We dropped Alexander off first. Chandler had somehow managed to get to England faster than I expected. Once we were on land, I awkwardly walked him to his house and he led the way. I guess it wasn't that bad, really. I was kind of sad to see him go. He was one of us now, even if it didn't seem like it. I promised him that we would keep in touch.

He lived in a small apartment that was a creamy white, well, that's from what I could tell, it was late at night in England. Flowers occupied boxes beneath the windows. I didn't know how they stayed alive here; all I heard about England is that it rains a lot and that it isn't very sunny. Alexander shoved his hand in his pocket as he searched for his key to the house, his staff under his arm this time. He gave me a meek look when he discovered that it wasn't there.

"I guess I forgot to grab my key before Helios kidnapped me." He said as he looked from the ground and up to me. I managed a shrug.

"I hate it when that happens." I was trying to be funny but he didn't laugh.

"Well, now I'm in a rut because my father isn't home and my mother…" He drifted off as his eyes flickered up to the sky; he let out a sigh at the moon that hung in the air before his eyes went back to me. "She can't really help me out here."

"Hmm…" I tapped my chin. "Maybe we could pick the lock or you could climb through the window or something?" Alexander shook his head.

"It's all right, Althea. I just remembered that a friend of mine lives across the street from me. I can wait there until my father gets back." I bit my lip.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Positive." He held and I nodded.

"Okay, then." I responded but then I paused, my voice small. "I guess this is goodbye for now." Alexander nodded.

"Yes, I'm afraid it is." He held his hand out but then pulled it away, remembering what I had told him. He then rubbed his neck, trying to hide the fact that he was trying to shake my hand. A frown accompanied his action. I sighed with defeat and ended up hugging him. It still hurt me to do so but not as much as before, maybe because there was a barrier of clothes or something. I felt his arms hesitantly wrap around my back.

"Goodbye, Alexander." I felt his hand rest on the back of my head, making him cringe a bit.

"Goodbye, Althea."

Chandler looked up at me once I returned to the boat. She could sense the small amount of regret I felt.

"Well, how did it go?" I climbed back on board; the boat suddenly shook a little because of my movement.

"It was sad." I said and she raised an eyebrow at me. "What I mean is that I'm so used to him being in the gang now, even if he did try to kill us at first, that it's like we won't be complete or whole anymore." Chandler nodded but didn't say anything. She just revved up the engine again. I nearly fell on my butt when the boat sped off in the other direction. I pushed some hair behind my ear; the breeze made it tickle my nose. Lacey was sitting on the bench, now that Alexander was gone. She still hasn't talked since we rescued her; I was getting kind of worried. I sat next to her on the bench.

We dropped Evan off next but Adam decided to deliver him to his door this time. I gave Evan a big hug before he left the boat, though. I also gave him the number to my house phone and Adam's, just in case he was ever attacked by a monster and he needed help. I did the same with Alexander, right before I left; I managed to slip a piece of paper with my number on it into his pocket.

I decided that even if we couldn't stick together, we would either way. We almost were forced to, really. We backed each other up because surviving in this world is hard and no one should do it alone.

I sighed as I waved back at Evan while he and Adam walked away from the boat. I plumped back down next to Lacey and rested a hand under my chin. I would miss him just as much as Alexander. It's crazy how you can go to hating someone to befriending them in a short amount of time. It's all about survival, really.

Adam returned soon after, which I thought was a bit odd. These two guys have been basically inseparable ever since they met. Wouldn't that make it harder for them to separate?

Adam and I came to the conclusion that we couldn't drop Chandler off because the rest of us would be lost without her watery guidance. I suggested that she could come home with us and call her mom from there. Chandler seemed okay with that and Lacey could do the same too, she didn't object. I knew that her parents would be eagerly waiting for any news on her daughter's whereabouts.

Before I knew it, it was nighttime. I felt sleepy but I found that I couldn't fall asleep. I guess I was still running on the natural fuel of adrenaline. However, that didn't mean Adam was awake; he was out like a light. I smiled at him and moved off of the bench so he could sleep on it. It wasn't the most comfy bed ever, but it was something. He deserved to rest, he fought hard.

I sat down next to Lacey and leaned my back against the boat. Lacey's eyes were on the other side of the boat, watching the calm waves. I sighed and finally made my eyes look at her. She looked sadly shocked or something. I couldn't place my finger on the mixed emotion that currently inhabited her face and composure too. When we were at camp in Italy, she was the one who was always smiling and eagerly chatting away; even if the sun was the hottest that day and we were all cranky from the heat and sweat that soaked our clothes. She didn't mind at the least right now. The pressure of the guilt made me cave.

"Lacey, is everything all right?" I quietly asked. "I mean, you're not talking. I kind of miss it." Lacey didn't look away but I saw a hint of a smile flutter across her lips. It seemed more like it was a smirk, though.

"I'm fine, Althea. I'm just tired, that's all." She finally looked at me, helplessly shrugging a bit.

"Even when you were tired you still talked. Come on, you can tell me what's wrong. I won't tell anyone." I pleaded with her but she shook her head.

"There's nothing to tell," She bit her lip. "But I guess I'm still scared out of my mind that I'll get recaptured or some ridiculous thing like that." I wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"No one will ever lay a finger on you again, Lacey. That's another thing I promise to you." Now Lacey smirked this time.

"Oh, I know, especially after you made me watch you all fight like that."

I started to laugh. And I knew she was back.