(A/N:)

SORRY I HAVE TOOK SOOOO LONG, i have a list of excuses but can't be bothered writing them all down. ANYWAY, SORRY!!! Oh yeah, thanx 4 all of the reviews, i luv u guyz!!!!!!

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"Querida..." Jesse whispered into the darkness, his eyelids twitching as they struggled to open.

I reached out with my free hand and laid it on Jesse's perspiring forehead.

"It's okay," I murmured, in what was supposed to be a soothing voice- only my voice sounded more of a croak to me, "it's okay."

I could feel the heat from Jesse's forehead. He was boiling.

Duh. He was dying- in a sense.

I coughed to cover up a sob, which had risen in my throat and removed my hand. I mean, crying all over Jesse wasn't about to do him any good. Crying wouldn't suddenly make him get up and be all right. It was a waste of time. Crying, I mean. But, sometimes, you just can't help it, can you? Say, when the love of your life is technically dead, and is about to "die" again, or disappear, vanish, whichever you prefer. Still, it wouldn't do any good, anyway, plus, it is totally embarrassing.

How can it be embarrassing when no one's watching?

I cleared my throat loudly, just as Jesse groaned. Instantly, my eyes swivelled to him. I looked down at Jesse anxiously and placed my hand onto his forehead again. I inhaled sharply as I felt the icy- cold that spread into my fingertips. I moved my hand and stroked Jesse's cheek gently.

It wasn't fair, I mean, this shouldn't be happening to Jesse, right? All he'd done was help me, even though I was a total cow to Jesse when I first met him. Still, he hadn't done anything WRONG, apart from punching Paul and consequently breaking his nose- but in my book, there is nothing wrong with doing that.

I moved closer to him to give him some of my warmth, which wasn't much, by the way, seeing as it was really cold here, but, you know, I had to do something to help. I mean, I couldn't just watch Jesse freeze.

Jesse's limbs started shaking.

I pressed my body against Jesse's to at least try and make him warmer. I could now feel Jesse physically shaking. I laid my head onto Jesse's chest and closed my eyes.

Please, be all right.

Please.

Jesse stopped shaking.

I sighed.

"It's all right," I murmured.

Only it wasn't. Okay, I mean. How could it be? Nothing would be "all right" again. Not without Jesse.

I watched as Jesse ceased his struggles to open his eyes. His brows though, looked permanently furrowed as he was in so much pain. I felt a pang in my heart.

No.

No, this wasn't how it was supposed to be.

I shook my head.

It wasn't supposed to be like this!

I mean, in fairytales, you always get a happy ending, right? Like in Sleeping Beauty, when she pricks her finger and falls asleep then a handsome Prince – obviously – would find her and give Sleeping Beauty the kiss of life. Everything would be okay then. They'd get married and live happily ever after. So, maybe if I kissed Jesse, he'd wake up and be cured or whatever.

Only we'd still be stuck in Shadowland plus, Paul would come back and find us.

I can't win, can I? Either way, Jesse is doomed and so am I. Heck, Jesse had the easy way out. He wouldn't even be here to endure Paul. He'd probably just fade away into the darkness, leaving me.

I shook my head harder.

There was still a chance of Jesse staying alive, right? I mean, remaining as a ghost. There had to be something I could do. Anything.

There is something you can do, this little voice told me in my head.

Go with Paul.

"No," I whispered, "I can't"

Okay, don't get me wrong. I would do anything- and I mean anything- to save Jesse, except that. Yes, I love Jesse and I should be willing to do whatever Paul wanted me to do- which I have a pretty good idea about- but the thing is, I hate Paul. Seriously hate him. I mean, not only has he tried to kill me, but he is currently trying to off my boyfriend as well! Okay, so he's not my boyfriend -yet- but you get my drift. The guy I am in love with. Anyway, how do I know Paul's not just double- crossing me? How do I know that as soon as I say, "yes, I am yours" that he won't just up sticks- with me in tow- and leave Jesse? Huh?

I groaned and placed my head in my hands. Jesse let out a moan, reminding me of what would happen if I didn't agree with Paul.

There'd be no more Jesse sitting on the windowsill in my bedroom, petting that stupid cat, Spike- who is never grateful to me, even though I'm the one who feeds him and all.

I picked my head out pf my hands and stared at Jesse, tears threatening again.

No more ghost- busting in the middle of the night with Jesse. No more CD's being out in the wrong order and no books going missing from my mom's shelf.

He wouldn't be there, I realised.

I'd have to go through that hell again- when Jack, Paul's younger brother – had exorcised Jesse accidentally- only it'd last forever.

I don't want to go through that again.

A bright, white trail left Jesse and floated in the air then disappeared. Vanished, just like he would.

Jesse didn't show any reaction. He looked like he was sleeping. Only ghosts don't sleep.

Tears flowed from my eyes for what seemed like the hundredth time and ran down my cheeks.

I don't want to go through that again.

I don't.

I don't.

"I don't," I moaned, gasping for breath, "I don't."

I squeezed my eyes shut.

I don't.

I don't.

"Somebody, help me," I mumbled, "anybody."

"Help me," I shouted, standing up as I opened my eyes. Everything swirled around me. Wind suddenly howled in my ears.

Paul was coming.

"NO!" I shrieked, clapping my hands over my ears.

"HELP ME!"

The wind stopped.

I collapsed onto the ground in front of one of the looming doors, which lined the hallway.

That's it.

That's the answer.

I heaved myself up onto my knees and reached forward, preparing to fling myself into it.

I know people think suicide is the wring answer and it's a stupid thing to do, but right then, it seemed like the only option. I mean, there would be absolutely NO point living if Jesse was not with me. Yeah, I know it sounds dramatic and everything, but it's true. I'd already had a taster of life without Jesse, and let me tell you, that was no picnic. Half the time I spent blubbing and flinging myself at bewildered priests- namely Father. D. I didn't want to do that again.

So I thought I'd end it all.

I placed my hand onto the dark door above me and pushed.

The door started creaking open agonizingly slowly. It was like everything was moving in slow- motion. My breath came out in fast, short gasps. I started shivering.

The door opened wider but I couldn't see what was inside. I squinted into the entrance.

Darkness.

That's what I saw.

Darkness oozed out of the door, forcing it to open and spill out onto the foggy floor. Tendrils snaked out of the centre, dripping blackness.

I felt the urge to back away hit me hard, but I couldn't.

I tried moving my leg backwards but to no avail. It was like I'd frozen. The warmth – which was very little anyway- was replaced with an icy- cold, which spread all over my body.

The door had been forced wide open now. The tendrils began forming a shape.

A hand.

The hand looked skeletal, and dripped wherever it went. Which was towards me.

It reached out and beckoned me towards it.

I felt a tugging sensation trying to pull me towards it.

Help.

Someone.

I attempted to open my mouth but found that I couldn't.

I moved nearer to it.

No.

I've changed my mind!

I don't want to DIE!

I screamed the last word with all my might.

It stopped. Just like that. I breathed a heavy sigh of relief. The hand had stopped too. I backed away from it slowly, my eyes fastened onto the hand to make sure it didn't move. It didn't. I was sure it wasn't going to suddenly grab me and have me for it's dinner so I spun around and crawled rapidly towards Jesse.

He hadn't moved an inch. I reached out and clasped Jesse's hand.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, "I am so sorry."

My eyes grew moist.

"I am SO..." I half- wailed but shut up when I heard something.

A creaking noise.

I turned my head slowly to the door that I had opened but forgotten to shut. It was shutting. Trapping that monster in there- a good thing, but you see, the bad thing was, no one was actually closing the door.

The door banged shut by itself. No hand pushing it or anything. Just the door. By itself. Shutting.

I squeezed Jesse's hand harder.

No response.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I breathed in deeply, trying to calm myself down, but I couldn't. Calm myself down, I mean. That's because I could feel something.

A pair of eyes burning the back of my neck.

Paul had come.

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