18. Bloodshed

Elisa doesn't know how Morgana will be killed. She doesn't want to know. She'll see soon enough.

Everyone is dressed and ready for war. They're ready to fight. It's crazy, Elisa thinks. Five's siblings thought everything was fine just a few hours ago. . . now they're preparing for battle. They're ready for battle, actually.

Klaus throws on a leather jacket, and it fits him. It looks ruthless, strong, but Elisa knows he isn't ruthless. He's kind and warm, and she's part of why he's ready to fight till death. Five's siblings might think they know what they're getting themselves into, but they don't. Not really. They're literally going at war with the commission, with he handler. That is a dangerous thing to do. No one dares to anger the handler. She's a dangerous woman. Elisa knows that all too well, and Five does, too. Now they're going to do exactly that; anger the handler.

Elisa is ready, though. She has prepared herself for what she's about to do. She's going to attempt and stop Morgana's death to happen-she has to try. If it doesn't work, then the person assigned to kill her can finish their mission.

She feels Five's eyes on her back as she grabs a knife herself. A knife, what a ridiculous weapon next to the cutlasses she used to train with. Elisa's fingers fold around the handle as she watches the shiny knife closely. Then she puts the tiny weapon in her jacket's pocket.

Hands place themselves on her shoulders. They squeeze her softly, attempting to reassure her. Then one hands free her shoulder and curls around her waist instead. Five presses her back against his chest.

"Are you sure? You can stay here-"

"Five," Elisa starts. "I'm sure."

A sigh is audible behind her, and Five turns her in his arms, so that she's forced to look at him. of course, she doesn't mind, but something in his eyes catches her attention. It feels as if he knows what's she's up to. He knows how broken she'd be if Morgana truly decided to fall. Would Morgana decide to die for the commission? Would she choose that above Elisa?

"I don't want it," Five whispers as he presses his lips against her forehead. "I don't want you to be in danger, Elisa."

"I'm going there," Elisa tells him. "If you want it or not."

Five's eyes squeeze themselves tightly closed. He knows he cannot stop her, and he hates that. She'll go, and he will do everything in his power to protect her.

"I'll survive," she whispers, laying both her palms flat against his chest. She can feel his heartbeat like this. A weak smile gets placed on her lips as she closes her eyes. Concentrating on his heartbeat, she tries to think of nothing else. It works. His heartbeat. Nothing else. At this moment it's all that matters to Elisa.

"I'll make sure you survive," Five then whispers. "I'll fight alongside you."

"I know," Elisa says, her vision starting to blur. Fresh tears fill her eyes. She knows he will.

"Until my last breath, I'll make sure you survive."

"Five, stop that."

"No." Five slowly shakes his head as his arms fold around Elisa's body in a protective manner. "I mean every word. I will fight until my last breath for you. Even after this battle. I will always protect you, my Elisa."

Slowly, Elisa reaches to touch Five's cheek with her hand. Just like he always does, he leans into his touch. His eyes are still closed when Elisa watches him carefully. She understands the need to protect. She feels it, too.

"I'm ready for what's about to come," Elisa tells him. "If I die, then so be it. I'm all right with that."

Five's eyes jerk open. His brows furrow, too. "I'm not."

"We're going at war with the handler, and you know it. War means death."

"It means death, yes." Five his hands cup Elisa's face now. "But I won't let it mean yours."

A head peeps behind the door. The two ignore Luther's obvious eye roll. "How touching," he grumbles. "We're ready to go."

"So are we." Elisa turns her head to Luther with a weak smile on her lips.

"We are not." It's Five who disagrees.

With a frown starting to form, Elisa looks back at Five-only to be surprised by him pressing his lips hungrily on hers. Elisa wishes she can react, but Five leans back too soon. His lips brush her cheek, wanting to remember exactly how soft her skin was if something must happen to him. Five's eyes stay on Elisa. He slowly takes every part of her face in. Her eyes that he can drown in so easily. Her forehead that he adores to kiss. Her cheek that he loves to lay his hand on.

"Now we are ready," Five says in a quiet voice. A clear pain is audible in it.

"Let's go," Luther says before his head disappears behind the door. The two follow behind him. All the others are waiting in the living room. On each face there's clear anxiety showing.

Vanya should be here, Elisa thinks. Even if she wouldn't fight. She should at least know what might happen.

"Grab each other's hand," Five tells everyone. "There might be some effects afterwards." he adds.

"Effects?" Klaus asks.

Five nods in response. "Elisa experienced dizziness," he says. "But I never did."

In shock, Elisa's eyes widen. It never was a result of time-travel-she realized that at the commission. It was always her body reacting to Five. It was him.

"Did she?" Klaus chuckles, his eyes on Elisa. There's an amused twinkle in her eyes. He knows, Elisa thinks. He knows. "Interesting."

All the siblings do as they've been ordered. Klaus takes a hand of Diego in his, and he happily grabs Elisa's hand, too. With her now reddened cheeks, Elisa takes Five's hand in her other hand that's still free. Five then grabs Allison's hand. Unwillingly, Luther takes his brother, Diego, his hand in his. The two dislike being in a room together, let alone holding each other's hand. But they know the purpose. They know what they've got to do in order to save the world.

"Are you all ready?" Five asks everyone. They all glance around, nervous. But then they all nod. They're ready.

"Go, team!" Klaus yells excitedly, making every face turn to him. Luther rolls his eyes-an action everyone is used of him. Diego doesn't react much, so does Five. But Elisa and Allison both smile at him.

Then the blue light appears. Five and Elisa are both used to this. Well, Five way more, but Elisa knows what's going to happen. For the others it's completely new. Elisa imagines that it must be frightening. It was for her, too. Together with the others, she closes her eyes.

The sun radiates warmth, and heats up Elisa's face. She opens her eyes to realize that Five has done it once again. They're here.

"Are we where we're supposed to be?" Diego asks Five as he opens his eyes.

"Yes," Five answers. "We're right where we need to be." He watches how Luther and Allison open their eyes, too. Luther shakes his head, probably disorientated. It's normal. Allison checks everyone, too. When her eyes fall upon Five, her face lights up. A soft smile comes on her lips. Klaus is the only one who hasn't opened his eyes yet.

"Klaus," Elisa speaks up. "You can open your eyes." He doesn't. Actually, he squeezes his eyes even tighter.

Everyone loosens the hands they're holding-all but Klaus. He continues to hold Elisa's and Diego's hand like it's the only reason he's still able to stand. Maybe it is-his grip on Elisa's hand is massive.

"Klaus," Elisa says softly as she lays her now free hand on his. She feels him shaking under her touch-but not from her touch. His whole body is shaking. "What's wrong?"

"The light." A single tear glides down his cheek. "The light."

"I know. The light was blinding," Elisa tells him.

"It reminded me of-" he cuts himself off, shaking his head.

"But it's gone now. Only the sun is shining. Don't you feel it?"

"I do," he whispers.

"It's okay to open your eyes, Klaus," Elisa whispers back.

He opens his eyes while his body keeps shaking. His eyes immediately finding Elisa's. A weak smile gets placed on his lips, but it doesn't convince her. He then shakes his head angrily, as if to shake off the distress. "Sorry." He looks down at his feet.

"Don't apologise for that," Allison says with her eyes on her brother, too.

"Uhh. . ." Luther's voice sounds, and everyone turns their attention from Klaus to him. Elisa is on point of asking what's wrong, but she doesn't need to. Her eyes fall on a dozen of agents marching through the streets, all in pairs of two.

"They haven't seen us yet," Five says quickly. "We'll got to hide."

"No shit sherlock," Diego mumbles under his breath.

"We've got to split up," Elisa notices. "We're with too many."

"Split up in pairs of two," Five commands everyone. "When one of you sees the target, send out a signal."

Target. Elisa tries to keep herself together. This isn't a moment she can cry. No tears are allowed to even form. She shakes her head, wanting to concentrate. But the word target sounds several times more in her head. Morgana is the target. In their eyes she's just some villain. They don't know her.

Nothing more is said. Luther leaves with Allison. Diego and Luther head into one direction, and Elisa heads into the other direction with Five right behind her. It's easier to hide this way. She watches as Klaus and Diego are able to hide behind a car while Luther and Allison succeed in hiding behind a wall. Elisa herself has not found a hiding spot yet, but when Five points at several bushes, she nods. The two hide in the bushes between the trees.

Then it's just silence. There don't even pass any cars. Only the footsteps of the assassins are heard.

"Elisa, you should know. . ." Five trails off. "Whoever kills Morgana, they do it for the family, for the world."

"I know." Elisa looks down at her feet. "For family. . ." But Morgana was once her family. She and Elisa spent almost a year together. So no, Elisa can't do nothing while Morgana gets killed-no matter how she's going to get killed. She will give Mor a choice. If she decides to take it, she won't have to die. If she decides not to accept Elisa's conditions, then she'll die on the spot. One of the siblings will kill her. Elisa doesn't know who, either. But every time she closes her eyes, she sees another sibling killing Mor. Each time in another way. Each time bloody.

"I am sorry," Five whispers quietly, avoiding Elisa's eyes. He doesn't even have to try; she won't look at him. She's afraid he might be able to find out what's she's planning just by one look at her. He'll stop her, and Elisa can't have that.

"I know," Elisa repeats what she had just said, not truly listening to Five. She's thinking of what's she's going to do exactly. She'll have to act quickly-that's for sure. Nothing can stop her. No one.

A pair of assassins pass the bushes, and Elisa and Five duck. The assassins don't see the two-luckily. The blue costumes disappear quickly. When they're totally out of sight, Five is the first one to sit straight again.

When a whistle sounds, Elisa sits up, too. It came from Diego and Klaus their direction. The other two groups look at Diego, and notice that he's pointing at something. . . Not someone-someone. Elisa's eyes fall on Morgana. She's walking together with two other assassins. There's one on either side of her.

"You stay here, Elisa," Five orders her, but she only shakes her head. She can't react more. She's too occupied forming a plan in her head. Of course Morgana isn't alone. But how will Elisa go up to her now? How will she give Morgana a chance to decide?

"I won't do that," Elisa tells Five eventually. She must go. In order to kill Morgana, the siblings will have to get closer. Elisa's chance to talk to Mor will be bigger if she goes with. On the other side, the chance to get stopped will be bigger, too. It's a risk she must take, Elisa decides.

Five now does look at her, but Elisa continues to look at Mor who's still next to the assassins. Don't look at him, she thinks to herself. He'll see right through you. So she keeps on watching forward.

"Follow me," Five then says. After checking if the coast is clear, Five stands up together with Elisa. He intertwines their fingers, and then he starts to walk. Luther notices Five doing so, and he and Allison do the exact same when they're sure they won't be sighted.

Slowly, Allison and Luther walk through the street without any commission's assassins noticing. Klaus and Diego stay where they are. While Diego's eyes don't leave Morgana, Klaus is watching Elisa. She can't see it with the distance between them, but there's a worried twinkle in Klaus' eyes. But Elisa does see the reassuring smile on his lips. She attempts to smile back, but she's unable to do so. It feels impossible. Not in a situation like this.

"For family. . ." she whispers to herself, too quiet for Five to hear. She's doing this for family, too.

Five stops in his tracks, next to a car. He bends through his knees, keeping Mor in his sight. A frown comes upon Elisa's forehead. She looks if there are assassins near, but there are not.

"Why did you stop?" she asks him, frustration in her voice. They need to get closer. There's no way that she'll be able to get to Mor while being stuck here.

"We're staying here."

"What?" Elisa's eyes widen. "No, we've got to go. . ."

"If we all regroup again, then the chance will be bigger to be caught at one time. We'd be easily defeated. We've surrounded all the assassins now," he starts to explain. It's true. Elisa now sees that they've indeed surrounded all the assassins. . .including Mor. Diego and Klaus are hidden on the other side while Allison and Luther are somewhat to Elisa's right.

"But-" Elisa stops herself. "What do we do? How are you going to-?"

Five gestures for her to stop talking by putting a finger to her lips. She silences immediately.

"I told you to stay there," he whispers with pain audible in his voice. "I didn't want you to see this."

"When are you-" she stops again. "Who's. . ."

Five's eyes are flickering to the other groups now. That's when Elisa realizes that Luther's hand is holding something in his pocket.

"Luther. . ." she says quietly.

Five's eyes fall on Diego and Klaus, and Elisa follows his gaze. Diego, too, has gotten his hand in his pocket. Elisa's lips part. They're planning on killing Mor immediately. Her eyes fall on her feet as her vision becomes blurry already.

A whistle surprises her. She looks at Five again, and watches him signaling to Diego and Klaus. Pain takes over, and Elisa doesn't even bother paying attention what's he's telling them with his hand gestures. She can only think of how she's going to get to Mor now.

Forgetting all about the odds, Elisa narrows her eyes. She watches Mor who still doesn't know what might happen in just a few moments. There's only one way to succeed in her own plan, Elisa realizes. Only one way. . . A way that would mean ruining everything the siblings have planned. But she doesn't care. Morgana deserves a chance. Her Morgana deserves to choose.

Immediately, Elisa stands on her feet again. A sigh escapes Five his lips, making Elisa look at him for a second or two. But her eyes don't stay on him. No, they're back on Morgana soon enough. She clenches her fists, ready to take off.

"Elisa, don't," Five tells her, his voice breaking while doing so.

"I have to," Elisa whispers back.

"I know," he answers. "And I have to do this, too."

Elisa doesn't react, she only does what she has to do. She takes off. Not bothering to glance back at Five, she runs. For an assassin, she has never been good at running, but it's all she can do now. Run to Morgana and let her decide. Give her a chance.

Hands grip her arms, making Elisa yelp in surprise. Her eyes widen when those same hands pull her down on the ground. With a smack, she lands on the street. The person above her keeps her close. It isn't Five. Elisa would've recognized him by his touch. She turns around, unable to escape. But she is able to look at the one holding her. Diego.

"Diego?" she whispers in a broken voice. "But if you aren't the one to shoot Mor-' Her eyes widen. She immediately turns to look at Five who's now aiming at the two assassins that are next to Morgana.

"He won't be the one to kill her," Diego reassures her. "He didn't want to do that to you." Elisa doesn't care. He did plan this. He always knew that she'd try to save Morgana. He always knew.

"Let me," Elisa begs Diego. Tears start to stream down her cheeks. Diego's heart breaks when looking at the broken girl, but he doesn't budge. "I've got to give her a chance. I've got to. . ."

A first shot gets fired. At first, Elisa doesn't dare t look up, but hurt and curiosity force her to. A gasp leaves her lips when she notices a body laying just a few steps away from Morgana. But Mor is still standing. She's still unharmed.

Another shot gets fired. It is now the second assassin that falls down. Morgana stands. Frightened, she folds her arms around her chest as she starts to scream. Elisa forces herself to look away. It's too heartbreaking, too much.

She looks at Five. He's been the one killing the assassins. She could tell by the perfect shots. But Five is still aiming, even though no assassins are close to Morgana. He isn't pointing at a blue costume-he's pointing at Morgana.

"Five!" Elisa screams with everything she has left in her. "Don't!"

He doesn't budge. He doesn't even glance at her. Sobs sound as Elisa tries to free herself again in a desperate attempt. Her eyes stay on Five. he's concentrated, aiming at his target.

"I won't ever forgive you for this!" Elisa screams, starting to kick Diego, but nothing works.

A third shot sounds. It wasn't Five. He lowers the gun in his hands, though. That can only mean one thing. . .

Elisa turns to look at Luther. Her whole body stiffens when she does so. Even Diego's grip on her lessens. Luther sits there, smiling while looking forward. He's happy about his shot. His shot. Morgana.

Without any hesitation, Elisa's head jerks to where Morgana was standing just a few seconds ago.

Morgana is still standing, but Elisa always knows when something was wrong with Mor. Something is terribly wrong. Mor's eyes are incredibly wide, and her mouth falls open. If Elisa wasn't as shocked, then she might've heard the deafening scream leaving Morgana her lips.

The pink top Mor was wearing colors red, making Elisa yell Morgana's name in a panicked voice. That's when Mor's eyes finally land on Elisa. Surprisingly, a thin smile gets placed on Morgana's lips before her legs collapse underneath her. She, too, falls to the ground, but she did so without another body pressing her down.

"Mor!" Elisa yells in shock. Quickly, she pushes Diego off her, and he lets her go willingly. After all, it has already happened. Luther aimed well. If Elisa is correct, Morgana will die. . .and soon.

Once again, Elisa starts to run, but this time no one stops her. If they would have, Elisa would have hurt them. She's sure of that. The anger inside of her is on point of exploding. That together with the hurt now growing with each second, she's sure her powers would take care of everything again.

"Mor," she repeats again when she's just a step away from the girl. Morgana watches Elisa approach her with a relieved smile on her lips, as if being glad that she isn't alone.

"I'm so sorry, Mor." Elisa cries as she kneels down beside Morgana. There's a puddle of blood, reminding Elisa of the very start of all of this. The first murder she saw Five commit. Now, she can hear shots all around her. Assassins are attempting to reach Morgana and her, but they get shot before they can get even close. Five. Elisa knows it's him. But she won't look at him. He has done this. He has made sure Morgana had no other choice but to die. Like she screamed at him before, she will never forgive him for that.

"No, Elisa,' Morgana shakes her head softly, but winces when doing so. Every movement hurts, Elisa notices. She watches the shirt color more and more red. Elisa wished she could press on it, but it won't help. She'd hurt Morgana more. It's the best for Morgana if she lets her bleed to death.

"Don't be sorry." Morgana continues. "I should tell you something. . ."

"You don't have to tell me everything, Mor." Elisa lays her hand on Morgana's cheek. Their eyes lock, and the two notice that they're both crying.

"I do," Mor admits, and her voice breaks. "I'm taking my words back." It's hard to talk, but Morgana forces herself to.

"What are you saying?"

"You are everything but a coward, Elisa," Morgana whispers. It's barely audible, but Elisa concentrates. She hears every word, and notices every wince. "You fled, and I envy you for that. I had to kill. She made me kill, Elisa." Tears are streaming down Morgana's cheeks while talking. Sobs leave her lips between the words.

Elisa shakes her head, wanting Morgana to stop talking. "Don't," she tells Morgana. "Don't think of killing right now, Mor. It's all right. It's all right. I want you to stay quiet. Listen to me, please."

"I won't listen."

A broken chuckle sounds. "I know," Elisa sobs.

"Can I ask you something?"

Elisa nods.

"Are you still angry with me?" Mor asks her, closing her eyes a little while doing so. It won't take much longer, she can feel that, but she wants to say more to Elisa. She wants to hear Elisa's voice once more. She doesn't deserve that, Morgana knows that. But she needs to hear Elisa's warm voice once more.

"I'm not."

"I don't believe you," Morgana tells Elisa.

"You should." Elisa lays her free hand on Morgana her shaking hand. She starts to rub tiny circles on the back of it, attempting to make what is happening a little more bearable. "I'm not angry with you because I've been in that position. Hell, I don't even know where I got the courage to flee back then. Maybe it wasn't even courage. I don't know, Mor."

"You are so strong." Morgana's voice sounds so weak, so broken.

"You are, too," Elisa reassures her.

"I'm happy you've found a family," Morgana then says, surprising Elisa. She hadn't expected Mor to talk about the Hargreeves siblings.

"They're not my family." Elisa shakes her head, keeping back more sobs. "I thought they were. . .truly. I begged them, Mor. I was going to save you. They didn't let me."

Mor turns her head a little, wincing as she does so. Her eyes fall on the siblings that have gathered together. Elisa does not look at them. She won't. She'll never forgive them for this.

"Don't be angry with them." Morgana looks back at Elisa. Slowly, she raises her hand to lay it on Elisa's cheek. When she succeeds in doing so with the little energy she has left, a smile pops onto her lips. "I'm glad they did, okay. Remember that. They stopped me from killing so many."

Elisa stays quiet. She knows Morgana meant that she was about to kill absolutely everyone and everything. She knows.

"He'll care for you."

"What?" Elisa tilts her a little, curious.

"Hargreeves."

"Hargreeves?" Elisa echoes in a chuckle.

"He looks at you like you're the only star in the sky at night. Like you're the last hope he has."

Now Elisa does turn. With tears still streaming down her cheeks and Mor 's hand gliding off her cheek, Elisa looks at Five. He's standing in the middle of his siblings. It's weird to see all their eyes on her and Morgana. The smile on Luther's lips has faded. It's gone. There are now only thin lines on all of their lips.

Elisa focuses on Five. She tries to notice the way he's looking at her, but she can only notice that he's now watching her in a different way that he used to do. His eyes aren't sparkling anymore. The hope that Morgana is talking about is nowhere to be seen.

"I don't see it." Elisa sighs, looking back at Morgana.

"That's because he thinks there's no hope, silly," Morgana tells her, gasping for air afterwards. "You've got to go to him, okay? Don't you dare block them out of your life, Elisa. Promise me." The last words were that quiet that Elisa barely heard.

She nods in reply. "I promise."

One more deep breath is heard, and then Morgana's head falls on the ground. Her body falls still, and no more words are being said. It's quiet. Not even footsteps are heard now.

Elisa's eyes stay on Mor's body, though. It's hard to realize that this is it, that Morgana is gone. It's impossible, right? This can't be real. Even though the sadness is taking her over, no more sobs are heard from Elisa. She does cry, though, but these are silent tears. Morgana and her weren't lovers-not anymore. One was destined to be the others downfall. One way or another.

The presence of Morgana's lifeless body becomes frightening, and Elisa's breathing quickens even more when she continues to look at the unmoving Morgana.

"This can't be happening," she whispers, not wanting to face a reality without Morgana. Even when Morgana hated her, it felt better than this. This is complete emptiness.

Elisa crawls backwards, away from Morgana. "This isn't real." Elisa doesn't look at any of the siblings. Her eyes stay on Morgana as she crawls away.

Wanting to forget all of this, Elisa closes her eyes. How she wishes that she wasn't alone right now. She wants to be back in Five's arms. Shr wants him to hold her in his arms and tell her that everything will be all right, that she'll heal. But he isn't with her, and he won't come. The hope is gone, in both his eyes and Elisa's eyes.

With shaking hands, Elisa presses her knees against her chest as tightly as she can. Then she lets herself scream as loud as she can. She doesn't know how long she continues to do this. Even when her voice is completely gone, the siblings stay where they are. They have seated themselves on the ground already. Klaus wanted to come, though. She heard it. But the others said he couldn't. So Elisa stays alone for hours. Her eyes don't open again.

Only when footsteps are heard again does she dare to move herself a little. One eye of hers opens when noticing footsteps coming closer. It isn't Five, nor Klaus. It isn't even Allison. It aren't the siblings. It is the person she doesn't know how she feels towards anymore because everything feels broken and hurt.

The handler kneels beside Elisa, without bothering to glance at Morgana's body. "Come with me, Elisa," she says.

Elisa can't answer, and she still can't move, too. That's why the handler gestures to an assassin behind her to come. "Take her, too."

Too? With a v forming onto her forehead, Elisa succeeds in turning her head to where the siblings had stood when she had closed her eyes hours ago. They're gone. What has happened?

"Where. . ." No more words leave Elisa's lips, but the handler understands.

"Gone, Elisa," she tells her. "They left."

If Elisa still had her voice, then she'd start to scream again. If she still could cry, then she'd never stop.

"I'm taking you home, little one."

Home, Elisa thinks. That's everywhere but at the commission. But it's the only place they'll accept her now. The only place they want her. That is why Elisa allows Hazel to pick her up in his arms. His eyes are on her, and a shaky smile comes onto his lips.

For the first time ever, Elisa wants to apologize to this man. She wants to tell him how sorry she is. She never hated or even disliked him. She was only forced to be cruel. But she knows that her voice isn't capable of such a thing anymore, that's why Elisa only returns a very, very thin smile.

Hazel understands her, and he nods quietly, as if to tell her that it's okay. Everything will be okay.