"T…tio?"
Enzo blinked, struggling to stay conscious as he was dragged to his knees. It was an odd feeling, to die. It was cold. Frost seemed to inch up his veins and time seemed to slow down. Moments of his life flashed before his mind's eye. His sister's wedding. His sister's arrest. His mother's death. Javi's birth. Javi's third birthday. Javi… His eye managed to focus on Javi's face. No… he shouldn't be here. No! "G-get him out of here," he managed to sputter, his eyes on River, begging. He couldn't let Javi see him die…no.
Javi crouched by Enzo, his eyes wide and gray. His tousled brown curls fell into his face as he gazed down at his uncle. "Tio, what's happening, happening? I'm scared. What are you d-doing?"
"Te amo, mijo," he rasped, trying to fight the panic that was beginning to consume him. He shouted again, "River, p-please, I'm begging you –and protect him…get him out –out of here, please, please-" He coughed, his lungs suddenly constricting. River wasn't moving. Did she even hear him?
Javi's eyes were starting to glisten. "Is this, is this, is this, death?" he questioned suddenly, his voice cracking. His stutter was getting worse, like it always did when he got upset. "Don't l-l-leave me, Tio! Mama left, left, left, and P-papa, and now you? P-please don't go, please please don't go!"
Enzo's tried to lift his head, but he felt paralyzed. It hit him suddenly that he'd failed at everything. He'd broken all of his promises. He couldn't protect Lixi, and he couldn't keep his promise to his sister. He couldn't protect Javi.
"Please, River," he said again, his voice thick and his eye distant, "please protect my…" And then he fell silent.
The very last words he heard were filled with betrayal. They were: "You're leaving m-me too?"
And his very last thought was, IfailedIfailedIfailedIfailed.