Within the chaos, two arms suddenly wrapped around my torso, and a loud gunfire followed, loud enough to make my eardrums numb. It felt as if the bullet pierced right through me but just then, body hugging me, jolted right after and the gun from my palm, slipped. Realization washed over me, and it was loud and clear. The arms that hugged me, tight, gradually fell weaker. I turned around to see the most lively eyes, void, ripped off of life. I tried to hold him, but the life was gradually slipping out of him, as the body became heavier and collapsed right in front of me, eyes wide open. I could feel my hands sweating up and my stomach churn. I stood frozen, powerless, paralyzed, numb. Jacob was lying on the ground, bleeding and barely breathing. I collapsed on my knees in front of the dying person, failing to process anything straight.

I gazed up to see Corvett standing with a rifle, blowing off the steam from the last fire. He looked at me, startled at the failed fire. It was me, who he tried to kill, but Jake took it in him. All I could feel was a sudden rush of heat, burning up my face, as I gritted my teeth until my gums hurt. The adrenaline rushed through my whole body. The beast was back in me, in the form of a deadly vengeance.

I grabbed my rifle that was lying right next to me, stood up at once, fired three shells at him, which travelled right through his head, piercing it and letting out splashes of blood all over his face. That sound of gun fire, was loud, harsh than the one that killed Jake. Yet it was a melody to my ears. A deadly melody that can wash away all evil.

With Corvett, came down the vengeance, the heat and also my strength. That fall took with itself, that small house that I build for myself, the walls that kept my vulnerability at bay, the rooms that charged me up with the strength of a beast. The house that took me years to build was shattered in this moment. A calmness took over me. And, the rage streamed down my eyes in the form of tears, that was too powerful for me to restrain. Everything around me blurred out. Every noise near me seemed to get shallow. I forgot where I was, until I felt a sharp hit at the back of my neck. It sent across a current shock through my nerves, jolting every joint of my body. I was finally drained off all the strength that was left in me, as everything in my eyes engulfed in darkness and my body came down, crashing into the ground.

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Jackson's POV;

Medic: Sooo yup, she is out of any form of danger, now. Good thing, was rescue actions were prompt enough. She did had a severe concussion, but it couldn't do much harm. I have given her the sedatives to let herself heal. If she wakes up, I'll just be a call away. Allow me for now.

Jackson: Hm..Thank you.

Medic: Anytime.

The three continuous fires dragged everyone out of their zones, but before anyone could react, it was too late, we rushed to wake her up, when we saw Jacob in a pool of blood. The fight was over with the wake of dawn, I was back before that. I learned from Jereff that apparently, everyone associated with the trafficking were successfully taken down and the kids were traced by the police in one piece.

It is 12 in the noon, I am standing by the window of room and constantly studying the autumn leaves that were shedding themselves gradually, leaving the tree as an ugly empty bark, yearning for new leaves to grow in it. I have been waiting here with the tenth cigarette in my hand since 9 in the morning. As, I turned around, Madeline was sleeping peacefully at the corner of my bed. Had it been Jacob, she would have been in a hospital properly nursed and treated. The silent harmony in which her chest rose and fell was completely opposite to the strong winds that blew at the other side of the window seal. But, I know the storm that the sedative concealed was worse than the wind, that left her completely tormented. I waited in the room silently, waking around the perimeter, waiting for her to wake up, filling up the ash tray with buts as minutes seemed like hours, and my patience was on the verge of blowing up.

It was 17: 25 by my clock when her lashes slowly flickered. She opened her eyes half way but twitched her nose and closed it back. Her, right hand slowly travelled to the back of her neck as she let out a low groan. As, the sedatives was loosing it's effects, the pain was slowly creeping in. With that, the discomfort, as she slowly started to throw false kicks and gasp for breath, while her eyes still shut. I went up to her and cupped her cheek, when to started to murmur incohorent words.
Madeline: Let me go! Lemme go!

It was definitely the nightmare, she spoke about. I tried calling her out by name. Initially, in a considerably lower tone, then in a higher tone. She jolted out at my second call and looked up at me with eyes wide open. Eyes, that were filled with terror. She sat up at once, holding me with her ice cold palm.

Madeline(quivering): They're coming for me. They are coming for me

Jackson: No one is coming for you. You killed them, okay?

Madeline moved her head in denial, but stopped half way with a subtle inquiring crease on her eyebrows. She looked away from him and scanned through the perimeter of the room.

Jackson: You..were hit at the back of your head.

Her look soften, as realisation finally hit. The terror in her eyes slowly subsided, but the confusion still prevailed. I sat by her side as she looked up at me like a empty slate.

Jackson(forcing a smile): Yes, you did it. You killed Corvett. But, just before, you could turn, someone hit at the back of your head with an iron rod, and you fell unconscious. Everything happened in front of my eyes, but I couldn't stop.I am sor.....

Madeline(interrupting him): Where is Jake?

Jackson: Um...well see victory is on our side. The kids were released, and...and.. those men were taken down. It is finally over.

Madeline: Where is Jake?

Nothing, I said seemed to have an effect on her. She kept a dead stare on me, throughout, without any emotion surfacing and the only question she asked was about Jacob's whereabout.

Madeline: What's wrong? Why did you stop? I need to see him.

Jackson: See, *sigh* every good thing in this planet comes with a price.

Madeline(now in a stern voice): I want to see Jake.

Jackson: (trying to keep his composure) Corvett tried to shoot you. Jake came in just in time and the bullet went right through his skull.

Madeline: Which hospital?

Jackson: What? Madeline.. No, he...

Madeline: Forget it. Let me call Cleo, I need to know how he is. He can be really stupid, at times. I...

She started looking for her phone, scanning through the bed table, beneath the sheets, desperately.

Jackson: Madeline, (cupping her left cheek).... he is no more.

Madeline: Bullshit! It was just a gunshot, he survived many. He is a fighter. You are wrong.

She stayed calm all throughout this conversation. She denied all that I have said, like nothing ever happened. Not even a single wince showed on her face. I knew it wasn't her speaking. It was the shock that she got. She was nothing, but numb. This had to be broken.

Jackson: He did not survive the trauma.

Madeline: Where's my phone?

Jackson(confused): Inside the drawer.

She looked to her right, and pulled out the first drawer.

Madeline: Thank you. (courtesy smiling) I need to make a call real quick.

Jackson(frowning): Who are you calling?

Madeline: Jake

Jackson: Okay, this is it.

I did, what I had to do, at that moment. I snatched away the phone.

Madeline: HEY!!

Jackson: I am not going to let it continue. DO YOU HEAR ME???

Madeline: HE IS NOT DEAD!!!

She screamed at the top of her voice. This time, her eyes turned red as she started to shiver. She was finally lifting up the veil to let out the vulnerability. I pulled her closer and wrapped my arms across her, tight, as she kept shivering in my embrace.

Jackson(low consoling tone): You need to accept this. He is not defeated. He died. But, he did not fail. He died a hero.

Maybe, that was all she needed to hear at this moment. Her body stopped shivering, as I started to feel her heavy breaths against my chest and my sleeves started to dampen. Suddenly, she let out a loud cry that echoed through every corner of my house, and an emptiness followed with her wails. By, loosing her biggest strength, she failed to keep up her high walls. I never saw her this vulnerable. With, every wail, I could feel her cracking and breaking down into pieces. This big crater that was formed in her, there was nothing in this world I could do to fill that. In moments like this, the only thing we desperately need is a reverse button. As second chance to fix things that were broken. Alas! no wealth, no power, no gem, no tricks can bring back someone we lose. Nothing can change the fact, we are the slaves to our own lives. I held her more tightly in a vague attempt to prevent her broken pieces from falling apart. As, a silent assurance, that she is not alone in this. She will never be.