The sun wakes me from my sleep. It's warm on my face and for that sole moment, I feel comforted.

I hardly got any sleep last night. I felt awful about leaving my friends, but too irritated to go back and get them. I had better go back and make sure they can make it back okay, before I decide to ignore them.

I follow the same path that I had the night before. When I reach the spot I last saw my 'friends', I used the magic again to show me the path. It continues the same way.

I notice the trees and bushes are dying off. This path is leading me to somewhere unsafe and forbidden.

The Winterlands.

I shiver as I approach. The fog is thick here and I can hardly see where I am going. Finally, I reach a wall of bones. I am utterly disgusted but I feel along them with my hands anyways until I reach a latch of some sort. I try to pull but it will not open. Frustrated, I use the magic to try to open it. No luck.

Suddenly a voice speaks. "Do you wish to enter the Winterlands?"

I stare at the door. It is made of a ribcage and has a real heart behind it. I want to vomit, but manage to hold my stomach. I don't know whether to speak to it or not. Will it hear me?

"Do you wish to enter the Winterlands?" it repeats.

"Yes," I tell it.

"You must tell us your heart's greatest desire and its greatest fear."

I am surprised by this. I try to think of an acceptable answer, one that won't show how much I care for someone who doesn't love me back.

"You probably don't want to lie to it."

I look around. There is a fairy hovering over my left shoulder.

"Why not?" I ask.

"It will not allow you to pass."

"How can it tell? It's just a heart!"

The fairy cackles, but doesn't answer me.

There are plenty of things I want. I want Kartik to hold me in his arms. I want him to gaze into my eyes. I want him to tell me I'm beautiful and mean it. There are so many things I want.

There are plenty of things I'm afraid of too. I'm afraid that Kartik won't feel the same way about me. I'm afraid of his touch, and how wrong it might be. But most of all, I'm afraid he won't come back.

He's the answer. He's my greatest desire and my greatest fear. He could complete me, or he could destroy me.

"Kartik," I tell the heart.

"Yesss," the heart hisses.

The gate swings open. I stop breathing. I walk forward swiftly, and as I reach the other side unharmed, I let the breath out.

The path the girls took is still lit. I dash off in that direction. The Winterlands are worse than I imagined. It is a land of ice. The trees hold no leaves, and there are no flowers to brighten the path. I can't stand being here alone. It's as if I will never find a way out. There is no one here to love me or to help me.

I hear voices now. As I get closer, I realize they are not just voices, they are the groans of my friends and a slightly familiar voice. There are only empty trees to hide behind now, so I step behind one.

"Where is Miss Doyle, Miss Worthington?" asks a deep voice.

"I've told you already. I don't know where she went off to." She is breathing heavy and her voice is pained.

There is a loud smack and Felicity cries out.

"And you Miss Cross? Do you know where she went off to?" the voice asks calmly.

"N-no," Pippa stammers. "Only Felicity and Ann came to meet us. That was it, I swear it."

There is another smacking sound. This time, Pippa cries out and I can hear her sobs.

I peer out from my hiding spot. All of the girls are tied up and sitting on the ground. Felicity and Pippa are the only ones that are awake and are beside each other. They all have blood stains on their dresses. There is also a young Indian man standing there. It is Amar.

"Well, girls, I'm afraid things are only going to get worse if you don't tell me where your friend is."

The two girls say nothing. They are too weak.

Amar leaves, but I stay in my hiding spot. He must have placed creatures to watch over the girls. I can't bare to leave just yet, though. I decide to stay for a moment or two.

"Pip?" Felicity turns her head towards the other girl.

Pippa is crying silently. She looks at Felicity.

"Fee, make it stop," she whispers.

To my surprise, Felicity places her lips on Pippa's. They do not break the kiss for a while. When they finally do, Felicity kisses her cheek and places her head on Pippa's.

"I'm sorry, Fee," Pippa tells her. "I'm so, so sorry."

I'm awestruck and pained by what has happened. How could I not have noticed the love between my two friends? How could I let them suffer like that? I can't let this go on. I can't be the cause of pain for them. I need to get help, and I need to get it fast.

A/N - I needed to show the Felicity/Pippa relationship somewhere. I guess this is sort of turning into another ending for the book. Oh well. Enjoy! :) Oh, and reviews are not demanded.. but are appreciated!