𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀 ~ 𝗞𝗹𝗮𝘂𝘀 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘃𝗲𝘀

~ Chapter Fifty Five ~

"Stop trying to muddy the waters!" Lila's voice echoed throughout the barn as Five tried to calm her down. The siblings stopped about ten feet from the doors, catching a glimpse of their brother's situation. Lila held a small blade in her left hand, taking a few steps towards him, a murderess look in her eyes. "Why are we just standing around? Let's get in there!" Dusk hissed quietly.

"We should split up. Dusk, Klaus, and Vanya, you take the left-hand barn door. The rest of us we'll take the right. We don't want to give her the chance to run," Luther instructed. The raven fought the urge to roll her eyes but followed his instructions. As quiet as mice, they crept through the snow to the other barn door, waiting for the perfect moment to intervene. Dusk looked out of one of the bullet holes, listening to Five talk about how it wasn't personal when it came to the assassination of Lila's parents.

"I never realized what she was up to at the time, but... now it all makes sense. She never cared about your parents. She was looking for you," he said, referring to The Handler. Lila stood still, her eyes widening the longer it sunk in. "Why?" She whispered. Soon, Dusk saw Diego signaling to her to get inside the barn. And on the silent count of three, the siblings walked in, catching her off-guard.

"Because you're one of us," Diego answered, making her turn to her right. "The Handler stole you. Just like our asshole father took all of us," Lila shook her head furiously in an attempt to block out the words. Diego stepped closer to her, freaking her out and making her scream, "STAY BACK!" he did his best to keep her calm, trying to convince her that The Handler wasn't the person she thought she was.

"You think she's gonna listen to him?" Dusk whispered to her boyfriend. "I hope so, but at this point, who knows?" He responded, a hand wrapping around Dusk's waist. "I know what it's like to love dangerous people, Lila. The difference is..." Diego looked at each of his siblings, giving him hopeful smiles before he reconnected his gaze with Lila. 

"They love me back," he finished. Lila raised her blade, the tip of the jagged metal pressed against his leather clothing. "You don't know me, Diego!" She insisted. "Don't I? I know we can be your family. If you and your sister will have us," Lila looked over at the Hargreeves, all of them nodding to her that Diego spoke the truth.

Before Lila could answer, dozens of gunshots filled the air, and for a brief moment, Dusk could see The Handler had returned with a rifle, shooting every one of her siblings at lightning speed. Determined to protect her lover, the raven tightly wrapped herself around Klaus, gasping as she felt the bullets puncture her lungs, tear through her spine, and rip open her carotid artery. Despite her protection, Klaus got shot, dying instantly with a single bullet to the head.

The two lovers fell to the ground, still wrapped tightly in each other's arms. Through the unbearable pain, Dusk stared down at the love of her life's body, tearfully muttering the words, "I-I love you," before she succumbed to her injuries.

~~~~~~~~

One minute earlier...

"I know we can be your family. If you and your sister will have us," A loud gasp came from the barn entrance, and everybody looked over to see Five pointing a rifle at The Handler, who held her hands in the air. Lila trembling with uncertainty glared at her. "Is it true what Five said?" She quivered. The Handler said nothing, only glaring at Five for ruining her plan to end them all.