A/N: Here's Chapter 11! I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and please feel free to leave a review! Thanks! :D
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Fairy Tail, Hiro Mashima does.
Zane was sitting around lazily as he drank his juice in their hideout. His hair had grown longer in the past month, but he still kept it spiky and didn't bother getting a haircut. He still thought about Erza until now. Suddenly, the doors burst open and he could see Sarah panting and panicking
"ZANE! IT'S ERZA!" Sarah shouted.
Zane's eyes' widened in shock and he subconsciously shattered the glass he was holding using his bare hands. "What! What happened to Erza?!" He shouted, now panicking himself. He didn't care about the wounds on his hand; he couldn't feel the pain at all in his panic.
"A-a man abducted her! He said that it was something someone named Jellal Fernandes asked him to do!"
"Dammit, it's that jerk who broke her heart! What the hell does he want with her?!"
"I don't know! And Zane, your hand!"
"This doesn't matter right now! Where did you last see her?!"
"She was abducted by the school gate! They headed east after that!"
"I'm leaving! And nobody try to stop me!" Zane yelled as he ran outside.
Oh crap, Erza! Please be safe! I can't lose you, too! He thought in panic as he ran.
He arrived at the school gates and began running east. He was slowly beginning to feel the pain in his hand, but he ignored it. He saw a warehouse and moved stealthily. He peeked through a window and saw about ten men inside. He scanned further to the right and saw Erza tied up with a blue-haired man who was smirking coldly at her. Jellal Fernandes. He thought as he grit his teeth angrily. "I won't allow you to hurt her any further," he growled angrily.
He watched Jellal, and saw him wave his hand. At this, the guards took their leave. "It's now or never. Don't worry, Erza. I'll get you out of there. I promise," Zane said as he pounded his chest. He burst through the door and yelled, "JELLAL!" The blue-haired man smirked at Zane; not even feeling shocked at his sudden outburst.
Erza raised her head and looked at Zane. "Zane…? Is that…you?" She said weakly. "Yeah, it's me. Don't worry, Erza. I'll get you out of here. Count on it!" He said with conviction. Then, Jellal laughed coldly. "So, you're the Zane Arazaki I've been hearing about, huh? This is a trap set up for you, and you fell for it. I'll kill you…after I kill Erza first, of course."
"Dammit! What the hell do you want with her, you bastard?!"
"Oh, nothing. Maybe it's because I don't like the idea of my woman being with other men."
"You're sick! Why the hell would she want to be with you after all the crap you put her through?!"
"As if you didn't leave her. You didn't even contact her for a whole month."
Zane felt all the guilt crashing in again. "Zane… don't listen to him…" Erza whispered. "I trust you, Zane… And you came for me."
"You're right, Erza. I won't leave you again after this. To hell with the others!" Zane roared in rage.
Then he ran towards Zane and raised a fist. "Tut, tut, tut. I wouldn't do that if you don't want her to be hurt," Jellal said coldly as he brandished a knife and pointed it to her neck. "Damn you!" Zane stopped. The blue-haired man laughed coldly. "Now, do as I say if you don't want to see her suffer."
Zane didn't know what to do. If he didn't do as he says, Erza would suffer. If he did, he would be the one to suffer. He made up his mind. "Fine. Just…just please don't hurt her," he begged. "No, Zane… Don't… He'll just trick you…" Erza murmured.
"I don't care, Erza. I'm prepared to lay my life on the line if it means saving you," Zane said.
"That's a good boy. Imagine, the Zane Arazaki groveling before me!" Jellal laughed evilly. "Now, bow down before me." Zane did as he said and bowed down. "No, Zane…" Erza said painfully. "Shush, Erza. It'll be over soon, I promise," Zane whispered.
Jellal delivered a heavy kick to Zane's gut. "AGH!" Zane shouted. "That's good. Don't fight back if you really care about her," Jellal whispered menacingly into his ear. "Zane! No! Fight back! I don't care what happens to me, just fight back!" Erza yelled. Zane didn't heed her words and hung his head.
"Men! Take care of him!" Jellal commanded the guards that left. "I'll just sit back and watch you scream in agony, Zane." Jellal laughed evilly.
The ten men came and started beating Zane up. He tried to endure every hit, and let no sound come out. "That's no fun if you don't start screaming, Zane," Jellal said disapprovingly. "Go hit him with chairs!" Jellal barked. One guard nodded and grabbed a chair. "Zane! NO! PLEASE!" Erza screamed, trying to break free from the ropes that bound her.
"There's no use in trying to break free, Erza. Just sit back and enjoy the man you love suffer before your very eyes," the bluenette smirked coldly. "WHAT THE DAMN HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU, JELLAL?! WHY DO YOU ENJOY SEEING PEOPLE IN PAIN SO MUCH!" Erza screamed her lungs out. "Maybe if you hadn't left me, this wouldn't be happening to Zane right now," he said coldly.
"DAMN YOU! GO TO HELL, JELLAL!" Erza continued screaming. The bluenette ignored her and turned his eyes back to the black-haired boy. "Hit him with the chair!" Jellal shouted.
The guard obliged and brought down the chair on Zane. "AAAGGH!" He screamed in agony as the chair hit him. "GOOD! SCREAM!" Jellal laughed like a maniac as the guard continued hitting him. "GGHAGH! AGGH! AAAAAHHHH!" Zane's screams pierced the air and Erza began sobbing. "Please, stop this! I can't take it!" She screamed and sobbed harder.
Zane could hear her screams. He felt the blood running through his body. He was feeling quite weak, unable to move. He coughed a lot of blood and whispered, "Erza…" Her eyes widened in fear at the sight in front of her. He was covered in deep wounds and bruises. Blood was already flowing from his head. "No. No, Zane! Hang on!" She screamed.
"Che, this is getting boring," Jellal remarked as he stood up. He walked towards Zane and pulled out a gun. "NO! NO, JELLAL! DON'T! DON'T SHOOT HIM! I'M BEGGING YOU! PLEASE!" Erza screamed her pleads. Jellal didn't heed her words and cocked the pistol. He aimed at Zane's left shoulder, and pulled the trigger.
BANG! The bullet hit his shoulder, and he a searing pain went through him. "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Zane screamed, the agony coursing through him. "ZANE! NO!" Erza screamed.
This time, Jellal aimed at his right leg and shot again. BANG! "GHHHHAAAAAAHHH!" Zane continued screaming. Then, Jellal aimed at his stomach and gave the final shot. BANG! "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHH!" Zane screamed bloodcurlingly.
"You're lucky I decided not to shoot your heart. I'll enjoy you suffering for a while," Jellal said coldly. He turned to one guard and barked, "Release her! I'm done now!" The guard obliged and released Erza from the restraints. "Heh, he's considered lucky if he makes it out of this alive. Goodbye, Erza," Jellal laughed evilly as he walked away.
Once she was freed from the restraints, she ran towards Zane. He was bleeding all over, and she held his face gingerly so that he was facing her. His eyes were slowly losing its sparkle. She sobbed harder at the sight. "Er…za…" He whispered slowly and painfully. "Zane… Stay with me, please!" She said in between sobs. She felt his warm hands hold her face. "I…love you… Er…za…" He said and gasped.
"No, Zane! Don't say a word! Get your rest!"
"I'm… sorry. For… leaving you back then. I was… so stupid. I… shouldn't have done that."
"No, no, Zane! It's fine! Just save your strength!"
Then she felt his hand grip her necklace.
"So…you've been wearing this all this time…huh? I'm…glad to know that…"
Her hands were shaking against his face.
"I love you, Zane… Please, don't do this to me!"
"When I bought that, all I thought was that it would suit you. I never thought about why I chose a star. But now…I know why."
"Zane, please, stop!"
"It's because you're the star that shone down on my darkest nights, Erza Scarlet. I was a fallen star, unlit and dark. All alone. But you came into my life, and you're the star that gave me back my light. I'm really happy I got to know you and to feel your love."
"Zane… Don't speak like that! You're going to live, okay?!"
"I love you so much… Erza Scarlet. Thank you…for being the brightest star in my darkest times…"
She felt his lips press gently against hers, and he fell limp in her arms, bloodied and wounded all over.
"ZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEE!" She screamed, her sobs getting heavier and louder. She choked in her own tears. "No, no! Zane! Zane! ZANE!" She continued screaming. "ZANE! I LOVE YOU! WAKE UP, DAMMIT!"
She continued sobbing as she gripped him tightly in her arms.
"ZANE!" She heard a voice scream behind her. She didn't want to turn around to see who it was. She just held him tightly in her arms, whispering his name over and over again.
"SOMEBODY CALL AN AMBULANCE! ZANE'S BADLY HURT!"
She could hear the panicked screams all around her. She felt as though her chest would explode from the pain she was feeling right now. It's all her fault that Zane got like this. If she hadn't let her guard down, hadn't let herself get caught, Zane would not be in this state.
After what seemed to be an eternity, the ambulance came. She kissed his forehead and weakly let him go as the men put him in a stretcher. "Erza…" A weak voice said. She didn't respond, still in a daze. "It's me, Sarah…"
"I'm sorry, Sarah… I'm so, so, sorry… It's all my fault. If not for me, Zane wouldn't be like this!" Erza yelled as she clutched the necklace.
"No one blames you, Erza. If it's anyone's fault, it's that bastard, Jellal. Zane just wanted to save you…"
"I still blame myself! I can't…I don't know what I'd do if…" She choked and sobbed harder.
"Go with him on the ambulance, Erza. Only one person is allowed, and you should be the one to go."
"I can't… Not after what happened."
"Just go, Erza!"
Finally, she obliged and stood up shakily. She weakly made her way to the ambulance and sat beside Zane's body. He lay still, his breathing labored. She held his hand and put it to her face. "Please live, Zane… I love you…" She whispered painfully and kissed his hand. There was no response and she cried again.
They arrived at the hospital and Erza stayed by Zane as they rushed towards the emergency room. The nurse stopped her when they arrived. She didn't argue with the nurse, she was already too weak. She sat down weakly on a chair and hugged herself. Her hands and clothes were stained with his blood and she felt herself shaking.
She was alone; and she preferred it that way. She wanted to wallow in her own guilt. She sobbed into her hands as she waited for news of Zane's state. After what seemed like forever while she drowned in her guilt, the doors opened. She stood up immediately and saw the doctor walk towards her. He had a grim look on his face. No, please. Zane! She thought painfully.
"Would you be Zane's companion?" The doctor asked grimly. She nodded slowly, unable to speak. The doctor sighed. "I won't beat around the bush. His wounds are deep and severe, and he's lost a lot of blood. Plus, those gunshots…" He shook his head. "A moment too late, and he would be gone by now."
Erza felt her chest sear in pain. "He's in a fifty-fifty state. He's in a comatose right now. It might take him weeks, months, maybe even years to wake up. I'm sorry. We've done the best we can," he said sadly.
"Can I see him?" She whispered painfully. The doctor nodded and she walked weakly to the emergency room. There were tubes connected to his body, and he was covered in bandages. He looked extremely pale, and his face looked peaceful. Too peaceful. She felt the tears roll down her face again as she stared at his unconscious state. She made her way to the hospital bed and sat down on a chair. "Oh, Zane… What have I done?" She said guiltily.
She gently stroked his hair and kissed his forehead. "It's all my fault, Zane… I'm sorry…" Then she chuckled painfully. "If you're awake right now, I'm sure you'd tell me it isn't my fault. I'll wait for you to wake up, Zane…" She whispered and kissed his cold lips.
Then, she heard someone open the door. She didn't bother to look up; she simply stared at the man she loves. "Erza…how is Zane?" Erza finally looked up and saw Sarah. She shook her head, the pain reflected in her eyes. "He's in a comatose…" She said in a voice barely above a whisper.
Sarah grabbed a chair and sat beside the redhead. "It's not your fault, Erza. You never could have known that Jellal was going to come after you. And as for Zane…I'm absolutely sure he'd tell you that it isn't your fault. He loves you more than you'll ever know, Erza. And that's why he even restrained himself from getting closer to you, knowing you'll get hurt. He just wants you to be safe, even at the cost of his own life."
Erza flinched at the pinkette's words. "I don't want him to die, Sarah. Even if he did save me, and he dies, I could never bear to live with that pain. Knowing that he died because of me, how can I live with that? I love him, Sarah. And I can't bear seeing him this way… I don't even know how I'm still sane right now!" She nearly yelled the last part. It was true though, she didn't know how she's still sane after seeing all the agony Zane went through because of her. "It drove me crazy, seeing him tortured like that. He didn't raise a fist; he didn't attempt to fight back. He got his pride trampled on, all because of me!" Erza exclaimed painfully as she jabbed herself in the chest.
Sarah slapped the student council president. Shocked and at a loss for words, Erza held her reddening face. The pinkette argued, "Now, you listen to me, Erza! Why do you think Zane did that? Why do you think he let go of his pride and went through all that pain? It's because he loves YOU. He loves you so much that he would die for you! But he's not dead, and you're talking like he already is!"
Erza hung her head in shame. "You're right, Sarah. I didn't know what I was saying… Seeing him like that…it made me snap. I'm sorry…" She mumbled tiredly. Sarah sighed. "I know how you feel, Erza… Zane was also the same way when he lost Clair. But, he's still alive, Erza. You should believe as much as I do that he'll wake up." Erza nodded sullenly. "Thank you, Sarah…"
The pinkette smiled. "You should go back to your house and rest, Erza…" The president shook her head. "I'll stay here with him…" Then, Sarah put a hand over Erza's shoulder. "At least get a change of clothes. I'll be here, and you can come back." The redhead nodded. "I'll be back right away," she said weakly and kissed Zane's forehead again before leaving.