The much delayed chapter and AN: Hey guys, I'm sorry I haven't been up to the task of writing this. I don't even remember when my last update was. Forgive me—so much has been going on and I just haven't had it in me to continue this. It's coming to an end though, so I want to finish it. Hopefully I'll be able to get the last chapter(s) up asap, but we'll see what happens. Enjoy.

Chapter 12:Let It Be Said…

I ended up pushing myself along to follow Cell a little ways down the street. I didn't quite know what he had in mind since there was obviously nothing like a hospital or even a school (unless we went back to the one I worked at) where we could find easy medical supplies. Then again, this was Cell I was referring to, so I don't know why I was questioning any of his actions.

Once he stopped, though, I curiously waited and wondered what he was going to do this time. He made no signal to me whatsoever and for a split second I thought maybe he was hoping I had disappeared on him. When his arm rose from his side and his fingers spread out was wide as they could go, I figured he was going to do something with the benefit of me watching him.

Without a second to prepare myself a nearby streetlight was yanked from its foundation in the sidewalk and raised horizontally several feet in front of where the android stood. I held in the gasp that wanted to escape as I waited for him to proceed. I should've known the moment I saw him going for the metal pole what he was going to do—Cell had built the arena for the Cell Games on his own, so naturally if he could do that he could make a simple splint for me.

Once Cell had somehow sliced away all but a twelve-inch piece from the pole, I knew this was exactly what he was aiming for. He took it in his hand after mentally flying it towards his position, and then turned to me.

"Come here," he said unpleasantly. I think he was still mad at me…

I didn't argue with him; I met up where he stood and held out my arm before he could tell me to do so. I was mildly surprised when he ripped my sleeve from my shirt—if this had been under any other circumstances (meaning our bitterness towards each other) then I would've smacked him upside the head for ruining one of my good shirts.

While somehow managing to make the smooth, clean piece of metal hover next to my arm, Cell tore the fabric from my sleeve into several long strips. He then took my arm and tied the splint to it, and although he wasn't that gentle (probably due to his temper) I was grateful.

I looked at it once his hands left me—he did a fantastic job. I should've known that Cell was more than just a murderous freak of nature—he was intellectually knowledgeable in multiple fields. I let my arm return to its position against my torso and I forced my eyes to meet his. Those magenta orbs were still cold and icy, but I thought that if I stared long enough they'd begin to melt.

I was surprised, actually, when I hadn't succeeded. "So I guess this is it," I said when he hadn't even blinked, twitched or exhaled (as far as I could tell).

"It is," he replied bluntly. "Good-bye, Layrial."

My hand instinctively flew out to latch onto his arm when he started to turn. His head darted down to me and his eyes tried to peal away my fingers from his forearm. He could've easily pulled away since I had no strength at all compared to him, but he didn't.

"Cell, please," I started.

"Like you've said before, Layrial, we've been through this sort of thing many times," he replied smoothly. "You're not the only one angered by actions here. I have nothing further to communicate with you."

"I think you do, Cell," I stated. At this point there was nothing to lose. I knew that I'd be heartbroken if he left and I had no closure to any of the stuff that happened. I needed to, at least, say goodbye. "You know that both of us are just denying inner feelings we have for each other."

"Let me stop you right here," Cell said. "If there was anything, as you claim, that I have felt then it was nothing but a fatal attraction to a woman whom I thought had a different potential than other human beings on this miserable planet. If you want to know right now if I have had any feelings for you other than the curiosity that has swelled in the depths of my existence then no, I have not. It was on your part a mere hope that I may be someone that could return such adoration as you have had for me. And now, if you don't mind, I wish to continue on."

What he said hurt like a nail being smacked with a sledgehammer. The funny thing is, though, it was poetic enough that it nearly made me cry because of how he said it, not completely what he had said. I wanted nothing more, though, than to just stop all of this right now and start over.

So, I did what any logical woman in my position would do. I reached up on the very tips of my toes and kissed him square on the lips. My feet were in pain, my leg was getting a cramp from stretching myself as far as I could, but I could feel the tension in his face loosen from the connection I had made.

Cell had lied to me. Partly, that is. He may have said some terrible comments to me that he probably convinced himself were true, but I knew that this…adoration he spoke of was indeed returned at least during some point in the past.

I should've expected the final reaction I received from him. I found myself stumbling away, my legs twisting around each other as he pushed me aside. I spun around quickly and looked up to him, my hair suddenly clinging to my face. Cell stood up straight, but I was surprised to see that his back was slightly curved—I had never seen him slouch. His head was turned away from me and he seemed to be looking at something on the ground.

I collected my thoughts and such and stood back up proudly to prove to him that he couldn't control me the way he thought he could. If I could have crossed my arms I would've, but the splint prevented me from doing so. Instead, I let my mouth take over—something I did all too soundly. "Well?"

"There is now 'well'," he replied. His head turned back to me and he looked a little…mean. "You underestimate me."

"No Cell, I think you underestimate yourself," I spat and briskly started walking away. If he was going to be like this then I wasn't going to try anymore. Time and time again I tried to apologize in any means I thought he'd accept, but it seems that even the furthest point I could reach wasn't enough for him and his stupid ego.

I started to slow down, though, thinking that he would start to follow me, to stop me from leaving him. However, when I turned around…Cell was gone. I halted and turned to where he had been standing. Everything was quiet and there was no sign of him, not even on the rooftops or in the sky. My heart started to sink to my stomach and I felt the urge to cry. I don't know if it was just my emotional side kicking in for such a terrible day or if I was truly hurt that he ditched me.

"Cell, you monster," I said to myself. "Look what you've done to me…"

My legs felt extremely wobbly and I wanted to just fall down. But before I could do so my eyes caught movement up ahead. My head tilted back up, tears almost blurring my vision, but I easily made out what was there. Those disgusting creatures had returned—fewer than before, but still as terrible as they had been twenty-or-so minutes ago.

"Come on," I said to them, my face a mess of sorrow. "Come and kill me…send me to the hell you came from."

I stood there and watched them slowly approached me. I had heard that before you die you think of your life and how it had been, how it could've been…how it should've been. If that was the case, then I was abnormal. I didn't see anything except those creatures limping my way. I felt broken, betrayed, denied. I had lost a good friend and my pride because of a stupid android. Everything I had fought to put behind me returned to destroy what was left of my being.

The zombies were no more than ten feet away. The one at the head of the gang reached his arm out and let out a dreadful moan. Their stench was almost more revolting than it had been the first time. Maybe the longer they lived being dead the more they stunk. Either way, I was ready for them to do what they wanted—suck my blood, break my neck, tear off my limbs, whatever they so chose.

The rotting hand was only inches from me now, as were a mass of other fingers ready to curl around any part of me they could reach. I took in a deep breath and closed my eyes so I didn't have to stare death in the face.

The moaning came to a halt and I heard a sudden crunching sound, as if bones were being crushed. If I had been numb I would've thought I was dying, but I knew that wasn't the case. My right eye chanced a peak…and in a way I guess I should've been surprised at what I saw. A grayish-colored hand, an arm sleeved in green was directly in front of my face. My eyes open completely to see a length of flesh holding bits of bone inside. My stomach wanted to regurgitate what I had last eaten, but I forced it to behave.

"No," I heard that deep voice say. I still hadn't looked up since I already knew who was there. I probably should've because I wouldn't have been directly exposed to the sudden beam of light that blasted from Cell's hand, the wave storming out and sweeping away every single creature in front of us.

When the noise was over I let my eyes open again and look around. There was nothing but the street and what had been on it. Any sign of those zombies had been erased completely and I was free from the thought of them returning ever again. I quickly turned to Cell, but he looked down at me with the same hateful eyes.

"Do not say it," he said quickly. "If you think I'm that low to let those deplorable things attack you then you're gladly mistaken."

"Cell," I said and took his hand. He looked at it, as if examining the differences our hands had. "Why won't you admit what you really know?"