ALICE

At the gate of a worn down warehouse, surrounded by people I can't really call friends, relationships built on a lie. Is this where I would die? Without any of my real friends and family knowing? To die as Mathilda, a woman who doesn't even exist? To be buried in an unknown grave, living and dying in obscurity? My eyes open to a grunt.

It is Emrys, blood trickling down his lips as he smiles, his arms wrapping around me as he turns himself into a human shield. But even as the spear does not reach me, my heart is piercing with pain, my eyes glistening as I hold back my tears. After the countless lies I tell myself, trying my best to bury my feelings they burst out of me in the worst possible way. "Why?" My voice shaky.

"Do you love me?" Tears escape my eyes, why is he such an idiot? Even if I keep denying it can he not see for himself? That even if we are not together I still love him? He gazes softly into my eyes, the life in his eyes flickering away as he stands at death's door.

"With my heart and soul." I assure him, wanting to comfort him in his last moments and he closes his eyes in a satisfied smile. "Emrys!" I clutch at him tightly, he lets out a chuckle before coughing, staining my face with blood and saliva. "Stay with me." I inhale deeply, trying to calm my racing heart.

"Get him out of here." I turn to Evander as he breaks the handle of the makeshift throwing spear, leaving only a short shaft still stuck on Emrys's back before turning his attention to the charging mercenaries, my legs tensing as I hold Emrys up. Thank God Evander caught the spear midflight, softening the impact and saving Emrys from certain death.

I grab his arm and places it around my neck, wrapping my arm around his waist as I help him walk away from the impending battle field. His weight leaning heavier and heavier on me as he weakens, my eyes darting from left to right to look out for any incoming stragglers left alive by Arthur.

I hide him behind stacks of wooden crates and barrels, lying him face down on the ground as I press my hands against his wounds. My stomach turning as my fingers are wet with red blood, sweats breaking out of my forehead as the air heats up around me. It's Cooper all over again my head hang low as my eyes shut tight.

I inhale sharply, eyes wide with renewed focus. He will not die here today, not because of me. I reach for the knife hanging on his belt, pulling it out of sheath and using it to cut off both sleeves of my white dress shirt. Tying them together before I take off my black waist coat, cutting them out and rolling the cloth into a ring.

I put the ring cloth into the broken shard, then wrap the combined sleeves around the wound, lining them over and under his armpit before tightening them together into a tight knot. I press my hands against his wound to add more pressure to stop the bleeding. "You're going to be alright, Emrys."

He turns over to look at me, lying his head on my lap with a satisfied smile on his face. "I wouldn't mind dying in your arms, atleast I get to die looking at the person I love most."

"Don't be ridiculous." To die in my arms? To die because of me. I can't live with that, I won't have it, no one else will die because of me. "Stay here, I need to help them." I pick his head up, gently placing it down on the ground as I rise to my feet. There are three of them against a dozen mercenaries, and Ben.

I reach for my baton, flicking my wrist to extend out its metal and approach the fighting. Evander catches Ben with a straight to the jaw, and he lifts him up and over his back facing up. My eyes wide in horror, wincing and turning away as he uses all his strength to snap Ben's spine into two. A thudding sound and I look back to see Ben lying on the ground lifelessly.

Damien slams a club to one of the mercenaries face, crushing it. And Kenny catches one in an arm lock, stabbing relentlessly against his chest in a quick succession. The others scatter away in fear and they turn towards me, or rather the Warehouse. "Stay with Emrys, we will help Arthur." Evander charges into the Warehouse with Kenny and Damien in tow.

I turn to look at Emrys, my heart weighing heavily as I take slow steps towards him. The biggest threat in the Outer Districts is finally taken care of. Soon, this will all be over—this false life that I have grown to like. I kneel down beside him, forcing a smile as he turns to look at me. "We won; it'll be over soon." He smiles, and I look up at the night sky, the full moon watching over us.

Arresting the Firelights and Junior, the final curtain is finally here. I will settle my case, avenge my fallen comrades, and bring peace and security to the Outer Districts.

EMRYS

The inn is full with the same people, though the tension of the previous gathering has withered away. With Soraya returned to Nazeer, the grudge isn't as strong. In time, everything might go back to the way it was. Evander is smiling widely as he serves from behind the bar, clinking his glass against Kenny's in a toast. "We finally have peace. Maybe we're not so wicked after all."

I walk across the room and turn to thud. Bors is slamming Junior's hand against the table in an arm wrestling match as Khaz and Bartrand are watching them. Damien is laid out on the floor, drunk and unconscious, still holding his wine bottle. Finally, I reach Mathilda, who is helping Nana with her wounds.

"How are you feeling, Nana?" I focus my attention on Mathilda, who is packing up the medical kit that belongs to Kenny on the table, with an empty bottle of wine and a jar of honey nearby.

"Better." She turns to look at me, her forehead wrapped in a bandage smelling a mix of wine and honey, raising a brow. "Are you here for me or..?" She glances at Mathilda, who immediately focuses her gaze on me. "How's your back?"

"It's fine." I hold Mathilda's gaze, smiling as I do. "Can we talk?" Mathilda rises to her feet to walk past me, and I inhale deeply before I trail after her. After everything that happened, I can't help but want to spend all my time with her, even as I escape death, the feeling lingers.

Arthur and Soraya climb down the stairs as I reach them, and Arthur gives me a smile as he walks past but does not say anything. They have been separated for years; I expected them to talk longer, but they've exhausted their conversations already. I check the rooms one after the other but finally find her in my room waiting.

"What is it that you wanted to talk about?" She is sitting on my bed, smiling mischievously as she rests both hands on the edge of the bed, putting one leg over the other. "Us." I enter the room, closing the door behind me, and my brows furrow as I notice the fox mask I hang on the wall behind her is missing. "Did you take my mask?" No one has ever touched it; in fact, no one has ever entered my room.

"Do you wish to search for your missing mask, or would you prefer to create lasting memories?" Her tone is playful as she grins, standing up before taking slow steps towards me and tilting her head to the side gently. "Which is it?" Her voice a low whisper, her eyes glinting under the dim light.

I lean forward, uncertainly placing my face close to hers. She leans her lips closer to mine, and I gently cup my hand behind her neck, pulling her into a kiss. She drags me towards the bed as we kiss, turning and pushing me into the bed before she straddles me by the hips. "I am not a fan of being tied up." A smile escapes her, almost mockingly.

"Calm down. It'll take more than a willingness to die for me to engage in any hip work." She leans close, brushing her fingers on the side of my head as she does. And she kisses me aggressively, her hand now on the back of my head, and I cup my own hand behind her neck, brushing her cheek with my thumb.

My heart beats faster and faster, body heating up, and I turn her over. Pressing both her hands against the bed, my kisses travel down her neck. I let go of her hand and reach for her buttons, but her hand snaps to catch mine, stopping me in my tracks. "Enough." She breathes heavily, closing her eyes as she takes a deep breath. "Get off me."

I get off her, sitting on the edge of the bed as I turn my face away with a sigh. I was pushing her too much. "I am sorry, I was-"

"It's fine." Her voice calm and reassuring as she fixes her hair and clothes. "We simply ran out of time." She smiles before getting up to leave the room, and my brows furrow in confusion. Running out of time for what? I chase after, my eyes wide as a squad of Enforcers is waiting down below. "Mathilda?" She walks casually towards them and turns to face us with a blank expression.

"We only want Junior." One of the Enforcers approaches her, placing an overcoat over her, bearing the name Alice. "Hand him over, and we'll make our departure." Her tone is firm as she wraps the back of her wavy hair into a short messy ponytail. My jaw tightens, my heart feeling like a spear had pierced through it. I should've died then; maybe it would've hurt less to die in her arms in ignorance.

"Mathilda, you-" Nana holds her tongue, clearly hurting from the betrayal.

"Bitch." Miche snaps. "You're the one who ruined my bar!" He stammers forward, but one of the Enforcers stands up to him, and Evander shakes his head, ordering him to stand down.

Mathilda lets out a sigh, or should I say Alice? "If you would kindly bring Junior forward, we can put an end to this charade." She wraps her arms over her chest impatiently, frowning as she stares at Junior. "We don't have to do this the hard way."

"You're breaking everyone's heart here Mathilda, I thought we're friends." Arthur crosses his arms, leaning his waist against the counter.

"It's because we're friends that I'm asking." She meets Arthur's stare. "I could have you all arrested. I am a witness to everything that goes on around here, and I have evidence." My brows furrow; the missing fox masks, so it was her. "Please, cooperate." Her tone is authoritative yet pleading at the same time.

"I heard prison is nice. Is Big Mouse there? Maybe I'll do everyone a favor and gut him in there." Junior cackles, hands up in the air as he approaches. "I knew you looked familiar." He smiles wickedly.

"You're going to pay for what you did, you killed my friends." Her voice teeming with anger; it finally made sense why she was horrified by both Junior and Ben, her close encounter with death must have flashed before her eyes then.

"You should've killed me while you had the chance." Junior leans his face close to hers as the Enforcers clap him in iron cuffs.

"That's my line." She smiles mockingly, and the Enforcers drag him out of the Inn. "Leave us." She turns to the man standing tall beside her to the chiming of bells, and a hint of protest escapes him. "Please."

He adjusts his spectacles before turning his back. "We will be waiting outside." He walks away, the bells chiming as he pushes open the door and leaves.

"Mathilda..." My steps slow and heavy as I approach her. "This whole time you were...pretending?" My brows furrow; it was one hell of an act. She came in here for us, and we accepted her blindly.

"I did warn you, Emrys." she snaps her attention over to Arthur. "As far as everyone else is concerned, the Firelights perished in the gang war. Keep your crimes out of the Inner Districts, and I might not have to come down here." She inhales deeply, letting out a regretful sigh. "For old time's sake."

"Next time, Mathilda." Arthur stares, his tone threatening.

"You should thank me, Arthur. I could've harbored a personal grudge against you for stealing my purse in Bracken. Consider it a parting gift." A playful tone in her voice as she smiles mischievously, momentarily holding her attention on me before turning to walk away. Was what happened between us her parting gift to me as well? A lasting memory of a sweet lie?

"Mathilda wait."

I rush towards her as she push open the door, the bells chiming as she turns to look at me. "Its Alice." She walks out and the door closes in my face, but this time, there is no next time. Whatever we had, if it was ever real is finally over. Even when life is finally peaceful, it seems that I will never ever be.