If I had to choose between loving you and breathing; I would use my last breath to say:

"I love you."

Tears glistened on her almond-shaped eyes; tears of regret, of pain, of wistful longing. Corinna moved her hand away from Kai's then stood up.

"I'm sorry." she whispered. "I don't love you."

As Kai dropped his hand and looked away with a mournful sigh, she ran. She ran in a random direction, amidst widened eyes and scorned gazes. She ran with an aching heart, as her hair billowed around her, as pain ripped through her bare feet, yet she was numb.

The girl felt things she had never felt before… only started to feel last night: Love. Pain. Sadness. Anger… as in life's endless sea, she was a small boat bobbing against merciless waves that threatened to pull her down. Kai had been that lifeline, the one she had clawed the hard journey to the surface, a fact she had just started to realise. If she could breathe air for some more, she would willingly go under again…

The dark crow fell to her feet as rain lashed against her face; as she realised she stood on the precipice of a looming cliff. Beneath her, grey, angry waves crashed against the rocks, crests of foam riding over their tops. Corinna blinked.

Her heart calmed their erratic rhythm, as the wind pushed her over. Peace surged over her in a crash as she tumbled around in the air, hair pushing itself against her nose and mouth, further sealing her doom.

"And, love, if your wings are broken,

Borrow mine so yours can open…"

Corinna saw the edge of the cliff through half-closed eyes, and it was miles away. She was still tumbling, spinning in circles. She was falling slower now, falling, yes, but slow. It was as if a hundred crows were under her, keeping her airborne. It almost felt like a feather mattress.

Her life. Lost memories, unlawfully stolen from her. Kai… Kai… Kai.

That kiss… the.. Necklace… everything..

Then her mind came to a shocking conclusion. How had she forgot?

The dream. It wasn't real. It was the Evil Queen.

She remembered a tale; a tale, though long-lost, had been confirmed by the Evil Queen herself.

She had possessed the power to manipulate dreams. That was how she had got the Huntsman to co-operate with her; sending him visions of his beautiful wife dead, gory as the details were.

Corinna fought, magic swirling green from her fingertips, drifting in small curls of smoke. She called upon all her power, enchantments whirling through her mind. But she didn't have her scepter, the one thing that made her magic reality.

The waves were so close; too close. A scream released from her lips, muffled by her waves of ebony hair. The girl fought to breathe again, desperately trying to claw closer to the cliff face to find herself something to grab onto.

The shock was tremendous: her head hit the water first, making everything swim. She was drifting now, between unconsciousness and light. Her body stilled, the cold numbing the pain of various broken bones in her body from the impact. Yet, the cold threatened to pull her under as it weighed her down. Kelp seeked her ankles, entwining around them and tugging. The girl pulled herself up, but water washed over her face and stung her eyes with salt. Her scream cut off into a gurgle, bubbles escaping from her plump pink lips as she choked.

The final straw was coming: A log, being pushed towards her by the swells. It hit her before she saw it, and her last thought as she stopped fighting and closed her eyes, sinking down into gloomy murk were:

Kai, I love you. I love you so much. I'm sorry.

Author's note: I'm sorry, indeed. I will not tell you if she is dead or not, but cling to your hopes that she is.

Terribly cliche, but what is a romance fanatic gotta do?

Remember, if you like this story, get those favs and reviews coming in! I do accept criticism.

Signing out, PenRoseAmber.