Emilia has been asleep for over an hour, but I've left it so long because I can't be sure that she's actually dead to the world. I've been watching how fucking perfect she looks, completely at ease with the world. It's a rare sight.

She thinks that we'll discuss this in the morning, that I'll let her talk me out of going through with my plan. But I can't let her. This is all we've got.

Leaving her here is the safest thing to do, Jordan knows he's got to do what he can to keep her safe, just like always. And of course he agreed. So did Bridget.

Anyway... I'll be back. It's hardly like I'm going to let Gia kill me without murdering her first. I'd like to see her fucking try.

I carefully move a strand of hair away from Emilia's face before wiggling my hand our from under her. I'm lucky that she's such a heavy sleeper, barely anything ever waking her from her slumber. I remember back in Nottingham when I would wake up in the mornings and have to wait for hours for the damn woman to arise from her bloody bed.

Before we saw eye to eye, I would crash around in the kitchen out of spite, all of the pots and pans clanging together.  But it never paid off. The girl would eventually emerge two hours later, looking just as well rested as any other day.

I inch away from Emilia, slowly turning around and lifting myself from the ground. With great difficulty, I inch away from her, leaving my bag behind, knowing that I won't need it. I grab only my small gun, tucking it into my waistband.

Turning for one final time, I look back at the gorgeous blonde under the blanket. My soppy self can't help but smile at the sight before I walk into the trees, heading directly North to make my way to the fortified mansion.

I know Emilia is right, I'm not an idiot. It's dangerous and I'm utterly foolish for doing this. But right now, I can't think of a better plan, and we're definitely running out of time. There's only so many Slayers we can kill before one of them kills us.

A twig snapping behind me has me on edge but I continue to walk for five more seconds, eyes darting from side to side as I try to figure out who, or what, is behind me.

Coming up short, I instead whirl around, hauling my gun out and bracing it in front of me.

Poppy freezes in place, raising her hands in surrender as her eyes widen. "Don't shoot! It's me," she exclaims. I curse under my breath.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I snap as I lower the weapon and shove it back into my waistband.

"I'm coming with you," she replies blatantly. I nearly laugh in her face.

"No, you're not."

"I am," she retorts and I grimace. Fucking hell. Not only do I have to deal with Emilia, but now Poppy is intent on giving me a hard time? Bloody perfect.

"Poppy, I swear-"

"What? Don't you think Gia is more likely to accept both her siblings?" she argues.

I shrug. "Honestly, I'm not sure she'll be willing to let either of us in."

"You think she'll kill us?" Poppy's eyes are wide.

"Go back to camp, Pop," I tell her, turning away and continuing through the forest. It's mere seconds before I hear her footsteps hurrying after me.

"Seeing as you literally tried to shoot her in the North, don't you think she's more likely to forgive you if I'm there?" she counters and I grit my teeth.

"I'm not putting you in-"

"Every single second we stay here we're in danger, Zac," she exclaims, interrupting me. "This could speed up your plan by days!"

I falter, knowing that what she's saying makes sense. Poppy is the youngest sibling. She's the one who had the most influence over how both Gia and I used to act before the war. We always wanted to preserve her innocence from the shitty area we lived in, always made sure she was okay.

If Gia doesn't know that Poppy's alive, this could be a game changer.

But even so...

"I don't know, Pop." I grimace.

She shrugs. "If you don't let me come with you then I'll just follow tomorrow morning anyway. I know where the house is."

"For fucks sake," I snap, reaching up and dragging my hand through my hair. Poppy grins.

"Should we go?" She gestures behind me and I hesitantly nod, turning and heading away from her. There's nothing else I can do. The only comfort I can take is that by having her with me, I'll be able to ensure she's safe. At least, I hope so...

The woodland is completely silent, dead quiet, even the wild animals in hiding tonight. Our footsteps break through the eerie dark, destroying it with every footfall. I don't blame the forest for emptying, for fleeing from the scene. Not even I know what is waiting for us at the end of the tree line, or whether I'll live to see morning. And now I have my younger sister to worry about as well.

"She isn't the Gia you once knew," I tell Poppy, making sure she knows what she's getting into.

"You don't say." Poppy scoffs. "I already know that, Zac."

"I just want you to-"

"She's the enemy. I know that," she confirms and I nod, looking away from her.

"That doesn't make it any easier," I mutter, knowing first hand how the betrayal felt when I first looked Gia in the eyes.

"She isn't our sister anymore," Poppy answers, surprising me. "No excuse she could give me will convince me otherwise."

"Pop..."

"I'll act the opposite though, of course." She smiles at me through the moonlight. 'I won't give anything away.'

I grit my teeth before tearing my eyes away from her. What if she can't do it? What if Poppy is overcome by nostalgia when we see our older sister. What if she breaks down, barreling into her and demanding to know why she's done what she's done? What if I can't do it either?

Finally, we come to the clearing, the trees thinning out and giving way to the sight of the huge silhouette of a house in front of us. I hear Poppy inhale sharply at the huge monstrosity, towering over us like they do in all the fucking horror movies.

"Are you ready?" I ask her and she slowly nods. 

"Let's do this," she replies, making a move to turn away.

"Pop?" I reach out, grabbing hold of her hand. She looks back over her shoulder, her eyebrows rising. "I'll always protect you. From her."

She smiles. "And I'll save your ass too," she tells me.

I roll my eyes, letting go and stepping around her. "Language," I lecture, hearing her giggle instantly.

Walking up to the huge metal gate, we peer through them, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. The place looks completely abandoned and I grimace.

"No-one's here," I mutter and Poppy scoffs.

"I don't believe it," she retorts, lifting her hand and banging it onto one of the bars. "Hey!" she screams into the night.

"Poppy!" I hiss and she shrugs.

"Don't you want them to find us?"

I watch as she batters on the metal once more with both hands, the loud tinny sound echoing throughout the night. Well, she'll either draw our sister out, or the Slayers to us. We need to make this quick.

"Gia!" I shout, pulling my gun out and slamming it onto the gate, metal on metal for added effect.

Poppy grimaces at the loud sound, before gripping and pushing her nose through the bar, yelling our sister's name as loud as she can.

It's half a minute before light emerges from the house, three torches shining through the night as they make their way towards us. I suck in a breath, trying to calm my racing heart as I reach out, grabbing onto Poppy's hand.

"If you don't shut up and step away from the gates, we'll shoot you," an unfamiliar voice snarls. I instantly pull Poppy back, despite her insistence to keep holding on. "Turn around and head back into the trees!"

"No," Poppy argues, reaching for the metal once more. "We want to see Gia."

"There's no Gia here," he retorts.

"Shut up, we saw her!" Poppy counters and I grit my teeth at her unnecessary fire. Is she trying to get us killed?

"Please," I say calmly, despite the urge inside begging me to rip out my gun and take these idiots out. "She's our sister."

"Sister?" They sound surprised, and I can't say I blame them. They're silent for all of five seconds before one of them turns away, jogging back towards the mansion.

"What the hell do you want here?" one of the remaining men say. 

"What do you think?" Poppy snaps. "To see our fucking family. I thought she was dead."

"So why now?" he retorts and she reaches for the bars again, pressing her head through as far as she can.

"Because my dimwit brother only just told me that he knew she was alive. She's my sister, I haven't seen her in six years. Please!"

"Zac didn't tell you I was alive?" Her calm, melodic voice slices through the night and I fight the urge to shiver at the sound. The enemy is here.

"Gia?" Poppy breathes out. We can't see her, the dark shadow of the house hiding her presence, but the familiar voice is enough for both of us to know that it's her.

"Why wouldn't he tell you?"

"We had other things on our mind," Poppy answers quickly. "Like getting out of London in one piece. The South isn't exactly pleasant, you know!"

"If I had known you were alive..." Gia trails off.

"Gia, I made a mistake," I pipe up. "Poppy made me see that. I'm sorry."

The other side of the gate goes silent and I pull Poppy back a bit, ready to throw her behind me if Gia gives the order to kill. I wouldn't put it past her.

We aren't her family anymore.

The State is.

"Gia," Poppy's voice is small and pleading. Extremely believable.

I close my eyes for a brief moment, pretty much convinced that Gia is ready to throw in the towel and get rid of us. Why else would she be taking so long?

Emilia will be furious, absolutely raging that I left her in the middle of the night, all for a plan that never even took off. Zac and Poppy, falling at the first hurdle. My wife will not hesitate, hunting down Gia if it's the last thing she does. God, all I want to do is keep her safe.

I open my eyes, looking back at the rich darkness of an enemy line through the gates as Poppy's hand curls around mine. I breathe heavily, keeping my head high. I won't allow Gia the pleasure of seeing me look defeated.

"Let them in," Gia's voice comes thick and strong, her order causing Poppy to stumble back slightly.

The gate suddenly shudders and I pull Poppy further back. We watch as it slowly swings open, Gia stepping into the light with a smile on her face.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Here we gooooo!!! Is this going to go well? Or no?!

And how do you think Emilia will react? Eeeek!