Nicholis froze for a moment. 

I sensed him turn around to look at me, and I felt my lip quiver involuntarily. I stared in Nicholis' general direction pleadingly.

"...please..." I whimpered softly.

Nicholis seemed to think about what he should do. He turned on his heel and started walking again, continuing to drag me along.

I had failed. I had tried so hard...and failed to save myself.

Making someone pity you isn't easy.

What else could I do? Nothing. I didn't even try anymore. I walked behind Nicholis, him not having to drag me anymore. 

With a heavy sniff, I used my free hand to wipe away my tears. I closed my eyes

I give up.

At first I had thought Nicholis only cared about Isla, and not Katya.

But I was wrong.

He didn't even care about Isla.

He cared about himself more than anyone. He cared about his sister second. That was all the care Nicholis could give to anyone.

As long as Nicholis and Adyson could be safe, Nicholis would be fine with killing hundreds of innocent people...

I was disappointed more than anything.

When I first had met Nicholis, he saved my life. I thought we could become close friends.

I was wrong again.

Now, Nicholis was prepared to sacrifice me to Zaila to save himself and his sister.

I don't think he realizes that Zaila will kill Nicholis and Adyson when their usefulness has been drained. If Nicholis and Adyson aren't useful to Zaila, then Nicholis and Adyson are dead.

I know Zaila better than anyone. The only human beings on this planet that know her better would have to be my father--who is dead, Zaila's assistant Calik, and Zaila herself.

"We're here..." I hear Nicholis murmur under his breath.

"I'm sorry, Isla. I truly am...But--"

"Your life just matters so much more than mine," I finished Nicholis' sentence.

"You know it isn't like that," Nicholis explained quietly.

The door to the place I had almost called home opened up, and Nicholis led me inside.  I stood still.

Zaila entered the room. I could tell by the loud clicking of her shoes on the hard floor.

I could nearly picture Zaila's face lighting up with an emotion I had never seen her show--joy.

"You got her? I really wasn't expecting that." Zaila said.

Zaila's shoes clicked over to me, and she stood right in front of me.

"Poor...sightless little girl..." Zaila said in her all-too-familiar false pity voice.

I didn't speak, just glared silently.

"Glaring won't get you anywhere, darling..." Zaila's mock-sweet voice responded to my glaring.

"Don't call me that," I hissed.

"Ooh, interesting. Even when faced with your own death...You always were one to snap at the one in charge." 

Nicholis and Adyson were silent, sensing this was more personal then they ever could know.

"You're not in charge of anything. You're delusional."

"I'm the only mother you've ever had, Girl. That's in-charge enough."

"You're not my mother."

"I'm the closest thing. Next best after Isabela died."

"You're--Mothers aren't like this."

Zaila's mocking laugh filled my ears. "How would you know what a mother's like?"

I closed my eyes, breathing in deeply. How would I know that?

"Ah I see. You know, it didn't have to be like this..."

"What do you mean?"

"You could've joined me. Back when your pitiful father and I were first married. When your pitiful father died. If you had joined me, I never would've needed Calik."

I heard someone clear their throat, and assumed it was Calik.

"If you had joined me, you wouldn't be a stepping stone.  You wouldn't be a mountain to climb..." Zaila was taunting me. She was unsuccessfully taunting me.

Zaila set her hand on my shoulder, standing directly in front of me.

"I would never join you. I never will," I said, spitting directly into Zaila's face.

"Oh that's how it's gonna be... I see..." Zaila's hand disappeared from my shoulder, presumably to wipe my spit off of her face.

"Then you're just one more person to kill."

Zaila's foot connected with my stomach.