know hope.

the worry that has been crushing the breath from her lungs finally relents, infinitesimally, when he finally reciprocates her touch. he is NOT lost. she will keep him here, with her; nothing could truly separate them. her determination and dedication to that end surely radiate along the bond between them, her voice firm as she whispers: " you won't. even if it were in your nature, which it isn't, i would never let you cross that line. " her arms tighten to a point she's sure they're nearly painful, having read somewhere that such pressure can alleviate a triggered nervous system.

his protests only make her response fiercer, head shaking softly against his back. " you are also responsible for saving countless lives, luca, at dire risk to yourself. and before you try to say that doesn't matter, that you don't matter, you must know you are everything to me. i would not sacrifice you for anything, i would do anything to take you out of that forsaken palace, the thirty-third... and perhaps that makes me selfish, but it's true. " a shuddering breath is all that pauses her vehement promises, collecting herself before she can add, so quietly it is almost lost to the sound of the water that sprays them, " do you understand how hard it is to know that my mate is in such danger every day? that i have to stand back and do nothing while you break yourself over and over again, while you sacrifice pieces of yourself to save others? there is not a second of any day that i do not want to go to you. there is not a second i don't think about some way to manage escaping this city with both you and annie and never looking back. "

slowly, her forehead comes to rest again his back, giving herself a small break from the water in her eyes. " if you truly think me to be so good, then you must know that it extends to you, too, because we are parts of a whole. you are my mate. " now that it's been said, she can't stop herself from repeating it, the truth that has become her entire world. " how you could think you are incapable of love when you turned away from the asteri's brainwashing to help spare innocents... luca, you embody the self-sacrificing love that most never have the privilege of experiencing in their lives. wanting what is best for someone else, even if it is not what is best for you... that IS love. it's why i cannot fault you for remaining, for sacrificing as you do even though to watch it and do nothing tears me in two. it's why i instead choose to honor your sacrifice instead of blowing the entire operation to hel. "

her arms are so tight around his body he fears if she were to let go, he might shatter completely. it was not right, to lean so hard on her, to burden her with the weight of holding him together. because if he were to break, to truly let go, everything would be lost. all of this would have been for nothing. he could not allow that. so he let her hold him together, knowing it wasn't fair. knowing it must hurt her to see him this way, a fact she confirms as she speaks. " you could never be selfish. " the words are spoken aloud this time, his voice hoarse from disuse, as quiet as the words he spoke upon their bridge.

he knows that she believes the words she speaks. that she truly believes he deserves this, her. but how could he ? yes, he is doing all he can to help others, but still he has committed so many atrocious acts, hurt so many people; could it ever truly balance out? " good cannot exist without evil. " he murmurs across their bridge, eyes staring unblinking at the tile in front of him. " you are the light, april. " but still, hearing that word. mate. hearing the emotion in her voice... the cage he had trapped himself within lifts only slightly. he doesn't understand it; how she could love a creature like him. but he knew that he also could not allow himself to release her. that to push her away now would be his undoing. is this what love was ? he had always thought love was supposed to be beautiful, and in a way perhaps this was, perhaps finding something worth living for was the true definition of love.

he feels her moving and for a single moment, red hot fear spears through his body. fear that she was leaving him here. but his eyes lift to her face, a tender look in those big, beautiful eyes. whatever trance he had fallen into, whatever deep depths of guilt and self hatred had swallowed him whole, he manages to claw his way free of it all. his body trembles from the efforts of piecing himself together, but he owes it to her. they both have to keep fighting if they want to even have a chance at survival. " april. " her name, whispered as though it was a prayer, his salvation. a hand lifts, stretching to reach to water, turning it off, aware enough now to know it must be scalding her. " i am sorry. " he whispers, the words spoken both aloud and across the mental bridge, allowing the cage of his own making to drop between them.

put the gun down. now.

nobody leaves unless i say so.

quick! hide!

everyone's out to get you.

can you still walk?

how much money did you lose?

looks like we're stuck in here for a while.

someone has to stay behind.

get down!

i think i'm gonna be sick.

you have my word.

it's too dark in here. i can't see anything.

we're gonna have company!

did you kill them?

shut your eyes. don't look.

is there a problem here?

drop your weapons.

we'll never make it in time.

i think he's one of them.

we can figure this out! stay with me!

hold your breath!

let me make you an offer.

wait, do you hear that? something's wrong.

when i say go, go!

can you think of a better plan?

i'm taking you to the hospital.

i'll get the money, i swear.

someone started all this, and i'm going to find them.

i'll get you out of here. i promise.

we're running out of road!

if you kill me, there'll be nowhere else to hide.

i'll tell you how this is gonna go.

brace yourself!

give me your gun.

where the hell do you think you're going?

i don't know! i'm all turned around. i can't remember where we came from.

give me the password.

i never should have come here. this was a mistake.

do you even know why you're supposed to kill me?

don't give up. please don't give up.

this is going to get nasty.

you should sit down.

i'll cover you.

what's the combination?

shit! the door's jammed!

think i broke something.

this is a terrible disguise. i'm going to get caught.

we need to find something to stick under it to keep it open!

we both know what has to happen here.

i'm staying! i'm right here! i'm staying!

nobody has to get hurt.

we can't let them win.

someone's been here.

this was your idea!

you take the left, i'll take the right.

is that the best you can do?

please just let me live.

hold on! there's more of them!

i'm ready whenever you are.

they're dead, and it's all my fault.

i can't walk. can you carry me?

it's time to end this.

quick, through that door. i hear someone coming.

you just blew our cover!

i'm afraid it's a bit more complicated than that.

can you hotwire a car?

is the wall moving, or is that just me?

no! i'm not leaving without you!

i'm not against you, if that's what you're asking.

the current's too strong!

i think that's blood.

shit, it's a dead end! we're trapped!

hold my hand. we can make the jump together.

oh my god. he's reaching for something.

why didn't you take the shot?

we should get moving before they come back.

this isn't what i signed up for.

do you smell that? what is that?

are you with me?

let's go over the plan one more time.

we've got a serious problem here.

these people will kill you if they have to.

the door's locked. it needs a six digit code.

i think we lost them.

we might be stuck.

which way did they go?

i can't wait to get you back to the room.

let me drive this thing.

there's not enough room for both of us.

it wasn't supposed to happen like this.

you're bleeding.