Earlier, on a silent hill top Leonardo was standing with an unconscious person on his back. He was staring at the flames which continuously emitted screams and howls of agony of the beast. He turned around and began moving towards his destination in the east. Few minutes later, rain drops fell on his helmet. He stopped moving and caught a glimpse of the sky. It was light rainfall.

Leonardo said in a hoarse voice, “…This isn’t good!”

He looked at the unconscious person on his back and whispered, “Let’s get you home Captain!”

He started running again.

Whereas, Lilly was tapping the tablet screen and operating the large ring in front. Her forehead was covered in cold sweat. After few seconds later, a notification appeared on the tablet screen, “Do you wish to continue?”

Lilly was hesitating for a bit. She pursed her lips and thought for a moment, ‘If I mess up this time, we‘ll never be able to return.’

Lilly was about to press the button on the screen when she heard a message, “Incoming call!”

She brought her right hand near her ear and received the call, “…S-sergeant!”

A humbled voice sounded in her ears, “Lilly!”

She hurriedly asked, “Where are you right now? Is captain with you?”

Leonardo replied with certainty, “I am near the base—and—captain is with me, safe—but still unconscious—I don’t know for how long.”

Lilly became flabbergasted when she heard about the captain. She was overwhelmed with emotion that her eyes became moist. The girl quickly recovered and asked with concern, “…A-are you okay Leonardo?”

He replied, “…Yes. I am perfectly fine. Just—”

“Yes! What is it? Are you hurt somewhere?” Lilly asked with worry.

“…I am a bit tired.” Leonardo replied.

Lilly sighed in relief, “Sigh! I can understand. But you know—you just scared me to death with your suspenseful hint. I thought you—"

“Lilly!”, Leonardo cut in.

“…Y-yes!”, Lilly responded.

“Get the machine ready. I am being pursued by those monsters…we can’t stay here anymore. I had stalled them for the time being, sooner or later, they’ll come looking for us.” Leonardo briefed the situation.

After hearing what Leonardo just said Lilly clenched her fists and pursed her lips, “…How long do we have?”

“I don’t know! Maybe ten minutes… or less than ten minutes!” Leonardo replied with uncertainty.

Lilly said, “…Alright then I—"

“But we need to get out of…here before the rains hits...” Lilly could feel the fatigue in his voice.

“…Leonardo…How many are following you?” Lilly asked out of the blue.

A question Leonardo didn’t want to answer, “…”

“…how many are they?”, Lilly asked with concern while her heart was beating faster.

“…”

“Tell me! How many of them are following you?” asked Lilly while losing her patience every second.

“…”

“TELL ME!”, Lilly yelled.

“Call has been disconnected!”

Her right hand slowly came down. She was pondering why Leonardo couldn’t answer her question?

“…If I tell you how many of them are following me, what will you do?” a voice came behind the girl. She aimed her gun towards the source of the voice.

A man carried an unconscious person on his back. He put down the unconscious person on the ground.

Lilly lowered her gun when she saw Leonardo. She wanted to answer the question but her eyes were fixated at the unconscious person. Her body trembled and she couldn’t contain her tears in her eyes. The gun in her hand dropped and she ran towards the captain. As she sat before the captain whose whole body was covered with unknown substance, Lilly hugged the captain and sobbed like a little child.

Leonardo walked towards the edge of the mountain. He glanced towards the flames he lit up earlier in the forest. Then he looked towards the sky and walked towards the large ring. He activated it from his wrist.

The large ring glowed. Leonardo stood there for some time. Before he could say anything, the heavy rainfall started. At the same time Lilly recovered from her sobbing.

Leonardo asked, “Feeling any better?”

Lilly only nodded in return.

He turned around, holding his gun in his hand, walked towards Lilly and stood before her.

“Tell me, If I say that one of us is going home with captain and one of us is staying here for the greater good. How does that make you feel?” Leonardo asked indifferently.

“You’re joking right?” Lilly replied with uncertainty.

“…”

Silence!

Even though it was raining heavily but the silence of both these people created an awkward atmosphere. Lilly was stunned with unexpected turn of events. She slowly got up from the ground. Her heart was racing due to fear and anxiety. She could feel a piercing gaze of Leonardo at her even though she cannot see his face.

“Tell me, what will you do to survive, Lilly?” Leonardo asked in a low tone.

The unfamiliarity in his voice sounded like he had become an entirely another person. The vibes he was emitting, were totally different. It seemed like he had become a grim reaper who holds her fate in his hands. It seemed that he could kill her at any moment.

Lilly was so scared that the words she wanted to say, swallowed them back. Her mind went blank and she stood there in daze.

“So, this is how it ends?” Leonardo said.

“…”

He aimed his gun towards Lilly. Her legs went numb and she fell back on her buttocks. She gathered her courage and said with a great difficulty, “…W-why? …why…j-just…w-why?” and tears flowed down from her eyes. She looked at Leonardo with helplessness in her eyes. Her eyes were screaming, “Why it has come to this? Why someone like him is pointing his gun at me like this?”

“I-I…I am…I am sorry for everything!” Lilly pleaded.

On the other hand, Leonardo stood before the girl unfazed, he seemed to be unaffected even though poor Lilly was shedding tears.

“…It’s pointless to apologize over something you never did. But don’t worry…soon, it will be over.” Leonardo said sternly.

“B-but…w-why…me…why do I deserve this…. what did I ever do to you?” asked Lilly.

“It’s nothing personal, but this is how it is?” Leonardo replied coldly and pulled the trigger.

Bang!