To Stay (Hiro X Reader--A Sequel to "A Helping Hand")

Chapter 18--Termination

Wow, one death after another...tell me if this is too abrupt.

The glint of her red hair under the dim lights gave her away, and you only clapped a hand to your mouth to stifle a scream as you gently knelt beside her convulsing body, curling around the gun wound in her stomach. Blood was starting to flow onto her grey hoodie from her gut, and she was gritting her teeth in an effort not to cry. Her eyes stared wildly into yours and you bit your lip, unable to believe that she'd do this for you. That she'd save your life.

"Trudy," you whispered. 

Trudy nodded as she reached a hand out, and you grasped it. "(Y/N)...I'm sorry," she murmured, tears streaming down her cheeks as she tried to get the words out of her mouth. "I...he made me...he made me..."

"Who made--oh." You nodded in realization. "So you didn't hate me."

Trudy shook her head. "You've got gut, (Y/N). You and Melanie and Hiro and everyone on your side. I didn't want to be the bad girl, but he--my uncle--he made me! I didn't...but..."

"You didn't want to do it?"

"No. But I had no choice." Trudy took a  shaky breath, her arm immediately covering the bloody wound. "He...threatened to kill me...wanted me...dead if...I didn't do what...he wanted..."

Trudy gave a slight cough as your eyes widened at the truth. All along, Trudy was a puppet, with Callaghan controlling her strings. 

"But wasn't that what you wanted?" you asked. 

"N-no," Trudy whimpered. "If my uncle wasn't satisfied, I'm dead."

You nodded, not sure whether to trust her. After all, thanks to him and her, your parents were dead. "But why?"

"My mother...his sister...she was tormented by him and died of her injuries," Trudy explained to you. "I was scared too, (Y/N). I don't want him to win. I want you to. So many people have been dishonoured by him alone. Fight him, (Y/N). Kill him."

You nodded. "Thank you so much, Trudy."

"I've only given him a distraction. Kill him (Y/N). Kill him," Trudy whispered softly. Then she gave a final shallow breath, and moved no more. The grip on your hand went slack.

It took all your will not to cry. All this time, Trudy hadn't hated you at all. She was only doing this for Callaghan's ploy, but all this time she admired you from afar. And it moved you, it moved you to the point where you finally figured out what Callaghan was up to. He didn't just want your family dead. He wanted anyone who he found a distraction to his plan dead too, if they disobeyed or interfered. 

Was that the real reason, then, that everyone is suffering in Callaghan's clutches now? The metal serpents, as tightly bound to your teammates before, have only tightened further, and you prayed that everyone could stay alive and not suffer deeply with many cuts in their body. You prayed Mr. Lacitier could hold on. They served as distractions to kill you, according to Callaghan's plans. And Trudy, unknown to you, was one of them. And if you didn't do something now, the rest of the team, including Mr. Lacitier, could be killed before you.

Callaghan, in the meanwhile, was steaming. "How dare she," he growled. "HOW DARE SHE INTERCEPT!"

Mr. Lacitier moaned in response, but you took it as encouragement as you stood straight, stepping over Trudy's body as you took out your own pistol.

"My time for speaking has long since passed," you informed Callaghan now as you pointed the gun at his chest, speaking with such confidence and conviction you could very well be radiating determination in the room. "But one thing is for certain. The tides have turned. And now we're both the victims of our own fates." You raised your gun higher, and Callaghan suddenly cowered in fear.