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I watched in a daze as Rimelda’s body was slammed into the cabinets. Her gun went flying and landed next to me.
“Vanessa! Shoot!” I heard the voice command me. I grabbed the gun and tried to hold it steady. Rimelda looked up at me and began to laugh.
“How pathetic.” Her disdain with me was evident. She jumped to her feet and I followed her gaze to see...Margaret.
“Margaret! Be careful!” I cried out. The young girl’s face was dark with anger and she lunged at Rimelda. I crawled backwards quickly as I was almost kicked in the head. Margaret threw another kick and Rimelda dodged her, running out of the kitchen. Margaret gave me a look that reminded me of Madlax and then ran after Rimelda.
“Margaret! No! Wait!” I struggled to get up to my feet, still holding the gun. I heard the door slam into the wall as it was flung open. Using the countertop, I pulled myself up and limped down the hall as quickly as I could. The thunder rumbled loudly and the lights flashed again. I saw a small white ghostly figure and froze, dropping the gun.
“Hurry. Hurry, Vanessa. If one dies, so does the other.” The little girl said.
“Reticia! What-” I started, but she ran over to the coat closet and opened it.
“Hurry. If Margaret dies, so will Madlax. Hurry, Vanessa. Please. We’re in trouble.” She begged. I ran over and grabbed a raincoat, and slid my boots over my bare feet.
“The gun- take it.” she handed it to me.
“Where are they? Do you know?” I was practically shaking her small shoulders, her ringlets of hair bobbing madly.
“We’re in the garage. Hurry!” she looked up at me, tears in her eyes.
“I’m going! I’m going!” I ran out the door.

The nearest parking garage was two blocks away. I ran through the storm, the torrential rain pummeling the air around me, making it hard to breathe. My ankle was throbbing in pain, keeping the pace with my sharp ragged breathing. No one was out in this storm; it was if I was in my own personal hell. I reached the garage entrance and ran down the rows of cars, wondering how I would find Margaret. The lightning flashed again, illuminating the floor in a white glow. I thought I saw a black jeep at the end of the row. I ran as fast as I could to get to it.
“Madlax!” I saw her body on the ground next to the jeep. Was I too late?
“Oh please God- no.” I fell to my knees next to her. She was holding her hands around her neck, her eyes wide.
“Fourth floor.” She gasped out, her face turning colors. “Ri- Ri..” she wheezed. I knew what she was trying to say and got back to my feet, looking for the stairs.
Hurry, Vanessa. I ran up the steps two at a time, ignoring the shooting pain with each leap. Reaching the fourth floor, I looked out cautiously from the door. Next to the elevator was Rimelda, leaning over Margaret. I could tell she was strangling her, her shoulders tight with effort. I pulled the gun out of my pocket, trembling. I took aim between her shoulders, steadying my finger. I could feel the panic in my chest. If I pulled the trigger, I was a murderer. And if I didn’t…..
I’m willing to kill for what I want.
I pulled the trigger.
My hand knocked back, and I saw Rimelda’s head snap up as she was hit. Without a sound, she fell to her side, leaving Margaret uncovered. I dropped the gun and ran to Margaret, dragging her back to the staircase with me. I stroked the hair from her face, thinking of how different she looked without it braided. The color of her skin was returning to normal, and her eyelashes batted a few times as if she was coming around.
“We’re going to be okay now. All of us.” I pulled her up into a hug. “I’m going to go check on your sister.” I laid her back down gently on the pavement, stealing a look out into the garage to make sure Rimelda was not moving. It looked like she had moved a little. The sight of all the blood made me sick and I looked quickly away.
Margaret opened her eyes and looked solemnly at me. I gave her a reassuring smile.
“Did you miss me?” she whispered, her voice husky.
“What? Miss you?” I stammered, confused. She raised herself up and leaned forward, taking my face in her hands.
“Ma- Margaret?” I stammered out. The way she was looking at me…it was the same way Madlax looked at me. Something was terribly wrong here. I grabbed her hands from my face and shook them.
“Margaret Burton! Snap out of it!”
She gave me a quizzical look, then her eyes got wide, and the girlish shy smile I knew returned. She ducked her head down.
“Um, I’m not sure what’s happening.” She confessed, removing her hands from mine and folding them in her lap. I heard boots bounding up the steps and turned to see Madlax running up to us.
“There you are.” Her arms were around me, pulling me up, pulling me into to her. I let out a small sob of relief.
“I shot someone. I had to, I had to do it…” I choked out, holding onto her tightly.
“You two go home. I will finish up here.” She said quietly, gently disengaging my lock on her. “Go on…I will be there as soon as I can.”
I nodded and reached for Margaret’s hand. Madlax looked at me for a moment, then traced her fingertip over my sore lip.
“Your mouth, your beautiful mouth.” her voice was full of sorrow. I caught her hand in mine.
“Take care of your business. I’ll be waiting for you, Madlax.”