1 + 2

by Kristie Lynn Higgins

  "I will," Melissa answers, and then she and the children continue through the tunnel.

  "Melissa," I call after them.

  She pauses, turns, and says, "Yes."

  "Don't wait for me and Kimberly to get Johnson out. It might take us a while. No matter what he says, get him out now. His wounds are serious."

  Melissa nods and goes on with the children.

  I wait before facing my trial of fortitude, buying Melissa and Chad time to get out, and once they're out of my sight, I take a deep breath and move towards Kimberly. I know this won't end well as Kimberly patiently waits for me. I stop several feet away from her.

  "I see you sent them on ahead that was a wise move." Her arms are down at her sides and she holds her gun as she says, "I assume the Raven and the Wolf are no more."

  Sadness presses against my heart as I consider the ending of our story. Is this world so dark and evil that blood must constantly be shed? I wait a few seconds before answering her, buying Melissa and the children even more time; time they need. I hear their footsteps move on into the distance as they hurry off to Johnson, and I finally answer, "They won't bother Melissa."

  I grasp the Glock 25 in my left hand and the Beretta in my right. I don't want to have to use them, and dread grips my soul as I question, "What about the other Closer? What about the Phoenix?" My eyes grow dismal, fearing the answer as I ask, "Do we have to worry about her?"

  "For Ares' sake!" Kimberly snaps. "What do you think?"

  "I think something terrible's about to happen. I think... I think I might have to go against my pledge to myself, and I'll have to... I'll have to..."

  A knot forms in my stomach as I'm unable to finish the sentence even in my mind. I know my words are powerless against Kimberly's work ethic, and I raise both guns. I wish Life Closers didn't exist. I wish... I wish it didn't have to end this way.

  I state, "I'll stop you. No matter what, I'm going to stop you."

  Kimberly's view...

  I see now... All that woman's talk about not taking a life was a lie. I notice the sadness in her face, then I remember her attempt to murder Topa, and I believe she'll hesitate when it comes down to it. When she hesitates, she'll give me the opening I need to take her down. I can't stake my life on it, so I'll have to act as though she'll shoot to kill. I hate this though, I hate up close Closings. They're messy.

  Katharine's view...

  I struggle with my conscience. I don't want to become the killing machine the Council hopes for, but I can't let Chad get hurt. I'm determined to stop Kimberly, but merely wounding her won't keep her from her Closing. I insist, "I won't let you hurt them."

  "Them?" Kimberly acts insulted as she states, "I have only one target. I'm not sloppy. No one else will die."

  "I'm not talking about death!" I shout. "If you kill Melissa, you'll hurt the children. They'll experience the same heartache as you did when you thought your mom abandoned you. They'll experience that same heartache you have now knowing Theresa was murdered! Why can't you understand? They'll lose a mother. Didn't that hurt? Didn't that make you die inside? How can you let another child suffer through that?"

  "How dare you bring my mom into this!" Kimberly fists her left hand and shouts, "She has nothing to do with this!"

  "Doesn't she?" I grit my teeth as a lump forms in my throat. I try to keep my voice calm, but it's coming out indignant. "Would you have become a Life Closer if Theresa had lived?"

  "Of course I..." Kimberly pauses and then questions, "What does that matter? I have a job to do, and no amount of talking will change my mind. I'm a professional. Emotions or conscience can't interfere with my assignments."

  The knot tightens in my stomach, and the lump in my throat doubles in size. I drop the Glock down to my side and level the Beretta on to the person I thought would be there for me; I level it at her heart. I'll have to do it. I'll have to kill Kimberly. One shot and it will be over. I'll kill Kimberly and save Melissa.

  Kimberly's view...

  I was right before... That woman's actually aiming at me. I can try to shoot first, but I still have to lift my gun, and I'm not sure how fast that woman is, so I guess the question is, will she try to kill me? Will she complete the Gamma Phase my mom spoke of and warned me of?

  I tell her, "You know what I am and what I must do."

  I'll be ready either way; I won't hesitate to kill that woman, but maybe I can mess with her head and throw her off her game. It might give me a chance against her, so I say, "There's no stopping me. Unless you commit the thing you fear the most. Unless you..."

  Katharine's view...

  "Why must it come to this?" I interrupt her as my small voice yells at me and pleads with me not to take a life. "Why is there so much killing in this world?"

  "Idiot. You've had several minutes to take me out and save Melissa and yet you keep talking. Do you honestly think you're going to change my mind? Do you believe your words will sway me to a different path? Do you think I have a heart you can reason with? You do understand I don't. I'm a cold blooded killer, so do you really think you can change my mind?"

  "Yes, I have to for both our sakes." Yearning for release from the anguish attacking me, my eyes burn as if on fire, and I insist, "This is not the person you were meant to be!"

  Kimberly's view...

  Who does that woman think she is? She doesn't know me, and I'll make her pay for her do-gooder attitude. I ask, "How would you know what I was meant to be?" I bring my gun up as the dark side of myself raises its vicious head. "Now..." I cock the hammer, toying with that woman; I want to see her squirm over her convictions. I no longer think about my own life only that I want her to suffer. "If you're going to stop me, do it now! Or I'm going to kill Melissa!" I wait to see what that woman will do. I take pleasure in seeing her wrestle over crossing a line I myself bloodied long ago. "Do it! Do it before I do!"

  Chapter Fifty

  Removing Obstacles

  8:43 P.M...

  Kimberly's view...

  "That's right! You're so weak!" I shout as I watch that woman struggle, and I take delight in it. "You can't kill me, can you? Idiot! You talk all confident about saving everybody, but you can't, not if it involves taking a life."

  In that moment as I yell at that woman, I see my own hesitation. I haven't acted, and I've allowed that woman time to toil over her decision. I'm letting Melissa get further and further away, and I can't fathom a reason for my hesitation, and then I consider that I take pleasure in seeing her torment. Am I that cruel? Maybe... No maybes; I am that cruel. I would have removed all obstacles by now, so what am I waiting for? Do I really want to see that woman suffer over this decision? Do I want to see her toil over it like the first time I agonized over it? Isn't she an idiotic idealist? Doesn't she need to be taught a lesson? I break through my own wall of deceit and realize that's the answer. I relax in the freedom of my hatred. I want her to decide to cross the line and become like me. The image of my mom that the music box produces, appears in my mind. What does the hologram Theresa know anyway? Who cares if that woman takes a life?

  I shout, "Kill me to save Melissa!" I need that woman to make her move, so I can kill her. I want her to die knowing she couldn't keep to her moral convictions.

  Katharine's view...

  My arm shakes with uncertainty. I can't live with myself if I kill Kimberly. I think about the children. I can't live with myself if I allow Kimberly to kill Melissa. I don't know what to do, and this is a decision no one should have to make.

  Kimberly's view...

  "Well? I thought you were going to save everyone!" My hatred grows as I think more and more about that woman's innocent view of the world, and it makes me sick to think she's so optimistic. "Oh wait..." I'll take that world and make her see its ugly face. "Daniels and Andrews are already dead, so I guess you can't save them, and only one of us will be leaving this platform, so
there again you've failed. Well? Are you going to stand there and do nothing?"

  That woman won't reply to my taunting; she only gazes at me with those pitiful hazel eyes. I do notice her eyes are filled with anguish and look like they're on the verge of crying. I say, "As I thought. You're so weak. What did my mom ever see in you? When it comes down to it, you can't save anyone, not even yourself. You can't shoot me, can you?"

  Katharine's view...

  Aiming for Kimberly's heart, I place my finger on the trigger, deciding I have no other choice, but when I go to pull the trigger, fragile glimpses from my past sail by my mind like dandelion seeds drifting on the wind. When I try to reach my hand after the hidden memories and snatch them from the breeze, they evade my mental grasp and float away, leaving only an impression of their brief existence. They leave me with a sense that I know Kimberly and we're connected, so I need to stay my hand. I realize what I was about to do is so horribly wrong, so I drop my arm then both guns and they hit the concrete floor.

  "You're right." Filled with defeat and confusion, I close my eyes, shake my head, and whisper, "I can't. I can't hurt you, not you."

  "That's what I thought." Kimberly aims for my forehead. "You're weak and useless. The Council must see you as a waste of their precious time."

  I've failed Chad; I've failed him and Melissa. I couldn't pull the trigger. It's all I had to do to save them, so why didn't I? There's that impression that I know her, but... I open my eyes, freeze, and stare at Kimberly, waiting for her to take the shot. I was supposed to save them. Andrews and Daniels laid down their lives for them. All I had to do was squeeze a freaking piece of metal, but I couldn't! I gave up! I'm weak!

  Kimberly's view...

  It's all too easy with that woman who's more like a child when it comes to her way of thinking. Yes, it's way too easy; it should be more... more challenging. I lift the barrel of my gun straight up, changing my mind about killing that woman. She could still prove useful, but I don't know if she'll help me after I finish my Closing. I uncock the gun and walk toward her, and as I start to pass, she grabs my shoulder.

  "I won't kill you," she states. "But I also won't let you hurt Melissa."

  Irritated, I look at her hand, then into her determined face, and ask, "What are you going to do?"

  "I won't let you pass. You'll have to kill me first, and as I told you before, I'm going to save everyone. I'm going to save even you."

  Save me? Who's that woman going to save me from? I aim again for her head and say, "If that's how you want it. Fine, but I was hoping to continue our partnership a little longer, but oh well."

  Katharine's view...

  I gulp, stare at the gun, and repeat with a little more fear and a little less resolve in my voice, "I won't let you pass; I won't." In my heart, I'm still determined to save everyone, but my body's the one who betrays my earnestness. If I can buy Melissa and the children a few more minutes, then maybe they'll flee to safety, but I'm so afraid of dying. My hand trembles as I hold Kimberly back. There's nothing else I can do but hold on to her shoulder and wait for the gun blast and the blackness that will follow, praying I've at least bought them the precious time they need with my sacrifice.

  Kimberly's view...

  A few seconds pass, and neither of us move. I still haven't shot that woman, and I don't know why I'm hesitating again. For Ares' sake! What's with me? I know what that woman is and that it will be a waste to eliminate her, but is that the reason I don't shoot her? Or am I regrowing a conscience? No, it can't be that.

  I shout, "Hades! We've gotten ourselves into a real mess! I prefer to have you around a little longer but no, you had to go get all up in my business. I have a feeling you would've been useful."

  I then think of something. If that woman wants to save Melissa so badly, why didn't she attack me? She could have shot me in the leg or at least punched me, but she acts like she doesn't want to hurt me in the least. Isn't that ridiculous?

  I realize I have to eliminate her and there goes our partnership. I press my finger against the trigger when a loud beep startles me, and I almost shoot with the jolt to my psyche. The sound comes from my knapsack. Hades! That was intense.

  I hold my aim as I question, "Do you mind if I take a look? It's my H.H.C."

  End Kimberly's view...

  A puzzled expression crossed Kat's face as she uttered, "Ahh... No. Go right ahead." Kat released her shoulder and took a step back.

  Kim removed the device and glanced at the screen. "An e-mail from Voice. I'll need to get this."

  Kat nodded.

  It was so unprofessional, Kim thought as she lowered the gun and holstered the weapon. She opened up the e-mail and read the message.

  Voice had typed, "Ms. Odin's Closing is canceled. Repeat. Ms. Odin's Closing is canceled. The Valhalla Corporation has withdrawn their request."

  Kim clicked on the attachment, and it included all the appropriate paperwork. She told that woman, "The Life Closing has been canceled."

  "Canceled?" Kat didn't know if it was a trick or not.

  "Yes. Canceled. It seems I don't have to kill you or Melissa after all."

  Suspicious of her words, Kat couldn't believe it.

  "For Ares' sake!" Kim shouted. "What's going on? Why the last minute cancelation?"

  "Is it really canceled?" Kat asked, wanting to believe.

  "Sure. I wouldn't lie."

  Kat raised her brown eyebrows, mocking her statement.

  "Fine, maybe I would, but look." Kim showed her the documents. "See. Canceled."

  Katharine's view...

  Relieved, deeply hurt, and psychologically exhausted, I wrap my arms around myself and tremble. That last second I was sure Kimberly was going to kill me. I feel sick. I would be dead right now if her email had beeped a second later.

  "What's wrong with you?" Kimberly asks.

  Taking a moment before answering, I lie, "Nothing." I try to shake off the uncertainty, reach down, and pick up the Glock and the Beretta. "Let's go back."

  I can't shake off the feelings. Kimberly would have killed me. She would have killed me, and I would have stood there and let her. Stupid... I can't protect Chad if I'm dead.

  Chapter Fifty-one

  A Lesson Learned

  9:01 P.M...

  Silently, Kim and Kat made their way back to Johnson, Melissa, and the children. Neither of them wanted to talk about what had happened between them. At the next station, Melissa had Johnson on his feet and hobbling toward the exit. She waved to the two of them, relieved she would have help getting him out.

  "We're here!" Melissa shouted.

  Katharine's view...

  They didn't get very far. Kimberly would have tracked them down in no time, and she would have slaughtered Melissa. I wonder though... Would she have done it in front of the children or would she have come up with a story and pulled Melissa away from the group before she did the grim deed?

  I watch her closely, still expecting her to try and kill Melissa at any moment. I can't trust her, so I don't need to be in this partnership. Surely I don't need someone like her. I think back to the business card I found. What about the clues that were left for me? Why was I supposed to find her? I glance at my Beretta. Am I supposed to stop her? That would be funny, and here I'm trying to make friends with her.

  Kimberly's view...

  I notice that woman watching me. Good for her. She doesn't trust me, and it's about time. She was an idiot to put her faith in me. I would have killed her. The next thought saddens me a bit. That woman has finally learned that she can't trust me, so what will that do to our partnership?

  Katharine's view...

  I warily walk behind Kimberly. Should I stay and work with someone that can betray me at any moment?

  I pause, take one last look at the second subway station, and think of the two dead bodyguards. So much death and for what? Melissa's Clos
ing was canceled, so why did Andrews and Daniels have to die? I don't know. It all seems so senseless, but at least, the children won't have to see their bodies. We will be leaving by this station's stairs instead of the other's.

  End Katharine's view...

  With Melissa's help, Johnson hobbled his way out of the subway and to a locked fence. Kim shot the lock, and the group proceeded to the street. They saw no sign of Nikolai or Natasha. On the next block, the safe house burned and by then, fire crews worked on putting out the blaze. A Noir Civil Police Force car drove down the street and stopped at the curb before the haggard group.

  "You folks okay?" the male officer asked.

  Johnson released Melissa, hopped a few feet to the car's door, and leaned on it. "I work for the Isis Corporation. I'm a bodyguard, and two Closers tried to take out my client." He motioned behind himself. "Two of my men are dead. They're down in the subway."

  "And the Closers?" the officer asked.

  "Gone," Johnson answered. "They're gone."

  The officer nodded. "Well, let's get you folks some help."

  * * *

  9:59 P.M...

  Hellenistic Sector, Residential Vicinage...

  Nexus Apartments...

  "Welcome back Ms. Griffin and Kat," Henry the security guard said as they walked through the glass front doors. A taxi had dropped them off out front.

  "It's good to be back, Henry," Kim said. "A very trying day today."

  Deep in thought, Kat only nodded to the security officer.

  "That's too bad," Henry replied. "May your night be better."

  Kimberly's view...

  "Thanks," I reply as I enter the elevator first, that woman follows, and then the cab doors close.

  I consider the events of the past several days. Voice sent the Raven and the Wolf from Russia before he gave me the Topa Closing, so why is Voice so worried about someone knowing my identity as the Phoenix? Why did Voice question whether or not I had taken care of said person if I was to be closed? Did Voice believe the Closing would be canceled, and if so, is Voice even the one who issued it? Or did someone else call for my termination and why? Am I still in danger? Will I be like that woman? Will I be hunted until I'm killed? The cab doors open, and I walk toward Apartment H.