When the grandfather clock strikes three times – dong, dong, dong – I understand that Jack Sanders had everything planned. In one way or another everything was supposed to end around three o’clock, tonight. He had his basic plan, which involved Turmont, and Dagmar, Serban and Adrian. And he had a plan number two, just in case. I wonder if the other two bombs hidden in this mansion are his plan number three. It would make sense because three really means everything for this man.

The grand manifestation of mental insanity, that’s what this night is. And we’re trapped here, like rats in a cage. My vision blurs again and, again, I bite the soft portion of flesh inside my cheek. Again, I taste blood. Again, my sight becomes clearer and sharper. I must be bleeding a lot and there’s no much time left.

I make my gaze shift from Sanders to Justine, then to Tasha. Tasha. God, Tash.

Tash has that look that I know pretty well. It’s calling me. Brown eyes, deep and dark, yelling at me. Her hands tied, a trail of blood along the left side of her head, her feet… Free.

Her hands tied, her waist tied, her feet free. I remember her jerking rapidly when Turmont was pointing the gun at Alice’s head. I remember her trying to move. I thought it was an instinctive reaction seeing her girlfriend menaced, maybe it was, but basically… She was freeing herself from the rope tying her feet to the chair.

And now that same rope lays loosened around her boots. I swallow and nod, imperceptibly. That cold look into her eyes replies: I am ready. I can help. Let me help.

She’s not far away from Justine. In fact, she’s only a few feet away from her. If she charges her abruptly, Justine won’t have time to push that button. But I’ll have time to shoot Sanders.

We just need a sign. Then we’ll be ready to go for broke.

”I’ve watched you change
Into a fly
I looked away
You were on fire
I watched a change
In you
It’s like you never
Had wings
Now you feel
So Alive
I’ve watched you change…”

“I don’t care if Johnny dies. In fact, Johnny died one year ago, when Shane McCutcheon decided that the famous principle ‘eye for an eye’ had to be applied on him. When she decided the she wanted to play God with my son…”, Jack Sanders is saying.