As the night progressed, Sylis only got more and more anxious. He never left his office—not even to go eat—he just sunk in his chair with his hands clinging unto each other, clinging for dear life. Questions flooded his brain as he listened to the raindrops burst on impact.

What if I cannot find her?

What if Shadow finds her first?

What if I cannot save her?

But the question that weighed the heaviest on his mind was the following:

What if she dies?

He did not know if the 'she' in question was Lilin or Piper. Maybe it was a little of both. He cared about them both, if not one, in particular, a little more. He hated waiting, and yet he was sitting around, waiting for something to happen. It had been hours after Lilith had ended their conversation. He was all alone now.

The only comfort he had left was the ring—that stupid ring with its three tiny, little diamonds looking up at him. He knew what they meant, what they symbolized. He had told himself the meaning many times before. I rang in his ears like an unruly mantra.

The past.

The present.

The future.

The past.

The present.

The future.

The past.

The present.

The future.

Everything seemed to be too much for the poor man driving him into true madness with worry. The full moon was too bright. The rain was too loud. The ring was too symbolic. Everything wanted to grab and hold his attention like how he wished Lilin would hold his face and say sweet nothings into his ears, just to calm him.

God, why was waiting so difficult?

Then everything disappeared. They all faded into the background as he emerged from his prison of thoughts. He heard only one thing. It was constant and simple. A noise that repeated over and over again. Like a slow metronome.

Sylis looked up from his office chair. Behind him was a grandfather clock. It's loud and low dongs telling him it was a new hour.

Wait.

What time was it again?

Sylis looked at his watch. It was 11:00 PM already. Sylis jumped up from his chair and rushed out of the house. The rain picked up, drenching his blond hair into a dirty shade of yellow as he made it to his car. He barely sat down and slammed the door shut before the vehicle zoomed forward unto the highway. His GSP said that the estimated time of arrival at the train station was 11:27 PM. It was too close. Only three minutes. How could he save his wife and daughter in only three minutes? It wasn't possible but somehow Sylis still had hope as he stomped on the accelerator more.

11:26 was the time on his watch when Sylis ran into the train station. The particular one was underground and he had to run down the rain-slick stairs. It was too slow. He had gained a minus from speeding through the streets, he wasn't going to allow something so simple as stairs to get in his way. Sylis Penn Youngblood jumped on the railing and slid down the wet railing with ease before he jumped and flip to minimize damage. A few people clipped for him as he continued toward the ticket booths.

He slid his card out and it scanned just in time so he could continue at his running space. The old man overseeing the booths shook a hand at him and yelled some but Sylis could not hear the elder. He continued sprinting as the old man slowly jogged behind him, abandoned by Sylis' mind. The only thing left in there was his wife, Lilin, and his daughter, Piper.

"Excuse me!" Sylis pushed his way through the crowded station. The train was coming in three minutes. He ran to the end of the hallway. The train was underneath him. From his raised viewpoint, he noticed a dark figure coming from the right.

Shadow.

"Oh, no," Sylis muttered under his breath as he pushed off the concert half wall and raced to the stairs. Like a cheetah, his long legs spread wide so he skipped one or two steps as he leaped down the stairwell, a final jump letting him bypass three whole steps. Once again some people applauded him for his spectacle, but others grumbled to themselves having been him his path. Sylis said a curt, "Sorry!" as he continued his dash.

11:28

The shadow killer was ahead of him and headed towards Lilin and Piper who were patiently waiting for the train, suitcases by their sides. That was when Shadow brought out their gun. So many people were in the subway, innocent bystanders. So many children. He couldn't let the children or anyone die today.

"Run," he commanded. "They have a gun!" People's eyes were wooden but they did not move. Not until Shadow's gun went off toward's Sylis' family. Then screams echoed off the enclosed subway. People ran for their lives praying to their gods that they did not die.

Don't worry, Sylis thought to himself as he ran towards Shadow. You all will be safe.

11:29

Lilin had jumped into action, shielding her daughter from the assassin. She was defenseless, nothing but her own two fists. She was no match for the assassin. The hooded figure had her at gunpoint, blood rushing down their broken nose. Sylis could hear Piper crying, her wails louder than all the screams in the background. Everything seemed to disappear behind him like how it did as he waited. All that was left was the shadow killer, their gun pushed onto Lilin's head and Piper with her salty tears and cries that stung his soul, and of course, himself.

Sylis Penn Youngblood, German undercover spy. Nothing really special about him. He didn't kill people, only harmed them. Orphaned at a young age because of the war. Survived by no one. He didn't matter. The weakest of his group. He was as good as dead.

"Papa?" It was Piper's voice.

Sylis stopped. "Hello, Peanut." The words were warm and comforting like the morning sun on one's skin. "Take care of your mother, will you?"

Sylis took a step and followed. A bright light was coming from the tunnel. His hands were ready to grab Shadow in a surprise attack. Sylis could hear slowly piano keys being pressed as he inched closer.

Piper looked up at him. Her crying quieted. "We love you."

That's when Sylis took action. He held onto the shadow killer's neck and tugged. Shadow went down and the gun flew into the air. It fell to the floor and shot a stray bullet. Lilin grabbed the gun and together they pinned the shadow killer on their knees.

11:30