A/N: Whoo! She found out! Damn, it's going to be hard to live up to these last two chapters. Each are over 8,300 words. I have my work cut out for me.

Songs:

Breathe (2 A.M.) - Anna Nalick
Here I Am - Bryan Adams
Gotta be Somebody - Nickleback
I Like It - Enrique Iglesias (feat. Pitbull)
Love the Way You Lie - Eminem (feat. Rihanna)
Next Contestant - Nickleback
Never Say Never - Justin Bieber (feat. Jaden Smith)
One of Those Girls - Avril Lavigne
Ridin' Solo - Jason Derülo
Runaway - Avril Lavigne
Stays Four the Same - The Ready Set
White Flag - Dido

Chapter 8

An Inability to Fear

"Paul."

It sounded like a dying whisper dancing on a breeze, and yet, it was so clear. She seemed to give out after that; giving up on staying awake and upright. She fell forward, and despite my fear that she would reject me, I couldn't let her get hurt - not again. I made it over to her, and caught her just as she was about to hit the ground. She made a groaning noise, but otherwise did not stir. I righted her in my arms so that I was carrying her bridal style, and knowing that her little car was probably done for, I reached for my phone and pressed speed dial two.

"Jake here," the other line answered after a couple rings. It was oddly noisy on his end, I noticed, but I was the one who called him so it wasn't really my place to say anything about it. "What's up?" he asked, sounding as lighthearted as ever, which raised my temper a little bit.

I don't know why. It's not like he could have known. "Jake, it's Paul." The noise immediately disappeared; so it had been Quil and Embry, big shocker. "Do you think that you guys could come out here and pick up a car for me?" I didn't want to tell them, but I knew if he asked, I would have to. He was the head mechanic and the true alpha. Even though he wasn't my alpha, I would still be compelled to tell him.

"Yeah, sure, Paul," Jake answered instantly - maybe he picked up on the slight urgency in my voice - and I felt myself breathe a sigh of relief. I was going to hold onto the small hope that she wouldn't remember this ordeal, and that I would be able to tell her about all this later, once I was more sure of our relationship - once I was sure we had a relationship. And that plan would not work if he car was totalled. "Just tell me where 'here' is, and why you sound like Sydney just drove off the side of a cliff."

He meant it as a joke, but in the current situation, I wouldn't have found much laughable. Much less that. I repressed a growl and reminded myself he didn't know what was going on. "I'll tell you when you guys get here," I ground out, and then told him what road we were on and approximately where we were located on the long expanse. "Bring my truck, too." I added before ending the call. I righted Sydney in my arms, and decided just standing there with her in my arms was useless. Might as well make us both more comfortable and sit down. And that's what I did. I sat on the hard, cold pavement and settled her in on my lap so that her cheek rested against my warm chest. She felt really cold, but then, she always did to me.

Her head was bleeding, and though that wasn't ideal, it might have just saved her life. That boy... he'd been a newborn. If she hadn't started bleeding, and thrown all his caution to the wind, he might have been able to get around me, or even through me, using pure strength. If he came back, though, I'd be ready for him. There's no way I would let him hurt her, not ever.

The night only seemed to get darker from there. There was no lights, what so ever, and no one was on the roads this late at night, except truckers, and they don't come through on this road; far too many accidents happen here. Lots of deer in the area. A semi crashing would cause a nice forest fire.

A light fell on her face, causing her to wince, and on instinct, I shielded her eyes. I didn't even have to look back to know that it was Jake's rabbit and my truck approaching. The doors opened and shut quickly - nearly simultaneous. "Holy shit, what the hell happened?" That was Embry. I could almost imagine myself in his eyes; half-crazed looking as I stared at her.

I felt like crying as I stared at her, and I did feel crazy. There was quite a bit of skin missing on the side of her forehead where she'd banged it against the concrete. It had turned black as the blood had dried, and her hair was matted with it. Her jacket had managed to make it through all of this - not even a spot of blood on it, despite the stream that ran down her face. The only reason I even noticed this fact was because she had once told me that it was her favorite article of clothing. And I remembered how pissed Leah had been when she'd accidentally shredded her favorite hoody. She'd rephased, actually. And rare is it when Leah loses control that much.

I didn't want to jostle her when I stood up, so I said, "Embry, help me get her to the car."

I don't think I've ever seen Paul look so out of his mind. The way he clutched Sydney's unconscious form to him - it was like he was trying to will the life back into her. He said my name, causing me to look at him, and not the broken little form of one of my best friends. I kept thinking, 'There's no way she's gone; she wouldn't leave without getting me back.' The wild look in Paul's eyes told me that this was beyond Syd just being hurt.

The sickly scent in the air sent a cold douse of reality down my spine. This wasn't an accident - Sydney had been attacked by a leech.

Jake and Quil must have been thinking the same thing I was, because both their faces were contorted in disgust and rage. The both regarded Sydney as the newest member to their pack. She was special to all of us now. She'd grown on each and every one of us, and now we were all hooked on the person that was Sydney LeHaye. Even if she was a little frightening.

And then his words hit me. He wanted me to help him get her to the car. He was going to try and drive the both of them the rest of the car ride back. And as he was at the moment, he wouldn't even make it half-way back.

But there's no way to argue with a man who's worried for his imprint. I didn't know if he could even stand up with her anymore, and he seemed to have enough sense to know this too, as he let me pick her up in my own arms. He shakily got up and followed me to the truck, and watched every move I made as I ever so gently set Sydney down in the back seat of the truck, and then carefully strapped her in so that she would roll off of the little make-shift bunk. I then gently shut the door, so as not to stir her.

Paul was still there, looking right over my shoulder. "Thank you, Embry," was all he said as he stared at her through the window. He then turned to me, just as I was opening the door. His eyes still projected a crazed, caged animal's. "What are you doing, man?" he asked, sounding wounded.

I looked him directly in the eyes, and deliberately said, "I'm driving you guys home."

He shook his head and made a grabbed at the keys, but seeing it coming, I quickly jerked my hand back, out of his reach. I was lucky to be the third tallest pack member, as far as I was concerned. "C'mon, man," Paul said, stepping forward and grabbing at the car keys again, but again I jerked my arm back out of his reach and took a step back. I saw the anger spark in his eyes, and I prayed that he wouldn't pick now to pull a stupid stunt. "You're being stupid. Every minute I waste getting my keys is a minute she's not getting any better." He made yet another grab for the keys, but I ducked out of his reach. He growled lowly, and stalked toward me. "Embry!"

I saw the fist before I think even he knew he'd raised it against me, and side-stepped it, grabbing it in mid-air, and twisting his arm to the side. His nostrils flared, and for a moment, I could almost swear that his eyes flashed red. He jerked his arm out of my hand, and tried to hit me again, but I wasn't going to take this shit anymore. He was right. Every second he spent fighting me was a moment Sydney wasn't getting any better. I wasn't going to let my little sister suffer. Not ever.

His fist came at me again, and I knew it was a conscious effort this time; the strike was far too precise not to be. But I had martial arts training - Paul didn't. I deflected the fist with my forearm, but didn't want to waste time actually fighting Paul off, so in the second it took his to register that his fist hadn't connected, I took my window of opportunity.

Both my hands landed solidly on his chest, and I pushed him back against the truck, pressing one of my arms on his throat so that he wouldn't try to fight his way out. He lifted his head away from where my arm was pressed, and I could feel the growl reverberating in his throat, but he made no move to fight me, though his eyes were trained on me with deadly intent reflected. "I'm being stupid? Paul, do you even realize what the fuck you're doing?" I yelled in his face, hoping to grab his attention. It seemed to. "You're fighting me to drive her home, when you're so half out of your mind that you wouldn't make it off this road without crashing! You're the one who's killing her!" I felt like punching him to get this through his damnably thick skull, but knew that would do nothing but make this catastrophic situation worse.

But it appeared my fist was unneeded, because I saw it dawn on him. That I was right. That by doing this he was only making everything worse. And I have never seen Paul Walker cry, in all my life, but in that moment, he looked in through the windshield, and I'm sure what he saw was a broken Sydney, pale and soaked in her own blood, but a single tear fell from his eye as he stared at her.

I let go of him, and he got up, letting me see the dent that the collision had put in his car, he saw it too, and instead of the anger I was expecting - Paul loved this thing, after all - I saw more humor than anything, and I had to fight the urge to let my jaw drop. I think I did a pretty convincing job.

He walked around the front of the truck, and pulled the door open, and I did the same, and we started the long drive back to La Push.

-Forever His-

We were almost to Forks when I realized something - we couldn't taken Sydney to the hospital. It would take forever to fabricate a story that was plausible enough that Paul and I wouldn't have to get checked out as well. We had to call the one person who could treat her without asking questions; Doctor Carlisle Cullen, the least hated of the Cullens aside from Bella and Nessie. Last I heard, Doctor Fang-Bang was living somewhere Canada, but the only other people who would have a chance at treating her were vets, and Sydney was not part dog, unlike the rest of us, so I'm pretty sure he was are only chance. Luckily, I knew just how to reach Bella.

I pulled out my phone, which currently had a sticker of a monkey on it, thanks to the shorty who was unconscious in the back seat. She's going to be a joy to drink with. And for some reason, she always has a pack of stickers on her. I didn't think it wise to ask. But I pressed the 'b' key on the key board of my phone - Brady had been really pissed when he learned that he was speed dial 'F' for... well, a lot of things, including, FooFoo, which is what Sydney called him the last time he had annoyed her and a child had been around - and held it up to my ear.

It rang two or thre times before someone picked up the line. "Hello?" The other voice answered, and I was almost sure that the last time I'd talked to Bella - vamped out or not - she hadn't sounded that manly.

"Umm," I stalled, not quite sure what to say. I hadn't bothered to learn any of their damn names, and I wasn't sure if this was Edward, Carlisle, the big one or the blond. It certainly wasn't any of the women. I didn't want to faux pas on one of the men's names, and I'd never been the nicest person to the leeches... "Bella?" I tried, sounding smug, even to myself.

"Yes, it's Bella," the other line said sarcastically. "I recently had a sex change. It went quite smashingly, if I do say so myself. Just goes to show that if you pay enough, a doctor can always be bought." Well that was slightly scarring. "No, actually, this is Emmett, Bella's big brother. Now who the hell is this?"

Emmett... I still wasn't sure which one it was. And they haven't lived here for over a year and a half, so I guess it didn't matter if he knew who I was. "You're worst nightmare," I said seriously, and I heard him scoff. "I'm one of Bella's friends." Okay, so friends might have been stretching it a bit. She wasn't exactly a friend anymore. But I don't think he'd let me talk to anyone else if I pointed that fact out. "We're in a bit of a bind, and one of the Imprints was injured. I was wondering if there was anyway Dr. Cullen could come check up on her."

I could feel Paul's incredulous stare on me, but I ignored it, knowing he was really just worried about putting her in a room with one of them after what she'd just gone through. The other line went quiet for a moment. "A wolf, eh?" It was rhetorical, and since I was asking a favor, I decided to bite my tongue on the Canadian joke that was threatening to break through my lips, which I had clamped together. "I guess she's not your imprint; you wouldn't be so calm about all this if she was." Well look who's so smart. But I really wasn't expecting what was said next. "We'll be there. Take her to our old house." And then the line went dead.

I slid my phone back into my pocket, and took a quick glance at Paul. He seemed as calm as could be expected of him at this particular point in time. His Imprint was unconscious in the back seat, and I'd just invited the same thing that had done this to her to come look at her. "Sorry, man, but it's the only way." His jaw stiffened, but he nodded, mostly to show that he'd heard me - I knew he didn't understand. "Remember last year when Quil took Claire in with the stomach flu, and the doctor brushed up against him? We came so close to being discovered. They had Quil hospitalized for days before we came up with some BS story about his mom wanting the Tribal Elder to be the one to look after her son in his sickness." I risked a look back at Sydney in the rear view mirror, but I could only see part of her torso, covered in her hair, and one hand, half closed, like she was clutching something. "We can't risk that again."

I saw him look at the rearview mirror that was placed on the passenger door, and in his eyes, I knew he could see her face, and what she must look like. "Yeah, I know," he said, shifting in his seat so that he wasn't tempted to look at her. "I just wish I wasn't the reason she was going though this."

"At least you were there to protect her."

He stayed silent, but I caught him sneak yet another glance at Sydney. I couldn't say I knew how he felt. I had no idea. But he pressed the dial on the stereo, and after a seconds delay, Linkin Parks 'Leave Out All the Rest' filtered through the near silence of the truck. "She loves them," he said, his muscles in his face relaxing ever so slightly. "At least I can put on one of her favorite songs for her." I knew just as well as he did that this was one of her favorite songs of all time, and she would have felt better just hearing it.

Soon, we drove past the Forks town limits, and the quaint safe feeling that always seemed to surround this little town took me off my edge ever so slightly. Even after all that had happened just outside it's limits, it still held a warm quality, like La Push. But the small light the town provided faded as we drove farther and farther, passing pitch black streets, with the occasional window breaking the darkness harshly with their artificial light. We even drove past Bella's old street, where a dim light filtered through the window of Charlie's house. Sue had decided to move in with him, and give the house to Leah and Seth, until Seth decided to move out. But we passed up that street too, and soon, it was all really darkness. If it weren't for my wolf senses, I probably would have crashed into a tree. Well, them and the headlights.

I just barely remembered where to turn in for the Cullen's mansion-like estate. And soon, the Victorian styled white building came into view from behind the veil of foliage. It certainly didn't look like it hadn't been tended to in over a year. It still looked immaculate, in fact. And I saw that the front hall was lit lowly. They must already be here, and the smell that surrounded the house confirmed my suspicions.

I hadn't even stopped when Paul unbuckled his seat belt, and wrenched the door open. I barely registered him unbuckling Sydney in the back, though he did so a lot slower and far more gentle than he'd done for himself. I unlatched my own seat belt and walked around to his side, where he was just scooping Sydney into his arms. She almost looked like she was asleep.

Of course, the seeming innocence of her current state was marred by the drying blood that still streamed down the side of her face, drying on her skin, her clothes and matting her hair in its malignant nature. And as I looked on at her in Paul's arms, I saw her move for the first time of her own accord tonight. Under lids that were tinted purple, her eyes danced, and she moved her head so that it fell against Paul's chest instead of his arm. I saw a ghost of a smile appear on the man's features, but even her apparent need for him, even in her unconscious state, was not enough to put him at ease enough to let himself smile. Not until she was okay.

We started toward the house, and before we even made it to the door, it was opened. Nessie, in her golden glory, stood there, looking on with worry. I don't really think Nessie knew either of us, but she hurried us on into the house, closing the door behind us. She then led us into the main room, where the table was set up with some medical tools and lights. Carlisle stood in the middle of the room, and Bella and the big one - Emmett, I'm assuming - stood off to the side. Both of them stiffened as Paul brought Sydney into the room.

"Put her on the table."

"Syd!"

I was reading when a familiar voice startled me. More like scared the shit out of me, but I wouldn't ever admit that. I turned around to see a breathless Cade running at me from down the hall. I smiled, and waved at him. People moved in fear of being ran over by my frantic boyfriend. I laughed as he skidded to a stop in front of me, looking deliriously happy. His green eyes sparkled, and he gasped shortly in his excitement. "You didn't blow up a toilet, again, did you?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow at him.

He shook his head and took in another gulp of breath. "No," he rasped, but he didn't seem to mind the lack of oxygen too much. "It's much better than that. But first," he grabbed my hand, and placed it against his chest. I felt his heart beating fast underneath the surface, and I grinned at him. He grinned brightly back, and said, "The run here didn't cause this. Only you do."

This is Wrong.

I blushed and looked away from those sparkling green pools. "Well," I started shyly, "why don't you tell me why you felt the need to run all the way here."

He just smiled and grabbed my hand, sprinting down the hall. I squealed as he tugged me along. He was being a lot more impulsive than he'd been before. He stopped, and yanked the door to an empty classroom open, pulling me inside, and shutting the door behind us. He turned to me, and pulled me into a kiss, full of excitement and promise for a future. He pulled back, and stared at me, putting one hand on my cheek sweetly. "I got accepted. To Yale. Your dream school." He rested his forehead against mine. "And after next year, you'll join me. But until then, I can come visit on holidays, and we still have the whole summer." His hand intertwined with mine. "We'll make it."

Tears pricked my eyes. I squeezed his hand, and then released my hand from his grasp, moving away from him. I looked up at him, just as the first of my tears streamed down my face. He made to step toward me, but I only stepped back again. He looked hurt by my actions, but didn't make another attempt for me. I wrapped my arms across my chest. "I'm moving, Cade."

He looked stricken. "No you're not."

This isn't him.

I nodded. "But I am." I took a deep shuddering breath. "At the end of the summer, my parents and I are going to pack up and move to a reservation in Washington." More tears ran their course. "I didn't want to tell you because I thought it would ruin our summer together."

He still didn't make a move for me. He just stood there, looking like I'd just smacked him. I couldn't believe how sad he looked. Finally, he looked away from me, at the floor. "I'll come visit you there." His voice was gruff, the way it was when he was trying not to show how he was really feeling. It was a slight difference. Near imperceptible. But I knew my Cade better than I knew myself, sometimes. I knew he didn't want me to see just how much pain this news was causing him. He knew I saw it anyway.

I shook my head. "No you won't."

He looked at me sharply, his eyes alight with sparking anger. "You think I won't?" he asked me. He'd always had a slight temper, but never had he whipped his forked tongue at me before. I outwardly winced, and I instantly saw his features soften. He opened his arms, and this time, I walked into them, and he closed them around me, engulfing me in his inate sense of 'safe.' "I'm sorry, love." He spoke lovingly into my ear. "It's just... it's a lot to take in... You really think I won't?" I leaned forward into his chest, inhaling the scent that always present when he was. A mix of body wash, laundry detergent and something just male. It was one of the most comforting smells in the world to me. It had been since I'd met him.

"I know you would," I started, "if I would let you." He pulled away from me, keeping me at arms length, his green eyes searching my blue ones. He wanted to know what I was thinking, as he always did, but now, I think he needed to know. I sighed, but made myself look into his eyes. "Cade, I know you better than anyone else does, and I know that coming to see me in Washington would just cause problems for you. With yours parents; with school. I won't let you do that."

He seemed to understand, because he brought me forward again, burying his face in the crook of my neck and nodding. "You're right," he conceded. His arms tightened around me. "I'm going to miss you so much."

I made a fist around the part of his jacket that I was holding onto. I didn't want to start crying again. "Me too." I managed, fresh tears stinging the edges of my eyes, but I blinked them back, and attempted to get my bearings straightened, but my emotions didn't seem to be interested in being reigned over today.

"I love you, Sydney. And We'll see each other again," he whispered, "I know it."

Not anymore.

All I could see was black. Pitch black. I felt nothing beneath me, nor above me. It seemed I was alone in this nothingness. My lungs burned for the air that seemed to be absent from the space. And when I tried to move, I felt bound; chained to my own, useless body. I closed my eyes, the endless black more bearable inside my own lids. It seemed I was chained there forever, inside myself, no air. I couldn't imagine how I was still alive, except for that maybe I wasn't, and this was eternal punishment for something I'd done.

The temptation to open my eyes again eventually won out, and I did. The pitch black was gone, to be replaced with blinding white. But I could breathe again, which was a relief. I could also move, slightly. I was still bound by something, and when I looked, I saw a straight jacked bound my arms. I squirmed uncomfortably in the material, but it had no give. They were designed to do just that, I thought, keep people in place. But those were crazy people who were in danger of hurting themselves. I wasn't in danger of hurting myself. The thought hadn't even crossed my mind. But then... it was there.

Something inside me snapped, and all I could think about was getting out of my bondage and... pain. Pain was the most appealing thing to me in the world right now. Something in the back of my mind wondered vaguely what was wrong with me, but I didn't question it. The rest of me didn't want to. It wanted to hurt.

I struggled to get to my knees, and then to my feet. They hadn't even allowed me shoes. Whoever they might be. But once on my feet, I ran, building as much momentum up as I could, and slamming myself into the wall. It didn't hurt. Not even a little bit. My body raged in it's desire for pain, but I gathered my thoughts a little. What was I doing? But I still wanted it. It's the single most horrifying feeling I've had. The absolute need for pain.

I slammed my torso against the wall, over and over again, until I collapsed to the ground in exhaustion, panting and glaring at the wall. Eventually my breath slowed, and though the idea to get up and try again was tempting, each failed attempt had cleared the fog in my mind a little bit more, and now I was in control of my body, actions and thoughts again. I wondered breifly what had possessed me to want to injure myself so badly, but I pushed the thought away, fearing losing myself to the madness that had taken hold before once more.

My thoughts strayed to Paul. I wondered where he was; why he wasn't here with me. I thought about the kiss we'd shared. I tried to keep hold of the image of him I had in my mind, going over it again and again, hoping to etch it into my mind. It didn't do him justice, but it was all I had of him.

I don't know how long I just sat there, retracing Paul's image in my mind, but it felt like a life time. But sometime later, I heard the latch of the door to the padded cell turning from the outside, and unlocking with a clank. I watched with cat-like eyes as the door slowly swung open, and a man stepped in, turning so that I couldn't see his face, and closing the padded door behind him. I took him in from behind; tall, with messy black hair. His posture was relaxed as he turned to me. "Hello, love," Cade greeted me with a grin. It wasn't the Cade that had attacked me what seemed to be years ago. It was the one who told me he loved me... and meant it. But I was cautious. I stood up, backing into the wall. His grin didn't falter in the slightest. "They told me your paranoia was a little strong today."

Paranoia? They? I watched him closely as he made his way toward me. He stopped, far enough away that I would be abble to get away if he lunged for me. if he was human, that is. The green of his eyes told me he was, but... I couldn't believe it. I'd never been one to be paranoid. I seriously doubt I'd be put into an asylum for it.

Something in his eyes changed, and for a second they flashed crimson. I looked around me, seeing if there was another door leading out of here, but there wasn't. There was only one entrance and exit to my cell, and Cade stood in my path. I glared at him harshly. He looked back at me calmly. I continued to glance throughout my cell, but finally accepted that there was nothing for it. I charged forward, seeming to surprise him, and raced past him, running for the door. I slammed into the padding and screamed. "Help! Help me! Someone, please-" My plea for help was cut off by the familiar feeling of icy marble fingers clamping around my mouth. I fruitlessly continued to scream into his hand.

He looked at he, his eyes bright red and his face contorted in rage. "Shut up!" he whisper yelled at me harshly. "You'll wake the dead." This made me stop my screaming. I'll wake the dead? Did that mean he'd killed my captors? I stared at him, and before I knew it, he was hugging me, burying his face into the crook of my neck. "I love you, Sydney, and we'll be together. Forever."

I screamed as he sunk his teeth into my neck.

I waited for the teeth to leave my flesh. To feel something. But there was nothing. I felt nothing. Had I died? Had my vampire ex-boyfriend killed me? I slowly let my eyes open, and the white padded cell I'd been in was gone, replaced with a dark room with a single lamp hanging from the ceiling. The lamp illuminated a large circle of the floor, which I was just barely in. I looked around, and found myself sore beyond all belief. Only then did I realize that my arms were raised above my head, bound there by chains, as well as my ankles below me. I wasn't standing at all, but rather chained up on a wall, not even touching the floor. And as I looked down, I also realized I was wearing nothing, my alabaster pale skin illuminated by the lamp.

And he was here too. Cade stepped out of the shadows, looking handsome as ever. His unruly black hair was combed so that it didn't look quite so tousled, and he wore a dark green button up with black slacks. One of his hands absently stroked his chin as his eyes raked over my bear body. "Beautiful," he breathed.

I fought against the chains to cover myself, but they held fast, keeping me on display for him to ogle at. I shook my head, letting my long hair fall over me, giving me some protection from his eyes. Before I had finished, a hand closed around my throat. I coughed as my air supply was suddenly cut off. I looked at Cade, and he glared back at me. "If you ever try to cover yourself from me again, I will not hesitate to cut off all of that pretty hair of yours." His hand tightened ever so slightly around my neck. "Do we understand each other?"

I didn't answer. I stared down at him from where I was chained onto the wall. If he had wanted to kill me, he would have done it by now. I wasn't frightened. Not now. He'd threatened my hair, not me. He wanted me to be his, not dead. "What do you want, Cade?" I choked.

He smiled at me, predatory. "Just what I've been telling you, Sydney. You to be mine, forever." The way he said it, so simple. But he wanted to own me, now. Not love me. And no matter what he thought, I knew this to be true. His hand unlatched from around my throat, tracing my collar bone. But I knew he was looking at the spot on my neck where my pulse raced. He was no longer capable of the emotions he'd felt for me as a human, and he'd never be the same man he'd been before all this. He slowly traced one of his hands up and around my neck, and gently bent my neck down so that he could lightly press his lips to mine.

But the kiss soon turned hungry as he fought to gain access to my mouth, and in his haste, he bit into my lip. I whimpered as he backed off. He straightened his shirt. "I'm sorry, Sydney. I really am. But this is the only way we can ever be together again." He stepped out of the light, into the shadows, and just like that, he was gone.

The taste of iron slowly built up in my mouth, and my skin crawled. A weird feeling built up in me. The tingling that started in my fingers and toes slowly spread through the rest of my body. All at once, the tingling in my fingers turned to intense heat. I cried out as flames licked at my fingers, and made their way up my arms. I felt like every bone in my body was breaking, and re-breaking every second the fire licked at my skin, but didn't burn.

I held it in as long as I could, but I screamed. The pain was agonizing. The worst thing I'd ever gone through in my life. I felt as if I were burning in hell-fire and being stabbed in the same instant. My skin was melting off and being sliced open. But most prominent of all was the intense mental pain I was having. My brain felt as if it were being cut apart by kiddie scissors, slowly and painfully being pulled apart, lobe by lobe. I made to grab at my head, but I couldn't; my arms were still chained to the wall. I could vaguely hear voices in the background - panicked voices that were talking to each other hurriedly, and were getting louder and louder by the second.

"Somebody wake her up!"

The voice was angelic and in agonizing pain, as if he were experiencing what I was feeling as well. Another voice chimed in. This one was closer. And this one I knew by heart. "Syd. Sydney! Wake up!" I wanted to; believe me. "Baby, please wake up." I felt something warm touch my cheek, and it chased the flames away, and slowly, they receded.

My eyes flew open as I finally escaped the frightening depths of my subconscious. Paul was leaning over me, and I half sat up, latching my arms around his neck tightly and burying my face into his chest. And I cried. The force of the sobs shook my whole body. Paul wrapped his arms around me as well, gathering me up and setting me in his lap, like a small child. And I felt like a small child. I was absolutely petrified of what I had just seen - what my mind had created. I pressed closer to him still, and he stroked my back. "Shh, you're okay." he whispered, trying to calm me.

"Don't leave me," I begged him.

"Never."

A/N: Well, I'm sure you guys are pissed at me. I certainly would be. It's been nearly a month since I updated. I know all the POV changes are probably getting kind of old now, so the next chapter will be mostly Sydney; I swear. I will explain some of this in the next chapter. Like what was going on with Sydney, besides her apparent psychosis. It'll also start in Paul's POV so that we can see what was happening to Sydney outside her dreams.

And now my excuse for my delay. I was disappointed in a lack of reviews, aside from being busy, and figured the longer I waited to update, the more reviews I'd get. It worked - kinda, but I didn't realize it was taking so long, otherwise I would have gotten over my stupid pride. So, again, so sorry. :(

Lets get onto the author roast, shall we?

Tell me what you think! PLEASE! I want to be critiqued! It's fun! It's why I put controversial stuff in my FanFictions. I also liked to be flamed, sadistic as it is, because one of my first reviews was a flame, so now I feel anything that doesn't have some sort of a critique is someone being nice, unless they name specific things they like. Which is why I want to know this: Who's your favorite couple? Who's your favorite friendship? What's you favorite line? Do you hate Cade? Do you love him? I'm trying to make him a charming obsessive freak vampire; am I succeeding? Do you guys want to know who Jack and Grace are? What was your favorite scene from this chapter? What was your favorite scene from any chapter? Do you wish Jassy would shut up? Sometimes I do.

Also, I need some more songs, so if anyone could suggest some for me, I'd really appreciate it. :)

Until we next meet.

Madly Yours,
Jassabella