I couldn't find anything along the walls and I started to panic, running my hands through my long hair, knowing that if this was like the room Fredric was in, then there was a latch on the wall outside somewhere.
I went and sat down in a corner and started sobbing, what else could I do, I didn't even have a phone.
This was the end, just when I started to live, I was going to die. I grasped the necklace around my neck with the pendant from Sam on it and the pendant from Adam, then I closed my eyes tightly and I prayed this would end. I just wanted to see Sam again and all my loved ones, even if it was just to tell them goodbye.
I heard a beeping and whirring sound and I opened my eyes and turned my head in the direction it came from. There was a small white camera in the top corner of the room, the light was flashing red which only meant one thing.
Crap, they're watching me I thought, theres nothing I can do, this may truly be torture, worse than being mentally tortured by Rosetta. All I could do was wait out my time until something was to happen, and then it would be over hopefully. I guess in the end you dont always get what you want, no matter how hard you try.
I dont know how long I was stuck in the room by myself, it felt like days, though in fact it could have only been hours, but it gave me time to think about a lot of things. One of them being that I might never see my family again, that I would never get to see what life could have been like when I got older, and that I would never be able to grow old with Sam, my one and only. And I was kinda thirsty.
A piece of the wall opened to reveal a figure dressed in black hours later after I thought I was just about to go insane. I couldnt make out the face because they had a hood over their head, but the feeling of it was like déjà vu all over again.
They made their way closer to me and I tried to squeeze myself into the corner more. They were getting closer and I knew I was going to have to try and protect myself. As they got closer they reached their hands up to take their hood off, and as they pulled it back I saw Sylars face.
I went into shock, he came closer and kneeled before me. He wasnt close enough to touch though, not just yet.
“I told you things could have been different,” he said in a pleasant tone, his light Scottish accent still the same.
I didn't say anything or move a muscle, I just needed him to move closer so I could touch him and steal his energy. I kept my body tensed and channelled the power inside of me so it could build up.
“Are you holding me prisoner or something?” I asked sarcastically.
“It depends on how you want to look at it. I prefer to call you my guest,” he answered, humouring me.
“Do I get a drink then, if I'm a guest.”
He smiled and I wanted to slap him. “Okay, so you are more like a prisoner.”
I rolled my eyes. “Do I at least get my one phone call?”
He chuckled. “You have a funny sense of humour, I can see why Sam likes you.” That hit a nerve and I looked away from his gaze. Sam.
“I live to entertain,” I said, my tone lifeless but cynical as I stared at the wall behind him.
He chuckled and I looked back at him. “I really thought we had something you know, something pure. We could have been great together,” he said, smiling slightly with his blue eager eyes. “Well, on to another subject, we're going to need you to cooperate with us. If you dont, well lets just say its going to end up bad for you,” he explained. “And who knows, maybe you might get to see your family again.”
“What do you want?” I asked, controlling the anger inside of me.
“We want you to tell your precious Archer family, and whoever else there is, to return Tommy. And in exchange we may give you back to them, it depends how we're feeling on the day.”
They did get Tommy, I thought, relief sinking in slowly.
I started shaking my head. “No, I will never.”
He smiled cruelly. “You will do as I say.”
“You can't make me,” I said slowly and intently, staring into his eyes murderously.
It was then when I put all the pieces together. He was the one who organized for the stairs to collapse and the Rafire coven to be attacked.
“It's such a shame, you are so beautiful. What a waste. We really did offer you to join us, and if we cant have you... no one can,” he said, shaking his head so his blonde hair shinned in the light.
“It was you who sent someone after us to attack our home, wasn't it? To ambush the Rafire coven as a warning?” I asked, accusingly.
He smiled and went to touch my face. “Last chance. Join us or die.”
I acted on first impulse, grabbing his arm and absorbing his energy as fast as I could. I watched his face turn a shade of pale and I felt stronger, my senses felt stronger. When I turned my hands over in front of me I saw the blue light projecting from my palms, which means my irises were most likely black.
He slumped to the ground in front of me, making that suffocating noise again, and I got up instantly and looked around me, my eyes resting on the camera.
Oops, I forgot about that which means they are probably sending back-up.
My head flashed in the direction of another piece of the wall opening and in came three unfamiliar men. They were walking closer towards me with fierce looks on their faces and I thought I recognized one of them for a split second.
One of them raised their hand up in front of them, the blue light projecting from his palms as he slashed it down in one fast movement. All of a sudden I felt warm blood ooze down the side of my face. He had cut me without touching me. The other one of the men walked closer to me, a sly smile on his face. He grabbed me by the hair and I grabbed his arm, absorbing all his energy and he fell to the ground like Sylar. This guy was definitely out to it though, pale and vain covered, and I didnt think hed be getting up anytime soon.
I felt another slice on my arm and winced. The last man walked towards me, he was huge, nearly twice the size of James. I wasnt sure if I could over power him, but I had to absorb the small mans energy before he could cut me to shreds. I reached my hand out towards the small man and felt myself acquire his power from a distance, then expectantly the huge guy grabbed me by the throat and lifted my feet off the ground, cutting off my airways. I grabbed at his hands, I couldn't breathe but the small man had collapsed now, which meant I just had to take care of this guy and I was home free. I tried to absorb his energy with both my hands but I couldnt for some reason. I looked down at his arm and saw it was shiny, he had some sort of literal aluminium shield over his arm; he was the one who got me in the clearing, I remembered now.
I tried to use Sylars power against him but he was resisting that too. I was choking to death, I didn't have time to use the small mans power. My throat was burning from the lack of oxygen, my feet were fumbling around in the air, trying to find the ground but coming up with nothing. My vision went cloudy and I was so close to passing out until he released me all of a sudden and I dropped to the ground on my hands and knees, coughing and spluttering to breathe in air.
I looked up to see why he had let me go and I saw Sylar was standing next to him, weakly being supported by the small man who had cut me using his ability but was now conscious.
Sylar had a dirty expression on his face and was glaring at me profusely. I was still coughing and he stammered over to me, he bent down slowly and started stroking the side of my face, then he pulled his arm back and back handed me.
I felt the hard skin of his hand and a cold lump impact the side of my face and I went straight to the ground, blood splattering on the floor in front of me. I looked up at him disorientated and he was still standing.
How the hell did he make me bleed just by back handing me, it was impossible even with a ring on. Though I could feel my time was coming to an end. If I was going to die then I sure as hell was going to make it difficult for them. I didnt want to die though. I had to pray my life doesn't end, I had to see Sams face one last time. I had to.
“I can't bel
ieve you would do that you…” he said exasperated, not finishing his sentence. “I just offered you another chance for your life you idiot!”
He started walking back and fourth, towards me and the man who choked me not long ago. “Obviously it doesn't mean very much to you.”
I spat a mouthful of blood in front of him, showing just how much disgust I had towards him.
My face felt hot all over but it also felt numb so I wasnt quite sure if my face was literally on fire or not. I was having trouble breathing but at least I was, for now, alive.
Sylar walked back over to me and took my chin in his hand roughly, looking me in the eyes ruefully. “You really shouldn't have done that, I mean what were you thinking? I was willing to give you another chance!” he emphasized darkly, pressing his fingers to his head.
He kind of had a crazy look in his eyes now which made me think I really was doomed. I knew he was going to kill me soon and there was no hope, not this time.
“I mean you're beautiful, you're powerful, you're strong and what you have with him! Sam! You could have had with me, better even!” he shouted in my face, then he lowered his voice as he spoke again but the same roughness was still in his tone. “I was falling in love with you, just as Sam was. Why didn't you choose me? What do you see in him? I know what he sees in you but... HIM!” he shouted, his hot breath against my cheek as he spoke to me ruefully.
“He's good, and smart and loves me,” I said in a low voice, somewhat like the stare he was giving me, and his grip on my chin started to hurt.
It looked like he wanted to murder Sam for what I just said.
I tried to look away but he forced me to look at him, then he leaned forward and pressed his thin lips to mine roughly and I tried to pull away. He let go of my chin just as roughly as he grabbed it when he pulled away, then he went back to pacing. While he was pacing I crawled my way over to the corner of the room and turned to look at him, wishing his death. I felt exhausted, and sore and I finally just wanted this to be over. I was tired of fighting and I would rather die with my dignity than join Sylar and have no dignity at all. I gave in.
“You are foolish! I'm going to enjoy this, sure Sammy will hate me even more, he might even want to kill me after this. But this should really kill him first,” he said crazily.
I made a motion in the air, slashing through Sylars flesh on his face without touching him.
“You bitch!” he shouted, pouncing on top of me and I struggled against him, trying to use his own ability against him, but he was immune to it. Crap.
I saw the big man who choked me hover behind Sylar, holding a shiny dagger that made my eyes widen. I struggled even more against Sylar who was above me, and all of a sudden my vision started getting cloudy, my hearing fuzzy and my body started going numb and weak under Sylars touch. It was then I realised he had conjured up enough energy to use his ability on me and make my entire body system shut down.
“I won't miss this time,” I heard him hiss in my ear.
As I got left inside my own mind I could still see. I knew I only had so long left before it was over forever, and I started to remember those most important to me and what I was standing to lose. All I could see and hear were these memories.
Dad.
“I'll see you in the morning sweetheart.”
Adam.
“I will miss you with all my heart, don't ever doubt that.”
Elane and Jane.
“Sisters?” Jane asked.
“Forever,” Elane and I both agreed.
Hunter.
“Layla, my sister.”
Fredric.
“Anytime okay, you're like a sister we wished for, and if you were our sister we would do exactly this because you're so loveable.”
James.
“We won't let anybody hurt you... ever. You are like another sister to me, Elane and even Jane.”
Peter.
“You will always be apart of our family Layla, know that.”
Summer.
“We are very glad you are okay.”
Sam.
“In my world, you are the most important thing.”
“We will find each other again.”
“I love you.”
My last thoughts were of Sam, his face and everything he had said to me, I will never forget that.
I never thought my life could get worse, but it did, and then when it finally got better it was taken away from me.
But if I had chosen to give up when I wanted to most, I would have never met my destiny, known love, known life.
So I guess as I look into the eyes of my killer, I am still thankful that I die knowing I was loved for once in my life, truly loved.
My killer raises his hand and smiles deviously…
And suddenly I die.
The end.
26. Alive
Or so I thought. Someone had cared about me enough to come for me, but it was a shame they were too late to save me.
I could hear someone speaking, their voice sounded distant but it was the voice I wanted to hear most. Maybe I was dead, after all, I did see the dagger before Sylar used his ability on me, but I dont recall it hitting me. Even in my mind I think I would have been able to feel it. I must be in heaven, how else would I hear the most beautiful voice in the entire universe.
My hearing started becoming clearer and I could hear lots of yelling and screaming, but that all tuned out when I suddenly became aware of an excruciatingly sharp pain in my side. My eyes flew open and I stared sucking in lung fulls of air from shock, my body feeling like it had just been frozen for years. That arsehole got me!
But I was alive.
Sam was bending over me, an expression made of pain, worry and fear dominant on his beautiful angelic face. I looked at him and realised he had my hand pressed to the skin of his warm chest over his heart.
“Layla, come back to me. I will not let you go again, not that I have found you,” he said in a strained voice as veins appeared on his face and the colour drained quickly.
“Sam,” I struggled to say, my lungs just werent breathing in air, they refused to obey as well as my heart refusing to beat.
I started to slip away into the darkness again, but suddenly a wave of energy jolted through my body and kick started my heart. I realised Sam was pushing his energy towards me, forcing power into my body.
“Stay with me please... I found you, I found you,” he said, his face already a sickly pale.
Could I really stay alive, could I force my body to make my heart beat in order to live? For Sam, I decided I could. For him I will, he had come this far for me so I could at least stay alive for him.
“I promise,” I said weakly.
I dragged my eyelids back and forced my heart to keep beating while Sam kept sending jolts of energy through my body, wave by wave they were practically visible as they surrounded us.
I could feel the pain in my side numb and I started to regain control over my body. I was going to make it for Sam, I had to, I told myself. When I knew I had enough energy to keep my heart beating I tried to push Sam away. If he lost too much energy he could die.
“No more, Sam. You will drain yourself too much,” I said, vainly trying to push him away.
My mind said push him away, but my body said bring him closer.
“I don't care,” he said fiercely.
I could feel another wave of energy enter my body and I arched my back. “Sam, it's okay. I'm not leaving you again,” I reassured him unsteadily as my mind began to triumph.
I loosened my hand that was on his chest out of his grip, moving it up to the side of his face. I looked into his green eyes, noticing the light dark rings underneath them, and I saw them soften. He pulled me into his arms and tried to hug me with what energy he had left. I inhaled his sweet familiar scent, telling myself I would never leave him, ever. He was my beautiful man.
“I'm getting you out of here,” he said, stroking the back of my hair and kissing me on my forehead s
lowly.
He swung me up into his arms carefully so I was cradled like a child, set protectively into his arms, then he stood up and turned around. He walked out of the white room and into an open living room or office where around us I saw my family members with strangers.
“What are they doing?” I asked faintly, my vision slightly blurred.
“They are apprehending every Dark coven member in this building,” Sam explained, walking through the bunches of people.
“Sam,” I heard someone call.
At this point I was feeling that exhausted I could barely hold my own head up. Sam had to pull me closer so my head was resting against his warm comforting bare chest over his power mark. I was too tired to care about whether this was normal or not.
“Is she okay?” someone asked; it was Hunters familiar tenor voice.
His hand smoothed my hair back and I peeked up at his familiar face, it was blurry but it was still comforting. I knew I was in safety.
“She is now,” I heard Sam say, his voice rumbling through his chest.
“You should get her home, we'll take care of things here,” Hunter said.
My eyes were completely closed now. I just couldnt keep them open, but my ears were still attuned to everything around me.
“Where's Sylar?” Hunter asked after a minute.
“He is back there, only unconscious though,” Sam answered coldly.
“You are powerful Sam, I'll give you that,” Hunter said after a few minutes of him and Sam not speaking. “Because you restrained it shows you're strong. If I were you... I would have killed him for what he did.” I felt his hand on my head again. “We'll see you soon Lays.”
I think Hunter kissed my forehead and then we left. I didnt feel when Sam started walking again but I wasnt jolted in the slightest, then the noises of voices and screaming faded into the distance.
“We're going to be okay now,” I heard Sam murmur in my ear. “I love you with all my heart.”
The Hidden Revelations: First Light Page 49