Sorry for the lateness of this chapter. I went to a party and my parents said we would be back for ten o'clock. At twenty to twelve we actually left so I do apologise.

Anyway… Thanks to IgglybuffPichuandOrcha3000, OffMyTea, TheEvilShuppetMaster, SushiLuver25, ninetailsgirl94, treatybirdcage, Lynx of the Sand, splitheart1120 and Lizard Lover for reviewing.

Chapter Twenty-One: The Race

"Do what, Drew?" Paul asked in his usual calm voice. Rusty glanced between his master and Drew. Something was very wrong indeed.

"She took off," Drew explained hurriedly, "She was upset about something so she's gone. May and Dawn went after-"

"What?" Paul snapped. He jumped out of his chair and sprinted off. Drew and Rusty followed without a moment's pause.

They flew through the house towards the front door where Leaf and Ash were stood arguing. Vi was stood a short distance behind Leaf, eying her step-brother oddly.

"It wasn't my fault," Ash was saying, "I didn't know anything about this."

"I told you not to say anything," Leaf snapped, "Now she's upset."

"Out of my way," Paul barked as he strode past them. The teens looked at him, startled at his appearance.

"We're coming too," Ash said. Paul stopped and turned to face Ash. Leaf took a few steps backwards at Paul's expression. She'd never seen him look so angry. He was scary when he was angry. Ash shuddered. He was scared too.

"You've done enough," Paul told him sharply.

"But I want to help!" Ash yelled. Paul flicked his hands out. Both Leaf and Ash were propelled backwards in a sharp and powerful gust of wind. Leaf landed on the carpet on her back while Ash crashed into Vi, sending them both into a pile on the floor. Paul turned round.

"Drew stay here," he ordered before he ran off once more. Drew nodded and stood shaken on the spot. Rusty sat by Drew's heel.

"It's OK, Rusty," Drew told the dog, "Paul knows what he's doing. Everything will be fine."

The dog barked in agreement.

"We're too close to the boundary," May said to Dawn as they chased Misty, "If we go too far, we're dead."

Dawn nodded: "Stay here."

"But I can't let you go alone," May snapped, "I can't let this happen again."

"It won't," Dawn replied, "I won't let it so stay here."

May stopped running. She came to a stop and watched as Dawn went ahead with Misty not too far in front of her. May stood awkwardly on the spot, hands on her heart.

"Please, Dawn, please save Misty," May prayed.

"May."

May turned to see Paul running towards her. She let out a sigh of relief before she pointed in the direction of Dawn. Paul nodded and set off at a fast sprint towards them. May bit her lip. There was the all too real possibility that they could loose three people today and May couldn't stand that.

"Misty please slow down," Dawn yelled to Misty, "Misty! Stop!"

A strong gust of wind pulled them both backwards, knocking both of them to the floor. Dawn looked around. Misty was on her stomach beside her. Dawn grabbed her, pinning her to the floor.

"Let me go, Dawn!" Misty cried, "I want to die. Please let me go!"

"No! I can't let you do that!" Dawn shouted back. She glanced up to see Paul walking briskly towards them. His face showed his relief. He'd stopped them before they'd gone too far.

"Misty," Paul said calmly, "Please calm down."

"I won't!" Misty yelled, glaring up at Paul, "I want it to end, why won't you let it?"

"Misty, please listen to Paul," Dawn pleaded. She looked up at Paul.

"Let her go, Dawn," Paul said softly. Dawn nodded as she got off Misty. She was half expecting Misty to run off again but she didn't. The orange haired ghost remained on the floor crying her eyes out. "Get up, Misty."

Slowly, Misty climbed to her feet. She was still crying. She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand as she stared at Paul.

"Seventy-five yards," Paul pointed in front of them, "That's where the boundary is."

"Paul," Dawn gasped. Paul ignored her for the moment.

"If you really want to die, go ahead," Paul went on, "But if you don't want to, the house is this way."

"I want to die," Misty hiccupped through her tears, "It horrible. My heart is… is… it's broken."

"I know," Paul said with a knowing nod. He took a step towards her, opening up his arms. "But that's how you feel now. The heart is a very sturdy thing. It'll mend in time, Misty. You're strong, you can heal in no time."

Misty burst into full blown tears once again, covering her eyes with her hands. Paul walked forwards and helped her into his arms. He hugged her tightly for a few seconds before she grabbed him and hugged him back. She buried her head in his chest and cried even harder.

"Hush," Paul whispered to her, "It'll be OK."

He glanced to Dawn who was smiling at him with a proud air around her. He nodded slightly to tell her to join them. Dawn walked behind Misty and hugged her, resting her head on Misty's shoulder.

If any one had walked past them, they would have thought the scene was a little odd. A purple haired gentleman in Edwardian fashion stood hugging a gypsy with bright orange hair while his maid joined in, yes that would surely be a strange sight to see. Thankfully Paul remembered the fact he was a ghost, that they were all ghosts. He glanced at Dawn. She looked up at him and smiled before she mouthed the words 'thank you' at him. He nodded. Misty continued to weep in his chest. It would be a hard thing for her to do but worth it all the same.

They all knew that when they returned to the house, Dawn holding her up while Paul walked at a casual distance on her other side, Misty will have already started her long road to recovery.

So I'm not so mean. Teehee. This scene was one of the original ideas I had for the fic and I managed to get it in! Yay for me!

Anyway, please don't forget to review.

RSx