Danielle.
Wake up.
He's gone.
You lost him again.
He was right there.
Why didn't you save him?
Are you no more than a killer?
Are you no better than Caligula?
Caligula… he stole my life.
No, you stole your own life. You had a chance to get it back and you didn't. You f*cked it up. Again.
'Danielle?' A man's voice warbles in my ear. It sounds like I'm under water.
'Danielle!' This time more urgent. Panic rises in my chest.
"What do you want?" I sit up, sweat beads lining my forehead, and goosebumps rising on my skin.
I turn to see Tre sitting next to me, looking like he's been crying.
Immediately I can feel myself growing faint.
"Whoa, lay down," he says, putting his hand out to calm me down. I lay back down and stare at the paint peeled ceiling. "Where is Zero?" I ask. Tre puts his face in his hands and wipes his eyes. "Right. Zero. He's away," he says. I sit up again, ignoring the pain in my bleeding stomach and look him in the eyes. "Is he dead?" I ask. Tre looks away. "You remember last night." he sighed.
I look down at my knuckles. While I was asleep someone must have wrapped them in gauze. It's strange feeling cared for again. Zero cared. Kayden cared. Kira cared. Dad cared. Mom cared. They all died. Seeing Zero's face sent waves of confusion through my mind. He looked like Kayden.
It clicks.
My mind flashes to two nights ago when Tre told me that Caligula can raise the dead.
'He's one of my undead.'
Kayden. Kayden is Zero.
'Im so sorry I lost you again,'
He died. Caligula raised him from the dead.
'The process was completely experimental, he's regained his free will.'
Everything just became so unbelievably clear.
The entire plan, it makes sense. Caligula… he's a madman, but a genius. I know what he's been planning, which means I know how to stop him.
I can't drag anyone else into this. Zero- Kayden died- again, saving me. Tre has Gianna to live for. I can't ask anyone to risk their lives for my crusade.
To defeat Caligula, I have to become capable. Infinitely powerful, and heartless.
The idea of becoming worse than I already am makes my stomach churn. It's the o my way to get the love of my life back. I'm done blaming myself for this. The first one wasn't my fault. The second time I should have done something. Now it's my job to avenge him. I'm so t care who I have to kill to do it. I will bring him back. But first…
I reach down and grip my knife.
I have to get out of here.
"Where are you going?" Tre asks.
I stand up and walk out, limping. I need to get to my base.