A faltering moment

"I guess I'd have to think about the consequences. What's more important to me: preventing this horrible thing from happening, or doing something I might regret?"

Linao sighed, seeing the logic in his response. "Yeah."

"So what choice do you have to make?"

She fidgeted, uncomfortable. "I... I don't know if... I'm not sure, I..."

"Lin." He cut her off. "You don't have to tell me. I'm just here to listen."

"You're so sweet, Dominick. I was afraid to talk to anyone else about this, they'd think I was crazy."

"You are crazy," he laughed. "That's why I like you."

"Gee, thanks," she said wryly.

"Anytime. So, about this choice of yours."

"I..." She couldn't go on.

Excerpts from Linao's diary:

I should have said something. Right then, I should have told him everything.

But what was I supposed to say?

"You're going to burn in hell, Dom. Not only that, so are Manuel and Tryn. In fact, pretty much everyone you know is going to hell.

"I have a chance to stop it, but I don't want to let some angel tell me what to do. Sorry."

Really.

What would you have said?

summary written by Cherie