"Get rid of him," Lucille sneered, tilting her head towards McMichael. I flinched when she yanked Edith up by the arm and nearly threw her against the stairs. Edith weakly scrambled on all four until she could bring herself up, limping on her one good leg.

I hoisted McMichael's arm around my shoulder and hurried to the elevator. His blood oozed between his fingers as he tried to keep the wound on his right shut while pinching his left arm to his side where blood seeped down the sleeve.

The elevator couldn't descend fast enough. At this point, I was almost dragging the doctor down to the furthest clay pits.

If he survives, it'll be a miracle.

I left McMichael with instructions for when I bring Edith down to the pits. He urged me to go, his voice still having some strength to it. I tucked the knife away in my trousers with a sickening thought.

Just in case...

I ran back to the elevator, praying that Edith hasn't signed her life away yet.

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When I finally made it to the attic, the sight of Edith just beyond the elevator door with a bloody pen in her hand frightened me.

Did she kill Lucille?!

"You!" She cried out.

Now she's going to kill me.

She lunged at me and I just managed to grab her wrists as she continued to fight me.

"McMichael is still alive! He's still alive!"

I'm not a murderer, Edith! I'm not a murderer!

"You lied to me!" She sobbed.

A sharp pain struck me in the chest. She might as well have stabbed me with the pen. The truth finally spilled from my lips.

"I did."

Edith, I'm so sorry! It was never suppose to be you! We weren't after you!

"You poisoned me."

The wound grew.

"I did."

I wish I could take it all back! I wish this never happened!

"You told me you loved me!"

"I do!"

I pleaded with my eyes. She has to know I'm telling the truth.

I never lied to you about that. Never.

"Edith, please. Please, trust me one more time."

I released her wrists, blood on my hands.

"You can leave if you want, or you can wait here for me. I'm going to get those papers back. I'm going to finish this."

The papers were on the ground as if they were thrown. I grabbed them and thrusted them into the fire. A great weight lifted from my shoulders.

"You burnt them."

I froze. Fear chilled my blood at the sound of Lucille's voice.

So Edith didn't kill her after all.

Lucille emerged from the corner by the mirror, blood coming out of a small hole in her chest. It must have been Edith's doing.

"Yes, she will live. You're not to touch her," I said, turning my fear into anger. Lucille has nothing on her now. The game is over.

"You're ordering me?" she asked, walking towards me. It wasn't a question. It was a challenge. A challenge I cannot win.

I immediately began to plead with her about leaving Allerdale Hall, about letting go of the past, about starting over.

"No, no, no," she murmured as I approached her. But then she stopped resisting as she continued to listen, her face softened as she saw how sincere I was. I don't want to rot in this place anymore. I don't want her to rot with it.

Her fingertips cupped my face and I tried not to shiver at how icy they felt.

"We would be free. Free, Lucille."

To my relief, she nodded. Tears pooled in her eyes.

"We can all be together."

She jolted back and released my face as if I burned her. Her eyes scanned my face, hardening.

"All?"

Her bottom lip quivered as she took in a shakey breath in.

"Do you love her?" She whispered, moving towards me, forcing me down towards the fire. Her hands gripped my vest. Fear crept back into me. The knife in my waistline felt hot.

I desperately tried to get her to see the truth. We were barely human. We're monsters, just like mother and Edith said. But my words were falling on deaf ears as Lucille talked over me, betrayal in her eyes.

"You promised...Do you love her more than me? You promised you would not fall in love with anyone else."

"Yes, but it happened."

Lucille, we were only children then! How could you make me keep a promise like that?

She stared at me as though I transformed into a different person.

I felt the blade before I saw it, my eyes were on Lucille the entire time. I didn't see her reach for the knife handle. I only saw the loss and pain on her face as the knife sank into my chest.

A blink later, my body and mind went into shock as I registered what just happened. I fell back against the fireplace, my hands shook as she drew the blade out only to plunge it on the other side of my chest. I grunted as the pain and panic set in.

Lucille looked as though I was the one stabbing her. She gasped, whimpered, and cried out. When she finally glanced up at me, she looked just the way she did after mother would beat her. Broken and suffering. All to protect me.

"Lucille," I breathed, a hot tear rolling down my face.

How could you do this to me?

She saw the tear and stabbed it as those it was a disgusting insect that needed to be killed. I gagged as pressure built around my eye, completely blinding me on my left side.

Lucille backed away and retreated to the floor. For the first time, she was afraid of me. Or maybe, afraid of what she's done.

I stumbled onto a chair.

I have to get this out! It hurts so much!

I grabbed the handle and my hands shook as I pulled. I heard and felt the blade slide between broken bone.

Lucille crawled towards me, grabbing my free hand in hers. Tears were streaming down her face as she looked at me as her brother once again.

My vision darkened. I'm running out of time. I felt my body failing like the gears in my inventions, one part after another.

"Lucille," I whispered as my lungs deflated. That was all I can manage as my head drooped.

Lucille...Edith...I'm sorry I couldn't save you.

A/N: Hi everyone! I hope you liked the longer chapter! Please leave a vote and comment with your thoughts! It honestly broke my heart writing it!