"Elaina!" Victor screamed. "No! Come back! Don't do this!"

His voice seemed so distant, like it was coming through water, as Elaina continued to run, her boots pounding rhythmically on the concrete sidewalk. She could hear the gunshots but they were muffled, and someone that sounded familiar was bellowing what sounded like, "Stop! STOP!"

I can't. I can't stop. I need to reach that light.

It was the stupidest thing Elaina had ever done, running out of a gunfight with the Mafia on her heels, but her fear was threatening to choke her. But miraculously, the gunfire seemed to halt, or maybe she was already dead and her ghost was the one striving to reach the subway station and its appealing light.

It seemed so far away.

Elaina kept running, pushing herself forward as fast as she could. Adrenaline was racing through her, beating back the fear, and she risked a glance behind her, suddenly aware that this was no dream.

Someone was running behind her.

With the combined dark and the running, she couldn't tell who it was, but the figure pointed no gun at her. It must be Victor, she thought wildly. It must be. Anyone else could just shoot me, shoot me right through the back. And that would solve half their troubles. They want me dead, don't they?

Don't they?

Doesn't Tony want me dead?

The light was closer, spilling out of the underground station. It was warm, it was inviting, it was safety and relief and life all in one and Elaina had never wanted anything more than to be welcomed within its circle, to be walking down those steps into the station and toward her ticket out of this whole thing.

Right as Elaina reached the top of the steps, relief blossoming in her chest and spreading throughout her body, a hand grabbed her arm.

She whirled, expecting to see Victor, but the grim face of Tony stared back at her.

Tony.

Elaina opened her mouth, whether to scream, curse, weep, or beg, she didn't know. Tony clapped a hand over her mouth and forcefully escorted her past the station. She fully expected to feel a gun muzzle pressed into her ribs or against her temple and his voice ominously instructing her not to cause any trouble, but she didn't feel the weapon touch her, just his arms, guiding her, entrapping her.

Tony directed her into the first alleyway they came across, the darkness cutting her off from Victor and the subway station and life. Any moment now, Tony would draw his gun and kill her. Any moment now. He probably wanted to smile into her face before he did it, whisper some last words or something.

Halfway down the alley, Tony stopped and positioned her against the wall, standing right in front of her. He looked into her eyes, expression still grave.

This is it.

Elaina closed her eyes, waiting for the end. She hoped it would come quickly.

"Elaina," she instead heard, Tony's voice whispered and urgent. "Elaina, you need to listen to me."

Elaina opened her eyes, staring into his serious ones. He still was gripping her arm and the other hand covered her mouth. As he looked at her, he released her arm and placed his hand on the wall by her side.

"All right, Elaina, I'm going to take my hand off your mouth if you promise not to scream."

I need to scream. I really need to scream. He's going to kill me anyway, isn't he?

"Elaina, you need to trust me. I don't know what Victor told you but –"

"Get away from her!"

Victor's voice echoed through the alleyway as the crack of a gunshot followed his words. Tony yelped and fell away from Elaina, drawing his gun a bit awkwardly with his left hand and firing back at his brother from behind the flimsy cover of a fire escape ladder. Elaina dropped to the ground, resisting the urge to cover her head and cower, and reached for her gun instead.

Victor cursed as Elaina glanced up. Tony fired again but his aim was off; she noticed he was using his left hand when he was normally right handed. Victor's aim also seemed a little shaky – due to an injury, perhaps?

Elaina lifted her gun, preparing to aim it at Tony right as he moved in front of her, stepping between her and Victor. "Stay down," he murmured. "Please, Elaina, listen. It's for your own safety."

What?

I thought Tony was trying to kill me?

"No!" Elaina exclaimed, rising. She pressed her gun to Tony's back, between his shoulder blades, and felt his body stiffen, his gun still pointing in Victor's direction. "I will not listen to you, Tony Andrisano. I will not be taken in and die like Tilly!"

"Who?" Tony asked, and his voice sounded actually perplexed.

Victor, who had ducked behind a dumpster for cover, peered out, seeing Elaina holding Tony at gunpoint. He grinned. "Good job, Elaina! Let's finish him off."

Tony stood silently, as though waiting, his gun stil aimed at Victor, who had his own gun up, directed at his brother. But neither Andrisano fired. Dead silence filled the alleyway.

Elaina gulped. The thing she had been dreading was finally before her: having to shoot Tony. To kill him.

You have no choice.

In order to escape all this, he must die.

Elaina caressed the trigger with her finger, struggling to steel her nerves so she could do the task. But her nerves refused to comply, her entire body refused to shoot the man standing before her, waiting for her to pull the trigger and end it all, not making a move.

And Elaina couldn't do it.

She turned and ran.