Alexstaredatthelightinthecrackoftheelevatorasitfell downward.Thepaininhischestwasintenseashetookin laboredbreaths,thepoundinginthesideofhisheadwas unbearable,butnoneofitcomparedtotheheartbreakthatfell overhim asheheardthewhirringoftheelevatormotor. Seconds.
Minutes.
Eternity. Alexstaredblanklyatthedoortotheelevatorforwhatfeltto betheremainderofhislife.Theshiningmetalstoodassolidas thedayitwasbuilt,itremainedmotionlessinitsexistence.The doorwatchedoverasmallsectionoftheparkinglotandwaited forsomeonetopressthebuttonsoitcouldperform itsonlyother duty.Ithadnoideaofthepainithadjustcaused,itremained coldtotheworld,itremainedcoldtoAlexashestaredathisown reflection.Alexremainedfocusedontheimageofhimselfthat wasbeingdisplayedoverthebarrierthathadjustswallowedhis daughter.
TheairwasstaleandfilledwithdustasAlexstood motionless.Hetookdeep,unfulfillingbreathscausinghismouth todryout.Thesilencewasinterruptedonlybythesoundof Mitchell’sfeetmovingonthepavementbehindhim.Alexignored thesound.Mitchell’sexistencewasinconsequentialtohis situation.ItwasthefactthatMitchellsavedthem thattheywere wheretheywere.Hewasthereasontheyhadgottenoutoftheir predicamentandgottenthisfar,butitwasn’thisfault.Alex wasn’tevensureitwashisfaultatthispoint.Maybeitwasfate. MaybeAlexhadn’tgivenenoughcredittothepossibilitiesofhis lifebeingpredetermined,maybehewasjustfollowingapath drawnoutforhim bysomethinghecouldn’tsee.Hestared,once again,atthemetaldoorsoftheelevator;maybeitwasthe elevator’sfault.
“Here,Alex.”Mitchelltappedhim onthesidewiththe handgunhe’ddroppedearlier.Alexgrabbeditandfocusedonit foramoment.“Ifwe’regoingtosaveCiara,we’reprobablygoing tohavetogoinarm–”MitchellwascutoffbyAlexliftingthegun andpullingthetriggerrepeatedly.Thegunblastedallofits roundsintothedooroftheelevator,causingtheexplosionsto echothroughoutthegarageandthemetaltogivewaytothe projectiles.Theblastsbouncedaroundandcontinueduntilthey werereplacedbyahollow clickingsoundofahammerfailingto doitsjob.TheclickingofanemptychambercontinueduntilAlex noticedthegunwasnolongerfiring.Hetossedthegundownand begankickingtheelevatordooruntilhecouldnolongerstandto thrusthisfootforwardanymore.Hestoppedandkneltdown takingindeepgaspsofair,Theelevatorhadwonthisround.
“OK,IguessI’llbearmed…”Mitchelllookedovertothenow destroyeddoor,thenbackdowntoAlex.“Didthathelpyouany, Alex?”
“Morethanyouknow.”Heremainedstaringatthefloor. “Now thatwe’vegottenthatoutoftheway,weneedtothinkof somethingtogetCiaraback.”Mitchelllookedaroundthegarage. “I’m bettingJudasisexpectingustodosomething.Idon’tthink hebelieveshe’swonquiteyet.”
“Hedidwin,Mitchell.”Alex’svoicewasquiet.“Hewon.It’s over.Iknow whatyou’rethinking;youhavethisideainyourhead thatwecouldsneakuponhim andtakehim down.Thenwe’llall getoutandescapeandtheworldwillshinewithaprettycoatof ‘happilyeverafter’.”Alexchuckled.“That’sbeeneverysingle situationsofar,hasn’tit?We’vebeenstuckinsomesortofrut then,bythegraceofsomedivineentity,wegetoutofit.So,why wouldthisbeanydifferent?Well,thisisdifferentbecausethisis theend.I’vefailed,he’swon.DespitethefactthatItriedmybest here,I’vefailed.It’dbebestifyoujustgotinthecarandleftme heretodie.AtleastI’vegottenthisfar…”
“Andyou’llgetfarther.”Mitchellsteppedforward.“Getup.” “What?”AlexglaredupatMitchell.
“Isaidgetup!”MitchellreacheddownandgrabbedAlex’sarm. “Comeon,standup!”
“Mitchell,justleave–”
“Getyourassup!”MitchellpulledonAlex’sarm.“Comeon!” Mitchell’svoicegrew aggressive.
“What’sthepoint?”Alexpulledhisarm awayfrom Mitchell.“I toldyou,it’soveranddonewith.”
“Oh,comeon!”Mitchellturnedawayandlaughed.“Wouldyou quitwiththeself-pityingcrap?YoucouldliterallybreakJudasin halfandyou’regoingtolethim winthis?Youareliterallytwice themanheis,andyou’rejustgoingtoweeponthefloorwhilehe walksaway?”
“Itdoesn’tmatterhow muchofamanIam.”Alexstaredback atthewarpedreflectionintheelevatordoor;thebulletshadtorn themetalapart.“Ciaradependedonme,sheneededmetosave her.Icouldn’t.Icouldn’tdoanythingtokeephersafe,Icouldn’t stophim from takingher.Itdoesn’tmatterhow muchofamanI am,orhow muchI’vegonetothegym,orwhoIcouldtakeina fight.ShewastheonlythingIhadkeepingmealiveandIlost her.Ineededherasmuchassheneededme,andwithoutherI don’tseeareasontokeepgoing.”
“That’swrong,Alex.”Mitchellshookhisheadandturnedback tofaceAlex.“Savingher,gettingherback,thatshouldbethe reasontokeepgoing.Youlostonebattleoutofthemanyyou fought,butlookathow manyyou’vewonhere!You’reright,you gotthisfar.Now,keepgoing!Don’tstopnow!”
“Idon’twanttoseeherlikethat.”Alexremainedquiet.“Ifhe killsher,Idon’twanttobethere.Itwouldbeevenworseifhe killedherbecauseIshowedup.Failureinthatplanisnot somethingIcouldlivewith.Doyouknow whatitwouldbeliketo know thatIlosther?Toknow thatshewasgone?”
“DoIknow whatit’dbeliketolose–”Mitchellcuthimselfoff mid-sentence.“AreyoureallyaskingmeifIknow whatitwould beliketolosetheonepersonthatkeepsyougoing?”Mitchell turnedbacktofaceAlex.“You,ofallpeople,areaskingmeifI couldimaginethepainoflosingtheonethingthatkeepsyou going?Alex,youareliterallythepersonthatgaveAriathemeans toendherownlife!”Alexturnedhisheadtolookbackat Mitchell;hewasright.“Iftherewasanyoneintheworldthat knew whatyouwerefeeling,orwhatitwouldbeliketodealwith thissituation,it’sme!IlostAriabecauseofallthis,andI plannedonstoppingonceIknew forsureshewasgone.Ididn’t, Youknow whyIdidn’t?Becauseit’snotwhatshewould’ve wanted.Whenyouaremetwithachallengelikethis,youdon’t giveupandyoucertainlydon’tthinkofyourself.Thinkabout whatisgoingthroughCiara’smindrightnow.Doyoureally believethatshe’sgoingalongwithJudasandhopingthatyou decidenottosaveher?Ofcoursenot!Shedidwhatshedidtotry andsaveLilly,butshealsodiditbecausesheexpectsyoutosave her.Shehasitinhermindthatherfatherwillcometosaveher. So,youcanbetheherothatyourdaughterthinksyouare,oryou cantrulygiveupandletherdown.Yourchoice…”Mitchellstared athim intently.“Ifyouchoosetogiveup,we’llleave.”
Alexshiftedhisfocustothedoor,thenbacktoMitchell.The opportunitytosaveCiarawasgoingtopassquicklyifhejustsat there,andeveryminutemadeitlesslikelythathewould succeed.HavingMitchelltherewouldhelpthesituationsome,he seemedlikehewascapableofcomingupwithaplan.The possibilityoffailurestillloomedoverAlex’shead.Despitethis,he hadtodosomething.
“Wedon’tknow wherehewent…” “Oh,Ihaveanidea.”Mitchellleanedinandpressedthe buttonontheelevator.“Lilly,youstaybehindmeandAlex, alright?Thisprobablyisn’tgoingtobepretty,butIneedyouto bebraveformeonelasttime.Canyoudothat?”
“Aretheregoingtobemonsters?”Lillystaredupathim. “Maybe,Ireallydon’tknow whatwe’regoingtofind.”Heknelt downandlookedstraightintohereyes.“Ipromise,Iwon’tlet anythinghappentoyou.IpromisedDarrenandKaylathatI wouldprotectyouwithmylifeandIabsolutelywill.”
“Aremommyanddaddymonsters?”Shestaredathim with wateringeyes.“Thatmansaidtheyweremonsters.”Mitchell staredatherwithhiseyesasfocusedashers.Hedidn’twantto tellherthetruth,butitseemedlikehewouldn’tbeabletoavoid itanylonger.
“Look,Lilly…”Mitchellstaredather. “They’renotmonsters,Lilly.”AlexkneltdownbesideMitchell. “Theymayhavebeensick,andtheymaybegone,buttheyaren’t monsters.Thatmanismeanandjustwantedtomakeyoucry.”
“Youpromisetheyaren’tmonsters?”Lillyshiftedherfocusto Alex. “Ipromise.”Alexsmiledather.“MisterMitchellhereisn’ta monsterishe?”Lillyshookherhead.“Alrightthen.Ifhe’snota monster,thenneitherareyourparents.”
“OK…”LillyagreedwithAlex’slogicandturnedbackto Mitchell.“I’llbebravethen.”Mitchellsmiledather.
“Thankyou.”Hehuggedher.“Andthankyou,Alex.”
“Don’tthankme,therestofthatsituationisyours.”Hestood upandturnedbacktowardtheelevatorasthedoorsopened. “Ourrideishere.”Thethreeofthem steppedintothelift.Mitchell pressedthebuttonlabeled‘Main’andthedoorsclosed.“So, whatareweexpectingwhenwegetinthehospital?”
“Noclue.”
“AndourplanfortakingdownJudas?”
“Pullthetrigger…?”Mitchellshrugged.“Look,I’m justgladI gotyouintheelevator.”
“Fairenough.”Alexstaredatthenumbersastheelevator slowlyfell.“Andhow arewegoingtotakecareofyourfriend?” “Denver?”Mitchellshookhishead.“He’sbeen‘takencareof’ twice.Ithinktheonlywaytostophim istomakesurehe’snot bre
athing.”
“OK.Soourplanisliterallyjust…”Alexthoughtaboutthis statement.“Basicallyjustdoit?”
“Soundsgoodtome.”Mitchellglancedbackwithasmileon hisfaceastheliftstoppedandthedoorsslowlyopened.“Ithink notdyingbeforewegetthereisagoodideaaswell.”
“That’sagiven.”Alexstaredoutintothelobbyofthehospital. Despitetherebeingaheavyfeelingofthechaosthathadtaken placepriortothismoment,theroom wasempty.Alextookastep outintothefamiliarsetting.Somethinginhisheadwastelling him thattheroom shouldhavebeendifferent,butitwasn’t.It wastrashed,butitalllookedlikeithadthedayhecameupfor Ciara’sphysicaltherapy.Hisexpectationswerethatitwouldbe destroyed;firesburning,thewallscoveredinblood,bodiespiling upandinfectedwouldbeeverywhere.
“Itlooksclearinhere.”Alexglancedaroundtheroom. “Dependingonhow muchhaschanged,thispartwillbe
empty.It’stherestofthehospitalthatweshouldbeconcerned about.”Mitchellpeeredovertowardthehallwaythatwas colorfullypaintedandmarked‘WestWing’.Despitethisbeingthe directionhewasgoingtohavetotakeAlex,hisheadwas spinningwithanxiety;hewasscreamingathimselfinternallyto nevergobackdownthathallway.
“Yousaidyouknow whereJudasis,right?”Alexturnedback towardMitchell. “Well,ifhereallywantstocontinuehisfather’swork,andif hereallyidolizeshisfatherthewayI’m guessinghedoes…” Mitchellnoddedtowardthehallway.“Ihaveafeelinghe’llbedown thatway.”
“Let’sgothen!”Alexstartedtowardthehallway.Hepaused andturnedtolookbackatMitchell,heandLillyhadn’tmoved. “Whatareyoudoing?Let’sgo!”
“It’snotaseasyasitsounds,Alex.”Mitchellstartedtoward whereAlexwasstanding.“Look,thisiswhereitallstartedwith Andrei,backwhenitwastheBarbers,myselfandMadison.I know weneedtosaveCiara,andIhaveeveryintentionofdoing that…”Mitchelllookedbacktowardthehallway,thenervesinhis spinebegantogointooverdrive.“How couldIexplainthis better?”Mitchellglancedaroundthelobby.“Youweremilitary, didyoueverdothingsyougenuinelydidn’twantto?Idon’tmean thebasicthings,Imeanthingsthatmadeyoufeelsicktoyour stomach.”
“Idon’tunderstandwhatthishastodo–” “Yes,orno?Didyoueverdosomethingthathityoudeepinto yourcore?Somethingthatwassuchamentalshockthatit changedthewayyousaw life?”Mitchellbithislowerlipand glancedbacktowardAlex.
“Ifyou’reaskingifIhadeverkilledanyone,yes.I’vetaken morelivesthanIcancount”Alexwasstillconfused.
“No,that’snotwhatI’m referringto.”Mitchellrubbedhisbrow andstareddownatLilly.“Idon’tmeanjustsimplytakingdowna target,orshootingsomeoneelsethatwasshootingatyou.”He shookhishead.“Imeansomethingthatliterallychangedyour life,orhow youlookedatlife.Somethingthatateatyoufordays, weeks,months;somethingthat,whenyouhadfinisheddoingit, youknew youwouldneverbethesame.Comeon,Alex;Ican’t believeyouwereinthemilitarythatlonganddidn’thave somethingthatchangeditallforyou.”
“Once.”Alexstoppedandglancedback.“Itwasoneofmylast targets.Itwastheonemissionthatpromptedmyretirementand putthethoughtintomyheadthatIwasn’tsafeanymore.”He turnedbacktofacethehallway.“ItwastheonetimethatI realizedanyonecouldbeatarget;anyonecouldbethenextname scratchedoffthelist.Ciarawasstillababyatthetime,she wasn’tevenamonthold.Themanwasanotherspecialoperations soldiernamedFelix.HewasaguythatIhadworkedwitha numberoftimes,Iwouldalmostsayhewasafriend.Ihadtokill him becausehehaddonesomethingsthatthehigher-upsdidn’t like.ItwastheonlypersonIhadtokillthatIhadmetona personallevel;Iknew hishobbies,hiswife,hisbrother…”Alex thoughtaboutthatstatement.“Hell,I’dsaythatIknow his nephew prettywellnow,too.”HelookedbacktoMitchell.“Where areyouwantingmetogowiththis,Mitchell?”
“That’swhatthisplaceistome.”Mitchelllookeddownatthe scaredlittlegirlthatwasnervouslyhidingbehindhim.“That’s whatthisplaceistobothofus.Forme,itwasalastditcheffort tofindAria.LastIknew,shewashereandsafe.Igothere,and nothingwaswhatIhadhoped.ThatwasthemomentthatIknew Iwasn’tgoingtofindher;thatwasthemomentthatIstepped outsideofmyselfandrealizedwhatwouldmattertomefrom then on.Itwasn’tmyself,itwasn’twhatIwanted,itwaseveryone else.”Heglancedofftothesidewithagrimace.“Unfortunately, it’salsowhereeverythingreallyfellapart.”Hiseyesshiftedback towardAlex.“WhatI’m tryingtosayisthatthisplaceisabit traumaticforme,forbothofus.Iknow weneedtohurryand, trustme,IwanttosaveCiaraandwilldoanythingIcantohelp you.Thatsaid,weneedtotreadcarefullyifwe’reallgoingtoget outofherealive.Wehaveamanhell-bentonrevengethat kidnappedyourdaughter,andanothermanthatisbeyond psychoticprotectinghim.Ifwerunintherewithouteventhinking aboutthenextstep,there’snowaywe’llmakeitoutofthisalive.” Mitchellwasright,andAlexknew it.Hewantednothingmore thantograbagunandstartfiringonthetwoothermen,but wherewouldthatgetthem?Thefirstshotwouldlikelyhavetobe atDenver.ThiswouldbeenoughtoalertJudasthattheywere there.Timewasn’tontheirside,butneitherwascircumstance.
“Alright.”Alexnodded.“Igetit.”Heturnedbacktowardthem. “Igetthatthisisn’teasyforyou;it’snoteasyformeeither.Right now,thewayIseeit,weneedtohurryandgetintherebeforehe doeswhateverhe’splanningondoing.However,you’reright; thosetwoareunpredictable.”
“Maybewecanusethattoouradvantage…”Mitchellstared offintothehallway.
“Soundslikeyoumayhaveaplan?”Alex’ssentenceended withahopefulinflection.
“Onlyifyou’rewillingtohelp.It’snotgoingtobepretty.” Mitchellsteppedtowardthehallwayslowly.
“Dammit!”Denverscratchedhiseyewithhisfreehand.“Why doesitkeeptwitching?!”
“Youknow,Denver,youareanincrediblyloudman.”Judas glancedupathim.
“You’readoctor!”DenverwalkedtowardJudasandgrabbed thecollarofhisjacket.“Youtellme;whyismydamneye twitching?It’sbeendoingiteversincethatbastardsmackedme withhisshotgun!”Judasstaredattheman’sface;therewasa significantamountofbruisingthatwasdarkeninghalfofhis face.Theotherhalfofhisfacewasredwithscratchmarks.
“Youwerehitontherightsideofyourhead,yes?”Judas staredhim down. “Yeah.”
“Yeah!”Denverhadanexcitedlookonhisface.“Whatisit?”
“I’m afraidthere’snothingIcandoforyouhere.”Judasshook hishead.
“Why?Isitfatal?Am Igoingtodiefrom it?”Denverlethim go andshiftedtoapanickedstare.
“Well,I’m notlicensedtodiagnosethis,but…”Judasglaredat Denver.“Iwouldsaythatyouhaveabadcaseofpsikhopat.”
“Oh,god,Iknew it!”Denverthrew hisarmsupflustered.“How longuntilIdie?” “Oh,awhile,probably.”Judassmirked.“You’llbefineaslong asyoutakecareofyourself.”HeglancedovertoCiara.“How aboutyougopatrolandmakesurenothingisgoingonoutthere thatwedon’twantgoingon,alright?”DenvernoddedatJudas andwalkedintothehallway.Judasignoredhisincoherent ramblings.
“How areyoufeeling,Ciara?”Judassatinthechairinfrontof her.Thelookonherfacetoldhim everythingheneededtoknow; hermindwasracingtryingtofigureouthow toeitherescape,or how tokillhim.Itwassimple‘fightorflight’andnothingmore; easyenoughtoignore.
“I’m alittlecold.”Ciaraglanceddowntothefloorandstared silentforafew momentsbeforelookingbackupatJudas.“What didyousayhehad?”
“psikhopat.”Judaslaughedquietlyunderhisbreath.“It’s Russian…”Hesmirkedather.“…forpsychopath.” “Dammit!Iknew somethingwaswrong!”Denverstomped downintothehallwayandaroundthecorner.“Iknew it.Iknew it,dammit!”Heshookhisheadashestruggledtofocusonthe emptyhallway.“Whatwasithesaid?Seekopat?Idon’tevenknow whatthatis!”Hismindbeganshufflinghisthoughtsintoa chaoticspinashestruggledtostayonhisfeet.Hisvisionwas blurringinhislefteye,andhisrighteyehadbeeninaconstant struggleforwhatfeltlikeaneternity.Hislegsbegantomovein whatfeltlikerandom directionsashestammereddownthe hallway.“Oh,god,it’sstartingtohitmehard…”Heleaned againstawallandclosedhiseyes.
“Yougetwhatyoudeserve.That’swhatthisis;it’swhatyou deserve,Denver.”Hemouthedthewordsthatwerepilingupin hisbrain.“It’swhatyoudeserveforhurtingsomanypeople.”
“Shutthehellup!”Heshoutedatnothinginparticular.“You don’tknow anything!Youdon’tknow whoIam anymore,mama!” Hisshoutingcontinued.“Youdon’tknow whatmyasshadtodo tomakesureIgotthisfar!Iworkedmyback-endofftogetto headeveningDJ.Everyoneinthecityknew myname!Everyone!” Hescreamedloudlyandhisgravelingvoiceechoed.Hiserratic screamsfellintoadeep,scratchy,coughingfit.Hegaspedinair betweencoughs,thenranhishandoverhismouthtowi
peaway thespit.Theredstreakonhishandwasnothingnew;heignored itandreturnedtostaringdowntheemptyhallway.“Ireallydon’t feeltoogoodanymore…”Heclosedhiseyesandstaredatthe darknessofhisownthoughts.Hisgriponwhatwasrealfeltlike itwasslipping,morethanwhatheknew tobenormal.Hewas havingtroublefocusingonanything,hisvisionwasstruggling,he wasbeginningtohavetroublebreathing.Hehadbegun questioninghisownmotivation;whywashehelpingJudas?What hadJudasdoneforhim?
Denver’seyesshotopenquicklyandhefocusedonthe darknessdownthehallway.Hehadheardsomethingatthat moment,somethingquietandoutofplace;thesoundofsmall feetrunningontile.Itcouldn’tbeaninfected,theyweretypically heavyintheirsteps.Hepushedawayfrom hisplaceonthewall andstartedtowalktowardwherethesoundcamefrom.Hissteps weresilentasheslowlyplacedonefootinfronttheoftheother, rockingthem from heeltotoeonthelinoleum.Eachsteptook him furtherintothehospitalanddeeperintothedarkhallways.
“Hello?”Denver’sscratchyvoicefellintothehallwaywithno response.“Whoisthat?”Heliftedhisrifleandpausedashe edgedtowardthecorner.Hewaitedandlistenedforanother sound;itwassilent.
“I’m notplayingthisgame.IfIturnthiscornerandyou’re there,I’m goingtoaddaboutadozenholestoyourmidsection!” Denversmirked.Hestoodandwaitedforaresponseoncemore, stillnothing.“Well,it’syourfuneral!”Hethrew himselfintothe openhallwayandstareddowntotheend.Hisfingermoved towardthetriggerontherifle,butslowlypulledawayashe staredatthesmallfigureattheendofthehallway.“Lilly?” Denver’svoicehadasenseofhopeinit.“Lillyisthatyou?”
“I…um…”Lillyshiftedherheadtoherrightandstaredfora secondbeforelookingbacktoDenver.“Yes?”Herbreathingwas heavyandquick.“Hi,MisterDenver.”
“WellI’llbedamned.”Denverdroppedhisrifletohissideand startedtoslowlywalktowardLilly.“Itisyou.You’rereallyhere, you’renotjustinmymind!”Hepaused.“You…”Helooked aroundthehallway,itwasempty;afew doorsandpaintingson thewalls.“Youaren’tinmyhead,right?Youreallyarestanding there?”Hetookanothercautiousstep.“Justtellmeyou’rereal,I don’twanttogothroughthisagain.”