Butterfly and Flame - Alina and Evan

"We got him"

He moved back into the shadows but he knew something had given him away. Evan Malek was trained military, a seal no less; he would know what to watch for. "Damn him". He spit out through clenched teeth. He quickly disassembled his weapon and shoved it into his backpack pulling out only his semiautomatic handgun. This would work just as well to put a bullet through the mans brains at a closer distance. Alina would not get away this time.

Alina followed Evan through a musty tunnel for quite a while before he stopped, keeping his index finger to his lips, all she could hear was their breathing. Moments later he squeezed her hand for comfort and pulled her behind him again. It seemed like this time he was running faster and although she was very fit the musty air and the fear racing through her made her loose her strength. "We're almost there baby, don't give in to your fears. I'm right here". His words gave her the strength she needed and she dug deep if only to not cause him any more harm. When they finally stopped she bent over taking great big gulps of air. "Slow down baby, don't make yourself sick. We'll have someone here in a few minutes. Then we'll be out of here and on our way. I promise we're going to be alright". He held her as she collected herself and stood up trying her best to do as he asked. A light flashed a ways ahead of them and she gasped but soon realized that it was their men heading their way. Evan turned to her "Your in good hands my love. I'll meet you at our destination. But right now you have to leave". Alina stared at him in disbelief. "Evan, noooo. I won't go without you". He looked at the man behind her, stepping closer to her and whispering,he  held her close. "Do you trust me Alina?" Those words he had uttered twice before". She only had one answer. "Yes. You know I do". He closed his eyes briefly and said "I love you more than my own life. Now do what I say and go. I want a life for us and the only way we're going to get it is to end this with Kyle. Once and for all. This is the only way". She nodded as a flood of tears trickled down her face. He pushed her toward his man, only taking an extra moment to engrave her face into his memory then ran back down the tunnel away from her. When she couldn't see him anymore she let herself be pulled in the opposite direction. To where... she didn't know. Fear and hope waged a war within her heart.

Kyle made his way back to his truck. Every nerve ending was alert and screaming at him to get off the island. His brain was telling him that they would be getting away soon and he needed to get to the airfield. That was the only way in or out without a boat. From there he could see if a boat or plane left. That's all he needed. He stopped and whirled around. He was sure he heard footsteps behind him but was just as certain he had not been followed. He stood still and then he heard it again. It had been a while since he had heard that voice. He thought he had finally put a stop to it. This time he would make sure it was the last time he heard it.

"Where did you come from?" The contempt in Kyles voice was palpable. When Michael didn't speak Kyle grunted, amused that his brother was on the loosing side for once. He stared ahead at his brother but didn't lower the gun for a moment. "How did you follow me here?" Again no answer came. Kyles anger and impatience rose with each passing moment. "I put you in the ground brother. You should have stayed there". He eyed Michael carefully, with something close to surprise as he circled to the left keeping his brother in sight. "You know...none of this would have ever happened if you had only had my back. Instead you thought you were smarter, better looking and mom and dads favorite". His voice was low and menacing and filled with hatred and resentment of years of following in his brothers shadow. "It's my turn now Michael. You had your chance and you fucked it up. I told you when I saw her that I wanted to approach her on my own but you didn't let me. You couldn't trust me one last time. You promised we would always be together but the first chance you got you betrayed me for her". He looked around and beyond his brother listening for any other sounds. "Turns out she's no different than any of your other whores. Except, well; you never got a chance at having her, but I intend to. She will be mine. I could have been happy with her. If you hadn't stepped in and taken her from me ....things would have been different. We would have been happy." His voice sounded off, slightly stilted and weak. That made him angry and he shook himself with pent up frustration. "You know, I tried to explain things to mom and dad. Tell them that It had been me covering for you all those years, all those times, all those women but they didn't believe me. No matter what I did you would always be their favorite. I loved them you know.....but then they lied and told me they believed me and that we would get you help but really they just wanted to lock me away again. Then I found out that you had agreed to it. You lied to me Michael
and then you tired to hide her from me. You betrayed me and asked the girl out on a date instead of me. That's when I decided you had to die. It's your fault really. You shouldn't have come after me. You should have listened to me Michael. You should have left me alone. But you didn't. You had to be the hero". Kyle was staring into the eyes of his brother when his skull erupted in a firey blinding pain and he fell to the ground with a thud. Before his eyes closed he saw his brothers face, Michael's face; contorted in pain and anguish and then it disappeared only to be replaced by another face. He blinked slowly as be looked into the eyes of Evan Malek. Then another blast of pain, stronger this time. Then there was nothing more than darkness. It was a relief, something he was intimately familiar with. More so than any other state of being. Darkness and silence.