Is this real? (Five Hargreeves)

Chapter 13 'I can't'

Stellar makes her way over to the barn, hidden under an illusion. A loud shout has just emerged and Stellar enters to find Five and Lila facing each other as Five tries to reason with her.

"She had me kill your parents. She never cared about them. She was looking for you. You and Stellar." Five explains to Lila.

Stellar feels her whole world shake and turn upside down for the second time that day. It was the Handler?

No. It couldn't have been. Could it? Was she using them? No, she couldn't have been. She cared for them. She raised them. She loved them. ...Didn't she?

She didn't want to believe it. She didn't have to. But deep down she knew that it was something that their mother would do. Stellar tries to channel more anger from within her, but she can't. The fire in her feels like it's immediately been extinguished. She should be furious. She should be launching herself into a fight. But she can't. She can't do anything. She can't even bring herself to feel mad at Five. All she feels is weakness. Sadness. Numbness.

"Why?" Lila asks.

"Because you're one of us." Lila quickly whips around to see Diego entering the barn. "The Handler stole you, Lila. Just like our asshole father took all of us."

"No." Her voice quivers as she shakes her head. "It's not the same thing."

"You're right." Diego agrees. "Because he didn't have our parents murdered."

Lila brandishes her knife at Diego, conflicting emotions raging across her face.

"Just listen to me, Lila." Diego tries, inching closer. "You were born October 1st, 1989, the same day as all of us."

"Stay back!" She exclaims, jabbing the knife in Diego's direction.

"Hey! Stop!" Luther exclaims.

"Lila, stop."

"I trusted you." Lila growls at Diego. "I got you a job. I even introduced you to my mother, then you took off on me-"

"Because I needed to save the world!" Diego cuts her off. "She's using you, Lila. The Handler."

"You're wrong." Lila spits. "She raised me. She loves me."

"Yeah? You know what?" Luther speaks up. "Love shouldn't have to hurt this much."

Stellar turns away, breathing shallowly. Are they right?

Lila just stares at him before gagging mockingly.

"All right. I tried." Luther says flatly.

"He's right. We have to kill her." Five agrees.

Stellar moves forward silently, ready to make a move if he gets even an inch closer to her sister.

"Hey, Lila." Diego says, getting her attention. "Truth? She's dangerous. And you're scared of what she'll do with all that new power. That's why you dragged me to the Commission, because I know what it's like to love dangerous people. Only difference is..."

He looks around at all of the siblings.

"They love me back."

"Shut up." Lila snaps angrily.

"The only thing she loves is power." Diego says, referring to the Handler. "Now, the moment she can't use you anymore, she will turn on you. And deep down, you know that."

Lila breathes heavily before turning away from all of the siblings.

"Where's my sister?" She whispers, more to herself.

Stellar watches as Five tiptoes closer. She quickly materialises in a purple flash, pulling her katana out of it's sheath on her back and pointing it at his neck with surprising ferocity. Deep in her eyes though, Five can see sadness and fatigue. He stops and backs up in a hurry, eyes widening.