All of that was well and dandy, but Janet had trouble piecing one thing together. Daniel was wrong when he said he would only make thousands.
He could have made millions, for sure. He would even be remembered as a hero in history. So, why? Why go down the path he chose?
"Hey, Janey." Daniel began something, "All this talk is making me think that maybe I was wrong. I thought I wanted the fame, you know? The praise, and all. I never had a family of my own, so success was something other for me. I suppose I expected money to be it. I remember walking down third avenue in a seething winter night, looking at them through their windows and across their gardens. Those wealthy. In their fancy suits and cars, and wine and exuberant laughs.
"Avoiding the lamplight, I thought to myself. Do I really want that? Do I want riches that don't make me happy? Do I want glory that fades with time? Do I want acceptance in a world that would hate me for the rotten heart I have? And, when I went home (look at me calling that place a home), to a much accustomed sight of Stein and Kathy bickering over something stupid, I felt, first that the world would reject the likes of them a thousand times over.
"And second, this weird feeling bubbling inside me. I knew it, even then, but I didn't have a name for it. Warm. Yes, I was warm. Even though I was avalanched by a biting snow. They saw me and turned for my opinion. Confused. Undirected. Leaderless. It was my word against any of their's, and they were ready to accept whatever came without complaint. I could very well take advantage of them. And, that was the strange thing. I didn't want to."
There was her answer. It was all clear, now. Katherine was the body. Stein was the mind. And, Daniel was the soul holding them together. He was their compass. Everything he did was to protect them. Selling the cure would mean selling himself to a world he no longer wanted. His team was his world. He was nothing other than the autodidact of rotting hearts.
Daniel sneezed. His fingers clung to the corners of his shirt, body trembling greatly. "You know? I never mentioned my parents. Seems a good time to let you know both of them were murdered when I was just a child. By my sister, no less."
Janet froze.
"She went to a mental institute, so I didn't get to know her that well."
She tapped a rhythmic pen on the table.
"Though, come to think of it, you've been without a coat this whole damn time. Even big guy over there was found cupping his hands over his mouth."
Janet stared straight into his eyes.
"Then, again. You never had much problem with the cold."
She smiled. The journalist swung to her feet and lodged two bullets in each of the officers' skull. The bodies fell in a thud as blood pooled in the white expanse.
"I never liked mother and father, but I agree with one thing they taught us." Janet wiped the excess liquid off her glasses, "Nothing matters more than family."
"Did you have to pull that entire charade?" Daniel snickered.
"You can't blame me for asking about my own brother's motives. Besides, I can now sleep at night knowing I'm not the only deranged one in this family."
And so, Janet was late once more.
She was supposed to be out with the prisoner at least two hours ago. But, the duration of her conversation had revealed to her a hidden disposition. She had a heart perfectly rotten.
She belonged with them.
The culprits left with not the slightest trail of sanity, not the least bit of cash, and not a pinch of normalcy. And they were content that way.
The Taine siblings met a roofless Bentley at the foot of the building, driven by Stein. Kathy jumped from the passenger seat and wrapped her soft arms around Daniel's shoulders. He returned her embrace without vanity. Janet averted her gaze, chuckling, and walked towards the vehicle which sounded open with click.
Daniel's family called him to a life he could never run from, and a future he would not regret.
"I thought you liked being out of the crossfire." He lounged in the backseat.
"It's called an experiment, Dr. Taine." Stein's eyes met his from the rearview mirror, "All experiments come with risks."
Katherine turned from the passenger seat, greeting Janet with all the energy of an old friend. "I hope you lavished your appetite. We have four new graves to dig before it's farewell forever."
"I'm afraid not! I'm awfully hungry, and not going anywhere before I've had my stomach filled."
"Well, it's a shame, because we're not going to leave any threads untied." Her brother laughed, enjoying the sun kissing his face and the breeze lifting his hair.
Silence ensued. Janet let loose an innocent whimper, covering her eyes.
Daniel panicked.
"What did you do?!" Stein barked.
"We can stop for lunch!" Katherine cried.
A cackle confounded their nerves. Janet opened her bun and extended her legs to rest on the console in the center. She took great pleasure in their naivety. "Oh! I'm going to enjoy myself to the fullest here."
The transport mingled with the horizon, becoming one with the sun-tinged firmament, as all their rotting hearts found home in each other's presence, never to see sorrow, or pride, or greed. And best of all, never to see loneliness.
It was a wondrous feeling for Daniel. His greatest foe found replaced by a warmth he could never take for granted. Suddenly, it didn't matter if he lived or died. As long the delinquents he called family were there with him.