Chapter Seven: Choices

Eden's POV 

A gunshot ripped through the building, startling me

Evelyn's head immediately snapped toward the door, and for  the first time since she'd entered the room, she looked tense.

Several gunshots and loud shouts followed.

“What the hell is going on?” Evelyn muttered.

The door flung open, and John rushed inside with a gun in his hand.

“Sylar found us.” He said, skipping across the room.

My heart stopped.

“He's inside the building?” Evelyn asked.

“Not yet. His men are coming through the east entrance. We've already lost two men.”

He stopped in front of me.

“Get up.” He said, reaching for my arm.

“Don't touch me.” I jerked away instinctively, forgetting I was still tied to the chair.

He pulled a knife from his pocket and hardened his expression.

For one terrifying second, I thought he was going to stab me.

Instead, he crouched and cut the ropes around my ankles.

“Move.” He ordered, grabbed my arm, and yanked me to my feet.

Pain shot through my shoulders.

“Let go of me!” I said as I tried to pull away.

“Keep fighting. I'll gladly drag you.” His grip tightened.

“Where's Julian?” Evelyn asked.

“He's preparing the service exit.”John replied.

Another wave of gunshots echoed through the building. This time, it was much closer.

My mind drifted to Sylar. He had actually come for me.

Relief rushed through me before I could stop it.

Then my eyes fell on the documents Evelyn had left on the chair.

Patient: Claire Petrelli.

Proposed Treatment: Experimental HEMA-7 Protocol.

Authorization: S. Wayne.

The feeling of relief dissipated as fast as it had come. 

I didn't know what to believe anymore.

“Move your ass!” John barked, pulling me out of my thoughts. 

He dragged me out of the room while Evelyn followed closely. 

The abandoned building was much larger than I'd imagined. Long white hallways stretched in different directions, lined with dusty glass windows and rusted doors.

Another gunshot rang out.

“Faster.” John pushed me forward.

“I'm trying.” I said.

“You'd better try harder.” He shoved me harder.

I stumbled forward but managed, barely, to keep my balance.

We reached another corridor where two armed men were waiting, and Julian stood between them.

Unlike everyone else, his expression was completely calm.

“How did he find us?” Evelyn asked.

“Because you underestimated your son.” Julian's eyes shifted to her.

“This location was supposed to be secure.” Evelyn's expression hardened.

“Nothing connected to this family is secure from Sylar for long.” He said calmly.

His gaze shifted toward me.

“Take her through the service tunnel.” He ordered.

“Come on.” John tightened his grip around my arm.

He dragged me forward.

I deliberately slowed my steps.

“Walk.” He commanded.

I ignored him as my eyes caught a metal tray.

“I said walk.” John jerked me toward him.

I kicked the metal tray beside me, and it crashed loudly against the floor.

“You stupid bitch.” John spun toward me as he raised his hand.

“John.” Julian's voice stopped him.

John slowly lowered his hand, his expression full of anger.

“Get her out of here.” Julian commanded.

John shoved me forward again.

We hadn't made it ten steps when gunfire erupted from the corridor behind us. 

One of Julian's men dropped to the ground lifelessly.

John wrapped an arm around me and dragged me backward for cover. 

Two bullets lodged in the wall we hid behind.

More gunshots echoed across the corridor.

Then a familiar voice cut through everything.

“Let her go, John.”

My entire body froze as there was no mistaking that voice.

I slowly lifted my head, tracking the direction of his voice.

Sylar stood at the opposite end of the corridor.

Blood stained the side of his shirt and dried along his temple.

A gun rested steadily in his hand with several armed men standing behind him.

His eyes weren't fixed on Julian, Evelyn or even John. They were fixed on me and for one strange second, everything around us seemed to disappear.

“Sylar…” I whispered.

“Are you hurt?” He asked as his jaw tightened.

The question caught me off guard but before I could answer, John pulled me hard against his chest.

The barrel of his gun pressed against the side of my head.

Sylar's expression changed instantly.

“Take that gun away from her.” His voice was frighteningly calm.

“Or what?” John laughed.

“I won't ask twice.” Sylar raised his weapon slightly.

“Open your eyes! You're not exactly in a position to make demands.” John roared. 

Julian stepped into the corridor.

The resemblance between them was even more striking with both men standing near each other but there was nothing brotherly about the way they stared.

“It's been a while, brother,” Julian said.

“Not long enough.” Sylar replied coldly. 

“You've become difficult to reach.” Julian smiled

“Maybe because the last time I trusted you, you tried to destroy everything I'd built.” Sylar's voice raised slightly. 

Julian's gaze shifted toward me.

“All this for a surrogate?” His tone sounded like a mock.

“Let her go.”

“You stormed an armed building for a woman who may not even be pregnant.” Julian chuckled.

“She leaves with me.” Sylar said.

“And if she isn't carrying your child?” Julian pressed 

Something tightened in my chest because I knew it was the same question Candice would have asked.

The same question everyone seemed to care about.

Was I carrying Sylar's heir?

Was that the only reason he'd come?

Sylar's expression remained unreadable as my mind raced with uncertainty.

“She still leaves with me.” He replied with finality.

My breath caught as I heard those words.

Julian studied him for several seconds then his smile slowly disappeared.

“You've spent your entire life treating people like variables. Useful or useless and suddenly this woman is different” Julian took another step.

“Don't pretend you know anything about me.” Sylar's jaw tightened.

“I know enough.” Julian said as he looked at John.

The gun pressed harder against my head.

I sucked in a sharp breath as my heart raced.

“Don't.” Sylar immediately raised his weapon.

“You're afraid I'm going to hurt her.” Julian's eyes narrowed.

My heart pounded against my ribs.

Sylar's gaze returned to me but I couldn't read his expression.

“Drop the gun,” Julian ordered.

Sylar didn't move.

“Sylar, don't,” I blurted as his eyes met mine.

“Quiet.” John tightened his arm around my neck.

“Take your hands off her,” Sylar roared.

“Then drop your weapon,” Julian spoke calmly.

Silence filled the corridor as my pulse thundered in my ears.

Sylar had the advantage as he was surrounded by his men. If he surrendered his weapon, he would be giving away the upper hand for me.

Sylar slowly lowered his gun.

“Sylar…” My eyes widened as I whispered.

He placed it on the floor, then kicked it away.

I stared at him with my expression full of questions and disbelief.

Julian looked almost amused.

“You can find another surrogate tomorrow. Conduct a new insemination procedure.” Julian's voice was laced with mockery.

“I'm not leaving without Eden.” Sylar's expression hardened.

My heart skipped. Was he really going to risk it all for me?

Everything his mother showed me suggested I shouldn't trust him and yet he had walked into a building filled with armed men for me.

He had just surrendered his weapon because John had a gun against my head.

“Move.” John began dragging me backward.

My gaze locked with Sylar's. 

His eyes sharply dropped to my feet then back to my face.

I stopped resisting as John continued pulling me backward. His attention shifted toward Sylar.

That was all I needed.

I drove my heel into his knee with a powerful force.

John yelled as his grip loosened for an instant.

I threw myself forward as I wriggled my way from his arm.

“Eden!” Sylar roared as he rushed toward me.

“Freaking bitch!” John cursed behind me.

I turned my head to see his gun raised straight at Sylar.

“No!” I screamed.

BANG!

A body crashed into mine as I landed on the floor.

Something warm splattered across my hands.

I looked down at the blood on my hands.

My heart dropped.

“Sylar?”