“But that guy?” He jerks his head toward Bandit. “Kill him, right here, right now. And the action will bind us together. You’ll be a murderer, and I’ll be your accomplice. Me and you, Malice. Brother and sister, forever and always.”

My heart stutters. Bandit yanks desperately at the restraints, but it’s Archie’s expression that destroys me. Picks me up and smashes me against the blacktop. Hope. Even now, all my brother wants is to be loved.

“This is what Malice wanted. Even what his older self desired. So much that they tried to trick you into making this decision.” My brother’s eyes drill into me. Beg me. Plead with me. To choose him, for once. Just like Charlie did. Just like no one else ever did. “But you were too smart for them. You found out the truth. Doesn’t change the wisdom of their plan. Killing Bandit is still the right choice. It always was.”

He takes a shaky breath. “The only question is: Will you do the right thing? Will you kill this boy and save your brother? Save the entire world?”

I can’t breathe. I pant and pant, but it’s like all the oxygen has been sucked out of this time stream. How can I make this decision? How?

But I know that I have to. The entire week was leading up to this. Every thread on every timeline culminates here, in this moment. What I choose now will change everything.

I turn to Bandit. Our eyes meet for one searing moment. And then my heart rate slows. My breath becomes still. I look from him to my brother. Both so important to me in different ways. Both of whom I love, present and future.

I know what I have to do.

Chapter 56

Chapter 56

Moving quickly, I cross the blacktop in a few large strides, putting distance between my brother and me. Between Bandit and me.

Then I press the gun against the underside of my chin.

When it is precisely lined with my brain, I look up. Both Archie and Bandit are gaping at me.

“Alice, what are you doing?” Panic whips into Bandit’s voice, and he strains against the bindings. But he’s too far away. Even if he could get free, he won’t be able to reach me in time.

The acid climbs my throat. My neck moves. So does the gun. The metal is ice against the fire of my skin. But it’s too late now. I stepped onto this path. I have to see it through.

“Holy crap, Malice.” My brother’s voice is a mix of awe and fear. Bandit can’t comprehend my actions, but Archie…does Archie understand? He knows me better than anyone else. Will he be able to accept what I’m about to do?