048. DEAD

"Harry?"

READY TO COMPLY, 001? READY TO COMPLY, 001? READY TO COMPLY, 001? READY TO COMPLY, 001?

READY TO COMPLY, 001? READY TO COMPLY, 001? READY TO COMPLY, 001?

READY TO COMPLY, 001? READY TO COMPLY, 001? READY TO COMPLY, 001?

READY TO COMPLY, 001? READY TO COMPLY, 001?

READY TO COMPLY, 001?

"Harry, are you alright?"

XX

Harry held Rory's lifeless body in his arms.

Dallas sat in the driver's seat, flying the car down the street at full speed. Colson was in the back, next to Harry, trying to stop the bleeding.

No one asked stupid questions.

No one dared to utter, "what the fuck are we going to do?" or "where the fuck are we going to go?"

Once her body was removed from the hidden attic and everyone got in the car, they assumed their positions without needing verbal confirmation. 

They were following procedure - it had been a while since they all acted so robotic.

Every cell device in the car started to go off, overwhelming the vehicle with ringing and buzzing sounds.

Dallas put his phone to his ear. "Hey, we're on the way to the warehouse..." he said, "You're there? Okay... No, Kip, it's fucking bad. Really bad... We're less than five minutes out... Put Stefano on the phone. I'll let Colson explain."

The phone was tossed to the back seat.

"Puncture wound in her neck," Colson explained, "And a large open wound on the inside of her arm...."

Harry drowned out the conversation. His hand caressed her cheek, instantly feeling the chill of her cold skin. At this moment, the only thing he could think about was that he had failed her. The only thing he swore to do, he couldn't. He should have let her go the moment he thought her life was at risk by someone that wasn't him.

It would have never been like this months ago. Harry would have let her go the second he realized she was no longer his target and might become one for someone else. He would have stepped away and kept her safe by doing so. But she was impossible for him to leave and to forget about.

Now she was dead.

"Yeah, it's on the lower half of her neck...." Colson's voice drifted back into Harry's mind, speaking on the phone. "Yeah... Skin is red and splotchy. It looks like a rash...." His attention pulled away from Rory as he searched the back seat. Grabbing a medical box, he rummaged through it. "Got it," he announced, holding up a needle. Flicking the side, Colson pushed the material of Rory's skirt up her thigh.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Harry snapped, pulling her clothing back down.

Colson swatted Harry's hand away. "Trying to save her, you idiot," he sneered back. The sharp end of the object disappeared into her flesh, injecting the clear liquid into her body. "Okay, it's in," he said into the phone, waiting for further instruction.

Harry fell silent, his attention returning to Rory. He couldn't stop thinking about how he failed her. He failed her. He let her die. Her blood was on his hands. Lots of blood from those who died because of him stained his hands. But none of them mattered in comparison to her. Not even close.

The car veered a sharp corner and sped down a hill before suddenly stopping. Everything happened so fast. All the car doors opened. Rory's body was taken out of his grasp. He watched as nurses, dressed in blue scrubs, placed her dead body on a gurney and wheeled her away from him. Harry tried to follow but was instantly held back.

Voices spoke, pleading for him to calm down, but their words fell on deaf ears. All he could hear was the panic in his chest. All he could feel was the burning desire to be with her. All he wanted was to never let her out of his sight again. How could he trust anyone else around her? What if these so-called medical professionals were in on it? What if everyone was on it? What if-

READY TO COMPLY, 001?

No, please, no, the voice in his head begged.

"Harry?"

Forcing his eyes away from the door Rory disappeared behind, Harry straightened his posture and caused the fear to vanish from his expression. "What?"

"Let's talk," Stefano said, motioning for them to follow.

Without uttering a response, Harry agreed with a slight nod. He ignored the pressing, worrying stares he felt Colson burning into the back of his head. Colson knew what had to be pressing in his mind - but thankfully, Harry didn't have to hear his friend question him about it.

He couldn't deal with that. Not now.

"So you have a fucking hospital in this warehouse too?" Dallas asked as they entered a room. "Damn. Big money you guys got going on."

Stefano shrugged, a small smile of amusement appearing on his lips at the remark. "Doctor Khan makes house calls. She is very good at her job. I can't tell you how often she's stitched me up in a filthy gas station or motel bathroom."

Pleasantries were exchanged amongst the group while Harry stared at the man sitting cowardly at the table. His blood boiled at the sight of Kip, anger rising within him at uncontrollable levels.

"She's dead because of you."

The room fell silent at the sound of Harry's remark.

Kip blinked, mouth falling slightly agape. "I- I didn't-" he started to stutter as his glossy eye darted to the others in the room.

"Can you do your fucking job or not?"

Stefano stepped forward. "Hold on, now. Before we start pointing fingers, let's take a breath."

"Take a breath?" Harry spat, glaring at the man. "Rory is fucking dead over his incompetence, and you want me to take a fucking breath?"

"This is not Kip's fault."

"Bullshit!" he sneered. "He couldn't do the one fucking thing we needed from him, and now look what's happened? Rory is-"

"We were set up tonight!" Stefano yelled, cutting him off, forcing the room to fall quiet. Releasing a breath, he crossed his arms over his chest and added, "I understand your frustration; believe me, I do. But I have the best medical staff trying to save her life right now, and taking your anger out on him is not how we will operate tonight. The cameras were hacked, and once Kip made that discovery, it was too late. You were already in the dead zone. So he did the right thing and immediately called me."

Harry turned his head to the side. "You should have known they were hacked."

"It doesn't work like that," Kip muttered. "I already feel bad enough about this, alright?" Panic evident in his tone, tears began to weld in his eyes. With the slightest crack of his voice, Kip added, "But I followed everything you told me to do when there's an emergency!"

Dallas hurried to Kip and kneeled beside him. "Hey, buddy. Don't do that to yourself, okay? Putting the blame on your shoulders isn't going to help us now, right?"

"But Harry-" Kip whined quietly.

"But nothing."

A beat of silence filled the room before Colson spoke up and asked, "What the fuck happened tonight? Because none of this shit is fucking normal. This wasn't a normal attack."

While the others dove into a conversation regarding the night's events, Harry paced back and forth. "This wasn't a normal attack," he repeated to himself. "We were set up." Catching the kid's saddened expression, he added, "It's not Kip's fault. It's yours."

"We trust no one," Stefano muttered. "If the men outside watching her apartment aren't already dead, we will kill them. We can't take any fucking chances." Stefano listed off those considered safe - including those standing in the room, the Doctor, Giovanni, and two other top-ranking family members within their organization. "We must clean house."

"So, do you think there was a rat?"

Stefano poured himself a glass of amber liquid. "I don't know. But I'm not taking anything for granted." Finishing his drink in one swing, he said, "A dead zone, an empty apartment building, and an attack on that girl. Whoever did this made it a personal attack. Giovanni will take care of the apartment - remove any traces that remain of your presence, and-"

"They wrote in her blood," Harry whispered, loud enough to gain the attention of the others in the room. He continued to pace back and forth. "Her blood..."

"Harry?"

"She's fucking dead," he whispered to himself, pulling on the strands of his hair. "She's fucking dead, and it's my fault. And whoever did it knows-"

READY TO COMPLY, 001?

Harry winced.

READY TO COMPLY, 001?

Something tied around his lungs in a tight knot, making it impossible to breathe.

READY TO COMPLY, 001?

Every second it became harder to fight off.

READY TO COMPLY, 001?

"What's happening to him?" he heard a voice that sounded like Stefano's ask.

"Shit," Colson mumbled. "Haz, come on. Stay with me."

Harry felt his body be maneuvered into a chair. He tried to make out the fact in front of him but could only see a figure - everything else was a blur.

"Can you still hear me, Haz?"

Harry opened his mouth to respond with a yes. But the words he spoke instead sent a chilling silence throughout the room.

"Ready to comply."

// PRESENT //

"Harry, are you alright?"

Harry pulled his attention away from the window. "What?"

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah. Why?"

Colson cleared his throat and took a step forward. "You've been staring out that window for a solid five minutes."

"I thought I saw a deer," he said, adding a nonchalant shrug. Turning his attention back to the food in front of him, Harry finished his task and added everything to a plate. "If you would excuse me," he said, picking up the tray and heading out of the kitchen.

A glass of juice. Some fruit. A small amount of chocolate. And, of course, his famous mac and cheese - a favourite in the household, along with pancakes.

Knocking on the door, he waited for an answer before poking his head in. "Hungry?"

XX

When Harry woke, he found himself bound to a chair with his wrists tied behind his back.

If it weren't for Kip sitting awkwardly at the table, Harry would have assumed he had woken up in the enemy's lair. Who their enemy still remained a mystery. But at least he would have had some answers.

Adjusting his eyes to the light, Harry let out a groan. "How long have I been out?"

"About ten minutes." Kip took a sip of his soda. "The others just stepped out to get some food. They'll be back in a minute."

Silence fell over the two of them. Harry blamed it on the pounding headache in his head, but he knew he had to make things right with Kip - no matter how much talking pained him at the moment.

"I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you," Harry said to the kid across the room. "You're my little brother, Kip. Sometimes I forget that, and I react without thinking it through." He paused, attempting to adjust his position on the chair to make it more comfortable. "I've quickly learned today that I need to stop blaming others. So, it's not your fault. It's mine."

Kip tapped his fingers against the table. "It's not your fault either-"

"It is. Rory left because of me, and now she's dead because of me."

"She might make it."

"Might," Harry repeated. "I know what might means." He rubbed his wrists together. "The worst part is... I still don't know what the fuck I said to make her leave."

"It was the night she found out about Gio and the partnership." Noting his surprised look, Kip added, "She told me."

"She told you what I said?"

Kip nodded.

"Shit," he mumbled, eyes drifting to the ground. "When did she find out about that?"

Harry meant for the words to be spoken to himself. But Kip instantly picked up on what he said.

"Are your blackouts back?"

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not! Not if that's happening again! Why didn't you tell us?"

Harry turned his head to the door, hearing distant voices approaching. "Don't say anything."

"But-"

"Please, Kip. Not now, okay? We have other shit to worry about."

// PRESENT //

"You know, it really helps when you hover over my shoulder like that," Kip spat sarcastically, glaring at the man behind him.

"Sorry," Harry mumbled, taking half a step back.

"Oh wow. All better now, thanks." Kip shoved a mouthful of mac and cheese into his mouth before turning his attention to the multiple computer screens in front of him.

Harry did his best to ignore the snippy remark. Tensions were running high - it was only a matter of time before even Kip, the nicest one of them all, started to get a tone.

A few days had passed since the attack on Rory. Now they were all in a safe house, miles away from civilization, all living under the same roof. It had been years since the four of them had lived this way for consistent days at a time. And Harry was quickly reminded of why.

Everyone was stressed and on edge.

Dallas spent his time overthinking any missteps he had taken.

Colson was worried about whether he downplayed the threats they faced before the attack.

Kip blamed himself, regardless of how often he was told it wasn't his fault.

And Harry felt everyone's stress on his shoulders, and then some. He blamed himself for that night and for every night Rory wasn't at his house. He blamed himself for making her leave and putting Colson at fault instead of self-reflecting on his actions. He blamed himself for getting mad at Kip and blaming him over something that was out of his control. And he blamed himself for Rory getting hurt and her death-

No - not her death. She's not dead. She's going to make it.

"This is going to take me a while," Kip said, typing madly away on his computer. "You might want to sit down."

Harry sat down on the bed, tapping his feet. Opening his wallet, he stared at the picture inside. He desperately wished they could go back to that day - to when they were happy. Harry missed seeing her smile and the way she blushed whenever she admitted something she liked or heard a compliment. He missed how she got excited over textbooks or when she could manipulate someone else. He missed how she responded to him saying her name or when he told her she was smart.

Shit. If she- no, when she wakes up, I'll never shut up about how smart she is.

"Hey, code H," Harry could overhear Kip say.

Harry didn't bother to look up and ask. He knew what was coming. And sure enough, seconds later, Dallas was kneeling beside him.

"I'm fine," Harry quickly said. "I'm fine."

"Why don't we go for a walk?"

"Kip needs me."

Dallas sighed. "I think he'll be fine."

"No, he-"

"I'll be fine!" Kip called out, stuffing his face with more food. "Go on! Take a walk... please."

XX

Harry watched from the corner of his eye as the Doctor and Stefano spoke in hushed voices.

The woman appeared shaken, frightened over something, and Stefano was comforting her, much to Harry's surprise. The reason behind her fears was unknown - but Harry wondered if it was over Rory dying. He overheard the likelihood of her surviving was low - practically nothing.

Everyone else seemed to accept that she was going to die. And as much as it angered him, Harry knew soon enough that he would have to face reality.

Rory was going to die.

Rory will die.

She will.

Harry was just waiting for the moment it was announced. Suffering in silence was beginning to take its toll.

"It appears gifts were left behind," Stefano announced as he returned, holding up two identical items.

"What are those?"

Tossing them to Colson, he said, "Lockets. Doctor Khan found one around Rory's neck."

"And the other?"

Stefano cleared his throat and looked at Harry. "It seems your vulnerability was a target tonight..." his voice dropped to a whisper, stealing a look at Doctor Khan, "And mine was sent as a warning."

Harry turned his attention to Doctor Khan, watching as she wiped her eyes, took a deep breath, straightened her posture and headed back into the operating room. His glance returned to Stefano, noting the way his eyes flashed with a mix of anger and sadness.

Colson held the locket up to the light. "They're identical copies of the one we have."

"Let me see," Kip said, taking them in his hand. He flipped the item around in his hand before opening it. "There's a USB in this one."

"Well, kid," Dallas clapped his hand on Kip's back, "Looks like it's time to prove your worth."

// PRESENT //

Every passing minute reminded Harry that he was far from okay.

Thinking about her being in that room made him remember that night. He thought about how he failed her. He thought about how he let her get hurt. And he thought about those words on the fall written in her blood.

Harry hadn't been okay for a while. It was something he had been keeping buried down inside him. But it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to keep it a secret - especially when the others noticed.

The moment he admitted out loud that he wasn't okay, a weight felt like it was lifted off his shoulders.

The pain still stabbed his head, but it became more tolerable.

The repetition of those three words, followed by his code name, became less frequent.

Dallas kept him on a strict schedule. Waking up at the same time. Going for a run. Eating healthy. Meditating. Going for another run. Meditating. Boxing. Meditating. Bed.

It was working.

That was until it stopped.

"I'm sorry... we did everything we could."

Three words.

That's all it took.

Three words.

Three words made him remember why they were here and destroyed any remaining hope he had left.

Three fucking words.

"Rory is dead."

:)