A trap

I had the file I had come for in my hand and nothing else, as I stepped down the porch when I heard a car speeding fast towards me.

Cherry was quickly standing in front of me, and shielding me behind with her body.

I hoped that was not Kan, because I did not want to talk to him right now. 

After all my father had told me about him, I now saw him in a new light. 

But when the single car stopped, and the driver’s door opened, it was a woman who stepped out.

“Don't come any closer.” Cherry barked at her into the night. 

“Akira,” I gasped at the same time, and placed a gentle hand on Cherry's shoulder as Akira began to run towards me in a funny-looking, ungainly way. 

“Chairwoman.” Akira said in a choking gasp.

Even in the darkness of that night, I could see how her eyes looked like she had a fever. 

The desperation in her eyes to get to me scared me a little.

“Help me.” her voice came out in a whisper now, as she got to me, swooned, and I had to catch her quickly.

But even with Cherry's help, I was barely holding the woman up. 

“Akira, Akira.” I called, holding her face as I saw the first drop of thick blood slide down her nose. 

“What happened to you, who did this to you?” my voice was coming out now in a frenzy, higher and higher. 

“Please spare my husband,” She gasped even as I heard cars begin to drive up the driveway now. 

And even without looking up, I knew it was Kan and his convoy. 

“He has no idea I did all this.” Tears dropped out of Akira's eyes as more drops of blood rolled down now; her nose, ear, lips “

“Akira.” I screamed as she fell on her knees, her weight pulling me down with her.

“Please don't kill him. He does not know.” Akira continued speaking, as if she was not dying, like she did not give two cents about her life as long as she made sure I did not touch this husband she seemed to love so much. 

This husband she had been desperate to protect, so she agreed to work as my spy even though she knew it was dangerous, and that Ophelia was merciless, and she would probably end up this way.

Akira was clutching my hand now with the last of her strength. “Please, please.”

I held her in my arms now, shaking my head, crying like she had not been responsible for poor Mrs Inuoe's death. Like she would not have watched me die with the woman if Blaine had not come save me that night. 

“Honey.” I heard Kan screaming as he ran towards us. “Get away from her, it's a trap.”

“I promise. I won't touch him.” I said, shaking my head at Akira as she began to get paler and paler.

“Ariel,” Kan screamed again, and as I looked up I saw all the military trucks driving up. 

I gasped, wanting to move away, wanting to stand up, but my foot was still hurting and Akira now lay heavy and dead in my arms. 

Kan wrenched me away from under Akira just as the bullets began to rain. 

I gasped, my eyes widening as I saw Cherry raise her gun to fire back, but two bullets caught her in the chest. 

I could not for the life of me believe this was real. 

Even as Kan’s body jerked, and he pushed me to the floor, I really did think it was all a nightmare. 

It did not seem logical that the military would come to Sullivan's house. 

Neither did it make sense that they would open fire on us for no just reason. 

But I realized this was real when I heard the sound of their boots hitting the floor as they jumped off their trucks. 

“Kan.” I said, because he would not move away from me and his weight was crushing me.

“Kan,” I called again even as I heard a police siren coming up, and a chopper flying overhead, its bright light shining down on us.

I finally managed to roll him off me, and as I stared down into his face, I heard another female voice screaming his name. 

I turned to see Eleanor running towards us.

My head swiveled back to Kan as he lay still in my arms, his white shirt, the color he loved so much, all bloodied.

Eleanor did not even glance at me as she pulled his body to herself and began to scream his name. 

I did not even struggle, because although I knew if he could choose, he would rather be in my arms, he was still more her man than he ever was mine. 

“Ariel. My girl.” I heard my father’s voice in the darkness as soon as the sound of the chopper’s rotary blade died.

A chopper I recognized as the one Blaine and I flew in only hours ago. 

I struggled up to my feet, still completely confused about everything that was going on. 

Why had more military men arrived to lead the first set that stormed in, away in handcuffs?

Why were the police going around and taking pictures of bodies, and why were there bodies?

And how did my father get here so soon with Blaine's chopper?

Most importantly, “Where is Blaine?” I turned to my father when he finally stopped before me.

He shook his head at me, his eyes glassy with tears.