounded as he reached out with both hands to try and catch both of them. One hand grasped the back of Charlotte's collar and the other—
CRACK!
The bullet tore right through Rhino's hand with enough force that two thick fingers went flying in a cascade of blood. Rhino roared in pain and immediately let go of Charlotte, backing back to the corner while clutching his hand.
Conner landed hard with his back against the ground and immediately his brain instinctively started counting. The time between the shot that killed Derrick and the shot that killed Dave was no more than three seconds apart. It was the same for Theodore and Rebecca. Three seconds was all it took for Gareth to aim and shoot with immense accuracy.
One second…
Charlotte landed on top of him and used both of her bound hands to crack down hard on Conner's nose. He felt something buckle but ignored the blinding pain and used his knees to push Charlotte away from him. He reached down to the waistband of his slacks.
…two seconds…
Ever since he gained his scars, Conner had lost the ability that he had been so proud of. The dartboard in his room mocked him with his sudden lack of skill. When he had missed the mask who had ran away, it had hurt. There was a time when he would never miss. This had to be one of those times. Conner slipped the knife that had not been taken from him after scaring the fake sins and threw it into the air directly in front of his face. Conner could see his own eyes reflected in the blade.
Three seconds.
CRACK!
PING!
The knife was hit with such force that it was sheared directly in half, both halves spinning. It was not enough to stop the bullet, but it was enough to divert it. Instead of the bullet hitting Conner between the eyes as had been the intention, it instead caught him directly in the right shoulder.
"Fuck!" Conner grit his teeth as the bullet tore through the ligaments of his right shoulder but he had no time to worry about it.
One second…
Charlotte showed no fear, although that was to be expected when she was not at risk of being shot by Gareth. She tried to kick Conner in the face but Conner managed to roll to his knees.
…Two seconds…
He knew he couldn't fight Charlotte even in the best of circumstances. He had to get out of Gareth's sights. But with Charlotte in the way, Rhino unable to get involved else he'd be in the targets, Conner had to figure out a different solution. He grit his teeth, blood streaming down his right sleeve, and practically jumped straight to the side of Charlotte.
Three seconds.
CRACK!
It had been a gamble using Charlotte's life. Conner had hedged his bets on the fact that they still wanted her alive, and used her as a shield as he dived, getting all his major body parts out of the way. With the bullets Gareth was using, he could have shot straight through Charlotte to get to him, but thankfully he chose not to.
However, the rifle had still been fired as the aim had to be jerked away at the last minute, and it had caught Conner in the left knee, shattering the bone and tearing the ligaments. Conner landed on his left foot when he had dived and felt the whole leg buckle underneath him as the muscles were torn.
Yet the risky gamble had paid off, as Charlotte back-stepped having thought Conner was jumping directly at her. Back-stepped right into the arms of Rhino, who wrapped them both tightly around her, despite the mangled hand that was now missing two fingers. This allowed Conner to half scramble, half roll his way behind the corner.
He panted, sweat beading on his brow. The pain in his right shoulder and his left knee was immense. He could move his right arm, that was good, but his left ankle, toes, anything below the knee… nothing.
"Get off of me!" Charlotte tried to twist her way out of Rhino's grasp but it was too much.
"…Hah… That's ten shots…" Conner grit his teeth. "Fuck it… We need the eleventh…"
"Why do we have to wait for the eleventh shot?" Rhino asked. "We need to get you back in there, Conner. Those are serious injuries. My hand isn't in the best of conditions either."
"…Cause on the eleventh shot, Gareth will have to reload. That will provide an opening for Berlin and Wasp to get in on him. If they attack before he reloads, then Gareth will have the upper hand with that firearm. He'd be able to kill one of them before they even reached him. They'll be hiding in the trees no doubt, and there's a fair distance to get to him. He'll hear them coming." Conner looked down at his knee. It was an absolute mess. He laughed grimly. At least they were literally next to the medical bay, although any staff would be hiding from the shots. "I was going to lure each shot out separately. Figure something out. I underestimated the fucker's accuracy and skill… I wanted to keep at least some of those fake bastards alive but… I opened that door… I let Rebecca run… I got antsy. I fucked up." Conner used the wall to push himself up, putting all his weight on his right leg. "I like time to work out my plans and I hadn't planned for a fucking sniper of all things… Get her inside, Rhino…"
"What are you going to do?" Rhino asked, squeezing tighter to combat the wriggling Charlotte.
"…Gotta draw out that last shot somehow…" Conner looked at the corner. "I don't think just sticking a limb out is gonna do anything. He shot your hand because you were grabbing at me. He thought he'd get a better shot at me by shooting that hand. But…" Conner reached to the other side of his waistband where the pistol that Berlin had given him was still waiting. He pulled it out with his left hand and stared at it. "He wouldn't risk just sitting there and being shot at. He'd fire back. Fuck it, that's the best shot I got. We need him dealt with." Conner switched hands and put the gun into his right hand, where the entire sleeve of his arm was practically coated in his own blood now. "Rhino, take her back in and tie her ankles as well. I don't care if we have to carry her."
Rhino nodded and carried the protesting Charlotte as if she were a child. Conner turned back to the corner and slowly dragged his way to it. He could put pressure on his left leg for less than a second, but that was enough to get another step in. Sloppy work. The right shoulder wasn't so bad but this injury on his knee… that would take a lot of work and Conner doubted it would ever be the same again. He grinned to himself. "Well, it's a good thing I hate runnin'," He just hoped that the shot would just disarm him and not take any fingers off like Rhino's.
Standing right next to the corner, Conner knew he couldn't risk peeking out else Gareth would just shoot him straight through the eye. No doubt the man had his aims well and truly situated on this corner.
"Well, here it fuckin' goes," Conner knew he couldn't do it slowly. He had to do it fast, actually try and shoot at Gareth. That was the only way he could draw out a genuine reaction. He flung his right arm up and pointed the pistol to where he knew Gareth was residing and went to pull the trigger—
CRACK!
The gun flew out of his hand and Conner drew back his right-hand in pain. It was bleeding but… no lost fingers. Thank God for that. Conner shook the hand in pain and started to slink his way back to the doors. He would have loved to watch to make sure that Berlin and Wasp had followed the plan, but if something had gone wrong, he couldn't risk getting his face blown off. No, it was time to staunch these wounds as best as possible and—
"Oh for fuck's sake…" Conner groaned as he stood in the doorway that led back into the medical building. "Why the fuck are you all making this so fucking difficult?!"
Rhino stood to the right of the doorway, still holding on Charlotte tightly. The issue was the other side of the room, where Penelope was holding what looked to be one of Conner's own knives against the throat of Robyn. Conner shouldn't have been surprised. She must have been holding onto it ever since they caught them both beneath Hearthome. Ollie was standing back from them, his hands up as if to try and prevent Penelope from doing anything stupid mentally.
"Robyn… Why are you here?" Conner asked, pulling his way into the doorframe.
"I'm sorry… I heard the shots and I got scared, the professor and John said that they would find Noah and told me to come down, so I did and I wanted to make sure you were okay and then as soon as I entered Penelope jumped me, pulled that knife… I'm sorry, Conner, I'm sorry…" Robyn bit her lip. "I thought I was helping, I thought…"
"Just breathe a second, Robyn, before you bite your own tongue," Conner said.
"I tried to stop her," Ollie said. He shook his head. "She was too fast."
"It's fine," Conner took another bloody step forward. "I ain't gonna cry out of concern."
"Not another step Shepherd!" Penelope said, pressing the knife slightly against Robyn's pale skin. "Just stand there for a second!"
"…Sure," Conner stopped, letting the blood spill from the two bullet wounds in his body. He could feel himself getting lightheaded now. Never a good sign. "What's the plan, Penelope? Even as we speak, Gareth is no doubt getting captured by Berlin and Wasp. This is the thanks I get for saving your life?"
Penelope glanced at Charlotte in Rhino's arms and licked her lips. She was flustered, more flustered than usual. Conner knew that he could use that to his advantage. "That's good. Then you can let me leave. Just… give me Char, and then let us leave, and then we're good."
"Leave?" Conner asked. "Where are you planning on going? I'd be willing to bet the DHP are outside the gates of Hearthome as we speak. Probably waiting for this all to pan out. The moment you leave the gates, that's the moment you get caught. Use that intelligence of yours and think it through a little bit better, eh?"
"Just give me my sister, and I won't hurt her," Penelope said, clutching Robyn tighter.
"You're not going to hurt her anyway. The only one whose done the hurting is your sister," Conner said. "Rhino is not going to let Charlotte go. Probably not even if I ask him to. You know that the DHP and I don't get on. The deal still stands, Penelope. You'll be seen as just another victim. You won't receive any blame."
"And what will my sister get? The death penalty? I know how you DHP people work!"
"We've already agreed with Charlotte that if she gave us the required information then that would only work in her favour," Conner winced. "I'm not so sure how her actions just now will change that but I'd be willing to wager that it would still be on the table. Gareth Griffiths is the one who killed Jason Ryan. He's the one that will receive just punishment." He looked at Charlotte in Rhino's arms. "Charlotte, I mean that as well. I get it. You want me gone but you want me gone for no other reason than because I bested you. You let emotions get in the way of your thinking. So think about what is going to happen here. Think of what would happen if Penelope hurts Robyn now, or worse? She goes from victim to culprit. You may have fucked me right over but the words you said were still the truth. You still care for your sister. It's over, guys. It's over."
"I just want my sister…" Penelope's hand dropped for a moment. Conner saw Ollie flinch and realised what was going to happen but it was too late.
"Ollie, don't!"
Ollie tackled straight into Penelope and knocked both her and Robyn down to the ground. At the same time, Charlotte jabbed her elbow hard into Rhino's abdomen, right where he had been stabbed by her before. That was enough to loosen Rhino's grasp for her to slither out like a snake, his slick blood from the wound on his hand probably helped as well. Conner stiffened, fully expecting Charlotte to go for him, but instead Charlotte went for the scuffle on the floor. She grabbed Ollie hard and pressed him against the ground, quickly snatching up the knife from the floor and pointing down at Ollie's throat, while Penelope managed to get a hold of Robyn again. Neither of the two were fighters, but Robyn was too timid to fight back in any sense, not in the mental state she was in at the moment anyway.
"…Shit…" Ollie growled from the floor. "I'm sorry, Conner…"
"People always trying to act like bloody heroes around here…" Conner shook his head. He took stock of the room. Rhino was clutching his abdomen and Conner suspected the stitches had come loose. The big man looked ashamed that he had let Charlotte lose. Conner didn't blame him though. He was annoyed at Ollie no doubt, but he didn't blame him either. Ollie saw an opportunity and wanted to take it. Conner knew how much Ollie felt angry at Penelope for lying to them. He wanted to be annoyed at Robyn, but again he could not blame her. Then there were the Hayes sisters. Their faces were physically exactly the same, but their expressions couldn't be any more different. Charlotte looked like a predator, while Penelope was clearly scared.
"Get back to the wall," Charlotte quickly pulled Owen up by the shirt and boldly pushed him away from her and Penelope. She grabbed Robyn with one arm and put the knife against her throat. Conner narrowed his eyes. Penelope was never going to hurt Robyn. Charlotte, on the other hand…
"Char…" Penelope tugged at Charlotte's shoulder. "Let's go, now, while we got the chance."
"In a minute, Penny, alright," Charlotte looked across the room to Conner. "Alright, Shepherd. I want you to walk towards me."
Conner had been expecting such a demand. He stayed still though. Perhaps this was all a poker game, and he could call out Charlotte's bluff.
"Char, we can go now," Penelope tugged harder. "Let's go. He said Gareth was gone. We can get out of here. We'll find somewhere to hole up and—"
"Penny, shut up!" Charlotte snapped with such ferocity her sisters mouth closed sharply. "Conner!"
"What are you doing? What do you want?" Robyn asked, not struggling against Charlotte's grasp at all.
"…Your sister's right," Conner said. "You got the upper hand. Lick your wounds and go home. It's over. Maybe you can find a way to get past the DHP now, who knows. Rhino and I are too injured to follow. You can be home free."
"Come here now, Shepherd!" Charlotte pressed a sliver of blade into Robyn's neck to the point of drawing blood and Robyn stiffened like a kitten. "I'll kill the fucking bitch, you can see that I will! I want you here right now or I'll make you watch as I tear her fucking guts out!" Charlotte had completely lost her composure now. Small strands of hair were flicking around her eyes. At this moment in time, Charlotte Hayes was the craziest person in the room. She should have taken the win.
"You know, Charlotte…" Conner took a limping step forward, dragging his left leg with him. "…They called you Pigritia. The Sin of Sloth. I think you would have been better off as the Sin of Pride."
"Get here!" Charlotte's nostrils flared. The knife went into Robyn's skin ever so more slightly. Conner could see Robyn's veins, like markers to the knife.
Conner stepped forward again. "Can you call it a win? Like this?"
"Conner, what are you doing?" Robyn asked with wide eyes.
"I want you in front of me!" Charlotte's eyes were wild. It was strange for Conner to stare into eyes that at one point had been so similar to his own.
Conner took another step forward. A part of him that had been growing quieter and quieter over the last couple of weeks was asking him why. Telling him to stop. Demanding him to stop. Conner didn't need to listen. Conner had won the battle, but Charlotte was still determined to get a victory, no matter how callous a victory it was. She was getting unhinged. If Conner did not allow this to happen, there was no telling what else she would do. At the very least, she was reluctant to kill those who didn't directly interfere. The others would be safe.
Robyn would be safe.
"What I said still counts, Charlotte," Conner said getting in front of her. "I believe that we are all capable of change, and that starts with our actions. Your actions will change not only your fate, Charlotte, but Penelope's as well."
"Char, what are you doing?" Penelope asked, confused. "Let's just go, come on!"
"Conner…" Robyn looked up at Conner. It seemed like she had finally realised what Charlotte wanted. "…I'm not worth that."
Conner smiled and it was a warm smile. Not a grin, or a smirk, or a fake smile, but an honest, genuine, warm smile. "…The person who sees the best of the worst is someone who is certainly worth that."
Charlotte pulled the knife away from Robyn's throat and plunged the knife straight beneath Conner's ribcage. The blade was long and Conner felt the cold of it slide right through him, the tip slipping out of his back. Conner never looked away from Charlotte's eyes. Charlotte pulled the blade free and Conner could feel things tear inside of him.
"Char!"
"Conner!"
The two shouts were mixed as one. Charlotte roughly pushed Robyn away and grabbed her sister. "Let's go, Penny, let's go!" Charlotte practically dragged her sister out of the room. Conner felt his right leg buckle and he fell harshly to the ground, back-first.
"Conner!" Robyn scrambled right over to him, tears in her eyes. One hand went under his head, the other pressed against the wound under his ribcage. Silly girl. This was not the kind of thing you could just put pressure on.
"Penelope!" Ollie had been claimed by his emotions as well, and ran past the fallen Conner and Robyn to chase Penelope and Charlotte out of the door.
"Shepherd…" Rhino painfully crouched down.
"…You DHP fellas have still got a job to do…" Conner said. He was wondering why his lips felt wet and he realised it was because small tendrils of blackish blood was seeping out. "I'm confident the other two were successful…"
Rhino nodded. "Got it. We'll get them." Rhino followed Ollie out of the door, leaving just Robyn and Conner alone in the medical bay. Conner could see the humour in it, being in a place like this in the state he was in.
"Conner, we need to get you on a…" Robyn was sniffling, tears running fully unchecked down her cheeks. "I'll find a nurse, or a doctor, and—"
Conner reached up and placed his left hand on Robyn's left cheek. She was warm. He used a thumb to push away some of the tears coming from her eyes. He smiled. "It's funny… No one has ever cried for me before…" Conner's hand slipped away from Robyn's face and landed on the floor of the medical bay.
"Conner… Conner, no…" Robyn shook Conner but there was no response. "No, no, don't leave me, please, I don't want anyone else to leave, Conner… Con… Conner?" Robyn shook Conner harder. "…Conner…" Robyn stared down at Conner, whose glassy eyes were staring up at the ceiling. There was a faint turn to his lips, as if he was content with the actions he had taken. "Please… Wake up… please wake up… please… don't go… Please…"
Robyn fell over Conner Shepherd's body, weeping into his chest with muffled sobs.