The sound of tires screeching on the dirt driveway to Grimm’s cabin can be heard as a blue muscle car comes to a stop, kicking up a plume of dust under the night sky. Owls can be heard in the silence that follows. The door opens and out steps Justin Jehst. He hurriedly makes his way over the chainlink fencing and rushes to the front porch of the cabin. The hounds, tied to a post in the distance, bark at the intruder.

His fists pound the door.

Jehst: ELSA?! ELSA?!

A muffled yell catches his attention. He takes a few steps back before charging forward with a boot sending the door swinging open, almost coming off the hinges.

As the sound of the door smashing in fades the sound of Elsa’s voice becomes louder. He pin-points her direction and marches through the desolate shack towards her. Chairs are tossed out of the way and beaded curtains torn down, until he finally finds Elsa, in a rocking chair, cloth tied around her mouth and a stream of steady tears falling down her face as she sees Justin enter the room. He immediately removes her gag and binds and the two embrace in a tight hug.

Jehst: I’m sorry...I’m so, so sorry…

Elsa’s tears do not stop as she rests her tired body against his.

Jehst: We gotta get out of here, c’mon.

He takes her by the hand and leads her to the front porch. As they exit the front door an instantly recognizable rusted-out Chevy truck emerges into the faint light coming from the porch lanterns. Out steps Cort Marshall and Terra, and they walk towards Jehst and Elsa.

Terra: ELSA! Are you ok?!

Jehst gives her a nod then looks to Cort, again giving him a nod, but in thanks for having his back.

Terra and Elsa embrace in a tight hug and the tears flow once again. Cort walks up to Jehst.

Cort: You ok? You got roughed up a little tonight.

Jehst: I’d go through it all again if it meant I got Elsa out of this mess.

Cort smiles and puts his hand on Jehst’s shoulder.

Cort: You’re a good man, Justin. C’mon, let’s hit the road before that maniac shows up.

Elsa looks over to the H.U.S.A. pair.

Elsa: Can I have one minutes with Justin?

Cort: Of course…

Cort motions Terra over and they begin to walk back to his car.

Cort: Uhh, watch the step. Yeah. Tetanus isn’t fun.

Elsa takes Jehst’s hands in hers, a few tears still falling.

Elsa: I…

She looks away and takes a deep breath, trying to compose herself.

Elsa: Thank you...for saving me…

Jehst: Of course…

Elsa: But I don’t knowing if I can be doing this anymore…

Jehst looks confused.

Jehst: What do you mean?

She looks down and away, eyes welling up even more.

Elsa: This...Me, you, OCW…

Jehst: Elsa, no, why?

Concern creeps across his face.

Elsa: Archer, Capo...now, Grimm...I knowing it not all your fault but I always the pawn in these games… I always in harms way because they wanting to hurt you...and use me because… because I love you…

Jehst himself now begins to purse his lips and look up to try and stop the tears, realising the weight of her statement.

Elsa: I’m so, so sorry, Justin...I can’t be doing this anymore…

She leans in and they embrace in a tight hug, exchanging several deep breaths. As they break apart, Jehst looks her in the eyes.

Jehst: You don’t have to do this…

Elsa: Goodbye, Justin…

And with tears rolling down her face she makes her way over to Terra and Cort. Terra hugs her and ushers her into the back seat with her. Cort looks at Jehst and becomes instantly bummed for his tag partner, but knows he has to take them back to the arena. Terra Daturas collapses in a heap, curling up into a seated ball on the porch and letting everything out.

Jehst stands on the porch, frozen like a mannequin. The only things moving are his chest heaving and a tear rolling slowly down his cheek. The truck pulls away, leaving Jehst alone on Grimm’s cabin porch. His lip trembles. His fists ball.

SMACK!

He forearms the front door with velocity, followed by a front kick to one of the wooden porch pillars. Jehst grabs the wind-chime and tosses it into the yard. He stops. A yell bellows from inside him, causing a murder of crows in a nearby tree to scatter into the night sky, before dropping to his knees.

And he stays there, in shock, desperately trying to process what has just transpired.

The scene fades to black.