Chapter 4: The Escape

So... Chapter 4 is here! Whew! It's quite long and it's quite emotional...i think. I cried while writing this so i really hope you guys like it! And don't forget to R&R! Your reviews always make my day! Enjoy! :)

Disclaimer: I DON'T own VA! Richelle Mead does.

"You never leave someone behind; you take a part of them with you and leave a part of yourself behind…" the actress in the TV screen said. That's true, I think. At least the first part is. I always know that no matter where I go or what I do, Dimitri would always be with me… but I've never realized until now that it's only a memory of him, that will be accompanying me from now on. Does the thought sadden me? Well yes, it does. But since I left the academy four hours ago, I've been trying to convince myself that it needs to stop! All these sadness must stop. In the past, I've been living my life, thinking that I'd never have to lose him. To be honest, it's still like a dream- a nightmare. I refuse to let myself believe, to face the truth. But now that must stop. I must face my problem and move on! But how could I do that at the academy, where the love between us first blossoms? Where so much great memories of us are held? It's impossible. Now more than ever since he's just been given his freedom. It's not that I'm not happy for him, I am! But it's myself who I'm not happy for. As if at every sight of him, I would break down…Like I would go down on my knees and beg him to take me back, knowing that he won't. So why should I stay and go through all that horrible pain over and over? Rose Hathaway has her pride, and now it's time to show it. And what's a better way to do that than a fresh new start?

I stare out the window to see white, puffy clouds stretching across the endless, blue sky. I've been sitting on the plane for almost four hours now.

Soon after I left the academy, I went to the airport and got a last minute plane ticket to a place non other than Siberia. I know, I know! You'd probably think I'm a maniac who likes to go running into trouble. But truth is, as much as I want a fresh new start; I don't want to be completely alone. What I mean is that, no matter where this journey is taking me, I always want to make sure that I would always have a part of Dimitri with me.

A place where strigois lurk in every corner after sundown (so I could fully use my fighting skills), and also a place where memories that are less painful of me and Dimitri are held (yes, I do consider the memory of Dimitri as a strigoi and me, being held captive as less painful. Because at least back then…he wants me) so where's a better place to do that than in Siberia itself?

*flashback*

As soon as I left the gym, I went straight to my room. Luckily I didn't run into either of them. When I got to my room I start throwing all my clothes into my old duffel bag. I searched my desk drawer to find a pen and a single piece of paper. If it wasn't for the sake that Lissa and I have been friends since…forever, I would have left without any kind of goodbye. Seeing that we have, I thought it would be too mean if I just… disappear. So I wrote her a letter and put it on my neatly-made bed. With a second thought, I decide to leave Dimitri a message as well, seeing that it's him who's the main reason for my sudden escape. I don't know where it came from but all of sudden; I want to make him pay. I want to see Dimitri in pain. Maybe if I leave…he would... Maybe he would realize that it was his fault and maybe—just maybe, miss me? A little part inside of me wonders if he would come and look for me. But I already had enough of my hopes crushed to dare hope for more. You want a fresh start, Rose! I told myself. And that means new life, new home, and new friends and maybe…just maybe somewhere along the way, I would meet someone. Someone who loves me and if possible, I would love him back. I smile weakly at the thought. Never doubt love…a tiny voice in my head whispers.

I look around the room, where I'd been sleeping in practically all my life, one last time. And then quietly I closed the door, leaving my old life behind me.

*end of flashback*

"So do you want something from the trolley or not?" asked a voice that brought me back to the presence.

I blink to find an old lady, probably in her mid-fifties, standing in front of me with a trolley full of snacks.

"Oh, uhh…just a can of diet coke please." I said, giving her some cash.

"Enjoy your drink." She gave me the can and hurried to the next seat.

I took a sip from my drink; the liquid gave some sort of a tingle feeling through my throat all the way down to my stomach as I drank. It is roughly four more hours until we arrive in Siberia. From then I must take a train, for three more hours, to a small town right next to Baia. Hmm, I thought to myself. What a weird coincidence! So as you all can probably see, it's a long journey. I decide to get some rest when I can. But before that I decide to check on Lissa. I closed my eyes and went straight into her head.

**Lissa's POV**

I heave a sigh. Rose hasn't been answering her phone all day. I don't know what's wrong with her. So, she's mad at Dimitri for avoiding her—which to me, is absolutely childish! I mean I know she loves him and all but she needs to give him some space, especially now that he's just been through such a hard and difficult time. Okay, so Rose's angry with Dimitri and all but what about me? I'm her best friend. Shouldn't she be talking to me with all of this? But really, after all these past years together, I can never understand the mind of Rose Hathaway.

"Princess, are you alright?" said a voice of none other than Dimitri himself.

"Lissa" I correct, "and no, I'm not."

"Is it anything I can he—"

"It's about Rose." I said quickly, knowing that I'm about to go in his 'forbidden' territory.

Dimitri was silence for a second, "Well, whatever it is, if it concerns you then…maybe I can help?"

He was just being Dimitri. Always offering his help, well more like trying to pay his debt—yeah he stills believe that he owes me big time for bringing him back. Little does he know—more like listen, to me when I told him it was all Rose.

"She hasn't been answering her phone all day. In fact, we haven't talked for a week! I can't remember the last time we survive without speaking for more than…twenty four hours! This is getting insane."

"Calm down, prin—Lissa. Why don't we just…go check on her?" He suggests.

"But I thought…I thought you don't wanna see Rose…?" it sounds more like a question than a statement.

He seems to think about it for a bit, "But if it concerns you—and to be honest, I'm worry about her too…I can't remember the last time she came to dinner"

"Breakfast and lunch too… it's not just dinner, Dimitri. I'm afraid she's not taking your rejection too well…" I look at the ground.

Dimitri sighs, "You don't know how much I hate myself for ever hurting her."

Oh no! "Shh…Dimitri. It's not your fault—" I took a deep breath; I'm not really good at comforting guys…and definitely not one who has been through so much pain like this. "Why don't we just…go check on Rose?"

So that's that. We walk toward the girl's dorm in complete silence.

As we took the stair to the second floor, I notice something strange, something different. It's not like there's something obviously wrong with the place or anything. For some reasons it just seems like the atmosphere is different… like it's…lonelier.

In less than five minutes we are standing in front of Rose's door. I look around nervously.

Dimitri nods encouragingly, "go ahead."

I smile lightly before knocking softly on the wooden door.

Nothing, my smile fades.

"It's alright, don't panic. She probably doesn't hear you."

I try again, louder this time.

Again, no response.

"Come on, Rose! It's me. I know you can hear me!" I yelled, surely she must have heard me.

"Rosemarie Hathaway! Open the damn door!" I both shout and bang the door frantically.

"Can I panic now?" I asked Dimitri, my heart beating faster and faster every second ticking by.

Dimitri grabs my shoulder lightly and move me out of the way, "Roza…please, just open the door for us…for me?"

Still, not a sign that there's any living thing behind this door.

Dimitri sighs, "I'm going to ask you one last time—"

"What is going on here?" said a lazy voice from behind.

I whirl around to be face to face with Adrian, with a bag of doughnuts in his hand.

"Rose is what's going on. She would not open this fucking door!"

Whoa…did I just swear? I must be quite pissed off…indeed I am.

"Chill, my dear friends. She probably just doesn't wanna see you guys…you—" Adrian points at Dimitri, "—to be exact." Dimitri avoid Adrian's gaze.

I'm about to start with Adrian for hurting Dimitri's feeling like that when Adrian stopped me, "Just wait and take a look."
And with that he steps forward and gracefully knocks two times on Rose's door, "Little dhampir…guess what I have for you today…" no response. Adrian tries again "A bag of doughnuts…? Your favorite?" Nothing. At this point, Adrian's face literally fell. "She's not in. I swear, she's not. Seriously, no one repeats no one could resist these doughnuts." He said, jerking his chins toward the bag in his hand.

Dimitri was back standing in front of the door again, "Rose, open the door. Or I'll have to break in." he sound deadly serious.

The only response is an absolute silence.

"Alright." Dimitri took a few steps back and then, with all his strength, hits the door with his shoulder. The door flew opens at the instant, revealing the most heart-breaking scene ever.

Rose's room looks like it has been hit and wiped out by a massive tornado. It's absolutely cleared and…wiped out. The only thing left inside the room was her desk, an empty closet and a bed—with two small, white letters on it.

I rush inside her room, looking everywhere for a sign of my best friend. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

"No!" I scream. "She did not leave! She didn't just run away!" I'm sobbing now.

"Lissa, there's a letter addressed to you." Dimitri said, his voice barely a whisper.

I practically snatch the letter out of his outstretching hand.

It reads:

Dear Liss,

By the time you're reading this, I'm probably far, far away. I'm sorry I left without a proper goodbye. But I have to do what's best for me. As you know, I'm completely and totally in love with Dimitri. Not long ago, he had told me…that his love for me has faded… I cannot take it, Lissa! Every night I cried in my sleep and finally when I had the chance of sleeping, nightmares took over—I just don't know what to do anymore. Staying here, where all memories are held, it's just too painful. I wouldn't have left unless I know you were safe, because your safety is, of course, my first priority. I know Dimitri would protect you since you guys are together all the—anyway just so you know, I love you, Liss. And nothing could ever change that.

Oh, and please don't come looking after me. If I want to be found, I would return to you (who knows, maybe one day I will) but for now I just need time on my own. It's time for me to put myself first. It's time I let myself be happy.

But if you ever need anything, just know that I'm only a bond away!

Love you always, Rose.

Right now I'm no longer sobbing. Instead I'm crying uncontrollably. No! Rose did not leave me! She can't! She couldn't be gone… NO!

"How could she?" I manage a word out.

"Why?" Adrian shouts, he looks like he's going to explode. "Do you really don't know? Or do I need to make it clearer for you, Liss?"

I could just look at him.

"You both! You both treat her like…like some kind of a heartless person! You, Dimitri. Do you know how much Rose loves you? Do you know how fucking lucky you are to have her love like that—" Adrian cuts himself off, realizing that he's about sway out of the subject. "When you were gone, do you know what she's like? Like a walking corpse, Dimitri. She doesn't eat or drink. She barely even talks! The only sign showing that she's still alive is her screaming and crying every—and I mean every night in her sleep. When she found out there's a way to bring you back. And mind you, Dimitri. It's just a theory. It's one in a million and yet she still does everything. Everything in her power—her power and everyone else around her combines, to make that theory became real. Let's just save our time by saying once it did come true, I look into her eyes and for the first time since you were gone, I could see hopes, happiness—pure love…like I've never seen before. And what happened next? Those lights in her eyes were barely there for one minute before it was gone again, before you were turned back and ran straight into Lissa's embrace, before you completely shut yourself away from her, before you impossibly pushed her away! You know, when you were gone, it's like there's darkness in her eyes but when you told her you no longer love her…there's nothing in her eyes. No darkness, just nothing. Absolutely nothing at all…Like an empty shell…" he trailed off. Dimitri has his face in his hands. I couldn't begin to imagine what could possibly be going through his head right now.

"You, Lissa, weren't much of a help either. As her best friend, instead of being by her side like the way best friends do. You were by his side, always taking his side. Can you imagine how that must feel…? And now she's gone. Rose's gone. And you're still asking yourself why she left. Unbelievable…" Adrian sighs.

Adrian turns around so both Lissa and Dimitri are looking him straight in the eyes. "They say you never know what you have until you lost it. But the truth is, you do know what you have. You just never thought you would lose it…" and with that Adrian walks toward the door. Before he leaves he whispered, "You guys should be happy, right? After all, you guys were the ones who pushed her away in the first place. Now you get what you wish for. She's gone. Hope you are satisfied…"

And he left. Leaving two miserable people inside the empty room of the woman they once loved so much.

*tears* :') some of you suggested that i should make Lissa and Dimitri pay...so i made them! But this is just the beginning! I have more waiting for you! As always, thank you so much for reading my story! Don't forget to review! It really makes me happy :)

Love, Primxx