In the darkness, Cayden King stood up from his bed andtried to make sense of the shadows all around him. Hecould feel his heart beating. It felt as if it wantedto break free of his chest. He swallowed a lump in histhroat and took a step forward.

“Devon,” he called out, fear creeping into his voice.“Devon, are you there?“ There was no response, onlythe eerie silence of his apartment. As the shadowsdanced all around him, Cayden paused for a moment togather his courage before slowly walking out of hisbedroom.

“Devon,” he whispered as he glanced around. “Where areyou?” He walked toward the door and found that Devonhad left it open. He peered into the darkened hall.The lights had gone out in the building before and italways frightened him, but never as much as it did atthat point. He shuffled across the hall to Devon’sdoor and knocked on it. There was no answer.

The hallway was eerily quiet and Cayden turned toretreat to the safety of his apartment. The darkness,mixed with his fear, was all too much. A shriekescaped him as he bumped into someone in the hall.

“Cayden, chill out,” Mason Weber said, “it’s just me.”

“You scared the crap out of me,” Cayden said with agasp, slightly relieved that he was no longer alone.

“What’s up with the lights?” Mason questioned. “Theygo out again?”

“Unfortunately,” Cayden sighed. “What are you doinghere, I thought you and Elijah were headed to thebar?”

“We were,” Mason responded, “but we got bored and cameback.”

“That’s a first,” Cayden teased. “Did you see Devon onyour way up here?” He questioned.

“No, why?”

“She just left my place and then the power went out.Maybe she went downstairs to check the switch,” Caydensaid.

“Maybe,” Mason said with a shrug. “Hey, can I borrowyour digital camera?“ Mason questioned. “I wanna takesome pictures of myself and put them on my myspace.“

“Sure, it’s in the drawer by the bed,” Cayden said.“I’m going downstairs to find Devon and find outwhat’s going on with the electricity. I need aflashlight,” he said as he ducked into his apartmentand walked into the kitchen, pulling open a drawer.

Flashlight, in hand, he returned to the door. “Can youwait here for Devon?” He questioned. “She night becoming back and I don’t want her to be here alone,” hesaid, “what with what’s going on, you know,” he said.

“Hey Cayden,” Mason said as Cayden turned to walk downthe hall. “It’s just dark, there’s no reason to bescared. Nothing’s going to happen,” he added with asmile.

“I hate the dark,” Cayden King admitted. “Trust me,I’ll be much more at ease when the morning comes.” Hepaused for a moment then smiled back at Mason Weber.“Just stick around for a few minutes, just until I getback,” he pleaded as he started down the hallway forthe stairwell.

“Okay,” Mason said as he stepped into the apartmentand felt his way around. He bumped into a table andgrunted as he struck his shin against him. Enteringthe bedroom, Mason stepped over to the bed and openedthe top drawer of the nightstand. He reached insideand felt around until his hand encountered somethingthat felt like a camera.

He smiled to himself. He was going to take the bestpictures. He figured he’d even take a few nakedpictures to send to the really hot girls. Turning awayfrom the nightstand, he started for the door as wastaken by surprise when he felt a sharp pain in hisstomach.

The camera fell out of Mason Weber’s hand as heglanced downward. He saw the shiny glint of a bladebeing pulled out of his stomach and stared up insurprise. “What the fuck?” He gasped as his he reachedup to grab his stomach with his hands. He stumbledbackwards with surprise as he lifted his hands intoview. In the pale moonlight he saw the blood coveringhis fingers and stared at it in shock.

“Why did you . . .” he managed to ask before hisattacker lunged at him again and again. With a painedexpression on his face, Mason Weber managed to pushhis attacker away. A gurgling sound emitted from deepwithin him as he stumbling to the ground. He gasped,struggling for air, but Mason Weber could only breathshallow breaths.

His face was contorted into a look of pain. He wantedto scream, but he was unable to make a sound. Instead,he gurgled slightly as blood filled his mouth. Hetried his best to get away, but he found couldn’tmove. As he lay on the ground, he caught a quickglimpse of his attacker.

He wanted to ask them why. He wanted to understandwhat had just happened. Silently, he watched as theyleft the room.

“Why?!“ He screamed in his head. “Why?“

A moment later, Mason Weber breathed his last,difficult, labored breath. His eyes were open, but hewas dead.

Gage Matthews stepped into the stairwell, searchingfor the railing as he descended the steps. Theelectricity in the building had gone out before, andhe knew how common it was, but it still annoyed himevery time that it happened. “You’d think that I’d getused to this by now,” he grumbled to himself as hewalked down the stairs.

“Why do I even still live here?” He asked himself. Intruth, he knew the answer. He stayed because this washis home. He had friends here, people who loved himand people he loved. He thought of Devon and smilecame to his face. He had finally found someone thatloved him for who he was. He didn’t have to pretend tobe someone else. He didn’t have to throw around hisfamily’s money. He didn’t have to do anything but loveher and it excited him.

When he was with Devon James, Gage felt as if theworld was his for the taking, and nothing could get inhis way. As he reached the bottom of the northstairwell, Gage Matthews took a tumble and crashedagainst the wall. “Shit!” He cursed when he tastedfresh blood on his lower lip. “What the fuck?” Hequestioned with surprise when he realized that he hadtripped over a person.

He scrambled to their side, hoping that they wereokay. “Hey,” he said as he placed his hand on thewoman’s back and shook her gently. “Are you okay?”

A groan escaped the woman as she stirred toconsciousness. “Gage?” she said strenuously as shewinced in pain. Tears came to her eyes. “Gage . . .”

“Sarah?” Gage questioned with surprise. “Sarah, whathappened?”

“My leg,” Sarah gasped. “I think my leg is broken.”She began to sob uncontrollably. “It hurts, it hurts,”she cried.

“It’s okay, everything is going to be fine,” Gageassured her as he tried to glance down at her leg. Thedarkness was preventing him from doing so and he soonbecame frustrated. “Can you sit up?” He questioned.Sarah didn’t respond, instead she continued to cry.

“Sarah,” Gage said again, “I need you to try to situp, I can’t help you here in the dark. Can you sit up?We have to get you out of here,” he explained. Hereached down to try to help her up, but Sarah Mulberrylet loose a high pitched shriek and he jumped awayfrom her.

“It hurts!” She cried. The pain in her leg was soexcruciating that she tried to lay still withoutmoving. “I can’t move,” she said. “Gage, call anambulance,” she said, her voice wavering.

“What happened?” Gage questioned. “How did you fall?”

“I didn’t fall,” Sarah Mulberry responded as her voicegot lower. The pain was becoming too much for her todeal with and her body was going into shock. “She . .. pushed . . . me.” She admitted softly.

“Who pushed you? Who did this to you?” Gage questionedwith surprise. In the back of his mind, he knewexactly who it was that pushed Sarah Mulberry down thestairs. Sarah grew silent. “Sarah,” he said as heplaced his hand on her back once again. “Who did thisto you? Was it Devon?”

“She’s . . . crazy,” Sarah whispered.

“She didn’t mean to hurt you,” Gage said, trying toexplain Devon’s actions. “She was just angry. She’sjealous, but she didn’t mean to hurt you. She made amistake, everybody makes mistakes . . .” In his mind,Gage was searching for a reason as to why Devon woulddo something like this.

“Where is she?” Gage questioned. “Where did Devon go?Sarah,” he said with frustration when she didn’trespond. “Sarah, where is Devon right now?” He wantedto run. He wanted to find Devon and ask her whathappened. He wanted to understand why Sarah Mulberrywas lying in a dark stairwell with a broken leg, butSarah Mulberry had slipped back into unconsciousness.

In the darkness, Gage Matthews stood up. “Don’tworry,” he said, “I’m going to get some help,” he saidas he took off down the stairs. “Devon!” He yelled,hoping that she was still nearby. “Devon!”

In the basement, Cayden King flashed his light alongthe wall as he walked slowly. Even with a flashlight,the darkness was still playing tricks on him and hecouldn’t find the light box. He stumbled a few timesuntil he found the right door. As he walked toward thelight box, he heard someone whisper his name.

Turning around quickly, he flashed his light aroundbut found no one there. With a sigh, he turned backtoward the light box and placed his hand on theswitch. Grabbing it, he pushed it back up and breatheda sigh of relief when the lights blinked, then cameback on. When he turned around, he jumped with frightwhen he saw Devon James standing in the doorway.

“Cayden,” she said softly, her eyes moist and filledwith tears, “you’re in danger.” She moved away fromthe doorway and slowly stepped into the room until shecame to a stop in front of Cayden and remained eerilystill, with her hands behind her back. Cayden examinedher carefully from where he stood. His eyes widenedwhen she saw the bright red color of blood on herclothing. He glanced into her eyes, but they seemeddistant.

He rushed to her side, but the blood on her clothingkept him at bay. “Devon, are you okay?” He questioned.She did not respond. Instead, she stared at himblankly.

“What happened?” He questioned. “Devon, you’rebleeding, what happened?” He asked again afterreceiving no response.

“It’s not my blood,” Devon responded coolly.

“Then whose blood is it?” He beseeched. “Devon, you’rescaring me. What’s going on? Whose blood is this?” Heasked as he stared down at her clothing.

“It’s Mason’s,” she answered matter-of-factly.

“Mason’s?” Cayden questioned as a knot formed in thepit of his stomach.

“He’s dead,” Devon said softly as she finally movedfrom the door and

“Don’t say that,” Cayden said as he shook his head. Hedidn’t want to believe that one of his best friends inthe entire world was dead.

“It’s true,” Devon confirmed. “He’s in your apartment. . . in your bedroom . . . He was stabbed to death .. . like Julia,” she explained.

With shock registered on his face, Cayden King gasped.“Oh my God,” he said as tears rushed to his eyes. “Wehave to do something, we have to call Szymon,” he saidas he started for the door.

“Don’t you want to see my picture?” Devon questionedsoftly.

Cayden stopped in his tracks and stared over at Devonquestioningly. “Mason is dead,” Cayden replied. “Wehave to do something about it.”

“But my picture,” Devon repeated, “don’t you want tosee it?”

Cayden stared at her in silence as Devon pulled herarms from around her back. He stared down in horror atwhat she was holding and took a step back. “Devon,what is that?” He questioned as he glanced up into hereyes. Devon James was holding a knife. “What’s goingon?”

He took another step away from Devon. His mind wasracing. A thousand thoughts were going through hishead. He didn’t understand what was going on. Hedidn’t want to believe that Mason was dead, but mostof all, he didn’t want to believe that Devon James wasa murderer.

“It’s the knife that killed Mason,” Devon explained.“I pulled it out of his chest.” She glanced down atthe blade, it was covered in blood. “Do you want tosee my picture?” She asked as she took a stepforward. There was a hazy, distant gaze in her eyes asshe approached him, knife in hand.

“Devon . . . please don’t do this,” Cayden said as hebacked up further. He shook his head. This was not theway he wanted to die, in a basement, all alone at thehands of the person he considered one of his bestfriends. “Please . . .”

.”Get the hell away from him, you fucking psychoticbitch!” Szymon Skubisz yelled as he rushed into theroom and stepped between the two of them. He liftedhis gun toward Devon James and pointed it at her.

On the sofa, Kathryn Hayes kissed Jesse Martinezintently. “What was that for?” He questioned withsurprise. He looked into her eyes and smiled. “Notthat I’m complaining or anything.”

“You‘re upset,” Kathryn said. “I hate to see you thatway. I want you to be happy. This will all be overshortly,” she assured him.

“I hope so,” Jesse said with a sigh. “I don’t know ifI can deal with this any more. I just want it to end.”He sighed and shook his head. “Hey, where did you goearlier? I came by and you weren’t here.”

“I went to get some condoms,” she explained. “I wantto be with you again,” she admitted.

“Me to,” Jesse responded with a smile. “But let’s goto the bedroom,” he said as he stood up from the couchand held his hand out for Kathryn. She smiled andreach out to grab it. Slowly, he lead her into thebedroom and guided her to the bed.

“Lay down,” she said softly. Jesse smiled and lay backon the bed as Kathryn got on top of him. She leanedforward and kissed him again. He kissed her back,hungrily as she unbuttoned his shirt slowly. Shestared into his eyes, smiling as she reached the lastbutton.

“Take this off,” he said as he reached up for hershirt. She reached down and pulled the shirt up overher head, exposing her breasts. Reaching up slowly,Jesse gently cupped them with his hands as Kathrynunbuttoned his pants. She pulled them down and tossedthem on the side of the bed before leaning forward andkissing him again.

Reaching down under her skirt, she pulled her pantiesdown then reached for a condom on the nightstandbeside the bed. Tearing it open, she smiled down atJesse and he smiled back up at her.

As they slowly began to make love, Jesse closed hiseyes. It was incredible. He felt as if he was finallyhome. He was finally able to connect with anotherperson and it felt great. He opened his eyes andglanced up at Kathryn Hayes as she rocked back andforth on his lap.

He smiled and shut his eyes once again. He was inlove. Everything was perfect, and in a few hoursJulia’s killer would be caught and he could put an endto that chapter of his life and begin a new chapterwith Kathryn Hayes. He was ready. The unbelievablehappiness he was experienced was only heightened bythe excitement making love to Kathryn. Jesse buckedhis hips forward. He wanted to reach that place wherehe and Kathryn would become one.

He thought about Julia and silently wondered if shefelt betrayed by him being with Kathryn. He lovedJulia Taylor more than anything, but he told himselfthat he had to move on. He had a chance to experiencelove once again and he didn’t think Julia would mindas long as he was happy.

Jesse Martinez wanted to experience love again. “Not atainted love,” he said to himself, “not a love thatends in tragedy, but a love that lasts forever.” As hebegan to reach his climax, Jesse fully believed in thepossibility that he had finally found that. “I loveyou Julia,” he said aloud as he reached that pivotalpoint.

He opened his eyes as soon as he’d realized hismistake.

“I said get away,” Szymon Skubisz demanded. Devonstared at him awkwardly as she held the knife in herhand. “Szymon,” she said, a smile coming to his face.“I hate you,” she explained.

“The feeling is mutual,” Szymon Skubisz assured her.“Now step away and put down the knife,” he demanded ashe kept his gun pointed directly at her.

“I just want to show Cayden my picture,” Devonexplained softly. She was having trouble forming herwords and appeared to be completely unhinged.

“Why did you do it?” Cayden questioned as tears randown his cheeks. “Why did you kill them?”

Devon stared at him awkwardly. “You lied to me,” shesaid as a single tear slid down her cheek. “You saidyou believed me. You said you didn’t think I killedJulia. You lied to me,” she repeated.

“Devon, please, just put down the knife,” Caydenbegged.

“But my picture,” she said as she took a step forward.

“Get back!” Szymon shouted.

Gage Matthews rushed to the door and took in the sightbefore him. Without thinking, he ran forward. “No!” Heshouted as he got between Szymon’s gun and Devon.“Don’t do it! Don’t shoot her!” He pleaded as hestared into Szymon’s eyes.

“Get out of the way, Gage,” Szymon ordered. “Devon isa murderer.”

“No she’s not,” Gage said as he shook his head. “Shedidn’t do anything.” He turned back toward Devon andlooked into her eyes. She seemed distant. As heglanced at her clothing, he saw the blood all over herand the knife in her hands. “What happened?” Hequestioned.

“She killed Mason,” Cayden said. “She killed him!”

“Shut up!” Gage yelled. “She didn’t kill anyone!” Heturned toward Devon. “You didn’t kill anyone, didyou?” He questioned as he reached for her and pulledher into a hug. “You didn’t kill anyone.”

“Gage, I need you to step away,” Szymon ordered.

“I won’t let you shoot her!” Gage cried as he heldDevon close. “I won’t let you kill her!”

“Gage!” Szymon demanded.

“Back off!” Gage Matthews yelled.

“Gage, take the knife away from her,” Szymon said, hisvoice lowering slightly so that he could get throughto the young man. “We found her fingerprints in thebag,” he explained. “I have to arrest her. She did it,she killed Julia.”

Slowly, Gage pulled away from Devon and stared intoher eyes silently. “Did you do it?” He asked her. “Didyou kill her?” Devon James stared into his eyes, butdid not respond. Instead, she gripped the knifetighter. “Give me the knife,” he said softly as hereached up to her hands.

Devon wouldn’t let go of the knife. “Devon,” Gage saidagain, “give me the knife. Please.” he slowly uncurledher hands from around the knife and pulled it out ofher hands. “Take it!” He said to Szymon Skubisz as hethrew it to the ground.

“Now back away from her,” Szymon ordered.

Gage glanced at him with a hateful expression, but heacquiesced. “Everything is going to be okay,” heassured Devon. “I’m going to make sure that you getthe best lawyers. I’m going to take care of you,” hesaid.

With his gun pointed at Devon, Szymon took a stepforward. “Put your hands on the top of your head andturn around,” he demanded, but Devon slowly reach upto the inner pocket of her jacket. “Stop or I’llshoot!” Szymon warned.

“Devon, please! Listen to him,” Cayden begged. “He’sgoing to shoot you. What about the baby?” Hequestioned.

Gage Matthews blinked with surprise. “The baby?” Heasked as he glanced at Devon.

“She’s pregnant,” Cayden said.

Gage’s jaw dropped as he stared at Devon. “Is thistrue?” He questioned.

Devon turned to him and smiled. “We’re having a baby,”she said.

“Oh my God,” Gage whispered as Devon turned backtoward Cayden.

“Do you remember the day of the robbery?” Shequestioned. “You were outside looking at the perfectsky and I thought you were crazy,” she said. “But youweren’t. You take the time to appreciate the thingsthat the rest of us take for granted,” she explained.“Julia was just like that, but I took her for granted.I thought she would always be here,” Devon said. “Butshe’s not, is she? And now you turned on me, and Ilost you too,” Devon explained as she took anotherstep forward.

Devon continued to reach into her pocket and Szymonprepared himself to shoot, but Devon looked straightinto Cayden’s eyes and smiled. “Stop!” Cayden said ashe jumped forward and pushed Szymon’s arm, swinginghis gun away from Devon as she pulled a single picturefrom her pocket and showed it to them.

“It’s the picture I gave her,” Cayden announced.

“I told you,” Devon James said as she took a stepforward. Her eyes fluttered and she lost her balance,falling to the ground unconscious.

“Oh my God!” Cayden King yelled when he saw the stabwound on her upper right shoulder. He rushed to herside. “She’s been stabbed! She’s in shock!”

Szymon Skubisz glanced down at Devon James withsurprise. “I don’t get it, if she didn’t kill Julia,then who did?”

With a shriek of anger, Kathryn Hayes jumped off ofJesse Martinez. “I’m sorry,” Jesse said tripping overhis words. “I didn’t mean to say that.”

Kathryn shook her head. “No,” she said as she pacedback and forth beside the bed. “This was supposed tobe perfect. You were supposed to love me!” She said asshe stopped next to the bed and yelled at him beforepacing back and forth once again. “You were supposedto love me,” she repeated, “but all you can thinkabout is that two-timing slut!”

Confused, Jesse sat up on the bed. “What are youtalking about?” He questioned.

“I hated her. I hated Julia,” Kathryn admitted. “Ihated the way she treated you, Jesse,” she said as shecrossed over to the bed and sat beside him, trying tokiss him. Jesse pushed her away and stared into hereyes.

“What’s going on?” He questioned.

Kathryn flew into a rage and stood up, pacing back andforth beside the bed. “She never loved you, not theway I do,” she commented, shaking her head. “She wasjust using you. I was in love with you from the momentthat I saw you, but Julia was never in love with you.”

“Of course she was,” Jesse argued.

“I saw them together, you know,” Kathryn explained.“Gage and Julia. I saw them. She loved him more thanshe loved you. Why else would she cheat on you withhim?” She questioned as she threw her hands in the airwith frustration. “The only reason that I didn’t sayanything was because you were in love with her and Ididn’t want to hurt you, but when I saw the two ofthem together, I knew that I had to do something,” Sheexplained.

Jesse’s eyes widened. “You wrote the letter,” he said.

“Of course I wrote it,” Kathryn admitted. “I couldn’tcome to you in person and tell you because I knew youwould have been devastated, so I wrote a letter. Iwrote one to Julia too,” she admitted. “I warned thatbitch to stay away from you, but she didn’t listen.She didn’t listen,” Kathryn repeated as she shook herhead.

“What are you saying?” Jesse questioned.

“I wanted you to love me,” Kathryn said as she rushedto his side. “I wanted you to look at me the way youlooked at her. I wanted you to hold me, I wanted youto kiss me. I wanted you to love me!” She cried as shestood up. “She ignored the letter, and for a whilethings were fine, I even realized how much you reallyloved her when you took her back,” Kathryn explained,“but then I heard Julia tell Devon that she waspregnant. I was sitting right out there,” she said asshe pointed to the window. “Right out there on thefire escape when she told her! She didn’t know who thefather was. She said she was going to have anabortion!” Kathryn exclaimed.

“Kathryn, what did you do?” Jesse questioned as he gotup from the bed and began to pull his pants on.

“I couldn’t let her hurt you anymore Jesse, so I wentinto Julia’s apartment through the fire escape. Iwanted to tell her to stop what she was doing. Iwanted her to leave you alone because I knew she wasgoing to hurt you, but when I saw her . . . I got sopissed off . . . I got so angry. I knew she wasn’tgoing to stop using you. I knew she wasn’t going tostop hurting you, so I had to make her stop. Don’t yousee?” Kathryn questioned as she rushed to Jesse’sside. “I did this for you. I killed Julia for you. Ikilled her so that she wouldn’t hurt you anymore.”

Jesse’s eyes filled with tears as he stared atKathryn. “How could you?” He questioned.

“It was the least that I could do for you, Jesse,because Julia would surely have killed you slowly withevery betrayal. But you had to come in and pick up theknife and make it look like you killed Julia. Younearly ruined everything, you know?” Kathrynquestioned with a smile. ”I tried to make it look likeDevon did it, but that didn’t pan out. Thank God, youweren’t charged for the murder, I would have beendevastated,” she said with relief.

I figured that I‘d lay low for a bit, you know, untileverything with Julia blew over. I figured when themadness stops, I can make my move on you,. I reallythought we were in the clear and that you and I couldfinally be together just like I planned, but that nosylittle kid had to move into Julia’s apartment and stirthings up and find her diary. I’m so sorry that I hityou over the head all those months ago, but I had toget the diary from Cayden. I almost got him, but thelittle shit got the best of me. It was okay though,”she said with a smirk, “I got back at him when Ikilled his cat.”

”Kathryn, you’re crazy,” Jesse said, “what you’ve done. . .”

“I am not crazy!” Kathryn yelled. “I did it for you. Idid it because I love you. That’s not crazy, is it?Don’t you see, we can finally be together. We don’thave to worry about Cayden messing things up for usagain, because he’s dead now.”

“Oh my God, Kathryn, what did you do?”

“I went to his apartment and I stabbed him to death.It’s okay, though, because the police won’t be able totie it to me,” she explained as she moved in to pullJesse into a hug. “We can finally be together.”

Jesse Martinez pushed Kathryn Hayes away. “You’recrazy!” He yelled. “I don’t love you! You’re sick! IfI knew all of this, I would never have been with you.How could you do this to me? You killed the one personthat made me happy! I’m calling the police,” he saidas he got up from the bed and started to walk out ofthe bedroom.

Kathryn Hayes rushed to the nightstand and picked up alarge vase, slamming it against the back of Jesse’shead. “I’m sorry sweetheart,” she said softly, “but Ican’t let you do that.”

Elijah Montessori stepped into Cayden King’s bedroomand saw Mason Weber lying on the floor covered inblood. He screamed and backed out of the bedroom. “Ihave to call the police,” Elijah said to himself as heshook his head and searched for the phone.

“I already called them,” Kathryn Hayes said as shestood in the doorway of Cayden’s apartment. “They’reon their way.”

“What happened?” Elijah questioned with disbelief.

“I saw everything,” Kathryn explained. “Devon cameinto the apartment and stabbed Cayden to death. I washiding in the bathroom, but when she left, I came outand I crawled up beside him,” she said, tears comingto her eyes. “I checked for a pulse, but he wasalready gone.”

“No,” Elijah Montessori said as he shook his head.“You’re wrong. Devon would never do anything likethat, she’s his best friend.”

“Take another look for yourself,” Kathryn Hayes saidas she pointed to the bedroom. “Go in there and take alook at Devon’s handiwork. I saw up close and person.I watched Cayden die. I even looked into his eyes. Goahead, go look at Cayden’s body again!“

Elijah Montessori’s heart began to beat faster and hetook a step away from Kathryn. “That’s not Cayden’sbody in there,” he said, fearful of what Kathryn mightdo to him. “It’s Mason.”

Kathryn Hayes paused for a second and stared atElijah. “Okay,” she said with a smile, “you got me. Iguess it was pretty stupid of me to stab the wrongguy, huh?” She questioned as her eyes danced crazilyin her head. “Oh well,” she said rushed toward Elijah.

Scared, Elijah threw his arms forward and pushed herto the ground. He turned to run, but felt a quick jabto his calf muscle that sent him crashing to theground in pain. He glanced down at his leg and saw aswitchblade sticking out of his calf muscle. Hefreaked and glanced at Kathryn Hayes with horror asshe got up from the floor and stood over him.

“I really didn’t want to kill you,” Kathryn explained,“but now that you know, I don’t see any other way.”Reaching Cayden’s DVD player, she tore the plug out ofthe wall and held it above her head. “I’m really sorryabout this,” she said with a smile. “It’s nothingpersonal.”

Kathryn Hayes cracked the DVD player against ElijahMontessori’s head and a splatter of blood splashedonto her cheek. Stepping away, she stared down at himwith a smile and set the DVD player on the floor. Shestepped back and turned toward the door. Gage Matthewswas standing there.

“You crazy bitch!” Gage yelled. “What did you do tohim?” He glanced down at Elijah’s body in horror, thenglanced back at Kathryn as he stepped into theapartment. “You killed them? You killed them all!”Gage had finally come face to face with a killer. “Youstabbed Devon!”

“That bitch got what was coming to her,” Kathrynexplained softly. “She’s so nosy, she walked in on mekilling Mason. I couldn’t let her go after that.”

“She’s pregnant!” Gage exclaimed. “She’s carrying mybaby!”

“Another bastard child?” Kathryn questioned. “Firstyou go and fuck Julia and get her pregnant, now youmove onto Devon? Have you no shame?”

“At least I’m not a murderer,” Gage said stoically.

“Touché,” Kathryn said as she shrugged her shoulders.

“I’m not going to let you kill anyone else,” Gage saidas she charged toward her.

Kathryn quickly grabbed the DVD player and threw it athim with all of her force. It crashed against Gage’shead and he stumbled to the ground. Kathryn quicklyrushed to retrieve the battered player as Gage startedto get to his feet. She whacked Gage across the facewith it and sending a spray of blood across the room.Gage fell to the ground on his back and coughed.

Lording above him with a smile, Kathryn Hayes lookeddown at him. “This is all your fault, you know?” Shesaid as she shook her head. “If you were better inbed, then maybe Julia wouldn’t have gone back toJesse, and he and I would have ended up together. Butno, because you were so inept, I’m going to have tomake you pay for your troubles, and I’m going to makeyou pay with your life,” she said as she hit himacross the face with the DVD player once again.

“Jesse,” he heard a voice call out in the distance.“Jesse, wake up.” He blinked his eyes open slightlyand saw a figure above him, bathed in light. “Jesse .. .” She said softly. “Wake up.”

Jesse Martinez groaned and sat forward as his eyesadjusted to the brilliant white light. He glancedaround, he didn’t know where he was. When the voicecalled his name again, he looked in that direction.With a smile on her face, Julia Taylor stood aboveJesse Martinez, staring down at him.

“Julia?” He said as he got to his feet and stared ather with surprise.

“Hello,” she beamed.

“How did you? I thought you were dead.”

“I am,” Julia responded softly.

“Then how?”

“It’s not important,” Julia Taylor responded. “Youcan’t be here,” she said.

“Am I dead?” He questioned as he glanced around. “Whatis this place?”

“It’s a brand new day, Jesse,” she said as she took astep forward, “the beginning of the rest of your life.You can’t be here, you have to go back.”

“But I want to be with you,” Jesse said as stared intoher eyes. “I miss you. I can’t go back, there’snothing for me there. My place is with you,” headmitted.

Julia Taylor shook her head. “I’m dead Jesse, butyou’re not.”

“But I want to be,” he said softly as he stepped infront of her and placed his hand on her face. “I wantto be with you.”

“You can’t be,” Julia said. “You have to go back.There’s still some things you need to do.”

“Like what?” Jesse questioned. “I don’t have anythingleft . . . I don’t have you.”

Julia Taylor smiled. “You have your life. You have tolive,” she said.

“How can I do that without you?” He questioned as hestared into her eyes.

“You’ll learn,” Julia said with a smile, “but rightnow you have to go back. You have to stop Kathryn.You’re the only one who can. If you don’t stop her,she’s going to kill again,” Julia assured him. “Don’tlet another person die because of Kathryn Hayes. Shekilled me, Jesse, don’t let her take away someone elsethat you love.”

Jesse Martinez looked into Julia Taylor’s eyessilently. “Okay,” he said as he nodded his head. “I’llgo back. I’ll do it for you.”

“Close your eyes,” Julia said softly.

“Will I see you again?” He questioned as he closed hiseyes.

“Look for me and I’ll be there,” Julia whisperedbefore she pressed her lips against Jesse’s.

On the floor of Kathryn’s bedroom, Jesse Martinezblinked his eyes open and glanced around. Julia’s kissstill lingered on his lips.

Smiling down at Gage Matthews, Kathryn Hayes tossed the battered DVD player to the side and admired her handiwork. Gage’s face was swollen and covered in blood. “Too bad, so sad,” Kathryn teased as she headed for the door. She glanced out into the hall and saw Cecilia Nakamura walking toward the apartment.

“Help!” Kathryn cried quickly, catching Cecilia’s attention. “It’s Devon! She’s crazy, she’s trying to kill everyone!” Cecilia Nakamura bounded down the hall toward Kathryn Hayes.

“I know,” she said when she got to the door. “Where is Devon now?” She asked.

“She ran out onto the fire escape,” Kathryn said as she pointed to the window.

“Stay here,” Cecilia said as she rushed to the window and glanced out. She reached forward to climb on onto the fire escape. “Get on the phone and call the police, we need back up. They should have been here bynow,” she said as she stepped onto the fire escape. “I am so tempted to just shoot her dead. That crazy bitchis liable to do anything,” she said.

Standing behind Cecilia, Kathryn reached forward andgrabbed her gun out of the holster. Cecilia Nakamurastared down with surprise. “Kathryn, what are youdoing?” She questioned as Kathryn Hayes lunged forwardand pushed her over the edge of the fire escape.

With a smile on her face, Kathryn Hayes turned awayfrom the window. “That crazy bitch is probably dead bynow,” she said with a smirk. As she turned to thedoor, Kathryn Hayes was surprised to see Cayden King, Devon Jamesand Szymon Skubisz standing there.

Szymon held his gun aimed at her. “Drop the gun,” hesaid as he took a step into the room. “I will shoot ifyou don’t drop it,” he explained.

“You psycho bitch, you stabbed me!” Devon said, her voice filled with hatred.

“All I ever wanted was for Jesse to love me, and nowthat it isn’t a possibility anymore, I don’t care if Idie,” she responded.

Devon remained in the hall, slightly huddled over as Cayden stepped forward. “Kathryn,” he said softly, “Iunderstand what it’s like to love someone who doesn’tlove you back, but we can find you some help. All youhave to do is drop the gun.”

“Screw you,” Kathryn said as she raised her gun athim. “Who the hell do you think you are? You move inhere and stir things up. Things were pretty damnedgood around here before you showed up. You have thenerve to tell me that you can find me some help? Itwas your help that got us to this point in the firstplace,” she explained.

“Kathryn, I didn’t want to cause problems,” Caydenassured her.

“But you did,” Kathryn retorted. “You just had to benosy, didn’t you? You couldn’t just leave well enoughalone. You had to find her diary and keep it. Well,what did you get to read, huh? Let’s see, I think Iknow what you read. ‘Dear Diary, I’m a dirty whore. Islept with my boyfriend’s friend and got pregnant, sonow I’m going to have an abortion and lie to myboyfriend.’ Was that it?” She questioned. “You peopleare all pathetic, Julia wasn’t special, she was acheating slut. You didn’t even know her and you lovedher. What’s up with that?” Kathryn questioned.

“I’m sorry,” Cayden said.

“Don’t apologize to me, I don’t need your sympathy,”Kathryn said. “I don’t need anything from you. I thinkyou did enough, don’t you? What is your deal? You getoff on ruining people’s lives? The boy can’t help it,he just has to ruin everything,” she said animatedly.“Well now it’s my turn to ruin your life,” she said asshe prepared to fire the gun.

In the corner of the room, Gage Matthews coughed andspit up blood, catching Szymon off guard. Kathrynfired a shot and struck Cayden in the shoulder. Hescreamed as he was thrown back into the hall andcrashed against Devon‘s door. “No!” Szymon yelled ashe rushed to Cayden’s side.

Kathryn ran for the door and slammed it shut, lockingthem outside. She swore and paced back and forth asshe tried to figure out her next move. She came to astop when she realized that she was not alone.Glancing over at the window, she saw Jesse Martinezstanding there watching her.

“I finally realized how much you love me,” he saidsoftly. “I realized much trouble you went through toprove that,” he said. “I want to be with you.”

Slowly, Kathryn walked over to him and stared into hiseyes. “Don‘t lie to me, Jesse,” she said as she shookher head. “I couldn’t take it if you were lying to me.I did everything for you,” she said softly. “I did itall for you.”

“I know that,” Jesse said softly, “I realize that now.You just wanted to make me happy. You just wanted tostop Julia from hurting me. I know you didn‘t want allof this to happen,” he said as he glanced around. “Younever wanted this.”

“I didn‘t,” Kathryn admitted. “I didn‘t want to hurtanyone. I just wanted Julia to stop using you. Ididn‘t want to kill anyone else.”

“It‘s okay,” Jesse said softly. “Just give me the gunand we‘ll get out of here. We‘ll go someplace where noone knows us. We‘ll disappear. It‘ll just be me andyou. The two of us, together forever. I love youKathryn,” he said softly as he stared into her eyes.

“I love you too,” she said. “I love you more than lifeitself . . . Truly . . . Madly . . . Deeply. You arethe only man I have ever loved,” she admitted.

“Then let me make it all better,” Jesse pleaded. “Giveme the gun,” he begged.

“That‘s all you‘re worried about, isn‘t it?” Kathrynquestioned. “You just want to get the gun out of myhand. You don‘t care about me, you just want to stopme from hurting your friends.”

“I do care about you,” Jesse said as he took a stepforward. “I love you, Kathryn. I don‘t want to see youin pain.”

“It hurts so much,” Kathryn said as she began to cry.Jesse opened his arms and she fell into them, sobbing.He wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

“Everything is going to be okay,” she said softly, “Ipromise. I‘m going to make all of the pain go away.”Reaching for the gun, he slipped it out of her handsand fired a shot into Kathryn‘s stomach.

With a pained expression on her face, Kathryn Hayespulled away and stared down at the bullet wound. Sheglanced up at Jesse, confused by what had justhappened. “Jesse,” she said as she stumbled back. “Youkilled me.” The surprised look on her face gave way toa smile as she stared at him. Tears streamed down hercheeks. “I love you,” she said before she fell to thefloor dead.

Jesse stared down at the gun in his hand in silence asCayden’s door was kicked open. Szymon Skubisz burstinto the room, gun in hand. It was obvious that he hadbeen crying. He searched the room for Kathryn, butfound her lying on the floor dead. His gaze lifted toJesse and he saw that the man was staring at the gunin his hand.

“Jesse,” he said softly, “give me the gun.” Jessecouldn’t seem to bring himself to look away from thegun in his hand. From the hall, Cayden King crept intothe room, pressing his arm against his shoulder.

“Oh my God,” he said when he saw Kathryn Hayes. Heturned away from her and glanced at Jesse. “It’sover,” he said softly.

“Jesse,” Szymon said again as he took a step forward,“give me the gun.” Jesse would not respond.

Instead, Jesse Martinez slowly lifted the gun to hishead.

“Don’t do it,” Szymon said softly.

“Jesse,” Devon James from the doorway. Cayden glancedback with surprise. Devon entered the room slowly andstared at Jesse Martinez. “Don’t do it,” she saidsoftly, “it’s not worth it.”

“Don’t do it man,” Gage Matthews uttered from where helay on the ground. When Devon caught sight of him, shegasped in horror.

“Jesse, please,” Cayden said softly.

“It’s over,” Jesse said as he held the gun to histemple. Tears streamed down his cheeks. “It’s finallyover. I can be with her again.”

“No,” Devon said as she stepped forward and stood infront of him. She looked into his eyes, pleading. “Sheloved you. Julia loved you. She wouldn’t want you todo this,“ she whispered as she reached up and grabbedthe gun out of his hand and dropped it on the floor.Jesse Martinez began to cry uncontrollably and fellinto a sobbing mess.

Outside of the building, the lights from the ambulances and police cars lit up the entire street. Devon James was helped onto a stretcher and she lay down to stare up at the night sky. “It’s perfect,” she whispered to herself as she smiled.

“What’s perfect?” Gage questioned as he lay on a stretcher to her side.

“Nothing,” Devon said as she reached out and grabbed his hand. She stared at his battered face and wanted to cry. “You’re perfect,” she said softly.

“You’re pregnant,” he whispered softly. “We’re going to have a baby,” he said, trying to smile despite the fact that his face hurt tremendously.

“If it’s a girl,” Devon began, “can we name her Julia?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Gage replied.

“Good,” Devon smiled.

***

Mrs. Mulberry watched as Devon and Gage were loaded into ambulances. She pulled her robe tighter and stared up into the night sky as the EMTs lead her granddaughter out of the building. With her crutches as support, Mrs. Mulberry walked up to Sarah and looked straight into her eyes.

“Don’t ever scare me like that again,” she demanded.

Sarah Mulberry glanced at her grandmother and shook her head. “I have a broken leg, Grandmother,” she said. “I don’t have the strength to fight with you right now.”

“I’m not fighting you,” Mrs. Mulberry said softly. “You’re my granddaughter, and as much as you annoy the hell out of me, I still love you,” she explained. Sarah stared at her silently. “Now, don’t get used to me saying that,” Mrs. Mulberry warned, “I still think you’re a little bitch, and how the hell are you supposed to help me with my broken leg if you've got one of your own?"

Sarah Mulberry laughed. “I love you too,” she said softly.

***

Szymon Skubisz smiled down at Cecilia Nakamura as she lay on a stretcher. “You’re going to be fine,” he said to her.

“I better be,” Cecilia said as she lay still on the stretcher wearing a neck brace, “I’m on vacation next week,” she joked. Szymon laughed as they carted her away. He glanced over at Cayden King and saw him standing beside Mason Weber’s body. Cayden watched as they zipped the bag closed and tears streamed down his cheeks.

Walking over to Cayden, he put his arms around him and held him tight. “I’m sorry,” he said softly. Cayden nodded his head as he cried. He didn’t know what to say.

“How is Elijah?” He finally asked after a long silence.

“Alive,” Szymon answered, “but he’s going to have a long road ahead of him. She cracked his skull. He may never be the same.

Cayden closed his eyes and shook his head. “This is all my fault,” he said. “Kathryn was right.”

“Listen to me,” Szymon said as he turned Cayden so that he could look into his eyes. “This is not your fault. It’s not your fault that Kathryn Hayes was psychotic. It’s not your fault that she killed Julia Taylor. You did nothing wrong,” he said. “You did nothing wrong.”

Cayden nodded his head and looked into Szymon’s eyes.

As Jesse Martinez was lead from the building, he stared straight in front of him in silence. Cayden turned to watch him. His heart was breaking. “What happened to him?” He asked Szymon as he watched the EMTs lead Jesse to an ambulance. “He hasn’t said a thing since . . .”

Szymon reached over and hugged Cayden tightly. “He’ll be fine,” Szymon said softly.

“But he won’t move, he won’t talk . . . he won’t do anything,” Cayden noted.

“He’s in a catatonic state,” Szymon explained. “He can’t deal with what happened, so he just shut down.”

Cayden watched as Jesse was seated in the ambulance. He stared straight off into the distance.

“It’s over,” Szymon said with a sigh. “It’s finally over.

Cayden turned toward him and looked into his eyes. “Do you promise,” he questioned.

Leaning forward, Szymon Skubisz pressed his lips against Cayden King’s and gave him a kiss. “I promise,” he whispered.

***

On the eighth floor, a single light illuminated the window. Standing in the apartment that was once hers, Julia Taylor glanced around silently. She approached the window slowly and peered out at all of the friends she had left behind.

“Good luck,” she whispered as she saw Devon James and Gage Matthews being loaded into an ambulance. “You’re going to have a beautiful baby.” She smiled fondly at them and turned her angelic visage upon a new friend that she had made.

“Cayden King,” she said softly, “I can’t thank you enough.” She saw Szymon Szubisz grab him and hug him and she smiled. “I’m glad you found one another. You both deserve happiness,” she whispered.

Her heart nearly broke when she saw Jesse Martinez sitting in the ambulance. “We will be together again,” she assured him as she nodded her head with reassuringly. He looked sad and withdrawn, and she wanted to reach out to him. She wanted to hold him in her arms and make all of the pain go away, but she couldn’t.

She was dead.

And so she stepped closer to the window and watched him, and as the doors to the ambulance were closed, she saw Jesse looked up toward the window. She smiled at him and put her hand on the window pane. “I love you,” she said softly.

Before the lights in the apartment went out and she disappeared for good, Julia Taylor smiled and said, “Goodbye.”