"Zoey!" Jack squeaked my name from further down the tunnel.

"Put me down," I ordered Erik. As I knew he would, he instantly put my feet on the ground. Though my knees were still weak, I stumbled forward.

"What is it?" I panted once I reached Jake and Damian. Damian was staring straight ahead, frightened, but with a familiar thoughful look on his face. Aphrodite looked utterly disgusted, which didn't surprise me because of her "Miss Priss" ways.

Jack pointed ahead of him and I followed his finger. There, right in front of us, was Stark.

Stark, the guy that I'd hardly known but already really liked. The guy I held in my arms when he died, kissing him before he did. The guy that had shared his darkest secret with me. My palms got clammy as I stared at him, half shocked, half unsure. Aw hell! This cannot be happening.

"Zzzzzoey..." Stark hissed, his eyes on my face, filled with longing.

I stepped toward him, "Stark."

"Pleassse. Help me." His eyes begged me to save him and something deep in my heart clentched.

"Stevie Rae!" I called desperatly. Oh for the love of Nyx, please let her know what to do!

"Now what do we have here? Another red fledgling?" She asked in her Okie accent.

"I think so," I turned to face Stark. "Stark, my friend Stevie Rae can help you. Will you go with her?"

Panic flickered across his dead face, "I wisssh to sstay with you."

I stepped closer, keeping my voice steady even though tears threatened, "It's okay, it's okay. You can. You will. You just have to go with Stevie Rae for a while, okay?"

He nodded slowly and followed as Stevie Rae ushered him away.

Needing some alone time, I stumbled away. I just couldn't think straight. I was already dealing with Erik, and now Stark was back. Oh, Nyx, what am I supposed to do?

I kept walking until I couldn't anymore and I collapsed, breaking into sobs. Why, oh why was my life so friggin' hellish?

I sat by myself for more than an hour crying before I heard footsteps echoe towards me.

"Erik!" I gasped once his face came into view. Good lord have mercy, he was gorgous, be he was also the last person I expected to come find me.

As he took in my runny nose and red eyes, his face melted into concern. Why was everyone suddenly worried about me all the time?

"Zoey? Are you all right?"

I shook my head, my face falling into my hands, "No, no I'm so not okay. Everything is going wrong. Neferet is evil. She rose Kalona from the earth. The Raven Mockers have their bodies back. Stark seems horrible. And I lost you! Why on earth would I be okay?!"

"Zoey..." Erik murmered, pulling into his arms. I stained his shirt with my salty tears, shaking horribly. "Zoey, you haven't lost me."

I looked up at him through my blurry eyes, "Yes, Erik, I have. I screwed up. I was a slut."

"Z, I forgive you." He said softly.

That brought on another torent of tears. I buried my face in his shoulder, keening quietly. I soooo did not deserve him. No way in hell would someone like me deserve someone like him.

"Shhh Z..."

And, just like that, the moment was ruined. Of all the places, I had reception right here. The shrill ring of my cell phone broke the silence in the tunnels.

"Hello?" I answered, sniffling.

"Zoey? Are you okay?" Heath asked anxiously.

I smiled, "More or less."