WILL GOT STABBED IN HIS CHEST. THE GLASS pierced his black hoodie and the layers of skin, blood welling up almost immediately. It felt like Shay was the one who got stabbed, not him. She felt distant. She felt numb.

James let go of Will who slid down the wall and curled up on the floor. "Task successfully completed." James grinned at her. No, no, no. This can't be happening. This was her worst nightmare.

My worst nightmare from which she can't escape.

Will was gasping for his breath as she rushed towards him, kneeling beside him. Her hands hovered over his chest, not knowing what to do. Shay was scared that touching him would make his wound worse. Up close, she could see that the glass piece protruding from his chest missed his heart by four to five inches, and was deeper than it seemed. His black shirt was slick with blood, due to which the amount of blood wasn't visible.

Blood was slowly pooling around Will, who seemed very pale. If the police arrived and take Will to the hospital quickly, he would survive. But if not... Shay didn't even want to think about it. She had to protect Will until the cops arrive from James, who seemed hell-bent on killing him. Shay turned around and spread her arms wide to protect Will from the monster in front of them, even though she knew it was pathetic.

James seemed amused by her actions. He snorted, "Cute. I know what it feels like. I know how it feels when a person you love gets killed right in front of you."

"No! You don't, you bastard! If you did, why would you try to kill him? If you knew how it feels like, then you would prevent that from happening as you know the sadness, not help in killing him! The police will arrive here soon, and they will catch you!" Shay screamed at him, fresh tears streaming down her face.

"No, they won't. There is a helicopter waiting for me, and I will flee. What they would see will be more interesting. They won't find the people you claimed would be here, and they would see a girl who lost her sanity and killed someone she loved. They would see two journalists who were behind all these murders, who blamed someone else for it. You might be wondering about all the evidence you have, but the evidence has value only if they find me. Or else, they would feel it was something you made up entirely. We have already cleaned the whole building, got rid of any traces of our presence here. After I escape, no one would believe you."

He grinned at her and went upstairs, "It would be fun to get accused of murder." Will wheezed. Shay dropped beside Will whose eyes were closed. She cupped his face in her hands and his eyes fluttered open.

"Will, please. Stay awake. Please," she begged him, my tears falling on his face. "N—no. Want to sleep, too—"

"No!" Terror scraped her voice raw. "The police are here, they will find you. Please, Will, don't fall asleep. For me." She held his face tighter in her hands, his soft and silky hair tickling her hands. "Will," Shay choked back a sob. "Stay awake. I'll be back."

His green eyes sharpened on Shay with concern, "W—hy? D—don't go —him. Too... gerous." He said, his voice barely audible. "He can't just go away like that. I should go after him." Will, who was already pale, paled even further after hearing this.

He looked at her with widened eyes and clasped my hand. "I have to leave you now, Will. But please don't leave me forever. I can't live without you." She sobbed and this time, her tears fell on the floor. Mixing up with Will's blood.

"Be—" His voice broke and his grip on her hand loosened. His eyelids drooped down like he was fighting to stay awake. His eyes closed, but he was still breathing. "Will!" Shay screeched and shook him with terror, but he didn't respond. "You promised me! You promised that wherever you go, I go!"

He was taking in gasping breaths.

"I love you, Will," Shay said to him, who didn't respond back. Putting her forehead against his gently, she gasped out, "I love you. Please, please hold on for me. I know you can. You'll be alright. Everything will be alright." Shay said, almost as if she was convincing herself instead of him. Shay smoothed down his hair and kissed his forehead.

She stood up and went upstairs as quickly as she could. Her ankle screamed in protest, but it was nothing compared to the fire of rage burning in her. She was going to kill him. Rage was coursing through her veins, powering her body. She didn't mind the pain from her ankle, though she knew that if she stopped, she wouldn't be able to continue again.

Faintly, she heard the footsteps of cops and medics, and Kai's faint voice. All she could see was how James put a glass piece through Will's chest. It made her even angrier. Then she heard Will's gasping breaths, what he last told her. No, no, no. He's gonna be alright.

Shay screamed as she saw the door leading to the terrace. It was filled with sadness, pain and rage. Shay increased her pace, which increased the pain too. But she didn't mind it. Her hate for James seemed to dominate the pain, and she kept going. Her hate for James fuelled her journey which would lead to his downfall.

Shay curled her hand into a fist, and the glass bit into her skin. Vaguely, she recalled picking up a glass piece before running behind James. She reached the door, so she pushed it open, her eyes snapping around with fire. "Where are you?" Shay growled. "Where are you, James Johnson?"

She dragged her foot around and punched James when she spotted him behind the door. Shay dragged him by his collar and aimed a punch again, her knuckles burning with satisfaction. But she was nowhere done.

James curled his hand into a fist and aimed at the front of her nose. It hit the bridge of her nose. Her blood splattered down, but Shay didn't feel anything. She was burning with rage, and she wanted to destroy him. He hit her again and Shay tasted blood. James smirked at her.

She snarled, caught hold of his hand and twisted it. She jabbed at him, aiming for his stomach. James coughed, his eyes widening as he didn't expect it. Shay shifted her position, setting her right foot in front of left which was hurt, for leverage. She spun, punching James in the jaw then kicking him in the stomach. "Not bad," James commented, breathing hard. "Your dad would be happy to see you defending yourself this well. Pity he can't see it."

That was when Shay lost it. She knew that was what James wanted. She knew he was distracting her because he got to know she could fight well, but she fell for it. In a white-hot rage, Shay swung at him wildly. She forgot everything. She forgot the rules of balance, the tips to fight well.

Instead, she hit and kicked at James, her aim going wild. Shay screamed at him, her fist connecting with his nose, stamping on his foot. James hissed. Shay yelled again. Just when she was about to aim another punch, James brought his foot down on her ankle. Her bad one.

Shay didn't realize her ankle had been pulsating with pain till now. Shay collapsed down, every breath painful. James picked an iron rod from beside him, swinging it towards her. It hit the back of her head. Her vision blurred, but she could make out James watching her with a happy grin.

"Wow, I'm on a roll today," James said, twirling the rod in his hands. "Shay, Shay. Seriously? You thought that I would wait for the helicopter without any weapons with you hulking out on me? But don't worry. This blow won't kill you. I want you to stay alive, and find Will dead. Revenge is the ultimate fuel for humans. It makes you realize what's good and what's bad, and about the cruelty of this world. I did good things, now I want you to do them. Because that's what you are going to do. Set out for revenge after Will dies and I flee. This whole building will burn, killing everyone you love. I will flee. Police might mark you as a murderer. Then you will grieve them, and set out for revenge. You will become cold, emotionless, and rage would burn you. Can't you see it, Shay? How rage and revenge makes you powerful? Did you see how well you fought? You will set out to murder me, making good decisions in your life. Emotions cloud judgements, which in turn cloud decisions. You will do good things after this. And you are on the right path. I'm a god, now you can become one."

Shay snarled at him, "I knew you were insane. But I didn't know you were spectacularly out of your goddamn mind. A god? You aren't a god. God is a creator, you are a destroyer."

James just grinned. It made madder. She spat at him, "When you get caught, you should rot in a cell. Not punished to death, but should be thrown in a cold jail cell, which will make you remember all the people you have killed, kidnapped. The families you have destroyed. You will wake up every day with guilt, the guilt eating you alive. You deserve a lifetime in jail where you will remember the sins and the little children who cried as you murdered them or their parents. You will be scared that the people you killed might haunt you, and they will haunt you in your dreams."

Her hands trembled with hate. "You killed my dad. You killed my grandparents. You killed Marina. You killed George and Anthony. And many people. But if something happens to Will now, I swear I will make sure you die. I don't care about the fucking consequences, I will kill you."

James smirked, "That's what I did. You see, Shay? You and I, we are not different at all. I look into your eyes now, and I see me. My younger self."

"I will never become someone like you," Shay growled at him.

"All of this started when I set out for revenge too. But now, I kill people because I can. I have the power of God and I shall use it. Cleanse the whole island. But for now..." James trailed off and picked up the rod again. Shay buried the glass piece in her hand into his calf muscle.

"You thought I would come after you without anything I can use as a weapon?" Shay asked him as she plucked the glass piece out of his calf. James screamed in response and his eyes flashed in rage. The look was enough to send anyone cowering away in fear, but Shay just stared at him defiantly, ready to bury the glass piece in his flesh in case he tried something.

"You—" James started but looked up when the police emerged from the open door, pointing their guns at him. Looking at the crowd of police, James looked scared as he raised his hands in surrender.

Kai was among the police, a gun in his hands but his eyes were scanning the entire place anxiously. He spotted Shay and sighed with relief, covering the distance between them in three long strides.

Shay dropped the glass piece she had been holding, her lower lip trembled. She felt like the air had been sucked out of her, leaving her weightless. Kai fell to his knees in front of her, and Shay threw her arms around her best friend. She cried onto his shoulder, bawling her eyes out uglily. Kai's arms tightened around her.

"Will?" She asked, frightened about the response she would receive. "They took him to the hospital. He's alright. He's gonna be alright. I know he will. He's my idiot best friend."

Shay nodded, soaking into her best friend's embrace to get the warmth and reassurance she needed. She looked past his shoulder and saw the cops handcuffing James and hauling him away. That was when she truly believed they were safe.

Blackwood was finally free and safe.

+++

By the time they reached the hospital Will was admitted in, he was already taken to the operation theatre. They spent sitting in front of the operation theatre for an hour, it was the most stressful hour in Shay's life.

The doctors had told that Will would've died due to blood loss if he was brought in even a few minutes late. Dr Pete, George's best friend had managed the situation at the hospital when there was no one. They thanked Dr Pete profusely for everything he had done, but Pete had just brushed their thanks away, saying it was the least he could do. Pete had spent that one stressful hour reassuring them that Will would be alright, that they needed to be checked for injuries too.

The relief Shay was through was immense when the doctor said that Will's condition was stable. Shay finally allowed the doctors to take her to another room to have a look at her ankle. Shay felt nervous when the doctor had looked at the reports, which contained scans and x-rays. The doctor had then explained to her that what happened to her ankle was a Lateral ankle sprain: grade 3. He told her that there was a severe and complete tear of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), and calcaneofibular ligament (CFL). That she had to go through surgery soon.

After the surgery, the doctor had explained that it would take several months for it to heal, that she shouldn't do anything that would strain her ankle, including running. But she was fine with that. Blackwood was finally free from evil's influence.

When Jessica was sitting with Shay by her bed, she asked, "When can I meet Will?" Her mother's smile slightly dropped. Shay's heart dropped into her stomach, "Mom?" Shay asked urgently. "What is it? What happened?"

"He... he isn't waking up. The doctors have told that there might be a possibility of him being in a coma."

"What?"

"We aren't sure about that! The doctors have to run tests to determine his condition. But he is stable, Shay. He's alright," Her mother reassured Shay. "He will wake up."

+++

Will didn't wake up till the next day.

As all of them weren't allowed into Will's room, they took turns. Lesser the people, even better. It was afternoon and was Kai's turn. Kai looked at his best friend, who was breathing quietly. Kai choked out a laugh, "If you open your eyes, Will, I'll clean your room. I'll never fight with Theo, never steal from you, we won't buy unnecessary unhealthy junk from the supermarket. I'll let you buy everything. Please, Will. I'll do whatever you want me to do." He said desperately, looking at his brave best friend as tears threatened to spill over his eyes.

That was when Will responded, "Want my earphones back." Kai blinked. He didn't quite process what had happened, and somehow forgot the fact that they were in a hospital with Will in the bed. His mind went back to the days when they were fighting over a pair of earphones. So, Kai said, "No."

Will responded again, "Then forget it."

Kai blinked again and shouted, finally catching up with the fact that Will woke up. Kai stood, his eyes shining and his face lightening up, "No! I'm sorry I said that! You can have your earphones back! Take anything you want from me! Just open your eyes, Will."

The door opened. Nick had entered the room, his face was as bright as a kid's on Christmas. "He woke up?" Nick asked excitedly. Kai nodded eagerly. Nick took his son's hand, "Will. Bud, can you open your eyes?"

Will spoke softly, "I can't open my eyes, dad. They seemed to be sealed shut. I'm trying, I swear." The doctor, hearing the commotion came inside the room, ready to drive everyone out of the room. Will said, "Dad! Wait." The doctor nodded at Kai, telling Kai to get out of the room. "I'll give you some time," the doctor said, "Call me after you speak."

"Dad," Will was saying. "Till now, I thought that I was the reason for mom's death. The guilt was killing me. I thought that she didn't concentrate properly when she was driving, thinking about how I shouted at her. I thought that she didn't see another driver speeding towards her, and she didn't have the time to swerve her car away because she was lost in thoughts. But... Her car wasn't moving, dad. The video he showed me was taken closely. The camera was so close to mom's car that I could see her face through the window too. Watching that video almost killed me, because it was so close, and I saw mom's face as it all happened. But... I just realized, dad. Her car wasn't moving. She had stopped her car at a red signal. That means that I am not responsible for it. Watching that video did hurt me a lot, but it gave me closure. There's a difference between grieving and feeling guilty, dad. Now that I know I'm not responsible, I can finally not feel guilty when I think about her. I can allow myself to think about the memories I had with her. I can finally grieve her properly, without any guilt. I can visit her, dad." Will's voice was unbelieving as if he were saying that the earth was flat.

The doctor had pushed Kai out of the room, closing the door which prevented him from hearing Nick's response. But through the glass, he could see that Nick was hugging Will carefully.

+++

Shay was sitting in the waiting room, on the couch. The entire corridor was deserted. In fact, the entire floor was deserted. The news of what happened spread through the city like wildfire, the media went crazy. That was one of the reasons Pete had requested a place where they would be left alone. He made sure they were alone. Only them, with the few staff members.

The families who had lost their members due to what Vyper did had mourned for their lost ones again, feeling the pain of their death all over again. James was locked up in a jail cell, being interrogated very thoroughly. But James was refusing to answer the questions asked by the police. The documents George gathered were very, very helpful. Almost everyone involved with Vyper were caught, everything is being scrutinized.

The police were looking into documents with information about James and found out that both his parents had killed themselves.

A voice interrupted Shay's thoughts. She looked up, startled. Theo was poking Bethany, "Beth, could you lend me your phone charger? Mine looks dead." He said, pointing and poking at what seemed like a charger.

"Nope," Beth said, smiling sweetly at her little brother.

"Why not?"

"Little bro, I love you and I would donate my kidney for you but there's no way in hell I'm giving you my charger."

"But I don't want a kidney, I want a charger!" Theo whined loudly.

"Well," Beth shrugged, "too bad. It's a kidney or nothing." Jade gave Beth a high five and Theo pouted at his girlfriend.

They shared a chuckle as Theo pouted. Where Shay had come out with a major ankle injury and Will with a knife in his chest, she was happy that others weren't too hurt. Just small scratches. Rose had a purple bruise on her forehead, a red slap mark on her cheek. Shay immediately clasped Rose's hand, who was right beside her. Rose smiled reassuringly at Shay, knowing what was going on in her head.

Shay had refused to let go of her after they had gotten out of the building, hugging her tightly and never letting go of her. After Shay let go of her, she hugged Kara, sticking to her like a leech. Kara had ruffled her hair then, assuring that she was alright and nothing too bad had happened when she had been kidnapped, no experiment conducted, just bad treatment.

Rose patted Shay's hand lightly now then interlinked her fingers with Shay's for reassuring her. They were watching a movie on the laptop, a Disney movie selected by Emily.

Everyone except Will. Will was still in the hospital room, under observation, and because the doctors said he needed rest. Everyone had settled in the waiting room then, refusing to go home. They would go back to their houses with Will.

Shay looked at her friends. Beside Rose sat Kai, Jade on whose lap sat Emily, Theo, Bethany. Theo was still talking with Beth, pushing her now.

"Beth. I'm thirsty. Please go and get me a water bottle."

"Remember three months back when I asked you to get me a bar of chocolate and you refused? It's revenge time." She grinned wickedly.

"But that was three months ago!"

"But that was chocolate!" Beth exclaimed, mocking Theo.

"Fine," Theo said and stood up, muttering something about elder sisters as he went to get himself a water bottle. He threw himself onto the couch and looked at Emily, "What did I miss? What did I miss?" He asked excitedly with sparkling eyes and Emily filled him in about what he had missed.

Emily then poked Kai and pointed at the screen, gesturing to the villain, "You see her? That's you."

"You." Kai countered.

"You."

"You."

"Me." Emily smiled.

"Me," Kai agreed and paused, realizing his mistake. He pulled his sister's cheek, making her whine. "See! That proves my point! You are using evil means to make me agree to something." Shay zoned out of the conversation again, thinking of the therapy session they were going to attend that Saturday.

Not only Shay and Will but others too as Pete said that what they experienced might not affect them right now but will affect them in the long run. They would undergo individual sessions first, then group sessions together.

"Shay!"

Shay looked up, startled again. Pete is talking to her. She blinked. "I'm sorry, what?"

He smiled patiently at her, "I'm going to my house. You want to come along to visit Leo? Theo is too absorbed in the movie, Kai and Jade are lazy and Rose visited him this morning. What about you?"

"Theo and Jade took me to him this morning. The worst wheelchair ride ever." Shay said, glaring at Theo, but he was either ignoring her glare or was really caught up in the movie they watched at least seven times.

Pete laughed, guessing what happened. He was so similar to George. "Well, then, I'm going home. Bye!" He said, waving cheerfully before turning around. Leo was in Pete's house, his wife who was very fond of dogs was thrilled to take him in temporarily. That morning, Theo volunteered to push Shay's wheelchair despite her protests, and Jade, who got Shay's worries assured her that she will make sure Theo doesn't do anything stupid.

But, Jade looked away for a second. And Theo took his chances. He started running- sorry sprinting. At top speed, Shay might add. Shay could swear that her life just flashed in front of her. Jade finally caught up with them and stopped him, giving him the lecture of his life.

Leo was happy to see Shay, but he seemed less energetic. He met everyone but Will and was probably worrying over what happened to him.

"I think I'm going to meet Will," Shay said, looking up. She expected no one to respond back to her, but everyone groaned in unison. "Finally."

"What?" She asked, surprised at the chorus of groans. Including Emily.

"Nothing. Will's probably gonna be alone in there now. Go ahead," Theo said smirking but yelped when Emily hit his shoulder. "Oh, it's nothing," Beth assured. "Just ignore him. You know we need to ignore Theo sometimes. Go ahead, should I take you?"

Shay narrowed my eyes at all of them. They were acting suspiciously. And the expressions on their faces were superior as if they know something Shay didn't. Theo and Rose started talking about some bet, and before she could even ask them about it, Kai had gently lifted her up and onto the wheelchair and wheeled her away.

"What was all of that about?" Shay demanded. "Oh, nothing," Kai said, his voice amused. Shay could sense that he was smiling. She turned around to get a good look at his face and he was biting his lip. Am I missing something? Or are the parts of my wheelchair missing? Is he pranking on me or something?

When she first heard that she had to sit in a wheelchair, she refused. She hated it. "Here we are!" Kai announced and opened the door, and pushed the wheelchair in. He set the wheelchair beside Will's bed and went away quickly without talking to Will, winking before he closed the door.

Shay turned around to tell Will about their weird behaviour. He was sleeping, letting out soft snores. His chocolate brown hair fell over his forehead and his eyes, his breathing even. He looked younger than usual, and everything about him was familiar. Looking at him sleeping peacefully made her feel peaceful and calm too.

Shay leaned her head back and closed her eyes, drifting away slowly.

+++

Yawning, Shay looked around her and blinked. Her eyes were slowly adjusting to her surroundings, white walls, artificial white light. Shay gasped when she turned to look at Will, who was staring at her. Everything on his bed was white too. His bedsheets, pillows. Shay hated this room. It reminded her of something she didn't want to remember.

Will was the only one who exploded with colour in the colourless room. With his bright green eyes, chocolate brown hair, and pink lips.

"Did I startle you?" Will asked, tossing his hair out of his eyes. "Nope. When did you wake up?"

Will sat with his legs hanging over the bed as he answered her question. They talked for a while but something felt off about him. When Shay asked him about it, he denied it but shut his mouth when she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Spit it out, whatever you want to say. Why are you so nervous? This isn't a job interview. You can tell me anything Will, you know that right?"

"Right. Um." Will said as he took in a deep breath and scratched the back of his hair. "This is going to sound kind of stupid, Shay. I, um, uh. Never mind." He looked away.

Shay glared at him and he sighed. "You know, when I got stabbed back at that horrible place and was losing my consciousness, I thought I was going to die. I mean, I could really feel the darkness closing upon me, but I heard you say something. I thought I heard you say something." He corrected himself.

"That was what brought me back, Shay. I found the will to live. You were asking me not to close my eyes, but it was hard. But after I thought I heard something, it made me fight for my life. And I survived."

He took another deep breath and looked right into her eyes, "I've always wanted to say this to you, Shay. But I kept delaying it. I'm in love with you, Shay. I've always been. It's always you, and it will always be you. You can push me away, Shay. I would understand if you did." He said, his face twisting into pain. He closed his eyes as if bracing himself for the rejection.

"Will, you fool. You are the most idiotic person I've ever met." Shay said, smiling widely. She felt light suddenly, feeling like this after almost two years.

"What?"

"You didn't imagine it. What I said back in that building. I'll say it again if you want: I love you, Will. I'll repeat it how many ever times you want: I love you too," Shay said, inching closer to him. She threw her arms around him, burying her head in the crook of his neck. She inhaled his scent as he set his head on top of her hair, kissing the top of her head lightly.

Will's hands went under her chin and tilted her face upwards. He cradled her face in his hands, his forehead against hers. Warm breath fanned her face. His lips brushed hers softly, delicately, like butterfly's wings. Shay inhaled the warmth of his skin, soaked in the feeling of safety. She slid her hands into his hair as she leaned into the kiss, feeling warm and light.

Whatever happens, Shay thought, I know Will would always be by my side. Even if it's just him & I against the whole world.

Him & I.

+++