"Eden, don't listen to him!" cried Emery, seeing that her friend was beginning to fall for Stark's ruse. "Dammit, he just wants you dead. You don't have to die!" Stark just rolled his eyes and snapped back at her, "Let the boy make his own decisions, will ya?" Emery made a bitter huff in reply and looked over at Rye. Her eyes widened as she saw him lift the gun and aim it at the enemy. She had no fear.<span style="font-style: italic">End it now</span>, she thought.<br/><br/>Eden's fingers were aching as with the rest of his body. He closed his eyes and sighed.He thought of how easy it would be just to let go and plummet to his death... but he didn't let go. He kept holding on. He had to. Because he wanted to survive. At this, he opened his eyes and looked down at Stark. His skin was a shimmering black, as if Eden was looking at water gleaming in the moonlight. His dark blue eyes remained the same, however. The same eyes that ripped apart Galner.<br/><br/>"No," choked out Eden. "I won't give in. Not to a monster like you." The eyes burst into flames and the mouth twisted into a frown, growling, "You're gonna wish you hadn't said that." Stark clawed up the tree like never before and reached Eden before he could react. No sooner did he clutch Eden's ankle that the first bullet pierced through his back. His hand dug into the bark, his eyes bulged, and he tightened his grip on Eden. It wasn't until the second bullet that he released Eden and clung to the tree trunk for dear life.<span style="font-style: italic">No, no, no, this can't happen,</span>thought Stark with a swimming vision. Once the third bullet broke through the back of his head, his arms and legs went limp. He slid against the tree for a moment until a branch hooked under his twine necklace and suspended him by his neck. Stark writhed and trembled only for moment before becoming still.<br/><br/>All was quiet for the longest of seconds. Eden held the gape that he had since Rye began shooting Stark. He waited for Stark to break off his necklace and come after him again, but it wouldn't happen.<span style="font-style: italic">Is he actually dead</span>he thought, not believing it.<br/><br/>"Come on down, Eden," said Emery, avoiding the sight of Stark's body by looking at the other. "It's okay." Releasing a shuddering sigh, Eden slowly shuffled down the tree. He held his breath as he passed by Stark. He brushed his arm against Stark's hand and recoiled from it, half-expecting it to come alive and grab him. Again, it didn't. After what seemed like an hour, Eden finally reached the earth again. He stumbled a little once his feet touched the ground and Emery held him steady. "Are you okay?" she asked him, realizing the stupidity of the question only after she spoke it. Eden wouldn't take his eyes from the hanging Stark above them.<br/><br/>"I don't know," he murmured absently, still staring upward. "Maybe. Yeah, I'm fine." Emery put her hand on his shoulder and said, "Eden, he's dead. It's over." Eden blinked rapidly and lowered his gaze, trying to wrap his mind around what Emery said.<span style="font-style: italic">He's dead</span>, repeated Eden in his head.<span style="font-style: italic">It's over. He's dead. It's over. You're dead, Stark. You're dead and I'm still alive.</span>