Those With Wings

Still Alive

Zero's POV

I didn't feel different than 5 minutes before...I still felt like a murderer, someone who'd robbed a man of his life.

I leant against Luanna, and noticed Alex's strained face. Another pang shot through me as I remembered Piper. "I need to talk to him for a moment," I whispered to Luanna. She nodded, and squeezed my hand for a moment, as if to tell me it was alright.

It wasn't.

Alex glanced at me as I approached him, but didn't say anything. "I'm sorry," I told him.

"So am I," he said quietly.

I hesitated. "I know it's none of my business, and that it hurts to talk about her, but...did you love her?"

"Who?" he asked. "Evangeline? Myhrr? Piper?"

"Who do you think?"

"I love Piper. Not past time. But that doesn't matter, Zero. She's dead. And I'll have to find a way to forget her."

"Luanna said that you two could never be together."

"My sister was right. But even though you were a human, that didn't stop you from loving Luannitha, right?"

"No. No it didn't," I murmered.

Alex nodded. "See you around, Zero."

I watched him walk away, kicking pebbles as he walked along, ignoring the crowd that was praising us for saving them. I yearned to walk away as well, away from the compliments and thanks I didn't deserve.

A gentle hand was put on my shoulder. "He'll be okay."

"I didn't want anyone to die. Not your father, not you, not Alex...not Piper."

"I know you didn't," she whispered, "but you have to let it go. Just let it go, Zero."

I'd always thought that when the moment came, I'd be ready. And I had been ready. I'd just never thought about the consequences, not one second. And I wasn't ready to let go yet.

I went back inside, where people were checking Piper's pulse, and shoving some kind of liquid down her throat. I found myself walking towards the scene. "What are you doing?" I asked in a quivering voice.

"Trying to wake her up. She still has a pulse," a woman said sharply.

I was rooted to the ground, and then shared a look with Luanna. "Get Alex!" I breathed, a surge of happiness rising up. I knelt down, and helped the woman as Luannitha dashed out of the building.