𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀 ~ 𝗞𝗹𝗮𝘂𝘀 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘃𝗲𝘀

~ Chapter Ninety Six ~

"Dusk..." Five croaked at the scene in front of him. It all had happened so suddenly. How in the world did she manage to get to him a mere second before the blade came hurtling toward him? He watched in horror as the blade pierced her chest, the tip of the sickle severing her spinal cord. The moment the blade exited her body, her wings disintegrated, and she reached out for a hand, hoping someone would save her. With adrenaline pumping through his veins, Five got up and rushed to the balcony, grabbing her before she plummeted to the ground.

With all his strength, he pulled her to the other side, wrapping her in a bear hug as he lay her on the ground. Amidst the chaos downstairs, Five could hear his twin taking desperate and shuddering breaths, hoping it would be enough to keep her body alive. The more he looked at her, the more he felt his emotions mix into a toxic concoction. He was angry, scared, sad, and more than anything, he wanted revenge. Revenge on the monster that hurt the only blood family he had. Revenge against Reginald for dragging them into this mess. But Dusk needed him. That way if it happened, she wouldn't die alone.

"Why would you do that?!" He hissed, punching the ground next to him. "It wasn't supposed to be you!" Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of where he was standing. If Dusk hadn't saved him, at the very least his arm would have been taken off. "Fam-family protects o-one another..." Dusk coughed. Five swore never to cry, never letting others see him at his weakest. But as he looked at his injured twin, a tear escaped his left eye. He didn't want to imagine losing the sister he discovered days ago.

"You better not be giving up on us right now. You are way too tough to let some metal bastard take you down!" He wrapped her arm around his shoulder, and taking one step at a time, he took her down the flight of stairs back to the others. He didn't know how long she had left, maybe minutes, seconds even. On the steps, Dusk slipped from his grasp. Seeing how pale she was growing, Five realized the heartbreak they were going to endure.

The sounds of screeching came from the far end of Hotel Oblivion, and unbeknownst to the twins, the Guardian had been thrown towards the elevators, unable to get up. "Five! Where've you been?" Viktor asked when he saw the time traveler. Five couldn't say anything, how could he tell them another family member was dying? But as Dusk fell to the ground once again, it all registered in their brains something was wrong.

"Dusk, what happened to her?" Sloane questioned Five. "The Guardian... Dusk pushed me out of the way. H-he stabbed her..." Five stuttered. "No!" Klaus gasped. They gathered near Dusk, wondering if there was anything they could do, but the moment they saw her wound to the heart, the realization fell on top of them like a thousand bricks. "Baby, come on. Please, you can't leave me!" Klaus pulled her into his lap and cradled her head, desperate to keep her eyes open. "Just keep breathing, we'll be out of here soon!"

The raven's eyes fluttered open and closed as she fought to stay with him. "I-I'm scared, K-Klaus. I-I want to go home..." She whispered. Klaus sniffed as he brought a hand to her hair. "I know, we'll find a way. But it won't be worth it without you!" the junkie sobbed, his salty tears landing on his lover's cheeks and neck. Dusk could feel blood coming out of her mouth as she struggled to speak, but Klaus needed to know something before she left. "I-I will always love y-you... no matter h-how many worlds a-part we are," She painfully smiled. "I love you too... forever and always,"

He stared into her ocean-blue eyes, wiping away the tears that slipped down her face. It was happening all over again, first with Dave, now with Dusk. He wanted to protect them both so bad, but he felt that once again, he had failed. Dusk's breath hitched, and her body grew heavy as she took her last breath of life, her head falling back in her boyfriend's arms. "No... please don't! NO! DUSKY! Someone help me!" Klaus begged, looking to his siblings for help. "She's gone, Klaus. She's gone..." Victoria shakily exhaled, closing her best friend's eyes.