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Ethan 

Even as I paced back and forth in my living room, ignoring the constant chiming of my phone, my heart felt unsteady against my chest. I was unable to calm myself, my mind thinking different thoughts all at once, looking for a little ounce of sanity and serenity, but could find none. Then again, how could I have peace? After what I've done... After acting so recklessly... What even was I thinking? Why didn't I reason it all before taking action? Why did I let my stupid self pull that trigger? There had to have been another way... How could I have pulled the trigger without a second thought? What the hell is wrong with me? Do I even understand the gravity of what I have done? I just killed-- 

I couldn't even think it. Thinking of it would bring up thoughts, thoughts that would bring up impossible solutions to everything that happened today... Edith... 

At the thought of her, I could feel myself breaking all over again. 

I shouldn't have let her go... I should have forced her into listening to me... Should have put in more efforts.. If I had, she would have been with me the whole time... she would still be here with us... with Malcolm... God, Malcolm... What is he going to do now? How do I even talk to him? What could I even possibly say to him that'll ease the pain he was undoubtedly going through? 

This was all my fault... I should have stopped all this from the start... should have found a way to convince Ivy that the recovery of the Core was farfetched... that something was seriously off... and indeed something was. We might have succeeded, but I had no doubt in my mind that Glory made that happen.. She would have never allowed us leave with the Core.

There was no doubt in my mind that she wanted Ivy dead tonight, that was exactly why she pulled that little stunt with Ralph... What was she thinking? That I would let Ralph hurt her? 

I paused... 

Or was she trying to prove something to me? Was she trying to prove that going against her was bound to bring up an unfortunate event? That I was bound to lose someone I care about, be it Ralph or Ivy? 

It didn't take long for me to realise what game Glory had played with me, with Ivy, with everyone of us... Now I know why I couldn't even bring myself to tears... I was mad, I was angry at myself for not seeing this before... for not seeing Glory for who she really was... Angry that I underestimated her, angry that I once again believed she wouldn't do anything like this... I was even more mad that I let this happen... I was mad that I didn't stop us from walking right into one of her stupid traps... How could I have been so blind and stupid? 

With the last sound from my phone, came a gentle knock from the front door. 

I paused, my eyes going over to my door. 

The knock came in again, soft, calm and calculated. 

My jaw clenched, my hand balling into a hard fist as I moved to pull the door open. "I would have gone to a conclusion that you had a death wish, but seeing as you already cheated that a long time ago, you're probably just desperate for my attention." 

Glory smiled. "You seem to be doing better than expected... how you've grown, son." 

I ignored that. "You still have the nerve to come here? After everything you did tonight?" 

"Can I come in?" 

"No you can't." I injected almost immediately. 

She chuckled. "You might wanna reconsider that because what I have to say is pretty important." 

"I do not want to hea-" 

"It is about your girlfriend." 

My heart jumped. "What the hell did you do-" 

"She is fine... back at the Rebel's test room, consoling dear Malcolm for his loss. Allow me in and I'll tell you." 

Crap.

Reluctantly, I stepped aside, allowing her the space to walk in, in which she took her precious time as I closed the door, turning to face her. "Say whatever it is you want to say and get the hell out." 

She furrowed her brows at me. "Why are you angry at me? I should be the one angry at you for how stupid it was to give the Core over to Dean. That was the most foolish thing the Rebel-lions have done so far." 

"You don't seem bothered by it. Meaning my guess was right... This was all a set up, wasn't it? You sent Dean to us. You made us go there, gave us hope that finally, we can all be free, and then snatch it away, along with innocent lives." 

She didn't look fazed at all. "So you caught me." Was all she said. "It is quite late for that though." 

"What did you give him? What did you offer Dean? Why is he on your side?" I asked, already knowing I wasn't going to get an answer to that question. 

"I do not have to tell you that... All you need to know is that, if anything, you all fastened the process of the new dimension coming to life... well, more like we have a few hours before we all move." She smiled. 

At that information, I had a strong urge to yell my fucking heart out of her, while wrapping my fingers around her neck, strangling the daylight out of her little calm eyes. The image was so clear in my head that it felt as if I had already done it. "So what? You fooled us... Made us waste precious time and the lives of innocent people-" 

"To teach you a lesson, my dear. If I had told you, which I had, to stay away from this whole mission to stop me, would you have listened? Did you listen to me? No... No you didn't... just like every other time. You never listen to me Ethan." 

"So that's why you made me choose between Ivy and Ralph... You toyed with my emotions and Edith, you let her die." 

"She should have watched her back like you warned her." 

God, how sick can this woman get?

I closed my eyes. "You watched everything." I stated, pulling my eyes back open. They burned, burned so much that I feared I was about to show the devil my vulnerable side. 

"Yes, yes I did. You should have let Ralph pull that trigger. Ivy was going to die either way."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I asked, containing the anger and the worry brewing within me. 

"But I didn't expect it though," She continued, almost like my question didn't reach her ear. "I guess you choosing Ivy over Ralph was the only surprise I got today... I had all my silver coins on Ivy getting killed tonight. Love sure does crazy things to a person, doesn't it? Even if it involves killing someone you've know for longer, someone you called your brother." 

Games... Pawns... That is exactly what we mean to this woman... puppets on her strings, an entertainment when she got bored. 

My teeth clashed down on each other, as I asked again. "What do you mean by Ivy dying either way." 

She smiled at me, her hand reaching into her pocket  as she brought out a small tube, a purplish substance stoping just at the middle of the tube. "You see, this new dimension we're about to enter... it was well thought of... The flaws of this dimension, has no home in the new one, my dear. This means, humans won't be allowed into it... I'm talking anyone without a chip." She said. "The tradition of Outsiders getting to own one of the subjects by chance has now been banned, seeing as that didn't go too well with the Fisher girl. Also, as you know, the dimension is a replica of earth itself, and after the great downfall of the Rebel-lions, people are going to need some comfort, and this dimension is there to give it to them, in a way that none of them would remember the real earth as it is; and I wouldn't want any human from the outside tampering with that, so that's also a ban to Portals and all Barrier stones." 

I swallowed. 

"All humans in this Dimension, are going to die with this dimension." She said. 

"You seem to be forgetting I'm human, and I have no chip." I said, fishing for what her endgame was.

"That is where this little life saver comes in." She said, taking a step closer to me, as she raised the tube in her hand. "This is the only serum available... I have kept it with me for a long time." She said. 

I watched her drop the tube on the centre table. "You're going to have to take it in order  to be able to cross over to the new earth." 

"And, Ivy?" 

"I'm afraid there is none left for her." She said. "She always did want to be free, didn't she? This is that freedom... well, not in the way she expected it though, but I divulge it is better than crossing over to another prison she would be very well aware of." 

"What makes you think I wouldn't just give this to Ivy and stay back instead." 

Her face hardened. "You wouldn't dare." Her voice had gone hard. "You wouldn't be so foolish to sacrifice yourself for something so replaceable." 

"There's no life without her for me... What's the point of living knowing she wouldn't be there?" My voice had gone down, reflecting the way I felt through every syllable... every tone... 

Defeated.. Completely and utterly defeated. 

Glory came close enough to touch me, her hand coming to my cheek. The care in her eyes that seemed to always sway me every time, did absolutely nothing to me this time. "Ethan... You have a bright future ahead of you, a potential... A striking ability never seen before, one that you can still master in time. You have me, a mother who would turn the world around, just so you could be happy... You wouldn't throw all of that away, just for some human girl, would you? You wouldn't throw me away. I know you won't." She smiled at me. "You have a few hours with her, say your goodbyes and be at the district on time... you would be leaving on a different portal with me and Silas." 

When I didn't respond to her, she sighed, taking her hand away from my face. "Listen, I know it's hard, I know you love her... Trust me, I do... And I'm sorry for making you have to choose once more... But I trust you to make the right decision... I trust you to come to me." She gave me a small hopeful smile, before making her way around me, and walking out of the door, closing it gently behind her. 

It was all for nothing... Everything we did, everyone we lost... It was all for nothing.

At the end, she won... 

Glory won.

____

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THE FINALE WILL BE COMING UP BY TOMORROW! GUYS! I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE HERE!!! AT THE ENDGAME!! AND GLORY-- ARGH!

Anyway, what do you think of this chapter? 

Glory had it all planned out, how didn't they see this coming? 

What decision do you think Ethan is going to make? Who's staying back? Ethan or Ivy? 

SEE YOU GUYS AT THE SEASON FINALE! 

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See ya!