Ashes ~*~ [ THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY/FIVE HARGREEVES ]

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

~*~

     They were stood among each other now, divided between the stairs and standing with Reginald. He was gripping his notebook tightly, Allison in the middle of everyone and looking around. 

     "I think you can all guess which way I'll be voting. We've all been through a lot. We've all lost people," she said, then looked at Five. "Mannequins..." Ivy flipped her off, Five rolling his eyes. "But their deaths have to mean something. Which is why I'll be voting to go with Dad." 

     "What she said," Lila said, walking down the stairs. "Let's go save the bloody universe!"

     "Woo-hoo!" Klaus cheered. 

     "All right, well, since she said yes, I vote stay," Diego said, Ivy raising two eyebrows. "How's that for nice?" 

     "You're not being serious," Lila scoffed at him. 

     "It's his vote, Lila," Allison said, glaring at Diego. "Klaus?" 

     "I am with Father," Klaus said, motioning to Reginald. Ben nodded that he was also on his team. 

     "Okay, that's four to one," Allison said, turning to the group on the stairs. "Viktor?"

     "Look, I wanna believe, okay? I really do," Viktor said, leaning forward as Allison's face dropped. "I just can't shake the feeling we don't know what we're getting ourselves into."

     "No, but we know what we've got if we don't," Allison said, crossing her arms at him. "We have to go into this together. Viktor. A family." 

     "You can't just keep throwing the word 'family' around," Viktor said with a sigh. "It isn't enough. I vote stay." Allison stuttered at the response.

     "It's his vote, Allison," Ivy stated firmly, Allison looking over.

     "Luther?" she asked, turning to face him again. 

     "Um... Sloane and I talked, and, well, we're out," Luther said with a nod. "Look, we wanna spend whatever time we have left together, and not fighting some guy with a sword and ringing bells and stuff. So..." 

     "Well, dead even. Four in, four out," Viktor said, Allison's head dropping. 

     "That leaves you two, Number Five and Number Eight," Reginald said, the two looking at each other. 

     "I saw the future, and it told me to sit this one out," Five said, scrunching his eyebrows. "I vote stay. It's time we accept our fate." 

     "Ivy?" Allison asked. Everyone looked at her, Ivy turning and looking at Five. 

     "Don't look at him," Diego said. "Look at us. Don't let his decision reflect yours." 

     "Bit hypocritical, don't you think, Diego?" Ivy asked, Lila chuckling at her. 

     "Come on, Ivy," Allison said. "What's it gonna be?" She looked to Reginald, and he had a look on his face that she recognized. She remembered that day in Dallas before she was shot. When she talked to him in the alley when he killed Michael the first time.

     "Our deal is off. JFK will not be dying today." 

     "Uh, yes he will," Ivy said, storming over to him. "JFK has to die in order for the world to be saved. Or else we all blow up. Do you want that?" Reginald didn't answer, Ivy slowly realizing that was his plan all along. Both times. In 2019 and in 1982. "Oh, my god. It is. You've always wanted the world to end."