Location: Amy's sleeping quarters

Time: 1:25

Days until mission: 1

Her cold eyes were watching my every move. They paralyzed me. They kept me frozen, unable to move or more importantly…escape.

"Amy." She began. "So defenseless, what a shame." She tsked, keeping those eyes on me. The woman looked awfully familiar, but I couldn't lay a finger on who she was.

I couldn't open my mouth to speak. My arms were hanging limp at my sides. I tried to move them desperately, but they didn't budge.

"Amy, I haven't seen you in awhile." She said. "And your brother as well."

I tried to cry out, but no sound came. I couldn't even shake my head or blink.

"You've became so pretty. I'm sure you have many suitors." She smiled, but that didn't disguise the venom in her voice.

She took a step towards me and I tried to back up. I wanted to run or hide. I just wanted to get away from her.

"Almost ten years it's been." She said.

"It has, hasn't it?" That wasn't my voice. I didn't sound like myself.

"Too long." She said.

"Too long, indeed." I didn't know that I had spoken.

"I think it's your time to come to me. I've missed you too much, you see. It's time to come home."

I recognized the women then. My mother took a step closer and held her hand out to me.

"Come with me, child."

Cold water doused me. I sat up so fast that I grew lightheaded. Five pairs of eyes met my bloodshot ones.

"Amy, are you alright?" Fiske asked, but I couldn't respond.

Finally, I was able to free myself from the invisible shackles. "I was so close." I was shaking uncontrollably.

"What does she mean?" Ian asked Fiske.

"I was afraid of this." He said.

"Afraid of what?" Dan asked.

"The morphing has…side effects." Fiske chose his words carefully.

"Side effects?" Hamilton asked.

"Yes, sometimes, in Amy's case, the wolf senses invade the human senses. This can cause your brain to overwork and grow tired. Once the brain grows tired, it looks for energy to replenish itself. Usually, that means it targets the fear section of the brain to bring your adrenaline up. The whole thing can cause sickness…or worse."

Natalie clung to Ian who was sitting on the edge of my bed.

"This is very rare though." Fiske said. "It won't happen a lot. I'm very sorry, Amy." He stroked my sweaty hair.

"S-so, what does my dream mean?" I asked.

"Were you on the verge of death?" Fiske asked, and I nodded. "I see."

"Is there a cure?" Ian asked.

"Yes," Fiske turned his sorrowful gaze to me. "You must stay out of morph for a month."

"But the mission!" Hamilton cried.

"Yes, yes, I know. However, the risks far outweigh the rewards." Fiske said.

Natalie, Ian, Hamilton, Dan, and I remained silent. I met each one of their gazes.

"The mission will go on without me." I said.

"This is foolish! She is one of the best we've got!" Ian exclaimed, and I sent him a grateful smile.

"Would you rather lose her, Mr. Kabra?" Fiske asked, and Ian shook his head.

"That's what I thought." Fiske snipped. "Well Amy, I think it would be best if you went to bed. We'll leave you alone now." He kissed the top of my head and left the room.

Hamilton and Natalie left, leaving Ian and Dan in the room.

"Are you sure you're okay, Ames?" Dan asked, and I nodded. He rushed over and gave me a quick hug and left the room.

That left Ian and I, but I was too frazzled still from the dream to care.

"I'll just be going then. I hope you get well, Amy." He said and made a move to leave.

"Don't leave me alone." My voice came out high and strangled.

Before I knew it, tears were running down my face and Ian was holding me. He was comforting me and telling me to calm down.

"She was right there." I sobbed into his shoulder.

"I know. I know." He whispered.

"I was so close, Ian." I said.

"But you're still here now, correct?" I looked up at him.

"Yes. I'm still here." My voice sounded so weak and I hated it.

"Good, now I think it's time for you to go to sleep." He said, and I shook my head vigorously.

He heaved a sigh. "Would it help if you told me about it?"

I thought about it for a second and then nodded my head. "Amy, you have to speak to me."

"Okay." I summed it up and cried a little at certain times. "And then she w-wanted me to join her, you know, in d-death." I finished.

"I see." He said.

"Ian?" He turned to me. I felt my eyelids droop.

"Yes?"

"I think I'm going to…going to…fall…" I slipped into unconsciousness before I finished my sentence.

~Changing point of views to a certain English boy... ~

I looked at the sleeping girl in my arms. She was quite something, wasn't she? Her tear stained face was buried in the crook of my neck. I was surprised that she was openly sharing her feelings to me. Well, she was on the edge of death. I guess that shakes you up a bit.

I yawned and glanced at the clock. It was a little past three. Amy stirred and wrapped her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist. My eyes widened at the contact. She was truly a Madrigal. Here she was, clinging to her former enemy. Most Cahills wouldn't do that even if they were paid. I shook my head with a faint smile on my face.

Amy whimpered in her sleep and I froze, unsure of what to do. Poor girl had a dream of her dead mother. It had awoken a lot of emotions in her. Her grip tightened on me and I yawned again. I had to get some sleep or training would not be fun in the morning. Amy wouldn't be there. She couldn't morph.

Actually, as I look back on it, she looked more upset that she wasn't in the mission. She was probably worried that we couldn't handle ourselves. We could…right? This mission could definitely take a turn for the worst at any point. Some of us could die. Not that I cared about most of the people here, only Natalie and Amy, really. I'm glad Amy wasn't in the mission. She couldn't get hurt that way. Maybe this was like a blessing in disguise. If only Natalie caught this little…disease, then I would be worry free out there.

Ah, whatever. I should stress less, as Natalie says. I was about to run my hand through my hair, but that would've caused Amy to hit the floor. It was definitely time to get some rest. I stood up from the position I was in and carried Amy and tried to place her on the bed, but she wouldn't let go. I tried to pry her fingers from my waist, but they wouldn't budge. I sighed.

"C'mon, Amy. You have to let go." I whispered.

"I don't want to go to school, Mom." She responded, and I raised an eyebrow even though she couldn't see me.

"Amy, please." I pleaded.

"I'm not tired." She said, and I would've face palmed if I wasn't holding her.

"Fine, this should be, ah… interesting for you in the morning." I lay down on the bed and rested my head on the pillow.

Might as well get some sleep.

A/N: Alright! I hope you liked it. I think I kept Ian pretty IC. Didn't you think so? Anyways, this was a dramatic chapter, every story needs one. :) Next chapter should be rather (as Ian says)…interesting.

~Nataliya

RECORD! Shortest Author's Note ever! I think I deserve a lollie!