| Ephemeral |

twenty-eight

Alex

I walked into the house, not caring about being stealthy or quiet. I have the upper hand in this situation for once. 

"Larce!" I yelled loudly in the house, hearing my own voice echo off the walls. "I know you're here, where the hell are you!" I yelled again as I looked around the large house. 

"Were you not taught to use your inside voice?" I saw Larce arrive from behind a corner. My glare caught his eye, the look of him was enough to make me homicidal.

"Where's Ethan?" I asked sternly, but he just tilted his head and gave me a taunting smile. "On a mission, huh?" He asked, just getting started with whatever speech he was about to give.

"You aren't getting him back Alexandra, ever," He smiled at me once more. "I know something that might make you have a change of heart," I gave him the same vindictive smile.

"What could you possibly have over my head?" He laughed mockingly at me. "So you would let your only son die for your own selfish gain?" I walked around innocently, as I said it.

"What did you just say to me?" His voice grew deeper, more serious. "You heard me." I finally looked back over to him. He had a look in his eye I've never seen before.

"These fantasies Alexandra, you're going as crazy as your father did!" He exclaimed wildly as I squinted at his comment. 

I pulled a piece of paper from my pocket and held it up. "I must be bat shit crazy, or that paper says Wyatt Ekon." I pointed directly at it as his eyes widened.

In the corner of my eye, I saw Crimson and Ethan jogging down the stairs. "What an unexpected surprise!" Crimson spoke, looking between Larce and I. Ethan looked like he had seen a ghost the way he was looking at me. I felt a smile creeping onto my lips just seeing him.

"Grab him," Larce ordered Crimson, causing me to furrow my brows quickly. Crimson grabbed Ethan aggressively and put his arm around his neck. 

"Stop! What are you doing?" I yelled toward Crimson who smirked at me wickedly. Suddenly I felt an arm around my neck too, causing me to struggle. Ethan began fighting Crimson when he saw Larce grab me. I shook my head at him as to tell him to stop.

"You don't care about her anymore huh?" Larce yelled at Ethan as he finally stopped trying to rip himself away from Crimson.

"I misread you, Ethan. I thought you were a comrade, a talented new addition. Someone who could have taken over for me. By God was I mistaken!" Larce yelled again, his voice booming in my ear as he held my throat tighter. 

"I'll be whatever you want me to be, just let her go." Ethan pleaded as he struggled to get his words out. 

"You both have been a mile more than treacherous, who should we kill first, hm?" Larce started, "We could kill her while he watches, but something tells me that's too merciful." Larce hummed in my ear, causing me to get the worst kind of chills. 

"Or, I could inject perfect little Alexandra with my newest form of punishment. Then she can tear Ethan apart, then when she returns to sanity she will see what she's done. Now that is true pain," Larce laughed, causing me to try to rip away from him again, but he was too strong.