Chapter Thirty Two:

Luther had followed Lotus all the to the kitchen, where Allison had soundlessly convinced him to leave them to alone. He agreed, disappearing up the stairs.

Allison found a note pad and began scribbling widely on it, when she capped the pen she ripped the page off and handed it to Lotus, staring at her impatiently.

You need to get Vanya out. Shift into me, and go get her. I'll distract Luther.

Lotus scanned over it, "Are you sure?"

The women nodded, ripping off another piece of paper.

Yes. Show this to her.

Another piece followed,

It's Lotus, we're just trying to get you out. Luther doesn't mean what he's doing, he is still your brother. -AH

Lotus sighed but nodded, "You'll have to wait until I get out before you go get Luther, ok?"

She nodded and Lotus reached over and placed a hand on her arm, feeling the transformation flow through her. Something she had managed over time was when she changed into someone, the clothes they were wearing came too. Before that, everything was a little more messy. When she took her hand back, Allison gave her a small smile before shoving her away. Lotus got up, gripping the note in her hand as she slipped through the door and ran down the hallway. The elevator opened and she jumped in, waiting until it reached the bottom.

The girl raced out, stopping as Klaus jumped in front of her from the shadows.

"Allison?"

She shook her head, shoving him out of the way. Lotus ran up to the window, ignoring Vanya's soundless protests. Lotus grabbed at the handle of the room, trying to pull it free.

"What if Luther sees you?" Klaus asked, "Allison—"

Lotus pressed the note to the mirror and watched as Vanya calmed herself down, scanning over the words. She nodded, wiping her eyes, mouthing the words I'm so sorry.

Lotus' heart dropped, seeing what Luther was doing to his poor sister. She attacked the knobs and handles again, not knowing how to get the door open. She stepped back, running at the glass, thinking that maybe it would break. Instead, she looked to see Vanya shaking her head, pounding at the glass again, pointing at something behind the girl.

Lotus hadn't heard the elevator door open, or heard Luther's footsteps scrap against the ground. Or the sound of a gun loading, but what she did hear was the bullet leaving the barrel.

Something pierced her chest and she felt her body tense. She felt the mask of Allison slip away as she fell to the floor, struggling for air.

"No!" Klaus' voice yelled, she felt arms wrap around her. "Dammit! No! Hey, Lotus— Not again. Lotus—"

She turned her head to see Luther, the shock of what he just did settle in his eyes.

"Lotus— come on, we'll get you to Pogo and mom, they can fix you."

She kept her eyes open, refusing to close them, to give up. But she felt the struggle for her to breath, to not shut her tired eyes.

"Did you see my mom?"

"What?" Klaus choked on a sob, "Lotus—"

"Did you see Isabella, my mom? Did you—"

"Yes, I did. I did. You look just like her." He tried to smile, "Keep talking, c'mon."

Lotus felt her body leave the ground, staring at Klaus as he carried her down the hall and back into the hallway.

"I think I like your stupid brother." She tried to laugh, but felt something dripple down her lips. Her throat felt wrong, breathing suddenly felt wrong too.

"And you're gonna tell him, ok. When you're ok and we win. Maybe that will break his hard exterior."

"Klaus." She mumbled, "Thank you."

He huffed, "Don't. You're gonna be fine, no cliché shit. You hear me?"

They entered the elevator, Klaus seemingly forgetting about Luther or his sister locked away. The last thing she heard was Klaus sob, and the last thing she saw was Luther pick up the yellow note with Allison's hand writing, and crush it in his hands right in front of Vanya.