I walk, trying to find a dark, secluded area where I will appear to be defenseless. But then it hits me. This is stupid. I pull out my phone and text Plath, letting him know that I’m sorry, and I’m on my way home. I try to call him when he doesn’t text me back, but he doesn’t answer. Damn, he is pissed. I’m not sure how we will work on our dysfunctional relationship after the stunt I just pulled. He probably hates me.

I unlock the door and notice all of the lights are off. I quietly call out Plath’s name as I switch on the light. I jump and tightly grip my messenger bag when I see a hooded figure sitting on my couch.

“It is pretty preposterous, isn’t it? Walking into your home, where you are supposed feel safe, untouched… Unharmed?” I laugh as he speaks. Every word meant to seduce me into his trap.

“Go to hell.” I’m contemplating a slow, painful death and watching closely for his moment of weakness. His skeletal frame gives me a slight boost of confidence. Although he probably has great aim, at least I know I could take him down if weapons aren’t involved.

His smile is atrocious and his laugh obnoxious. “Are you not happy with me, child? I thought you would be filled with joy to see your friend dangling from the fence post. Her body lifeless and her skin in shreds - unrecognizable.”

I shudder as the image replays itself in my mind. The image doesn’t sadden me anymore. Instead, it ignites a fury so strong not even he, as smart as he is, will be able to win. I take the small knife from my pocket and grip it tightly in my hand. The knife is sharp, and I feel it slice into the palm of my hand.

He stands up and turns his back to me, looking out the window. I slowly stalk towards him, and when I get close enough to touch him, he turns around with a gun to my head.

“Do you honestly think you can kill me?” He shoves the gun harder into my temple, and his face is inches from mine. His breath reeks of death.

“I can, and I will.” I try to keep my expression emotionless and my voice calm.

He laughs and then falls silent, staring at me without blinking. I look at him and wonder why he isn’t moving. I back away, and he doesn’t follow. What is going on?

He exhales deeply and gasps for air as if he’s stopped breathing. “What did you just do to me?”

I stutter, readying my knife, preparing to kill him. “I-I don’t know what you are talking about!” I’m confused what his question is referring to, but I figure it’s an attempt to distract me.

While he stands close to me, possibly pretending to be confused of something to distract me, I quickly move the knife to a threatening position and stab him in his heart, twisting and maneuvering the knife to be sure he cannot survive its blow. His eyes grow large and fixate on mine as he realizes what I’ve done. Die, you stupid bastard. His blood oozes as hot oil would, slow but steady. His blood is thick, black, and cold just like his heart. I kick his lifeless body to the side, feeling empowered by his death.

I make it the hallway before falling to my knees, overwhelmed by the fact that I just killed who I hope was Nikolai. I’m shocked at how easy that was. Plath was right; there must have been Hunters watching. But where is Plath? My heart speeds up, and I start panicking when I begin to think the worst. What if something happened to him? I scream his name, checking every room of our apartment. I run for the front door, and when I open it, I run into Plath.

His eyes look past me and to the Hunter lying lifeless on the floor. He walks over to him and nudges his head with his boot, revealing his face. “Nikolai…”

He turns to look at me and says, “Are you happy now!” His tone is cold and bitter.

I nod my head and lean against the wall. He stares fiercely at me and then looks away. He puts his hands in his pockets and looks down at his feet.

“Orion, I’m leaving. This isn’t going to work between us. I can’t allow it to go any further than admitting our feelings for one another.”

I feel sick to my stomach and like I have been stabbed in the back. “No… You can’t leave me here alone!”

“You don’t need me. You only care about yourself.” He looks down at Nikolai and says, “You proved that to me tonight.”

“That is not true!” I want to cry, but for some reason I fight the tears, trying to remain strong.

His laugh is cold and distant. “Yes, it is. I’m not willing to grow more attached to you only to watch you do something stupid and die. You think you are smart as hell and don’t listen to anything I say.”

I look at Nikolai’s dead body. “I didn’t die! I killed him! And just because I’m in a relationship with you doesn’t mean you get to be my boss!”

He sighs heavily. “If I’ve learned anything about you in the short time we have known each other, it’s that once you set your mind to something, even if it risks you dying, you won’t let anything stop you.”

“And is that a bad thing? I did what was right! He killed my best friend, dammit! Why can you not support me in this?”

“Killing him didn’t bring her back, Orion! Would you please wake the hell up? You have a guy standing in front of you who cares more for you than you will allow yourself to believe! But you are too selfish to see that! You almost took something from me that has given my life a new purpose!”

“Took what from you!” I scream.

“You, dammit! You! How many times do I have to explain this to you for you to understand!” He yells and runs his hands through his messy hair.

Who am I kidding? I’m not at a point in my life where I can be in a relationship with someone. I probably never will be. I stand up a bit straighter. “You know what? You’re right! I’m too selfish to care about someone else’s needs. So, it’s best if you go.”

He punches the wall and curses. He looks at me and then starts laughing as if he is losing his mind. I look away, trying to avoid feeling sorry for him.

I take a deep breath and let it out. I’m sure what I’m about to ask is going to piss him off, but I have to know. “Before you go… Can you please tell me how to get back to the Sphere?”

He looks away from me and over to Nikolai, whose blood is all over the wooden floor. “I can’t believe you are asking this of me.”

“If you don’t help, I will just figure it out on my own.”

“You know what… How about I just take you there myself?” His tone lacks any emotion.

“You would do that?”

“I would rather get you there myself than you try to figure it out on your own.” I can see it all over his face that I’m crushing him.

“Thank you, Plath,” I say, but he doesn’t reply. There is a huge wall between us now. If the situation was different I would try to further a relationship with him, but my family is in danger. I have to try to make it back to my Sphere to warn them. Even if that means dying.