VII

 At five o'clock I went to the office, where Paul was waiting. His expression was too serious and severe, then it should certainly be important.

- Sit down.

 I sat in a chair across the table without saying a word.

- I have three things to say: the first is that they got a peace treaty for two years, so they can organize themselves to solve everything at once; If nothing happens, the treaty will be broken and the war will continue.

 That was good, because I would have more time to train and prepare myself psychologically to find Axel before that end.

- The second thing - Paul continued, sternly - is that you will not go look for your brother during this time. - I was going to open my mouth to protest, but he continued - During a peace agreement no one can move anywhere. Axel should be at their military base installed here and you, being almost a military of the Western Alliance must not, under any circumstances, be those nearby. If you do, the war will continue and you will only complicate things.

 Okay, he had left me no answer. I should control my nerves and my anxiety for two years.

- The third thing, and the most important of all. - He opened a drawer and took two papers - It's about your father. You know how he died, right?

- Yes.

- However, you must not know that our doctors could have healed his wounds.

 Judging by his expression, Paul was not lying. If this was really true, then ...

- Why did not they do anything?

- Because of that.

 He handed me one of the papers. It was a medical report of the army. When I read the diagnosis, I could not believe it. My father always seemed a perfect man and without any problems. I looked back at the person's name and was indeed my father. Why he never told this to us? Yes, it was true that he used to smoke, but I did not imagine it.

- But they could not have done anything anyway?

- Yes, they could. However this was the biggest factor that they did not do anything.

 He handed me another paper, carrying my father's handwriting.

"To the medical staff,

 Knowing my current situation, I ask you not heal my war wounds. Nothing will advance to this surgery if I will die because of this cancer that affects more and more my lungs. We all know that my case is terminal and there is no cure, so let me die in a dignified way, so my children will not feel so much pain and so much guilt when they receive my news.

 I ask you, in any way say my actual situation to them. I do not want to make them feel guilty for my health problem, they do not deserve more suffering still.

It was an honor to serve with you all these years.

Colonel Carter Oreans ".

- Paul, please do not play with me.

 I could not believe it. As it was there in my face and my father's handwriting, it was impossible to believe. Tears started streaming down my face and the salty and bitter taste of them came to my mouth.

- I'm not kidding, Rena. I asked this to the medical staff to show to you.

 I bit my lips not to cry more, but the only thing I got was the ferric taste of blood down my throat. Axel needed to see it too, was not fair hide it from him. However, what our father did to us was something unfair too. He could not have hidden it from us! Even knowing that he was still smoking, still putting his life to lose. This justified a lot: the reasons for which he did not want to go to the doctor, the acute attacks of coughing that he had. All of this made sense and we could not realize it in time.

 I felt Paul's hand weighing on my back.

- Your father was always a headstrong person, do not blame yourself for that. We tried to make him look for a doctor, but the stubbornness he had was too strong. I'm so sorry.

 I would not know what to do if Paul were not there. I looked towards him and could not control the urge to hug him. He, in turn, did not stop me crying, just stood there, gentle and compliant as the day he met me.

- You must be strong, Rena. From now on, you do not need physical training but mental training. Use this pain as strength to find your brother and tell all this to him.

- Thank you, Paul.

VI

- You can not give up!

 My muscles were screaming. I did not know how much longer could run like that. right was the fact that even training for just one week, my skills had improved a little. However, he did not catch light at all. That was good, because I really would be ready when the time came.

- Get up! No enemy will take pity on you with that! You will become easy prey!

 My legs throbbed and my head too. The weather was dry and the sun did not give truce. Anyway, I could not give up. Axel would not give up. My father did not give up. Paul was not giving up on me. That pain I felt when I lost my father and my brother are infinitely greater than the muscle pain.

 I managed to get to the starting point, panting.

- As you have stopped along the way, your time decreased by 1 minute.

- I'm not training for a marathon.

- The battlefield becomes worse than a marathon, girl. With this short time you could escape the weapons whose shooting is slow but not escape those faster. You need to cross a field with this distance in less than one minute.

- That means I'll have to accelerate more.

- Exactly. However, I must make it more difficult for you.

 Paul grabbed his gun and took aim at me. Before I think about getting up from the ground, he shot. All I could do was roll, action taken only by involuntary reflexes.

 I almost died.

- I thought I would kill you. But you moved in time.

 I looked at him incredulously. And if I had really died? Well, he surely knew I would do it, otherwise he would not shoot.

- Pull up. This time I will not take it easy with you.

- You never take it easy with me.

 He smiled and started shooting. Yes, I knew I had to run and had to give up to me to dodge the shots. Even though only one person, Paul could shoot different directions to confuse me. In addition, he made me fight back in training dummies. I thought I could not, but I came out unscathed.

- That was good. In time all this will be automatic for you.

- Hope so.

 However, the worst thing for me was learning to climb. Yes, as crazy as it may seem Paul taught me how to climb. You never know where you have to hit the enemy, he said, so it is extremely important to be prepared for anything, for any terrain.

 He said that just as my greatest fear was of high places. He made me climb an equivalent iron structure to a ten-story building - in fact it was actually a ten-storey building, however was completely destroyed - which made my stomach turn.

- What are you waiting, Oreans? Your father never was afraid to climb a building like that.

- I'm not my father.

- But you need to get over it if you want to find your brother. If you were on the battlefield, you would already have been identified and killed.

 I gulped. Paul did not play with such matters. I jumped back on the floor and let security cables that he had placed in me.

- What are you doing?

- I'll start again.

- And about the cables?

- Will I have cables in the war to hold me?

 He smiled, satisfied.

- Your father would be proud of you. Let's see if you really deserve to carry the name Oreans.

 I started to climb so he gave me sign. I admit that without the cables was much more difficult to climb the rubble with only one hand. My feet slipped and I was just about to fall, but would not give up. After all that Paul put me through so far I would not give up fear. I ignored the knot in my stomach and struggled to shoot the targets that were prepared by the field faster than I imagined it. It was as if someone else was controlling me at the time.

 I jumped and fell standing up. Paul kept the stopwatch and approached me, clapping and smiling.

- You are physically ready for war, but this is not enough. When you become a general you have to command a part of our soldiers and will have to kill enemies. Therefore, you should not waver or hesitate; always keep in mind that a misstep can bring you to the death, as well your subordinates.

 I nodded, knowing that. I would have to care for my life and the lives of others that follow me, and it would not be easy work.

- Let's go home. Rest and meet me at five in the office. There's something you need to know and I think now is the ideal time for this.

 I looked at him, confused.

- I can not say now. You will have to wait.

V

 The house of that soldier looked like my somewhat, but it was really far from becoming a home for me. However, good or bad I would have to adapt to what was going to find my brother again.

- I'm sorry I did not introduce myself before. - He broke the silence - My name is Paul Collins. Do not be afraid of me.

- I'm not afraid. I just want to see my brother again.

- Sooner or later you'll find him. No need to worry about it.

- You do not understand.

- Yes I understand. My father was captain of the naval force and died an enemy attack and my younger brother was completely torn apart when he tried to save an innocent civilian. Since then I am alone, just like you.

- I'm sorry.

- It's all right. If you must know, I know something that can help you find your brother.

 He could not have told me anything better this time round. From there I started to pay more attention to all he spoke.

- If he was taken by the army of the Southern Union the only way you see him again and try to save him is becoming captain and joining the army.

- There is no other way?

- I'm sorry, but no.

- I'll do anything to save him. I did nothing for him, Axel is stuck there for me.

- You put your own life at risk in this war?

- Yes. But how do you know that the war will continue?

- I have long experience. In addition, such an issue can not be solved with conversations. As much as I want them to understand, I know this will not happen. We have no time to lose from now.

 I know, what was a fourteen year old girl doing in a war? However, my brother was a priority in my life, regardless of my age. If Paul, my adoptive father was willing to help me, it meant that I was to move forward with it.

 New government news arrived and said it would extend beyond the expected. Trading would take over a year to happen, since they were gathering information and other things related to such a Council that I did not understand in fact. That was a relief, because even though I tried, it was difficult for me to become what Paul wanted me to become. My thoughts were completely turned to my father and my brother, because I had not yet overcome it.

 I tried various stupid things to forget it. For a whole year I did not dare to train as it should therefore only focused on me forget everything. One year, you ask? Yes, one year. Really negotiations were taking longer than expected. A whole year of training thrown away.

 Collins did not know what to do with me. I tried to change my name, painting my hair to not see Axel image in the mirror every time I looked at me. I tried even hit my head hard somewhere to try to have amnesia. Some days I did not want to get out of bed in the other I wanted to disappear. I wanted to take my own life because I felt useless.

 My little girl, I want you to grow even stronger and make my death a reason for you to fight with even more determination.

 I remembered my father's words. What I was doing was just dishonoring his last request.

This is not goodbye.

 That's what Axel told me before leaving. What was I doing? While he was trying to be strong to try to find me I was there, crying and acting like a child spoiled did not want to suffer. But no human can escape from suffering, however small it may be. It was then that I should take all my strength and courage to train, after all had already completed fifteen and lost of life. Now I turned sixteen and had some notion of the world.

 Paul knocked on the door of my room.

- I feel bad for not being able to do anything for you. If I could redeem your brother.

- I should feel bad for making you worry about me. I can not escape what is in front of me. Axel must be wondering what to do and I should think the same thing.

- Are you willing to train going forward?

- Yes. This time it's for real.

 After a year can see Paul smiling. I think my father should also be smiling for my answer.

IV

- I hope you feel well here, as you can no longer escape. Wait a minute, our Marechal want to talk to you.

 Axel was pushed into the military base. After he had left Rena, none of the injuries that caused the soldiers meant something. The others who passed by did not seem to care about him.

- I cannot believe what they are doing.

- They do not come anywhere this way. Once started the war, this truce will be for nothing.

 The boy began to pay more attention to the conversation of discretely soldiers. A truce? If it was this way, he could escape to find Rena, which should certainly be trying to return home.

- And worst of all - the soldier continued - is that there is no set time for this negotiation.

 One of them snorted.

- As it is it will not end anytime soon. They should accept that there is not treated for it.

- For me this is just a blame game. The Western Alliance has full participation of that, there is nothing to talk about.

- Exactly. The New America has admitted he tried to sabotage all our armaments industries, but certainly they could not have done it alone.

- You're right. The Western Alliance is a reference as to the knowledge of weapons and they would be relatively easy to sabotage all our arsenal.

- The problem is the East Asia. It protects the Western Alliance under all consequences.

- Do you think they are involved?

- No, they would not need to do this because they have stability. However, the business partnership of theselooks really important.

 Axel was not really understand what it all meant. Anyway, the only thing that mattered was to find Rena.

- It's not nice to hear the conversation of others, boy.

 He froze in place to hear the voice of the marshal.

- Come with me.

 With no other option, the boy followed him quietly and without looking around. Once reached a similar to an office place, The Marshal motioned for Axel entered and then closed the door.

- I'm sorry for the way in which my soldiers treated you, but what we want in fact is that you act with us as general.

- What? I do not serve this country.

- I know. But you should not live in a country like that. They see their soldiers as mere toys of war and not as people, the death of your father is proof of that.

 Axel hung his head.

- So - Marshal continued - we are calling you here. I do not want to force anything, but there is something you need to know and do not want you to think that what I say is a lie. - He took an some papers from the drawer - Your father's injury could be healed. They did not do it by mere carelessness.

 The boy did not know what to believe. Realizing this, the marshal handed him the papers, which contained Carter Oreans' copies of the exams . It was not necessary medical training to see the exams there was a way to save him.

 The bitterness took Axel. They lied and left his father to die that way. Every time he remembered the letter and as Rena and he suffered, the anger grew rampant way as to leave him blind.

- I'll give you time to think.

- No, it's not accurate.

 The Marshal waited patiently.

- I'll join you.

- That's very good, but are you sure of that?

- Yes. Even because you will not liberate me, right?

- That's right. Whether or not you'd be stuck here. But now with your decision things can change a bit. As we have an indefinite truce ahead, feel free to stay here, since your home is far and you need training.

- What about my sister?

- Soldiers of the Western Alliance found her in the rubble.

 At least she would be safe for a while. That's what Axel thought.

III

 For a long time I was in the rain, mourning the loss of two people so important and they were taken from me once. What would I do from now on? I thought of returning home, once I knew where the keys were. At least I would be safe and in one place I knew. There was still some food and could turn around for a few days. And the other day? I did not know. I not even want to think about it now.

 As I was getting up, I heard the noise of a car and urgent steps around. I reached down to not be seen and then saw the dark blue clothes of the Western Alliance, my country. Still I did not know what could happen and kept me hidden. All the people there were killed for this reason they would not take to leave.

 However I was wrong. One of the men who were nearby saw me and approached slowly, realizing that I was scared. As he got closer, I saw your brown skin shining with sweat of battle, his green eyes and brown hair. He seemed to be 30 and transmitted certain gentleness and tenderness.

- Are you alright? Why are you here? This is not a place for a little girl like you.

 I could not answer. Every time I thought about how I'd gotten there, the image of Axel being taken filled my mind and tears began to flow.

- My brother ... Axel ... He's gone.

 He put his hands on my shoulders.

- I'm really sorry for you. Come on, you can not stay here.

 I got up reluctantly and followed him, with blurred vision because of tears. He helped me into the car and no army soldier seemed to care about me than the one who helped me. Silence hung in the air along with the smell of sweat, blood and dust that were in their uniforms.

 I followed all the way of the military car that took me further away from my house to get to a headquarters. The car door opened and the soldiers went down, however, the man was at the door waiting for me to help me.

- Do not go away from me.

 That's what he said as we walked toward a gray-haired man and too harsh appearance. Immediately he looked at me and at the soldier who saved me.

- She was lost in the rubble.

 The gray-haired man frowned at me.

- What if she's a spy?

- What? - I covered my mouth with my hands, but it was too late. They both looked at me and I was forced to continue - I'm here because ... - I had to hold back tears, but could not - Because of my brother, Axel. He ... He gone ... And my father too.

- Your father?

 I nodded, wiping away tears.

- Who is your father?

- Carter Oreans.

 The men looked at each other, shocked.

- Are you Rena Oreans?

- Yes.

 They showed more interest.

- What happened to your brother?

- He was taken by the red dressed soldiers.

 After that they did not ask me anything. The only thing they were debating was what they were going to do to me, since I could not stay at the military base of them.

- I take care of her.

- But we need you in the war.

- I...

  They were interrupted by another blond soldier who carried a paper in hands.

- Excuse me sir. I have news of Parliament.

- What is?

- They and the Southern Union entered a period of truce indefinitely, as they are also with few soldiers. They do not know how long this negotiation can last, since involve everyone. This can take days or years, no one knows. For now we are all exempt until new instructions from Parliament.

- Understood. Tell everyone that are not required until the next government orders. - He looked at the soldier who saved me - It seems that you can take care of her for now. Cheer for this negotiation delay to the fullest.

- I'm hoping to take a peaceful negotiation and it all ends as soon as possible. Anyway, I think it will take a long time to resolve this issue as it is a delicate matter. - He looked at me - Come on, let's go home.

 No matter what he meant by home. As much as I tried, I could not stop thinking about my real home, where Axel and I should never have left.

II

 However, my worst nightmare was yet to come.

 The streets were deserted, as we advanced the limits of our city more signs of the war appeared. Blood, dust and buildings in ruins. It was like entering a ghost town.

- Wait.

 Axel froze. I followed his gaze and forced a bit my eyes to be able to see two red dressed men.

- We'll have to take another path.

- They want to take you?

- Yes.

 There was nothing where we could hide, so we had no choice but to retreat to take another path.

- It'sthem!

- Do not let them get away!

 Axel shook my hand and had to start running as fast as our legs could carry. It was raining and it was not a point in our favor. However, they were shooting at us and really made mistakes by a few centimeters and we needed to run anyway. My brother held me in his arms and ran even faster the block with them on our heels. The weapons were pointed at us and did not hesitate to shoot.

 I did not see them anymore when we turned the corner, but could still hear them.

- Can you see them?

- No.

 He put me on the floor, panting. We were in a dark, damp alley with some boxes.

- Are you sure about that?

- Yes, they turned in that direction!

 We hid behind the boxes, doing everything possible to them do not to notice us. I heard footsteps and the light of a flashlight.

- Axel ...

- Shh, you'll be fine. Just stay down.

 Axel had a stone in his hands and staring in the lantern light. The soldier walked closer to where we were, but could not overcome the boxes. As soon as they came out of the alley, my brother threw the stone that struck across the street, calling their attention.

- Follow the noise, we can not lose that kid anyway.

 We got up carefully and walked on tiptoe to the exit of the alley. Indeed they had gone to the other side and we take the time to run to the edge of another city. We found a covered place and stayed for there to rest and have more security to keep moving because those soldiers could return at any time. I was cold and curled up next to Axel, who was with his eyes closed.

- We'll be fine, do not worry.

 I snuggled into him and slept for a while.

- Rena, Rena.

 I opened my eyes slowly.

- Let's go. We are out of danger. Most of them must be asleep at this hour.

 I held his hand and we continued our journey as cautiously as possible.

 Finally we were in the nearby town, which was practically uninhabited. The rain washed the blood off the floor, but still left marks. The bodies of dead innocent people were everywhere, along with the soldiers of the enemy and our country were killed. Immediately I thought of my father and looked at Axel; he thought the same thing as me.

- Let's go fast.

 The rain was decreasing as we walked. However, there was nothing except rats walking down the street and some cats that looked at us with their eyes half closed.

 We stopped when we heard sounds of gunfire and a plane cut through the sky. We changed the way and in the end we got a completely devastated area, where all construction had been reduced to ashes. There was more blood than other parts of the city and more dead soldiers. I closed my eyes to not have such still images in my memory, but it was too late.

 Another shot.

 This time, the left hand of Axel was bleeding. I looked around and saw several soldiers dressed in red coming in our direction. This time we had no place to hide and nothing to get lose them. He picked me up again and started running, looking frantically around.

 We stopped at the ruins of a house where my brother put me down and where I felt his embrace. Again I saw him cry, but did not understand the reason.

- I'm so sorry. I can not put you at risk because of me.

 That to me was enough. I started to cry with him, since I wouldn't see him again. Why Axel had to leave me? We could run to safety. However, he seemed hopeless and powerless.

- Please do not cry - he kissed my forehead - you'll see me again, I promise. Take care and look for a safe place with someone who can take care of you. This is not goodbye.

 He turned away from me toward the soldiers, without looking back. The shock and tears prevented me to get up and do something, so all I could do is see my brother being captured and feel completely useless by not being able to do anything for him.

I

I still remember everything. From the beginning to the end.

 At that time I was fourteen and my older brother Axel, eighteen. We were right in the beginning of a war that promised to be the worst and bloodiest of all that humanity has ever seen to date. Our father was serving the air forces and we were alone. We survived for five weeks with what we had at home.

- I hope this ends soon.

 Axel always said that every time we received the newspaper and he saw how the deaths were increasing. I confess that I also thought about it, but my real concern was for my father on the battlefield.

- Axel, is dad okay?

- He's been in many wars before, for sure nothing bad will happen. Come, let's have dinner.

 I followed him to the kitchen when we heard someone knocking on the door urgently. We looked at each other and Axel looked out the window.

- I have a message for the children of Carter Oreans.

  I saw my brother get an letter of messenger hands and close the window.

- It's from dad.

  Dinner did not matter. It was the first time a letter from my father came to us and should certainly be important. We sat on the living room floor and Axel opened the letter quickly, like a bandage. The more he read the contents of the letter, the more my heart quickened.

- What says Axel ?!

 He could not speak. His hands shook.

- Axel? What happened?

 I got no response from him. Axel threw the letter on the floor and stood up quickly, going toward the kitchen. I took the letter and began to read.

"For Axel and Rena,

 I know you must be worried about me, but I ask you not to do that anymore. It's hard for me to say everything I need in a letter, but I have no other way to do it.

 I'm in the center of medical specialties of the army since three days ago. The plane in which I flew was attacked by the enemy and luckily I did not die instantly, but I suffered a severe drilling in the two lungs and there is nothing to do. The doctors gave me four days of life and believe that when you receive this letter I will be dead.

 That's no reason to cry. Axel, being the eldest, I ask you to take care of your sister with your life. From now on the only person she has in the world is you, please do not disappoint her.

  Rena ... My little girl, I want to grow even stronger and make my death a reason for you to fight with even more determination. Axel will be your companion for all the time, always stay with him.

 Finally, I want both of you to overcome this as best together. Throughout the time I was on the battlefield just I thought you two. I'm sorry for leaving you so young and fragile in this cold world. No matter where you are I will always be with you.

 I am proud to have you as my children and this will never change.

Love you.

Carter Oreans ".

 He promised to return. That all would be well and that we would be together again. My tears were wetting the letter and soon a lump formed in my throat. It was extremely difficult to live without our mother, and now even more so without our father. What would we do? How would we survive?

 Axel. How should he be? I got up and went to the kitchen.

 I never thought I would see my brother, always steadfast as a rock, like that: he was with clenched fists on the sink and the tears were streaming down his face. Judging by his expression, the battle against the cry had been lost long ago. In a way I understand his pain, because now all the responsibilities have a new owner.

 I approached subtly and hugged him. Axel was quick to respond to my embrace, which made him cry even more. Suddenly nothing else mattered, it was as if our world had come crashing down and we were finished - when in reality we were - completely lost.

 I have no idea how long we like that, but I suppose it was for several hours as it was when I woke up in my bed and I could hear the footsteps of my brother in the house.

- You are awake.

 He seemed stronger than before, as the expression of that sad and lost boy completely disappeared, giving way to a determined and responsible man. However, I could not get over it so easily, or at least hide it as he was doing.

 The breakfast was on the table waiting for me. While I ate, Axel walked through the house checking locks and more locks. Put locks on the windows and covered all the furniture, to protect them from dust. When you finish there, we'll get out of here. That's what he said.

- Where are we going?

- I do not know. But we can not stay here while this war is underway.

- And why not?

- Because we are going around many attacks and we can not take the risk. We must get out of here as soon as possible.

 Something was strange. I knew Axel well enough to know that there were other reasons why he wanted to leave there and had nothing to do with attacks.

- Axel, what's going on? You never lie

- Do you think I'm lying?

- This is stamped on your face.

 He was reluctant to admit it, but would not budge. We were brothers, we should not have secrets.

 A sigh.

- Okay, okay. Shortly after I have put you in bed, I saw a letter under the door. - He showed a red paper - Before you ask, the letter was for me and it's not something really good.

- What is wrong? Axel, you started talking and has to end.

- They know our father is dead and are chasing me. I can not stay here with you and risk everything.

 I nodded. That was the reason for the change in his expression. Anyway, he was right. I finished my breakfast quickly and followed him out the door. He locked the door and buried the key next to the gate. I held his hand and proceeded to where our feet take us.

ｍｅｒｅｌｙ ａｓｈｅｓ

© to owner

▨ A little introduction ▨

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Hello, minna!!

The story we'll present was made for that contest I told before. Hope you guys enjoy it ^^

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{XX. The End?

 The sound of bodies being thrown, shattered glass and gunfire could be heard from where they were. They could also hear footsteps from one side to the other along the corridor of several people, as well as the noise of the lift. As Matthew had said they should not get out, it was too hard to know everything that was going on and could not do anything about it.
- What do we do?
 Blair pressed firmly the gun that Matthew had given to her.
- You stay here. It's too dangerous outside and for sure no one will find you here. I'll try to help.
 Chiara nodded, wincing even more in the corner of the wall while Blair locked the door after leave.

 Despite being eroded gradually by Matthew gun, Rido seemed unshakable, especially after seeing all employees transformed walking the streets as if they were zombies following his orders.
- I'm tired of this child's play. I have more important things to do.
 Melissa and Dustin invested again, however Rido did not seem concerned about the bruising that was getting. He even seemed to be focused on what was happening on that floor
.- Finally one of the rats decided to appear and play, is not it? Better late than never.
 Dustin understood that it was Blair or even Chiara. Before Rido could leave, the man advanced on him, holding him by the throat and throwing him against the wall.
- Once rat,always rat. It seems I'll have to take care of you first.
 Two shots simultaneously.
- I told you not to interfere. - Matthew said reproachfully.
- I can not just listen to it all and stay there. Chiara is safe.
- Do not think you can hide her from me.
- Rido pressed the intercom button - find and kill any human who is in this company.
 He saw a smile forming on Matthew's face.
- What did you do, your miserable snake?
- Just what you had commanded me. All injections were provided. However, I had their effect disappeared an hour after the application.
 Rido growled, forgetting all the others who were in the room and concentrated only in Matthew, who kept the gun pointed at him.
- It does not matter what I planned. I can die in the next moment, but I will take you with me.
 The Rido speed was not affected by sores in his body, such that Melissa could not prevent the moment when the two crossed one of the glasses composing the walls and fell quickly, with no chance of survival.
- Matthew!
 Melissa could not reach them. The two bodies fell side by side, with no trace of conscience. It was clear that Rido would have survived, but could not say the same thing about the other, whose was human.
 Dustin grabbed Blair and also reached the floor where the winged girl was kneeling beside her brother's body.
- He is...
- I do not know. There is no sign of a wound, nor if he's dead.
 Rido started to get up, staggering. Blair pointed the gun at him, but Melissa stopped her.
- If someone will kill this bastard. - She let the pulse of the other girl slowly - It will be me.
 The claws were ready, but Rido did not seem to mind. He did not even seem to realize what was about to happen, the only thing he did was look at the lifeless body of Matthew on the asphalt.
 A deep stab in the chest was the last thing he felt.
 Melissa had her claws covered  with blood  as well as the eyes covered with tears. As she had done it with her own hands, she felt empty. She knelt beside her brother again, without saying a word.
- I can not believe that everything will end this way. - She finally managed to find the words - After so long, so much effort ... It will all end up like this?
- No, it won't.
 Matthew was standing with difficulty, getting Dustin support to stand, however, almost lost his balance again to see Rido dead in his own pool of blood.
- I had no choice, Matthew.
- It's all right. At least he managed to redeem himself before it's over.
- Redeeming? He tried to kill you!
- But before that, I saw that old Rido. The one that was still human. He repented and decided to break a part of the his body's bones to save me. "I know I was not the best friend of you," he said, "but I want you to take care of everything for me from now on."
 Melissa down the wings, looking for the body of Rido. What happened after that he became what he became? Power, of course. After realizing what was about to happen, it was the only way to redeem himself without appearing weak.
- Dustin!
 Chiara came running to embrace her brother.
- Take care for she does not see the body of Rido.
- Body? There's nothing on the ground.
 Matthew looked in the direction where it should be the body of Rido. However, the only thing that was there was a small spot of blood and a handful of ashes.
- Matthew, this should happen?
-.No. For more mutations that have been made, the basis of everything is still human. And humans do not turn into ashes.
 He approached. There was really nothing that could say that there was a body there, except for the bloodstain. But ... Why were ashes? No mutation would be able to cause a body to become ashes in a few minutes after death. That would indeed be the end? Or just a beginning? Yes, he was sure it was the end, for the words of Rido were clear when he said: "... I want you to take care of everything for me from now on."