A/N: Why hello there! Guess who's back ;D Yup I'm surprised too. For a minute there, I wasn't sure I'd publish so soon, but, the kinks of this chapter actually worked out! YAY! So I'm trying to make up for the MONTHS of no updates by giving two this week! HOORAY FOR SPRING BREAK! I hope you like this chapter. Because this is where the plot begins! However, assume nothing. I have tricks up my sleeve, and I'm not exactly "conventional" in stories. At the end of the chapter, I'll reveal why I chose this title.

So enough talk! Let's get on with the story!

DISCLAIMER: I, darkangel1326, in no way, shape, or form, own Hey Arnold! characters. However, other characters are totally mine!

Dedicated to my beta, Lyco Rogue. This is most likely the last chapter she will beta for me for a while. *Salutes* Enjoy your hiatus, and next month, I will do my best to not disappoint you :D

Chapter 4: What Brings Me Back Alive

Written by: ~darkangel1326

Approved and Edited by: Lyco Rogue

"Once I knew only darkness and stillness... my life was without past or future... but a little word from the fingers of another fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness, and my heart leaped to the rapture of living."-Helen Keller

It was pitch black. There wasn't a light to guide her anywhere new. There wasn't a reaper to carry her somewhere. There was only darkness, and silence. But this was not like the silence she had with Arnold; this silence was eerie.

"Hello?" she yelled into the abyss she was in. No response, not even an echo.

"Anyone here?" she continued, a bit softer.

Nothing.

Where am I? She thought to herself. How did I get here?

She drifted in this place of nothingness for an immeasurable amount of time and then, heard voices coming from a path of light.

"Hey! Can you help me? I don't know where I am," she called in the light's general direction.

The voices continued chattering amongst themselves.

Criminy! I gotta do everything myself, she thought bitterly.

Helga ran towards the light, as fast as she could, to try to figure out what was going on, but quickly realized that she was going nowhere. It was as if she were floating in the darkness and there was no ground under her.

The voices spoke once more, but she couldn't understand anything past murmurs. They sounded like they were trying to come up with a plan, but she wasn't sure of what.

She heard faint sounds of ruffling, and an affirmative agreement.

Slowly, the darkness consumed her once again. And Helga had no choice but to let it devour her.

She woke with a start, practically leaping out of the hospital bed.

The hospital bed? She thought.

She brought her hand to her head. Man, I feel like I got hit by a truck.

She blinked. The accident. She heard Arnold scream her name.

Then it was coming back to her. The phone ringing, her purse, the car, the car horn, and Arnold's pleas for her to be alright.

Arnold, her heart ached. Poor Arnold probably thinks I'm dead. But I'm fine. Sore as hell, but fine.

She climbed out of bed, and stood on the ground.

That's funny, she thought. I thought I was taller…

The door opened to reveal a nurse. They exchanged looks and the nurse went over to her.

"Please Miss. Sit back in bed. We need you to rest, you're still not fully recovered," the nurse said.

Helga didn't fight her, because she was starting to feel aching. Helga, with the help of the nurse, climbed back into bed.

"I'll bring your family, since you're awake now. They've been worried about you, especially after they found out you had to go into surgery," the nurse said.

Surgery? Helga thought. I guess that explains the voices I heard.

Hello?

Helga looked up but found she was in a room to herself. All the other beds were currently vacant at this time.

Helga grabbed her head.

I must be hearing things. She thought.

You're not.

Helga gasped. What was going on? Did the surgery come with hallucinations too? Who was talking to her? That voice, it didn't sound familiar to her at all.

"Who are you?" Helga said, and froze.

Her voice wasn't hers. It sounded nothing like her. But it sounded just like the voice that was talking to her.

I'm Erin. Erin Dawkins. Who are you?

"Helga. Helga G. Pataki," Helga said aloud, once more startled by the unfamiliar voice coming from her mouth.

Erin felt as if she heard the name before.

Is it possible that she…that she Erin thought to herself, remembering the doctor's relief to find one, at the last minute.

Helga? Erin said.

"Yeah?" Helga said aloud.

I'm sorry you saved my life, Erin said, gravely.

"What do you mean I saved your life? What do you have to be sorry for?" Helga questioned, feeling herself paling as the seconds ticked by.

You still don't see it, do you? The voice responded.

Helga shook her head.

You're the donor who saved my life, Erin said.

"Really? I saved your life with a couple of dimes?" Helga replied.

No, Helga. I mean you gave me your heart, as a donor. Because you no longer needed it, Erin said.

Helga felt herself shake, but the voice continued.

You're dead Helga. And you saved me from dying too.

Helga felt the words take over and repeat in her mind.

D-dead…

She was losing herself, feeling herself shrink away, and felt Erin, becoming stronger and stronger.

Suddenly, she could see it again. The accident. She was rushed to the hospital, and had her pink ribbon, clutched in her hands.

She held on to it for dear life.

The doors without handles flew open as her body, which was badly bleeding and broken on the stretcher, was pushed through.

Helga was brought to a room, with a light above her constantly blinking eyes.

She heard the door without handles open and heard many people rush at this new arrival.

Their chattering was nonsensical to Helga's ears. She felt her life slipping away from her. But she had to hold on, long enough to ask for a final favor.

D-d-dead…

She saw a shadow, hover over her, telling her she something she couldn't understand. She nodded, not really aware of what was going on. She felt herself get drowsier and drowsier with time. The seconds felt like a heavy eternity as Death was closing her eyes.

But Helga fought to stay alive. She fought to give a message.

A shadow loomed over her, and she wasn't sure if it was the doctor, or Death itself. Either way, with the last bit of life that was pumping through her heart, she held up her hand, with the pink ribbon, shakily and said, "A-Arnold".

She felt the shadow over her clutch the ribbon and, soon afterwards, felt her grip on the world shatter beneath her.

D-d-dead…

Helga looked and saw that she was in the nothingness she had started from. But it wasn't calling to her, or containing her against her will. It just was. She felt herself scream in terror, and was disrupted when she remembered her last, coherent train of thought.

A-Arnold…

She fell to her knees, still drifting away in the darkness, and released the tears she held in the past ten years. The tears of missing him, of loving her best friend, and, worst of all, of never telling him she loved him.

Helga heard a door opening. She ran, for what like seemed like forever, and tried to will herself to see what was happening in the outside world.

Erin's family, it seemed, had come into the room. All of their faces relieved when they saw her sitting up. They talked excitedly with her and laughed with one another.

Helga sighed. She has the life I always wanted.

No, I don't. Erin thought, subconsciously hearing Helga.

Helga jumped. You can hear me?

Erin, on the outside, felt her eyes widen the smallest bit.

Yes, I can.

Helga didn't know what to say. How was this possible? She was dead. Shouldn't she be living in the afterlife? Heaven? Hell?

Or was that a lie? Is everyone who ever lived stuck on earth, as a spirit?

I don't know what's going on either…

Helga felt herself, subconsciously, put a hand on her heart, as she thought these things through. Meanwhile, Erin had to pretend, once more in her life, that everything was fine.

As Erin's family walked out the door, Erin placed a hand on her new heart.

Helga's heart.

She wished this hadn't happened. Even if it meant she herself would not live, she never willingly would've taken Helga's heart.

But hers was too weak to work anymore.

What's your story? Helga asked, curiously.

Erin heard her and wasn't sure how to respond. Although it was true they could communicate, Erin was still unsure of how it worked.

Yeah, I'm still trying to figure it out too, Helga said.

Erin blinked. Then, she decided to try something.

"Helga, can you hear me?" she spoke softly.

Yeah, I can. Helga responded.

How about now? Erin thought.

I still can, even more than before, Helga said.

Okay, Helga, now you try. Talk to me verbally and mentally, to see how this works, Erin said.

I am talking to you verbally right now, Helga said.

There was a silence that followed.

Helga? Earth to Helga…come in Helga, Erin thought.

You didn't hear me? Helga asked.

Hear what? Erin responded.

Hear me ask if you could hear me when I was thinking in my head. Helga said, already knowing the answer.

Nope, Erin responded.

Maybe, the person who is in control of the body can have everything heard, while the other one can withhold information, Helga mused.

Helga? Are you there? Erin spoke.

Oh yeah, I'm here. Say, Erin? How about we switch? Helga said, wanting to see prove her theory.

Switch? Switch what? Erin said, puzzled.

Switch so that I can control your body, and you are in here? Helga said, purposefully leaving out the desolate room she was currently in.

Is this part of a theory or something? Erin said.

Yeah it is. Anyway, are you gonna switch with me or not? Helga asked, a bit annoyed at the delay.

Are we gonna switch back? Erin asked.

Helga sighed. Even if she denied Erin her body, she still couldn't see Arnold as she was. She was in another girl's body, in an unknown place. Plus, she wasn't even sure if Arnold was still at Hillwood. The last she remembered, he was only going to visit the city…

We will. Helga said, sadly.

Neither of them was sure how to switch back, but Helga had an idea.

When I was in control of Erin's body, I felt in power. Like I was in complete control. But as soon as she told me I was dead, I grasped onto her body less and less. I have to will myself to take over, even though it's not my body. Helga thought to herself.

Uh Helga? How do we switch? Erin thought, completely unaware of Helga's thoughts.

Just let me handle it, Helga said.

Erin shrugged her shoulders and closed her eyes.

I can do this, Helga thought to herself, trying to pump herself up. I have to, I need to tell Arnold that I…that I love him.

Helga closed her eyes and tried to focus on living. She focused on trying to control Erin's body. She tried to will herself to take control, but felt like her attempts were useless.

Maybe I have to think of something else, she thought.

It was then that Erin turned to see a window. Helga followed Erin's gaze, and caught sight of a relaxed, outside garden.

Arnold, she said.

She remembered the memories she shared with her beloved football head. All the times they had together, every adventure they had, and their last goodbye.

Au revior, Arnold, she said to him.

"Arnold!" she said in Erin's voice. She blinked. Did it work? Was she in control?

"Can you hear me Erin?" she said, in Erin's voice.

Yeah, I can. Erin responded.

How about now? Helga thought.

I can still hear you, Erin said.

Silence.

Erin, are you thinking at me? Helga asked.

Couldn't you hear me? Erin asked.

No, I couldn't, Helga responded.

She can't hear my thoughts? So, does this mean the person in control of my body can have all their thoughts heard, meanwhile, the person in here can have private thoughts? Erin thought.

I think I proved myself right, Erin heard Helga think.

Wait, was this your theory? How, whoever is in control of the body can have their thoughts read, meanwhile, the person here can have their thoughts private? Erin asked.

That was exactly what I was thinking, Helga thought, amused by the coincidence.

So, how are we gonna switch back? Erin asked.

Well, this is gonna be tougher. I took control by willing to be alive. You have to do the same; meanwhile, I have to let you take over. Helga said.

Ok, I can do this. Erin thought, as she willed herself to take over.

You can do this Helga, Helga thought to herself. Just don't think of Arnold, and you'll be fine.

Helga reminded herself she was dead, and let her death replay in her mind, feeling herself clutch Erin's body, less and less.

Meanwhile, Erin tried to remember why she needed to live. She had a family, she had to get her own clinic, she was given another chance to live.

Erin felt herself sitting up with a bed underneath her. She did it; her body was in her control again.

Hey Helga? Erin asked.

Yeah? Helga said.

Who's Arnold?

A/N: Aren't I cruel? Yup, I'm ending the chapter right here.

Anyways, the title of this chapter is "What Brings Me To Life", and I chose this title because it was meant to answer the question in the end. :O Think about it!

Also, the name "Erin Dawkins" is a reference to where the story has moved to, location wise. If you can figure out where it is (and if I have told you, do not tell others) well, IDK what I'd do exactly, but I'd probably end up giving a shout out! :D

I also wanted to clarify something. From this point on, you have to pay close attention to underlining and italics. In this chapter, I use italics for thoughts of the person controlling Erin's body or when someone is saying something, because they are not in control of the body. The underlining is used when the person NOT in control of Erin's body but is thinking. The underline are the only private thoughts. When the person in control of the body, they are in public in the outside world and in the inside world. Meanwhile, the one NOT in control is hidden from the world, meaning they have hidden thoughts. Hopefully that makes sense. If not, PM me so I can clarify it.

Also, some people have been telling me their theories of what will happen in the story. I kinda wanna hear what you guys think! It would be interesting to see where you guys see this story going. Who knows? You could be absolutely right, and not even know it! Feel free to add a theory in your review.

Which reminds me!

REVIEW THIS CHAPTER!

Please! *cute puppy dog/kitten eyes*

I'll love you more each day! :D