I remember watching through what seemed like half closed eyes as Rusty knelt next to Dakota, shaking furiously. Rusty coughed and his shoulders shuddered as if he were crying, then he stood up quickly and snapped at James. "He's dead!" he screamed at him. James backed up. "I didn't mean to..." he began. I lifted my eyes to James' face and saw a look I was not expecting...terror. He was terrified. For once in his life, James was afraid. I started to walk towards him, but Scott held my arms firmly. I looked back at him. "It's okay." I said quietly. I stepped over Dakota's body and walked so that I was standing directly infront of James. He looked down at me, tears staining his face. "God damnit Maytrix...god damnit..." he started, then he started to cry harder. I reached up and hugged him then, as tightly as I could while he shook harder and harder with each sob. Rusty started towards James but I heard Scott call him back. "It was an accident Rusty. Back off." he said. Rusty growled and pushed me away from James, directly to the ground. I landed hard and glared at him as he pushed James back. "You went too far this time. Everything you touch is ruined." he accused. James shook his head, still moving back. "No...not everything..." he started. I started to get up. "Rusty, enough." I said. Rusty turned on me and smacked me hard. "You don't know any better." he spat. I looked at him in surprise...Rusty had never raised a hand against me, never treated me like this. I just stayed on the floor, too shocked to move. Scott was obviously shocked too, since he still hadn't really moved. James backed up against a wall finally, unable to go any further. Rusty grabbed him by the collar of his shirt angrily. "You kill and you think that's okay? No. You ruined Dakota, you ruined Sara, you ruin everything. You're the reason why mom died and why dad killed himself. You're the reason why everything goes wrong and I'm sick of it. You want to ruin lives, that's fine. But I'm sick of you ruining mine. I'm outta here." With that, he turned and walked towards the arena doors, leaving James still against the wall. "Where are you going?" he called after him. Rusty kept walking, oblivious to James' calls. I glanced back at Scott and then got up, running towards Rusty. I didn't catch up to him until we were outside, and I grabbed his arm lightly. "Hey..." I said quietly. Rusty stopped and turned around. "What could you possibly want?" he asked. I looked up at him. "Where are you going?" I asked. He sighed, then ran a hand through my hair. "You're really beautiful, you know that?" He asked softly. I shook my head and pulled back. "Stop. I asked you a question. Where are you going?" I asked again. He leaned down and kissed me softly, and when I didn't refuse, he kissed me a little harder. I backed up and landed with my back against my truck, shaking my head. "No...don't..." I started. He didn't listen.

The Avach's never listen. No, instead he moved forward and kept kissing me. Finally I pushed him off and against another truck. "Enough. I just want to know where you're going." I stated. He sighed. "Colorado. My older bro lives out there." he reached out and pushed a strand of hair out of my face. "But don't worry...I'll be back for you." he said. I shifted my weight and looked at the ground. "About that...I sort of...met someone else...at home I mean..." I began. Pain clouded Rusty's eyes and he let his hand drop from my face. "Who?" He asked. I sighed. "That doesn't matter. I just...I care about him so much and I can't do this with you...not now." I said. With that, Rusty turned and walked away, out of the parking lot. "Now where are you going?" I called after him. "Away." he yelled back. Just then, James and Scott walked from the building, Scott carrying Dakota in his arms. "We better get back to R.I.O.N...he needs a funeral." Scott said quietly. I stared after Rusty. "Yeah...a funeral..."

To be continued...