Back in the safehouse, Annelise’s condition has taken a turn for the worse. She struggles to remain conscious.

  Cory: Stay with me! Come on!

  Annelise nods. Just then, her breathing speeds up. She screams in agony. A loud noise is heard and there’s a flash of red light. Then, everything is still.

  Susanna*rubbing her eyes*: What was that?

  Ethan: I think that might’ve been…it.

  Levi: But you said that we still have two hours!

  Ethan: We should have had two hours.

  Annelise stands up from her seated position.

  Cory: Honey, stop! You’re gonna hurt yourself!

  Annelise shakes her head: No, I’m not. The hunger, the pain…it’s gone.

  Cory gasps: How?

  Annelise: I’m not sure.

  Ethan: I’m gonna go check outside. All of you, stay in the safehouse.

  Ethan leaves the safehouse. Then, he returns.

  Ethan: It looks safe. Well, the sky’s red, but it’s safe to go outside.

  Annelise runs out the door and Cory runs after her. Susanna and Levi follow them.

  Cory: Annelise! Slow down! Where are you going?!

  Annelise: The White House.

  Cory: Are you kidding me?! The Empress is in there!

  Annelise: I know, but Beyond might be in there, too!

  Cory: Do you think this because of the vision he shared with us?

  Annelise nods.

  Cory sighs: Alright, let’s go.

  The four of them head to the White House. At the White House, many interdimensionals are running out of the building, trying to escape.

  Cory: It looks like they’ve abandoned ship.

  Annelise nods: I’m not sure what to think about it.

  They head inside.

  Susanna: Oh my gosh!

  They take in the scene before them. Annelise immediately heads toward the Oval Office. Cory, Susanna, and Levi hear her scream. They rush into the Oval Office, where a terrifying scene lays before them. Wyverna is unconscious and twitching periodically. The Commander lies still on the floor. His skin is void of any color. Annelise runs up and kneels down beside him, sobbing violently. Cory rushes to Annelise’s side. A machine on the wall keeps repeating “Assessing Damage”. Annelise kisses the Commander’s forehead and lays her head on his chest, weeping.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Susanna: Is he…

  Levi nods: I think so.

  The two join Cory and Annelise and try to console them.

  Annelise: I can’t hear his heart.

  Cory: Well, he didn’t have a heartbeat before he changed form completely. Maybe…

  Annelise shakes her head: No, no. It’s different this time. I think he’s…really gone!

  She begins sobbing again. Cory rests his hand on her shoulder. A tear rolls down his face.

  Cory:(to the Commander) I’m sorry.

  Emily emerges from the shadows.

  Emily: HE CAN’T HEAR YOU! HE’S DEAD!

  Susanna: Who are you?

  Emily: I KILLED HIM!!! IT WAS ME!!!

  Cory stands up abruptly: You?! I thought the Empress killed him!

  Emily:*sobbing*IT WAS HER PLAN! BUT I KILLED HIM! SHE WAS MY MISTRESS!

  Cory speed-walks over to Emily.

  Annelise: Cory, stop!

  Cory continues walking toward Emily: She killed Beyond! I can’t just sit here and do nothing!

  Annelise: Please!

  Cory turns toward Annelise: Do you not want justice, Annie?!

  Annelise: I want it more than anything, but this isn’t just!

  Cory: How is it not just that this woman should be punished?!

  Annelise: You can’t solve injury with injury.

  Cory sighs and lowers his hand.

  Susanna looks over at Wyverna: Is she dead?

  Levi: No, I don’t think so. These screens say that her ‘vivacity’ is still intact.

  The machines suddenly begin whirring.

  Machine: Assessment Complete. Critical damage to core. Major damage to eighty-eight percent of sectors. Estimated Recovery Time: Thirty-two years and seven days.

  Annelise ignores the machine and keeps sobbing.

  Emily: Wait a second…

  She steps over to Wyverna and pushes her hair away from her neck to reveal a deep, green bruise on her collarbone.

  Emily: I noticed the bruise right before I synced his veins with Wyverna’s. *she gestures to the Commander*

  Cory: Did Beyond hurt the Empress?

  Emily: Well, as we can plainly see, yes he did. Beyond didn’t give her this bruise, though.

  Cory: Then, who did?

  He turns to Annelise, who is now silent. She closes the Commander’s eyes and kisses his cheek.

  Cory: Do you know anything about this?

  Annelise nods. Cory is in shock.

  Cory: How?

  Annelise: Do you remember my recent episode?

  Cory: Of course, I don’t think I’ll ever forget. Why?

  Annelise: Well, I think that the Empress was trying to control me through means other than the Abramian organ. She went straight for my brain instead. That was her mistake. She was trying to use my hunger to make me turn on you guys.

  Cory: But she couldn’t.

  Annelise: No, she couldn’t. I was able to resist her and I kept fighting back. I don’t quite remember what happened next, but I knew that the Empress had lost. There was a green flash of light, and she seemed to be in pain. Then, the episode stopped. She let me go.

  Cory: I…I don’t know what to say.

  Annelise: You don’t need to say anything. It’s over now.

  Cory kneels beside Annelise. Tears fall down Annelise’s face.

  Cory: I’m so proud of you.

  Annelise nods, but remains silent. She lays her head against the Commander’s chest. Immediately, she springs back up.

  Cory: What is it?

  Annelise: I…I think I heard a heartbeat!