Quane faced the cave wall again, his eyes glazed with tears. "You didn't lose everyone, Ricky. You lost your parents who you barely even spoke to", he whispered, staring blankly at the black rock. "I lost my parents. I lost my brothers, and I lost my sister. Other than you, I never had any friends. They were my friends. I lost a huge part of me. I feel like a massive piece of flesh has been torn from my chest ... I've lost myself ..." he murmured, holding back the tears that fought to escape the corners of his eyes.

---

Jack held his head low, trying to hide the single tear that rolled down his cheek. He understood Quane's pain. He had it too. He'd lost his three sisters and his parents. He barely looked up as he heard footsteps approaching. 
"Quane," Alice said quietly, slowly walking forward and resting a palm on his shoulder. "I understand," she whispered lowly. "But just remember, they'll always be here." She moved her hand from his shoulder to where his heart was. "Always."

---

(I am back , do I continue ? ) 

---

"Even the others - They lost family too, but they still have friends ... They still have at least one person who understands. I'm alone", Quane murmured, fighting back tears. Ricky sighed again. Part of him did understand, but those who had experienced the pain Quane had were the only ones that would really understand ... Another tear rolled down Quane's cheek as he remembered his little sister's bloody, frozen face - her wide eyes full of fear and desperation, which flooded him with anger again.

---

Then Alice inhaled sharply. "They're coming," she whispered. She turned fiercely to Quane. "Come with us. Please." Her eyes started stinging, attempting to hold back the floods of tears wanting to flood. She carefully caressed the long slash along her knee. "We have to go now. Stef, Jack, Ricky, we need to get out of here. Quane, you too."

---

"I'd rather die than live another moment of this torture!" Quane shouted, hitting the wall with his fist in a rapid movement. The tears glazing his eyes gradually faded from sight as he was flooded and consumed with anger. "They robbed the life of my parents. My brothers. Even my six year old sister", he hissed furiously, his voice strongly toned with anguish. "They stole, everything that ever meant anything from me", he snarled, a stray tear rolling down his pale cheek. "I'm going to rip their heads off if it's the last thing I do", he whispered, looking away from the others in silence.

---

"They'll torture you," Alice said quietly, stepping forward. And then she reached into her jacket pocket. And pulled out a knife. It glinted in the reflection of the diamonds and screamed danger. "And if you don't come  I'll have to do this."
"Alice-" Jack started, stepping forward. She held up her palm ordering him to stop, and he did. 
"It's your choice Quane," she whispered. 

---

Ricky watched the scene from the corner of his eye with a mixture of confusion and shock. "Wha- You can't kill him!" he cried, his gaze fixing upon the knife in Alice's hand.

Ruben watched Alice in silence, his eyes holding both anguish and intensity. "Go ahead, Alice. Put me out of misery", he whispered, his expression hardening slowly.

---

"What the hell are you thinking?" Jack shrieked in horror, leaping forwards and holding up his hands, his blue eyes wide with fear. 
"On the count of three," Alice said, ignoring Jack and Ricky and holding up the knife so it glittered in the reflection of the jewels. . 
"Are you insane?" Jack squawked in shock. 
Alice took a breath, closed her eyes and brought the knife down hard. She slipped, sliding on the smooth surface of the cave as a rumbling erupted beneath her. She opened her eyes in shock and saw Quane, alive, the knife next to him. Jack breathed with relief, regaining his drawn breath. 
"Earthquake," Alice managed to spit out before the ground disappeared beneath them. 

---

(May I be Ray? Where are we?)

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