Overcome by the pain, you barely realized how the hand broke through the surface and wrapped itself around your neck.

With a jerk, the hooded man pulled you out of the water.

He was so rough and careless that your head hit the stature of Vander.

Briefly your sight went black.

Your hands reached out for his head, hoping you could free yourself.

Suddenly, another figure rose.

With a grim look, Sevika glared at him. Hatred burned in her eyes. As she raised her mechanical arm, it was clear that she was ready to strike him down until the last bit of life was gone from his eyes.

She lashed out, teeth clenched, and struck.

With a tremendous force he was torn from his feet.

You fell to the ground, a scream escaping your lips. Choking and gasping, you struggled for breath. The air burned in your lungs, each breath aching like hellfire.

The enforcer slammed into a wall of a house. He was pressed so hard against the stone that cracks formed.

A gasp escaped him.

Sevika glanced quickly at you.

With a nod of your head, you assured her that everything was all right and jumped back to your feet.

She jumped forward, her eyes fixed directly on him.

But when he raised his head there was no fear, no apprehension he might die.

No, instead he grinned.

For a moment, the sight threw you back in time, reminding you how terrible the day had been. But then your eyes widened, startled, and realized what was happening.

"No...", you gasped. "Sevika, don't!"

But it was already too late.

When her fist threatened to break his skull into a thousand pieces, he swiftly jumped aside. His hand reached into her pocket and at the same moment pulled out Jinx's grenade.

She was watching him steal it, when her strike hit the house with full force.

Dust swirled up and the wall shattered. Like an earthquake, the floor began to shake.

Holding your breath, you watched as the house collapsed, burying Sevika under it. When the dust cleared, you could see her lying buried among the rubble, her eyes still open.

Breathing heavily, she looked at you and tried to free herself.

Your legs twitched, you wanted to run to her and help.

But he stepped in front of her with a grin and blocked the way. Playfully he threw the bomb up in the air and caught it again.

"Finn told me you could be a problem.", he purred. "And he also told me that your thick skull was your biggest problem."

His gaze wandered over his shoulder to you.

When your eyes met, you froze. Suddenly your throat tightened and all the air was squeezed out of your lungs. Your body tensed and all at once everything you had buried all these years came back.

"Still so helpless, great Samaritan?", he jumped down the rubble, his thumb caught in the bomb's trigger. "At that time you were also so small and afraid. Only later came the courage to do this to me."

He removed his hood from his head with a flourish. A scarred face was revealed. Half of his nose was missing. In its place sat a replacement made of shimmering brass.

You felt a hint of satisfaction at the sight.

"Drop the bomb.", you demanded in a firm voice.

At that moment, it took all your strength not to lose your mind. The fact that he was actually standing in front of you made nausea rise.

He shook his head and pulled out a gun from his coat.

With the barrel pointed at you, he grinned.

"You don't know how long I've been waiting for this moment.", he growled. "And then Finn came to me with a proposal I couldn't refuse. Money and your death? Nothing could satisfy me more."

He walked up to you.

Your legs twitched, you wanted to run away. But to turn your back on him would have been stupid.

Taking a deep breath, you closed your eyes and accepted that this was exactly what you had feared.

Silco's dream needed sacrifice. Finn and Renni had decided it had to be you, lest he become too powerful.

Breathing softly, you befriended the thought, when suddenly sounds reached your ears.

Footsteps.

Surprised, you opened your eyes and looked in the direction.

Your eyes met Silco's. (E/C) kissed orange, black and blue.

Your lips moved.

Like a reflex, your hand reached out to him.

A gunshot shattered the silence.

Silco froze. His eyes widened and for the first time since you knew him you could see fear, deep-seated, cold fear.

You didn't even notice as the bullet sunk into your flesh. Everything felt numb.

All that was left was his face, so frightened, so human.
Cold rain embraced your body as you hit the ground.

Blood poured out of the wound and mixed with the rainwater to paint a painting of redemption. Your eyes moved up to the sky.

Screaming in rage, Silco pulled out a gun and shot the enforcer.

One bullet pierced his body, two, three, ten. Struck by the force, he fell to the ground and was gone in the blink of an eye.

Breathing heavily, Silco rushed to your side. His arms wrapped around you, pulling your torso onto his lab.

The world blurred before your eyes. All you could realise was his silhouette and the soft touch of his hand on your cheek.

"(Y/N).", his voice sounded like it came from far away. "Don't! Don't leave. I need you!"

He pressed you against his chest.

The beating of his heart filled your ears.

Gasping for air, you opened your lips. Blood poured out of the corners of your mouth, onto his shirt.

"Sil... co...", you whispered with a soft smile. "Your... dream is... worth the sacrifice..."

His grip around you tightened. He was shaking.

"No... no, I'm not willing to pay the price. Not this one!"

Your eyes got heavy. It felt like the weight of the world was pushing down on you.

"Don't... cry for me... peacock...", you smiled. "You're... too vein to... shed tears... over a doctor..."

"Save your strength, darling.", he placed a kiss on your forehead.

Your eyes wandered up to the sky again. Darkness clouded your vision.

While the rain was pouring down on you two and Silco held you tight, you couldn't help but cry tears of joy.

"How... strange...", you whispered and grabbed his hand with last strength. "I've... always thought... death will take me... in a dark ally... But this... is better... This feels good... You made this a good death... Silco... promise me that... you will take care of the... kids... And help Jinx... become a strong woman... I will... watch her with my son... I will tell him... about her..."

With a smile on your face, you had to close your eyes. It hurt. Everything hurt.

And yet it was okay.

With his teeth clenched together, he closed his eye.

"Stay alive and see for yourself.", he said in a threatening voice. "If you die now, I will kill you!"

But you did not hear it anymore.

You were already gone.