Jerry's POV

The town we were in was a very old, very badly taken care of place… more of a ghost town than a place to call home. Dreary looking willow trees dotted the landscape, grass grew wild in places, and many of the buildings downtown looked like they would collapse.

When I pulled Gabby's car into the Alleyway, I glanced over at Amber again. I saw her tense up as I stopped the car. I sighed and turned off the engine.

As I fumbled to unbuckle myself, I implored to Amber, "... I know you'll say no, but I'm asking you to anyway because I care about your safety, and I want to suggest it for the sake of-"

"No, I'm not staying in the car," Amber said, as if reading my thoughts.

I slowly nodded, understanding. Amber really was the bravest woman I knew. I stepped out of the car, and maneuvered around some old dumpsters, finding the door.

Amber caught up, standing beside me and looking at the door. "...Gabby's in there?"

"I believe so…" I hated this entire situation. I hated Billy, I hated what he'd done… not only was he pissing me off and making my life difficult, but he was putting Amber in danger. And that really pissed me off good. I only hoped Amber would be sensible enough not to just jump in and try to be the hero, and end up getting killed.

Why Billy would choose this place to confront me in, I didn't know. All I knew was that I wanted to get in and out of there unscathed, and I wanted that filthy bastard gone from my thoughts, so I could enjoy what actually matters to me.

I looked at Amber again, and she met my gaze. The look in our eyes said the same thing.

This is it.

And I reached out, touching her arm reassuringly.

The message of my gesture was clear to her. "We'll be okay," Amber said quietly, looking back to the door.

"Yeah, we'll be okay." I said, smiling softly, before reaching to open the door.

I turned the doorknob, and pulled the door open. It creaked quietly on its old hinges, only adding to the creepy atmosphere of what we saw inside.

The sight that greeted us was that of a dark hallway, dimly lit with candles here and there. Amber didn't hesitate, and stepped inside. I followed closely, wanting to be in front of her to protect her.

We looked left to right, looking into the rooms as we passed them. Most were empty, or close to empty, with maybe one or two pieces of furniture in each. One room had a two tables in it, one with strange plants strewn over its surface, another with papers and some weird glass ball. But that was pretty much the extent of the stuff in there. There wasn't that many places for anyone to hide.

So, why then, is Billy nowhere to be seen?

We reached the end of the hallway, having seen every room now. We stopped, facing the wall, puzzled looks on both our faces. Every room was completely vacant. It didn't made sense.

"Well, where is he?" Amber asked, looking at me worriedly.

I looked back at her, concerned. "I.. don't know."

And then, we heard a loud whirring noise behind us. We both spun around, and found ourselves face-to-face with my newfound enemy Billy Cole, and a woman, who looked to be in her fifties whose presence sent chills down my spine. She had dark hair that had been untouched by the graying of age, and those otherworldly eyes… bright purple ones that pierced through your soul when she looked at you.

Where did they come from? It was like they came out of nowhere…

Like magic.

"Hello, Mr. Dandridge, and Ms. Waite. Glad to see you could make it on this fine evening." The woman grinned at us wickedly.

"Who the hell are you, and what did you do to Gabriella?!" Amber yelled, her face twisted with anger towards the woman.

"Amber.."

"No, Jerry. The girl seeks the truth. And she... shall have... the truth." The woman said curtly, before taking a bow. "Eva Cunningham, mage extraordinaire, at your service." She bowed, still grinning. "And I assure you, your friend is still in good health. Here, I'll even let her go." And Eva clasped her hands together, muttering something under her breath. Gabby appeared at the end of the hallway, tied up and gagged. Eva muttered something else, and she disappeared again. "And poof! Safe and sound, just outside. But she can figure out how to take her bondage off herself. I have my dignity."

"You evil bitch!" Amber lunged at Eva, hands going at her throat.

Eva held out her hand, and spoke a single word: "Cesserimus!"

And Amber was sent flying into the wall. Her petite form crumpled to the floor, the impact leaving her stunned and breathless.

"I guess I really am a bitch of a witch." Eva said proudly, at which Billy let out a snicker.

This was my breaking point. I felt my fingers and nails lengthen, my eyes glow fiery red. And my fangs grew out, long, sharp, and ready to do some damage.

I let out a roar, going for Billy instead of Eva, and knocking him to the floor. In a moment, I was on top of him. I reared up, and sent my claws raking the left side of his face. Warm blood oozed from the four jagged scratches I had inflicted on his cheek.

He let out an extremely loud groaning noise, and he kicked me, hard. I fell off of him, and he began to pummel me with blows on my back, my neck, my head. It slowed me down, but I was soon on top of him yet again.

I sunk my fangs deep into Billy's shoulder, and I yanked my head around, tearing his skin and making it as painful as I possibly could. Billy groaned again, and squirmed below me. I felt him slithering his arm underneath me, desperately reaching into his pocket.

I was too caught up in trying to maul my ex-roommate to react then he whipped his hand out of his pocket, clenching a vial of clear liquid in his fist. He squeezed his fist so hard that it shook, until the vial shattered, making its contents explode out onto my face.

I felt an overwhelming, searing pain all over the skin on the right side of my face. I hissed harshly, rolling off Billy and clutching my face in agony. "BASTARD!"

"Well played, Billy-boy." I heard Eva say to Billy, who had by now gotten the hell away from me.

I felt the skin on my face sizzle and blister up. I hissed and writhed madly on the hallway floor. I can't let this make me fail… I can't fail Amber… not now.

Amber's POV

I opened my eyes. And there was nothing.

I couldn't remember where I was, or why I was there. There was only the sound of my heartbeat, the feel of the cold stone floor, and that name that seemed to float around in my head.

"Jerry..." I heard myself whisper. And just like that, everything came back to me in a flash. I opened my eyes wider, looking up from where I lay. Whatever had blown me back, whatever made me crash into a wall… it was a powerful force that I couldn't explain if I tried.

I saw Jerry, laying on the floor like I was, and Billy and Eva approaching him. Billy held a large crucifix and had it pointed at Jerry, and a wooden stake in the other hand.

"Hold him down long enough for me to perform the spell." Eva commanded.

I struggled to my feet. I was no superhero. I was no valiant warrior. But Jerry needed my help. And I damn well planned to give it to him.

Both of them had their backs turned to me. Eva knelt down by Jerry, hovering her hand above him, and began to chant something in Latin. Both her and Jerry began to get this sort of green aura. A glowing white stream rushed out from inside Jerry, into her, and Jerry arched his back, letting out a horrifying scream of anguish.

I ran towards them, straight at Eva.

Eva's head turned, and she muttered something else, and then all of a sudden I ran into a translucent wall. She had set up some kind of force field. I fell on my butt, and I watched in horror as Jerry seemed to weaken. I could just sense it. I stood, and tried to put my hand on the force field, but it just sent my hand back with such a might that my arm nearly jerked out of its socket. I groaned, clutching my arm, and looked at Jerry.

It's over. It's over. I felt tears swelling up in my eyes. We're all going to die here. I'll never see Gabby again, never get our friendship back to where it was supposed to be. I'll never see Jerry again.

I'll never get the chance to tell him how I feel.

I was unsure of it before, but now, I knew exactly what it was that had been tormenting me these past few days. Jerry, not struggling anymore, turned his head slowly so he could meet my eyes. The glowing stream was beginning to get thinner, and dimmer. It was like all the energy had been drained from him. Half of his face looked badly burnt. God, Jerry, what did they do to you? He looked at me, and there were tears in his eyes too, I saw. And when I saw those eyes, I saw that unmistakable, soft, yet powerful emotion in them.

The tears were flowing freely down my cheeks now. I had to tell him now, before it was too late. I looked at him, mirroring his emotion just as passionately as I mouthed these words:

"I love you."

And at this, Jerry smiled with everything he had. And he mouthed back:

"I love you too."

And for those final moments, we never looked away from each other, holding each other in that intimate gaze for as long as we possibly could, not wanting to let go. I think, in that moment, we silently agreed that even if we both ended up dead, it will not have been in vain.

We had each other.

Finally.

Oh my God... I'm legitimately crying... I was crying as I wrote this, and dammit, I'm still crying.

This isn't the end of the story, don't worry... *sniff* I'll post the next chapter tomorrow probably... Gods, can someone please get me a tissue?! :'(