A/N: I'm starting to wonder if my update schedule has just been changed to Tuesday... :P Seriously, I don't have much of an excuse to use now, just that I was quite busy with work yesterday and then I decided to do something else because of a headache. But at least I'm updating now? Hehe.

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02 - 17 - 2089

The world slows to an agonizing crawl as I watch the scene play out before my eyes. I'm helpless in Cade's arms as a bullet rips into Enzo's chest and another into his shoulder. Blood pours out of the wounds at an alarming rate as Enzo slumps motionless on the cement floor.

Then I'm screaming, unable to comprehend what I've just seen. My mind knows without a doubt that his wounds aren't ones you come back from. And I can't stop the cries that are wrenched from my throat, the sobs that shake my body.

Cade is shouting, trying to say something in my ear as he tries to pull me away from Enzo's body. The soldier is still standing over Enzo, a triumphant smile gathered on his hateful face. Tears pour down my face as I stare at him and Enzo.

I want to tear him to shreds.

"Gis, we have to go," Cade finally breaks through the din as the fog momentarily lifts from my mind. The chaos of the fighting around us is heavier than before, but it won't conceal us for long. Not when everyone will be looking for me.

"We... we can't just leave him there," I say as I turn to face Cade, the pain evident on both our faces. I can see the frustration and reluctance in him, and I know he doesn't want to take me away from Enzo without a goodbye. But how can I manage a goodbye in such horrific circumstances.

Cade watches me for a second more before he sets his jaw, his expression hardening into one of determination. Then he drops his hands from me and runs toward Enzo's murderer. I watch in mute horror as he tackles the man, catching him off guard.

Cade shoves and kicks at the soldier, moving him away from Enzo's body to give me enough space. With only moments left, I rush over to the pale body and kneel beside him, determined not to let this time go to waste. Drawing a slow, tender hand across his hair, I clench my jaw, wiping away the tears from my face.

Then with an exhale, I lean forward and press a feather light kiss to his temple. "Thank you," I whisper, my throat thick and raw with emotion. Enzo sacrificed himself for me. He was willing to give up his life for mine, for my safety. And the knowledge that all these people here are fighting for me as well is overwhelming.

Before I let those thoughts consume me and paralyze my body, I turn away from him and rise. My mind blocks the pain as I prepare to run with Cade and leave this place behind forever.

But I can't find him. My eyes scan over the chaos to where I last saw him, fighting Enzo's killer. He isn't there, and dread clings to the edge of my mind as I force the panic back. He's got to be here somewhere.

Stay calm, Gis.

There. I spot him a few yards away, still locked in combat with the soldier, but standing. My feet make to go towards him, but someone grabs my arm, halting my steps.

I swing around to break the grip, but stop when I see the familiar face of one of Enzo's associates. The older man shakes his head and points to the waiting truck.

My eyes widen at his meaning. "I can't leave Cade."

"We're fighting for you, darling," the man says, his tone soft as he shakes his head again. "Don't let Enzo's death be in vain."

No, he's right, and it kills me. But how can I leave Cade behind? How can I leave all these men behind when they'll surely be punished for helping me? If I leave, how many will be given mercy for their actions? A part of me knows Director Lestat isn't' the type to issue out mercy. The memory of Cade bloody and beaten at his mother's command enters my mind.

I can't do leave, no matter how much I want to listen to the man's words. Instead, a flimsy and most certainly foolish plan comes to my mind. But I keep it to myself and nod towards the man.

He lets go of my arm as I race towards the jeep, pushing past soldiers and men fighting, running past fallen bodies and wounded people. I whisper a soft thank you to those fighting for me as my feet carry me through the bay and towards the exits.

But I'm not ready to leave.

Before I reach the waiting jeep, a man now standing beside it with his eyes locked on me, I reach the fallen soldier I had been eyeing. His weapons are still on him, and I grab the pistol from the holster at the soldier's belt.

When I rise, the heavy gun clutched in my hand, the man waiting is shaking his head in confusion, beckoning for me to hurry up. I give him a small nod before I race towards him and the waiting jeep.

However, as I near the jeep, I skirt past the man's reach and grab the back of the vehicle, pulling myself up. Then I'm standing on the top of the vehicle, the pistol clutched in my left hand. Several people are now staring at me in confusion, anger, frustration. Others are shouting at me to leave, to get out, to halt.

"Stop your fighting!" I yell as loud as I can above the din. Several soldiers and men hesitate and look around for the source of the words.

I raise the gun above my head and shout again, "Stop your fighting!"

Slowly, one-by-one, the men and women locked into combat hesitate, halt, and turn to face me. Another command rings out from the other end of the room, further calming the chaos.

"Hold your fire!"

As the voice rings across the room, a slender figure steps into view across the way. Ilene Lestat walks through the mess of blood, weapons, and people as they part for her. No one moves as she heads through the center of the fighting area and stops a few yards from me. No one lifts a weapon, no one seems to know what to do.

"What exactly do you plan to do, Gis?" Director Lestat asks, crossing her arms over her smooth suit.

I clench my fist tighter around the weapon as my hand shakes. My arm strains to hold steady as I lower the gun and press the barrel into the side of my temple, my expression unyielding.

That catches Ilene Lestat off guard. My gaze goes from her startled face to search for Cade across the way. In the few seconds I allow myself to seek him out, I see no sign of him or the soldier he was fighting. He's fine, just mixed in with the crowd. I force myself to believe those words, because I can't consider the alternative.

"Consider what you are about to do," Director Lestat says at last, having recovered from the shock of my actions. But if I'm not mistaken, I can see a slight tremble in her stature. Perfect.

"What in the skies are you doing?" The man below the jeep hisses up at me.

"I'm what you want," I say, pushing my voice to spread out across the room, everyone's eyes on me. "And I'm the reason you are all fighting." I force myself to meet many of the gazes, some of them concerned, some of them hollow. Many of them full of disgust.

"Come on down and we can talk about this. There's no need to make any brash decisions." There's that tone again. I've heard it many times before with Doctor Acosta as well, and to hear it now from Ilene Lestat offers me no comfort.

"No, I'm done being complacent," I call out. "Either you let us all walk out of here, or I pull this trigger and you lose your precious experiment for good."

"You can't do that," the Director snaps, though her voice wavers some.

"Watch me." I tighten my grip on the gun for all to see, prepared to do what is necessary.

"No, stop!" Director Lestat shouts, finally revealing her fear as she takes a step forward and holds up her hand. "If you do that, you condemn the world."

"No, it is you who are condemning the world then," I snap. "You would do whatever it takes, even murder someone, in searching for a cure. Have you ever even considered that there is another way?"

"There isn't--" Director Lestat tries, but I cut her off.

"Have you tried?" The words don't even sound like me any more, so full of courage and determination.

"Just put down the gun and we can talk," The Director tries again, but I won't have it.

"We're leaving," I say simply, "and if you try to stop any of us, then I won't hesitate to finish it." My eyes scan the crowd once more and to my overwhelming relief I spot Cade. He's near the jeep where I stand, his eyes locked on me, his stance proud and his smile prouder.

The government soldiers look to Director Lestat for answers, and when she doesn't move, they don't either. The men begin picking themselves up and helping the wounded head towards the many jeeps they used to get here.

I watch it all in silence, the gun still held to my temple. I'm unmoving until the last man is in the jeep, then I climb down, the gun still in my grip, and get into the jeep after Cade.

The line of vehicles head out and away from the facility, through the white wasteland. I glance back once more, finding Director Ilene Lestat at one of the bay doors. Almost as if she can see me in the vehicle, she gives an imperceptible nod.

A shiver runs down my spine, but I push the feeling of worry away. We've won. It's over.

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