Silvan Arrow: Woot! Chapter 18! Who's excited?

Kai: I'm not…

Silvan Arrow: You should be! Hehehehehe…

Kai: You're disturbing me.

Silvan Arrow: Things will get much more disturbing if you don't hurry up and do the disclaimer!

Kai: Oh for the love of… Silvan Arrow does not own Beyblade or any of its characters, meaning that she also doesn't own me. She just owns her OCs.

Silvan Arrow: Thank you, Mr. Cranky-Pants! While I think of something creative to say here, please enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 18: Turning the Tide

A light shiver ran down Sonja's spine as she splashed ice-cold water on her face, willing her nerves to settle. She switched off the bathroom faucet and grabbed a paper towel to dry her face. She threw away the wet towel and stared into the mirror numbly for several long moments. 'So…in the end it all comes down to me. Our backs are against the wall, and I have to face Alannah of all people in the next round. If I lose, it's all over for us.'

Sonja leaned over the sink for a moment, lost in thought, using her hands for support. When she straightened back up, Lunash's reflection as well as her own was staring back at her in the mirror.

Have you forgotten about me so easily? Lunash asked. Unable to take a true physical form like Pyrix, he hovered behind his mistress in a translucent aura that reached up to the ceiling. His massive wings shadowed her in a protective semicircle. His essence, like cool mist, washed over her. Sonja inhaled deeply, feeling his power rushing through her veins, refreshing every cell in her body from his seemingly endless wellspring of strength. We are in this battle together. The burden to win or die rests on our shoulders equally.

'You're right. Thanks for reminding me, Lunash,' Sonja replied gratefully. 'I think I feel a little better.'

Lunash rumbled contentedly in his chest. You are always welcome, mistress. His aura faded into a cloud of mist that swirled around Sonja briefly, like a caress, before dissipating into the air in tendrils and wisps.

Her resolve restored for the moment, Sonja left the bathroom, only to freeze in her tracks upon seeing Kai leaning against the far wall, arms crossed and crimson eyes trained on her. His gaze was so intense that it seemed to bore into the farthest reaches of her soul, laying bare every whispered secret and hidden desire. Heat pooled in her belly as she thought back to the last time she had seen him, and a blush subconsciously made its way onto her cheeks. "Kai, what are you doing here?" she asked breathlessly.

"What does it look like?" he asked, pushing himself off the wall and approaching her purposefully. Before Sonja could reply, his mouth roughly covered hers in a fierce, passionate kiss. Sonja's eyes widened at his sudden action, but her momentary fear quickly faded away as the feel of his lips moving expertly over hers forced a groan from her throat. Giving in to passion, Sonja twined her arms around Kai's neck and returned the kiss. She was rewarded for her actions by feeling him shudder with unexpected emotion.

Before Sonja knew it, her back was against the wall while Kai's tongue dragged sensually over her closed lips. She opened up to him, letting Kai retrace his now familiar territory, leaving no area unacquainted. Her knees nearly buckled feeling Kai's tongue massaging the inside of her mouth. How he had gotten so good at kissing, she would never know. His lean, well-muscled body pressed against hers while his hands trailed down her sides, stopping at her hips. Sonja's hands reflexively moved down Kai's shoulders to rest on the bulging muscles of his powerful upper arms. Kai smirked against her mouth upon feeling her shiver, taking note that she was ticklish along her sides.

Kai finally broke the kiss, leaving both of them breathing heavily. Eyes half-lidded, he leaned his forehead against hers, unwilling to relinquish contact just yet. He didn't know when he would get another chance to hold her like this, so he wanted to make it last. Sonja kept her eyes closed, almost afraid to open them lest this all turn out to be a dream. "What was that for?" Sonja asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm giving you another reason to fight," Kai replied in a husky tone that made Sonja nearly melt. He stepped away from her abruptly, leaving her suddenly feeling hollow on the inside and aching for his touch. She opened her eyes and met his fiery gaze. "If you die, so does my heart." Then he turned and walked away without another word.

Sonja could only stand there and watch his retreating form. Lunash finally probed into her thoughts. Mistress?

'Well, that settles it. Now I really have to win this battle.'

"We're finally back with round two of today's exciting semi-final battle! So far, Omega Platoon leads by one victory, but can the Temporal Knights turn it around in this battle? They've currently got their backs against the wall but can tie it up by winning this round! So…let's get things started! Teams, choose your bladers!" DJ Jazzman announced.

Sonja stood up from the bench at the same time as Alannah. She glanced down at her captain, who gave her a tiny smile and nod of encouragement. No words were needed between them, only an understanding that had grown and matured over years of knowing each other, even before they could speak each other's languages.

Steeling her gaze forward, Sonja strode forward to take her place at the dish across from Alannah, who was giving her a half-crazed smirk. "We've been looking forward to this," Alannah stated, referring to herself and Nithhogr. "I hope you will give us an enjoyable hunt."

'I would be lying if I said I wished I felt the same,' Sonja thought dryly as she attached her beyblade to her launcher. She assumed her launch stance and closed her eyes, exhaling deeply. She snapped them open, and all at once her fear and trepidation vanished, giving way to the familiar cold, competitive spirit that always enveloped her mind whenever she went into battle. Inside her head, Lunash roared with anticipation, also poised for action.

Back at the bench, Eri glanced over to see Nakia take a seat at the end. She was still subdued, but Eri sensed that her spirits had lifted somewhat, no doubt partly due to Bryan. She also noted the tear streaks that marked Nakia's cheeks and respectfully ignored them.

"Welcome back," Eri said simply. Nakia met her captain's gaze and forced a tiny smile, meriting one in return. Nakia was secretly grateful for Eri's silence. They both knew that it would be useless to give a lecture about Nakia's performance. Right now all they could do was focus on the present and keep pressing ahead.

"Time to begin the second round!" DJ Jazzman announced. All eyes were trained on the dish, Eri and Nakia from the bench, the Blitzkrieg Boys from the stands, and Spencer and Hina from the hospital. "3…2…1…"

"LET IT RIP!!!!" Sonja and Alannah shouted as they launched their beyblades. Lunash and Nithhogr landed at the edge of dish and circled several times to pick up speed. Both were heavyweight beyblades that relied on attack and defense, so it was imperative for them to pick up speed now to offset their weakness in maneuverability.

"Hehehehe…let's not postpone the fun any longer. Nithhogr, attack!" Alannah exclaimed. Her violet beyblade switched directions abruptly and made a beeline for Lunash.

"Lunash, counter it!" Sonja ordered. The two beyblades clashed, and the force of the impact nearly drove the wind out of Sonja's lungs. 'W-what?! How could she pack that much power? Surely my defense isn't that weak!'

Master, something's wrong.

Watching Sonja nearly double over after the first impact, Kai had to agree with Dranzer. 'I know for a fact that Lunash isn't that weak to get taken out so quickly. You got any ideas?'

I feel a great deal of malice and bloodlust radiating from that girl Alannah. This won't be easy for Sonja, Dranzer said forebodingly.

The two beyblades continued to trade blows, and Sonja felt each one like a punch in the gut. Her right arm wrapped around her middle to grip her side while her left hung limply. The battle had only just started, and already Sonja's breath was coming in short gasps.

Meanwhile, Xhaiden was smirking almost as sadistically as his subordinate at the sight before him. "That's it, girl. Instill fear in all these ignorant fools. Show them we mean business." Beside him, Raina sat with her arms crossed over her chest, watching the battle with an impassive gaze.

'Alannah's more excited than usual. I would hate to be in Sonja's shoes…' Raina mused.

Sonja growled and looked up upon hearing her opponent laughing. "Hehehehe…what's wrong? Feeling a little weak in the knees?" Alannah taunted. "It must be terrible, having all your attacks go to waste. You must be feeling pretty helpless right about now."

Sonja gritted her teeth against Alannah's words, willing herself not to give in to anger. "…How?!" she ground out between clenched jaws.

"How am I doing this, you ask?" Alannah said, smirking. She tapped a finger to her skull. "It's all about my mindset. All you other beybladers, with your high and mighty sense of honor and sportsmanship, try to win with skill and teamwork. You may try to deny it, but you always pull your punches so you don't hurt the blader." She narrowed her eyes. "Those foolish sentiments mean nothing to me. I don't care what happens to my opponents as long as they provide me and Nithhogr with a good hunt."

Sonja's eyes widened, and her body shuddered of its own accord as icy-cold dread gripped her heart. 'So that's it… This bloodlust… She doesn't care if her opponent lives or dies.'

Alannah's voice brought Sonja back to the battle at hand. "This is getting boring. I had hoped you would give me more sport." A sickly purplish-black aura swirled around her body, feeding off her malice and hatred. "Nithhogr, attack!"

The bit chip of Alannah's beyblade gave off a dark shaft of light, and the dread Sonja was feeling chilled her to the bone as she saw Nithhogr appear. However, something was different this time. 'What's this? He only has one head!' Sure enough, the massive, foreboding Hydra bit beast was only sporting one neck and head instead of his usual five.

"Hehehehe…you'll find that Nithhogr has many tricks up his scales. Attack!" The black Hydra roared viciously and charged directly for Sonja. It was almost a repeat of the last battle, when Gygax had tried to attack Nakia.

"Lunash, fight back!" The silver dragon erupted from his bit chip and intercepted Nithhogr's attack with tooth and claw. The two bit beasts grappled overhead while their beyblades continued to trade blows.

'I need to strike while I have the chance,' Sonja thought. Even though she was fighting Alannah on more level ground after summoning Lunash, her stamina wouldn't last forever. "Aqua Beam!" Lunash flew back on his powerful wings, reared his head back, and unleashed a blue ray of water-infused energy at Nithhogr.

"Geo Fissure!" Alannah countered. Her beyblade spun at an incredible velocity that was so intense that the beydish split down the middle. Sonja shielded her head from the clouds of dust and shower of pebbles kicked up by Nithhogr's attack. When the dust settled, Lunash was breathing heavily, and his heavy, plated chest armor was badly damaged. But what surprised her most was that Nithhogr was still standing…even though his head and neck were completely severed from his body. "You fell right into my trap," Alannah sneered. "Nithhogr!" At her command, two bulges of scaled flesh appeared where his head had been severed. Two snakelike necks grew and ended in fully formed heads, complete with razor-sharp teeth. The now two-headed Hydra roared in defiance, sending a shiver down Sonja's spine.

"This is bad," Eri muttered.

"You can say that again," Nakia agreed. "How did Nithhogr do that? I thought he was finished for sure!"

"The Hydra is a legendary creature from Greek mythology that supposedly fought Hercules," Eri explained. "It started off with one head, but for each one that Hercules cut off, two more grew back."

"So this match is only going to get harder…"

"I'm afraid so," Eri said grimly.

"Nithhogr, take down your prey!" Alannah ordered. He struck out with his two heads and bit down on each of Lunash's wings, causing the dragon to roar in pain.

"Lunash, fight back!" Sonja shouted. Lunash bit down on one of Nithhogr's necks to try and shake it off, but, to his and Sonja's surprise, the head vaporized in a shower of sparks. Two more heads grew back in a matter of seconds, one that bit his wing again while the other sank his teeth into his shoulder. Lunash lashed out at the head biting his shoulder, and once again it vaporized, only to have two more grow back. This pattern repeated once more until Nithhogr's fifth head grew in. All five heads attacked at once with an eerily harmonized series of blood-chilling howls. Two bit his forearms, two maintained their grip on his wings, and the fifth went straight for his throat. Lunash threw his head back and wailed in agony, his cry echoed by his mistress as she shared in his pain.

Alannah laughed sadistically at her opponent's distress. "It hurts, doesn't it? But don't run from the pain. Embrace it like I have! Nithhogr!" His five heads bit down harder, drawing a fresh roar of pain from Lunash. Sonja gritted her teeth against the throbbing torture that wracked her body, but what tore at her heart the most was the sight of Lunash's blood trickling around Nithhogr's sets of teeth.

'I don't understand… How come I'm not bleeding too? When Robert fought Alannah, he had wounds in the same places as Griffolyon.' Then realization struck. 'Lunash! You're…shielding me, aren't you?'

I…told you. The burden to win…rests on both our shoulders, Lunash replied weakly. If you fall, it's over for both of us.

'But, Lunash…'

I can't hold the pain back for much longer, mistress. I'm…sorry… A fresh wave of pain lanced through Sonja's body, causing her to cry out again and sink to her knees. Fang marks appeared on her right arm, and she gripped the wound with her left hand to try and slow the bleeding.

"This is unreal!" Ian exclaimed. "It's like that girl actually enjoys watching her opponents in pain…"

"I wonder if she's even mentally stable," Bryan remarked softly.

Dranzer sent wave after wave of soothing peace through Kai's body, but it did nothing to help alleviate the torment he was feeling watching Sonja suffer so much. His right hand clenched his beyblade in a death grip, and it took all his self-control to keep from loading his launcher and launching Dranzer at Xhaiden's head.

"Kai?" Sensing his friend's unease, Tala hesitantly reached out and placed a hand on Kai's shoulder. The crimson-eyed blader jerked away from the touch and stood up abruptly before walking out, his scarf trailing behind him. His bewildered teammates stared after his retreating form.

"Should we go after him?" Bryan asked.

"No, leave him be," Tala replied, crossing his arms over his chest and returning his attention to the battle. 'Kai needs to deal with this on his own.' He stared grimly at the beyblade in his own hand. 'And I have a feeling I'll be in his shoes during the next match.'

Back in the dish, Lunash was quickly losing strength, and Sonja's vision was starting to go blurry from the pain. 'Is this really how it's going to end? Are Lunash and I finished?' Then she remembered why she was here, fighting so desperately to stay in the game. 'If I lose now, then we'll lose much more than just a spot in the finals. My teammates' lives are at stake.' Lunash's eyes started to glow with newfound strength as he fed off of Sonja's determination.

Alannah watched the scene before her with a complacent smirk. "So, are you ready to admit defeat? If you surrender now, you might escape with all your limbs intact." She gasped softly as she saw Sonja stagger to her feet. "W-what is this?"

A set of hazel eyes stared back resolutely, still burning with the will to live. A light blue aura flowed around Sonja's body like water as she replied, "Losing…is not…an option!" That same aura suddenly shrouded Lunash, and he forced Nithhogr's five heads to release their grip in a powerful burst of energy. The Hydra fell back with a cry, bewildered that his prey still had some fight left.

"But that's…impossible!" Alannah exclaimed.

"Lunash, attack!" Sonja and Lunash lashed out with a right punch simultaneously. The dragon's blow connected with Nithhogr's chest and sent him crashing to the ground with a loud boom. At the same time, Sonja's beyblade dealt a serious blow to Alannah's and sent it teetering on the edge of the dish.

Alannah's wind left her lungs in a rush and she staggered back a step, clutching her chest in the same place where Nithhogr had been struck. She felt her control slipping away, and somewhere in the back of her mind, a lock came undone.

Flashback

She was floating.

That's all her mind could comprehend. Floating in a sea of glowing green fluid, watching the world outside her small glass prison through unseeing eyes, unable to hear, unable to speak, unable to feel anything except the thick, cold liquid that made up her world and the dozens of metallic needles embedded under her skin. Two-legged figures with white coats moved back and forth in the dark laboratory, some reviewing information on clipboards, some talking quietly in small groups, and others working at various computer stations scattered throughout the room. All of their actions were a mystery.

She turned her head to the side to see another glass tube much like her own, but, instead of a person inside, there was a black creature. In its curled-up, fetal position, she couldn't quite make out its shape, but it seemed to resemble a dragon. As she watched, the creature opened one amber-colored eye, and before she knew it, she was captured, paralyzed by its murderous gaze. It lifted its head, then another, and another, until all five sets of eyes were fixed on her, like a predator staring down its prey.

The first and last sound she remembered was its roar.

It was a blood-curdling, haunting melody of five heads howling at once in a sickening harmony. She screamed in terror, but the sound was swallowed up by the oxygen mask strapped to her face. She was left cold and alone in her agony as her heart, her mind, her very soul, was devoured by this…monstrosity.

End Flashback

Horrified by the memory replaying itself in her mind, Alannah gripped her throbbing head in her hands. "What's…happening to me?" She wailed in agony and confusion, her cry echoed by Nithhogr.

Sonja looked on in confusion at her opponent's sudden change in behavior. 'What's wrong with her, Lunash?'

I'm… not sure.

Then an unfamiliar, hissing voice echoed in both their minds. Pleassssse…help me. Sonja gasped as she realized that the voice had come from Nithhogr. The Hydra staggered to his feet as he continued, Xhaiden forcccccibly bound ussssss together… through many cruel experimentsssss, and now he controlsssss her through me. I have known nothing but hate and rage…for yearssssss. Pleassssssse destroy me…before my bloodlusssst killssssss ussssss both. And just as quickly as it had come, Nithhogr's brief moment of sanity was gone, replaced once again by his insatiable desire to kill. He roared savagely as Alannah's beyblade picked up speed for another attack.

'So that's why she's so sadistic,' Sonja mused in understanding. She turned to her bit beast. 'Lunash?'

I'm all over it, he agreed before flying at Nithhogr, claws and teeth bared.

"Stay away from me!!!!" Alannah screamed. A dark aura flared to life around Alannah, surrounding Nithhogr and her beyblade, as she called up her final attack. The light in her eyes faded as her pupils and irises turned the same dark color. "Tectonic Landslide!" Nithhogr's five heads bit out slabs of rock and concrete from the stadium floor and leaped into the air before raining them down on the prone dragon.

"Lunash!" He halted his advance to buy precious seconds. Sonja slid backwards into a kung fu stance, her arms stretched in front of her, her fingers curved to mimic a dragon's maw. "Frenzy…" She turned in a circle and punched the air. "…Maelstrom!"

Lunash roared and called up torrents of water from the crevices in the ground left behind by Nithhogr's attacks. The water gathered in a massive whirlpool with him in the center. Spreading his wings, he charged for Nithhogr, whirlpool and all. The rocks from the Hydra's attack were harmlessly swept into the torrent. Sonja lunged forward with her right arm outstretched, her action mirrored by Lunash.

"ATTACK!!!!!" Sonja and Alannah shouted, their cries drowned out by the roars of their bit beasts. Lunash and Nithhogr clashed in an earth-shattering explosion.

As the dust and smoke cleared, Alannah staggered towards the dish, coughing into the crook of her arm, and looked up to see the results of the match. A set of silver wings appeared first, then the head and tail. Five black heads also emerged from the thick cloud, followed by the body. The two bit beasts were seemingly frozen in the air, with Lunash in mid-lunge; his right forearm was piercing through Nithhogr's chest, right at his heart, with his claws protruding out the back. Below him, Sonja stood frozen in the same position as her bit beast, her gaze locked evenly with Alannah's.

An expression of peace fell over Nithhogr's five faces, and his body sagged in defeat. Be free now…mistresssss… Those were the last words he said before disintegrating in a shower of sparks; at the same time, Alannah's beyblade shattered, its spin scattering the shrapnel amongst the wreckage that used to be the dish. Sonja finally relaxed from her fighting stance and straightened. Breathing a sigh of relief, Lunash vanished into his beyblade and returned to Sonja's hand wordlessly.

"And there you have it, folks! Sonja has pulled off a ninth-hour win over Alannah in a heart-stopping match! The score is now tied!" The audience erupted into applause at DJ Jazzman's proclamation, completely oblivious to the deeper battle that had raged in both bladers' hearts and their fight for survival.

'We did it, Lunash…' A contented smile on her face, all strength vanished from Sonja's limbs, and she would have fallen backward had not a strong set of arms caught her.

"It's all right, I got ya," Eri said, holding Sonja up by her shoulders. Sonja turned her head to look at her best friend, only to receive a smile in return. "You did us all proud."

Sonja grinned weakly. "Glad to…be of help…" She slumped forward, unconscious, only to fall into a second set of arms.

Eri looked at the newcomer warily. "Kai?" The young man effortlessly scooped Sonja into his arms bridal-style and carried her back to the bench. Nakia got up to make room as Kai laid her on her back with infinite care and tenderly brushed a strand of honey-colored hair out of her face.

Kai finally stood up and faced Eri. "Don't send for an ambulance. I'm sure she would want to be here for the final match, even if she's unconscious." Eri nodded in understanding, and the male Russian left the stadium through the nearby exit, leaving Sonja in the care of her teammates.

"Eri, are you sure that's a good idea?" Nakia asked. "She's out cold."

"She'll come around in time, and, if I know her, she would never forgive me if she woke up in a hospital bed," Eri replied. "She was just lucky she didn't have worse injuries." She glanced over to Omega Platoon's bench to find only Raina. Ramona had disappeared after her match with Nakia, and now Alannah and Xhaiden were gone. 'I'm not sure if I can say the same for Alannah,' she thought grimly.

Alannah's breath came in short gasps as she sprinted down the dark stone hallway underneath the stadium, randomly turning corners without a thought as to finding her way back. She couldn't think. She couldn't see. She could scarcely even breathe. All she could focus on was the one emotion that was tormenting her soul, one she had never felt before in her life.

Pure, unadulterated terror.

It was like seeing the world through a new set of eyes. With Nithhogr destroyed, his corrupted hold on her mind was finally broken, and all the emotions Alannah had kept sealed away for so long were coursing through her body simultaneously, each one shouting for dominance in a disconcerted cacophony. However, the voice of fear was drowning out all the others. She had lost. Her bit beast was gone. And now, all she could think to do was keep running. Keep running lest he find her.

A shadowed figure stepped out from around a corner, forcing Alannah to skid to a halt. Her eyes widened, and her breath caught in her throat as she beheld the very man from whom she was fleeing.

"You didn't honestly think you could run from me, did you?" Xhaiden taunted with a wicked smirk. "I will always be able to find you. Remember who owns you, girl."

Alannah couldn't move. Her mind screamed at her limbs to move, but they were paralyzed by fear. She could only watch helplessly as Xhaiden took one step closer, then another, and another, then…

…Xhaiden jerked to the side abruptly as a writhing blast of dark energy shot by mere inches from the side of his head and struck the ceiling above him. The ceiling tiles cracked from the impact and rained down bits of plaster and stone. Xhaiden strained to see past the settling dust, and his eyes widened as another figure approached from behind the still-frozen Alannah.

"…You!"

Standing in the shadows, his right arm still in a cast and half his face bandaged, was none other than Brooklyn Kingston.

"You!" Xhaiden exclaimed again, still not believing his eyes. Brooklyn stood a couple of feet behind Alannah and appeared totally unfazed by Xhaiden's outburst. "You were supposed to be…"

"In the hospital?" Brooklyn finished for him. "Well, I was, but I thought I would drop by and see how things were going. Looks like I came at a good time." A lazy, carefree smile dominated his face, as if staring down a madman were nothing more than a stroll in the park. His crossbow style launcher was attached to his good arm, and the sidearms were extended, indicating that it was loaded.

'That blast must have come from Zeus. But he didn't even launch his blade. Who is this kid?' Xhaiden wondered desperately. "You just stay out of this! It's none of your business!" Alannah gasped in horror as he pulled out a pistol from underneath his coat and pointed it at her heart.

"I really don't think you want to do that," Brooklyn advised, still smiling. He casually moved forward to put himself securely between Alannah and Xhaiden, never even flinching as he stood in front of the pistol, which was now aimed at his chest.

Xhaiden's hand, which was holding the gun, started to tremble. He could see Zeus' foreboding aura standing protectively over his master, so huge that it stretched upwards to the ceiling and out to either wall. His black, feathered wings were slightly outspread, as if sheltering Brooklyn and Alannah, and his predatory gaze was fixed on Xhaiden. Zeus bared his teeth and growled menacingly. Xhaiden's hand shook violently, but he kept the pistol trained on the beyblade prodigy.

Brooklyn narrowed his eyes at Xhaiden, and his expression turned from laid-back to lethal in a split second. "I suggest you leave…now."

Xhaiden growled low in his throat. The clash of wills between him and Brooklyn was so intense it was almost palpable, but after several long, agonizing seconds, he finally lowered the gun. "This isn't over yet. Not by a long shot," he warned. Then he turned and stalked away into the shadows.

Once Xhaiden was gone, Zeus' aura faded away, satisfied that his master was out of harm's way. All the adrenaline that had been fueling Alannah's panicked flight left in a rush, and she sank to her knees, suddenly unable to support her own weight.

"Are you okay?" Alannah glanced up warily to see Brooklyn smiling down at her.

"I'm fine," Alannah replied curtly, averting her gaze to the side. A brief silence fell over the two. "…Why did you help me? I tried to kill you, remember?"

"Because I think you're a good person on the inside." Alannah gasped softly and turned a bewildered gaze to Brooklyn, whose smile widened. "You were just following his orders back then because you were forcibly bound to your bit beast, but now you're free."

Free? Alannah couldn't even comprehend the meaning of that word.

Brooklyn retracted the arms of his launcher and extended his good hand to her. "Need some help?"

Alannah gazed at his outstretched hand for several long moments, almost as if it would bite if she moved, and then looked up at Brooklyn. She couldn't explain it, but there was just…something about his eyes that got her attention. His gaze seemed so gentle and kind. Did she need help? Somehow she couldn't help wondering if there was a double meaning to Brooklyn's simple question. Finally, she reached out and took his hand, letting him pull her to her feet.

Brooklyn's expression softened even further at such a simple act of courage. It was the smallest first step toward a new life. "You name is Alannah, right?" She managed a weak nod as he pulled his hand away. "You know, somehow I don't think we're all that different."

Alannah could only stare numbly at the hand Brooklyn had held, marveling for the first time at how such a simple touch could convey so much meaning. "Maybe…you're right…"

End chapter 18

Author's Note: Whew…that was the longest battle I've ever written! I hope it turned out okay! And…as you can probably guess, there's the first hint of a possible BrooklynOC pairing. That idea just came to me on a whim, but I ran with it and think it turned out pretty well. Love it? Hate it? Think I'm crazy? Just to let you know, I'm going out of town for a few days on Monday, so I wanted to get this next chapter posted before then. I'll try to post a preview for the next chapter on my homepage when I get back. Please review and tell me what you think! Take care!