Disclaimer: I don't own VA.

She probably made a few yards before the truck paused her in her tracks. The truck's horn rang my ears. Now, Lissa seemed even more like a deer. A deer right about to be hit by a truck!

"Liss!" I cried.

And then the unbelievable happens.

The truck, you know, the one that was about to take Lissa's life away, smashed like it just hit a concrete wall. As if the air became solid for a second. There's no way anyone could survive an accident like that. Cars behind the truck crashed into each other, one by one, with such impact I could feel it pounding in my chest. Debris from the truck flew around hitting other cars, almost hitting Adrian and me.

During all the pandemonium, I remember glancing at the truck, to realize that it's not just a truck. It's a tank truck. Filled with oil.

Emotions were swimming throughout my mind like anxiety, shock, stress, and a bunch of other things in the mix that I couldn't point out, so that's probably why I began running off without Adrian. Or Lissa.

"Rose! What are you doing? Get down!" Adrian called, not that I listened.

"Tank truck!" were the only words I could manage to say.

Braches flew past me, a couple scratching my face or arms. The air felt moist, like it's going to be raining soon. Feeling like a wild animal, I dashed around trees, hopped over logs, and avoided anything else that came in my way.

As I continued running deeper into the woods, my adrenaline began to fade, along with all of the loud noises from the truck and anything else caught in the accident, and realization was rising.

How could I just leave Adrian out there? What happen to Lissa? Was she dead? Were they both dead?

The last two stopped me to a halt. What happens if they are dead? What would I do from here? I have no idea what city I'm in. I don't even know where the hell I am in the woods!

How long have I been running?

I turned around to attempt to find something to go back the way I came from to find them, but when I did, I only saw a bunch of trees. And smoke.

"Okay, follow the smoke," I said out loud. "They are okay."

…

"Adrian! Lissa!" I yelled with desperation. "Adrian!"

No response from either of them, and each time, too.

It's my fault.

"If I'd just gone alone, none of this would've ever happened," I said on the verge of tears.

I sat on the forest floor, and broke down like a little, weak baby.

I've never felt so disgusted by myself. As a dhampir, it's my job to protect Moroi. Not to bring them in even more danger! It should be me who dies.

"Weak, selfish bitch," I hissed. Dimitri was right, I am still a child. I haven't learned anything from my mistakes.

Now that I think about it, there so many more options than running away like how I did years ago. I could've told Dr. Olendzki or something. While I was gone, I wasn't there for Lissa, like how I said I would always be. Adrian was probably depressed when I ran away without saying a word. Maybe I could've even prevented Christian from running away.

Christian.

"He wouldn't be a damn strigoi if I'd stopped him."

On the other hand, would Andy even be alive if I stayed? Would've Adrian accepted him?

I always just go into things without thinking them through. Always bringing down others with me.

Now my best friend ever and the father of my son may be dead.

It was a huge mistake coming back.

Uncontrollable tears of fury dripped down my face as my mind raced and pointed every irrelevant flaw I have, personality wise.

I never show how important people are to me. I've never been an affectionate person.

I tend to push people away a lot. My mother, for instance.

I'm surprised Andy and I have been able to survive. I had to rely on my neighbors to watch him while I'm at work.

I didn't know what this all had to do with my situation right now, but I disturbingly felt the need to get everything I've bottled up out.

"I've never seen anyone's aura so dark before."

I spun around, hoping of the floor, instantly recognizing his voice.

His hair stuck out everywhere in every direction, he had a small scratch on his cheek, and a crazed expression all over his face, but that was all I needed. Oddly enough, I charged at him, giving him a clingy hug.

"Whoa," Adrian said as we awkwardly fell to the ground. "I can see that I was well missed," he chuckled.

"Sorry," I replied like an awkward turtle. He stood up and offered me a hand.

"I-I thought you were—"

"I know, Little Dhampir," he said, pulling me in for another comforting hug. The smell of smoke on his clothes mixed with the faint scent of his cologne, surprisingly, calmed me. Should I be worried about that?

"How bad was the explosion?" I asked, getting over myself.

"Not sure, honestly. After you… attempted to explain what type of truck it was," he said slowly, "I followed your lead into the woods."

"Did you see Liss?"

He frowned, but he didn't say anything. He didn't have to. I got the message loud and clear.

"Do you want to go back?" he offered.

"I doubt she'd still be there." If she survived.

He remained silent.

"What's up?"

His emerald green eyes looked me right in the eye. "She did it."

"Um… what?"

"She made that truck crash. Not purposely, though."

"… What have you been smoking, Adrian Ivashkov, because that statement makes no sense."

I truthfully didn't think of what caused the truck to crash. For anyone else, I guess, it would be the first thing that'd pop into their mind.

"She's getting stronger, with her powers. I just hadn't realized how much," he sighed.

"But she's a spirit user. How—"

"You know how spirit users can use compulsion better than any other Moroi? I think she can also use compulsion on inanimate objects, as insane as that sounds," he said. "Her aura was glowing, like how it does when she uses her powers."

That was hard to wrap my head around.

"Did she now she did that, then?" I wondered.

"Knowing Lissa, I doubt so."

We stood there for a few moments.

"I'm going back, anyway," I finally said.

…

Cops, fire trucks, and ambulances surrounded the area, along with news reporters. No sign of any platinum blond women here.

"She's not dead," Adrian concluded.

Relief conquered any other emotions left over from before. Even with the slightly depressing thought of having to look for Lissa once again.

"No one said this "task" was going to be easy," Adrian assured, reading my thoughts.

I sighed. "How long do you think this'll take? This "task?'"

"No way in telling, but it's not going to be soon." He partially looked at me. "Let's get out of here."

We walked down the closed off street for a bit, but I didn't see a red mustang anywhere.

"Didn't you park around here?" I asked.

When he didn't say anything, I glanced up at him. His eyes were focused on something near the woods, behind a tree to be exact. He strolled in that direction, which I followed.

"Liss took the car."

I'm sorry I've haven't been updating. I'm probably the worst procrastinator ever, but since it's the summer, I hope I'll be updating them much more often, but I'm still pretty busy. If you bothered to read this chapter, thank you :) I'll try to make this as little as dragged out as possible. If it seems like it's going pretty fast, I'm trying to avoid making the story boring.