CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT: GONE

Something wasn't sitting right. Not when Diego started talking to Lila and she listened. Something felt off, and he knew he wasn't just being paranoid.

Five stood alert, holding a hand back to keep Lotus away. She kept inching closer, wanting to hear what was being said. A hand rested on his bicep and he relaxed, sneaking a glance back at her.

Her face was set in a mix of determination and wonder as Diego continued to try and convince Lila to break her trust with her mother. Her hair was no longer braided, the work Klaus had done was gone, and it cascaded down to her elbows. Her eyes were unbelievable bright in the dim light of the barn, he couldn't help but look away when her eyes flickered to his.

Focus. He told himself, now wasn't the time to get distracted.

Lila shifted, he could tell by the way her arm moved she was jabbing her knife against his brothers chest. Everyone was unbelievably silent, he couldn't even hear the words that were exchanged between Diego and Lila before everything fell to chaos.

Five was to late to react, Luther and Allison were already on the ground. He turned and shoved Lotus away, stumbling down as he felt bullets pierce his chest. His head hit the ground before his body did, his ears filled with a sharp ringing that reminded him of that missile that fired right by his ear when he first arrived.

Come on. He thought, Get up!

But his body refused to move, the shock of it all was still settling in. And how was he to survive something like this? To fix it, when a few bullets took down Luther who was built like a dump truck. He could hear the clicking off heels amongst the ringing, of bugs buzzing outside in the country grass.

Maybe death was a blessing, especially for people like him. He'd killed so many over the years working for the Commission, hell, he murdered Lila's parents just because someone with authority told him it needed to be done. No questions asked. Maybe he deserved to die, surrounded by his family—

"No." Someone whispered, a presence landed beside him, a hand grabbed his, still frozen on his chest. "No, no, no, please— this can't be happening."

Lotus. Fear pricked at him, she was alive. She was breathing and next to him and he couldn't even open his eyes to look at her, to tell her he was still here, still holding on.

Another gun shot rang out, followed by a thud.

"Hey, it's me— Five, please, come on!" Her voice sounded desperate, full of tears and sorrow. "I don't know what to do, I don't know how to fix this— you're the one with the plans— please, come back, come back to me—"

His fluttered open, if he could have sighed with relief, he would have.

Blood splattered her face, her eyes red and tired, hair plastered to her forehead with a mix of blood and sweat. She tried to smile, but her arm went to her mouth and she coughed, blood covering her arm.

"Lotus." He tried to say, but it was nothing but a whisper, barley audible.

"Oh good! You're alive!" The Handler's voice rang out, "And no doubt with your little side piece."

Five wanted to get up and kill her himself, but she was unharmed and armed with a gun, and he had nothing.

"You both got to see how this all played out."

He turned his head as much as he could, eyes widening as the Handler lifted her polished heel and kicked Lotus in the stomach. She screamed, falling back beside him. He wanted to jump in front of her, to block the next blow, to do anything then just lay uselessly on the ground.

"Little Lotus Ingrid." The Handler seethed, leaning over her. "Look at her now."

"Leave her alone." He tried again, barley a whisper. He could feel blood dripple down the corner of his mouth, speaking would not be an easy task.

"Of course, we wouldn't be here if you hadn't ruined the plan." The woman continued, "You weren't supposed to be there when we made the deal— you weren't in the cards."

He could see Lotus struggle on the ground, "What?" She whispered, breaths coming in heaves.

"He wasn't supposed to meet you. He was supposed to choose his job with us but he chose his family because you were there. He choses you and you can watch me as I shoot him dead next to you—"

His eyes widened as the barrel of her gun aimed at his head, the Handler had a big smile on her face, it made him want to beat it off of her. Five blinked slowly, staring up at it. If he was to die like this, and give Lotus a chance, he would. Because the Handler would spare her, thinking she'd suffer the rest of her life—

"No!" Lotus' voice was hoarse as she screamed out, "Don't touch him!"

The Handler's grinned widened, "Fine."

The gun flew from him to Lotus who was still laying next to him, the Handler leaned down so close he tried to shove her away but his hand dropped at his side. So much for being a hero.

"Let's make this quick."

"No." He mumbled, "Lotus—"

He felt her hand meet his, gripping it tightly. He held onto her with all the strength he had—

He flinched when the shot rang out, froze when her hand fell from his. He let out a choked cry, eyes burning. He hadn't noticed the pain before, but now it all came crashing in.

Agony tore through him, flaring from his chest to his head. He could still feel Lotus' hand next to him, limp and unmoving, he couldn't look over at her.

"Now." The Handler spoke quickly, moving her attention to him, "Your—"

She froze, the sound of more gunfire quickly echoed as blood stained the front of her coat. Five stared up in confused as she turned before crumpling at his feet. He struggled to raise his head, eyes widening as it landed on one of the Swedes standing in the centre of the doorway, gun locked in his hands.

He waltzed up to him, Five raised his head and watched as yet another gun was pointed at him. The man looked around, eyes lingering on the girl beside him before glaring down at his target.

This doesn't have to be the end. We can use my ability to time travel.

Five took a shaky breath, a new plan forming in his mind.

You're the genius who said we should jump. Right? You're the one who got us stuck here.

He balled his hands into fists, he could hear the energy spark and sizzle.

Maybe your appetite is disproportionate to the size of your abilities. Start small. Seconds, not decades.

He was enveloped in blue, pulling himself up off the ground and running to the barn doors. As he went, he could see his family all raise around him, going back to a time before they were all shot dead.

You're a good person, Five.

He ran until everything seemed to stop, when the world came back into focus.

"You're the only person who says that about me." He muttered, eyes widening as he looked around. All his siblings were up, gazing as Diego distracted Lila in conversion.

"I know we can be your family." Diego said, "If you let us."

He glanced out the door just as the Handler stepped inside, gun locked and loaded. He jumped up, wrestling it from her grasp. She gasped as he jumped back, aiming it at her.

"It's true, isn't it?" Lila's focus went to her mother, "What Five said?"

The Handler raised her hands and sent a glare his way, Lila stomped her foot. "Answer me! Is it true?"

"Well—"

She never got to finish her sentence, the woman was dead before she hit the floor.

"The case!" Luther yelled, stepping towards it as Lila scooped it up. Diego jumped in his brothers way, they fell in a heap on the ground.

Five rushed in front of them, aiming his gun at the angry looking blonde. They all seemed to freeze, wondering who would shoot first. But he was tired of killing, of ruining people's lives. He had told Lotus he was done with it, and she hadn't looked convinced.

He moved the gun to the side, raising his arms as he dropped it. It landed on the ground with a thud, Five stared at the man across from him. "Enough."

The man stared at each of them, eyes full of hatred and sadness. When he dropped his own gun and walked out, they all shared a sigh of relief.

"I almost had her! Why'd you stop me?" Luther questioned, still overtop Diego.

"Because I love her."

Five was still staring out the door when Klaus cleared his throat, "Why's Lotus on the ground?"

He turned, eyes widening as they landed on her figure still sprawled out. He ran for her, falling to his knees as he checked where she'd been bleeding before. But there was no wounds, because he went back in time. She was supposed to fine— why wasn't she up and standing with the rest of them? Why wasn't she breathing.

"Lotus!" Five yelled grabbing her hands, "Lotus— Hey, wake up!"

Her eyes were closed, and her face was so still he wanted to shake her until she woke up. This couldn't be happening— this was impossible.

"Lotus!" He brushed her hair from her face, "Come on! It's me— remember? Why aren't you waking up?"

A hand landed on his shoulder, "Five—"

"Get away from me!" He yelled, shoving Klaus away.

He held onto her, he wouldn't let her go, not again. "Please, come on— you're okay, you're okay. You just gotta wake up, Lo. Alright? Just open your eyes—"

"Five."

He turned and glared at his family, all watching with a mix of expressions. He must've looked crazy by the way they met his gaze,

"I think she's gone." Allison whispered, "How— what happened?"

Five shook his head, he didn't bother wiping his eyes as he turned back to Lotus, still unmoving in his arms.

This can't be happening. This isn't fair.

"No. She's not dead." Five mumbled, "No, no, no, please, hey— I need you here, alright? With me. You hear me? I need you by my side!"

"Five." Klaus pleaded, "She's gone."

"No!" He screamed, holding onto her body for dear life. "No, no, no, no,"