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Dimitri POV.

It's finally the day. The day that we go retrieve the leftover bodies. Leftovers. That makes me sick. I only pray to God that Rose's body is in that cave. If not... well.. I don't want to think about it.

I haven't slept at all last night.. yes.. night. We have to go back to the caves during daylight. It would give us an advantage if there were any strigoi still lurking. We decided that that case would be very likely so 24 guardians in total are going. We aren't going to be taking any moroi this time, we weren't going to risk it.

I haven't seen Lissa since Adrian, Christian, and Eddie took her away. She was clearly in bad condition and was taken to her room. She hasn't come out since, refusing to talk to anyone. Not even Christian could get through to her. I felt like I should go try to talk to her, but I couldn't find the strength to leave my bed.

I can still see her getting pulled from the darkness in that cave. Her horrible screams as God knows what was happening. That was the main reason why I couldn't find even one minute of sleep last night.

I miss seeing her beautiful smile. The way she walked into a room, all the attention on her. Her determined expression when she was fighting. I miss her soft lips against mine. Other than the memories from the cave, the night in the cabin was haunting me too. The one night I truly felt happy. I haven't been that happy in a very, long time. Just seeing her wake up beside me was enough to make me smile.

BANG BANG BANG

"Belikov! Time To Go!" A voice shouted from behind the door.

I grabbed my duster from the hook and slipped it on. Then I went to grab my stake on the bedside table and slipped it in my pocket. I made my way out the door. Let's do this. Roza... I'm coming.

Lissa POV.

No.. Rose can't be dead. There's no way! She devoted her life to protect me! And now all her hard work would be wasted! I Can't stand this! Rose! Come back to me! I need you!

I dug my face deeper into the pillow, trying to suffocate my thoughts. As much as I wanted to believe she was alive... the emptiness inside me was telling me otherwise. Ever since they left, I felt empty. I couldn't sense Rose with me anymore. The bond was only went one way but now I feel as though a piece of me is missing. I feel hollow.

That thought only made me cry harder into my pillow, which was already soaked with my salty tears. I've been holed up in my room ever since the guardians came back and Dimitri told me the news. I've been in here for almost 8 hours, no food, no talking. Just me left to cry out my hearts content. And to my surprise, I never ran out of tears. They just kept coming.

Of course, Christian and Adrian came to try to get me out of my room, but I didn't want to see anyone. I was too preoccupied with feeling like a shell, an empty container. Even Alberta tried to get me out. She tried to persuade me with how my parents would feel if they saw me locking myself up in my room, not even leaving to eat. That of course, only made me feel worse.

The feeling of loss feels like it's devouring me. I can't get up. I can't speak. I can only listen to around me. Which was pretty peaceful until I heard the rapping at my door, interrupting my sob session.

"Lissa! The guardians are going!" I could tell it was Christian through the door. "Are you going to come out to see them off?"

I contemplated for a second.. I did want to see them out. I'll have to wait for them to come back with the bodies too. I have to see if Rose's body is among them.

Christian bellowed again, "Lissa! Answer me!"

I slipped my leg over the edge of the bed, taking slow movements. I didn't trust myself to stand right away, considering I just spent the past 8 hours crying in bed.

"Lissa! If you don't answer me, I'm breaking down this door!" I knew he was completely serious about that one.

"Hold on." My voice came out as a croak, I almost didn't recognize it.

He clearly must have waited because I made it to the door with the help of the walls to lean on. I opened the door and his widened a little when he saw me. I knew what he was looking at. My eyes were probably as red as a strigoi! I shuddered at the thought.

Christian gave me his arm to lean on as we walked to the front gates. Adrian joined us there, giving me his arm as well. I felt.. I felt safe. Well.. physically safe. Hard to not feel emotionally safe when everyone outside was looking at me and whispering. Hey.. Is that Vasilisa Dragomir? .. Didn't you hear? Rose never came back! .. Poor girl, she must be heart-broken! .. Look at her eyes! She could pass as a strigoi! My eyes hardened at the last one.

Just then, the guardians came out from the doors of the academy. There were at least 20 of them. I recognized some of them as they walked by, but only one caught my attention. Dimitri was in the back of the group. He looked completely lost. I imagine I looked somewhat like him as well because well... I felt like it. He clearly saw me too because his eyes widened slightly when he was walking right in front of us.

"Dimitri.." I said it so softly I'm surprised he even heard me. He turned to face me. His eyes weren't red like mine, but he didn't need that for me to tell that he was devastated.

I didn't trust my voice as I spoke, so I spoke softly, "Be Safe."

His eyes softened up a little and then he put up his guardian face. He gave me a curt nod and continued on his way to the caves.

Now all I have to do is wait for them to return with the bodies, even though I already knew Rose was gone.. I needed to know if she was gone or gone from this world.