Lana's PoV

I told Becca and Jessie to get the word out to meet me in the backyard, near the pine tree, at 11:30... it's now 11 o'clock, and I'm just finishing packing. I guess Jamie can get the bedroom now- she's next oldest after me. I'm sixteen, she's fifteen.

I look out the window, pickup my backpack(I left my other stuff at the river before), and look around the room one last time. It's not really much- the paint's peeling, the wallpaper-border is coming off, the furniture's old and dirty. But it is...was mine. Now, it's just an empty room.

I sneak downstairs, not bothering to go full-out stealth; Mrs. Holmes likes her brandy, and that makes her a wee bit sleepy- she's usually passed out by now. I open the front door, and, waving one last goodbye to the house, walk around to the pine tree, where my sibs await me.

"I want to show you all something...it's my secret, but I want to share it with you." I tell them, and they nod. I lead the pack of children to the High Place in silenc,e needing the time to gather my thoughts. They whisper quietly, their soft voices blending into the sounds of the country, of cricket's chirps and water trickling through the tiny creek below the bridge.

They fall into a heavy silence one we get to the bridge, when they see that on the other side, Max, Alec, and a whole new life await me. I motion them to follow me below the bridge, helping the younger ones with the relatively small jump.

They smile through concerned eyes when they see the mural, each mentally pointing out their own picture. I look at them, my brothers and sisters, regret filling me anew as I see their panic-stricken faces as they realize what's happening.

"I have to go, guys. They need me." I say, a tear I couldn't keep back escaping my lashes and landing in the creek. Becca runs up to me and grabs my leg, holding on with all the strength acquired in her five years.

"But I need you." she cries into my leg. I reach down, hugging her tightly.

"I need you, too. But people's lives are on the line, Becca. I need to help." I tell her, lifting her into my arms and turning to the others. "Take care of each other. Keep each other in school and out of Mrs. Holmes's way. Stay together. I'll send money to help." I tell them, sniffing back my tears, trying to stay strong. Becca wipes away the ones that have spilled onto my cheek as I set her down. "I love you, all of you."

I turn around, walking away from my family and into an entirely different life. I feel a tug on my shirt, followed by another. I turn around, meeting Jill and Becca's tear-stained faces. "Promise me you'll come back?" Jill asks, and Becca nods through her sobs.

I nod, "I promise. You two always stay the same, ok? Don't let anyone split you up." I tell them, kissing them each on the forehead and turning around, climbing up to the other side of the bridge.

I reach Max, who offers me a sympathetic smile as I climb into the truck. "Are you al-"

"I'm fine." I cut her off, waving goodbye to my family, trying desperately not to let my walls down. I can't let anyone in. Alec rides beside us in the motorcycle they came to Eden on. The soft rumbling rocks my hometown to sleep as we pass through the quiet streets. I force myself not to look, knowing it will just bring more pain. Instead, I look to the stars, hoping they'll give me some sort of answer to the new mystery that is me.

But, alas, no such luck, and I'm left in the dark. But that's really no surprise, is it? Fate seems to have it in for me- I was supposed to die in an accident when I was five, and no one really knows why I lived; I've been trying to keep my family safe from the inevitable danger in Eden, and finally, don't forget that I've just recently found out I'm a freak. Oh, yeah, things are going hella good.

The country roads drift by slowly, the wind whistling softly through the trees, and an old, pre-Pulse song drifts into my head...

I'm so tired of this,

but it is this I will miss.

It's been grand, hasn't it?

But now we move on to the next.

As we follow in a princess's footsteps,

we come to realize...

That all we wanted was to be free

And now I say this tonight.

Say it tonight, for

tomorrow it will be gone.

Hold on to it tight,

look it in the eye,

And make it a sweet last goodbye.

But you know what? They were wrong- no last goodbye is sweet. Ever. I close my eyes and lan my head against the seat, trying to think of anything but Eden as I sink into a light sleep, haunted by the ghosts of my childhood.

Dream Sequence

"Moma, where are we going? Are we there yet?" Lana asks, playing with a dolly. Her little sister, Amy, makes a grab for it, but she pulls it away from her. Her mother smiles back to her.

"On vacation, sweeetie. We need to get away for a while. And no, we aren't there yet." her mother says, glancing warily at Lana's father. He grabs her hand, whispering that "they're not going to get us."

Lana, with her superb hearing, leans in. "Who's not going to get us?" she asks, and they look back.

"No one, sweetie." her mom croons, but Lana screams. "Daddy, that truck!!!" she shreiks, reaching out instinctively to hold her baby sister's carseat upright. The car careens into a ditch, rolling two times, and landing on its side.

"Momma? Dada?" Amy asks in her baby voice, clutching her blanky with everything she's got. "Wake up." she says sternly, not understanding that her parents aren't playing a game.

"They can't wake up." Lana whispers, pulling her sister into her arms, away from their parents, who lay just as death claimed them, hand in hand. "We need to get out." Lana tells herself, crawling through a broken window and pushing Amy out in front of her. They land in the lowest part of the ditch. Lana winces as she realizes that she's hurt in the arm and the leg- pretty bad. A piece of metal is stuck in her leg.

But she has more important thing to take care of now- her baby sister. Unable to walk, she crawls into the nearby woods, holding onto Amy tight. A house, well hidden from the road, lies along an old, beaten trail. Those people are probably still after us. Lana thinks, dragging herself to the house slowly. She reaches the door, and a shot is heard, then an explosion. She rings the doorbell hurriedly, turning around to see bright orange smoke through the trees.

An old lady answers the door, swearing softly when she sees who it is. Not every day does a mortally wounded little girl show up on her porch, another one in tow. She carries them inside, lying Lana on a couch. "Don't let them get me." Lana whispers, and the old lady ignores the ringing door, calling 911 as Lana falls into a coma-like sleep, induced by lack of blood and the cold night air....

"Yes, I'd like to report an emergency..."

Lana's PoV

"Lana, Lana..." a voice calls, and I start awake, looking around me in a desperate hope that my sister's here. But she isn't...she never is. I hope, I pray, but it just isn't enough. A cloud of nausea seats itself in my stomach, and I immediately want to throw up.

"Yeah?" I ask, trying to feign calmness. My fingers start to shake a bit, but I clench them tightly into fists. Max smirks, pointing to the diner behind her.

"We're getting some chow. I could eat a horse." she says, getting out of the car. "You coming?" she asks when she sees me just sitting in the car first. I nod, still able to smell the burning, the acrid taste of smoke thick in my mouth.

"Yeah, I just need to do something first." I tell her, and she nods, hurrying to catch up with Alec. I run behind the diner as soon as they're out of sight, throwing up whatever's in my stomach. After about five minutes of spewing my guts out, I lean back against the brick wall, dead tired. Tired of flashbacks, tired of secrets, tired of life in general.

I arch my back as another shot of pain goes through me, lightening-fast. I just have to wait it out, just wait it out. My head aches, and I want to throw up, but I really don't think I have anything left in my stomach. I'm so dizzy, this one's the worst yet. Why now? Why me?

Footsteps coming closer...oh, god, it's Max and Alec. What am I going to tell them? "Lana? Oh, god, are you all right?" Alec asks, and I nod, wincing as a block of pain hits me like a garbage truck.

"Take these." Max says, pushing some bitter tasting pills into my mouth. I swallow, waiting for the shakes to leave me for a moment before I do. I close my eyes, willing my every muscle to just work like it's supposed to.

The shakes slow down, and I breathe deeply, trying to calm myself. "Thanks." I mutter, opening one eye. They both nod, helping me up.

"You want something to eat? It might help make you feel a little better." Alec says, sliding me into a booth and sitting across from me, with Max. I nod, not really wanting food but knowing he's right. He orders a glass of milk for me, and I nod my thanks, asking for an order of toast.

I sit in the booth, drinking the milk through shaky hands, trying to steady myself. I give up three quarters of the way through, pushing the glass back and scowling my best 'I'm angsty and brooding' scowl. "I hate this, you know." I tell them, drawing them away from their banter.

"Hate what?" Alec asks, looking thoroughly confused.

"This, knowing that I'm different but not knowing why. Leaving my sibs to the wrath of Mrs. Holmes." Then again, they are now safe from food poisoning. "This, by definition, blows." I mutter cynically, methodically peeling away the crust of my toast before eating it.

"I'm sorry, I really am." Max says, looking like she actually means it. "We'll try to make you feel at home in T.C."

"How can I?" I ask incredulously, rolling my eyes. "Y'all have been together since birth, or at least all share the bond of going through Manticore together. Me? I don't have that luxery. How can you guys not get that I'm going to be the freakiest person in a town full of freaks? Do you know how freaky that is?" I ask, thoroughly annoyed. "I need air." I mutter, hopping out of the booth, ignoring the pain that causes, and leaving them in a stunned silence as I walk out of the diner.

I lie down on the hood of the truck, staring into space. A shooting star makes its way across the sky...

Star light, star bright,

First star I see tonight.

I wish I may,

I wish I might,

Have the wish I wish tonight.

I wish I was normal...er, again...

A/N: ok, so no reviews last time- you guys disappointed me...Not even a 'Alec's hot!' sniffle Please tell me whatcha think, guys! I need to know that you want me to continue my stories, or I won't. Oh, and while we're on the topic, should I continue Lucy the Mutant? It's been lagging in the review department, and, as much as I love it, if no one's reading it, why bother?

Please let me know!!! luv y'all!!! mwa

Live fast

Cheer hard

Die laughing

molly jeane

P.S. The song in this chappie is 'Sweet Last Goodbye', by heidiboxer. They're this incredible band that also happens to be incredibly hot. Dave Matthews, Something Corporate feel to them. You can download their songs at their official website. It's www()heidiboxer()8m()com. (The () are periods. ffnet just doesn't like links.)