The walls are suffocating, a sense of wrongness pushing into my senses as I walk along the floor. 

Being back here isn't something I'd expected to do ever again, yet life had a way of taking what we wanted and giving us the complete opposite.

I am learning to roll with the punches.

I stop, listening to the sounds of steps heading my way before I continue walking, lifting my head up so I exude a sense of confidence one would expect out of someone who belongs here.

It was an easy mask to obtain, having lived in the building through my teenage years, knowing the twists and turns like the back of my hand.

I just never expected that the closest thing to home I could have had was somewhere my father would move his lab too.

But here we are.

I walk past the woman heading my way, her eyes focused on her steps, her head lifting to glance briefly at me.

I pay her no mind, looking straight ahead as I continue my walk.

If you act like you belong nobody tends to question it. And I used to belong here, so I knew how to act.

I push through the door, the scratches marring the metal tickling under my palm before I slip though it, letting it close behind me, eyes taking in the long hallway and the door branching off it.

I take slow, measured steps down the hallway, keeping my steps silent, as well as any noise I make as I slowly walk past door after door, looking through the small windows cut into each one.

I don't know what I'm looking for, maybe one big sign saying, Liam's teammates are in here.

I see no one, because of course it couldn't be that easy.

I stop when a sound reaches my ears, my hearing straining to find the source of the noise, but it's too faint.

Moving quickly, I take the bend at the end of the hallway, my steps soft and sure.

I reach the end of the small hallway just as the sound grows louder.

I stop, back resting against the wall, listening to the multiple steps coming my way before they stop, speaking lowly to each other.

My brows furrow, straining to listen to the two men talk, my heart beat speeding up when I hear my fathers voice, a shock to my system even if I had prepared myself for the inevitable of seeing him.

I breathe out the anxiety, listening to the second man, his voice familiar to me.

I crouch to the ground, peaking around the corner to get a look at them, my eyes widening at the sight presented to me.

Romeo stands with my father, his hands folded neatly behind his back as they talk between each other, a rush of noise entering my senses when they start walking again, their voices growing in volume.

"She is putty in my brothers' hands." I hear Romeo say and my stomach drops, throat closing as I blink in shock, knowing they're talking about me. "It won't be long."

"It's already been too long." My father says, the words heavy with derision and Romeo looks down, as if chastised.

"I will make sure he amends his mistakes, sir."

"Be sure that he does." Samael snaps, "Liam is already a black mark on your paperwork, don't let Sebastian be another one."

"Liam has always been the weak link between us, John knows better."

"Even so, with Liam escaping-"

"I will kill him myself." Romeo offers.

"I thought you loved your brother."

"Half brother." Romeo spits. "And I lost any love for him many years ago, you saw to that when you separated him from us."

"I guess I did." Samael muses, "I have to say, I did believe it would bring you closer, and I could use him against you."

"And how is that going for you?"

"Watch your tone."

"I apologise, Sir."

"Even so, I don't want him dead. Not yet, just bring him back."

I don't hear what Romeo says but he nods, and they begin walking again.

"Tell Sebastian to bring her to me, now. No more waiting for the right time."

"Sir." Romeo nods, hands folded behind his back.

I stand back up, my shoes squeaking slightly against the tile, and I swear silently to myself, lifting my eyes to see my father latched onto me like a predator would his prey.

He smiles, the sight anything but happy, "Don't you love it when plans work out without you having to do anything?" He says, loud enough for me to hear even with the distance between us.

Romeo's dark eyes settle on me, and he matches my fathers smile, "It's fate, sir."

My heart breaks at the words and I stumble back, turning my back on them as I run for the exit, knowing I will make it if I get far enough ahead, I've done this before.

My palms slam into the door, and I glance back at the last second noticing them still where they stand, watching me.

Romeo takes a step forward, fingers flexing at his sides,

"Leave her. She'll be back." My heart shatters in my chest at his next words, "She'll be back for her sister."

I slam through the door, letting it shut behind me.

• • •

My father's wrong about one thing, I won't be back for Holland.

I'm not leaving without her.

I stop, hand flat against the wall as I peek around the side, listening for any sign of another body near me.

Hearing nothing, I move around the bend, finding the hallway leading to the dorms, racing for number twenty-three, my heart pounding.

I stop, fingers going for the lock, inputting the numbers, and pushing the door open as soon as it unlocks.

I don't spare a glance at the mementos of my past, racing for the bed and stepping up on it, pushing the vent above it out of the way before pulling myself up, teeth gritted.

I push the dust coated case that sits beside me out of the way as I slowly and gently push the vent back in place, breathing out my anxiety.

I turn and stare at the case, remembering the day I'd put it up here before I reach forward and open it, thanking past me for placing it there.

I grab the gun nestled inside, checking the magazine to make sure I have enough bullets before grabbing the two spares. I leave the case behind me as I begin crawling through the ducting, keeping my head low and movements slow.

Crawling from one opening to the next, peaking through the gaps in the vent to the rooms below to find anything familiar to show my location before moving on.

I stop at the opening of another vent, listening closely to the voices murmuring below me, trying to find the familiarity in them.

Breathing out when I hear her voice for the first time in almost two years.

I rest over the vent, using my nails to lift it up and out of the way.

It makes a clanging noise as I sit it beside me, the voice below halting.

I lay down on my stomach, poking my head through the opening, blinking at the two faces staring back at me, shock overcoming me even when I knew what I was going to see on the other side.

The man strapped to the other seat snaps his head to her before looking back at me, narrowing his eyes but remains silent as I look at my sister, taking in her face, her short hair.

I see her mouth something before noise comes back to me, overriding my senses.

"Lilac." Holland says again, my name choked and rough spilling from her lips.

My gaze quickly takes in the machines humming behind her, the way her body is strapped to the chair, the bruises marring her under-eyes.

"What are you doing here?" I murmur, gazing at the man sitting in the other chair, taking in his position, the way his eyes watch me wearily. "You're meant to be safe." I mutter, waving my hands outside. "Out. There." 

Holland shakes her head, her own face filled with disbelief.

I roll from the vent, holding my body suspended from the roof with my arms before letting my fingers release, dropping to a crouch in front of them.

I stand up straight, fully taking in my sister, sadness filling me even as happiness does the same.

"Where have you been?" Holland murmurs, hands fidgeting at the ropes as she looks at me, really looks at me and sees me, her own eyes filling with both grief and relief.

"We don't have time, I'm getting you out of here."

I look to the man strapped beside her, narrowing my eyes.

"Friend or foe?" I mutter to my sister, gazing at the man in distrust, even if I do recognise him as the man who was with a holland when I killed Daphne Jefferson.

"He's with me." Holland mutters as I step forward, beginning to untie her binds.

I glance over his body, already knowing he won't fit in the vents, not with the width of his shoulders.

I look back at the vent when he speaks.

"I won't fit."

"Yes, you will." Holland says, pulling an arm free from her ties, staring hard at the man. "I'm getting you out of here."

"Father knows I'm here." I say, looking at the door as nerves hit me, the need to run filling me. "I won't be able to get both of you out." I tell them the truth, knowing I won't have the time and resources to get any more than one person out of this building. "Not today. I only have the vents, I can't risk using the hallways. Not when he knows I'm here."

"Take Holland." The man says, his voice resolute. "Get her out."

Holland turns to him, refusal ready on her lips but he spears her with a look, and she stops, nodding her head.

He turns back to me, "Take her."

I glance between the man's eyes, seeing the love he has for my sister in his expression and nod.

My heart jumps in my chest when a scrape echoes outside the door.

My attention snaps to it, my movements pausing as I quiet my thoughts, listening.

When nothing else happens, I strip the rest of the rope away.

Holland moves as soon as the binds are off, hands wrapping around the man's face as she puts her lips to his, pressing against them firmly before pulling back, a promise in her gaze.

"I'll be back for you."

He grins, nodding back at her even as his face shows his resolve, he doesn't think he'll be exiting alive. "I know."

I look back at the door, "We have to go."

I look back to my sister and the man as he nods, his eyes firmly on my sister's face. "I love you."

"Don't say it like that." Holland mutters. "I'm coming back. And you will be alive when I do, you got that?"

He laughs, the sound low but full of emotion.

"You don't get to die." Holland mutters, kissing him once more before pulling back.

"We have to go." I mutter as another noise sounds outside, alerting my instincts.

"Run." He murmurs, flicking his chin toward the same vent I came in through. "Don't worry about me, we've survived worse."

Holland has to rip her eyes from his, her hand slipping to my wrist as we rush for the vent. I help her up, before looking back at the man who can't take his eyes from us. "I'll look after her." I murmur and he dips his chin at me, keeping silent. "Don't die before she gets to save your ass, it's unattractive."

I don't look back for a reply as I heave myself up before moving the vent back in place, hiding the evidence of our escape so it's not immediately noticed.

I turn to Holland, seeing her eyes on me, the emotion in them punching me in the gut.

She nods at my silence, "Escape now, talk later."

I nod back, beginning the crawl through the small space.

• • •

The cold air is a welcome reprieve from the stuffiness of the enclosed vent, my muscles aching from the crawl. I keep Holland behind me, something she hated and let me know but I reminded her she's injured and without a weapon. 

She stopped trying to push in front, but I can feel her trepidation pouring from her in waves.

I move around the side of another building, listening to every sound around me, careful to keep my steps silent, Holland doing the same.

I stumble to a stop, my wide eyes falling on darkened honey ones, my heart pounding a secret rhythm in my chest.

I lift the gun in my hand, stepping back into my sister, making sure she's behind me as I look at Sebastian, his gaze not once leaving mine.

"Lilac." He murmurs and I flinch at the sound of my name, like a gunshot straight for the heart.

"Move." I hiss, tightening my grip on the gun.

His eyes flick to it, void of emotion.

"Move, Sebastian!" I shout, clenching my jaw.

"You have to understand-"

"I don't have to do anything. I know who you are, what you're doing." I cut him off, finger caressing the trigger. "You're a liar."

He doesn't reply, his silence cutting me.

I lift the gun up higher when he takes a step closer, his eyes earnest on mine.

"Please, let me-"

"Move." I cut him off, my eyes stinging.

His eyes linger between mine and he moves a fraction of a step closer, "Shoot me." He mutters, lifting his hands out by his side, "Do it."

I blink at the man standing across from me as I feel Holland tense behind me, and I shoot.

My heart pounds as I see the bullet go wide, missing Sebastian's body and hitting the wall behind him.

"C'mon, Lilac." Holland mutters, pulling me back.

She grabs my arm, dragging me away and I stumble with her as we begin running, my eyes swinging back to find Sebs.

He watches us run, not making a move to chase and I know in my heart he let us go.

I rip my gaze from his, taking Hollands hand in mine.