CHAPTER TWENTY SIX: AN OLD FRIEND

Diego was the first to speak as he approached Lila, the rest of them trailed in behind. The woman looked heartbroken, whatever her and Five had been discussing clearly wasn't an easy thing.

"The Handler stole you, Lila." Diego told her, daring to move closer despite the knife gripped in her hand. "Just like our asshole father took all of us."

"No. It's not the same thing." She spat.

Lotus inched towards the edge of the barn, trying to get to Five who looked around wildly, searching for any more danger.

"You're right." Diego said, "Because he didn't have our parents murdered. Listen to me, Lila."

She stumbled over a bail of hay, eyes widening as she glanced back to see Lila was still focused on Diego. Lotus took a deep breath rushing to Five's side, his face was splattered with blood. "Are you alright?" She whispered.

He nodded, nudging her behind him. "Are you?"

Diego reached his hand out, "You were born October 1st, 1989, the same day as all of us."

"Stay back!" Lila yelled, waving her knife around. The Hargreeves siblings had spread out, encircling her as she talked to their brother.

"Hey! Hey, stop!" Diego shouted, "Wait. Wait, hey! Lila? Lila, stop."

Lila shook her head, "I trusted you! I got you a job, I even introduced you to my mother, and then you took off on me!"

"Because I needed to save the world!" He huffed, shaking his head. "She's using you, Lila. The Handler."

Lila wasn't convinced, Lotus wasn't even sure if she could ever be convinced.

"You're wrong. She raised me. She loves me."

"Yeah, you know what." Luther spoke up from his spot around her, close to Allison. "Love shouldn't hurt this much."

Lila turned to him and gagged, he sent a glare back. "Alright, I tried.

"He's right." Five stuck a leg out, "We have to kill her."

Lotus grabbed his arm and shoved him back as Diego pointed an angry finger at him, "Hey! Five! Five, stop."

"Why is your go-to always murder?" Lotus let go, pushing him behind her. He huffed, grabbing ahold of her arm and nudging her behind him again. She gripped his bicep, worry laced in her eyes.

"I got it." Diego told him, turning his attention back to Lila. "Hey, Lila. Truth? She's dangerous. And you're scared of what she'll do with all that new power. That's why you dragged me to the Commission. Because I know what it's like to love dangerous people."

"The difference is..." Diego looked to all his siblings, giving them each a nod. He even sent one Lotus' way, she gave him a faint smile. "They love me back."

Lila lifted her knife again, both her and Diego stood so close now, "Shut up." She mumbled.

"The only thing she loves is power. Now, the minute she can't use you, she will turn on you, and deep down, I know you know that."

"You don't know me, Diego."

He stepped even closer, the tip of her knife touched his chest. "Don't I? I know that we can your family... if you just let us."

Lila took a look around, tears stained her cheeks. Maybe she was able to be convinced, and of course it would be by Diego. Lotus' grip on Five's arm tightened as the woman poked his brother harder, her mouth opened—

A ringing sounded, she saw Diego go down first as bullets pierced his chest. She felt Five throw her down as he was peppered next, Lotus gasped as she felt pain flare through her body.

She hit the ground a few steps away, eyes stuck to the ceiling above her. Pain coursed through her, the room was unbelievable silent despite the ringing in her ears. Darkness ebbed at her vision as she felt her shirt seep with liquid, she could feel some run up her chest to her neck. Her skin felt like it was burning as her head spun, how was she still alive?

For a moment when she blinked she swore she could see Klaus over her, picking her up and carrying her away. That night still haunted her, and here it was again. It was happening again.

Tears stung her eyes as she gasped for breath, agony tore through her body limb to limb as she tried to move. Her shaking arms slowly obeyed as she pulled herself onto her side, unable to sit up straight. She could see Luther and Allison laying still off in the corner, she could Klaus' legs stick out from behind a haystack and Vanya sprawled out by the door.

Lotus couldn't control the ache that tore through her when she spotted Five, laying unmoving on his back in front of her. He had thrown her down, tried to get her away from the brunt of the attack. She grunted trying to get to him, half crawling and sobbing in pain as she clawed her way to him. Her legs felt like lead, head dizzy, her mind was ready to shut down.

"No." She mumbled, grabbing at his hand that lay over his chest. His head was rolled to the side, blood dripped from his mouth. "No, no, no, please— this can't be happening."

Another gun shot rang out, followed by a thud. Lotus felt the tears pour down her face as she held onto his hand tightly, to afraid to let go. "Hey, it's me— Five, please, come on! I don't know what to do, I don't know how to fix this— you're the one with the plans— please, come back, come back to me—"

His eyes fluttered open and she gasped, coughing wildly into her arm. Blood splattered her sleeve, darkness welcoming her with every tired blink.

"Oh good! You're alive!" A voice called out, heels clicked on the cement as they approached. "And no doubt with your little side piece."

Lotus didn't bother looking over, she knew it was The Handler. And by the sound of the gunshot and thud, she had just killed Lila too. "You both got to see how this all played out."

A foot connected with her stomach and she screamed as pain flared through her body. She landed next to Five, another kick landed to her stomach.

"Little Lotus Ingrid." The Handler seethed, leaning over her. "Look at you now."

Lotus tried to move, but it seemed her body was all out of steam. She was going to die like this, in a barn in 1963, next to a boy she foolishly loved, but would never get the chance to tell him.

"Of course, we wouldn't be here if you hadn't ruined the plan!" The Handler continued, "You weren't supposed to be there when we made the deal— you weren't in the cards."

"What?" She managed to whisper, her breaths came in struggled heaves. She wished her death was swift like the others, this was to much to bear.

"He wasn't supposed to meet you. He was supposed to choose his job with us but he choose his family because you were there. He choose you and now you can watch me as I shoot him dead next to you—"

She raised the gun and pointed it at his head, she could hear the chocked noises that escaped his lips. Lotus shook her head, "No!" She screamed, blood bubbling up down her lips, throat raw. "Don't touch him—"

"Fine." The Handler grinned, pointing the gun to her. She leaned even closer, she could smell the woman's breath. Lotus stared up at the barrel,

"Let's make this quick."

Lotus took one last shaky breath, reaching her hand out to Five's, giving it one last squeeze before she wadded up all the spit in her mouth and aimed it at The Handler's face. "I'll see you in hell."

She heard the shot ring out, her hand fell from Five's as he let out a choked cry and she went still.

The darkness welcomed her like an old friend.