Kyle and Kay hurried across the room and into a hallway filled by an iron spiral staircase. Kay started climbing and Kyle followed, holding on to his leg. It was still bleeding and he'd started feeling a bit dizzy. Kay reached the top and opened the hatch leading out. Kyle hurried to catch up. His leg gave out under him and he slid down the stairs. He grabbed on to an iron step and stopped before he broke his neck tumbling to the bottom.

Kay ran down and sighed in relief once she spotted him. She grabbed his hand and helped him get back on his feet. Much slower than the first time, they climbed again and exited through the trap door, ending up on the top of the cliff. The wind blew violently and thunder rumbled above them.

About ten feet away, they could make out some fluorescent lines that marked the edge of the cliff. Lightning lit the scene, revealing a couple of helicopters in the distance. Dark shadows moved between them, carrying crates.

Kay frowned, but turned her attention from the helicopters to Kyle. "We have to do something about your leg. Let me see."

"We have no time for that." Kyle winced when Kay put her hands on his thigh to check the damage. He took her in noticing her bloody shirt, the scratches on her arms, the bruises on her face. "What did they do to you?"

"Mostly slapped me around and cut me a little, but I'll be fine," she mumbled, ripping the bottom of her shirt. "You, on the other hand... the cut is really deep. I have no idea how you're still walking."

"Must be the adrenaline," he said between his teeth as Kay tied the makeshift bandage around his leg.

She checked her handy work then looked over her shoulder toward the helicopters. "Do you think they're leaving?"

"I hope so. Though without the ruby and with us still alive, I have my doubts."

They stood in silence for a few moments, Kyle trying to control the pain in his leg, Kay cleaning her face. At least the bleeding had stopped.

"We should get out of here," Kyle said. Though going back down the stairs wasn't an option. They could try sneaking toward the jungle and head back the way they escape the first time.

"You should rest a little so you can actually walk," Kay shot back. She shifted closer to him, but didn't touch him. "I'm really sorry about all this. I was just so confused."

Kyle raised his hand to stop her. "It's not that easy, Kay. You can't just say sorry and make it go away."

"I know." Tears filled her eyes and she reached out her hand, then lowered it. "I wish I could be like you, fight, believe, trust. But I'm not. I'm scared and weak and pathetic. You shouldn't have come after me."

"Would you forgive me? If it was the other way around?" He shook his head when Kay opened her mouth. "No, I want you to really think about it, not just give me what you think I want to hear."

Kay nibbled on her lower lip, staring into the distance. "Yes." She finally said. "I'd make you work for it, but, eventually, yes."

"Would you have saved me?"

Kay didn't hesitate a heartbeat. "Yes."

"Would you still love me?"

"Always."

"Will you ever do something like this again?"

"No."

Kyle bit his lower lip not to smile, because despite everything, she made him happy, happier than he could ever be without her. The power she held over him was scary, but it had been his choice. When he'd realized he loved her, he'd gone all in. Through the good and the bad, till death did them part.

He reached out and took her hand. "Then you have your answer. You'll have to work for it, but eventually, yes."

Kay's blue eyes widened in surprise and her chin quivered. "You're serious?"

He nodded and looked at their joined hands. "Don't let go till we die."

"Till we die," Kay confirmed. She looked at him for a few seconds then wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "I love you so much."

"I lo—" He stopped when Kay put her finger on his lips.

"You don't have to say it. You've showed it big time."

Kyle lowered her finger and pressed his lips against hers. She sunk her hands in his hair and kissed him deeply.

Thunder roared loudly and the wind blew violently, but Kyle couldn't even feel it anymore. He couldn't even feel his throbbing face and the sharp pain in his leg. Another thunder rolled and the wind picked up, sending Kay's hair flying around both their faces. Huge rain drops fell from the sky in rapid succession until it was pouring.

The sound of slow clapping broke the silence. An intense light hit them. Kyle and Kay jerked apart immediately, turning towards the light. Snitch Gravel stood in the light of a helicopter, clapping.

"How touching. But so stupid." He shook his head. "What have we learned from this?"

"That your plan to break us up didn't work?" Kyle asked. "That's why you didn't just kidnap Kay and instead put on this entire show, isn't it?"

Snitch Gravel stared at him for a few seconds as if he'd been slapped, then cleared his throat. "Yeah, well... What I meant is that you should escape when you can." He snapped his fingers and a group of men appeared from the darkness, led by a sneering Von Crooken.

Kyle pushed Kay behind him, scrambled to his feet and assumed combat position. The men snickered behind their bosses. A wave of Snitch Gravel's hand sent them in a circle around Kyle and Kay. Kyle mentally cursed. They should've run while they still could. Except his leg could barely hold him and the little rest he'd gotten was the only reason he could still stand.

"Let's just shoot them, boss," Von Crooken said, pulling his pistol out of its holster.

Kyle raised his eyebrows. "That's it?"

Von Crooken grinned. "I didn't say where."

Kyle threw him a disgusted look and turned his attention to Snitch Gravel.

He considered them for a moment, then nodded. "Go ahead, Nicholas. Just don't shoot him in the head."

Von Crooken took a few steps inside the circle. Kyle's eyes widened and he instinctively reached out his hands to block Kay from view.

"No!" Kay yelled.

Von Crooken pulled the trigger and the sound of the shot echoed in the night. Kyle fell to his knees, his arms wrapped around his stomach and crashed to the ground. His abs throbbed and the pulse drummed in his ears, but he tried his best to loosen his muscles and fall limp.

"No! What have you done?" Kay's desperate voice cut through him worse than the bullet had. She squeezed his hand and he had to put all his willpower into not squeezing back.

"Oh, he's not dead yet." Von Crooken stepped closer. "Give me that rifle! Or should I kill her first, boss?"

"No, leave her out of this." Snitch Gravel sounded bored. "We don't need her anymore."

More footsteps indicated Von Crooken coming closer. Kyle tightened his grip on Kay to stop her from moving. She froze next to him. Silence surrounded them until the clicking noise of the cocking of a rifle broke it.

Kyle let go of Kay's hand, grabbed the rifle and shoved it upwards, hitting Von Crooken with its butt. The man stumbled backwards. Kyle jumped to his feet, twirling the rifle around, and almost fell to his knees.

"Get him!" someone yelled from the crowd. Three men jumped on Kyle from behind.

"Kay, run!" Kyle bent over, letting the three roll in front of him. At least he had some bullet shield and there was a hole in the circle through which Kay could escape.

More men came to him, piling on top of him. He did his best to parry their hits, hoping that no one was paying attention to Kay. Punches he could take. And the rifle proved an efficient hand to hand weapon.

"You idiots!" Von Crooken yelled. "Move out of the way, so I can shoot him."

The men got off him instantly, bringing Von Crooken and his rifle into view.

"Pull back," Snitch Gravel ordered and Kyle heard the men behind him scrambling away.

"No!" Kay shrieked.

Before Kyle could make a move, she jumped past him and straight into Von Crooken's legs, knocking him off his feet. Kyle grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back, cradling her in his arms. His leg gave out and the two of them fell to the ground.

"Why didn't you get away?"

"And let him shoot you?" she snapped.

'Yes!' Kyle wanted to yell at her, but this was the worst time for a fight. Von Crooken was back on his feet, his face distorted in anger, pointing his pistol at Kyle's head. Kay tried to charge forward, but he tightened his grip on her.

A satisfied grin on his face, Von Crooken redirected the barrel of the gun from Kyle to Kay. Kyle looked to Snitch Gravel, wishing he'd tell Von Crooken to step back and let him get the last shot, but Snitch Gravel was watching them through narrowed eyes, his arms folded across his chest, as though waiting to see what happened next. Rain fell heavily over all of them.

Von Crooken cocked his pistol dramatically. Kyle rolled to his knees, getting over Kay and blocking her from view. She gazed at him, her blue eyes wide.

"Close your eyes," he whispered.

She shook her head, tears running down her face.

"Please. I don't want you to see this." He wiped her tears, let her go and leaned on his hands, getting ready for the bullet. The pulse thundered in his temple and his muscles tensed. Footsteps indicated Von Crooken was coming closer. He looked at Kay one last time, then shut his eyes tightly.

Von Crooken sniggered right behind him and Kyle felt the cold steel of the barrel on the back of his head. He hated Kay having to see this.

Kay struggled under him and Von Crooken pulled back, cursing. Kyle opened his eyes. Kay had a decided air about her, a crease between her eyebrows. She slapped his thigh and shoved him off her.

Kyle rolled over, his cut feeling as if it were filled with fire ants, but bolted up. Kay stood in front of him, her jaw set, her arms outstretched. Forcing his bum leg to obey, he threw himself at her. Von Crooken pointed his gun at her and shot. Kay fell backwards into Kyle's arms.

"No!"

Kyle looked at Kay, his heart beating wildly. Her eyes were closed, her entire shirt bloody and he was too much of a coward to even check her pulse. If she was dead, he would lose it.

Agony and rage battled inside him, but none of these two feelings were more powerful than the force holding him to the ground, making him unable to look away from Kay's face.

He heard Von Crooken laughing, thunder rolling, Snitch Gravel yelling something he didn't care to understand. And the yell was followed by a powerful crash, more screams, shuffling of feet, thuds, grunts and groans. It sounded like a fight had broken out, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered in a world without Kay.

Voices shouted all around him, shots were fired and the sounds of hand-to-hand combat merged with the rumbling of thunder. Tears prickled Kyle's eyes, but even those couldn't decide to move down his face.

Through the mayhem, he thought he heard Jessie's voice, then Jimmy's. The fight was moving closer to him and Kay. His arms tightened around her as though his body wanted to protect her from anything that might hurt her, even if it was too late. He knew he should move, or at least look up, but his brain felt strangely hazy, like it usually did at the beginning of a trance. The darkness wouldn't come. He couldn't seek solace in forgetfulness.

Jimmy crashed next to him. Kyle jumped and, for the first time, his eyes left Kay's face. It was like someone had thrown a bucket of ice cold water on him.

Jimmy's face was bruised, swollen and bloody, and by the way he lolled his head, he was unconscious.  His t-shirt was cut up too, he had bleeding scratches on his arms and a nasty cut on his right temple.

Kyle looked up. Christine, Tina and Alice were hugging each other near the edge of the cliff. Jerry lay at their feet, two men pinning him down. Jessie and Angie weren't visible, but judging by the large crowd a few feet away, they were there. Most of the men broke away and headed for Jimmy.

Kyle let Kay go and place himself over Jimmy, blocking the hits. He knew they were hitting him, but he only felt the contact and not the pain. Instead, the rage kept at bay since Kay was shot bubbled to the surface, clouding his mind, making everything surreal.

"That's enough!" He got to his feet and the men around him jumped back as though repelled by an invisible shield. They didn't attack again.

Thunder crashed so loudly it felt like the sky had cracked. Lightning struck to reveal three pearly white figures on the edge of the cliff. Darkness, then more lightning and the figures stood a bit closer.

The men closest to the ghosts yelled and ran toward the helicopters. The others all backed away, leaving Snitch Gravel first in line.

Lightning flashed again, revealing them properly.

Von Crooken gasped. "No, it can't be."

Kyle frowned. "Sam?"

The three stepped forward, glowing dimly in the darkness.

"Fantasmas!" One of the men yelled pointing at them. "We shouldn't have killed them in the Valley of the Dead!"

Snitch Gravel's goons gave up all pretense of bravery and scrambled towards the helicopters. Von Crooken revved back, too, pointing at them with a shaky hand.

"You three are dead."

"We know that," Billy said with an impish grin. "But do you?"

Von Crooken turned around so fast, he almost tripped over his own feet and ran towards the nearest helicopter, leaving Snitch Gravel alone. He stared at them, frowning as if something was slightly bothering him, then waved his hand in their direction.

"Cute. My bad, but cute." He nodded then turned around and headed for one of the helicopters as well. He waved his hand and a trembling group of men came towards him. "Finish them off," he ordered.

Kyle scrambled to his feet, fists clenched and ready for what he hoped would be their last fight.

*

Sam ran after Snitch Gravel who had disappeared behind his men. He was tired, hungry and cold, but he couldn't let Snitch Gravel escape this fight without a scratch. Not after the hell he put them through over the past weeks. He also had to stop him from calling for reinforcements. He only hoped the others could take care of the remaining men. At least Kyle was still standing.

Snitch Gravel dashed to the helicopter. Sam followed, picking up a rifle off the ground. He could hear grunts, thuds and the occasional shot from behind him, but no cry of pain followed the shots, so he assumed that the others were safe. All men ran out of his way, obviously thinking he was some sort of vengeful spirit and not a hurt teenager covered in fluorescent dust. Thank God for Mexican legends.

Snitch Gravel put one foot inside the helicopter, but didn't hoist himself inside. He glanced over his shoulder and got down once he saw Sam heading towards him, rifle pointing.

"You've got to be joking," he spat out. "You're not going to shoot me."

"How can you be so sure?" Sam asked, stopping a few feet from him. "You killed me."

"If you think the fluorescent dust you stole from my base would scare me, you have another thing coming. Pathetic goody-goody two-shoes. You couldn't sleep for the rest of the life if you killed someone." Snitch Gravel's tone was strangely angry for his words.

Sam shook his head. Maybe he couldn't shot him, but he still wanted to teach him a lesson. He flung the rifle at him. Snitch Gravel dodged, and with speed Sam didn't think him capable of, kicked him in the chest. Hard.

The hit knocked all the air out of Sam's lungs and he stumbled to the ground. He sat up in time to dodge a punch coming his way.

"I've had it with you," Snitch Gravel said between his teeth, kicking Sam back to the ground.

Sam covered his sides, but instead of kicking him again, Snitch Gravel crouched next to him.

"Don't think I'm running from you. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not even fighting properly. I have other business to attend to. We will meet again. And next time, I might not be in such a hurry." He stood, put two fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly. "Move!"

Sam sat up, rubbing his chest and watched the remainder of Snitch Gravel's men limping towards the helicopter. The engine started, ruffling up Sam's hair, and as soon as the last man stepped aboard, the helicopter raised to the skies and disappeared in the storm.

The rest of the group gathered around him, staring up at the sky as well.

"What are you waiting for?" Sam called. "For Jimmy and Kay to bleed to death? Move out!"

The group rushed away to pick up the wounded while Sam got to his feet. Through all the craziness, at least they were all back together again. A sense of numbness fell upon him. It had been such a long day. He desperately needed sleep.

🌴🌴🌴

Who here is surprised that Sam and Co. were alive? No one? Come on, NO one? Ah, well...

That aside, how do you feel about this chapter? Enjoyed it? Liked the drama of it? The action?

Also... yeah, I might've just killed off some of my characters. I can be that evil. No one is safe! No ONE!

I'll just let you go read the rest now...

Vote, comment, share!