By the time I had pulled myself together and out of the washroom, Liam and Scott were done speaking to Jiang and Tierney. Scott was in Sheriff's office in a seemingly heated discussion, meanwhile Liam was leaning against one of the desks, a conflicted look on his face.

"What's going on?" I mumbled, trying to keep my voice low as I stopped beside Liam.

He looked over at me, seeming to note the worried look on my face as he let out a low sigh. "Their eyes are blue." he admitted quietly. I didn't need to ask him what that meant.

I felt more worry and anxiety build in my chest at the thought. Jiang and Tierney had killed people-innocent people. And while whether the people they killed were truly innocent was to be debated, they still took lives.

Before either Liam or I had a chance to say something else, the sound of glass could be heard shattering from the front window. Liam grabbed a hold of me, shielding my body with his as an arrow when flying past us, sticking its self into the wall beside us.

My eyes were wide as someone let out a scream of fear at the event. Deputies began scrambling around, afraid an attack was on its way.

While everyone else panicked, Malia stepped forward, pulling the arrow from the wall to reveal that something was stuck to it. At this point, Scott and Sheriff had exited the office, and they, along with Theo and Lydia had joined us.

Liam still held me close as Malia pulled the object off of the arrow to reveal it was some kind of fabric. Liam grabbed it from her hands, unfolding it to reveal a bloodied partial number seven. It was part of a jersey. I felt my heart drop, a mixture of anger and sadness washing over me.

"It's Brett's number." Liam announced to the group, his voice dark.

Lydia wore a worried expression as she spoke. "They're trying to rattle us."

Theo had his eyes locked on Liam. "It's working."

I turned to my boyfriend, a small gasp coming from my lips at the sight of Liam's eyes flashing yellow. They were getting to him.

To make this whole situation worse, a scream ripped through the station. Parrish and Sheriff shared a look before they took off toward where Morrow and another deputy were watching Nolan.

As they disappeared into the room, I looked to Scott in worry before turning back to Liam, attempting to calm him down. "Breathe." I whispered, pulling his attention toward me. "You're doing exactly what they want."

"I can't!" Liam snapped, his words almost coming out as more of a growl. I took a small step back as Scott stepped between us, placing a protective arm in from of me.

"Liam." he ordered, his voice stern. "Relax."

Liam's breathing began to slow as his eyes faded back to blue. He gave Scott a small nod before looking back to me. "I'm sorry, Syd." he whispered. It wasn't often that Liam snapped on me, in fact it was almost never.

I shook my head, giving him a soft smile. "Don't apologize." I answered, "Just don't give them what they want."

---

Things only seemed to be getting worse. 

The scream that had drawn Sheriff and Parrish away from the group was as a result of Morrow witnessing her fellow deputy hanging himself. Once Sheriff and Parrish had made it into the room, Morrow had taken the same route as her coworker, shooting herself in the head. 

I felt gutted. I didn't know either of them well, or at all really. But two people were dead, and I was afraid more were to follow. 

My foot nervously tapped against the ground as I awaited word on what we were to do next. It was ten minutes until midnight. Liam had freed Tierney and Jiang from their cell and locked Nolan up. Meanwhile, Lydia had looked at the bodies, determining that fear had driven them to their deaths. Fear. The constant theme. And whatever was causing the fear was in here with us, meaning who knows who could be driven to their deaths next. 

My attention was pulled to the front of the room as Scott and Sheriff came rushing out of the room, Scott instantly going to look out the window. Theo joined them, and he and my brother broke into conversation about Jiang and Tierney, and whether or not Monroe had actually seen them. 

I felt myself making my way toward them as Scott let out a shaky sigh. "I've got a plan." he announced, then turning to Sheriff. "But I don't think you're going to like it."

Sheriff shook his head, "If it keeps anyone else from getting killed, I'm pretty open."

Scott looked back toward the room where Morrow and the other deputy's bodies were. "Monroe said she wanted Jiang and Tierney...dead or alive."

I felt my eyes widen slightly at what Scott was alluding to. Although somewhat risky, it seemed like our best bet at this point. Give Monroe two bodies, a male and female. Hopefully she wouldn't inquire any further. 

Sheriff nodded, "Go get the bodies." he instructed Parrish before turning back to Scott. I let out a shaky sigh as I looked over at Theo, he wore the same worried look as I did. "This better work." he muttered, his eyes travelling toward the windows.

I gave him a small shrug as Parrish and another deputy carried the bodies out into the main area. "It's our only option."

Theo opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off. "The only option that doesn't entail anyone else dying."

He rolled his eyes before looking back outside. He was scared, and that much was obvious. As Sheriff explained to everyone what was happening, I felt myself moving toward my brother in fear. He noted my anxiety and shot me a comforting smile as Sheriff fired two shots into the air, trying to set the scene. 

Once he had holstered his gun, he turned to Scott, sticking his hand out to reveal five fingers. "Five minutes." he instructed. 

Scott nodded as he bent down to zip up the body bags. I felt sadness pang in my chest at the sight of the two fallen officers. They had tried to help protect Jiang and Tierney and now they were dead. 

"Hey." Liam breathed, rejoining me for the first time since his burst of anger earlier. 

I looked over to him, leaning into his side as I let out a nervous breath. "What if they come for you next." I whispered, expressing the same concern I had had since all of this started. "What's stopping them."

Liam shook his head, "Don't worry about me right now." he ordered, wrapping a comforting arm around me. 

But as I watched Scott and Theo prepare to bring the bodies to Monroe, I couldn't help but be fearful. Who was to say Monroe and her army weren't going to shoot my brother and Theo on the spot. 

"Be careful." I said to my brother, giving him a pleading look. I then looked to Theo, letting out a small sigh. "You too, Theo."

Liam sent me a look as Theo gave me a small smile. Scott did the same, looking outside briefly before looking back to me. "I will, Syd." he promised. 

The minute the two boys were outside with the bodies, the group of us rushed to the window, attempting to see everything that was going on. Currently, Sheriff was saying something to Monroe.

Malia let out an anxious sigh, "Anyone actually think this is going to work?" she questioned.

Liam shot her a disapproving look which resulted in her shrugging. "Sorry." she muttered, directing her attention back outside. 

I was too nervous to speak as I watched the interaction take place outside. Scott and Theo set the bags down as Monroe watched on skeptically.  I watched in fear as she said something which elicited in Scott and Theo sharing a nervous look.

"What's going on?" I demanded, tearing my eyes from the window to look back at the group, "Something's wrong."

"Syd." Liam calmed, "Just relax."

I tried to do as he said, watching as Theo and Scott then unzipped the top of the body bags to reveal the faces to Monroe. She moved closer, looking at the bodies with an emotionless expression. 

My breathing was heaving in anticipation as she said something else. And this time, whatever she said really seemed to worry Scott and Theo.

 I spun around to face Liam, "Now something's wrong!"

Liam's eyes widened at something that was happening outside. He grabbed onto me, spinning me back around. "Syd, look."

I furrowed my brow as I glanced outside, a shocked gasp flying from my lips at who had just arrived on scene. "Dad?"

-an-

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-maddy