Is this destiny?

Sarah was startled when she heard rustling sounds from the bush behind her.

"Sarah?" She heard Aiden\'s voice and froze. It took her few seconds to gather courage to turn around and face him.

When he found out that she is not coming back as she promised, Aiden thought he will go insane. Immediately, he knew that she decided to go and deal with Ed. Ed was the last one left.

In his mind flashed image of Sarah in the farmhouse, unconscious on the bed, burning with high fever. He was not able to breathe when he remembered Sarah on the hospital bed. At that time, he felt so helpless.

Aiden understands that she wants to get her justice, but he does not know why she left him behind. He was worried that she will get hurt, that he will not see her again. He almost lost her twice already because of Ed. What if Ed manages to injure her again? Aiden wanted to be angry at her, and to scold her... but seeing her now looking at him so apprehensively, all the words left him.

\'She is safe. That is all that matters.\' Aiden walked to her and pulled her into a hug.

He was not able to stay away from Sarah, or to be angry at her, but he needed an explanation.

His head moved slightly so that he can see her face. "Why did you exclude me?"

He pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, and his palm held her cheek gently.

Sarah looked him in the eyes and hesitated few seconds before responding. "Because I need to be a monster to do what I want to do, and you make me human."

His lips stretched into a smile as he felt that his chest is not constricted any more. "If that is your reason, then I can\'t be angry even if I want to." His hand slid from her cheek to under her chin and he kissed her lightly on the lips. "Let\'s not have a second time. Whatever it is, bring me along. If you can\'t be a monster and you need one, count on me."

Sarah felt her heart melt. \'Even in this kind of situation, he can move me.\'

She smiled. "Only you can be romantic when I\'m torturing someone."

Aiden kissed her again, and she laced her fingers in his hair while responding to his kiss. Their kiss was interrupted by Ed\'s groans.

Besides three small holes on his back, Ed didn\'t have other visible injuries. But he was aching all over. Seeing Aiden embrace and kiss Sarah, Ed felt his heart hardening. He was consumed with range. \'Why him? Why not me?\'

Ed struggled to stand up. He looked at two of them, holding each other and had two raging currents fight inside him, one was desperation from knowing that Sarah will never be his willingly, and second one was rage, desire to rip them both apart into a million pieces… until nothing is left. If she is not his, then no one can have her. He will rather kill her than let anyone else touch her.

Ed tried to launch himself at them, but his body didn\'t respond.

"Do you think he is better than me?" Ed gritted through his teeth.

Sarah looked at Ed and leaned her cheek on Aiden\'s chest. "I don\'t think he is better. I know that he is."

"He only wants to use your body!" Ed was desperate.

Aiden chuckled at Ed\'s weak attempt to provoke them. "I assure you that I want her mind also." Aiden looked at Sarah and continued. "...and her heart, as well as her soul." He didn\'t lie. He wants all of her.

"Did you hear that? He wants to use you!" Ed screamed.

Sarah sighed. "Just stop it." She let go of Aiden and stepped away facing Ed. "I see that you are delusional. Come at me... give me everything you got." She revealed a wicked smile.

"You slut! It\'s because he has more money, right? It\'s always about the money with you sluts. Money grabbing whore!" Ed pointed his index finger at Sarah, his hand trembling from rage. He saw that Sarah is only smiling mockingly, and his rage swelled. Ed rushed at Sarah and was met with Aiden\'s kick which made him fly back few feet.

Sarah looked at Aiden sternly, and he shrugged. "He called you names. I can\'t just stand aside."

Aiden moved closer to Sarah, "How long are you going to drag this? Let\'s go home."

Sarah nodded and got one palm-sized device out of the backpack. She walked to Ed who was still on the ground. "This will activate small robots that are in your body now. Depending on which way they go, you might suffer from internal bleeding... but you know how all this works, right?" Sarah looked into his eyes which were full of horror.

"Who are you?" Ed\'s voice trembled. "You are not Sarah... she is kind and sweet. Who are you?" He could not believe that Sarah is capable of such cruel thing. In Ed\'s mind, he always loved her, and did what is best for her. Why is she hurting him now? This can\'t be the same Sarah he was watching for many years now! The sweet girl who would never hurt a fly. "You bitch! Impostor! Where is Sarah?!" Ed raged and got on his feet, lunging himself at Sarah. His arms almost reached her, when Aiden stepped in. One second later, Ed\'s arm and leg were broken, and he was wailing on the ground.

Aiden looked at Sarah and scolded her. "Baby, this is no time to space out."

Sarah was in thoughts. \'Am I really a monster? Can I do this?\' She hesitated. Her mind was a mess. Sara stepped away and called Stella.

"You got Ed?", Stella spoke as soon as she picked up.

Sarah was surprised. "How do you know?"

"He is the last one left."

Sarah smiled. Her mom knows everything. She explained to Stella where she is.

"Why do I hear a man cry in the back?", Stella\'s displeasure was obvious.

"It\'s Ed."

"He is alive? After all he did to you, he is still alive?" Stella\'s voice was raising.

"Mom... " Sarah hesitated. "I can\'t make myself do it."

"Are you showing mercy?" Stella was frustrated.

"I... don\'t know."

"Sarah, honey, I will not be around forever to protect you and pick up your mess. If you want to be merciful, you need to get stronger. Only the strongest one can enjoy the luxury of sparing their enemies... If you leave him be, do you think that he will forget about you and all this? Or will he come after you, and your loved ones? Will he show mercy? Did he show any mercy to you so far?" Stella paused before continuing. "Keep in mind that he is the one who attacked you first. Whatever you do, you are defending yourself. When you make a decision how to deal with him, you don\'t need to be vile. Just think: what would he do to you? Give him a dose of his medicine." Stella\'s voice came to Sarah as a slow, steady wake up call.

"Thanks, mom.", Sarah whispered.

"When do you want my men to come?"

"Ten minutes."

"Sarah... whatever you do, mom supports you."

Sarah hanged up, and walked to Ed.

She made herself remember that evening in B1S, when Philip drugged her. How desperate she felt, unable to escape. Sarah recollected what they planned for her, how Philip said that he will have fun with her first and then give her to others... How Ed hurt her the second time and left her to die in that mall. If Aiden and JoAnna didn\'t act quickly, Sarah would die, twice. Ed was fine with Sarah being used, humiliated, and killed. And he said that he loves her? What kind of love was that?

Not an ounce of emotion was visible on Sarah\'s face. She moved and stomped on Ed\'s leg. Cracking sound was heard, and now both of his legs were broken. Ed\'s voice was hoarse from all the screaming. Sarah lifted her arm with a black device and pushed one button.

About ten seconds later, Ed\'s body started twitching. His eyes were unfocused, and his voice was turning inaudible.

Aiden embraced Sarah from behind and held her without a word.

About five minutes later, Ed\'s body stopped moving.

Looking at Ed\'s body, Sarah felt only one thing: relief.

Sarah turned to Aiden.. "Let\'s go home."