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THIS IS DEDICATED TO HUMANINSPIRATIONS!

Reviewers:

Gothic Sabrina: I rock? ((blushes)) Thanks! So… you found the last chapter sad… yet funny? Lol. I also found it funny. Yeah, Tala is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO obvious. But he doesn't really have a way with words... aw... I'm glad that you somehow connect with Raven. XD

humaninspirations: Lol, Oh Great Lazy One. Dying? Er... i had a Life-Threatening disease once... but that's about it. Hm... pessimistic one of the group... sounds a lot like me. What was you thinking about a fiction together? I was thinking of a vampire fic, but you know... it's up to you. Er... how about... er... I don't know. I'm suffering from a bit of writer's block myself (lol). That's why I plan out a few chapters ahead in note form, and then I know what I'm going to write about. However, most of the time I have to change it around. U.U'

Lyrikkal: Yeah... next time... Lol. Enjoy the chapter!

Zolo: New reviewer! Yay! ((confetti and glitter everywhere)). They will talk... eventually. Actually, Kai and Mariah have their talk next chapter. Lol.

ray-is-sexy: ARGGGHHHHHHH! Lol. Thanks for your review!

You make me happy! Here's your Ray plushies! And if you review you can have a… um… Max plushie!

Last time: Raven was in hospital. Everyone came. Mariah slapped Tala. Raven was in her 'dark place'. Raven got out. She woke up. Tala said he had something to say. The others came in. Tala couldn't say it with the others.

xxx

Chapter twenty: Departure of the Blue One

Raven knew what Tala was going to say. But she didn't want him to finish because then she would have to reply. And she was not yet sure of what she would have said.

What did she feel for Tala?

A month ago she felt hate and rage towards the Russian. She admitted she did find then that Tala was remotely attractive. Now, she felt… she felt like she could talk with him. They had both been under Boris' rule. And they both strived to become the best.

She supposed that was what had driven them to despise each other so much. The competition. They had both been with Boris for as long as they could remember. Boris told her that before the amnesia, she was in his base in the North of France by the snowy highlands.

And Raven knew she had been experimented on. She knew not all the scars were by training or punishments. Some were surgical. She knew that Boris had 'tampered' with her, improving her.

But now, Raven felt a connection to Tala. Boris was gone. The competition was gone. She wasn't even mad at him for hurting her. She was happier with him for being there. Nobody had ever been there for Raven, apart from Tala.

When Raven was about to be eaten by a pack of wolves, Tala was there. When Raven needed competition, Tala was there. When Raven was bored, Tala was there. When Raven had a gun to her head, Tala was there.

When Raven woke up from a coma, Tala was there to comfort her, despite being the person that put her there.

No, Raven knew the answer. She'd know what she would say. And the answer scared her.

Because she would have returned the feelings. She would have said that she felt for him the same way. She would have said that she lo…

Raven was frightened of her answer because it would have made her vulnerable, dependant on the feelings she had for Tala and the feelings he had for her.

And she hated being vulnerable. Being weak. The helpless were pushed around. People walked all over the feeble. She refused to be one of them. She would rather die strong and independent.

So Raven would ignore the feelings she had for Tala. She would reject him, no matter how much it hurt her. It was only sentimental junk. Emotions were pointless.

Or maybe she wouldn't let him finish the question. Yes, she'd just get out of this bloody hospital before he had the opportunity to confess what he felt for her.

"Hello? Raven? Are you ok?"

Raven blinked a few times. Then she turned to Max, who had asked the question.

"I'm fine, just got a bit of a headache, that's all. And a bit tired."

"We should let her have some rest." Hilary said.

"You've been in a coma for a few days, isn't that enough sleep?" Tyson inquired, scratching his head, confused. If he had been asleep for four days he would be starving!

Actually, now that he mentioned it, he was a bit hungry. He needed hot dogs. And fries. And pizza. And cheeseburgers.

"Ok, we'll leave you to get some rest." Oh yeah, that was smooth. Then he could instantly suggest going to McDonalds to get some food for Raven, and get a few food items for himself. Oh yes, he was so smart.

Tyson dragged the others out, excluding Kai, leaving him, Tala and obviously Raven in the room.

Raven closed her eyes, pretending to be tired.

"Come on, Tala. Let her have some rest." Kai said.

She heard the door shut and Raven allowed herself to fall asleep.

xxx

Raven woke up with the pale moonlight illuminating her room. She looked to the side and saw that Tala was asleep in his usual chair. The light from the moon made him looked peaceful… like an angel, despite his horned hairstyle.

She eased her hand out of his grip and tore out her IV, cursing mentally. It bloody hurt!

The patient tried her best not to look back at the red head but she found herself staring at his serene expression again.

Raven sighed. Was she really doing the right thing?

Do you want to be some fragile, lovesick bimbo? Honestly, soon you'll be wanting to start wearing mini skirts and dying your hair.

That was true. Playing girly girl was not her thing.

Raven walked out into the corridor and grabbed a white coat on a peg. She sneaked down the corridors, hiding in the shadows whenever she heard someone.

Eventually she reached the foyer. The glass doors to outside grew closer and closer.

The escapee pushed the doors opened, suddenly feeling the fresh breeze of outside. Walking a few steps, she shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. Damn, a hospital gown and a white jacket was not enough protection against the cold night air.

Taking one look behind her, the blue one departed, not knowing when, or if, she was going to return.

xxx

Raven stood there, as if expecting him. She was wearing her usual bodysuit and her trench coat. The coat flapped around her as a cool draught hit her.

Tala took a step towards her.

"What was it you wanted to say, Tala?" she asked with a smile.

The Russian looked around. No one was here. It was just Tala and Raven. Their only witnesses were the trees surrounding them. They must have been in some sort of forests.

"I wanted to say that I…"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

The smile disappeared. After a few moments she frowned and turned away. He put a hand on her shoulder but she shrugged it off.

"If you LOVED me, you would never have hurt me."

"I didn't mean to! I was just… angry because I…"

"Because of what? Look what you done! You put me in hospital!"

"I never wanted to hurt you! I love you!"

"Well I don't love you. I hate you."

Then she disappeared. The trees disappeared.

Tala fell to his knees. He loved her. He never meant to hurt her.

He was so stupid.

So stupid.

xxx

Tala woke up sweaty and panting. His heart was beating so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of his rib cage.

Calming down, he realised that Raven's bed was empty. Where had she gone?

He walked out of the room and went to the canteen. She wasn't there. He asked the nurse if she was in the shower. Nope. She was nowhere to be seen. Maybe she had been kidnapped! Maybe Boris was back!

Then it hit him. The struggling would have woken him up. Raven hadn't been kidnapped – she had left the hospital.

She had run away.

xxx

Next Chapter: Secrets and Confessions

Quote: The fact that nobody understands you doesn't make you a genius.