A Moment of Mercy

Emma closed her eyes, remembering that moment everything changed for Natalie. "Natalie, do you remember the time you were asked whether to do things to me or become the next sacrifice?" she asked, her voice soft and introspective. Natalie's eyes narrowed, her brow furrowed in concentration. She thought back to that moment, a moment that seemed like a lifetime ago. She had been a feared cartel boss, ruling with an iron fist, but in that instant, she was reduced to a mere scared innocent woman, knowing true fear for the first time. "I remember," Natalie said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was given a choice, and I chose to...do things to you, rather than become the next sacrifice." Emma's eyes opened, and she locked them onto Natalie's. "If I had picked myself as a sacrifice," Emma said, her voice gentle, "I wouldn't be here if you decided to kill me, Emma, but you showed me mercy... I mean, if you had picked yourself, I wouldn't be here." Natalie's eyes widened, as she realized what Emma was saying. "You mean, if I had chosen to become the sacrifice, you wouldn't be here, and I would have probably continued down a path of destruction," Natalie said, her voice filled with understanding. Emma nodded, a small smile on her face. "Exactly. You showed me mercy, Natalie, and it changed everything. It changed me, and it changed you. It gave you a chance to see the world in a different light, to realize that there was more to life than just power and control." Natalie felt a lump form in her throat as she thought back to that moment. She had been so consumed by her own desires, her own need for power and control, that she had never stopped to think about the consequences of her actions. But in that moment, something had shifted inside of her. She had seen Emma, really seen her, and it had changed everything. "I'm glad I showed you mercy," Natalie said, her voice filled with emotion. Emma's smile grew wider. "Me too, Natalie. Me too." The room fell silent, as if everyone was absorbing the weight of Emma's words. Myra's expression softened, and Doc looked at Natalie with a newfound respect. Natalie realized that she had been given a second chance, a chance to make things right, and she was determined not to waste it. "What now?" Natalie asked, her voice filled with a newfound sense of purpose. Emma's eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. "Now, we see where the threads take us," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.