Chapter 4:

Tom Riddle was shocked. When he saw the girl catch the angel he was despaired. He figured that his life was over, but it wasn't. She had a choice to kill him or to save him, and she chose to save him. She even scratched herself, vigorous enough to draw blood to save him. He would have expected it out of a Death Eater, but not out of a young girl, no older than his fourteen-year-old self. He felt a certain kind of loyalty and protection toward the girl. He had to figure out some way to help her get to safety.

"Wow Rylie," Amber exclaimed. "That was weird. When you caught that angel, it seemed like you disappeared for a second. That was amazing. It's a cool angel by the way. Can I have it? Why are you laying on the floor? It's really dirty. Are you nasty now. Rylie? Rylie? Oh my god! Ryne, your sister is unconscious!"

"Shut up Amber!" Ryne yelled. "Unconscious? Oh my gosh. Shucks!"

"What do we do?" Amber breathed, bending down to look at her.

"I guess we'll have to carry her back to the hotel," Ryne said simply, trying not to sound worried.

"What's wrong?" Tom asked, stepping up beside Amber.

Amber looked at him curiously. "Who are you?" she questioned.

"Tom," he said pleasantly, extending his hand.

Amber took it. "Ummm, Tom, do you think you could help us?"

"We need to get her to the nearest hospital," Amber said, pointing to Rylie. "Even though him and his stupid self said we should carry her back to the hotel," she said, looking at Ryne.

"And, I think he's right," Tom said matter-of-factly.

"No, I'm not. We do need to take her to the hospital."

"She's not hurt. She just fainted," Tom argued.

"Yeah, she fainted. Fainted from what, catching that angel? I don't think that's why she fainted."

"Trust me, I know what I'm doing," Tom said, bending down to pick the girl up off the ground.

"What are you, a doctor?" Amber sniffed.

"You know, you're getting on my nerves, and I just met you," Tom retorted, glaring at Amber. "No, I'm not a doctor, but I do know if something's serious or not."

"How?" she inquired. "Give me an example."

Tom stomped his foot impatiently. "I don't have to tell you anything. You're really nosy, and you don't need to know my past, present, and future."

"Jeez! I didn't wanna know all that. I just wanted to know why you don't think her fainting is serious."

"Let's just take her to the hotel. Ok?" Ryne cut in.

"See, he agrees with me," Tom stated.

"Why Ryne?" Amber argued. "She fainted."

"I'm quite aware of that fact. But a lot of people faint, and they don't go to the hospital."

They were silent for a minute. Amber was trying hard to think of a comeback. She hated losing arguments.

"All right. All right. We'll take her to the hotel. My god. I'm not carrying her though."

"Fine, whatever," Tom said, lifting her. "But, can you help me?" Tom asked, nodding his head toward Ryne.

Ryne didn't answer.

"So, I'm going to have to carry her by myself?" he questioned, tapping Ryne on the shoulder in irritation.

"Oh, you were talking to me? I can't see you know."

"Oh," Tom said, suddenly feeling superior to the blind kid.

"Yeah, I'll help you."

They managed to get her back to the hotel without too many problems. A few people stared, and one or two people asked if they needed rides to the nearest hospital. Tom turned them down.

"Whew," Ryne exclaimed, dropping her on the bed.

"This is stupid," Amber whined from the doorway.

"Your whiny tone is going to get you hurt one of these days," Tom growled.

Amber recoiled a little. "And what's that supposed to mean?" she questioned.

"I'm just giving you some advice," he said calmly.

Amber glared at him for a second, then hurried into the bathroom to get Rylie a cold cloth.

"Sorry she's so annoying," Ryne said quietly. Tom snickered.

Rylie awoke about an hour after they brought her to the hotel. "I had the weirdest dream," she said sleep slurring her words.

"What dream was this?" Amber questioned.

"Something about an angel, and...I don't really know," she said, sinking back on her pillow.

"Can you both leave?" Tom asked quiet enough to where Rylie couldn't hear.

"Why?" Amber questioned. "I don't trust you."

"If I would have hurt her or any of you, I would have done it a long time ago," he said, getting frustrated with the snotty girl in front of him. "And, you would have been the first one hurt anyway. You're getting on my last nerves."

"Ok, ok. Come on Ryne. Let's leave Tommy with his girlfriend."

Tom glared. "Ok, whatever, just leave."

"We'll be back in twenty minutes," Amber said bossily. "If I find out you two did anything—"

"Just leave," Tom said sharply. Snickering, Amber grabbed Ryne's arm, and dragged him out of the room.

"Don't drag me, Amber," Ryne protested, pulling away and grabbing her arm.

Tom grabbed the girl's shoulder and shook it, for she had fallen back asleep. "What Amber. You always have to do that, don't you?" she accused, sitting up, the dream still vivid in her mind.

"I'm not Amber, I'm Tom Riddle," he said bluntly, a smirk making its appearance on his face. He was excited to see her reaction.

She pinched herself. "So I wasn't dreaming?" she questioned, her eyes widening a little.

"No," he said, disappointed that her reaction wasn't funnier.

"Oh my gosh," she breathed. Then she gasped and started feeling around. "So where's the angel?" she asked sharply.

"I have it. Are you blind just like your brother?" he asked, still smirking.

"Yes, I am," she said, snatching the angel. "Why didn't you just take the angel and leave?" Rylie asked.

"I probably would have, but I can't take it and leave without your permission. Since you saved me, you have some control over me."

Rylie almost laughed at the bitterness in his voice.

"Well, now I'm asking you, Can I have the angel?" He sounded hopeful.

"I don't think so," she said. "Did you really think you were going to get it?"

"I was hoping?"

"Well you hoped wrong," she said, grinning.

Tom wanted to wipe the stupid grin right off her face. "Well," he said as calmly as he could, which was pretty good given the situation, "what do you want me to do since you're not letting me have the angel?"

"You're gonna come back to America with me," she said simply, almost as if she were telling her friend to pass her a dish of food.

"What?" he yelled, looking horror-struck.

"You heard me," she said, shaking with silent laughter. She calmed herself down so she could keep talking. "Now, I don't think Tom Riddle will suit you. It's too risky to go around with that name."

"I think this whole stupid idea of yours is complete rubbish. I won't do it!"

"Jeez, are you giving up on your life already?" she said in mock exasperation. She raised the angel in her hand, preparing to toss it to the ground.

"No, don't do that!" he yelled, grabbing her hand. "I'll do it." He had no other choice. He wanted nothing more than to strangle the girl laying in the bed beside him.

"Good. Let's think of a name for you then," she continued, gleefully. He could see that she was enjoying this, and he wanted to hex the enjoyment right out of her. "I think you can keep Tom. That won't raise any suspicion."

"Why do I have to keep Tom?" he asked.

"Why not? It's a nice name." she said vaguely. "You can either be Tom or Harry. Or maybe Ron. Well, which one?"

His hands were clenching into silent fists. "Tom then. I don't want that bastard Harry's name."

"I figured. Now, you'll have to blind yourself to get into the blind school."

"Hold on just a second," he said in dangerous tones. "I...am...not...blinding...myself!"

"Is that your final answer?" she said, her smirk still in place.

"Yes," he said.

"You must really not value your life," she said snottily. She again raised her arm and prepared to smash the angel.

"All right!" he yelled, forcing her hand back to the bed. She wished at that moment that she could see. She would have loved to see the look on his face.

"What kind of rubbish is this? I have to blind myself. I hate you. Amber is nothing compared to you!"

He wanted nothing more then to hex her into oblivion. But he couldn't do that. She had the angel, and if he killed her, then he would die too. Also, he knew deep down that she had saved him, and he couldn't forget that.

"How about Tom Rormen?" she questioned.

"Rormen? What kind of stupid, muggle last name is that?"

"I don't know. Why do you have to make things so difficult?"

"You're making my life a living Hell. Why do you have to do that?"

"Oh yes. I'm just going to hand over the angel and let you gain all your power back. You're more stupid than I thought. How about Tom Blackston then? It has something dark in it, and you just have to be evil, don't you?"

"Fine. Tom Blackston. But, I won't blind myself."

"Oh, yes you will," she said, tapping her finger on the angel. Tom had an urge to take the angel and smash it in her grinning face.

'Ok,' he thought. 'I'll blind myself. But, the poor kids at that stupid blind school won't ever forget Tom Riddle.'