The Fall

-story coming soon-

Gem knew now what was wrong with her. She had figured it out a month ago, and felt sick ever since. It was easy to see now, even with the baggy clothes she always wore. She knew what she was carrying around inside her, and she hated it. She hated Damian for doing this to her, she hated the thing inside her, she hated herself for allowing it to happen, she hated Christen for not stopping it.

She stood up from her spot on the bed, walking over to the window and looking outside. The moon was shining brightly in the sky; Damian hadn’t been back yet since that night 3 months ago. She didn’t want to think about what he might do. She placed both of her hands on her stomach, closing her eyes and taking a step back. The curtains rustled, and a figure emerged. For a moment she thought it might be Christen, but then he stepped closer and she saw Damien. He took a step forward and she took one back, feeling her blood run cold. Her clothes hung loosely around her small form as she looked up at Damian, so much taller than her, an involuntary shiver running down her spine. He stepped even closer, yet she felt frozen by fear, unable to move. He reached out and placed his hands on her stomach. She could feel his breathe in her ear as he finally stepped back. His hands didn’t move, and instead slowly lifted her shirt up just slightly, kissing her bare skin on her stomach. She was trembling as he moved back, and she finally opened her eyes in time to see him stepping closer again. His fangs sank into her neck before she could even move, and she closed her eyes tightly, trying to ignore the pain. When he finally did pull back he bit his own wrist. She stifled a gasp and stumbled back, falling onto the bed. He let his hand fall back to his side, and she saw the crimson droplets fall to the floor. He stepped forward and pressed his lips to hers, holding her still by gripping her shoulders. She could taste his blood in her mouth and then he pulled away. She wiped her sleeve across her mouth, watching as she took a step back, a smile on his face.

“You’ll make a good mother, Gem,” He said softly. “I love you.” Her eyes widened slightly, and she shook her head quickly. He just kept his smile. He stepped forward and kissed her on the cheek, and she could smell the peppermint on his breathe, just as she could so long ago when he’d taken her. She closed her eyes tightly as he wrapped his arms tightly around her, pulling her to her feet almost effortlessly. She didn’t bother to fight this time as he held her close. She was starting to feel dizzy as he pulled back, leaning forward and kissing her again. “I love you, Gem,” he whispered against her lips, and then he was gone. She fell to her knees on the ground, wrapping her arms around herself tightly, closing her eyes and trying to stop her shaking.
~!!~
Rainy turned the page in her book, her eyes passing over th words quickly. She wasn’t paying attention to tanything around her, and didn’t hear the door open as Sam walked in. She didn’t hear him as he walked over to the bed and szt down next to her. When he spoke she jumped, the book falling from her hands and clattering ot he floor. She stood up quickly and spuna round to face him. Sam looked back at her, his face stoic. A few days before he had stopped her in the hallway, telling her strange things like how beautiful she was and other things like that, unitl a girl had walked by. Then he had kissed her cheek and she’d hit him. And now he was back.

“What do you want?” She demanded. His only response was silence. She folded her arms across her chest, glaring at him. “Look, I don’t even know your name,” She said. “And you don’t even know---“

“Rainy,” He cut her off. “Rainy Brown.” She closed her mouth quickly, a deep frown on her face.

“How did you know—“ She began, but he cut her off.

“you look so much like her,” He whispered instead.

“Who?” She asked cautiously, but he didn’t answer her. Sam knew that he was slipping away; he could feel it, ever since the day he’d come here, ever since the day he’d found out who Jane really was and that his feelings for her hadn’t changed. He didn’t want to love her; not the way he did. He wanted to forget. He wanted to leave his feelings for her as nothing more than a memory. Yet her she was, the perfect distraction, looking just like the person he wanted to forget. She stared back at him, unafraid, and he snapped.

In one swift movement he had her pinned down to the bed, his mouth on her neck. Rainy froze, but only for a moment. Then she was pounding on his chest, yelling and kicking and screaming. He ignored her and instead let his fangs graze her skin. She screamed again, but her voice abruptly cut off as he sank his fangs into her neck. She was suddenly unaware of everything but him. She felt her strength slowly fading with each second that passed, with each bit of blood that let her body. When he pulled away she could barely see straight, but as he lifted his wrist towards her mouth she pursed her lips together tightly, her eyes wide, shaking her head over and over again. Something flashed in his eyes—anger?---and she heard a loud “crack.” Her head sapped to the side, and blood flooded her mouth, her own blood. It took a moment longer for the pain to register in her mind, and then a fury so strong, like she’d never felt before, flooded through her. She yelled at him and shook her head. “NO!” She screamed, and it was that word that finished it. His hands took her mouth and forced it open, and then her teeth broke his skin. She tried to twist away from him, but he held tight. ‘Darren.’ That was the only word she could think of . Why wasn’t he here? Why? Why didn’t he save her? Sam’s grip didn’t’ loosen even after he pulled his wrist away.

“Jane,” He said softly.

“I’m not her,” She managed to choke out. “My name is Rainy. You said so yourself, remember?” there was a desperate edge in her voice, and something flashed behind Sam’s eyes. It was gone just as fast, as was he. She stared at the open door, one hand pressed against her neck to stop the bleeding. The blood seeped through her fingers. She was shaking as she pressed down harder on her neck, her mind racing. She could feel the bruise forming on her cheek, which still burned. “Darren,” She whimpered. “Darren.” He wasn’t there. Though Sam was gone, she was still strangely aware of him. His mate. The words stung, ands he retreated back into the only place she had left; herself.
~!!~
Anya was leaving. Only this time, she was careful. She left when he was in his study, and she was quiet. She didn’t dare look back and think about what lay there, nor ahead. She knew how easy it would be for Joel to find her now, and that thought terrified her. She had almost turned back several times because of it, but thought of Milo, how angry he’d be, how hurt…

But would he really be hurt? He’d said so himself that he didn’t love her anymore. She was just a burden on him, someone he felt he had to protect. So really, this was better for him. Who cared what happened to her? She just wanted him to be happy, t o smile, and she couldn’t even let him touch her.

Her “home” didn’t feel like home anymore. Had it ever really? She opened the front door with shaking hands, closing it behind her. She turned the light on, half-expecting to see Joel standing there. The house was empty. She felt almost numb, strangely detached form herself as she made her way up the stairs. As she opened the door to her room she saw herself as a little girl again, hiding under the bed as Joel came looking for her. Memories of her past weighed her down as she walked over to the bed, sitting down on the edge in silence. She jumped as the window panes rattled, and it began to rain. Within minutes, it was pouring.

”Joel!” Anya cried, running up to him and wrapping her small arms around him. He knelt down to her level, looking at the 11 year old with concern in his eyes.

“Anya, what is it?” he asked softly. One hand brushed her hair out of her face, streaked and wet with tears. Outside, it was storming. The thunder made her jump, and she buried her face in his shoulder, shaking.

“Oh, Anya,” he said quietly, stroking her hair. “Anya, it’s okay. I’m here for you. I love you.”

Had she ever really believed those words? The storm raged on, and she found herself curled up under the bed again, a scared little girl who’d only been tricked. Joel had been her savior, only to turn a round and stab her in the back, a little girl who hadn’t known any better. She made herself as small as possible under the bed, silent tears falling down her cheeks.
~!!~
Sammy hated Cole. She felt so stupid; he’d had he fooled for o long. His “change” w as a joke, nothing more than a slap in the face of someone who was already hurting. She read the note for what had to be the 100th time, but it was till there. It was still real. It still held the photo of her, struggling to smile for her school picture. It still held the same words, the same instructions that would have ended her life if nor for Ash. Ash. She could see his face clearly in her mind, as if he’d died only yesterday. The pain felt fresh again, as if an old wound had been reopened. She missed him so much. And it was Cole’s fault he was dead. Her fault. It should have been her to die that die, not Ash.

And then Cole had just turned around and ripped her heart out again. And it had all seemed so real, too. She had loved him, but it was all gone now with this note from Tuesday. She thought of the Cole she’d seen playing with his brothers, holding her…and the one who’d wrote this note. A joke. All a joke. She hated him more than she’d ever hated anyone in her entire life, though Drew was a close second But most of all, she felt hurt.

The rain didn’t start until she was far from her home. She was still grounded, the whole “engaged” thing had seen to that. In truth, she hadn’t given Luke much thought lately. She was afraid to. What if he wasn’t ok? Even her father hadn’t told her. She’d been avoiding him as much as possible, when he wasn’t at the hospital. She stopped walking as the rain came down harder, feeling a cold stab of fear as she thought of the night Drew had shown up. And Luke had saved her. She stared down at the sidewalk, biting her lip hard. He was sweet, if not annoying. He cared about her. He had helped her even when she was so mean to him, so angry. He was hurt because of her careless words. He was so stupid, but she cared about him, too. He as the reason she was even here now, the reason she hadn’t ended it all already. He was the reason she even had a future. He was her future. The thought brought a new wave of feelings, but only one she needed to understand. She was in love with him. He didn’t remember he now, and it was her fault. But she remembered him all too clearly. She didn’t know when it had happened. She spun around and began to run, back to where she remembered his house was. It’d been 3 months. She felt a sudden need to just see him, if nothing else. S He needed him, to see him smile, to have him close . she wasn’t thinking straight as she knocked on his door, calling his name. Her voice was frantic, panicked, drowned out by the pouring rain.
~!!~
Haven didn’t know what love felt like, but she was sure it was something like this. She couldn’t stand to be away from Rufus for too long. Strangely, the longer she was around him, the more she was able to forget about Benny. Even now, he seemed almost like nothing more than a dream. And maybe he had been. But killing Rosaline had been all too real. She knew she’d had no choice, but it still scared her, that she’d actually done it.

But she knew murder was what she was setting out for now. She couldn’t just forget about Lawrence, no matter how much she might want to. He was real, and he was the one who had killed her family. She thought of Espen as well, but he didn’t seem anywhere near as important as Lawrence. She still felt a surge of anger, thinking of broken Cinder had been ever since. Anger at Jona as well as Espen. Why hadn’t she listened to her when she’d come to fine her?! So much of this could have been avoided.

Part of her knew she should stay with Cinder, be with her, gut another part just needed to get away. Rufus offered na escape that she couldn’t find here. But now she had to take care of her past.

The rain made her think of 3 months ago, when she’d killed Rosaline. She shook off the thought; she was here for Lawrence. The moon was blocked by clouds; it was around7 pm. Thunder crashed and within minutes she was soaked. She didn’t know where to find him or even where to begin to look. Yet something told her that he was somewhere close by. She just had to find him. Thoughts of rage and revenge were what fueled her to keep going. She had no plan; only the knife in her jacket pocket and cold determination. The sidewalk seemed to stretch on in front of her almost endlessly, the rain plastering her hair to her forehead. She just had to find him. She could forget about Benny, forget about the worries at ‘home’ about Cinder, forget about it all. She needed this to end so she could finally start over.
~!!~
Sage didn’t know how much longer she could keep up this charade. Her baggy jackets wouldn’t hide the fact that she hadn’t gotten any bigger for that much longer. Her brothers were dense, sure, but not that dense. Eventually even they could put two and two together and get four. She had been better for so long now, but she dint’ want to leave. She knew it was selfish, but she didn’t’ care.

She had noticed Andrew getting paler, but she hadn’t given it much thought. She spent most of her time with her brothers, making up for lost time. Of course it only took turning into a werewolf to realize jut how much they really meant to her. Her parents were on a cruise, and weren’t set to be back for another week. She knew she couldn’t be here then; could she? AS it was, she was taking things one day at a time with no thought for the next. She was worried about Andrew, though. But after he had “snuck out” a month or so ago, they’d been keeping a closer eye on him, making it almost impossible to see him. Alone. She let out a small sigh, laying back on her bed. Her room was still spotless, thanks to Bryce. She knew that she was balancing on a ledge here; she just wondered how much longer she had before she fell off.

Kyle knew that something strange was going on with Andrew and Sage, though what, he couldn’t say. He didn’t trust him. Something felt…off. And Daniel seemed to hate him, nto that that was saying much. Daniel hated a lot of people, though he really seemed to hate Andrew. He had sent the way Sage looked at him, though, but he never would have though this sister to be the type to go out and give herself pregnant.

And of course, there was a solution to this, or at least something to make it somewhat better. Kyle had discussed it with Bryce and Daniel, and even Daniel seemed to agree with it on some level. They had to get them married. Of course it had fallen on Kyle to bring it up with him, since it’d been his idea. He didn’t knock as he walked into Andrew’s room, a bowl of soup in his hands. He too had seen him looking sicker and sicker lately.

“Yo,” He said, pushing the door closed behind him with his foot and setting the soup down on the bedside table.
~!!~
Leanne stormed down the hall and into their room, the door slamming open and hitting the wall hard. And then she was yelling at him, all of her bottled up emotions spilling out. She had gone to talk to Gem, and seen something that she knew she wasn’t meant to about the small girl. At first she was sure she must have been mistaken, but she wasn’t. She knew she wasn’t.

“She lied to me,” She yelled, looking at Patrick. “You looked me right in the eyes, and you lied,” she cried. “You told me I couldn’t have kids. But Gem---she’s a made vampire too, and she’s pregnant.” Her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides. “you didn’t’ lie about something small. This is---“ She paused, the continued. “This is my life, too, Patrick. If you didn’t want kids, ever---why didn’t you just say so, instead of lying to me?!” she cried. And then she spoke the three words she vowed she’d never say to him. “I hate you.” As soon as they left her mouth she attend to take them back, but she was far too stubborn. She was silent, her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides. She closed her eyes tightly, and lipped the ring he’d given her off of her finger, closing her fist around it. She couldn’t remember ever feeling this angry before.

“You had so many chances to tell me the truth,” She shouted. “Every time you looked at me, every time you told me you loved me, every time you kissed me, you knew that you were lying. You never told me the truth!” she yelled. She released her grip on the ring, throwing it at him. It bounced off his chest and landed in his lap. Anger rolled off of her in waves. “You never did love me, did you?” She asked quietly. The words stung herself as they left her mouth, and she knew they weren’t true. But part of her wanted to hurt him as much as he’d hurt her, to make him as angry as he’d made her. She dint’ understand why he would lie to her. It didn’t make any sense. She spun out of the room and slammed the door closed behind her before she could change her mind.
~!!~
Vivian didn’t know why she’d asked him to take her home. She wanted to make things right with her mom somehow. To say that she’d been angry was an understatement . Vivian didn’t know what had possessed her to come here, but she was here now, and her mother had found out what was going on with her almost as soon as she’d come. It was starting to show; anyone who knew what she’d looked like before could tell. It was the third night she’d been here; the first night Sergei had left, saying he wanted to visit his own mom. But her mother had jumped to conclusion, and was convinced now that he had left her. She knew that it wasn’t true; it couldn’t be. But he didn’t know what she knew, what her mom knew now. She was too scared to tell him, and he hadn’t noticed yet. She wondered what he was thinking, what he was doing.

And an hour ago her mom had stormed out of the house, saying something about ‘bringing that ungrateful boy back here’. She had tried to stop her, but it was too late. And so her mother was knocking on Sergei’s door in the middle of the storm, anger rolling off of her in waves. Vivian was still at home, sitting on the back porch and taking shelter from the rain. She had her arms wrapped tightly around herself, hoping that her mom had somehow changed her mind and come back, or that Sergei was on his way back now. She wanted to leave now; she wished she’d never come here, but she had, and now she had to deal with the consequences.

Her mom pounded her fist on the door harder, then folded her arms across her chest. She was freezing, but she didn’t care. This was something that she felt she had to do, and she would do it, for her daughter, even if she was still furious with her.
~!!~
Rue laughed as the rain came down harder, pulling on Elijah’s hand as she dragged him down along the sidewalk. “Come on!” she said, picking up the pace as she began to run. Lightning crashed up ahead, but it only seemed to make her laugh harder. She let go of his hand once they were standing under the cover of her porch, and she turned to him, the smile still on her face. She opened the front door and walked inside, waiting for him before closing the door behind her.

“I’m home!” she called. It was strangely silent, her first clue that something was off. She took off her jacket, hanging it on the hook by the door and walking into the kitchen. Her mother was sitting at the table, her head in her hands. She looked up when Rue walked in, attempting to hide the tears.

“Hello, Rue.” Her eyes fell on Elijah, and she forced a smile. Rue frowned, looking at her red eyes.

“Mom, what happened?” She asked softly. She just shook her head. “Nothing, nothing,” she said. “I’m going to head on to bed now. Goodnight, sweetie,” she said quietly. She paused next to her, but flinched and turned away. Rue watched her go upstairs with a frown on her face.

Over the past months she’d grown closer to Elijah; she felt bad about lying to him that day in the park about her burns, saying she had no more burns from her father. She wanted to tell him about the ones on her stomach so many times since then, but couldn’t think of a way to do it without making him angry.

She filled a kettle with water and put it on the stove, then turned back to Elijah, smiling slightly. “Tea is good when it’s raining,” She said simply, and sat down at the kitchen table, her hair dripping wet. She smiled over at him, but it slowly faded as she saw her father walk into the kitchen. She could tell immediately that something was off about him. It became clear as he walked closer; she could smell the alcohol on his breathe as he walked towards her. She stiffened up immediately, and heard the hissing of the steam from the kettle on the stove. He paused behind her, and she sat up straight; it was suddenly silent. She slowly stood up and turned around to face him, smiling at him, though it didn’t reach her eyes. It wasn’t a real smile, not her real smile.

“Daddy, I think you should go back to bed. You look tired,” She said, her voice tight and controlled. His eyes seemed to look right past her, and she flinched as he grabbed her wrist. “Daddy, I don’t think---“ Her eyes widened as he began to mumble something to himself, something about her mother and what she’d done.

“It was her fault,” he was saying quietly, and then he looked at her. Something changed in his eyes, and her blood ran cold as the steam hissed louder from the kettle on the stove. She was suddenly in front of him, and she knew what was going to happen even before he pushed her. Again. She didn’t understand what he had been saying about her mother; did he think she was her? Why was he angry at her? Strangely, that was what she was thinking as the heat reached out for her. She braced herself, but the pain never came.

She was pushed out of the way and fell to the tiled floor, catching herself on her knees. She looked up as she heard a scream, and saw that it was Elijah who had pushed her. It was him whose arms were now burned; burning still. She pushed herself to her feet and shoved her father out of the way, who was now crying, sitting down at the table and rocking back and forth slowly. She pulled the phone off the hook and dialed 911 with shaking fingers, and ran back into the kitchen.

“Oh no, oh no, oh no,” She kept whispering, ignoring her father completely as she ran back to Elijah.
~!!~
Ember knew that she was falling; she had known it since the day she’d come home to find Jasmine in her room, looking at her with worried eyes, seeing the defeated look on her friend’s face. She’d known it when her family had gone home, when she’d seen the pitied glances they sent her way. She’d locked herself in her room, refusing to come out even for her mom, who had immersed herself in work more now, no doubt to avoid the way her daughter now looked.

Jasmine was gone now, too; she’d stayed for two months after Dimitri’s death, but eventually even she had to go home. She’d called everyday since then, but Ember hadn’t answered the phone. It seemed strangely like when Jeremy had died, only much, much worse. This time, she had been married. Each night she dreamt of that day in the hospital, the way she could feel him go limp next to her, how much it had hurt. How much it still hurt.

She had taken off the ring and kept it under her pillow now. She kept her window closed so that she didn’t have to see the house where he’d been so often, where she could almost see him sitting in his room again. She knew how disappointed he’d be if he could see her now; she had lost herself in so many things. Clubs became the spot she went to forget; if she could lose herself in the music, the sense of falling, for only a few hours, it was still enough. She could forget everything there. She didn’t have to think about a thing.

Her mom didn’t seem to notice that she only wore long sleeves now, nor that she went out so often. She didn’t notice the way she always seemed to smell like alcohol, nor the cigarettes she had kept hidden in her room. And Ember didn’t notice Jeremy; he had been with her since Dimitri’s death, but kept himself hidden. He didn’t want to make thing worse for her.

Ember closed her eyes, listening to the music pounding around her. She took a sip of the drink in her hand and walked to the door, pushing her way through the crowd, ignoring those who shoved back.
~!!~
Seth didn’t know what to do to help Cinder any longer. He was doing all that he could think of to do for her; he had to literally take care of everything for her. She no longer seemed to care about what happened to her, no matter what that did to him. He had to force her to eat; even that simple action seemed to be too much for her. Part of him resented Haven for not helping more, but part of her couldn’t really blame her, either. She was trying to get by herself; she had lost a lot, too.

He brushed Cinder’s hair behind her ear, keeping his arms around her. It seemed to be one of the only things left that he could really do for her. He didn’t want to lose her, but he no longer knew how to keep her here. It wasn’t her fault that this was happening to her; it seemed so unfair, but he had learned firsthand how unfair life could be. He had refused to leave her side for almost any reason, and he still wouldn’t. He wanted to be the thing that kept her here; he wanted to be the one to help her, but even he didn’t know how. He pulled back slightly and kissed her forehead, but even then he knew somehow that he wasn’t helping her, no matter how much he wanted to.

And now Alice was back. He had almost forgotten about her; he wanted to. It wasn’t fair that she was able to follow him even after death, but she had. He didn’t know what to do about her; he wanted her gone. He was worried about Cinder, and now his past was catching up to him. It had been to please his parents, and because he’d had to; he’d never really loved her, and he didn’t think she had loved him, either. And he had lied to Cinder; he knew she was angry at him, and he didn’t blame her. He had lied to protect her, but had only hurt her even more in the end. He wasn’t sure now what he thought he was protecting her from.
~!!~
Elianna walked into her room, making her way over to her bed and curling up into a tight ball under the covers, closing her eyes. Sleep wouldn’t come, no matter how hard she tried, no matter how much she wanted it to. She had spent the last few months in a sort of daze, making it through each day only to face another one later. Things felt so wrong without Isabel here, without Tobias here. And Draven had been avoiding her so skillfully, it was almost as if he’d never even come back with Michi. And maybe that would be better. He wouldn’t talk to her, wouldn’t even look at her. She didn’t understand why; she needed him. She needed someone, and the only person who seemed to show any interest in her was the one person whom she hated; Landon. She wanted him to just leave her alone. Distantly, she realized that she had left her door unlocked, but she was too out of it to care. Her anger had left her, leaving her with a sort of numbness, a sense of not caring. She didn’t care what happened to her now. It didn’t matter anymore, not with Isabel gone.

She felt a guilt like nothing she’d never felt before, and it wouldn’t leave her. It was her fault she was dead; she should have been able to found her. She should have been able to stop her from being taken. She should have been able to stop it. Her only escape was when she dreamt; sometimes she would dream that she was back home, and not only was Isabel there, John was as well. She hadn’t realized just how much she depended on them, but she did. She needed them, and they were gone. She knew she should be happy that Isabel was with her father, but she felt like an old wound had been reopened and she had been left alone bleeding.

She opened her eyes but didn’t sit up. She stared out her window at the storm, and she suddenly felt very tired. But still, she could not sleep.
~!!~
Somehow, Piper had been able to keep Sunny back. But still, Tobias hadn’t come to see her. She somehow knew that he was there, that he was still there sometimes, but she hadn’t seen him. She knew he was right to be angry; she should have been able to stop Sunny from mating with Horace, but she had been too weak. Now she was stronger, but it was too late to go back and change it.

It hurt to think that Horace had come to see Sunny, but Tobias hadn’t come to see her. Maybe he had been right when he’d said that nobody loved her. Maybe she should let Sunny have her way and come back. But part of her clung to that hope that maybe things would get better.

But tonight they were getting worse. The visions wouldn’t stop. She saw herself laying with Tobias on the bed so long ago, his arms around her. She saw herself kissing him, herself kissing Horace, the night Sunny had mated him, everything. She saw Leslie ‘killing’ her that night, saw herself as nothing more than a pile of ashes on the floor. She saw herself now, curled up into a tight ball on the bed, holding her head as pain exploded behind her eyelids in a burst of colors. They wouldn’t stop. She saw people she didn’t know, people getting hurt, people in pain, and it was as if she could feel their pain like it was her own. She could feel the heartbreak and fear in the heart of all of them, and it seemed as though the visions would never stop. She could no longer tell what was future and what was past, what was her and what was not. Her head felt as though it were about to split in half, and the pain only increased with each passing vision. She couldn’t pull out of it.
~!!~
K.C. knocked on Xavier’s door, but she walked in without waiting for him to tell her to. She pulled the door closed behind her, letting out a small sigh. For the past three months she hadn’t seen her brother, hadn’t felt him anywhere near. She wondered if he was okay. She tried not to think about it, but the worry was still there, just under the surface. Xavier was the one distraction she had, and she found that she fell in love with him more every day, weather or not she wanted to. She was still amazed by how much she’d changed lately when she thought about it, but she was so glad she had. She hated the person she’d been before, and she never wanted to go back to her. She wanted to make things better with Andrew, but she knew that going after him would only make him angry again. Besides, it was her fault that Sage had gotten sick. She seemed to only be able to make things worse.

She shook off the thoughts and sat down next to Xavier on the bed, stifling a yawn. Her back still hurt from sleeping on the floor, but she was getting more and more used to it. She had been avoiding Chronos as much as possible, and it was working, strangely. It seemed to be the one thing she was good at doing. She glanced over at Xavier, taking his hand in hers absentmindedly, intertwining their fingers in silence. “You know,” She said quietly. “I may just have to steal your bed from you,” she said, a slightly teasing tone in her voice, though she wondered if he could hear it.
~!!~
”Dominic?” Ella called quietly, knocking on the door again, the one that Jasper had been staying in before. “Dominic, can I come in?” She didn’t wait for an answer, and instead opened the door. She had spent the last three months mostly locked in her room, trying to think of what to do. She missed Jasper more than she thought was possible. She wondered where he was. If he was happy. He had mentioned joining the army; was that where he was now? Was he safe? The questions ran around in her mind, keeping her up at night when she was trying to sleep. She kept thinking of everything that had happened between them, trying to think of where they had gone wrong. But she always came back to the same thing; it just could never have worked. Not with the way things were.

“Dominic, I’m so sorry,” she whispered. She hadn’t really spoken to him since she’d come back, alone. “Dominic, I didn’t want him to go,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry we left. I’m sorry---I’m sorry I came back alone,” she said softly, her voice barely more than a whisper. “I wasn’t thinking; I don’t think either of us were. I didn’t think about anyone but myself. I was selfish. I’m sorry.” She fell silent then, staring down at her feet. She hadn’t apologized to Alex yet; she wanted her sister to come to her. In a strange way, she was trying to get her to grow up.

Alex wasn’t growing up. She was still too stubborn and childish; and most of all, she was angry. She knew how wrong she’d been about her sister for so long now, but she still had never expected her to run off like that. And she knew that she had hurt Dominic, too. She wouldn’t tell them where Jasper was, and Alex wasn’t sure if it was because she didn’t know herself, or she was just being stubborn, just like she was. She wanted things to go back to the way they used to be, but something told her that they never could, no matter how much she wanted them to. She was sitting on the couch downstairs, looking at the fire raging on in the fireplace, but feeling none of the warmth that it gave. Things had gotten so complicated; she wanted them to be simple again.
~!!~
Sandra was slowly pulling herself out of the hole she’d dug for herself after seeing Tony again. Her mom was constantly yelling at her to think about her ‘future’. She had graduated last year, and she still had no plans. All she could think about was Tony and Anne, how she missed them so much, how they were still here, but how Tony wanted her to stay away. She knew that he thought he was doing the right thing for her, but she felt as though her entire world had fallen away when she had left him. She couldn’t stop seeing his face in her mind, and she couldn’t stop hearing his voice. She still loved him; that much was obvious.

At time she wondered if it really had all been a dream; it seemed too outrageous now to have been real, but also too outrageous to have been her imagination. All she knew was that she wanted, needed, to see him again. But she was too afraid to go back to that manor, in case he wasn’t there. In case it had all been a dream. So she stayed home.

She watched the rain come down harder from where she was sitting on her bed, and closed her eyes, allowing herself to fall into a restless sleep.
~!!~
Anne spent most of her time with her brother, but something about him was strange. He was back to acting the way he had before, when he wasn’t with Sandra. She didn’t push him anymore; she felt like it was her fault that he was hurting now, and that Sandra no doubt was, too. She was sitting next to him now, wrapping her arms around him tightly. She was still terrified of storms; that was one thing that hadn’t changed with her death. Her small form was shaking slightly as she clung to him tightly, as if he were the one thing left holding her in place. She felt as though they were the only two here, though she knew Milo and those two girls were here, though she hadn’t seen much of any of them since they’d gotten here. She spent as much of her time as possible with her brother, even if they weren’t talking. He somehow made her feel safer, better.
~!!~
December hadn’t seen Simon for over three months, and strangely, she was starting to feel okay about it. She only wanted him to be happy, and she knew that seeing her wasn’t going to help that. She still felt that stab of pain and jealousy when she thought about him with that girl, but if he was happy, she was happy. She missed him terribly, and she missed Brooke so much part of her almost wished that she had stayed in the ground; at least that way they’d be together now. But they weren’t. Brooke was safe and peaceful, and she was still here, stuck. She wanted to move on, go back to wherever she had been before, but she couldn’t.

Her parents hardly looked at her anymore, as if she were only a figment of her imagination, and she didn’t blame them. She wouldn’t want to see someone like this, which was why she was glad somewhere deep down that Brooke wasn’t here. She was at peace, and that was all that she could ask for her friend, even if she was still here. She watched the storm pound down outside, the rain hitting her windowpane hard. She closed her eyes and lay back on her bed, closing her eyes. It didn’t take long for her to fall asleep, with the rain as her lullaby.
~!!~
Draven couldn’t sleep. No matter how much he tried to, he couldn’t. He sat up slowly, loosening his hold on the sleeping form next to him. Michi. He brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes, then pulled back before he could wake her up. He stood up and walked over to the window, sitting down in the chair he had spent so much of his time in. It was really storming outside, he thought. He stood up and turned back to the bed when he heard the noise in the hallway.

At first he thought it might be Elianna. But the door opened, and it was Leslie standing there. Any tiredness he had felt left him immediately, replaced by a cold rage. It was him who had killed Isabel. He knew it without asking; he didn’t have to. It was him that had ruined everything. It was his fault his sister was so broken, his fault. He wasn’t thinking as he ran at him; all he knew was that a moment later he fell back, pain blinding him. He fell onto the ground, forgetting about Michi, asleep on the bed. His stomach burned, and he could feel the blood, see the knife in Leslie’s hand. He struggled to his feet, gritting his teeth together tightly and blocking the path to the bed from Leslie, who just smiled strangely.

“I don’t care about her,” He spat. “It’s you I want, not her.” Draven didn’t have to move as his arm exploded in pain, his chest, his shoulder, everywhere. Everything hurt and warm blood dripped from his wounds to the floor. Still, all he could think of was how much he hated him, not how much he was hurting, how much blood was falling to the floor. He grabbed for the knife, but Leslie was too fast; he spun him around and pressed the knife to his throat. Draven’s eyes widened, but Leslie didn’t even give him a chance to speak before he cut his throat. He immediately went still, and Leslie dropped him onto the bed next to Michi. His blood slowly pooled around him, soaking the sheets and Michi herself. As quickly as he had come, he was gone. He was walking through the woods a few moments later, covered in Draven’s blood. It looked almost as if he himself were hurt by the way he was stumbling, but he wasn’t.

Things had been easier lately, Ollie had been quieter, less of a fighter. Every time Ollie came out Draven was there to keep her from leaving. Michi hadn't thought it was possible, but she was falling more and more in love with him. Now, because of him she was able to sleep peacefully. She knew he was having trouble, but if she could just be there for him, he'd be okay. His promises still danced around her head. He would always be there, always protect her, he would never give up on her, even when she had already had. She believed him, she trusted him.

She was asleep when he got out of bed, yet she could feel the emptiness next to her. She was asleep when he touch her face, yet she could feel his finger tips. She was asleep when Leslie stepped into the room, she was asleep when Draven blocked the way to the bed, to protect her. She was asleep when Leslie killed Draven and dropped his body next to her. Her dreams twisted.

Everything was dark red around her. It was cold and wet. It reminded her of blood. "Draven?" she called, but there was no answer. Suddenly there was a light up ahead and there was a figure walking away, into it. "Draven!" she called. She knew it was him, but he just kept walking, he didn't even look back at her.

Michi slowly sat up. She felt strange, wet, covered in something sticky. And there was the smell. This was Draven's room, it always smiled like him, but now it was full of the smell of his blood. She finally dropped her hand from her eyes and opened them. A loud, shrill scream priced her ears when she saw the bloody sheets, her bloody body, and the bloody body of her mate. It was only when she screamed again that she realized that it was her, she only screamed again as tears fell down her cheeks. With another scream she fell off the bad.

She pushed herself back up and crawled across the bed. Her tears fell on his cheeks as she leaned over him. She pressed her lips to his dead, cold ones. Another shrill scream escaped her lips as she pulled away. She laid on his chest and rested her head on his shoulder. She was covering herself more so in his blood.

Leslie. She knew it was him who did this. But she couldn't bring herself to care right now. Here he was, her love, the only person she ever needed, who ever needed her, dead. "Three days." she whispered. "You'll be back in three days." she said to his dead body. She slipped off the bed and looked at his still bleeding wound. She had to stop it. She had to help him. She remembered when she had died, and how he came back and kissed her. She shook her head. She needed to keep her head straight. She pulled off his shirt, and another scream escaped her as she saw just how much worse it was. The blood just kept coming. She didn't know what to do. She dropped his shirt to the floor and ran to his bathroom.

A few moments she came back with bandages. After the bleeding stopped she wrapped him up slowly in the bandages. She was still freaking out, but her moment were now slow, sad. "Three days." she reminded herself. "He promised forever, he'll be back." she said as she walked over to his dresser and opened a drawer. She was looking for a clean shirt that would be easy to get on him. She had to be strong. Strong for him, he needed her the most right now. She pulled out a shirt and unfolded it. When she did something fell out. It was an old gold locket. She gasped as she picked it up. It was her locket. She thought that she had been wearing it when she died. The clasp was broken, as if someone had ripped it off her neck. She realized that it had been ripped of her neck. And Draven had kept it, but he never told her he had it.

She held it to her heart as she walked over to the bed again. She flinched at the sight of him. A few memories came back to her. Like the time he had gotten hurt and she had made him sit down and took off his shirt. He made a joke. 'If you wanted me to undress, all you had to do was ask.' he had said, even though he had been in pain. 'That's not funny.' she had replied. Even memories like those made her want to cry. "But he isn't dead, not forever. He'll be back." she reminded herself as she set the locket down next to the bed and began to pull his shirt on him.

~!!~
Brooke was walking aimlessly through the woods. She didn't know where she was or who she was. She just knew she had to keep walking. She had woken up in a grave yard a day ago. She had gotten frightened and ran off before she even thought about looking at the grave stone. Now her white-blond hair was just white, but her deep brown eyes had stayed the same. She pushed her long curly hair out of her face. It was so long that leafs kept getting caught in it and branches kept yanking at it. She finally gave up trying to keep it neat. Now it hung tangled around her. Her feet was bare and her brown dress (a very expensive looking one) was ripped here and there.

She stumbled into a clearing, unaware that her tangled had got caught in another tree. Just then another person cam stumbling in. She was covered in blood and looked as if she was hurt. Brooke, ever kind, stepped forward, still not realizing her hair was caught. "Are you okay, Miss-" she paused as she got a good look at her face. She was a he. "-Ter." she added quickly. "Are you okay Mister?" she said in a rush as she took quick steps forward. Suddenly her head snapped back and she cried in pain as she looked back. Her long was caught on another tree.

~!!~
Tony looked at Anne. He said nothing. He just looked away. He didn't hug her back. He no longer had the energy to do so. He was so sad. He missed Sandra so much, he loved her so much, but this was best for her. He knew that she didn't think so, not right now. But one day she would come to his grave and thank his empty casket for releasing her. Then she would go home to her husband and her kids. Yes, that was what he wanted for her. So why did he hate the man he saw in his day dreams. "he's taking Sandra away." he whispered unaware of Anne still being there.

~!!~
Dominic was sitting on his bed when Ella came in. Caden was standing by the window, unnoticed. Dominic looked at Ella then looked away. "Ella, stop." he said, folding his arms over his chest. "Just stop. You already ruin things, why make it worse?" he asked as he stood up and walked to the door. He closed his eyes. "I expected more of you." he said softly. "I saw you when you were little, I was sure you would grow up to be a good person." he said as there was a knock on the door. He was mad at her, he never been mad at her now, but because of her he no idea where his son was. Even when Jasper didn't know he was still there, he kept an eye on him. "You wanted to be treated like an adult, well grow up. Both of you need to." He was talking about both Ella and Alex.

He turned and walked down the stairs and pulled open the door. "Yes?" he asked when he saw the military man there. He was frowning deeply.

"Are you Dominic Meyer?" the man asked, his face blank, as if he had done this before. Dominic only nodded and the man handed him a paper.

A few moments later the door slammed closed. He glared at Ella. "Caden!" he shouted as he grabbed Ella's arm roughly and pulled her over closer to Alex. A few minutes later Caden was standing on the bottom step. She smiled weakly at her father and Dominic looked away. He shoved the paper into Ella's hands. He already read in the door way. "Read it out loud. Tell them what you have done!" he shouted at Ella. He was mad.

~!!~
Xavier had been sleeping. He had been dreaming, strangely of KC. He was surprised by how much he loved her, and how much she loved him. In his dream she was sitting next to him on his bed and taking his hand. He blinked realizing he wasn't asleep no more. "'Morning beautiful." he said as he yawned and sat up. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck. "That's not nice." he said with a fake pout when she said that she was going to steal his bed. "You, know I'd be willing to share, if you just ask." he said as he pulled away. He looked down at their hands, still tangled together. "I love you." he whispered.

~!!~
Landon pushed Elianna's door open with a huge smile on his face. "Hello beautiful!" he said happily as walked in. He closed her door and locked it. Again. He sat on her bed, pulled the blankets away from her, and touched her cheek. "You didn't think I would forget about you, did you?" he asked as he leaned forward and kissed her. It wasn't soft, it wasn't gentle. It was hard, it was demanding. He pulled back and smiled strangely at her. His hand touched the hem of her nightgown. Suddenly he was touching the skin just above her knee. "If you want me to, I will help you make another Isabel." he whispered in her ear. He was lying, even if he didn't want him to, he would try to. His lips were now dancing over her neck.

~!!~
Cinder was slipping under the water and she no longer had the will to fight against currant. All she had left was the hands that were struggling to hold her above the water. Seth had been doing everything for her lately. At any other moment in time she would of have seen that as cute. But she was still mad at him. He forced her to eat and she swallowed against her will. He took care of her while she didn't care anymore. He kept her alive when all she wanted was to die. Everyone she loved was dead. Ash was dead. Her mom was dead. Her dad was dead to her. Even Seth was dead. He was hugging her now, holding her close, trying to fix her. That was all she was now, a broken doll that needed to be fixed. She loved him, still, now and forever. She had been so upset when he left, and even more so when she found out about Alice. She wasn't sure what that was all about. He said that he didn't love her, never did, never would. But did she believe him? She wasn't sure what to believe. He had lied to her. She was no longer sure what had broken her more, maybe it was everything together.

She looked at him as he brushed her hair out of her eyes. It had grown down to her mid back. She needed to get it cut, she hated long hair. At first she fought against him touching her, but now it didn't seem as if she cared if he touched her. She looked so lost. She looked away from his and moved the hair out from behind her ear so it was in her face again.

Alice was sticking around. She never seemed to be far away from Seth now. She loved him, or at least that was what she said. She was acting like she owned him, and she said it more then once. She was going to kill Cinder the first chance she got. The only problem seemed to be that Seth never left her side. She needed him to leave the girl, at least for a moment.

Right now she was sitting right outside Cinder's home. No, she ever went far. She wanted to stay near Seth.

~!!~
Dimitri was lost. For the last few months he just been floating around in the darkness. There was something wrong, he knew, but his mind was so much of a mess that he could figure it. They say that your life flashes before eyes, but it seemed to have been going in slow motion for him. As he was seeing his own mistakes he realized that this darkness was all he deserved. He had lived an awful life. He didn't under stand why he even lived long enough to die the way he did, he wasn't even sure how that was. Then memories of Ember flashed before him. His heart tightened. He watched as he died, his lips on hers. "Ember." he gasped. Then the darkness faded from around him. He was standing in the middle of the street, somewhere in Dale. Then he looked at the houses in front of him. There was a mad woman sanding in front of one house, banging on the door. A moment later a boy opened it for her. Dimitri watched as surprised crossed his brother's face. But he didn't stick around to find out. The next thing he knew he was standing in Ember's room. He could smell the booze and the cigarettes. "Ember." he whispered. She wasn't there. He didn't know where she was. He wasn't sure how much time had pasted before he went looking for her. He checked a few different places he hoped to find her at. But the place that he did find her at was not one he hoped to be.

He was standing in a club. People were walking through him, no one saw him, and he was looking right at Ember. Jeremy was not far away. He looked at him for a moment before looking back at his wife. No, his widow. "Ember."

~!!~
Elijah laughed as she pulled on his arm. "Okay, okay." he said as he ran after her. He matched her pace even though he could of have have passed her if he wanted to. He smiled widely. He had never smiled that wide before he met her. He enjoyed her company, he had been skipping out on his other friends to spend more time with her. If you asked him a few years ago if he would hang out with a girl like her he would of have laughed in you face. But now he didn't want anything else. He wanted her to be happy, make her feel beautiful.

He let her pull him into her house. They had been at the park until they saw the clouds gathering. He followed her into the kicthen. When he saw her mom he frowned. He said nothing as she said that she was going back to bed. HE watched as she left and then watched as Rue put the kettle on the stove. He sat at the table. He smiled at her again. "Tea? Do I look like an old lady with some teacup dog?" he teased. That was when her father stepped into the kicthen. He stood up frowning. He didn't like where this was going.

And he watched it go where he didn't want it to go, helplessly. When he saw it coming, he didn't even pause. He stepped forward and pushed Rue out of the way. But he was too slow to get out of the way himself. The water hit his arms and some hit his neck. Before he could stop himself, a scream escaped his throat. He fell to his knees. He looked at his arms. Burnt; burning. He closed his eyes. It hurt. Now he knew how it felt when it happened to Rue.

He felt her next to him and heard her father's cries. He remained silent.

~!!~
Sergei had dropped Vivian off at her mother's, and he had come here. He told her mother the truth. That he had ran off with Vivian. Yes, his mother had been mad, but she forgave. She had asked if Vivian was okay, if she was... Carrying. He wasn't sure why she had asked, but it caught him off guard. "No." he said. It wasn't a lie was it? He had noticed her getting a little... Uh... Thicker, but he thought that was just because she was eating more, and prehaps less healthy foods.

Then one night her mother showed up at his door. He had been surprised, caught off gourd. He stepped back, offering her to come in, out of the rain. He knew why she was hear, or at least he thought he did. "I'm sorry that we left, but you really didn't give us much of a choice." He said in a monotone. He looked her right in the eye. From the look she gave him he could tell that it was a lot more then that. But then what?

~!!~
Dustin dropped the kid in the woods. There was a happy smile on his face. He had enjoyed it's cries for help. The cries that no one heard. Even if someone did hear, why would they save the kid, they would be to busy running for their lives. He looked at the broken body of the little girl and smiled. His light brown hair fell into his brown eyes. "Goodnight little girl." he said as he turned to leave. He felt no guilt. He never did. He enjoyed every kill. And besides, it wasn't like he killed the good people. No, he made it a habit to only kill those who would destroy the earth and their own race. That little girl was a thief, and she was already smoking, a habit she picked up from her dad.

He walked slowly, humming to himself. He was smiling. He was not disgusted with himself. He though he did a good deed. He always did.

~!!~
Patrick sat up. His eyes were wide. His connection to Rainy was breaking. That could only mean two things. She was either dieing or or she was mating with someone. Darren must of have been mating with her. But he didn't think he would do that by pinning her down and forcing her. The connection may of have been weak, but he could still get basic details from it.

He was about to stand up when Leanne came in. She was mad. He didn't have to know her to know this. Anyone could see it. "Leanne, what's wrong?" he asked gently. But she gave him no more time to speak. She was yelling at him. He was confused at first. Then she told him about Gem. His face fell. She had found out. He flinched when he heard her say those words that they promised never to say. 'I will never stop loving you.' he had once told her. 'Nor will I.' she had answered back. Those words had been false. He was looking down when the ring came flying at him. His eyes widened. She just kept talking, not giving him a chance to explain. He knew she wouldn't. He knew her well. Then anger pulsed through him when she accused him of never loving him.

He stood up, holding the ring. "Leanne!" he yelled, but then she ran. He ran after her and paused in the hall. "Leanne!" he called.

~!!~
Andrew was still in bed. He couldn't risk going out there and killing one of her brothers. He would just have to wait to die. He rolled over in time to see Kyle step in. He frowned at the sight of the soup. "I'm not hungry." he said rolling onto his back, but he kept an eye on Kyle. He could feel his blood swimming in his veins. He needed blood. He wondered if Sage's brother's was getting suspicious yet. They had never seen him eat anything, yet he wasn't wasting away until now, over three months later.

He narrowed his eyes. He was going to die, and it was all KC's fault. He closed his eyes and turned his head away from Kyle. "What?" he demanded. It was so hard not to stand up and kill this boy. IT would be so easy to.

~!!~
"You seem lost." a voice came out from behind a tree. Lawrence stepped out from behind that tree. "But you're not, are you?" he asked. He had a strange smile on his lips. "You are looking for me, aren't you?" he asked as he stepped forward. He knew what she had done to Rosaline, but he wasn't scared of her. She was just an over confident kid. He had killed by far more then she had. He stepped forward. "I'd like to see you try." she taunted. He believed fully that he could beat her. He was taller, he was strong, older, wiser. Crazier.

~!!~
Luke was flipping through the channels. He hadn't picked up a book in a while. There was something wrong, he knew it. His memories were coming back in flashes. He dropped the remote and walked to the door. He was home alone. Markus had decided to go again, and his mom was still at work. He pulled open the door. He was just about healed. Scars covered his arms, and he had one nasty scar that ran from his left hip to right shoulder across his chest. It still hurt every now and again. He blinked in surprised when he saw Sammy. She was engaged to him, at least that was what she had said. He stepped back away from the door and narrowed his eyes at her.

"I know who you are." he said. "You lied. Why would I ask you to marry me if you did nothing but hurt me? I bet you pushed me off the cliff." he growled. He smirked suddenly. "I don't know much about you except that you like to hit me. But I know your secret." he said. "What if I took that information to the cops?" he asked. He suddenly took a step back, as if he was afraid that she would hit him. He was.

~!!~
Jane stood in the doorway. She hadn't been there long. He been there long enough to know what had happened. She remembered the other day. Sam and Rainy was in the hall. Sam was flirting. That was fine, Sam could do what he wanted to do. But she had the impression he only did it because of her, he had been flirting a lot lately. When she walked by them he proved her right when he kissed the girl's cheek. She would of hit him herself but the girl beat her to it. Now Sam had forced Rainy to mate with him. He had to be loosing his mind. "Next time my brother comes you might want to have a baseball bat." she said as she turned and watched Sam's retreating form. "Samuel!" she called after him and rushed after him. She grabbed his arm and spun him around. She was glaring. Yes, he was happy he was trying to move on, but also hurt, and she hated the fact that he forced that girl.... Like Justice did to her. She yanked her hand back as if touching him burnt her flesh. "You're no better the Justice." she spat, then she was walking back down the hall. Away from Sam.

~!!~
Darren appeared in the room. He was smiling, unaware that he came to late. He was holding a rose, a surprise for Rainy. But he dropped it when he realized that something was wrong. He rushed over to her bed and made her look up at him. "What's wrong? Did something happen?" he asked worried. He smelt blood and his eyes fell to her neck. But he refuse to believe that under her hand was bite marks. Instead he looked into her eyes again. He trusted her completely.

~!!~
Christen had thought she looked strange lately, always wearing baggy clothes. But he wanted to trust her, so he refused to believe the obvious. He had stayed near by, and when Damian came he was there. He was frozen in anger and hate. He stepped forward, now, and made himself visible to her. His arms were crossed over his chest, anger blazed in his eyes, making him look even more like Damian. "So, Gem, is there something you want to tell me?" he asked, it seemed casual, but there was an uncapped anger in his voice. "I don't know, like when you and my father made that little thing." he said pointing to her belly. Then his words hit him and it made him sick. Damian was his father, Gem his mate, making her his stepmother, and the thing would be his half-sibling. Not only was he in love with his stepmother, but she was having his brother or sister. It was twisted. Even more so that he believed that Damian loved her.

After he regained his composer he stepped closer to her. He walked in a circle around her. His eyes still angry. "My fault, I shouldn't of have believed you could take care of yourself." he said, still mad. "Your fault for not telling me that he did this to you." he pointed out.

Elianna didn’t seem to hear the door open; she didn’t even turn as she recognized the voice. She was too tired, too defeated, to even care what he did to her anymore. She didn’t care. She closed her eyes as he walked over to the bed; when he kissed her she stayed still, unmoving. She knew how wrong it was, and that she should pull back, but she didn’t. Not even as his hand found her knee, as his lips found her neck. Something inside her was screaming ‘Stop this! Make him stop!’. But she didn’t. Isabel’s name made her flinch, and she closed her eyes tightly just as she heard the scream.

She wasn’t sure how she knew it was Michi. She knew that Michi would only yell if something had happened to Draven, and it was that thought that gave her the strength and drive to push him away. Her eyes were wide and frantic as she stumbled to her feet, her mind slowly wrapping around what was happening. Draven had to be hurt; that was the only reason she would be screaming so much. Hurt badly. It took her a few moments, perhaps too many, to find her legs and stumble for the door, grabbing almost blindly for the doorknob, a cry building up in her throat for her brother.
~!!~
K.C. smiled slightly at his greeting, and for a moment she stiffened up when he wrapped his arms around her. Slowly she hugged him back, letting out a small sigh. She was still getting used to all of this; but strangely, she liked it, the feeling that someone cared for her so much, something that she never would have thought she’d have before.

She almost reluctantly released her hold on him as he pulled back, her lips turning up slightly into a smirk at his comment. She looked down at their hands as he spoke, and she nodded. “I love you, too,” She said quietly. Before, she had thought her brother stupid for those same feelings, everyone stupid for them. She had never really understood the concept, but now she did. She could see why someone would want to spend forever with someone else, actually depend on them, mate with them….for once, in that moment, she could see herself with Xavier like that. The thought made her smile.
~!!~
Ella flinched; each of his words felt like a dagger to her. She stared down at her feet, her cheeks burning and tears stinging her eyes. She blinked them back, biting her lip to keep from saying anything else to make him angry. He was right to be angry, she thought distantly. It was her fault that Jasper was gone, after all.

She followed him downstairs as she heard a knock on the door, and paused near the stairway when she saw her sister sitting there. Alex turned her head slightly to look at Dominic, her face stoic until he came back with the paper and grabbed Ella’s arm. Ella flinched, but allowed herself to be pulled towards her sister, who by now had stood up.

“What—“ She began, but Dominic cut her off. Ella was staring down at the note in her hands with slow comprehension crossing her features. Her hands were shaking, and she had to struggle to hold them steady. She didn’t want to read it. She could feel her sister staring at her, and she read. After the first sentence her voice broke, and she could feel tears spilling down her cheeks. Jasper was dead. He had really gone to the army, and now he was dead.

Alex stood silent, her body rigid. Ella’s hands were shaking badly, and she gripped the note tighter as sobs wracked her body. “I didn’t---“ She cried, shaking her head. Her hair fell in her eyes, shielding her face from him. “I didn’t want him to go,” She cried. “I didn’t---I didn’t---“ she couldn’t seem to form a sentence. Alex was still silent.
~!!~
Anne slowly turned her gaze upward, looking at her brother, really looking at him, for the first time in a long time. She knew he had missed Sandra, but now…his words didn’t make sense to her. She pulled away slowly, though the storm still raged on outside, chilling her to the bone. “Tony…” she said quietly, but she couldn’t think of the right words to say, if there even were any. “Tony, it’s okay,” She said quietly. A weak excuse, she knew. It wasn’t okay.
~!!~
The rain soaked Leslie even through the tree branches as he made his way deeper and deeper into the woods. Some of the blood washed off, but it was still there. The knife in his hand was slightly hidden, but the blade was still red with blood. He didn’t know what to do now. He hadn’t finished the job; why, he couldn’t say. Why couldn’t he? He’d done it before, and this man had been part of the reason Jamie was dead….But he couldn’t. Or he didn’t. Why?

He looked up as he heard a voice, frozen in place. His eyes fell on a girl who had her hair tangled in a branch, and his eyes narrowed slightly at her words, the grip on the knife in his hand involuntarily tightening. “Do I look okay?” He demanded, stepping forward and raising the knife above his head as if to strike her. Instead, he cut her hair away from the branch, a good deal of it too.
~!!~
Seth shook his head, pushing her hair back behind her ear as she let it fall down again. He wanted things to go back to the way they were before. Oftentimes he had wondered how things would have turned out if he’d never come here, if he hadn’t stopped Cole, if things had run their natural course and he’d stayed out of it. Would Alice have found him anyways? Would Cinder even be here now? He didn’t know, and he didn’t want to. He just wanted to protect her.

But that was getting so hard. Alice had said, straight to him, that she would kill Cinder. If he didn’t hate Alice before, he did now. How could he not? He would never leave Cinder’s side again, he knew that. He wouldn’t let her get hurt. He couldn’t. But even now, holding her close, he knew she was slipping away from him, and he couldn’t seem to pull her back.
~!!~
”Elijah!” Rue shouted, kneeling down next to him. Her eyes fell on his arms and she flinched, closing her eyes tightly. “Elijah, I’m sorry,” She cried. A horrible sense of guilt settled in, and she wrapped her arms around him tightly, trying not to touch his arms. She saw his neck and her eyes widened, and she let go of him, as if afraid to break him any more. “Elijah..” she said quietly. “Elijah, why did you do that?” She demanded, tears in her eyes. “I was already destroyed; you weren’t…” she trailed off at the end and listened as her father got up, the chair clattering to the floor. A few moments later the front door slammed shut.

Rue felt an unexplainable fury towards her father, something that she’d never felt before. “It’s gonna be okay,” She said quietly, placing her hands on his cheek, shaking her head. “It’s gonna be okay,” She repeated softly. “I called for help. You’ll be fine, fine, fine,” She whispered, but she knew even as she said it that it wasn’t completely true.
~!!~
Vivian’s mother glared at Sergei, and something about her look said that she wasn’t buying a word that he was saying. “If that was all there was to it, then things would be a whole lot simpler,” she snapped. She didn’t make any move to come in out of the rain, and instead she took still as a statue, her eyes narrowing. “Vivian came here to speak with me, and then you skipped out on her while she’s carrying your child?!” She demanded. “You’re lucky you were here; if you weren’t, I was----“ She began to mumble to herself, hardly any of her words audible. “As if it weren’t bad enough that you took her away…you did this….do you have any idea how flustered she gets? How nervous? Do you honestly think that she can handle being a mother?!” she shouted. “And then you just disappear?!” Her voice was rising with each word, and anger was written clear across her face.
~!!~
Ember could barely hear herself think as she finally pushed her way outside. The fresh air made her stomach turn, and the cup fell from her hands. She had walked here; she could walk home. But with each step she took the world spun faster and faster, and she knew she wouldn’t be able to make it.

Jeremy turned his gaze to Dimitri, and his eyes narrowed. “You need to leave,” He said simply, his voice low and dangerous. Ember continued to walk, unaware of either of them. “You need to go. If she sees you, do you know what will happen? You’ll only hurt her more.” As if hearing his voice, she turned, and her eyes fell on Dimitri. She felt as if the world had fallen out from underneath her, and she froze. Her mouth formed his name silently, but no sound came out.
~!!~
Kit picked up the pace, keeping quiet yet walking as quickly as she could without making a sound. She knew he was here; he had been here before, and he had no reason to believe that she was here. He probably didn’t even remember her; after all, how many had he killed? ‘Probably as many as I’ve killed of his kind,’ she thought, and for some reason the thought made her smirk.

She didn’t expect to find him before she got to the house, but screams had made her change her course. She ran as fast as she could, yet somehow she was still quiet. And there he was, standing in the woods. Cold rage flooded through her veins, and then she saw the girl, no doubt the source of the screams. She was dead.

She saw only his back, but she knew. It was him. It was the man who’d killed her family, the reason she was here, the reason she did any of this. She had a strange thought then; she didn’t even know his name, yet she had spent most of her life trying to kill him. She turned to the right, keeping as far from him as she could, and passed by him, keeping to the shadows and holding her breathe. She could see his face now. She knew; it was him. She closed her eyes, feeling in her pocket for the cold steel of her knife, the one her brother had given her. She felt a sick twist in her stomach as she heard him humming. He was pleased with himself, the blood-sucking leech. She stopped walking, until he had passed by her again. Then she moved faster than most people her age could, and with more strength than girls her age would have. Her hair was tucked up under the cap again, and she was pressed in a pair of old blue jeans, hiking boots, and a black long-sleeved hoodie. She was easily mistaken for a boy, and now was no different. She didn’t care. She flipped the knife open, and the blade caught a shaft of moonlight. She came up behind him as silently as she could, and wrapped an arm around his chest, pressing the knife to his throat.

“Don’t move,” She hissed in his ear, her voice low. “I’m going to enjoy this.”
~!!~
Leanne heard him come out into the hall behind her, but she didn’t stop running. She didn’t stop until she had turned the corner at the end of the hallway, and then she ran down the stairs. She wasn’t thinking straight; most of her wanted to go back and demand an answer, then fall down and apologize. She felt horrible already, but she also felt betrayed. He had lied to her for so long, and he had done it so easily.

She made her way outside and didn’t stop until she was in the woods. She paused then, her breathe coming in quick pants. She didn’t want him to find her; not now.
~!!~
”We need to talk,” Kyle said simply, and he gestured at the soup. “Eat,” He said simply. “You haven’t been eating much lately, at least not that I’ve seen, and you’re sick. It will help.” He frowned, and pulled a chair up next to the bed. “You know, we can keep this up as long as you want, but eventually we’re gonna have to talk,” he said simply, folding his arms across his chest and leaning back in the chair. “You and Sage came here, and now I’m going to tell you what I think you need to do. I talked to Bryce and Daniel, and they agree, too.” He kept talking, never once slowing down.
~!!~
Haven froze when she heard his voice, and she knew without turning around who it was. She did turn around, however, and her eyes narrowed. Her grip tightened on the knife in her jacket pocket, and she looked at him. “Lawrence,” she said simply, but all her hatred for him was in that one word. She hated how she had felt after killing Rosaline; dirty, guilty, selfish. But she knew that she would kill Lawrence in a heartbeat, after what he’d done to her, done to her family. She knew somewhere in the back of her mind that he could beat her, and he probably would, too. Another part of her was too blinded by anger to think straight.

She took a step closer to him, her chin thrust out defiantly, as if daring him to make the first move. “If you know why I’m here, then go ahead. Make the first move. I’d like to see you try.”
~!!~
Sammy wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but it wasn’t this. She had hoped that maybe somewhere, deep down, he would have his memories back, and things would be okay. But of course he didn’t; but his words still shocked her, cutting her deeper than she thought possible.

“You think—“ She began, but his next words felt like someone had punched her in the stomach, taking the breathe right out of her and leaving her gasping for air. She forgot what she was going to say; I love you? It didn’t matter now. “You wouldn’t…” she said quietly, and she hated herself suddenly as she felt the tears in her eyes. She only hoped that the rain hid them better than she thought. He thought she pushed him off the cliff; he was going to tell the cops about what she’d done. She hit him a few times, sure, but she could never…would never…and to think that he would do that to her…he wouldn’t, not if he remembered…not the same person who had stayed with her when it was storming, who she had fallen asleep with.

“Luke---“ She began, but cut herself off as he took a step back, flinching visibly. “Luke, I would never hurt you,” she whispered. “ Not like that. You don’t—“ She paused, shaking her head. “You don’t remember me at all?” Her voice cracked, and she already knew the answer. He did, but only the part of her that had hated him, or at least acted like it, if even that.
~!!~
Sam watched Jane’s retreating form, his eyes distant and confused. Jane. That was Jane. But she….and Rainy…

His head exploded in pain like he’d never felt before and he grimaced, using the wall to support himself and keep on his feet. Jane. But…He didn’t understand. But he did understand her last words. No better than Justice? He had killed Justice. He thought again of that day, and once more he felt no regret, no remorse. Now, he only felt…confused. His head was throbbing, and he wanted to go after her, call after her, but he found he couldn’t even speak.
~!!~
Rainy’s eyes widened, and suddenly he was there. But too late. She felt a shiver run down her spine, and she pressed down harder on the marks on her neck, as if that alone could somehow make them go away. She couldn’t even bring herself to say his name; she felt like a frightened little girl again, back to the way she used to be, only maybe even worse. She wanted to tell him, but all she could was cold, raw fear, and she was shaking again as she looked back at him, biting her lip until blood ran down her chin. It was pain, but nothing like the pain in her neck. She could still feel Sam; he was still close by, standing in the hallway. Why did she know? She closed her eyes tightly, shaking her head over and over again, pressing down harder on the marks on her neck. Blood seeped through her fingers.
~!!~
Gem’s head snapped up when she heard a voice, and her first thought was ‘he’s back’. But it wasn’t him; it was Christen. Relief was replaced by panic, then fear, then cold, hard realization as he looked at her, anger beyond anything she’d ever seen before on his face. He knew; he’d seen it all.

She opened her mouth to speak, to say something, anything, but no words came out. She flinched with each word he spoke, feeling like a knife in her chest. She pushed herself back to her feet from where she’d fallen on the floor, shaking her head. His last words pushed her to the edge.

“You weren’t there!” She shouted suddenly. Her voice was panicked, and it hinged on desperation. “You weren’t there!” She cried. “Do you think I wanted this?!” She shouted, gesturing down at her body. “He—He—I hate him, Christen! Don’t you realize that?!” She shouted. “I tried to stop it!” she turned in a circle as he paced around her so that she kept her eyes on his, her chin thrust out defiantly. “Do you honestly think that I want this---this thing inside of me?!” She shouted, gesturing at her stomach. “I hate it, and I hate him!” She yelled. “And what was I supposed to say to you, Christen?” She demanded. “Oh, I’m sorry but last night your father showed up and now, whoops, you’re going to have a sibling?!” Her voice was bordering on hysteria now.
~!!~
Anya wanted to go back. She suddenly needed to go back, but she knew that she couldn’t. She closed her eyes tightly as the storm raged on outside, and suddenly she thought she heard footsteps on the stairs. Every muscle in her body froze, and she felt tears spilling down her cheeks. No. He couldn’t have found her, not already. She knew it was all in her mind, but the fear was still there, and she couldn’t move.

Brooke watched him as he stepped forward, a knife in hand. Her eyes widened. "No, you look hurt, I was just being po-" she didn't finish. Instead a scream escaped her lips as he bought the knife up to to strike her. What had she done? Was he mad at her for mistaking him as a girl. Was he insane? She stumbled to the ground. Her hair stuck to her face. She looked up at him, wide eyed. She blinked water from her eye lashes. Her eyes fell to the large bunch of hair still tangled to tree. Her hair. What remained of it now hung no longer then her shoulders. Although she didn't know it, that had been her first hair cut in over fourteen years. And she didn't know that it would never grow back.

She stared at him, silent for a moment. Then she looked down at her hair. The water was dripping off pink. The knife he had used had been covered in blood. Still, she couldn't believe he was a murderer. So she believed something else. "Did you try to-" she cute herself off, but finished in her head. 'Try to kill yourself?' she shook her and stood up. She quickly stepped back, almost as if she was afraid of him. "You know, you didn't have to do that, I could of have gotten it untangled." she said in a small voice, almost as if she was trying not to push him over the edge. "Who are you?" she asked softly.

~!!~
Landon had found it's way a little ways up ward when Elianna had finally pushed him away running to the door. He, too, heard the screaming. He watched her borely. He stood up and his arms found their way around her waist. "No." he whispered. "We were having fun." he said trying to pull her away from the door. He did just in time for D'angelo to kick the door in. He looked at Elianna, a deep frown o his face. "Was that you?" he asked as he pulled her out of Landon's hands.

~!!~
Xavier watched her in silence. When she smiled he titled his head and pushed her hair behind her ear. "What's up?" he asked, leaving his hand on her cheek. "You are smiling and I don't know if I should be worried or not." he said softly as he kissed her again. He pulled away and was looking at her thoughtfully. "What are you thinking?" he asked, unaware that he was thinking the same thing.

~!!~
"You didn't what!?" Dominic yelled. "You didn't what!? What!? What!?" he shouted. He sat down in the chair and buried his face in his hands. "You got him killed! You knew! You could of stopped him, but you didn't" he yelled between a sob and an insane laugh. "You got my son killed!" he shouted. "Jasper could never have survived there, and if you loved him you would of known that!"

Caden was staring at Ella. "Jasper is dead?" her voice was impassive. She took a stepped back and walked numbly back up stairs. It wasn't after she slammed and locked her door that she began to cry.


~!!~
Tony stood up suddenly. He looked at Anne. His brown eyes narrowing at her. Then he did something he never did before. He yelled at Anne. "NO! Stop lying!" he shouted. "You know just as well as I do that it isn't!" he stepped back and knocked something over, it clattered over and broke. He didn't care. "It never will be again. Grow up, Anne! Don't you get it! You're not a little girl anymore, you can't pretend nothing is wrong, because everything is!" he shouted as he stepped toward her again. He didn't know what made him, but he was shaking her now. He knew that this was wrong, but he just kept yelling.

~!!~
Cinder glared at him and let her hair fall back in her face again. She stood up and stepped away from him. "Why are you still here?" she demanded. "You didn't hesitate to leave last time!" she shouted. "When I needed you most! You went off after that girl, the one you were kissing in the woods, and you left me here! How do I know you weren't with her all that time you were gone!?" she shouted. "Oh! And then there is that blond chick! What was that all about?" she stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face. She fell to her knees crying. "Why do you keep hanging around?" she whispered. "I can see it, I'm killing you." she paused. "No pun- No pun intended." she whispered. Her hands were shaking and she knew that she was loosing it, loosing Seth, loosing all this. She loved Seth, but she hadn't told him lately. Partly because something told her that he didn't love her no more.

~!!~
Elijah made a whimpering noise as she held him. He rested his head on her shoulders. He thought it was sweet that she was trying to clam him. Most people would of have been panicking. He closed his eyes, but didn't talk for a long time, as if debating what he should say in response to her question. "Maybe it's because I love you." he said suddenly. "Or at least falling love with you." he sighed. "No, Rue, you don't deserve any more of this, you don't deserve it all. You are incredibly sweet, and if this is only one thing I can do for you, I would do for you all the time." he said, but it was clear that he was in extreme pain. He pulled away from her. "What's the story?" he asked suddenly. "What do I tell them happened when they asked, because you know they will." he said as he stumbled to the door as he heard the sirens. He surprised himself. He would be willing to lie, just so she could keep her father.

~!!~
Sergei's faced paled. Her words hitting him hard. "She's--- I didn't know---" Was all he was able to get out. He shook his head. "No." then she began to accuse him of skipping on Vivian. "No! I didn't! You think if I did I would stay in Dale!?" he demanded. "I'm not like that!" That was when his own mother came around the corner.

"Sergei? What's with the yelling?" she asked as she looked at Vivian's mother. "Didn't I raise you better then to yell at your elders?" she asked.

Sergei frowned and mumbled something in Russian. "Sergei." his mother said with a frown. Then Sergei explained what the other woman had said about Vivian. Her face became hard. "YOU LIED TO ME?" she yelled.

Sergei stared at her wide eyed. "Mother. I didn't know! And I didn't skip out." But he was feeling like he was being pushed into a corner. He bite his lip. All he could think about was the fact he was going to be a father. He didn't know if he should be happy or worried. Her mom was right, Vivian wouldn't make a good mother.

~!!~
Dimitri shook his head when Jeremy spoke. "I can't leave, there had to be a reason why I came back." he whispered. "Plus you sound like a hypocrite. You stayed too." he reminded when Ember spoke. He turned around and faced her. He took a step back. "Ember." he whispered, taking two steps forward. He looked at her sadly. "Ember, can you really see me?" he asked softly as he touched her cheek.

~!!~
Dustin froze. He smirked. "Aw, boy, did you see that then?" he asked referring to the little girl. He laughed slightly. "You know you can't kill me like this." he said as he grabbed her wrist. "I am over 300 years old, I can easily beat you." he said. "I can-" But he was cut off by a voice not so far away.

"Daddy? Daddy, where are you?" she called. She sounded like just a lost little girl. Dustin knew better. He went ridged.

"Avril, sweetie, go home now." he called, his voice sweeter then ever heard before. "Go home." he called.

Avril cried. "But daddy!" she called as her voice came closer.

Dustin frowned deeper. He wrapped a foot around Kit's ankle and tugged knocking them both down to the ground. He fell on top of her. His face suddenly grew blank. "You're not a boy." he said solemnly as he grabbed the wrist with the knife. He twist around so he had her pinned to the ground.

"Daddy?" the voice was closer. Dustin cursed and looked down at Kit.

"Shame, that you have to die." he said. She had tried to kill him, and who knows how many other vampires she killed.

~!!~
Andrew sat up and glared at the soup. He couldn't eat that. He looked at Kyle while he talked. He was so annoying. So annoying, and full of blood. He was fully aware that he was staring. Suddenly, faster then any human could go, he had Kyle's chair knocked to the ground, and Kyle pinned to the wall. He was panting. "Just shut up." he growled. "Sage isn't Pregnant." he said, his voice low. "Any blind man could see that." he said as his grip around his neck tightened. "But you wouldn't believe the truth. At least not until I kill you." he said with a smile. "Sage is gonna tear me to pieces. Quite literary." he titled his head. "I don't care any more. I'm so hungry, been weeks since my last meal. Do you know the danger you guys put yourselves in by locking me in here? You locked two wide animals in your house. Sage just happens to be a little more tame, you can't tame my kind though. We will always have that urge. That urge to drain you dry." he laughed slightly. And suddenly his fangs were at Kyle's neck. He would enjoy killing him. His fangs sunk into the skin there.

~!!~
Darren's eyes closed as he removed the bloody finger off her neck. "Rainy." he whispered. "Who?" But he didn't need an answer, he could smell him on her, around her, on the hall. He wrapped his arms around her. "I'll fix this." he whispered in her ear, and suddenly he was gone again. He appeared in the hall next to Sam, this time he had his ax with him. "I don't know who you are, or what you have with Rainy. Why you would do that to her, but you are gonna pay." he growled the ax was next to Sam's neck. Darren was mad. Rainy was sweet girl, she didn't deserve to be pushed into something she didn't want. Even though Darren had thought of mating with her, he wasn't going to until she wanted the same thing. But now he could never.

Jane spun around when she heard a voice near Sam. Her eyes widened as she ran forward as the ax swung downward. Darren wasn't gonna kill him, just scare him into staying away from Rainy, but Jane didn't know that. She thought he was really gonna kill him. She didn't know what she was doing, not until it was too late. She pushed him out of the way just as the ax came down on her own neck. She couldn't scream in pain. She fell down to the ground in two pieces.

Darren stepped away, his eyes wide. He never meant to kill anyone. He shook his head. "I didn't mean to-" he whispered.

~!!~
Lawrence stepped forward, a smirk on his face. He pulled a gun out of his jacket pocket, and pointed it right at Haven. "what do you have, little girl? A little play knife?" he laughed as the gun went off. The bullet grazed her cheek. He was toying with her. He pointed the gun at her chest. "Any last words?" he asked.

~!!~
Luke crossed his arms across his chest. "I know all I need to know I need to know about you." he said simply and leaned against the door frame. "What did you want?" he demanded. "I had enough of you. You won't leave me alone in my sleep and now you're here-" he paused when he realized what he had just said. They were strange dreams. Him kissing her at the alter, him holding her while she slept. But they were all just dreams. They were real, he was just going crazy.

He had the sudden urge to touch her, but he knew what would happen. Or at least he thought he did. She would hurt him. She always did.

~!!~
Christen stopped in his pace and glared at her. "I never said that you wanted this, I never even implied it. But why should I be here every moment to protect you! I couldn't even protect myself! Look at me! I'm dead. I shouldn't even be here anymore. I should of have moved on, but, oh, look, I am here. FOR YOU!" he shouted. "I'm not blaming you for, for, for, what? That thing inside of you! All I wanted was that you had told me! You lied to me and kept it a secret. It would of have been a whole lot simpler if you just told me. But NO! I had to find out this way." he shout at her. He knocked something off her desk and fell to the ground, breaking. "Why didn't you just tell me the truth!?" his voice also sound close to the edge of hysteria.

~!!~
But it was footsteps she heard. It was Milo's. He had gone back to his room, only to find hers empty. He knew he would of have came here, so in the middle of the storm he made his way here. "Anya!?" he called. "Anya!?" his voice was panicked. "Anya, where are you!?" But he Couldn't find her. She was no where to be seen. Finally he found his way to her room. It was empty as far as he could see. "ANYA!" he suddenly shouted as he hit the wall with his fist. He punched a hole in her wall. "Anya." he whispered as he fell to his knee, leaning against the door frame. "Anya, Anya, Anya. Where are you? Why did you go?" he cried. "Why do you inset on hurting me? I love you, I never stopped. Anya." he cried to himself. "Anya, I need you. Please, I know I haven't the best lately, but I everything I did was to protect you. Protect you from Joel, from yourself, from myself.

In spite of himself, Leslie laughed. It was a short laugh, and anyone who knew him well enough knew that it wasn’t his real laugh. It held an almost insane edge to it. He looked at the girl, and he knew immediately she was human. But something felt off about her; she was…dead? He frowned, taking a step forward, closer to her.

“If I wanted to off myself, I’d be dead and buried by now,” He said simply. A deeper frowned crossed his features. “Who are you?” He retorted, his voice demanding.
~!!~
Elianna’s hands lost their grip on the doorknob, and she was pulled back. Anger took over every sense; she knew her brother was in trouble. “Let go of me!” She shouted, spinning back towards him and trying to shove him away as the door opened. She spun back around, and her eyes widened. “Tob—“ She began, but it wasn’t him. She pulled away from D’Angelo as he pulled her from Landon, her eyes wide, panicked. “No, it was Michi,” she said, breathless though she hadn’t done anything yet. “I—I think Draven---“ But she didn’t finish. She took off down the hallway towards his room.
~!!~
K.C. shrugged when he asked her what she was thinking, but she frowned slightly, her smile gone. She didn’t want to tell him what she’d been thinking; she didn’t think she could put it into words even if she’d wanted to, but some part of her wanted to tell him everything she’d just been feeling.

“I just---was thinking,” She said, and though her mind was yelling at her to shut up, she continued on. “About my brother, and other people,” She said slowly. “And how they all seem to fall in love, and how stupid I thought they were,” She whispered. “I thought they were so stupid to mate and tie themselves down to one person, when love was so fragile…so unreal,” she mumbled. “But now----I think I understand it,” She said quietly. “All of it.” As soon as she said the words, she scooted away from him on the bed, her cheeks bright red from embarrassment and something else . She was afraid of what he would say. “I should uhm…go now,” She mumbled, pushing herself to her feet and turning for the door, hoping to get out before he could say anything.
~!!~
Ella’s hands were shaking so badly that the paper slipped from her grasp. Alex’s mouth opened in a wide ‘o’, and she looked at Dominic, then back at her sister, who was crying openly now, though silently. As he continued to yell she stepped forward suddenly. “Stop it!” She shouted at Dominic, just as she heard Caden’s door slam shut upstairs. She didn’t care. “Just stop it!!” She yelled. “ Stop yelling at my sister!” Ella turned her eyes to her, though her form was blurry, indistinct. “You have no idea how much she loved him! How much she still does! I know her better than anyone else, and I see it in her face everyday!” she yelled, her eyes on Ella, though her words were directed at Ella. “I don’t understand why he left, but I do know that she let him go because she loved him,” She said, her voice softening slightly. Her eyes were pained as she looked at her sister, who was staring back in silence.
~!!~
With each word Anne seemed to shrink down to a smaller size, until she couldn’t any longer. Tears stung her eyes, and she struggled to hold them back. She flinched as the ‘crash’ reached her ears, and when he was shaking her her eyes widened, the tears finally spilling over. She knew this wasn’t him; it couldn’t be. “Tony,” she whispered. “Tony, I’m so---I’m sorry,” she stammered. Her legs wouldn’t work, even as she willed them to move. She stumbled back and out of his grasp, falling to the ground. She stared up at him for a moment and then pushed herself to her feet and turned and ran out of the room, the door wide open behind her.
~!!~
Seth hadn’t wanted to tell her everything he knew, everything, as much as he did at that moment. But how could he possibly explain it, when he hardly understood it himself? ‘Oh, Cinder, that girl I was kissing was actually you, come back from the future with your friend, to tell me to leave you.’ That wouldn’t help her; that would make her fall farther off the edge than she already had. He flinched as she mentioned Alice, but strangely not when she slapped him. He stared back at her, and he moved closer at her last words, pulling her close without thinking. “No, Cinder,” He said quietly. “It would kill me to not be with you. I love you, Cinder,” He whispered. He pulled back and looked at her. “If you want me to leave, I will,” He said quietly. “No questions asked. I left last time because I thought it would be best for you, but I was close the whole time. I could never leave you,” He whispered. “But I will, if it’s what you want. So tell me, Cinder,” He said, with such strong will that he even shocked himself. “Do you still love me?”
~!!~
Rue’s eyes widened as she heard his words, and she was silent until he walked to the door. She followed him quickly, her heard beating quickly. “Tell them the truth,” Rue said suddenly, the harshness and coldness in her voice startling even her. “Tell them the truth,” She whispered. “And I will, too.” She closed her eyes, feeling tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. “He doesn’t deserve to stay,” she said, opening her eyes again. She shook her head quickly. “Not after this,” she whispered. She didn’t say so, but she felt the same; she knew she was falling in love with him as well, even if it scared her more than she could possibly explain to him. It was then that she heard the sirens outside, getting closer and closer. She knew how much pain he was in; both times it had happened to her, she had lost consciousness. But he was still here. “Elijah, tell them the truth. Don’t lie for me. I don’t want you to.”
~!!~
Vivian’s mother’s face was hard, cold, calculating, as if she wasn’t sure weather or not she should believe him or not. She turned her eyes to his mother as she began to yell, but still she was silent. Finally, she spoke again.

“I’ll believe you for now,” She said sternly, her eyes on Sergei. “But you’d best come back. And you’d best stay with her,” She said. “My daughter will not be put through this alone. You did this; you fix it,” She said coldly, and took a step back, the rain already soaking her.
~!!~
Ember shook her head quickly, and when he touched her a small cry escaped her lips; she sounded frightened, terrified. “No,” she whispered, and she stepped back, but fell down to the ground. “No!” She shouted, shaking her head back and forth quickly. “No, no, no,” She kept whispering, over and over again. Jeremy was giving Dimitri a look, something along the lines of “I told you so.” Ember was staring at Dimitri, unable to see Jeremy. She had hoped to see him so often; if Jeremy came back, his sister came back, why not him? And now here he was, and she….she didn’t believe it. She pulled herself to her feet, her mouth moving, but no sound coming out. A car passed by on the road, but it didn’t even slow down. The headlights illuminated her face clearly; she was paler than she had ever been before, and she leaned down in the grass suddenly, clutching her stomach and groaning. Jeremy’s face was impassive, but he was suddenly tense. He hated to see her this way. He had thought he’d moved on, but suddenly he found himself back here, and now he knew why. He still loved her; but he wanted her to be happy, and she had been with Dimitri. But now he was gone and come back, too. It wasn’t fair to her. He wanted both of them gone, so she could truly move on. She didn’t seem to be doing it even when he was gone, though.
~!!~
Kit froze at his voice; it sounded like nails on a chalkboard to her. She flinched as he grabbed her wrist, though she tried not to show it hurt. “I know that,” She spat. “But I also know that as soon as I hurt you badly enough, you won’t come back for a while. All I need then is---“ She was cut off by a voice, yelling “daddy.” Her eyes widened, and sick revulsion took place of the shock. “Daddy?” She asked, her voice thick with disbelief. She flet her stomach turn as he spoke back to her, even calling her ‘sweetie’. She hated him more than she ever thought humanly possible.

She didn’t react as he threw her to the ground, and at his words she had to resist the urge to roll her eyes. Her hat had fallen off, and her short hair fell around her face. “Give the leech a prize; he figured it out,” she said, her voice laced with sarcasm. She knew whoever had called to him was coming closer. She stared up at the fact, the one she recognized from that night so long ago, and kicked up at him hard, giving herself enough leverage to twist out from underneath him, so that she was on her knees, her wrist the only thing still caught by him. She released her hold on the knife and quickly grabbed it with her other hand, and slashed out at him, trying to get him to release his hold on her.

“Made vampire? Or born?” She hissed; she didn’t even seem out of breathe. “It doesn’t matter; I’ll kill you either way for what you did.”
~!!~
Kyle was still talking as he knocked his chair over, pinning him to the wall. For a moment he was frozen, and was about to yell when he began to speak. His words didn’t make sense. Sure, he’d noticed Sage hadn’t gotten much bigger, but what did he know about that kind of stuff? The feelings he’d had about him were confirmed now, but he still didn’t understand his words nor what they meant, and he couldn’t get enough breathe to ask. Until his fangs bit into his neck. His mind was reeling; fangs? He suddenly felt dizzy, and he didn’t understand what was going on. He had actually bitten him. He was actually…taking….

His thoughts became sluggish and slow, and the room was dimming, slowing down and spinning. The lights were so bright, and they hurt. He couldn’t breathe. All he managed was a small sound in his throat, halfway between a choke and a grunt, and then he gave into the darkness.

Daniel had heard the commotion, and ran into the room. What he saw made him freeze. He yelled for Bryce, but both he and Sage came running down. Bryce’s eyes widened in horror as he took in the scene, but he was frozen. Sage felt cold numbness sweet over her, mixed with shock, horror, terror. Kyle wasn’t moving; Andrew was….was…

“Stop!” She screamed, rushing forward and trying to pull him away from her brother. “Andrew, stop it!” she shouted, but she couldn’t get him off. She took something out of her pocket; her nail file; and cut a thin line in her wrist. “Here!” She screamed. She didn’t know if werewolf blood was appealing to vampires; probably not. But it didn’t matter. “Andrew, here!” She screamed. She looked frantic, out of control, two things she almost never was unless she was angry. And now, she didn’t look angry. Just…scared. “Let go of him! Please! Here!” She yelled, and she felt Daniel pulling her away, but she screamed and kicked and tried to get away.
~!!~
Rainy froze as he pulled her hand away from her neck, and a chill ran down her spine at his words. She didn’t feel comforted; she was scared. But she didn’t get up off the bed or go after him as he left. She sat still, closing her eyes tightly and focusing on the one constantly, the dull, throbbing ache in her neck, whispering silent words to herself.

Sam was still frozen, his mind mulling over what Jane had said, when he felt Darren’s axe at her neck, heard the words he said. He turned to face him slowly as the axe came down, and then…..nothing. He was braced for pain that never came. He opened his eyes, and the sight he saw would be with him for nights to come. Jane, in two pieces on the ground. He fell to his knees next to her, in the blood that was slowly pooling around her. He looked up at Darren, his eyes flashing. He stumbled to his feet and put his hands on the ax, trying to pull it from his grasp. Murder was written in his eyes.
~!!~
Haven froze as he pulled out the gun, and the scowl on her face was gone. She closed her eyes tightly as she heard the gun go off, but all she felt was a sharp, stinging pain on her cheek, and felt blood dripping down. A hand lifted up to her face in dismay as she realized that the bullet had only grazed her. She lifted her eyes to his as she saw the gun at her chest, and she felt so stupid. She should have known he’d have one; she had been so intent on finding him, on killing him, that she hadn’t been thinking clearly. And now she would pay with her life.

Strangely, she didn’t feel that upset. She just wanted him to go, too. She tensed her muscles, her grip on the knife tightening. “Yes,” she spat. “I’ll see you soon.” She wasn’t thinking as she lunged for him with the knife. As long as she could take him, too…
~!!~
Sammy shook her head in slow disbelief at his words. “No, you don’t, Luke,” she said quietly. “I don’t---I don’t know what you remembered about me, but---it’s not all. It can’t be.” At the mention of seeing her in his sleep, she froze, but was silent. She didn’t say that she had been dreaming of him; that wouldn’t help. It’d only scare him away.

“Luke, please try to remember,” She said quietly. Her voice was pleading, desperate. She couldn’t remember ever feeling so desperate before, or at least showing it. “Please. Look at me. Remember something, Luke,” She whispered. “Please. I---“ She was going to say ‘I love you,’ but she held her tongue. She couldn’t say it; not now. Maybe not ever.
~!!~
Gem fell to her knees, back where she had began, all her strength and determination gone as he yelled. She was silent, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. She knew he was right; why hadn’t she told him? “I was scared,” She said finally, quietly. “I was terrified,” She whispered. “Christen, I don’t know what---what to do,” she stammered, her voice breaking. “What do I do?” She whispered, her voice barely audible. “I know it’s not—not your fault,” she said quietly. “But I….I couldn’t tell you. I was so scared,” She whispered. “I didn’t want to think about it myself, believe it myself.” She turned her eyes to him. “Christen, I’m scared.”
~!!~
Anya tensed up as the footsteps came closer. All she could think was ‘he’s back. He’s back and I’m alone and he’ll be able to get me. I can’t stop him, I couldn’t before, or the time before that. I never could and he’s going to---‘ A voice cut off her panicked thoughts, and she recognized it immediately. Relief rushed through her, warm and almost comforting. But she couldn’t show herself; she couldn’t. He needed to leave. She bit her lip, closing her eyes tightly. ‘Please leave,’ she thought, as if that alone could make him go. ‘I don’t want to hurt you anymore. Please. Please please please. She jumped as she heard a loud crash, and she moved until her back was pressed against the wall, shaking harder. But then she heard his words, and her tears were dried up. He still loved her. She slowly edged closer to the edge of the bed, looking first at the hole in her wall, then the figure by her door frame. She knew she should stay here, stay out of his sight until he left. It hurt him now, but later…wouldn’t it be easier?

But she found herself crawling out slowly as lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, making her shake harder. She closed her eyes tightly, rubbing her arms as if that could provide some sort of warmth. His words still echoed around her. ‘Why do you insist on hurting me?’ She hated to see him so broken, and know she was the cause of it. But she seemed to hurt him no matter what she did; she wanted to tell him that somehow, but her voice seemed to have left her. She moved closer until she was behind him, and she was trembling as she reached out a shaking hand and touched his shoulder lightly, quickly pulling away and holding her hand close to her chest, as if it hurt her to touch him. She didn’t want things to be this way; she didn’t want to be this way, to feel so scared, so frightened. She wanted to be able to fall asleep in his arms again, to tell him how much she loved him, to kiss him, to hold him. But she couldn’t; she was scared. She looked back at him, her eyes wide and panicked, but silent.

“Why did you come?” She finally managed to choke out, and she was suddenly crying again, though they were silent. Her eyes met his. “Why?!” She cried. “I’m just going—I’m just going to hurt you again,” She whispered, tearing her eyes away from his and looking down at her lap, moving away. The storm raged on, and she jumped again.

Brooke took a step back when he laughed. She didn't know why, but there was something seriously wrong with it. It scared her. And even the fear flashed across her face. She closed her eyes when he asked who she was. What was she suppose to say? 'I don't know'? That would make her seem stupid. She could make up a name... But her creative juices wasn't pumping at the moment. So she sighed and opened her eyes. "Who am I?" she repeated softly. "I- I don't know." she admitted, she had nothing else to say. Then she crossed her arms over her chest. "Look, I don't know who you are, but would it kill you to be polite?" she asked. "You seem like a jerk to me." she said, unaware of the mistake she had just made.

~!!~
Suddenly it wasn't D'angelo standing there, it was Tobias. He blinked as he watched his sister run out. He glared at Landon, unsure what was going on. So he turned and ran after Elianna. She was heading towards Draven's room. She was always running back to big brother, but Tobias had no idea what was going on. He hadn't heard Michi's screams, he didn't understand. Not until they were standing in front of Draven's door.

Tobias's eyes widened at the sight. Blood was everywhere, it covered the floor, the bed, and even Michi. Draven seemed somewhat clean of it, Michi must of cleaned him up. It couldn't of have been her blood, for to much of it for to still be alive, and Draven was laying motionless on the bed. Michi was siting beside it. Her knees were drawn up to her chest and her face was buried in her hands. Soft sobs were coming from her, she didn't even realize that they were there.

~!!~
Xavier quickly stood up and grabbed her wrist. He spun her around to face him and smiled softly. "Why so embarrassed?" he asked as he sat back down on the bed, pulling her into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close. "A lot of people think love is weak, stupid but then fall in love them selves. You can't help it." he whispered as he kissed her cheek. He looked thoughtful for a moment. "You said you understood everything. Even the mating thing, too, right?" he asked slowly. His thoughtfulness was replace by confusion as if he was struggling with something in his mind. "Have you ever thought that-" He cut himself off. "What if-" Again. He sighed. "I sound like a fool." he declared. "Go ahead and leave if you still want to." he whispered, not wanting her to go. He let go of her waist, freeing her from his hold. It was strange, he never had problems with words before he met her. Not they wouldn't come out right and sounded totally stupid. And all he wanted to know was if she loved him enough to mate with him.

~!!~
Dominic glared at Alex, and the Ella. "I don't care how much she loved him!" he shouted. "It wasn't right, and it was more like poison. It killed him!" He was looking right at Alex now. "It killed him! Yeah, sure, Story was an amazing boy with millions of little trick ups his sleeves. He learned to talk despite the odds. He learned to read lips so he could further understand what was being said. He learned to read body language so wouldn't have to rely on tone of voice to help him know the mood of the speaker. All so he could appear normal! All so he didn't have to communicate with his hands. Okay, I believe you; she loved him, but that doesn't change the fact that she let a half-deaf boy join the army!" he shouted. He knew he was yelling at one of the people he loved, but he loved Jasper too, and he was his son, his flesh and blood. Even if the boy hated him, Dominic loved him. Loved him more anyone would ever know. Alex didn't know what it was like, she had never lost a child before. She couldn't understand.

~!!~
Tony fell down to his knees when Anne left. He didn't know what had happened. He had never done that before. He had never hurt her like that, never scared her like that before. He scared himself. He was loosing it. At least he thought so. And over what? A lost love, he still had Anne...

~!!~
Cinder herself wrapping her arms around him, sling to him. 'Don't leave me. Don't make me do this alone. Stay, I need you.' she said in her mind, but she couldn't seem to say them. Couldn't seem make her mouth form anything. 'I love you.' That was all she needed to say to make him stay. She did love him. She really did. But it was wrong. It was hurting him, she was sure of it. It would be so much easier if she didn't love him. If she didn't he wouldn't have to stay, wouldn't have to take care of her, wouldn't have to love her even. All she had to say was no, just no would do, and he would be free. He would leave and he would be okay. But she was scared to loose him. She didn't want to loose him. But saying no would be so much better, easier even. It was all stupidly selfish to keep him here where she would only hurt him. What if she pulled him of the edge as well, she would never forgive herself. All she had to say was no, but instead she said; "Yes, Seth, I still love you. I am still in love with you. Don't- Please just don't leave me." she cried clinging tighter. She was so stupid... so selfish... so stupidly selfish. She hated herself for those words, everything could of have been so much better for him if she could of have just fibbed. If she could of have just said no.

~!!~
Elijah paused and looked at her. "But if it had been you, you would lie, wouldn't you?" he asked, not caring what the answer was. He just had to get out of the house. He began to walk to the door. He didn't know if he could last much longer. He didn't want her to see him faint, it wouldn't be good for her. But the pain was unbearable. He pulled open the door just as the ambulance arrived. He failed as he stepped out. He didn't want Rue to see him faint, but before he could make it all the way out the door he fainted. One of the paramedics was able to catch him.

The man turned Elijah over and looked at his face, his neck, and his arms. He looked at Rue with something like accusation in his eyes as he helped loaded Elijah in the back.

~!!~
Sergei sighed at her words. "I wouldn't of have left her side if I had known." he said, his voice soft. "I- She didn't tell me. I'm sorry." he whispered. "I'll go." he said. "I'll make it right, she shouldn't have to go through it on her own." he said resting a hand over his eyes. He felt strange. Mad at his mom and her mom. Happy... he never known that it would make him happy to be a father. He looked up at the storm clouds. "I'll go back with you." he said suddenly. "The sooner the better, right?" he paused. "Don't answer that." he said.

~!!~
Dimitri stepped back and sighed. He only looked at Jeremy and watched as the pale form of his widow fell to the ground. He knelled beside her. "Ember." he whispered and touched her cheek again. He quickly stood up and stepped back. He looked over at Jeremy. "I won't leave her, not if she is like this." he said. "But-" he looked away. "Maybe it's best of she can't see me." he said as he stepped back and somehow hide himself, live Jeremy. "We should at least, somehow get someone to come get her." he said softly, sadly.

~!!~
He pulled his hand back, and glared at Kit. "What do you mean? If you asking about my daughter, she is born, as am I." he said as he pulled himself to his feet. He looked at her, a frown on his lips. "What did I do?" he asked. She looked familiar. "I only kill worthless scum, such as yourself, if you were innocent, I wouldn't have to kill you know." he frowned deeper. "I kill you mother?" It was bugging him. "Your father prehaps?" he asked he took a step back. He glanced around, looking for a a striking place. "What's you name?"

Avril called again. "Daddy!?" She was closer and a slight panic came on Dustin's face.

~!!~
Andrew didn't know what to do. He just kept drinking until he felt Kyle's heart rate slow. And then Daniel came in, followed by Bryce and Sage. Sage... Sage... What was he doing? She was going to tear him to pieces. But he was confused... He could pull away and drink the blood Sage offered. But then he would have to turn Kyle into a vampire, and he couldn't not anymore, he was a made. He would die a slow painful death. He hated the guy, but he didn't deserve that death or to be a vampire. Andrew was human before, even though not for long. And he missed it. If he drained Kyle now it would be so much easier. "I can't, Sage, I'm sorry." he mumbled into the skin of the limp boy.l Finally he dropped him and took Sage's wrist, and licked the blood off. He pulled back a moment later. He looked at her sadly as he whipped the blood off his lips. "I'm sorry, Sage. I wish I could of have stopped..." he said slowly. He closed his eyes. "But a life for a life right?" He stood still, he knew she could kill him, tear him to pieces and he wouldn't be able to return. He was just waiting now. He would let her too...

~!!~
Suddenly hands grabbed her and pulled her to the ground before the bullet could hit her. "Are you stupid!?" Benny suddenly yelled at her. He had her pinned down to the ground and he over top of her. "What are you thinking! He'll murder you before you could-" he as cut off by another voice.

"You're a hypocrite." Rufus spat as he stared at them a few a feet away. "What was it that you said? Not to give up my life, and here you are, doing that same thing. And for what? A bloody knife?"

Lawrence frowned and pointed the gun at Rufus. "This seems to be getting boring." he said.

~!!~
Luke glared at her. "I can't form memories at will!" he said. He took a step back. "Why should I care about what you want? I tried you help you before, I remember that. I remember standing in front of you at some party." he paused and looked at her. "What happened that night? Why was I trying to save you?" he asked softly. That one memory been bugging him the most. It didn't fit in any of his other memories, it was like it was from another time.

~!!~
Christen fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry, Gem. I shouldn't of have yelled." he whispered. "I don't know what to do, Gem." he pushed her hair behind her ear. "What choice do you have?" he sighed. "I could kill him. I could kill Damian." he said suddenly. He kissed her forehead. "I will kill him." he promised.

~!!~
Darren pulled that ax out of Sam's hands. "She wasn't my target! But if it's anyone's fault she is dead, it's yours! I don't know why you chose Rainy, but stay away from her!" Darren said and disappeared. When he made it back to his home he fell on to his bed. What have done? That girl didn't deserve to die. That girl was only trying to save Sam. But he wasn't gonna kill the boy... only scare him, but the girl thought other wise. And now he had killed someone.

~!!~
Milo looked up when he felt her hand. "Anya!" he cried. Relief washed over him. "Anya!" he repeated almost hugging her. But he stopped himself. "I needed to find you." he cried. "I needed to know where you were, if you were safe. Anya, I lied, I still love you, I never stopped. I just needed you think I didn't love you, it would of have been easier for you. But then ran off, and I didn't know what to do. I was scared, I was scared I lost you to your past." He was talking fast. He needed her to understand. "Anya that's you past, let it be your past, I want to be your future, your present. If you will only let me." he begged.

Anya flinched at his words, feeling stab after stab of guilt and remorse. It was her fault he was so broken up about this; she wanted him to be okay. She stared down at her hands at his words, biting her lip. “But my past is still here,” she managed to whisper. “He’s here somewhere, and he won’t let me forget,” She whispered. “ I want to forget,” She cried. “I had finally managed to, but he came back,” she said quietly. “He’s still here. I just don’t know where now,” She said quietly.
~!!~
Sam fell to his knees, soaked with Jane’s blood. His hands were shaking badly, and he couldn’t see straight. He felt dizzy, as if he were about to faint. He couldn’t look at her, couldn’t see her sighless eyes staring at him…

He stumbled to his feet, and he shook his head. This wasn’t happening; it wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. It was all a dream. He found himself standing in Rainy’s doorway, ignoring Darren’s warnings completely. The girl looked up at him, at the blood covering him, and her only thought was ‘Darren.’ What if he had hurt Darren? What if that was Darren’s blood? He stepped closer to her, pulling the door closed behind him. She closed her eyes tightly, and could feel his arms warp around her, holding her tight.

“Jane,” He kept whispering over and over again. “Jane, Jane, Jane.” Rainy couldn’t move.
~!!~
Gem looked at Christen, shaking her head. His touch made her shake, even though she knew it wasn’t Damian; it was him. She shook her head at his words, her face twisted in pain. “But that won’t fix everything,” she whispered. She did want him dead; she couldn’t deny that. She wanted him dead. But even if he was dead, she would still have his child.
~!!~
Sammy looked at him, biting her lip until she tasted the metallic taste of blood in her mouth. She turned away, looking anywhere but at him. “You were…” she hesitated. He already knew about what she’d done, so why would this make things any worse? “You were trying to stop me,” she whispered. “You were trying to stop me from killing…from killing that boy,” she said quietly. “But, I wouldn’t listen. It didn’t work, and now I’m still here,” She whispered.
~!!~
Haven hit the ground hard, her head smacking against the concrete so hard that she saw stars. She looked up at Benny, and her eyes widened. “Benny,” She said quietly, one of the first times she’d said his nickname. When she heard Rufus’ voice she pushed him off, her head spinning and throbbing with pain. She flinched at his words, knowing he was right. She was a hypocrite; she shouldn’t have done that. But she needed him gone…

When the gun was pointed at Rufus, she froze. “No,” She whispered. She took a step forward, but the world was spinning wildly around her, and she stumbled back against Benny, groaning in pain. She looked at Lawrence, struggling to focus on his form. “Don’t hurt him,” She managed to get out. “You have nothing to do with him. It’s me.”
~!!~
Sage had finally managed to tear away from Daniel, and was back by Andrew when he pulled away from Kyle and licked the blood from her wrist. She watched him stand back, and his words processed slowly in her mind. A life for a life. She looked at Kyle’s still form, then back at Andrew. Kill him…?

Daniel was knelt by Kyle; she didn’t see where Bryce had gone. She looked at Andrew, then turned away. “No,” She said quietly. “Please go,” she whispered, holding her wrist tightly to try and stop the bleeding. “It’s my fault; I didn’t think about you, that you’d need to hunt.” Daniel was throwing questions at her now, but she ignored him, looking at Andrew. “Just go for now,” She whispered. “Please.”
~!!~
Kit’s eyes were full of hatred as she glared at him, rubbing her wrist absentmindedly, the knife still pointed in his direction. “Of course you wouldn’t remember,” she spat. “It was a long time ago. I couldn’t help them then; I was only 10. But you killed my brother and my father. You’re the worthless scum; they were innocent!” She shouted. She heard his daughter coming closer, and she stepped forward, the knife pointed outward still.

“She can watch you die, just like you made me watch my father die,” she hissed. “It’s only fair, right?”
~!!~
Ember shook as he touched her cheek again, and she clutched her stomach tighter, a groan escaping her lips. She felt so sick. “No,” She kept whispering, over and over again. She heard voices again, but she wasn’t listening any longer. When she looked up again, they were both gone.

She stumbled to her feet and began to walk again, but she could barely see straight. Jeremy glanced at Dimitri, his glare deep. “And who would you suggest?” He asked, an unidentifiable tone in his voice.
~!!~
”Get what you need, and come on,” Her mom said simply, then spun around and began to walk. She didn’t wait for him as she made her way back to her home through the storm, and when she got to her door she walked inside, dripping water on the carpet. Vivian was still sitting outside in the back, under the cover of the roof. She had tears in her eyes as she stood up and walked inside, looking at her mother, then she walked upstairs and locked herself in her room.
~!!~
Rue’s eyes widened as he fainted, and she knelt next to him as the man picked him up. She followed quickly, knowing she wouldn’t be allowed to come unless she was family. She frowned, knowing she didn’t look much like him. She stepped into the back, saying she was his sister, a lie, but she couldn’t leave him alone now, not after it was her fault that he was hurt. But his words made her think; she would lie if it were her. But now she felt such a rage at her father that she didn’t want to think about him anymore, much less have to see his face ever again. She looked at his arms and neck and flinched, turning away again as tears filled her eyes.
~!!~
Seth held her tighter at her words. For a moment he thought she would tell him to go, and he wouldn’t have thought twice about it. He would have left. He didn’t know what to do for her any longer, but he wanted to protect her. From herself, from him, from Alice. He knew things were falling apart, but now, with her in his arms, they seemed almost okay.

“It’ll be okay,” He whispered, stroking her hair as he held her close. “I’ll make it okay.”
~!!~
Alex’s eyes widened; she hadn’t known that about him. She looked at Ella, who was crying silently. She hadn’t thought of that; she had been careless, and now he was dead. She looked at Dominic, then at Alex, then turned and ran out the back door, into the storm.

“ELLA!” Alex called after her, but her sister was gone. She turned back to Dominic, and then she was yelling again, not caring that he was hurting too, more than she was. “She was trying!” She cried. “I know you’re angry, upset, heartbroken. She is, too!” she yelled. “But I know my sister. If she had thought that he wouldn’t be okay, she wouldn’t have let him go. She messed up. We all did. We’re all responsible!” she shouted.
~!!~
K.C. stood up when he let her go, but she turned back to him. Her face was confused, but then slowly it was replaced by something else; determination? She sat back down on the bed next to him, taking his hand in hers and tracing small circles on his palm. “I think I do understand it,” she said quietly. “You wanted to ask me if I would mate with you, weren’t you?” She asked quietly. That was what she had been thinking, too. She smiled slightly, her stomach twisting in nervousness and something else, too. “I was thinking the same thing,” She whispered. “I was so scared, but now…Xavier, I’ve never really fully trusted anyone but myself. It makes me feel scared, vulnerable…but now..” She bit her lip, and a small smile crossed her features. “I trust you, Xavier. I love you so much, and I---“ She let go of his hand and nodded. “I want to.”
~!!~
Elianna looked at Draven’s form, at all of the blood, and then she fell to her knees. He was dead. She knew somewhere distantly, in the corner of her mind, that he would come back in three days. But the blood…she felt sick, and the world was spinning around her. She felt the cold wood of the floor underneath her cheek as she fainted, but she was still vaguely aware of the things around her. She could hear Michi’s crying, faint and indistinct, but still clear enough to make it to her mind.
~!!~
Suddenly Leslie had her pinned to the tree. He was smirking, and there was a twisted side to it. “I’m a jerk?” He asked quietly, his face close to hers, separated only by inches. “You have no idea,” He whispered, his grip on her tightening slightly. He grinned, showing his fangs. “You know, I don’t know what dead blood tastes like, but I’m willing to try it.”

A cry escaped Brooke lips. She closed her eyes tightly. She tried to wiggle out from his grasp. She had no idea what he was talking about, but she was scared out of her mind. But she couldn't even say she never been so scared before. She covered her face with her hands and grew still. She would give him the pleasure of seeing her fight back. "Stop it, please, Leslie, please." She didn't even realize that she said his name. With her death her power had almost all disappeared. But every once in a while a small piece of information came to her. "Please, I'm sorry." she whispered.

~!!~
Michi didn't move. She didn't even notice them. She couldn't stop the tears. Tobias wasn't sure what to do. He keeled next to Elianna. "Little sister." he whispered and rested her head in his lap. He pushed her hair out of her face. "Elianna. It'll be okay." he whispered, he had to stay strong for her. She had lost so much recently. He looked at Michi then back as his sister.

~!!~
Xavier listened to her quietly. He took her hand when she dropped and kissed her palm. "I do if you do." he whispered as he offered her his wrist. He smiled softly. "I'll be yours for ever, as you to me." he said. "I can no longer see it any other way." he said, a smile tugging at his lips. "I love you Kristy Cally." he said, not caring if she said she hated her name. It felt right to say.

~!!~
Dominic stepped back and glared at her. He opened his mouth to yell again but nothing came out. He turned around and walked out of the house. He slammed the door behind him. He couldn't stay here no more.

~!!~
Cinder looked up into his green eyes. Tear fell from her own brown ones. She was silent for a while. "How Seth? How will you make it okay?" she asked as she rested her head on his chest. "Nothing is okay, not anymore." Her world was falling apart, and she wanted nothing more then to believe him. Maybe... maybe just maybe things would be okay. Maybe, just maybe. "Seth, tell me about..." She always seemed to ask about his childhood when she was upset. But she paused. "Alice." She thought she had a right to know about the person who was going to kill her, who loved Seth just as much as she did.

~!!~
Ethan glared at Rue. "No you're not. You do know falsifying something like this could put the painet in danger and is against the law, right?" he asked as he pointed for to get out. "I don't know who you are, or what you have to do with Elijah, but you aren't going to hurt my brother any more then you already did!" there an angry tone to his voice. He was mad, that was easy to see.

~!!~
Sergei looked at his mother and then ran up stairs. A few moment later he was outside again. She was already gone. He stepped into his car before the rain had a chance to soak him. A few moments later he was knocking on Vivian's door. His hands were shoved into his pocket and he was rocking back and forth on his heels.

~!!~
Dimitri froze. "I don't know." he said. "But we can't leave her here." he said. "She'll get hurt." he whispered. He looked away. He couldn't stand seeing her like that. He closed her eyes. "Then you tell me what we do." he said.

~!!~
Anger flashed in Dustin's eyes. "I remember." he said. "You're brother had lots of bad habits, your father was no better. They both needed to die. You were innocent, then." he said as Avril finally steeped out of the woods.

"Daddy?" she cried. Her long hair fell in her face. "Daddy!?" She was frozen.

Anger boiled over Dustin. "You will not kill me." he said as he was suddenly in front of her. He pulled her forward by the wrist and suddenly had her knife in his shoulder, blood stilt out. He did it on purpose. He reached forward with his other hand and wrapped it around her neck. "I will not let her be alone." he whispered.

~!!~
Andrew reached out and took the cross around her neck in his hand. He held it tight before pulling back, a burn on his palm. He looked at the cross still around her neck. He stepped back quickly and looked at Daniel. With inhuman speed he was standing behind him, and looked at Sage. "I'm sorry." he whispered and then he was gone again, out the front door. But in his place, Mindy came walking in. "My my, He made quite a mess of that boy. Didn't he?" she asked looking pass Daniel.

~!!~
Rufus frowned. "Why do you care, Haven?" he demanded, and looked at Lawrence. "Shot, go ahead! Haven is about to die too, what do I have to live for?" he shouted.

Benny frowned and looked at them both. He looked at Haven. "Let him be a fool, both you need to live. What would happen to Cinder? She thinks of you as family. Slowly, one by one, her family is dieing." he said.

Lawrence raised and eyebrow. "What a bother..." he said.

~!!~
Luke frowned. "That doesn't make sense." he said. "I didn't meet you until after you killed the boy. Time travel isn't possible." He said with a roll of his eyes. "Look, just tell me what you want, and then go away. Don't you think I have enough to worry about?" he demanded.

~!!~
Christen pulled away from her and looked away. "I'll kill him anyways." he said and closed his eyes. "I could kill the baby too, if you wanted, but-" he cut himself off. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he killed an infant who had done no wrong despite the fact of who his or her father is. He looked back at her. "What do you want me to do?" he asked.

~!!~
Milo stood up."But don't you get it!? I could protect you." he said. "If you would only-" He didn't finish. That was the problem, she wasn't going to let him. She had trusted one person to protect her and he hurt her. She couldn't rely on anyone but herself.

Leslie was about to let her drop when she said his name. His grip on her neck tightened, and something flashed behind his eyes. “How do you know my name?” he hissed, and suddenly his mouth was at her neck. “Who are you? What do you know about me!?” He yelled. It was obvious from his voice and the way he was acting that he was losing himself even more.
~!!~
Elianna wasn’t sure if it was D’angelo or Tobias holding her until he spoke. She let her eyes slip closed. “No, it won’t be,” she whispered hoarsely. “We’re all in danger. It was him who did this. He was here, and I didn’t stop him…” Her voice trailed off at the end. She felt as though she were falling asleep, but it was deeper than that. She didn’t understand why, but her chest constricted, and she felt like she couldn’t breathe.
~!!~
K.C. didn’t say anything about him using her full name; in fact, she smiled. “I love you, Xavier Xander,” She said quietly. She took his wrist in her hands, willing them not to shake, and for once, they didn’t. She lifted it to her mouth and bit him before she could think of a reason not to; when she let his hand drop she wiped a hand across her mouth, leaving his blood streaked there. She didn’t care.
~!!~
Alex slowly walked outside, but Ella was gone, too. She stood near the back door, watching the rain fall down harder and harder. She didn’t know what to do any more.
~!!~
Seth didn’t know how he would make it okay; he didn’t have an answer for her. When she asked about Alice he stiffened up, but then forced himself to relax. “I’d known her since I was little,” He said softly. “It was an arranged marrage; my parents and her parents agreed on it without us. I could tell, eve when I was small, that something was wrongwith her. I just didn’t know hwat it was until I was older; she was insane. That’s all I can think of to describe it. So, when the day came, I---“ He sighed. “I ran.”
~!!~
Rue froze; this was his brother? “I’m sorry,” She stammered. “I really am, but I need to stay,” she cried. “Please.” She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand, her burned skin rough against the smooth skin on her hand. “Please, let me stay. I---I need to, please.” She knew she was in trouble now, but she didn’t care. She needed to stay with him.
~!!~
Vivian didn’t answer the door. She was in her room, sitting under the covers and listening to the storm outside. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying not to think about what was there, underneath. She was scared; terrified.

Her mother answered the door, her face impassive. She gestured up the stairs once he was in, and closed the door, disappearing into the kitchen once more.
~!!~
”She’s already hurt!” Jeremy yelled, glad that Ember couldn’t hear him. “She’s destroyed; look at her!” He looked furious. Ember was still stumbling along, but there was a long way until her house. Jeremy looked at Dimitri, biting his lip.

“I’ll carry her home,” He said simply. “It will hurt less for her to see me,” He added, almost in a whisper. Before he could protest Jeremy had picked her up in his arms. She blinked groggily and looked up at him. Her eyes widened, and then closed. She wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head on his chest. She was even paler than usual.
~!!~
Kit almost laughed at his words; she wouldn’t kill him? “You just wait,” she spat, when he pulled her forward. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise, and then she couldn’t breathe, his hand around her neck. She pushed the dagger in deeper in his shoulder, and her eyes went to Avril for a moment, then widened in recognition. This was his daughter. She remembered her….she had killed her mother, and she had gotten away before she could. She hadn’t been able to kill her then, because she was so small. She had hesitated, and she’d gotten away.

She somehow managed a wry laugh, even with his hand around her neck. “I killed her,” she gasped. “The girl’s mother.”
~!!~
Bryce was next to Kyle now, mumbling something in audible. Daniel was staring at Andrew, until he was suddenly gone. He jumped up and spun around, his eyes narrowing at Mindy. “Get out!” He shouted, his voice echoing throughout the house. Sage was staring down at the cross cradled in her hands now, tears spilling down her cheeks. She didn’t know what to do.
~!!~
”My family is already dead!” Haven shouted, pushing herself away from him to stand on her own two feet. She looked at Rufus, her eyes pleading. “Rufus, I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Please don’t do this.” She turned to Lawrence, her eyes narrowing.

“I won’t let you kill him,” She said quietly. “I promise you now that if you do, I’ll make your death as slow and as painful as possible. And I’ll enjoy it.”
~!!~
”I want you to remember!” Sammy yelled suddenly, losing herself in the moment. She stepped forward, her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides, almost as if she were going to hit him again. But she didn’t.

“Luke, please remember. You went back to help me, after you saw---“ She bit her lip. “After we saw our future,” She whispered. “I yelled, I said I didn’t want it, and I didn’t. But now…” She knew he didn’t remember any of this, and it wasn’t fair. But she didn’t care. “Now I do.” She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him tightly, closing her eyes tightly. She wasn’t thinking clearly as she leaned up and kissed him.
~!!~
Gem’s eyes widened, and she shook her head. She hated the thing inside her; she hated it even though she didn’t even know it. But she didn’t know if she could kill it…she wanted it gone, but it was still a life, wasn’t it? She looked back up at Christen, biting her lip, shaking her head. “I don’t know,” she whispered. “Christen, I’m so confused. I don’t know.”
~!!~
Anya flinched as he stood up, and she shrunk down smaller on the ground. She had tears in her eyes again, and she was silent. The only noise she could hear was the storm outside. She finally managed to stand up, and she looked at Milo. “I want you to protect me, Milo,” She whispered. “I want to trust you, and I do. But I just---“ She didn’t know. How could she explain it? “I’m scared. Not of you, but of everyone. And everywhere I look now, I just see things that remind me of him,” she whispered. “The storm…” She bit her lip as she saw herself in Joel’s arms again, with him comforting her. “Hiding under the bed. Everything reminds me of him, even though he’s not here now. But he came back, and he’ll keep coming back. You can protect me, but I’ll just keep hurting you. I can’t let you touch me, I can’t let you kiss me...I can’t even let you near me,” She whispered. “Wouldn’t it be better for you if I was gone? Even if I was with him…” the thought made her shiver, and the tears that were in her eyes spilled over again. "I'm broken, Milo. I'm damaged goods. And I'll just bring you down with me."

Brooke's throat tightened. Another sob came out and tears fell down her cheeks, but they were hidden by the rain. "I don't know! I don't know! I don't know!" she cried, she was scared, she was scaring her. She was so scared. He was out of his mind. She put her hands on his chest. She tried to push him away from her, but he was so much stronger. "I don't know." she cried. "I don't know who I am, I don't even remember my own name! I don't know where we are or how I got here! I don't know how I know your name. I just do! I don't know anything else besides your name." She cried. Suddenly she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him. Maybe she thought to catch him off guard. More likely she thought he needed a hug. She wasn't sure what else to do. Her sobs grew louder. She was so scared, and here she was, hugging the man she was scared of.

~!!~
Tobias frowned and touched her cheek. "I'll protect us." he said. "He couldn't finish the job, that's a good sign. Michi in this state wouldn't have been able to stop him." Speaking of Michi, he looked over at her. She was still crying. If he didn't believe that she loved his brother, he did now. Michi was not the person to cry in front of others so freely. It made him want to comfort her, but that wouldn't work. Draven was the only person she ever let touch her.

He looked down at Elianna. "I'll kill him the next time he shows his face." he promised.

~!!~
Xavier smirked when she used his full name. He watched as she took his wrist. She looked so sure. She really did want this. And so did he. He looked at the bite marks on his wrist for a moment when she was done. He looked at her, and smiled. "Your brother will be mad at me." he said. "He may of said that he hated you, but sometimes he would go on and on about you. He did care about you." he said as he pushed her hair away from her neck and leaned forward. He kissed her neck and let his fangs touch her skin.

~!!~
His words weren't very reassuring. They scared her. She looked up at him wide eyed. "You left because she was insane?" she choked out. "Seth! That's what I'm gonna be! Insane. My own father predicted it! You ran because she was insane?" she repeated. "You're gonna leave me like that, one day." she cried. She had always been afraid of that but his words confirmed that fear. She was crying again, and she couldn't stop the tears.

~!!~
Ethan frowned and pointed for her to get out. The other man sighed. "Let her stay, Ethan. It's the only way we'll ever get moving and your brother needs attention soon." he said. Ethan sighed himself and backed away.

"Fine." he said as he pulled the doors closed and the other slipped into to the driver's seat up front and began to drive.

~!!~
Sergei looked lost. But he looked up the stairs. He knew where her room was from the few times he actually came in (when her mom wasn't home). He knocked on her door. "Vivian." he called. "Can I come in? Please." his voice was soft, gentle. He was afraid.

~!!~
Dimitri flinched and stepped back and watched as Jeremy picked her up. Jealously went through Dimitri. He had married her. But he never gotten to carry her. He had loved her, he had saved her so many time, and here was Jeremy, now the one holding her, now the one saving her. The worse part; Jeremy was saving her from him.

Dimitri looked away and followed silently. He had a feeling that while Jeremy was around he would never get to touch her again.

~!!~
Dustin's face became hard. He never let Avril see him this way before, so murderous. But it didn't matter. This girl had killed an innocent woman. Lily had never approved of Dustin's hunting methods. She was the one to go after deer over humans. He had killed more and more people since Avril had came home one night crying 'mommy, mommy is dead'. Pure anger ripped through him now. "You killed her!?" he spat. It wasn't a question. His grip on her neck tightened. "You killed Lily."

Even though it hurt he used his other hand to pull the knife out of his shoulder and out of her hand. "I'll enjoy your death." he spat just as Andrew stepped out of the trees. He looked at Dustin, the horrified Avril and Kit.

Andrew sighed. "Stop this! Now!" he demanded, but Dustin only pointed her own knife at Kit's chest.

~!!~
Benny stepped away from her. "So you don't consider Cinder family." he sighed. "It was a mistake coming back, I only wanted t see you again." he said as he kissed her cheek and disappeared again.

Rufus glared at her. "No! You shouldn't enjoy someone's death. No matter how evil they are! You do that and you are no better then Lawrence. Filthy scum!" he shouted at her. He glared at Lawrence. He stepped back and mumbled something.

~!!~
Luke flinched, but he didn't get hit. He looked at her surprised when she hugged him. And he couldn't stop himself. He kissed her back when she kissed him. He didn't pull away for a moment. When he did he pushed her away his eyes wide. "You know." he whispered. "You know how I feel about you and you're using it against me." he said. He looked away. He didn't believe she felt the same way.

~!!~
Christen frowned. "I know. I know." he whispered. "I am too." he admitted. "We'll figure out something." he smiled at her slightly. "Do you still love me?" he asked her softly.

~!!~
Milo closed his eyes and turned for the door. "Fine." he said. "Be alone." he said as he opened it. "Be alone and let him hurt you. Just remember that I am always here for you. Please come back. You can come back anytime. I won't make you." he whispered softly and blew her a kiss. He had sounded so sad so helpless. So broken. But he knew Anya was in worse shape then him, and with that he was gone.

“No,” Sammy said quietly. “No, Luke, that’s not true.” Her cheeks were flushed red; she had expected him to push her away, but he had kissed her back; she was confused. “Luke, I---“ she didn’t want to say it, not while he didn’t remember. She bit her lip, shaking her head. “I love you, Luke,” She said quietly. “I’m not using anything against you.”
~!!~
”Wai---“ Haven began, but Benny was gone. She closed her eyes tightly, her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides. When Rufus yelled her eyes widened, and something flashed in her eyes, then was gone. Her face was impassive as she gripped her knife tighter, looking at Lawrence, then at Rufus. ‘Filthy scum’. Was that what she was? Because she really did want to see him dead, hurt. She wanted Lawrence gone.
~!!~
Kit kept her smirk even as his grip tightened. She couldn’t breathe, and the world was beginning to dim. She struggled, kicking out at him as hard as she could with her boots, but it was no use. She looked at the knife pointed at her chest, then at Andrew, her eyes narrowing. “No,” She gasped, with the last amount of strength she could munster. “I’ll kill him,” She spat, though right now, she was the one in danger.
~!!~
Ember mumbled something while Jeremy carried her, and he leaned closer to hear. “I miss him,” she mumbled, her eyes closed. “I miss him so much,” she whispered. “He would hate me if he saw me like this,” She moaned, burying her face in his chest. “He would hate me.” Jeremy frowned and walked faster, and soon they were at her home. Her mom was gone; her car was missing. HE carried her inside and to her room, where he lay her down on the bed.
~!!~
Vivian looked up when she heard a voice, and she recognized it immediately. Her blood ran cold as she thought of what her mom might have said to him. Did he know? She pushed herself to her feet and unlocked the door, pulling it open and trying to smile. She hoped he couldn’t see how red her eyes were.
~!!~
”But I didn’t love her!” Seth protested, holding her tighter. It was a weak argument, but it was all he had. He loved her; he wouldn’t leave her. He couldn’t, not after everything that had happened. “I love you, Cinder,” He said quietly. “I always will, no matter what happens. You have to believe that.”
~!!~
K.C.’s mind was racing now. Andrew cared about her? She truly believed he hated her, and she didn’t blame him for it. Her thoughts turned to Xavier again as she felt his fangs on her skin, and suddenly she was afraid. She pictured herself months ago, the way she’d been then, and thought of how vulnerable love had made her brother, made everyone else. And suddenly, she was terrified.

She wasn’t thinking as she pushed him away, stumbling to her feet. She paced back and forth, her eyes wide. She looked scared. She didn’t know now; she was scared. What if he didn’t want her later? Love had broken her brother so many times, and it was doing it again…she didn’t want to be broken.
~!!~
Elianna managed a small shake of her head. “No,” she whispered. “If he comes back, I want to kill him. I’ll kill him,” she said quietly. “He took my daughter,” She said softly. “He took the only thing I had left. You were gone; Draven might as well have been, and he took her. I want to kill him,” she whispered.
~!!~
Leslie’s face was impassive, until she stepped forward and hugged him. He went stiff and he stared down at her, a mixture of confusion and anger on his features. Finally, after what seemed like hours, he pushed her away and stepped back, glaring at her. “Don’t touch me,” He spat, but his voice wavered.
~!!~
Gem nodded quickly. “I never stopped loving you, Christen,” She said quietly. “I never did.” She let out a small, shaky breathe and forced herself to meet his eyes. “Do you still love me?” She asked quietly, her voice almost inaudible.
~!!~
Anya wasn’t sure how long she sat there staring at the door once he was gone, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. She could hear him now; she knew it was him, somehow. She stumbled to her feet and pushed the door shut, locking it and stepping back towards her bed. She could only hear part of his words now. ‘Be alone, let him hurt you.’ And she knew he would. But she didn’t want to hurt Milo, either. She hurt him when she was there, and when she was gone.

But she couldn’t deny that she felt safer with him there. She heard the footsteps come closer now, and she crawled back under her bed, listening to him call her name over the sound of the storm.

(SARAH! D=< STOP LEAVING ME BORED! >.> Stuff like what you will find with Lawrence happens...)

Luke's eyes widened at her words. "No." he said. "THEN WHY CAN'T I REMEMBER YOU!? WHY CAN'T REMEMBER EVER HOLDING YOU!?" He demanded. "Why can't I remember ever making you happy? I remember trying over and over again. Anything to please you. But you never were!" That was not completely true. In his dreams he held her while it stormed, saw her face as she walked down the aisle in the future, he had seen her look down at Taylor/William with a smile. All that was in his dreams among other things. All those were his memories. They weren't just dreams of a lover hopelessly in love with someone who hated him. They were dreams of boy who were hopelessly in denial.

~!!~
Rufus looked away. "I love you, Haven. Don't you get it?" he said. "Do you think that I'd stand here and watch you do something stupid?" he asked. "But I can't help you." he said and looked up at the sky. "So what is the point?" he asked as Lawrence stepped forward.

"You're not very romantic, are you?" he asked looking at the red head.

"Purple grimy water spites I am!" he said bitterly. "But you can't understand romance can you?" he demanded.

Lawrence smirked. "I feel in love before." he informed as he pressed the gun to the redhead's head. "He nodded toward Haven. "The fiery quadruplet." he said bitterly.

~!!~
Andrew glared at both of them. Avril was crying loudly. She was scared out of her little mind. "Daddy, mommy." she cried. By now she recognized the woman. "Daddy, mommy."

Andrew sighed. "You're out numbered. You can't possibly both of us." he sighed again. "Dustin let her go. She killed Lily, right? And you more then likely killed her family. Why not call it even and leave it be?" he asked,earning a glare from Dustin.

Dustin held Kit tighter. "The human race is full of trash, I am just cleaning it up." he said, causing Andrew to sigh again.

"You can't judge the human race, you never been A human." Andrew pointed out as he walked over to Avril. Dustin laughed bitterly.

"Big talk coming from someone covered in human blood."

Andrew closed his eyes, obvious regret covering his face. "That was my first human kill since KC made me." he said. And it was. Since he had once been human it disgusted him to hunt humans again. Kyle's death had been an accident. He looked at Kit. "I can easily free you, but you have to promise you will leave as soon as I do."

~!!~
Dimitri had followed in silence. He had been too far away to hear her words, but he didn't hate her. He hated himself. He should of have been able to survive. He should of been stronger enough to live on. How did he ever expect to be strong enough to carry Ember if he couldn't carry himself. He looked at her as he laid her on the bed.

~!!~
Sergei frowned when he saw her face. "You been crying." he whispered as he stepped forward and hugged her. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked quietly as he pulled back. He laid a hand on her growing belly. He closed his eyes. "I wouldn't of left your side if I known." he said softly.

~!!~
Cinder closed her eyes. "But why do you love me?" he asked softly. "Why do you care so much for me?" she asked softly. Day after day she looked in the mirror and soft nothing that would make him love her. Alice had looks (even though he said he didn't love her), that other girl probably had a sane personally (little did she know that Jojo was even crazier then she and Alice put together). "Why?"

~!!~
Xavier fangs were just about to price her skin when she pushed him back. He was dazed. What had just happened? He was confused as he watched her pace back and forth. What had he done wrong? She had been so sure when she bit him. Was she having second thoughts now? Now after she had bitten him? He blinked and stood up. "KC." he said as she grabbed her shoulder. He turned her around to face him. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice impassive.

~!!~
Mindy smirked at Daniel. "No." she said as she stepped around him and toward the body. "Hello, wolf girl." she greeted Sage. She looked down at Kyle's body and leaned down. She placed a finger on his neck and pulled it back. She licked the blood off her finger and smiled at Sage. "Do you know hard it was to get the wolf smell out of the house?" she asked as she sat on the bed, crossing her legs.

~!!~
Tobias shook his head. "Okay." he said though. He looked at Michi, still crying by Draven's side. "Do you want me to take you back to your room, Elianna?" he asked. "What should I do with Michi? I don't know if it is good for her to stay in here." he whispered. He closed his eyes. It wasn't good for anyone to be in here, epically the boy that just walked in.

David's red eyes grew big when he stepped in and took in the scene. "Daddy?"

~!!~
Brooke stumbled back. "So-sorry." she said quickly. She took a step back herself. She looked like she wanted to run, but she didn't know where she was, or how to get back out. She was lost. She closed her eyes tightly. She was still so scared; she wrapped her arms around herself as if trying to hold herself together. All she could do was hope that he didn't try to hurt her again. "What- who are you?" she asked quickly.

~!!~
Christen walked to the window and closed it. He pulled the curtains closed. "I loved you all this time. I never stopped, and I never will." he promised.

“You did!” Sammy yelled back, fighting back the tears. “Try to remember, Luke!” She shouted. “Remember holding me when it was storming! Remember saving me from Drew! Remember anything!” She cried. “Luke, I know you know me, somewhere in there,” She said quietly. “I know you do; you just have to find it. Please!”
~!!~
Haven’s eyes widened at Rufus’ words. She stepped forward as Lawrence did, but her eyes were only on Luke. She didn’t know what to do; she couldn’t stop Lawrence if he had a gun. She only had her knife, but maybe, if she was fast enough…

She almost dropped her knife when she heard Lawrence. Her mouth dropped open, and she turned to him. “What are you…what are you talking about?” She asked, gripping her knife tighter. She could only see Andrea’s face now in her mind, scowling at her, telling her how stupid she was being, standing here talking instead of doing something.
~!!~
Kit glared at Andrew, but the effect was lost. She couldn’t breathe; he was holding her tighter now, and she didn’t have her knife anymore. She struggled harder, refusing to give up. She wouldn’t promise Andrew anything; she hated all of them. She wouldn’t let them go after she had seen them, but she knew, somewhere in the corner of her mind, that she was in no position to refuse.

“I promise,” she gasped. It was a lie, but could he tell?
~!!~
Jeremy stepped back, and Ember sat up quickly, gasping. “Jeremy, don’t go,” she cried, biting her lip to stop its trembling. She couldn’t cry, but she looked like she would if she could. She wasn’t thinking clearly; Jeremy was gone. But his illusion was better than being alone, better than falling back into the hole that she’d dug for herself.

Jeremy sat back down on the edge of the bed, and she threw her arms around him. He stroked her hair in silence, his face impassive except for the small frown. “Ember, what are you doing?” He asked softly, but she didn’t answer.
~!!~
Vivian wrapped her arms around him tightly, but when he pulled back she looked down. “I don’t know,” She said quietly. “I was scared,” She whispered. “I didn’t know what you would do if I told you….I didn’t want to even know myself,” she said quietly. “Sergei, I’m scared,” She said, looking back up at him and placing her hands over his. “I’m so scared,” she whispered.
~!!~
”Because you’re you,” Seth said quietly. “Cinder, the first time I saw you I saw someone who needed help, and I wanted to help you. But then I saw how sad you were, how caring you were for your brother, and I fell in love with you,” he said quietly. “Cinder, I love you because you’re you; every part of you,” He said softly.
~!!~
K.C. pulled herself away from him, her eyes frantic. “I…I can’t,” she managed to get out, her voice shaking. “Xavier, I’m so---I’m sorry, but I can’t,” she stammered. “I---I don’t----“ She couldn’t seem to finish any of her thoughts, but her mind was racing. Why was she so scared? She had seen what love did to her brother, and she didn’t want to be broken…But why now? Why after she’d already bitten him?
~!!~
Sage’s hands were clenched into tight fists at her sides, and she ran forward and pulled her off the bed roughly by her arm, gripping tighter. “Get out,” She growled, and stepped back. Daniel was still kneeling by Kyle, his face impassive. Bryce was nowhere to be seen.

Sage, forgetting that Daniel was still there, felt herself changing. Within moments, a wolf with fur the orange color of her hair was standing in her place. If a wolf could glare, she was doing it, her eyes locked on Mindy. Daniel’s jaw dropped.
~!!~
”No,” Elianna mumbled. “Landon’s there,” She said quietly, and she forced herself to sit up, ignoring the spinning of the room. She looked at David and flinched, then back at Michi, who was still crying. She forced herself to her feet and leaned against the doorframe for support, as if her legs would give out from underneath her at any moment. She looked at David and shook her head. “David, you should go,” she said softly. “You don’t need to see this.”
~!!~
Leslie grinned again; his mood swings seemed to just keep coming. “What am I, or who am I?” He asked, stepping forward again. “You already know who I am; you proved that by saying my name,” He smirked. “As for what I am…” He smiled again, showing his fangs. “Can’t you guess? I’ll give you a hint,” He said quietly. “That wasn’t my blood you saw on my knife.”
~!!~
Gem looked at him in the dim lighting, and nodded. “I’m sorry, Christen,” She said quietly. “This shouldn’t have happened to us,” She whispered. “I wish I could fix it.” She stood up slowly off the floor but didn’t walk towards him, staying where she was with her arms wrapped around herself.
~!!~
Anya closed her eyes tightly, and she heard the crack as the wood splintered and broke. She kept as still as she could, but she could see his feet under the bed, coming closer. She heard his voice whispering her name. ‘Please don’t let him find me,’ she thought. ‘Please, please, please.’

“Anya,” He said quietly, and then he knelt down. She closed her eyes tightly as his eyes met hers, and then he stood up. “Anya, you made it so hard to find you,” He said softly. She was shaking as she lay there, trying not to make a sound. “I should have known you’d be here.”

She could hear him as he paced back and forth, and her mind began to race. She saw herself when she was younger, completely and totally trusting of him, then as things began to change. And then she felt something else besides her fear; anger. She forced herself out from under the bed and faced him.

Joel smiled at her, and she stood in silence, staring back. “Anya,” He said softly, and stepped forward, placing a hand on her cheek. She closed her eyes tightly, her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides. When his lips touched her cheek, she shoved him away.

“Get out!” She screamed, surprising even herself at the depths of her anger. Surprise flashed across his face, then something else, something she’d seen only too often. He was angry.

“What’s wrong, Anya?” He asked, stepping forward again. “Didn’t you miss me, too?” She stepped back, shaking her head.
~!!~
Rue sighed in relief and looked down at Elijah, holding back her tears again. She bit her lip and looked at Ethan. "I'm sorry," She said quietly, though what she was apologizing for she didn't say. "You're his brother?" She asked quietly.

Luke paled at her words and took a step back. "Those were dreams." he said. "They were dreams, not memories, they couldn't of have been memories." he said, a strange look in his eyes. He shook his head. "I-" he whispered. "I love you, but it isn't right, it isn't fair for you to do this to me." he cried. "I don't remember asking you to marry me, or even to go out with me. Even though I dreamt about that too." he whispered.

~!!~
Andrew smirked and suddenly Avril was pinned to a tree. "You know, Dustin, I never had vampire blood before. Choronos likes it, so it can't be that bad." He said as he put his mouth to Avril's neck.She screamed, and Dustin dropped Kit. He ripped Andrew from Avril and glared at him.

"GO!" Andrew shouted at Kit. He knew she had lied, but this was her chance to run.

~!!~
Dimitri watched in silence and sat on her chair. Something flashed in his eyes. He just folded his hands in his lap and watched. He didn't even try to hide his jealously. What was the point? He was dead, he shouldn't be here at all, and she shouldn't be this way.

~!!~
Sergei pulled his hand off her smoctah but took hers in his. "You should never hesitate to tell me something like this." he said and kissed her palm. "I love you, therefore I love the child." he smiled weakly. "Don't you get it? This is great news." he said as he pushed her hair out of her face. "I am happy that you are having my child." he said even though he was worried by the fact that she wouldn't make a good mother.

~!!~
Cinder looked away. "But I won't be. I'm changing. Can't you see that? I won't be Cinder no more." she sounded so scared. She was so scared. It frightened her to think that one day she wouldn't be Cinder any longer.

~!!~
Anger flooded Xavier's face. "You can't!? You won't!? You already bit me!" he pointed out. "Why are you doing this to me? You're ready? You understand? You want to? How many lies can you tell one person in ten minutes." He was pacing now. "Don't you get it? This isn't something you can change your mind on. This is forever." he shouted.

~!!~
Mindy's eyes widened. "Hello wolf girl." she said as she took a step back. "I'' be gone now. I don't want to end up like my brother did." she said quickly as she turned and ran out of the house.

~!!~
David looked at her with tears in his little dehampir eyes. "Yes- yes ma'am." he cried as he ran out of the room.

Michi looked up then. Her eyes were red. "You don't need to see it either." she whispered.

~!!~
Another cry escaped from Brooke's lips. "STOP!" She shouted. "Please... You're scaring me!" she cried. "Is this how you get your fun? Scaring random girls in the woods?" she cried as she slid to the ground covering her face with her hands. She was scared. "Please, stop it." she whispered. "I'll leave." She said as she looked up. "I'll go, I promise, and you won't see me again." But as she had said. She had no idea where she was, or how she got there. She would only get more lost.

~!!~
Christen shook his head, not looking at her. "It doesn't matter." he said. "You can't fix it if you wanted to. I doesn't work that way." He whispered. He looked at her and smiled. "I should of have been here. It's my fault." he said looking away again. It was easier to blame himself then her.

~!!~
Ethan frowned and looked at his brother. "Yeah." he said as they came closer to the hospital. "What happened?" he demanded. "How did this happen?"

~!!~
Lawrence smirked at her. "Yes, that's right. I fell in love with you sister. Andrea." he said. "Of course you wouldn't of have known." he said as his finger tightened on the gun. "I said goodbye to her love, know you must do the same to his." he said as he pulled the trigger. The gunshot echoed as Rufus fell to the ground, limp. His death had been instant. There was no time for him to say goodbye to her. Lawrence stepped away and glared at her. "Have fun with that." he said as he turned to walk away.

“I…I was making tea,” Rue said quietly. “He went to get it off the stove and…and he tripped,” She lied. She was a good liar; she had been doing it her whole life whenever she’d been questioned about her arms, but now she was too shaken up. “The water was boiling, and it...it spilled,” She whispered.
~!!~
”It’s no one’s fault,” Gem said quietly. “Not mine or yours. It’s his; it’s Damian’s.” Just saying his name sent shivers down her spine. She looked over at him nad managed a small smile, but it wasn’t very strong.
~!!~
Leslie laughed, stepping back and looking down at her. “But you’re lost,” He said simply. “If I let you go it’d be easy to find you again. But if you want to run, be my guest. I could use some entertainment.” He wasn’t really going to hurt her; he was just scaring her.
~!!~
Elianna nodded and glanced over more at her brother’s still body, then turned out of the room. She trailed one hand along the wall for support as she walked, but the world was still tilting around her. She stopped outside her door and glanced around, but when she didn’t see Landon, she shut and locked the door behind her. She walked over to her bed and lay down, closing her eyes tightly again.
~!!~
Sage watched her go, then looked at Daniel. He looked….terrified. His eyes were wide and he was clinging to Kyle’s body as if he were still alive. Sage slowly turned back into herself and stepped back. He looked at her, silent. Bryce came back in, the phone in his hand. A few moments later she heard sirens.
~!!~
K.C. flinched with each word and she took a step back, shaking her head slowly. “I’m sorry, Xavier,” she said quietly. “I just---I just---“ She shook her head, taking a step back towards the door. Her mind was racing, and she didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know what was wrong with her, but she was afraid.
~!!~
”You’ll always be Cinder,” Seth protested, holding her tighter. “You may change, but you’ll always be Cinder. I refuse to believe that you can be anyone else. Even if you change, you’ll still be you underneath it all. And that’s why I’ll stay,” He whispered.
~!!~
Vivian managed a small smile, but she shook her head quickly. “But I’m still scared,” She whispered. “Sergei, I’m not going to make a good mother,” she whispered. “I’m scared I’m going to mess things up. That I wont’ be good enough. That something will happen.”
~!!~
Jeremy glanced at Dimitri for a moment, but his face was impassive. Ember finally pulled back, laying back down on the bed. She looked at Jeremy, her face tired and pale. “I’m sorry,” She whispered, and then she was asleep. Jeremy sighed, standing up and looking at Dimitri, silent.
~!!~
Kit hesitated. She knew she was outnumbered here, and she still was having trouble breathing. But she couldn’t just leave once she’d seen Dustin, seen Avril. She spun around and ran, but she knew that she’d be back. She wouldn’t let him get away that easily.
~!!~
Samantha was silent, and she looked down at her feet. “I’m sorry,” She said quietly, taking a step back. “I want you to remember, so much, but—“ She bit her lip, shaking her head. “I want you to remember, but I won’t force you.” She was back outside now, and within a few moments she was soaked, and she let the tears fall when he couldn’t see them. “If you---“ But she didn’t finish. She turned and began to walk away.
~!!~
Haven’s mind was racing, but she pushed away the thoughts and stepped forward just as the gun went off. Her eyes widened and her heart sped up until she felt like she could no longer breathe. She fell down next to Rufus, shaking her head. He couldn’t be dead; he couldn’t be. “RUFUS!” she screamed, shaking his shoulders. There was so much blood, but the rain was washing it away. She pushed herself to her feet and spun around to see Lawrence walking away. She threw the knife; she wasn’t even thinking. She didn’t know if it would hit him; she had thrown blindly.

Brooke pushed herself off then she was off. She was scared. She didn't care if she was lost. She just needed to get away. She ran as fast as she could. She tripped a few times, but she always stood back up and kept running. She was so scared. She had only tried to be nice to him. But he turned it around and now he was making her a toy of shorts. Using her as entertainment. Her throat tightened as she kept running.

~!!~
Ethan frowned deeper as they made it to the hospital; he wasn't sure if he believed her or not. "I see." he said simply as he opened the back doors and they began to take Elijah into the hospital.

~!!~
Christen frowned. "Okay." he said, but it was clear that he still thought it was his fault. If was here it wouldn't of have happened. He knew that. He knew that well. And it was very unlikely that he would ever think other wise.

~!!~
Xavier glared at her. "Just go!" he shouted. "Get out of here!" he yelled. "Go! Get! Shoo!" he shouted at her. He was mad, upset, and confused. Here was the girl that he loved willing to bite him, but not letting him do the same. She broke his heart and all he wanted to do was love her.

~!!~
Cinder laughed weakly. "You're a bad poet." she whispered. She wished that it could so back to how it was. How he could always make her laugh. How she could be so happy around him. Buy so much had change, but he was still here. He was still the same.

~!!~
Sergei frowned and kissed her forehead. "But "ll be there to help you." he promised. "I won't leave you, no matter what." he said as he kissed her again. "Unless... do you want to put it up for adoption?" he asked quietly, not sure if that was what he wanted. NO, he wanted to raise it. Sure he was young. But now he thought about it he would love to be a good father, a good husband.

~!!~
Luke sighed and looked away. "Sammy! Stop!" he called after her and ran forward. He grabbed her wrist and spun her around. "Do you love me?" he asked. She had said she did. "You're not lying?" he whispered. "Then tell me, are we really engaged? Do you really want to marry me?" he asked. Something forming in his mind and he needed those answers.

~!!~
Lawrence flinched as the knife hit his shoulder and her looked back at her. "At least you get to see his body. I didn't get to see Andrea's." he said, then he was gone.

"Whose fault was that?!" Haven screamed after him, but he was gone. She fell back down next to Rufus, cradling his head in her lap. "Rufus," she said quietly. "Rufus, Rufus, please," she whispered. "Please come back," She cried, brushing his hair out of his face. "I didn't get to tell you," She whispered. "Rufus, I love you. Please, please don't die." But she knew he was already dead. She hugged his body close, uncaring of the blood now soaking through her own clothes.
~!!~
Sammy looked at him, unsure of how to respond. " I do love you," She said quietly. "And...we're engaged in a way," She whispered. "You showed me the future, and in it we were together. We were married," She said quietly. "We tried to change it, but it never did. But…But I don't want it to change anymore," She said truthfully. "Luke, I want it to happen. But you need to remember."
~!!~
Vivian shook her head quickly. "No," She said. "No adoption. I couldn't...not now," She said quietly. She closed her eyes for a moment, then sighed, looking back up at him. "I'm still scared, but it'll be okay," she said quietly, wrapping her arms around him. "I trust you," she said quietly. "And I know you'll be a good father."
~!!~
Seth smiled slightly, shaking his head. "But you still love me, right?" He asked quietly, shaking his head and brushing her hair behind her ear. "I won't leave," He said quietly, again. "I won't let anything come between us again."
~!!~
Leslie ran after her, and within moments he was in front of her. He had a smile on his face as he blocked her path.

Fear ran through Brooke as she fell back into the wet leafs. Her brown eyes glanced up at him. She didn't try to hide the fear as another cry escaped her lips. "Why do you do this?" she asked. "What do you get out of it? Do you enjoy scaring girls? Do even have a girlfriend?" she asked, she knew that she was pushing it again. She should just close her mouth and hoped that he left her alone. But something told her that he wouldn't. She pushed herself up. She stepped away.

~!!~
"How many times are you gonna ask that?" Cinder asked with a frown. "I love you. Happy?" she frowned and laid her head on his chest again. "You make an awful lot of promises. How many do you think you can keep?" she asked softly. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him.

~!!~
Sergei frowned slightly as he hugged her back. He kissed the top of her head and then rested his chin on top of her head. "Okay, no adoption. But what makes you think I'd make a good father?" he asked as he closed his eyes. Another frown tug on his lips. "You have to go to the doctor's." he said suddenly. "You have to make sure that you and the baby are alright." he said. "Got that. You have to take better care of yourself too. No doing anything dangerous." Because he knew she was bound to sooner or later. "You have to be careful." he added. He fell silent for a moment. "What you want?" he ask softly. "Boy or girl?" his voice was soft.

~!!~
Luke sighed and stepped back. "Stop that. Stop it. No more time travel non-sense. I can't travel to time. It must of have been a dream of yours. If you love me, prove it." he said. "Sammy, I love you. I don't know why and I can't remember how I fell in love you, just that I did. You want to marry me? But I want to do it right. I can't remember any dates, nothing. I want to do it right." he said. "Go home and say there is no engagement. I can't marry you if I don't know you. I can't even remember why I love you." he said as he took another step back. "We'll see where is goes from there. "I can't and won't promise you that I will marry you. I can't and won't promise you that future you want. But I can promise you I can try. 'Kay?"

~!!~
Elijah's eyes opened for a moment when they got him in. He looked at Ethan, a frown tugging on his lips. "It hurts." he said as his eyes closed again. To Ethan he sounded like a little boy again and falling off swing sets and driving his mother crazy with bruises. He pushed Elijah's hair out of his face as he closed his eyes tightly. The other man left, but Ethan stayed. That was when the doctor walked in.

Although they lived in the next town over, his mother was here to night because this hospital was running low on emergency room doctors. She nearly dropped what she was holding when she saw her two sons. Then her eyes fell on Rue. She shook her head and ran to Elijah looking at his arms and neck. "What happened?" she asked Ethan who nodded at Rue.

The black night swallowed everything as Michi stood next to the bed. She lit the candle and stared at Draven's dead body. Deader then dead. A cry rose in her throat but a silent whisper from Ollie cut it off. She took a step back and looked away. She held her locket close to heart as her tears ran down her cheeks. "You lied to me." she whispered. "You promised to always be there. But you're dead. I have no reason left to remain." She had David, but he was just as scared as she was. She took another step back and shook her head. She looked at Draven's still form.

It had been three days and he was still day. That morning she had finally washed his blood off of herself and had stayed by his side waiting for him to awake. But he never did, he never would. He had left her, he had broken all his promises. But could she really blame him? It had been Leslie that had killed him. Now Draven was gone and all her hope was to. 'You could always kill Leslie.' Ollie's words entered her thoughts. Michi closed her eyes. She knew she could, and she would if she ever saw him. 'And if we ever see him I will let you tear his head off.' Ollie told her as she began to take control of the body. Michi pushed her back and she stepped forward and kissed Draven's lips for what could be the very last time. She pushed his hair out of his face. Her fingers lingered on his forehead. "Please don't leave me." she cried. But she knew that he was already dead. "I love you, Draven." she whispered as Ollie tried to take control again.

This time Michi let her. Ollie smirked at Draven's form. "Shame, that it was Leslie who did it." she said as she turned around. She would keep her promise. She would let Michi kill Leslie if they ever saw him. She took a step forward and something caught her eye. It was gold locket sitting on Draven's be side. He wouldn't miss it. He was dead. The clasp was broken, so she wrapped it around her wrist and walked silently out of the manor.

~!!~
Brooke wrapped her arms around her legs. As she sat under the tree. She was lost and hopeless. Leslie had let her go but not before he bite her. It seemed as if he wanted nothing better then scare her out of her wits. It had worked. He had bit her and drank of her blood. He had laughed at her and used her for entertainment. And what did she do? She had asked if he was okay. She wanted to make sure that he wasn't hurt.

The worse part was that she still couldn't remember her name. She wasn't going to survive like this. She wasn't going make it. She was still in the woods, and she doubted that she would ever make it out. She knew that the longer she stayed in the woods the more it was possible for Leslie to find her again. He was insane and she was frightened of him. She even had scars on her neck from where he had bitten her. She had pushed him away and his fangs ripped out of her skin leaving the scars. She cried softly.

She was so scared she was no longer what to do. All she wanted was to go home, but she didn't even know if she had one.

~!!~
Elijah frowned at his mother. She was ranting about how her wasn't allowed out of the house anymore. How he was stupid. And so on and so forth. Elijah had told the truth about what had happened. Rue had left and he didn't know that she had lied. His mom was so mad. Ethan seemed madder. So mad that he had recently left to find her.

Elijah climbed up the stairs and walked into his room. He fell on his bed and closed his eyes. His arms still hurt. It looked like a really bad sunburn, one that would never go away. He closed his eyes and he saw Rue's face. His cheeks grew red when he remember what he told her. He buried his face in his pillow and shook his head. He had no idea why he said that, only that it was true. He wanted to make her feel beautiful, even when she could no longer be called pretty. He had seen pictures hanging on the walls of her house. She was once very pretty. But that didn't matter anymore. All that mattered now was that she need him to carry her cross, or at least help.

He sighed and rolled over. He hoped that she would come visit him.

~!!~
Ethan frowned as the cops knocked on the door. It was her dad that anwsered the door. He looked surprise to see cops there. His surprise turned to horror as they read him his rights and handcuffed him. One had walked in to examine Rue, who Elijah had said had been abused by her father. The burns were enough to prove that. When they were gone Ethan stepped forward and leaned against the door frame. "Oh, Rue! We need to talk, little liar." he said waiting for Rue come out. He was mad. She had lied, she was not only putting herself in danger but Elijah too. That was unforgivable.

~!!~
Darren closed his eyes and knocked on Rainy's door. He had to tell her what he did. He was scared of himself. Of what he did, of the look he had seen in Sam's eyes. He hadn't meant to kill the girl. He wasn't even gonna kill Sam, but he had seen the look in her eyes as she died. Fear, but it hadn't been for her. It had been for Sam. She had loved him enough to sacrifice her own life for him. He had seen the horror in Sam's eyes as he had fallen to her bloody side and stood up with murder in his eyes. He had loved her enough to be willing to try to kill her killer.

He swallowed and pushed open the door. "Rainy-" Sam was there. Darren's eyes widened and he stepped back.

~!!~
She was appearing to be getting better. Seth no longer had to make her eat. No longer had to make her do anything. She was better, or getting there. Right now she was making lunch. Cooking. It was Haven's favorite food. She had been worried about her since she had gotten back three days ago. There was something wrong but she wouldn't talk. She wouldn't even come out of her closet. She had even locked it. For some strange reason there was locks inside of the closet doors.

She placed the food on the a tray and and carried it up the stairs. She pushed open Haven's door and knocked on the closet door. "Haven. Come out. She said as she placed the food on the desk. She sat down near the closet door and rested her back against the wall. "I know I haven't been the best lately, but Haven, you're worrying me. What happened?" She asked her as she looked at Seth.

~!!~
Xavier stepped out of his room. He had disappeared the day before and came home earlier covered in blood. His killings had been coming messier and messier. Their screams lingering longer and longer. He was clean now, but he looked different then he did before. It wasn't just the fact that his raven hair that touched his shoulders at one point was now cut shorter or his blue eyes duller, more tired. He seemed to loose his spark. He was no longer that hyper, loud mouth boy. He was broken, sad. And angry. He was mad at KC. She had let him fall in love with him. Had made him believe that she loved him and then just dropped him before he could show her just how much he loved her.

He sighed and closed his door. He pulled at the bandage on his wrist. It was covering the marks on his wrist. The marks marking him as KC's. But she no longer wanted him. He looked down the hall at KC's door before he walked the hall, the other way.

~!!~
Avril had rolled herself into a ball in Dustin's lap. He pushed her hair out of her face and smiled. She was a sweet girl, now terrified of Andrew. Dustin frowned as he laid back and held his daughter to his chest. He closed his eyes thinking about her mother. Her sweet mother who had always fallen asleep with her hand in his and her head on his shoulder. He had forgotten about that until Kit had told him that she had killed Lily. He wanted to kill her. To tear her to pieces.

He kissed Avril's forehead and moved her onto his bed and stood up. His movements were slow, and his shoulder hurt. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the window. "Lily, come back." he whispered to the air, but he knew that she was gone. He opened his eyes and watched the shadows in the trees. His sighed. Memories kept doming, and he just wanted them gone.

~!!~
Patrick looked at the rose in his hands. It was for Leanne. He had been wrong to lie to her. But he felt that he had no other choice. He was now trying apologized to her. Sure, this was a strange way to do it, but he couldn't tell her how sorry he was, there was no words for it. Plus he had lied to her, why would he believe anything he said? So he was trying to show her. He had placed flower petals on her bed. But earlier he had seen them floating in the wind. She had thrown them out the window.

He wouldn't let that discourage him. He still loved her and the fact that he was still wearing the ring proved it, so he thought. He kissed the ring and pulled hers out of his pocket. One day she would wear again. He just didn't know when. Sooner rather then later would be best. She had said she hated him, but he refused to believe it. She was the only woman he had ever loved, would ever love. He stood up and slipped out of his room. He walked toward Leanne's he knew she was in there when he stopped outside her door. He paused and turned again. He sighed and began walking again.

~!!~
Andrew was on his bed. He was broken again. Love was tearing him to pieces again. He was now seeing why KC hated love. The first he said to her when he saw her again had been 'please don't fall in love'. It had been wrong for him to ever tell her to love someone. He was only gonna break her like he, himself was being broken.

He closed his eye tightly and laid back on his bed. He missed Sage and knew that it had been in her right to kill him and part of him had hoped she did. He hadn't meant to kill her brother, he just did. It was a mistake. And he made himself think that she hated him. She had every right to.

~!!~
Milo was in his study. He was looking out the window over the town of Dale. He closed his eyes. He wondered if Anya was okay. He was worried about her. He missed her. He wanted to hold her, kiss her, make her feel safe again. But her pass wouldn't let her go. It was holding on too tightly. And he wondered if she was even fighting back. He closed his eyes and remembered the time she fell asleep in his arms. How he had listened to her sing on the hill. He remembered when Noah had pushed him into her on that first day they met. He let him fall back into those memories. He didn't want the recent ones.

~!!~
Luke looked at the lady at the front desk. He asked her where Dr. Storm would be and she pointed him in the right direction. He had been thinking about Sammy a lot more lately. She had shared with him her dreams of the future how she wanted to marry him. He wanted to at least give her dreams a chance. So she walked to where he would find her father. "Excuse me?" he said as he walked up behind him. "Dr. Storm?" he asked as he paused in his pace.

He was suddenly nervous. He didn't know much about him but somehow knew that Dr. Storm didn't like him that much. "I need to ask you something." he said quickly. Maybe too quickly. "About Sammy." he added. "I wanted to know if I could have your permission to take her to dinner tomorrow."

~!!~
Sergei had brought her back to were they were they were now living. The apartment was small and in a few towns over. But he was happy here with his wife and the baby she was carrying. He had found a better job and said that it would be best that she was a stay at home mom until the baby was old enough to go to school. He hated leaving her alone, but he had to. He had told her that he wanted a daughter after she had said that she didn't care. She had dodged his question about why he would make a good father. He had laughed and kissed her cheek. He was happy but he was also worried. The next day he was making her go to the doctors. He wanted to make sure her and the baby was okay.

He walked into the living room and smiled at her. "Are you hungry?" he asked as he sat next to her. He pushed her hair out of her face. And kissed her cheek. He smiled at her.

Ember blinked the sleep out of her eyes and looked at Jeremy who was sitting in the chair near her door, staring back at her in silence. She pulled her knees up to her chest and looked away, staring out her window. She saw herself before, when she’d slept next to Dimitri. She remembered how worried she’d been, how she felt so hopeless, but how laying next to him had made everything seem better, at least for a little while.

But now he was gone, and she was losing everything. Jeremy was back, but she didn’t know weather or not to believe it. He would barely talk, only answering direct questions and stopping her when she tried something stupid again, though he hadn’t been able to stop her from going out again the night before. She looked back at him for a moment, but he was gone. She should have guessed. Her imagination was coming up with things to make her feel better, but it only made things worse.

“Dimitri,” she whispered, and suddenly Jeremy was there next to her. He wrapped her in his arms, and she buried her face in his chest, trying not to say anything. When she finally pulled away he was looking down at her, the full extent of his concern written on his face. And before she could stop herself, she had her lips pressed lightly to his. She didn’t understand why; she loved Dimitri now, not him. But she was so confused now, and she felt so broken. She was looking for anyone to pick up the pieces.
~!!~
K.C. felt so confused. She had been thinking of how broken her brother looked when he’d finally come back, and he’d told her never to fall in love. But it was too late; she’d already fallen, but now she wanted nothing more than to forget. She knew that it wasn’t fair; that it was incredibly selfish, but she didn’t care. She just wanted to forget. She didn’t want to see herself broken up like her brother.

But she couldn’t deny the way she felt when she was away from him. She need him, as if he were a part of herself. She didn’t feel the same when he wasn’t there, but she didn’t know how to explain this to him. She was afraid; if she tried to, he would yell. And she couldn’t blame him. She had told him before how selfish she was, but he had said she’d changed. She wondered if he still felt that way now.

She looked up as someone came towards her. She was walking through the hallways, trying to keep away from both her and Xavier’s room. But she recognized the figure as she got closer and she froze in her tracks, thinking about running. She shook away the thought and looked back at Xavier in silence.
~!!~
Haven ignored Cinder as she tapped on the door, even though she could smell the pizza she’d made. Her stomach growled as if in response, but she ignored it. She hadn’t eaten since the day before. She didn’t want to come out of her room; she didn’t want to see Cinder or anyone else, ever again.

She knew she was being stupid, but she just couldn’t help it. She could only think of Rufus now, all the things she’d never said to him, the main one being ‘I love you.’ She wondered if he’d known, if he could see it. Because now she could never tell him. That was what was bothering her the most, if he had known. And it was her fault he was dead; she shouldn’t have gone after Lawrence. She was no better than he’d said; ‘filthy scum.’ Lawrence was still alive, and all she’d accomplished was killing the one person she’d ever truly loved.

She’d spent hours thinking about what he’d said about her sister, but none of it added up. He had to have been lying, she thought. Andrea would never…fall for someone like that. Not someone like him; it didn’t make sense. It just didn’t fit with her sister.

“I’m not hungry,” She mumbled, pulling her knees up to her chest in the darkness of the closet. She was being childish, and she knew that, but she didn’t care anymore.
~!!~
Rue wasn’t sure what to think anymore. She had lied to the paramedics, though she’d told Elijah that she was going to tell them the truth. She didn’t know what she wanted anymore; she hated her father, yet she still loved him. As it turned out, she didn’t have to think about it too long. She looked up from her book as she heard a knock on the door, and watched in shocked silence as her father was lead away in handcuffs.

She looked at Ethan, slowly realizing what had happened. “I---“ She stammered, but no other words came out. Her mom wasn’t home; she was at work. It was just her and her dad, and now, just her. She had been so worried about Elijah, and she was going to visit him today, but it seemed now that she would never be able to. She closed the distance between herself and his brother, and faced him with her head held high. “What?” She asked, her voice sounding somewhat defeated. “I know that I lied, but what else could you possibly have to say now?” She asked quietly. “My father is gone; it was him who hurt Elijah. You can’t blame me for it,” she said, though she knew that he could. She did.
~!!~
Rainy was terrified. Sam wouldn’t leave her side; he seemed fully convinced that she was this ‘Jane’ person, and he showed it, too. She didn’t know how many times he’d kissed her, how many times he’d told her he loved her, how many times she’d begged for him to leave and he ignored her. She closed her eyes tightly as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back so she was leaning against his chest. She bit her lip to keep from crying out.

She looked up as she heard a noise, and when she saw Darren her eyes widened, filled with panic. Sam hardly seemed to notice that he was there, and if he did, he didn’t show it. He kept his grip on Rainy and didn’t even look in his direction, but Rainy was staring at him. She didn’t speak, but her eyes said everything she was thinking. ‘Please help me.’ She didn’t say it, but she looked terrified.
~!!~
Anya hesitated as she made her way up the hill towards Milo’s house, but she knew that she had to keep going. She had spent too long coming up with all of the reasons that this could be a mistake, but she knew that it was the right thing to do.

The night that Joel had come back, she’d finally let him know what she felt about him. He had grown angry, but she no longer frozen by fear. She fought him off, and he hadn’t come back since. She was still scared; she couldn’t deny that, no matter how hard she tried. And she didn’t know if she could let Milo close to her again, but she wanted to try. She needed to; she owed that to him, and to herself. She still loved him so much, and though she was feeling braver than before, she was still terrified that Joel would come back. She didn’t know how long her strong side would last, so she had to do this now.

She hesitated once more at the top before she knocked on the door. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breathe and letting it out slowly. She had no idea what she was going to say, but she hoped that she would think of something. She just wanted to see him again; she needed to.
~!!~
Vivian managed a small smile at Sergei, not letting on how sick she felt, how sick she’d felt for so long lately. She knew it was normal, but she hated it. She knew that she would never be able to do this if he wasn’t here with her.

“Yeah,” She said quietly, in response to his question. Even though she felt sick, everything sounded good to eat. Strange things, too. Everything normal made her feel sicker, but she’d found herself eating things that would have made her sick before. She pushed away the thoughts that were making her stomach twist even more, and smiled slightly at him again, reaching down and taking his hand almost absent-mindedly.

She knew her mom was still angry at her; that was an understatement. But she didn’t seem to hate her anymore, and Vivian had taken that as a good enough sign for her to go home. She was still scared, terrified even, that she would mess something up with this. She knew she wouldn’t be a good mother, but she had Sergei to help her. She couldn’t believe they had ended up here after everything; every time she thought about it it made her head spin all over again.
~!!~
Gem wasn’t sure what had possessed her to come out here and knock on her brother’s door, but that was exactly what she was doing now. She didn’t even want to think about how he’d react to what she knew he’d see, so she tried not to. She just needed to see him; even with the way things were now, with him half-way insane and herself headed in that direction, almost, he always seemed to make things at least a little bit better. She wondered for a moment if he still had her diary.

She knocked again, biting her lip and pushing back the thoughts of the past few days. Damian hadn’t come back, and she wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. She did want him dead, and she knew that Christen would kill him, but she was so confused about her feelings regarding the child she knew she was going to have. She knew it was wrong of her to hate it, yet that was all she could make herself feel for it.

She let out a small sigh, looking down at her feet, knocking once more and knowing that he was probably getting annoyed with her by now.
~!!~
Dr. Storm turned around when he heard a somewhat familiar voice, and blinked in surprise when he saw Luke. His daughter had told him that the engagement was a lie, and he wasn’t sure what to think of him anymore. He knew he still didn’t remember much, if anything, yet he still found his eyes narrowing slightly. But his request made him hesitate. After what seemed like hours of silence, he sighed.

“That would be fine,” He said stiffly. “Since you came to ask me first.” He wasn’t happy about it, and Sammy was still somewhat grounded, but she did seem happier around him.
~!!~
Sammy didn’t know what to think.

At first she’d been angry, furious, at nothing and no one, just at the world itself. It didn’t seem fair that first she had to lose Ash, then Cole, and now Luke. But she hated Cole now; but no matter how many times she reminded herself of that, she couldn’t deny that she felt more hurt than angry. Betrayed. He had lied to her so easily, manipulated her, and then died before she could kill him herself. And now, every time there was storm, she looked out her window to make sure that Drew wasn’t there, waiting. Something told her that he would be back, and the thought made her shiver.

She looked out her window, biting her lip. Luke still wanted to be around her, somewhat, though he had no memories, but it hardly seemed worth it. He didn’t remember her at all; she didn’t know what to do. She lay back on her bed, sighing. She was ungrounded, at least partly. She was allowed out on certain occasions, not that she had many places to go anyways.
~!!~
Sage didn’t hate Andrew. She knew that she should, and part of her wanted to, but she also knew that it was her fault. She’d been so absorbed in seeing her brothers again that she’d forgotten about him and what he needed, and Kyle had paid the price. To say that her brothers had been shocked would be an understatement; Daniel had seen her literally change into a beast before his very eyes. She had explained everything to him and Bryce then; Bryce had paced back and forth while Daniel was strangely silent. Kyle’s funeral was set for the next day, and as selfish as it was, she left. She didn’t know where she was going, only that she needed to find Andrew.

And that was why she was here.

She didn’t even knock; just let herself in and walked upstairs, searching for the room that she remembered. When she found it she let herself in again, pulling the door closed behind her and looking at Andrew. She managed a small smile, shaking her head and walking over to the bed. “Hey,” She said softly, looking down at him. “Andrew, let me talk before you say anything,” She said quickly, and she stepped away from the bed, walking over to the window. “I know that what happened wasn’t your fault, “she said quietly. “As much as I tried to blame you, I just couldn’t. I was so absorbed in seeing my family again that…that I forgot about you, and what you needed. It was selfish of me,” she said quietly. The apology was killing her and her pride, but she didn’t seem to care right now. “So, I wanted to ask you to forgive me,” She said softly, turning back to him. She hated that tears were in her eyes, but she didn’t bother to hold them back any longer. “You almost died because of me,” She whispered, her voice breaking. “And then my brother did. This was all my fault. It was a huge mess. I never should have told you to leave in the first place, back in Dale…” Her voice trailed off at the end and she was silent, looking away again, still standing near the window.
~!!~
Leanne wasn’t sure why she’d thrown the rose petals out the window; she hadn’t been thinking clearly. Her anger blinded her and made her forget about everything around her besides herself, and that was what she had done. She knew that he must be hurting, too, but she was only thinking of her own pain now.

She had moved back into the room she’d been in before she’d mated with Patrick. The fact that he’d come in there to place those petals on her bed had seemed sweet at first, but then she’d just grown annoyed. The fact still remained that he’d lied to her about something huge, and she still was angry. Furious, even.

She was sitting on her bed now, her arms folded across her chest. She heard footsteps in the hallway and made sure her door was locked before walking back over to her bed and laying down in silence.
~!!~
Kit hated Dustin; she had already known that, but after finding out about Avril and Lily, that hatred seemed to have increased. It seemed almost ironic; he’d killed her family while she watched and she’d killed his without even knowing it. But she wanted him dead; him and his daughter. She had run that day, but she was coming back now, and she was determined.

She knew that walking into a house full of vampires was suicide if she wasn’t careful, but she didn’t really care. As long as she could bring Dustin down with her, she was happy.

She stepped inside the house, holding her breathe, pulling her black hood up over her head once more. She made her way up the stairs, every creak of the stairs making her freeze and listen, but she heard nothing. She made her way down the hallway, and she realized then that she had no idea what room he was in. She paused next to each one, holding her breathe and listening. She heard a faint voice speaking in one, and she listened. ‘Lily, come back.’ She touched a hand to the knob, and then she stepped inside, hardly making a noise. She didn’t even stop to think that he might have seen her outside while he looked out, nor that she probably didn’t stand much of a chance here. She walked up behind him and placed her knife to his neck once more. “This seems awfully familiar, doesn’t it?” She whispered in his ear. It made her stomach clench just to be this close to him.
~!!~
Elianna was falling to pieces; she’d gone by Michi’s room after she was gone, and seen her brother lying there, still as death. It’d been three days, and he was still dead. It didn’t make sense, but it was happening. Her brother was gone; Tobias was halfway here and gone, and everything was messed up. She felt like she was the only one left in her family.

She closed her eyes tightly, curled up tightly under the covers. She didn’t even realize that her door wasn’t locked; her mind was a million miles away now. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. What happened to her didn’t matter anymore. She was beyond caring. Draven was gone, Tobias was gone, Isabel was gone. She made herself as small as possible, nothing more than a still form underneath the covers.
~!!~
Leslie stopped next to Brooke, that same, twisted smile on his face. He wasn’t sure what it was about this girl that drew him back to her; she was a distraction, at least. A game; fun. He had bitten her once already, and her blood tasted strangely….good, to him. Sweet. He smirked slightly, showing his teeth again. He didn’t understand her in the slightest; she had been so concerned for him when she hadn’t even known him, and when she should have been worried for herself.

“Long time no see,” He said, a taunting tone in his voice as he looked down at her.

Footsteps... Broke closed her eyes tightly. She was hoping that they weren't him. But he was the only person that they could belong to. She bite her lip when he stopped next her. She kept her eyes closed, shaking slightly. Her fear was renewed when she heard his voice. She could tell be his voice, he was smirking that smirk that been haunting her dreams for the last few nights. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked at him. She could clearly see his fangs now. "No blood today; is that a good sign?" she asked evenly although fear was still in her eyes. She stood up and for the first time she noticed that she was taller then him. That didn't ease any fear.

"You're like a Chihuahua." she said suddenly. "You're small, but you think you are fierce. You get your kicks from freaking other people out. They aren't call toe-biters for nothing." she said without thinking. That was her flaw she noticed, she always said what was on her mind. It was going to put her in a world of trouble.

~!!~
Landon hadn't expected her door to be unlocked, but it was. He stepped in silently and locked the door behind him. He didn't any closer through. He just leaned against her door. There was a frown on his lips. He stepped forward. But only a step. "He says that you are no fun anymore. You just sit there now, I should just give up." He said as he took another step forward. He smiled at her. "But I still want you." he said. "One day you will want me too." he said as he took another step forward, almost as if he was taunting her.

~!!~
He was waiting for her. He knew she would come. "You are incredibility stupid." Dustin remarked. But he didn't move. "Do you have any idea how many people are here? How many vampires? You are by far out numbered. There is even an old blood here as well." he was referring to Chronos. He laughed slightly and Avril woke up. Her eyes widened as she saw Kit. She slide of the bed and ran to the door. But her little fingers couldn't work the lock. She cried and hit the door. Fear ran through her.

"They will smell my blood... Chronos won't hesitate to kick the door in. He enjoys vampire blood." He said evenly. "But when he sees you, he won't even think about not killing you." he said. There was no fear in his voice, only something like sadness.

~!!~
Patrick paused down the hall. He wanted to talk to her. He looked down at the rose in his hands. It would have to wait until she fell asleep. He couldn't think of anything to say. So he kept walking.

He had stayed in their room; it felt empty without her. It wasn't like he could go back to his old room. It was right next to hers. She didn't want to talk him much less to see him. Maybe if she let him explain why he did what he did then she wouldn't be as angry... He knew she had every right to be. But he also had the right to explain himself. If only she would let him...

~!!~
His door opened and he sat up. Surprised to see Sage was standing there. He was about to say something. Anything. But she told him not to say anything at all. He watched as she walked to the window, and he stood up. He took a step forward as she spoke. By time she was done he was right behind her. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and rested his chin on one. "My fault." he said. "It's my fault. I shouldn't of have left just because you told me too. I shouldn't of have fallen in love with you. I should of have been able to control myself. I should of have been able to get out with out being caught to hunt more." he whispered. "My fault." He hated seeing her blame herself. "I love you." he whispered in her ear as he pulled away and looked confused.

He took a free steps back. "But I-" he shook his head. "My sister always called me stupid for always chasing after love. I am starting see why." he whispered. "She had been right, and I was stupid to listen. If I'd have then we wouldn't be in this mess." He closed his eyes. "I think- You belong here, with your brothers. I belong back in Dale. I'll take KC with me." he said softly. He turned and walked back to his bed. "Don't get me wrong. I love you, love everything about you. But it will be the best for both of us if- if- if we just never saw each other again." He looked away and reached under his bed and pulled out a drawing pad. It was full of drawings that he had done here. Mindy. Avril. Avril and Dustin. A few of his sister. His mother. His father. Even some of Leanne. A whole lot of Sage (most of them had a butterfly somewhere on it). The newest one wasn't even done. He had started it yesterday. It was of Sage and her brothers.

"Here." he said suddenly dropping it in her hands. "I don't have a use for it no more. Burn it for me." he said as he walked back to the bed.

~!!~
A smile broke out on Luke's lips. "Thank you, sir!" he said, he hadn't expected him to agree. "Thank you." he repeated. He really was thankful. He let his smile drop again before he turned around and began to walk back out of the hospital. He hardly seemed to smile anymore.

He paused in the waiting room, though, when Simon and his mother walked in. Simon was holding a towel that was covered in blood on one of his arms. Luke frowned and Simon shook his head. "How are you, Luke?" Simon asked. Luke only blinked he saw his face. He knew that he knew him, but no name could come to mind. "I see..." Simon said as he walked by.

Luke closed his green eyes and hurried out. A few minutes later he was knocking on Sammy's door. A frown on his lips.

~!!~
Sergei held her hand tightly and kissed her finger tips. He stood up and pulled her to her feet. "What do you want?" he asked as they walked into the small kicthen. He was hoping she said something normal. Some of her food choices lately made him sick just looking at them. He was worried about her and the baby. He knew that Vivian would not make a good mother. Maybe when the infant was a child around the age of eight. But that was all, Sergei didn't think she could care for an infant or a teenager when he/she made it to that age. He saw lots of work ahead of him. But he didn't mind. He was in love with her and the child.

~!!~
Drake looked at the clock. "I'm coming!" he shouted walking to the door. He swung it open and was surprised to Gem. But what surprised him the most was that her belly was growing. His eyes widened and knew right then what was happening. "GEM!" he exclaimed as he pulled her into the house. He slammed the door closed behind them and turned and glared at her. "A baby?" he demanded looking at her belly. "You're to young! Even if you aren't as young as you look. You're only, what? Sixteen!?" he scolded. "Who's the father!?" he demand. There was murder written in his eyes.

~!!~
It was Ally who had opened the door. Her eyes widened when she saw Anya. "What are you doing here?" she asked. She shook her head and gestured for her to come in. "Milo will be so happy to see you." she said, happily. "He's been so sad lately and I can't cheer him up." she admitted. "I'm worried." she said as she began to walk up the stairs toward the study which Milo was in.

~!!~
Darren glared at Sam and looked at Rainy. "I told you to stay away from Rainy." he said as he stepped forward. He grasped her wrists and lightly pulled her from Sam's grasp. "She isn't your toy. Leave her alone." He said as he pulled Sam to his feet. "Get out." his voice was low and deadly.

~!!~
Dimitri was sitting by the window when Ember sat up and called his name. He stood up but Jeremy beat him to it. He held her close and comforted her. But Dimitri was jealous. Then Ember kissed him and anger ran through him. He walked over and still invisible to the Ember he pulled Jeremy away from her. He glared at him. "I thought you didn't want to hurt her." he spat. "It's bad enough that you hold her. You don't let her kiss you!" he shouted. He began to pace. He was hurt. He was angry. He knew he shouldn't be here, but it still hurt to know that she would do that with him so close by. He kept pacing and yelling at Jeremy. His anger was not demising any. In fact with every word he grew angrier.

~!!~
Xavier frowned. He hadn't noticed KC until he was standing right in front of her. Different emotions was showing on his face but he said nothing. He was mad at her. At himself. At the world. He still loved her, and he always would, so he didn't understand why she insisted on hurting him this way. He took a step back and closed his eyes. He shook his head and walked pass her. He paused down the hall. "Why are you still here?" he asked turning around. "Look at what you done! You made me fall in love with you and then you showed me you never really loved me. If you did you would trust me." he said as he turned to leave again.

~!!~
Cinder sighed and picked up the food tray and set it off to the side of the closet for her and moved to set on Haven's bed. "You have to come out sooner or later." Cinder said. She looked at Seth and down at her hands. "Haven, I'm sorry. I don't know what happened, but please come out and talk to me. I am really worried about you." she cried. Tears were running down her cheeks. She was scared and for the first time in a long time she was scared for someone else. "You're the only living person I really have left. Please come out." she whispered.

~!!~
Ethan glared at her. "You hurt him too. You lied." Ethan said as he looked her up and down. "I don't know what he sees in you or why he would date you but I don't want you seeing him anymore. Stay away from him. You hurt him just by bringing him in here." he was shouting now. "He lost enough people, he doesn't need to loose his life on top of that. It was easy to see he was angry. Mad. If he never saw Rue's face again it would be too soon.

Leslie stared at her as she spoke, a slight frown on his face. “I’m sorry,” He said. “Did you want me to bite you again?” He smiled. “Because that would be no problem, really,” He said, taking a step closer to her. He noticed that she was taller than him, and the frown crossed his face again, but was gone just as fast. “You know, you never even told me your name,” He said suddenly, as if he even cared. “What is it?” He asked, stepping closer still.

December froze when she saw Brooke, her eyes widening. She had been going on a walk through the woods, and found herself heading towards the Manor. What she saw now made her take a step back, but she only tripped and fell. Leslie turned towards her, now frowning. December was only looking at Brooke, though.
~!!~
Elianna heard the door open, and for a moment a stupid voice in her head thought it would be Draven, coming to tell her that things were okay. She looked up and saw Landon, and then lay back down without a word. His words barely affected her anymore, though she was wondering what he meant by ‘he’. She wished he would just leave her alone; she’d fought back, she’d just lain here, and he still wouldn’t leave her alone. She curled back up under the covers, her nightgown clinging to her tightly. “I’ll never want you,” She finally said quietly, though her voice was so soft that she wouldn’t be surprised if he hadn’t heard her.
~!!~
”Do you honestly think I care?” Kit hissed, pressing down harder with the knife, her feet planted firmly on the ground. She ignored Avril’s cries, focusing only on Dustin. “I don’t care what happens to me as long as you die, too. If I end up dead in the process, then at least I can rest knowing that you’re gone, too, and you can’t hurt anyone else.” She was scared; she wasn’t going to say so, though. She didn’t want to die, but she knew when she came here that that was what was going to happen if she killed him.
~!!~
Sage watched him go back to the bed, and with each word he spoke her heart dropped lower and lower. Her face was impassive as he dropped the drawing pad in her hands, telling her to burn it. She clenched her teeth together tightly and watched him go back to the bed, and she flipped through the pages. She stopped on the one of her and her brothers, and after a few moments she closed it. Then she threw the drawing pad at the back of his head.

“I’ll burn you, idiot!” She shouted, her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides. “Do you honestly think that leaving will make things better again?!” she demanded. “I can’t stay with my brothers! Daniel saw me change, and I told them everything!” She shouted. “My parents will be home soon, and do you really think I can stay there then?” She demanded. “If you leave, you’re only going to break both of our hearts, just like I did.” She took a step closer to him, looking at the drawings scattered around on the ground now. “Andrew, things get messed up when we’re together, but do you really think running away from it is going to make it any better? I did, and I was wrong. I was so wrong.” She turned away from him, walking back to the window now. “But I’ll leave it up to you. If you still want to leave, then go right ahead. But I’m going back to Dale, too, back to Nicole. Because I can’t stay here anymore, not with my brothers, not with—“ she was going to say ‘Not with Kyle gone,’ but she didn’t.
~!!~
Sammy was almost asleep when she heard a knock on the door. She sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes and making her way downstairs, still in her pajamas. She opened the door, and did a double-take when she saw Luke standing there. “What are you doing here?” She demanded, though she was somewhat happy. She had been so confused about him lately, and even though he didn’t remember her, just seeing him made things a little bit better, at least for a few minutes.
~!!~
Vivian followed him into the kitchen, trying to keep the smile on her face, though every movement seemed to make her feel even sicker. She shrugged at his question, though she did feel hungry. She didn’t want to make him sick again; she had noticed the look on his face with her recent food choices.

She sat down at the table, her thoughts mirroring his own. She hadn’t been getting much sleep lately, and it was obvious from the look on her face. She’d been too worried to really close her eyes, worried about both the present and the future.
~!!~
Gem wasn’t sure what she had been planning to say to him; even if she had known, it all left her in that moment. She bit her lip and looked down at her feet. “I—“ she began, but she couldn’t think of the words to finish it. “I’m sorry,” She said quietly instead, though what she was apologizing for she wasn’t sure. “Drake, I just needed to see you,” she said quietly, looking back up at him. “I….I was scared,” She mumbled. “And I just wanted to see you.”
~!!~
Anya stood still in the doorway as Ally spoke and then started to lead the way up the stairs. She hesitated once more, but she shook her head and finally followed after her. “I know,” she said quietly, looking down at her feet as she walked after her, wiping her palms on her white dress. She didn’t know what she was going to say to him; she didn’t think an apology would be enough. She felt responsible for him being this way, and she knew that she was. She still would be; she wasn’t sure if coming back was a good thing or a bad thing. It was just going to hurt him again, wasn’t it?
~!!~
Rainy stood frozen in Darren’s grasp, watching as Sam slowly stood up, looking at them both with his face impassive. His eyes met Rainy’s, and then he was gone again. Rainy was shaking as she pulled out of Darren’s grasp, shaking her head. Sam had told her what he’d done; Rainy hadn’t believed it, but now she wasn’t sure what to believe.

“Di—Did you ki—kill her?” She managed to get out, the first words she’d said since Sam had come into her room and done this to her. She needed to know; she was terrified, both of Sam and now, of Darren.
~!!~
Jeremy glared back at Dimitri, and he went invisible and stood up. “It will hurt less for me to comfort her than you!” He shouted back. “You’re the reason she’s so upset! Sure, it’s not your fault you’re dead, but if she sees you, that could be the last excuse she needs to put her over the edge!!” He yelled back, growing angrier and angrier himself. He didn’t notice Ember slip off the bed and walked into the bathroom, each movement slow and deliberate. She locked the door behind her and sat down on the edge of the tub, burying her face in her hands. She knew she was going crazy; Dimitri had known it too, but he was too nice to say anything about it. She knew she’d never really seen Jeremy; she couldn’t have. It didn’t make sense, and now her mind was conjuring him up again to comfort her.

She didn’t know what to do anymore. She stared down at her hands, at her arms, covered in patterns and criss-crosses of scars. She shook her head. No; she wouldn’t do that again. It wasn’t right. But she missed Dimitri so much…she never thought it could ever be this bad. She shook her head, turning on the water in the bathtub. A few moments later she turned it off, and stepped into the water. She let herself sink down, closing her eyes and trying to calm down. She didn’t want to do this anymore. Jeremy was gone, and now Dimitri, and now she was going insane. The thought should have frightened her, but it didn’t. She had known it for a while now; she had been so convinced that Jeremy was really there, him and the others, but there was no way it was possible. She had even convinced herself that she’d seen a vampire!

She sunk down lower in the water, holding her breathe. After a few moments she knew she needed to come up, but she didn’t. She let out her breathe and closed her eyes; this was as calm as she had felt in a long while.
~!!~
Leanne was tired; she hadn’t been getting much sleep lately, and it didn’t take long for her to fall asleep now. Soon, she was sleeping somewhat peaceably. She looked as though she were having a nightmare, but it was impossible to see, since she was buried under the covers as far as she could possibly be.
~!!~
K.C. closed her eyes and listened as he passed her, and she opened her eyes again as he spoke. She spun around and then hesitated, her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides as she watched him begin to leave again. He was right; why was she so scared if she trusted him? She bit her lip and looked down at the ground, closing her eyes. Andrew’s words echoed through her mind, telling her not to fall in love. But it was too late for that; but she was still scared. But why? If she trusted him, why was she so frightened?

She opened her eyes and took a step forward, then another. She didn’t hesitated any more as she closed the distance between them. Her hands were shaking, and she tried to hide it by folding them together behind her back. “I do trust you,’ She said, so quietly that it was hard to hear her voice. “I do.”
~!!~
Haven bit her lip, shaking her head though Cinder couldn’t see it. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “Cinder, I don’t want you to worry about me,” She whispered. She forced herself to her feet and slowly unlocked the closet door and stepped out, blinking in the sudden light. She looked at Cinder, flinching as she saw her tears. She remembered what she’d said to Benny, but Cinder was like her family.

“Nothing happened,” she lied quietly. “I was just…having a bad day...or two, is all.” She was a horrible liar, and it was obvious, but it was also obvious that she wasn’t going to say anything else about it. Seth was sitting next to Cinder, visible only to her. He had his arm around her, looking at Haven with an impassive look on his face.
~!!~
Rue’s jaw dropped, but she quickly closed it and shook her head. “We’re not dating,” She stuttered, shaking her head. “We’re not. We’re just friends, and I care about him. Do you really think that I would have let this happen if there was anyway I could have prevented it?!” She demanded. She glared at him, though she knew that he had every right to be upset. “The last thing I want is to see him hurt.”

Brooke frowned deeply. Hadn't he told him that she had no idea what her name was? She shook her head and glared at him. "Bite me again and I'll punch you." she stated with an even tone that made her sound braver then she was. She glanced over at December when she fell back. It was her compassionate that made her walk over help her back to her fight. But her eyes did not recognize her. "Go." she said to December as she turned around and faced Leslie. "I don't have a name. If I do, I don't know it." she said. "I told you that, didn't I? I don't know anything." she said her eyes flickering about.

~!!~
Landon pulled the blank off of her and looked her up and down. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "So beautiful. He said as his hands found her hips. "Look at you. So beautiful. Too beautiful for your own good. And too broken too." he said as he sat down next to her. "Elianna. Don't you get it. You could have what ever you wanted. You're beautiful enough to be a queen." he whispered. "My little toy." he said as he brushed her hair out of her face. "Mine, all mine."

~!!~
"You're scared. You don't want to die." he said slowly. "You're easy to read." Dustin said as Avril finally flung the door opened and ran out.

She ran down the hall and wrapped herself around KC's legs before Xavier could say anything else. "DADDY! Sheisgonnakilldaddy!" she cried, her words were running together. She was so scared. So scared. SHe was freaking out. "Shekilledmommy,nowsheisgonnakilldaddy." She didn't even seem to pause to breath. She cried loudly. She kept babbling but her words were no longer making any sense.

Xavier frowned as he watched her. He closed his eyes. "We have to help."

~!!~
Andrew flinched when the notebook hit him and he turned around to face her. "I may be an idiot, Sage, but you're a coward." He said as he looked down at the drawings. He stepped forward, not caring that he was stepping on them. Not caring that some ripped as he stepped forward. "You're just a scared little girl. You hide behind me or you brothers or your friends. You act like you can handle anything. But you can't it's all an act. I wanted to protect you. I can't." he said as he another step forward, do what you like, but will no longer let my heart pain. Go and mope. I will. But I will heal, I will move on. So will you. I made a mistake, you did too. This should never of happened. We shouldn't have fallen in love. It's not like we were made for each other. Don't you see? We were made to kill each other." he said. "We can't go on and try to make it work, it's been nothing but trouble." he whispered. "It is better this way." he said. He touched her cheek. He pulled away.

~!!~
Luke smiled widely at him. "Would you like to go out for dinner tomorrow night?" he asked, skipping the hellos. He was never big on greetings. He didn't mention that he had asked her father. He didn't think that it was a big deal. He smiled at her and touched her cheek. "Won't you say yes?" he asked as stepped forward.

~!!~
Ally paused in front of Milo's study and knocked on the door. She pushed it opened and peered inside. "Milo. Anya is here." she said softly as she stepped away and quickly left.

Milo was sitting at his desk with his head buried in his hands. He looked so broken. So hurt. He didn't know what to do anymore. he didn't even look up when Ally said Anya was here. He must of have made that. He didn't believe that Anya would come back. He didn't even let himself hope that Anya would come back. It had been a foolish thought to believe she would come back. He had never even wanted to believe she was ever there. He let himself think it was dream. But it wasn't and now he was even more confused.

~!!~
Darren froze and kissed her forehead. He looked so sad. "It was a mistake. I didn't mean to." he whispered as he stepped away. "Rainy. I been having nightmares about it. I didn't want to kill her. I didn't mean to. I wasn't even gonna kill Sam. I was trying to get him to stay away from you. But it didn't work. I'm sorry." He looked like he hated himself for it. He didn't know what to do anymore. He was so scared. Scared of himself. What had he done?

~!!~
Dimitri glared back at him. "That doesn't mean you should let her do that. Let her think, think-" He cut himself off and looked around the room. "Where did she go?" he asked. He sighed and looked at Jeremy. "Why I am here if I can't let her see me? Why didn't I move on? If all I can do is stand here unseen and watch what I did to her, then why didn't I just move on?" he demanded. "If I will only make things worse why am I here at all?" he shouted. "I have to be here for a reason. I have to be here for her, for a reason!" he shouted as he slipped out of the room. He made himself visible. "Ember?" he called.

~!!~
Patrick felt her fall asleep and walked briskly back to her room. The door was still locked, but he picked it and slipped in side. He set the rose on her bedside table and leaned over and kissed her cheek. He brushed her hair behind her ear. He looked at her sadly and slipped back out before he woke her up. He made sure to lock the door behind him. He felt bad, he could sense her unwanted dreams but he couldn't comfort her.

~!!~
Cinder was holding Seth's hand tightly and looked at Haven. "So you lock yourself in a closet and refuse to eat? If it was just a bad day it make me wounder if it was my cooking you were hiding from." She closed her eyes and leaned against Seth. "What happened?" she asked. "I never thought anything could make you hide in your closet, but I was wrong, and I know it must of have been something big, too." she said just as Benny appeared beside Haven.

"Rufus was killed, his killer and her sister killer is the same person, and she found out that him -the killer not Rufus- and her sister Andrea had some secret relationship. " he said, his face blank.

~!!~
"You could of not have brought him into you house when you knew what your father had a habit of doing." Ethan said blankly. He stood up straight and walked over to her. "I don't care if you are dating or just friends." he spat. "Stay away from him. It's best for both of you any way." he said as he turned to leave.

December’s eyes widened, and she felt as though a weight had settled down on her chest. She wanted to throw her arms around her friend and hug her tightly and never let go, but she was already stepping away and back towards the other man. She didn’t remember anything? But she was back. Her conflicting emotions weighed her down, and she was unable to speak.

Finally, she ran. She pushed by Leslie and didn’t turn back as she ran towards the Manor, and she didn’t stop to knock on the door. She pulled it open, though she knew how stupid she was being, and how dangerous this was. “MOSES!” She shouted, her voice echoing around. He had to be here; he had to be.

Leslie frowned, watching December go, then turned back to Brooke. His face was impassive as he stepped closer. “You won’t hurt me,” He said simply. He smiled again. “Jamie,” He said slowly. “That’s your name now, if you can’t remember your old one. Jamie.”
~!!~
Elianna shook her head slowly, but she didn’t pull away. She had been so engulfed in her own world lately that a touch, any touch, felt good. She knew that was wrong, but she didn’t want to be alone. Even if she was with him, wasn’t that better than nothing?

She shook off the thought and glared at him. “I’m not yours,” she said slowly. “I’m not anybody’s. Besides, you don’t know a thing about me,” She said, though she still didn’t move. “Tell me one thing you know about me besides my name. One thing, and then maybe I’ll believe something you say.”
~!!~
Kit shook her head quickly, though she knew he couldn’t see it. “So what?” She asked finally. “ I may not want you to die, but I want you to die more than I want to live.” Her logic was messed up; she knew that. “You’re scum. You killed my family when they hadn’t done a thing to you.” She didn’t think about how she had done the same thing to his. “Do you have any idea what it was like to watch that, when I was so young?” Again, she didn’t think of how that must have been for Avril; it was the same thing.

“I’m going to kill you,” She said slowly. “I’m going to.” She pressed down harder with the knife, drawing a trickle of blood. “I just have to slit your throat, and then I have three days to set you on fire. It’s easy,” she whispered. But her hand had begun to tremble, and she didn’t know why.

K.C. jumped and looked down at Avril, her face softening immediately. Her eyes widened at her words, and she looked at Xavier as he spoke, nodding tightly. “Avril, wait here,” She said quickly. “Please.” She spun around and ran down the hallway, throwing open the door to Dustin’s room. She froze in the entryway. Whoever it was who had him didn’t even turn around.
~!!~
”It’s not better this way!” Sage shouted. She didn’t know what to feel; she was furious, but mostly hurt. The fury overshadowed it. “It’s not!” She yelled. “Andrew, things keep pulling us back! Why do we have to run away?” She cried. “You’re the coward! Not me! You’re running away! You’re hiding!” She shouted. “I want to make this work! You’re right, this isn’t natural, it’s not normal, but I love you, Andrew!” She shouted. “I hated you the first time I met you, but now…now it’s different. Andrew, I---“ but she didn’t finish. She knew that it wasn’t doing any good; she was just making things worse. She looked down at the ripped drawings on the floor, taking a deep breathe. “Fine,” she said quietly. “Fine,” She said, her voice even softer. “Fine. It doesn’t matter. If it’s what you think is best, then maybe it is.” She picked up one of the drawings, one of her. “But if it’s better when we’re apart, then why did you draw this? Why did you draw any of these? You can’t move on any more than I can,” she said quietly.
~!!~
Sammy was unable to stop herself from stepping back. She hesitated; he didn’t remember her. Why was she trying to hard to make him remember? ‘Because you love him,’ an annoying voice in the back of her head reminded her. She sighed, then looked at Luke, and slowly nodded. “Sure,” She said quietly, forcing a small smile. She did want to go; but she was scared. What if he never remembered?
~!!~
Anya stood in the doorway, hesitating again. She looked at Milo, and she could see how broken he was. She felt a stab of guilt, knowing that it was her fault. She stepped in slowly, closing the door behind her. She closed her eyes, letting out a long breathe, then walked closer to him.

“Milo?” She asked quietly. “Milo, it’s me,” She said softly. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m so, so sorry. About everything. I know how much I’ve hurt you, but I don’t want to do it anymore.” She took a step closer, and hesitated before reaching out a shaking hand and touching his shoulder. She closed her eyes. ‘It’s Milo,’ she thought. ‘It’s only him. It’s not Joel; he’s not here. He can’t hurt you.’ She opened her eyes and knelt down next to the chair on the side, looking up at him. “Milo, please say something,” She said quietly. “I’m sorry. Please.”
~!!~
Rainy flinched when he kissed her forehead, and her eyes widened at his words. He’d really done it. She knew he wouldn’t have done it on purpose; he couldn’t have. It wasn’t like him. But he’d still done it, and despite herself, she felt scared. Terrified, even.

“I---“ She began, but she cut herself off. She knew that Sam was still close by; she could tell. She knew. She closed her eyes tightly, shaking her head. She felt sick, thinking of him. She always did. She didn’t understand why he’d chosen her. She felt so small, so scared, so vulnerable, all over again. She slowly sank down on the edge of the bed, staring down at her feet in silence.
~!!~
Jeremy watched him go, then glanced around the room. He didn’t understand it either. He didn’t understand why he was back here, either. He should be gone, but now Ember needed him again. He loved her, but he wanted to be able to rest, too. But she needed him, and she must have needed Dimitri, too, or else he wouldn’t be here.

His eyes fell on the closed bathroom door and he sighed, sitting down on the edge of the bed. He walked over to the bathroom door and knocked on it. “Ember?” He called softly, but she didn’t answer. Of course she didn’t. He sighed, walking back over to the bed and sitting down. But something felt wrong; he couldn’t hear a thing, not even the water moving. He frowned, standing back up. “Ember?” He called again. He closed his eyes and appeared in the bathroom; if ghosts could blush, he was.

Ember was floating; she felt so strangely calm, so relaxed. Nothing could hurt her here. She couldn’t breathe, and her lungs were screaming for air, but she didn’t want to move. Here, things made sense. She didn’t have to think about the people who weren’t there, or the things that were wrong with her. She could just relax. Her lungs gave out and she gasped in air, but water flooded her lungs. She tried to cough, but only swallowed more. But soon, it didn’t hurt anymore. Nothing did.

Seeing her under the water, unmoving, was the worst thing that could happen to him. “EMBER!” he shouted, running over to her and pulling her out of the water. She didn’t move. He didn’t feel anything but panic and pure anger. “Ember!” he shouted, shaking her shoulders. She still didn’t move, but finally she opened her eyes and coughed, more water than he thought possible coming from her mouth, her lungs. And then he was shouting at her, something he’d never done before. “You moron! Idiot! What’s the matter with you?!” She just stared back at him, eyes blank and uncomprehending.
~!!~
Leanne sat up suddenly, her eyes wide. Her hand flew up to her cheek, and then she slowly looked at the bedside table. She picked up the rose, turning it over in her hands before standing up. She gripped it in her hand tightly, crushing it. He had come in while she was sleeping; she walked over to the window and let the crushed rose fall down, the wind carrying it away. She slammed the window closed and turned back to her bed, her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides.
~!!~
Haven watched her hold onto nothing, leaning to the side though there was nothing there. She raised an eyebrow but said nothing, avoiding her question. “Nothing happened,” She mumbled, just as Benny appeared. His words made her freeze, and she spun around to face him, glaring. “GET OUT!” She shouted. “Nothing could have happened between that psycho and my sister! It was all a lie, something designed to make me angry! And who are you to talk?!” She shouted. “Why are you here, anyways?? Get out! You haven’t been here for the past 3 days, and now you show up just to rub it all in my face?!” She knew she was wrong, but she was angry. “Get out! I hate you!” It was a lie, but it was hard to tell by looking at her face.
~!!~
Rue flinched; she knew she shouldn’t have brought him here, but her father hadn’t been downstairs much lately. Still, she should have known. And now he was broken, just like her. When he turned to leave she grabbed his arm. “It’s not best for both of us,” She said slowly. “But I’ll stay away,” She said softly, letting his arm go. “You’re right. It was my fault. But---But could you at least tell him…tell him I’m sorry?” She asked quietly, taking a step back. “Please. That’s it, and I promise that’s the last you’ll hear of me.”
~!!~
Jenny was humming lightly to herself as she walked down the hallway, a bounce in her step. She had her music up loud, and she was already far past K.C. and the others. She seemed oblivious to everything else around her as she walked, and then she made her way downstairs and outside. She walked around to the back, her music so loud it could be heard by anyone aorund her. She saw Trevor and smile, walking over to him. She took her headphones out of her ears, though her music was still obnoxiously loud. "Hello," She said with a smile, and then looked up at the sky. "The moon is so pretty, don't you think?" She asked, ignoring the fact that he hadn't even said anything yet. "I love coming out here to just look at the stars. I've always wanted a telescope so that I could see them better, you know? Did you know that the stars are actually really far apart, even though they look so close together to us? I always thought that that was so cool. School actually tuaght me something interesting! Scary, huh? Say, did you like school? I kind of did. Did you even go to school? I mean, I don't know how old you really are. Some of these people are really old, huh? Like Chronos. He really doesn't like me, huh? Or maybe that's just in my head. Lots of people don't seem to like me because they tell me I can never shut up and--" She cut heserlf off, realizing that that was exactly what she was doing. "Oh. Right. Sorry." She grinned at him, brushing a strand of hair behind her ears. "So what were you doing out here, anyways?" She asked, her hands folded togehter behind her back, rocking back and forth on her heels.