"We need to get out of here," Jax said quietly as the last growls of the monster died away. Jackie and I stayed frozen, our hearts aching. I felt Jax lay a hand on my shoulder and I flinched.

If he hadn't been so stupid...

I signed inwardly. Now was not the time to get angry at him, or to start turning on one another. We needed to stick together now more than ever.

Apparently, Jackie did not see this situation in the same light as I did. She turned on Jax furiously, her eyes burning. "You little...YOU KILLED MY DAMN FATHER!" She screamed at him, hopping to her feet and aiming her fist at him.

Jax backed away, his eyes slightly fearful. "Hey, hey, hey." He said nervously. "Calm down, Jackie. I-I er...I didn't mean it."

"Ohhh you little piece of crap." She growled, her voice dangerously quiet as she stalked toward him, like a cat preparing to strike. "You should have died, you should have died like my father!" She screamed, punching him in the gut. He bent over as the breath was knocked out of him. I grabbed Jackie's hand before she could break his jaw and pulled her away.

"Jackie, now is not the time!" I snapped, turning her toward me and slapping her face violently. (Great sister, aren't I?)

Jackie blinked at me three times, confused. I glared at her and then her eyes seemed to snap. It was like flames were reaching out and trying to kill me.

"Him over your own father?" She whispered, her voice deadly calm. I dropped her, surprised by this. "Jackie, how could you say that?" I asked, tears coming to my eyes. Jackie stared me down, her gaze harsh and hard as stone. "I only speak the truth." She said simply.

The tears then spilled over, making my face feel hot and sticky again. "I-No Jackie. This isn't right. You're not yourself. We have to stick together." I said, not allowing my voice to waver. Jackie glared at me. "Why would I stick with a murderer and a traitor?" She hissed.

The words stabbed at my heart, tearing it to pieces. I refused to let it show on my face. Instead, I just set my mouth in a straight line and glared right back at her.

Jackie and I had always been very close, especially after my mother died. I had assumed, the second I let go of my father, that we would be closer than we had ever been.

I suppose I was wrong.

Whatever the case, I had to somehow convince her that this shouldn't come between us. Dad would have wanted us to stick together, no matter what we thought of each other. That's how we were raised, anyway. Why Jackie should be changing that now-for a lie, might I add-was beyond my comprehension.

"Jackie...I...Dad isn't replaceable! It's just...we can't have you tearing Jax and I to shreds. We're all in the same boat!" I added when she didn't look convinced. "No, Kora, you and I are in the same boat. Jax has no part in this." She growled.

That statement made me laugh. "Jackie! All humans have a part in this! We're all in trouble! These monsters aren't like the others. They were built to kill, and they're doing it well. They aren't going to stop unless someone stops them."

I paused and looked at my cut up arms and hands, Jackie's band-aids, and the fresh claw marks in Jax. "And us three, my sister, are the only one's that can stop them."

---

I followed Jax and Kora down the street, my feet dragging. I was angry and cold, and hurting as well. I was still bleeding, though I didn't tell anyone.

I knew there was truth in what Kora said, but there was a relentless pounding in the back of my mind that said she didn't mean what she was saying, and I was starting to believe it.

For some reason, I got the feeling that I wasn't the only thing controlling my own body. I felt like there was something else there, watching me, waiting for a weak moment, whispering encouragement in my enraged ears, hoping I would hear and heed what it said.

I was fighting it back for now, but I dimly realized that I wouldn't be doing this forever.

Kora was wrong, you fool! The voice shouted. You need to go off on your own, I'm sure you could defeat the monsters if you wanted too...and possibly, while you're at it, you can kill Jax! Oh, and Kora, because she would probably risk herself for him!

This thought brought a smile to my face, but it immediately turned into a rather horrified look. Why would I smile at the idea of killing my sister? My father had raised me to stick with family, no matter what was happening.

Didn't I owe it to him to follow his rules? Didn't I owe it to Kora as well, her being my younger sister and all? And...that being said...didn't I owe it to Jax because Kora and him were dating?

You don't owe it to anyone! The voice screeched, infuriated. You saved their lives already! Isn't that enough payment? And as for your dad, you don't owe him anything either! He's dead because he told you to let go, isn't he? It's his fault that you're stuck in this situation right now! You should be glad that he's gone! Now you don't have anyone to push you around. You can be your own person! And you can run away without feeling guilty!

With this thought, I stopped in my tracks. Kora and Jax continued to walk, not noticing I had stopped until Jax looked behind his shoulder and spotted me. He tilted his head curiously before whacking Kora's shoulder and pointing at me.

I scrunched up my face, wondering in the back of my mind why I was doing it. Kora and Jax started walking toward me, and I felt something hurt my heart. If I left them, I would be saying goodbye to my sister for good.

And in this moment of weakness, I knew I had made a mistake. When Kora and Jax were only a few feet away from me, I felt a huge weight blow me over...though it may have just been the thing that had been waiting to take me over. I collapsed onto the sidewalk, hitting my head hard and blacking out.

---

"JACKIE!" I yelled, running the last few feet and picking up my sister's body, not quite sure what was going on. I shook her, but all her head did was loll back and forth. Jax ran up next to me, kneeling down and looking at her.

Suddenly Jackie's eyes opened, pure black like the monster's had been. I screamed and threw her down on the sidewalk as she opened her mouth and showed off pointed teeth. "OHHHHHH MY GOD." Jax yelped, hopping to his feet and backing away alongside me.

I pulled out my knife, my hand shaking as Jackie advanced on us. I wasn't sure why I had pulled it out. I knew very well that I didn't have the courage to kill my sister...and that was nothing to be ashamed of, really.

I stopped and allowed Jackie to jump on me, digging her claws into my flesh. I didn't even flinch, just allowed her to pin me down. I wouldn't die a killer, that was for sure...but I also wouldn't go down without a fight.

I elbowed Jackie in the nose and knocked her off of me. She fell to the ground and now it was my turn to pin her down.

I looked into her black, heartless eyes, not sure what to do. Then her eyes changed, back to the way they were supposed to be. Jackie gasped and coughed up blood. I jumped off of her, confused.

Jackie looked at me, her eyes full of pain just as my father's had been...and something more.

Was that love?

"Jackie..." I groaned, fear and sadness clawing at my heart. Jackie's eyes focused on me as a spasm shook her body, like there was a fight occurring inside.

"Kora, you have to kill me!" She shouted, as loud as she could while her insides were being torn to shreds, anyway. I stared at her, backing away slowly, shaking my head. Jackie coughed up more blood.

"Please Kora...if you love me...I can't stay here and be torn apart...or worse...let you get torn...apart." She gasped. I couldn't do anything but stare. "I thought you hated me." I choked out. Jackie shook her head slightly. "I never hated you, Kora. That wasn't me...now...please..." She begged.

I felt a warm hand grip my cold hand and hand me something.

My knife.

I looked up at Jax, staring into his firm but sad eyes. He nodded once, one tear escaping the dam he had so carefully built up. "It's better for her." He whispered into my ear.

Shaking, I walked up to Jackie, standing over her and holding the knife over her heart. Her gaze never wavered, just stared right back at me. "I love you, Kora." She whispered. I nodded once. "I love you so much more, Jackie...and that's why I'm doing this."

Jackie closed her eyes. "Thank you." She said, turning her head away.

With a deep breath, I closed my eyes and brought the knife down. I felt warm blood gush up and cover my hands, but as quickly as I could, I got to my feet and ran down the street, not wishing to see my sister's dead body.

Those damn monsters.

I wasn't going to stand for this anymore.