AN: I feel as if I'm on a roll. I do thank those of you that reviewed the previous chapter for your kind comments that dealt with life outside of this story. It's greatly appreciated. However, after such said things and a terrible chapter (although you guys claim no) on my part, I have rewarded you with not only a longer and better written chapter, but also a chapter posted within 24 hours of the last. Enjoy.

Chapter 12: The Last Chance

The sun rose slowly over the horizon, spreading its magical light over the land and awakening the slumbering creatures that inhabited this side of the Earth. I was one such creature, curled up under a single blanket and not ready to approach the new day. I was tired and hungry, but I had no urge to do anything except sit there and struggle to open my eyes. Once I overcame the task I looked around to see that I was still very much alone.

I had located myself to my usual corner of Cell's marshal arts arena, my back leaning against the cone-shaped pillar made by the android himself. The blanket brought little warmth to me during the night, but I didn't care. In a way I felt numb merely from the simple thought that I could be sitting in my nice, warm apartment instead of a cold floor. Instead, I chose to sit and stay instead of taking the opportunity presented. And the longer I sat there, awake and aware of what I had chosen to do, I wondered why. Cell was an android built to destroy; whether or not he was made of living cells or metal was irrelevant. To think that such a creature could conquer the original programming, or what I'm considering as such, is totally asinine. I must be insane. I don't recommend staying outside in a desert by yourself for days at a time. It's not healthy.

After a while, I decided to gather up the ambition to eat something. I still had enough food to last me a few more days, since I had grabbed practically everything in sight from the restaurant in Nikki Town. As I ate, though, I wondered where the android had disappeared to once again. He had said that he had gone to train in space the last time he did this—is that where he was now? Flying past the stars beyond the planet's atmosphere?

It was strange to think of someone being capable of doing such a thing. I wondered for a brief moment if that other character with the blonde hair could do the same thing, although maybe not because he looked completely human to me. Whether he could or couldn't, it was something I couldn't do. I hadn't the capability of going to find Cell. Even if I could I don't know if I would—not after the way he's treated me.

Then why are you still here and not making your way back to civilization? My inner thoughts questioned. The answer was simple: I don't know. Honestly, it wasn't something I completely understood. Was it possible to fall for someone…or something in only a few days? Was it possible to even do so with a being that was dead-set on destroying the world, who threatened your life, and who wasn't even human? Maybe…

Before I knew it, Cell had returned. He landed on the direct opposite corner I sat, one foot touching down, then the other. His hands were balled up into fists, but I couldn't tell how tightly they were clenched from the distance between us. His eyes averted away from mine the moment I attempted to make eye contact. He looked away with a scowl on his face and proceeded to stand there without giving me the time of day. I looked down at the open candy wrappers I had left near my feet—an unhealthy breakfast for an unhealthy situation. Why didn't I leave; heavens above, why?

"Please say something…" My words were very soft and muffled from the lack of decent jaw movement. I was afraid of what he might say.

"I have nothing to say to you," was his answer. But after a short moment he added, "I'm actually surprised you're still here. I figured you'd be well on your way so you can get away from this inhuman-freak, as you so called."

I felt an icy pain shoot through my chest. I had said that. And I had been terrible about it too. At that moment I realized that Cell was more human that I thought—he had feelings. He might not show it the way a regular human would, but I could tell from his expression and the coldness in his voice that his attempts at catching my interest were at least partially for real. Now I had to figure out how to get myself out of the nice hole I had dug for myself. I might add that I wasn't looking forward to it.

"Look, I'm sorry. I really am. I mean…this whole thing—the past few days and stuff—it's really taken its toll on me. It's not exactly what I thought I'd be going through."

I waited for an answer, but he gave none. Instead his eyes were locked on my weak, pathetic, innocent form as it stood up and cautiously made its way to where he stood in the shadows of his corner's pillar. "Where did you go?" I asked, hoping to spark a nice little conversation.

At first I thought his eyes were going to shoot out laser beams at me. Instead, his mouth curled into a frown and he crossed his arms tightly over his broad, black chest. "I had a bit of frustration that needed to be let out. I went looking for some innocent victims to prey on."

My eyes grew wider, this I knew, and I paused in my actions of walking towards him. "You didn't…"

"Do you want a body count?" he asked unrepentantly.

"Cell…how could you…"

"Shall I demonstrate?"

"I'm serious Cell….why?"

"Why not? The entire human race is due to become extent within a matter of days, so why not give a few of them a jump start into the next life? Its only fitting that I warm up my future actions with a little exercise."

I looked at my feet. "You know, I was going to give you another chance…try to think that you're not all that bad. But now…I don't think I can, Cell. I just don't think I can."

"And you think your petty words will bother me?" He snapped lightly. "Say what you will, but what's done is done. And I have no regrets."

"None?"

"None."

"So what you forced upon my yesterday is just all part of your plan?"

He was quiet for a while, but his gaze was still hard. He knew that he'd have to think carefully before he answered. And carefully constructed was the statement he made. "What I did yesterday was purely spur of the moment. I allowed the human portion of my instincts to get the best of me, and all it proved was that my upbringing was correct—humans are humble, lonely creatures."

My brain thought quickly, and even now I'm not sure if what I had retaliated with made much sense. "Then you were on the verge of surrendering to such a lousy specimen."

Cell's mouth finally turned into a smile. He closed his eyes briefly and when his lids sprang back up I could have sworn that his eyes were brighter than ever. "Trust me, it will never happen again."

My heart sank. It was as if my whole world came crashing down all around me and I was left to stare at the nothingness that would swallow me up like a piece of candy. It wasn't pure affection I felt for him, but I had hoped, somewhere in the back of my brain, that maybe he'd change for me—maybe if I showed him what he wanted to see and hear then he'd stop this foolishness and give up. What I would've done after that, I don't know, but at least mankind would've been safe.

Cell chuckled lightly to himself. "What's wrong, Layrial? You look as if you've seen a ghost."

I held back the urge to yell at him with full rage mixed with the tears that wanted so badly to escape. Instead of doing any of the above, I decide it was time to give up. And this time I was not turning back.

I took little time to pack up everything I had taken from the restaurant and whatnot into the single plastic bag. I grabbed the blanket and swung it over my arm, picked up the bag and my sweater, and hopped off the platform. I didn't even take more than two steps when I heard him ask, "Where do you think you're going?"

"Home," was the single worded answer I gave him, but I made no attempt to turn to tell it straight to his face. I walked forward towards the road that I had traveled down several days before. I figured I could follow it and recognize something that would lead me back to the city. All I needed to do was keep my mind focused.

- - - -

I figured I had been walking for nearly six hours before I couldn't take it anymore. Adrenaline had kept me going up until now, but with every minute that passed the more I came to realize I was running out of steam. I had switched carrying arms multiple times, but now my legs begged me to give up. To my great remorse, I did. I collapsed. I just couldn't go on. The bag, blanket and anything else I had shoved into my hands went down with me and some ended up underneath my body as I lay helplessly on the ground. I was hot; I was too tired to care that I was hot. The sudden release of pressure on my feet and legs made them tingle and I was willing to bet they were starting to swell from the heat and unwanted and unexpected exercise. On top of it all, my stomach was upset to the point I wish I'd just throw up and get it over with.

After a few moments I pushed myself to roll over and face the sky. There were only a few clouds hanging above me, but not one was close enough to cover the sun for a few seconds to give me a break. I could feel a bead of sweat trickling down past my ear. I coaxed myself to finally lean over and pull out the last water bottle I had left—it was hard to believe I had gone through them all already. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough to make an entire trip back to the city. It took forever to get out here with a van—I had no chance of ever making it back by foot.

This was it; I was alone. I was finished.

I unscrewed the cap and let the remaining contents pour over my face; only maybe half of it at the most actually making it into my mouth. If it had been cold it might've felt good; but the heat had warmed it up days ago and now I was without any sort of hydrating substances.

Where did I go wrong in life? Was the question that kept picking at my senseless brain; and I couldn't figure out an answer. I blamed it the power outage in the town I had been sent to who-knows how many days ago. I didn't even know how long I had been out here now. I tried to keep myself occupied by counting the times I had been forced to sleep in the cold nights with a single blanket for warmth, but honestly I couldn't agree on just how many times that had been.

My eyes started to close. I wanted to go to sleep so badly. I knew if I did that'd be the end of it all. Maybe that's all I needed. By the time someone found me way out here I'd already be vulture food. Actually, now that that came to mind, I'm surprised there weren't any vultures flocking around in anticipation for my carcass to become there feast.

The brightness of the sun and the temperature of the day were giving me a terrible headache. Not to mention I was starting to get hungry again from walking, but the thought of food made the urge to dislodge that remained in my system worse. I couldn't gather up the energy to do anything about it either. I was broken. Both in mind and body come to think of it. And you know what? I didn't care. I just let my eyes close and my muscles relax.

Somewhere in the distance I heard a voice. I believe I heard my name come from this voice, but I was so out of it I couldn't tell. I didn't even bother to acknowledge the voice's owner's presence until I felt a hand clutch my arm and pull me up. I opened my eyes, but my body was so limp I couldn't even tell what was really going on. The stranger picked me up and started leaving the spot where I had fallen. I was able to turn my head, but with my vision being so blurry I could hardly make out a face. My mind was so messed up it made me imagine it was Cell—that chalky skin with that small bit of purple and yellow, magenta eyes, the weird green thing on his head…

And all too soon I lost that image. Everything became easy and relaxed. My eyes closed. What was around me became no more.