Michael's jaw dropped as Eve stepped fully into the lame lighting in the alley. Eve was wearing an outfit that was a cross between the slave outfit that Princess Leia wore in Return of the Jedi and some cave woman Halloween costume. Michael did a double take, just to make sure it really was her, the outfit was something she would never have worn a year go. Not only that, but the light that she was standing under gave her skin a reddish hue, almost as if she had been out in the sun to long and had gotten herself a third degree sunburn. He was shaking his head as Eve looked up from the ground to meet his gaze. She wasn't sure what he was thinking but the look on his face could only be described as shock.

Fredrick's laugh cut off abruptly. The alley grew silent after the echo of his laugh finally died away. He was looking at Eve with such hatred in his eyes that Eve wondered what she had done to make him feel that way, other than up their time table. She moved closer to Michael, who took a few steps back. Fredrick was finally getting bored with his game. He shoved Sarah into Michael's arms in passing on his way toward Eve. "This is what you have to offer them, Eve. What do you want to do? If you don't offer them the gift, they die tonight in this alley. There is no other way. They have seen too much. The choice, of course, is yours." His smile was so cruel that Eve took a step back herself. She looked over at Michael, who was consoling Sarah, and shook her head. "I can't make them take this 'gift', Fredrick. It's not right. I wouldn't ask my worst enemy this question." Fredrick shook his head at her sadly as he moved back towards Michael and Sarah, "Just remember, years from now, that you chose this for them. That this was not my doing." As he was preparing to take that final step that would take him within arms reach of Michael and Sarah, Eve shouted, "NO! I will ask them."

Sarah was weeping into Michael's chest as she heard the exchange between Eve and Fredrick. She wasn't sure what had happened but she knew that their lives were about to be turned upside down. She wasn't sure what choice Eve was getting ready to give them, and she sure didn't know what Michael was going to chose, but knew in her heart that whatever choice he made would be hers as well. She would follow Michael to the depths of Hell if that is what it would take to be with him. Little did she know how true this might end up being.

© DJ Shaw