The Beginning of the End

“I can’t believe this is happening,” Kat whispered. She couldn’t speak any louder; her throat was too choked. “Tell me it isn’t real, please!”

Alopex put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her hard against his body.

“You have to be strong, Kat. Face it and learn from it. Remember, everything happens for a reason.”

“But .. not this!” She wiped the tears from her cheeks. “This is all wrong, all of it!”

“You don’t know that – ”

“Yes, I do,” she countered fiercely. “It’s wrong an’ it’s bad. How can you stand there an’ let it happen?”

“Because I must,” Alopex answered. “And so must you. So must we all. A life has been taken and there must be punishment. It is the process by which justice is seen to be done and, in so doing, does more good than you will ever know.”

“But – ”

“There are no buts. Watch, learn .. and understand.”

Kat blinked and focused thru her tears. She couldn’t understand this. She couldn’t understand how Nick could be so .. stoic, so accepting. Derek was stony faced, rigid. Philip’s lips were moving silently; praying, she realized. Rachel was white, trembling, her hands locked together and only Alex was weeping softly. All the others, sitting there, were silent; watchful, graven images.

The barrier had been lifted now. Merlin lay on the gurney. She stared straight up, at the ceiling, breathing steadily. Kat saw Nick’s jaw jump violently, his lips clamping together. Not so stoic then.

It won’t happen, it can’t! She’s my friend. She was helping me. They can’t do this to her …

“It’s time,” murmured a voice.

The doctor bent over her and checked the needle in Merlin’s arm.

Her head rolled to her right and she looked at them. She nodded once and smiled gently. Peacefully.

Five minutes later, she was dead.

Profelis drew in a long, slow breath. “It’s over,” he said softly. “An’ now it begins.”

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