I watched Dr Green's mouth moving, not hearing what she was saying. Her voice sounded like it was under water and she was crying as well.

I sank to my knees and stared at the white tiled floor. Dr Green's words were ringing in my ears.

She's gone. I'm sorry.

My best friend... my little sister... the person who stuck by me through the good times and the bad... gone.

Alex dropped next to me and let out a painful cry, his shoulders wracking with sobs. Behind me, I heard the crash of hospital chairs breaking and walls being punched as Rainbow's older brothers let out their grief.

We were standing next to a grave, watching as a casket was lowered into a gaping black hole. I swallowed the lump in my throat and couldn't help but cry.

As per Rainbow's request, not a single person wore black clothing. Quite a lot of people had shown up- Iris' friends from school, friends from the Mafia and her family.

We went back to Ornamand Hospital. In the centre of one of the rooms was a photo of Iris. Above it was the banner reading: 'WE WILL MISS YOU, IRIS'- made by the children of those she helped. Surrounding the photo were lit candles and crying children and their parents.

I vowed that I would find Elise and kill her for taking away my best friend. I'm sure I'll have help.

Meanwhile, many miles away, a girl was stuffing some clothes in a duffel bag, much to the annoyance of the boys behind her.

"For the last time," she snapped, "I'll be fine!"

"You were shot three times!" The boy wearing a leather jacket protested and the boy wearing a suit agreed.

"Cole, James, as much as I appreciate the concern, it is not needed. I'm fine, see!" She gestured to herself and winced as pain wracked her body.

Cole and James looked at her and she grinned sheepishly.

"I forbid you to go," James crossed his arms and glared, Cole following suit.

"Do you now?" she asked sarcastically, "oh no! What am I going to do? James and Cole have barred me from leaving!" She continued packing.

"Iris, how about this. Stay for a maximum of one week- just done enough for you to recover. After that, you can leave and we won't protest, deal?" James extended his arm.

"Oh fine," Iris shook his hand and flopped on the bed, secretly glad that she was able to stay for a bit longer, "by the way, thanks for killing and resurrecting me."

Cole grinned, "you're welcome."

Iris shook her head and laughed lightly, "I never expected it to work, you know?"

Flashback:

Just before she entered the warehouse, Iris brought out her phone and made a call.

"Iris?" Cole's groggy voice asked, "why are you calling me at this time?"

"I need you to help me fake my death," she replied.

"Say what?"

"Look, we don't have much time. I'm going to confront Elise and I really need your help. Oh and I'm adding James to the call."

After repeating the instructions to James, she told the two of them the plan.

"This is a stupid, dangerous plan," James declared, "I'm in."

"Me too," Cole replied, "see you later."

A while later...

The paramedics loaded an unconscious Iris into the ambulance. She was fighting for her life. Now came the hard part. During the traffic jam, they managed to surreptitiously pass Iris into a black van taking her to the safe house, and place a fake body in the stretcher- without her family noticing.

Iris had been unconscious for three days, having the best doctors operate on her- just managing to save her life. She rested for a day before deciding to leave. Until Cole and James convinced her otherwise.

"Yep... your friends and family are going to kill us," Cole shuddered.

"What's our next move?" James asked.

Iris raised an eyebrow, "Our?"

Cole rolled his eyes, "well, you didn't think we'd let you go galavanting around the world without our help, did you?"

She fake sighed, "I guess not. Well first, get your books out for our tutoring session- don't even think of getting out of it- and then we'll see."

"What about Elise?" James asked.

Iris' expression darkened, making the boys devoutly thankful that she was on their side and making a mental note not to anger her.

"If she thinks that she can threaten my family and friends, kidnap my best friend," her heart twinged a bit at the thought of them, "and get away with it, then she's very mistaken," her lips twisted in a sadistic smile.