Chapter 25

"All right, nobody move!" Trinity's strong voice reverberated through the dining hall. She and I had leapt up upon the dinner tables, our guns out and scanning the crowd. I vaguely remembered seeing the same sort of thing in Boondock Saints. Of course both our fingers were off the triggers; we didn't actually mean to shoot any random people in the restaurant. The last thing we needed was another teenage girl turning into another me. We already had two of me, for crying out loud.

"We don't want to have to shoot anyone." I yelled, standing my ground against Trinity on the table. "So all of you, please, if you value your lives get the fuck out of here before this place becomes a bullet party."

With that we flipped our guns up, barrels facing the ceiling. Now that the weapons were no longer pointing at them, the restaurant patrons were on their feet fast as lightning and sprinting for the exit. Suddenly, a shot rang out; I could feel the rushing energy of the bullet slide right past my shoulder, and I jumped. Trinity grabbed my wrist and pulled me into the crowd.

"What are we doing?" I yelled, "Using human shields?"

"It's harder for them to spot us here."

"I thought Persephone was going to get them out of our way!"

"She can't distract them all!"

"So how do we get to the kitchens?" I yelled over the panicked screams, "What's the plan?"

"Run real fast." Trinity spoke, her eyes surveying the restaurant, before breaking out into a sprint, running through the crowds and motioning me to follow. I blinked.

"Right..." I sighed, beginning to dash after her. War was actually a lot less pre-planned and strategized than I thought it was, apparently.

Bullets were fired suddenly from all ends of the restaurant, and as I ran I could see civilians cry out in pain and fall down. My heart ached and I wished I could be anywhere but here, but I knew I needed to stay focused. Humanity was counting on me. No pressure or anything.

"The kitchen!" Trinity cried out, launching herself over a table in order to get closer to our goal. I followed her, vaulting over a chair. My coat almost got caught on something, but luckily it didn't hold me back. I felt like a complete klutz next to Trinity. If we got out of this alive, I'd make her go join Cirque du Soleil. Or something.

We reached the kitchens successfully, leaving the screaming mass of people behind us as we slammed the wooden doors shut. We severely hoped that all the assassins and henchmen had gotten confused or distracted by Persephone, because there was no one in the kitchens. Not even chefs. It was very disturbing; I was pacing in circles, fearing an ambush. Trinity did the same.

"What's up with this?" I whispered into the silent room.

"I don't know. Come on, let's go."

We ran to the back of the room, using Persephone's key to unlock the large white double doors at the end of the room. I had had enough experience with the key trick to expect something odd, but what awaited us was brilliant.

Weapons of every size and type from every era of human battle lined the walls in decorative fashions, surrounding two large ballroom staircases. The entire place was green and white, made out of a sleek marble material. I could see a large, intricate "M" engraved onto the floor, and I spat on it.

Trinity had already begun climbing the staircase. I could see her gaze pointed at a large ax resting on the wall.

"Just take it?" I offered. She shook her head.

"No need. We have guns."

I shrugged in reply, and continued to climb the stairs. The entire place was ominously silent. Where were the henchmen? The attackers? Anyone? It was unnerving beyond belief.

On an impulse, I reached out and ripped a pair of shining metal sais from the wall and stuck them down my boots. Trinity gave me a questioning frown.

"Souvenir." I explained, flashing her a quick grin. Trinity didn't object, so we continued on. We reached the top of the stairs without a glimpse of another being, and were faced with a long marble corridor sporting intricate ivory doors every fifteen or so feet. It twisted off in three separate directions, curving so we could not see what lay ahead. Strangely, the left corridor had no doors on it whatsoever. I remembered this was the one Persephone had told us to take.

We advanced, never dropping our guards as we continued down the deserted hallway. Finally, the passage ended with a single door. It was wooden, and completely plain; not like the Merovingian at all. This confused me.

"Are you sure this is it?" I turned. Trinity nodded.

"We have the facts. Don't let things like this throw you off."

I took a deep breath. "Okay. Let's go."

Using our combined brute force, we kicked the door down right off its hinges. I credited most of this to Trinity; I really wasn't that strong yet. I had expected to see some lavish room with guards and scantily-clothed women. Instead, there was nothing but a huge empty space; the floor, walls, and ceiling were all made entirely out of squares of black marble. Plain metal light fixtures hung from the high ceiling, and there was a black leather couch to our right. Other than that, the only other item occupying the room was a business desk, facing away from us towards the gigantic glass window which made up the entire far wall. The gorgeous cityscape and gray sky were both visible perfectly, but that was the least of our cares.

At the desk sat the Merovingian. He still hadn't turned to face us, even after we had rambunctiously knocked his door in.

"I knew you would come back, Chérie." His voice hadn't changed a bit, and I could feel the anger and hatred rising up inside me.

"You sick fuck," I snarled, lunging forward. Trinity caught me by my wrist and yanked me back.

"Ah, I see you have brought someone to help you control yourself zis time." He laughed, and I glared at Trinity, begging her to let me go. "Zough Miss Trinity does not have ze best reputation of being able to control herself, eizzer."

I hadn't noticed Trinity had released me until the Merovingian stood from his desk, and I automatically threw my body into fighting position. I felt an almost overwhelming urge to simply attack him right there. I wanted him to suffer, to writhe in agony. I wanted to see his blood spilled from his worthless body, drenching his expensive clothes and choking him. I wanted him to look at me with panic and fear, to beg me for the life I would not let him keep.

"Chérie, Chérie, do not fight it." He grinned. "I can see ze power in your eyes. I can see your hunger. Why do you not come with me, zen? Zink of how glorious you could be."

"I would never fight for you." I was surprised at my own tone of voice. I sounded like a hardened soldier, not the little girl I actually was.

"Really, Chérie? I am disappointed. Too bad you shall die for your unwise choice."

My face contorted into a scowl, and I stepped forward slowly. Step by step by step I crossed the black marble silently, leaving Trinity's side to approach the Merovingian. As I moved, the realization hit me: I wanted nothing but gruesome, unspeakable evils to befall this man. I was no better than him. I was simply a murderer: angry, waiting for the opportunity to spill his blood. And yet, even though I knew the principles were completely wrong, I would not spare this horrid man.

"No." I spoke softly, "You will die for my unwise choice: to become like you!"

In a lightning-fast movement I had snatched a sai from my boot and slashed it across the Merovingian's face. It was an exact mirror image of the scar I sported on my right cheek. Automatically the man's hand flew to his face as the blood began seeping from the wound. I glared at him menacingly, then whirled around to slice his other cheek. He stared at me in disbelief.

"How do you like it now?" I spat, "I am what I am because of you. Because of what you did to me." I whipped around again, leaving an open line of blood on his forehead. "You"—slash—"made"—slash—"me"—slash—"into"—slash—"a bloodthirsty"—slash—"MURDERER!" And with that explosion of anger, I lacerated a line under his chin. As I watched the blood pour from his throat, I realized I had been crying. And to my shock, he laughed. He laughed at me, laughed at the wounds on his flesh, laughed at the blood dripping from his face.

"Oh, you can kill me, Chérie." He smirked, "I won't deny you your revenge. Just know zat it will not do any good. She will bring me back, Chérie. She will always bring me back."

That smirk, that pigheaded confidence, that sickening man... I could feel nothing but hate. Swiftly drawing my gun from its holster, I shot the horrid man right between the legs. He doubled over with a shriek; he hadn't been expecting that.

"Not if I kill her first." I kicked him to the ground with my boots, leaning over his twitching form menacingly.

"You... could not do... such a thing." His speech was beginning to get labored, though he still sneered at me. It was slightly unnerving; here he was lying on the floor in a pool of his own blood, and yet he still acted as if he was winning the battle. Either he was incredibly delusional, or he had something up his sleeve.

"Oh I can." I grinned maniacally, "Same way as I can do this." I was snarling now as I held my hand up to his face, phasing it for him to see. His eyes widened in shock, and I was a little taken aback. Hadn't he known I was the link?

"You..." he began, before fading off into silence. Then he laughed again. "So it is you, eh? You are ze one with ze power... But you will never be able to use it."

Once again I was confused, but I wasn't about to ask him for any explanations. I would never ask him for anything. I only glared at him silently, a gun in one hand and a sai in the other as I stood over him. Trinity had not involved herself in the slightest, and for that I was thankful. This was my revenge.

"She is killing zem," the man on the floor spoke with a grin, "Right now, she is killing zem both. Soon zey will die, and you will have nozzing to fight for. You will have no reason to live. Zey will die, and you cannot bring zem back. You cannot stop it."

Instantly my body was filled with panic. The Oracle's words were coming true! But then... then it meant the Merovingian was lying. There was something I could do, and I would do it. I kneeled down next to the man's bleeding form and grabbed a handful of his shirt to yank him upwards.

"You pathetic, miserable little bastard." I snarled, almost sympathetically, as I placed the barrel of my handgun to his temple. "You die now." And I pulled the trigger.

When my mind finally registered something after the deafening noise, I realized Trinity stood above me, her hand strongly placed on my shoulder.

"Come on," she spoke, lifting me up, "We're not finished yet."

My entire body shook as she helped me to my feet; I was splattered from head to toe in the bastard's warm blood, and yet I felt nothing. I was numb, absolutely numb. Even the sight of his head, cracked open and dripping gore and blood and fluid, did not phase me. I didn't know what to do; I didn't know what to feel. I had gotten my revenge... I should at least be happy, or perhaps sickened with myself. Either one of those would have worked, but no. Instead I felt nothing.

"Trinity..." my voice shook, and she gave me a concerned glance. Dealing with newbie teenagers was not her area of expertise.

"We need to find the central computer and shut it down," she said, "Or at least disable her program."

I nodded, swallowing as I attempted to balance myself. Then suddenly, without warning, a flash of color caught my eye. I whirled around instantly to see Hexen hovering directly outside the enormous glass window. She was grinning angrily, and her hair and clothes were soaked with what I realized was rain. Upon seeing my own image, my body was once more flooded with anger. I was relieved to be able to feel something again.

Slowly she drifted away from the window, her eyes locked directly on mine. And, strangely enough, I knew exactly what she was going to do.

"GET DOWN!" I yelled to Trinity, tackling her to the floor as Hexen slammed through the window at full speed, sending shards of glass washing over us like a tidal wave. I could hear the resounding clinks as they hit the wall and the floor. Opening my eyes a sliver, I noticed with relief that Trinity remained unharmed. As for myself, the lack of pain indicated the same.

From my position on the floor, I could see a mere two feet away from me the sai that I had dropped after my murder of the Merovingian. Quickly I grabbed it and scampered to my feet; Trinity had already risen and was staring out the broken window. I followed her gaze and saw Hexen exactly where she was before she had smashed the glass. There wasn't even a scratch on her! She let off a high-pitched laugh and zoomed upwards, glass dropping off of her as she flew. I took a deep breath.

"The roof," I spoke, "We need to get to the roof."

Trinity whipped around sharply to look at me. "No. We need to find the computer and shut her down."

"No..." I whispered slowly, my eyes glazing over as if I had entered a trance. "No... no. We need to get to the roof..." I continued to stare absently at the wall, seeing everything and nothing all at the same time. I could feel a burning sense of urgency inside me growing stronger and stronger as the seconds passed.

"Helen..." Trinity was concerned.

"NO! SHE'S GONNA HURT HIM!" I screamed suddenly, pushing past Trinity as I fled for the door. Something had overcome me; something crazed and wild. I knew I had to get to the roof if it was the last thing I ever did.

"Helen? HELEN!" I heard Trinity yell as she took off after me. In all other circumstances, Trinity would have been the faster of the two of us. However, something had taken over my mind, and I moved with a speed I could barely comprehend. I threw open the doors to the fire escape stairs, launching myself upon the first row of metal steps, taking them three at a time. Trinity was close behind me.

Round and round we ran in panicked circles, our boots clanking on the metal steps as each footfall ascended me higher. I could barely register, barely see or comprehend anything anymore. There was nothing but panic and Trinity's distressed yelling of my name, to which I refused to heed.

I burst out onto the roof and into an explosion of light; though it was clouded and rainy outside, it was still significantly more illuminated than the dark circular stairwell of the interior fire escape.

And then, suddenly, I stopped.

There she was, floating a mere two feet above my head. I stood my ground as the cold winds whipped through my clothing and my hair, making my trenchcoat billow. The rain poured down from the sky, washing the splattered blood from my skin. I simply stood and stared at her, glaring as the forces of nature clashed all around us.

In my peripheral vision I could see Trinity paused in the doorway of the building. She dared not go a step farther, knowing that whatever was happening now was way out of her domain.

"You," I whispered. Even through the whistling rain and wind, I knew she could hear my soft words. She nodded.

"Yes," she replied in my own voice.

"Stop this now." I commanded as a crash of thunder sounded off somewhere in the distance. My wet hair blew around my face, clinging to my damp skin and making me shiver. Somewhere in the past few raucous battles, I had lost my hair tie without realizing it. There had been more important things to think about.

"No," she shook her head. I took a step towards her, and, to my surprise, she floated backwards the exact distance. "You cannot stop me."

"Leave now!" my voice grew in volume, "This is not your place! You were not meant to be!" I stepped forward. She floated back.

"Neither were you," she sneered.

Forward. Back. We moved together as one across the edge of the roof.

"Exactly," I glared, "And it's your fault that I became what I wasn't supposed to!"

"You can do nothing!" she responded, screaming to the heavens as several lightning bolts answered her cry. Then instantly she swooped in close to me, her face inches from my ear.

"I am going to kill him," she whispered breathily, evilly, "And you can do nothing."

"You bitch," I snarled, glaring as she took off into the sky, hovering between the two gigantic skyscrapers. She laughed as the rain poured.

"I AM GOING TO KILL HIM!" She shouted, almost with glee, and let out another sickening laugh.

"No." I shook my head, my face contorted with rage and fear, "NO."

Before I knew what I was doing, I was running. I sprinted across the roof, blinded by everything I felt. The icy rain pelted down onto my face, and the winds whipped through my as if I were nothing but a piece of paper. In the back of my brain I could hear Trinity calling me back, but I did not listen. I did not listen to her, to myself, to reason, or even to the Matrix. None of that mattered anymore.

Suddenly, I was flying. No. Not flying. I was being propelled. I had jumped off the edge of a hundred-and-one story skyscraper. My brain could barely register anything that was going on now; my thoughts were too clouded, too fuzzy. It was if all my logic and reason had ceased to function – it was fight or flight.

The next thing I sensed was a great collision between me and something warm and solid. It was Hexen! In my great leap from the edge of the building, I had succeeded in aiming straight for her hovering form.

My mind gave no thought to falling as we sped towards the earth at a tremendous velocity, punching and kicking each other for all we were worth. Our adrenaline soared as we plummeted, falling faster and faster down past the hundreds of glass windows on the giant metropolitan structures. Panic had overtaken my body now, and I scratched and clawed at the carbon copy in my grasp as if I were a wild animal.

The concrete of the street below us drew steadily nearer, and I knew that there was no way for Hexen to pull us out of this dive in time. We were going to crash, and there was nothing either of us could do to stop it. The rain splattered razor-sharp on my skin; the wind sliced us both like a knife. I knew it was all over. I knew. I let out a howling cry as we fell towards the earth, and the last thing Isaw before we hit the pavement was Two's horrified face above me.

Then everything faded to white.

To be continued.

Yes, I'll admit it. I saved the worst cliffhanger for the end of the story. XD I'm sorry, peoples, but that's just how it goes. You'll be appeased in the sequel, I promise.

Wow. Third Variable is done. It's over. It's finished. I can't believe it.

I've been working on this story for over two and a half years. It's spanned over fifty thousand words and 111 pages, and I've loved every minute of it. I started this thing when I was 14, and now here I am, finishing it at 16. It's been amazing. And really, it's going to be so weird not having to update this thing any more. Oh well. There's always the burden of the sequel to look forward to. That way I don't really have to put Helen's story to rest.

Thank you so much to all my reviewers. You guys are my favorite. You kept me going through all of this, and you made me realize that impossible goals really AREN'T impossible, such as getting over 600 reviews for a single story. Also, thank you to everyone who believed in me, and sorry to everyone who was annoyed as all hell at my lack of updates. I'll always come through for you; remember that!

That said, EVERYONE REVIEW and wait with bated breath for Dylan to get off her butt and post the sequel.

It's been awesome.

- Dylan