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No, it's just... I don't want to go.

But...

Jessica, tell this to Sylvia for me.

No... I won't. If you have something to tell her, tell her yourself.

She's... She's a clever girl, and still so young. A nice girl. If she finds a good man in the frontier, she should let herself fall in love again.

I want her to be happy... God... why'd I have to treat her like that? If I'd known Carl was going to...

Carl...?

No... Forget what I said. Tell her... Tell her I'm glad she still remembers and loves Carl...

But he's gone... He's not here anymore...

The living... deserve a choice...

The living... shouldn't be bogged down by the dead...

You deserve a choice, too. You need to live, and leave this place. You'll get to start fresh in the future.

Don't do anything stupid, I'm begging you! Think about Woodrow and Helena. They'll be heartbroken!

And Benny! He just started school. He's got a bright future ahead of him. Don't you want to see what kind of man he'll become? Don't you want to see your son again?!

And Miles... He's still waiting for you...

But... she wants me to stay...

Who?

♪She spread her arms, spread her heart, showed me that pretty face♪

♪And from that moment on, I found my dreams in her embrace♪

Listen to me, Jessica. I can't leave this place. Because... Because that woman left me here on a rainy spring day.

It was the perfect day for a seedling to take root and sprout. My... My roots have grown too deep. No one can pluck me out anymore.

Leone...

It's gonna be a big bang. Cover your ears. Don't be afraid, and don't be sad.

My life didn't begin the day I was born. It began the day I got here.

In the same way, my death won't be on the day my life comes to an end. It'll be the day I leave this place.

Leone, please...

Don't worry, Jessica. I won't die. Because I'll be here forever...

I'll live forever in her embrace...

No—!

A loud explosion rings out high up above, and its massive shockwave shoves Jessica to the ground.

She tries her hardest to get up and move her legs, to run forward, but she finds herself unable to budge. Her body has never felt so heavy before.

She lifts her head up to look into the distance. A thick cloud of smoke is gushing out of a giant fissure in the tower's body.

The rubble mercilessly pummels the ground alongside a shower of sparks, turning the nearby buildings into wreckage beyond recognition.

No...

A frigid wind blows toward her from afar, turning everything before her into nothing but a hazy blur, and leaving the corners of her eyes feeling awfully cold.

She reaches her fingers up toward the sky, as though she is trying to grasp something in the haze.

She blinks, and her vision starts to clear up. She sees a snowflake.

It's snowing.

Is that... the power plant? Hurry, Franka, drive faster!

You hear that, you stupid car?! Faster!

Did... Did it work?

Jessica... What's the situation there?

Leone... respond...

...I'm not getting a signal.

Dammit.

Helena stops in her tracks, and considers turning back to look.

The underground passage's structure, fragile to begin with, is unable to withstand the explosion on the surface. The fissures on the walls are rapidly spreading as far out as she can see.

Almost as if underlining the fact that she is walking a path of no return.

And so, in the end, she doesn't turn around. Instead, she keeps running.

She simply throws herself into the hidden tunnel, and towards the unknown up ahead.

...I really have gotten old.

Couldn't even dodge a little explosion like that...

That's... toward the energy tower.

Jessica...

Woodrow...

What's the situation at the energy tower? Has Helena entered the underground passage yet?

What happened?

Leone... said he was staying... He said he didn't want to leave...

I didn't see him come out...

I waited... Maybe I missed him...

Does Helena know?

I... I can't reach her...

Are you crying?

Am I? I think I am.

*sigh*... It's all over now. You'll be fine. Let's see... You're from Blacksteel, and a Brynley. They won't touch you.

Where are you going, Woodrow? Can... Can I come look for you?

I still got some stuff to take care of... Can't go bringing you with me.

...Will I ever see you again?

Maybe, Jessica... Maybe.

Woodrow leans on the wall. He feels dazed and dizzy, and the burn wound on his shoulder aches.

He takes out the bullet from his pocket. He can barely make it out under the faint moonlight, so all he does is rub its engraving.

(In Lateran) Forgiveness... Damned right.

May this bullet forgive what my heart cannot.