Whew! It is done! Well, not the story, there's still about three chapters left, but this chapter is done. First, as I've said in chapter 13, I suck at writing battle scenes, so forgive me for that. I do hope you enjoy the chapter anyway, I spent most of my day writting it. There were two songs I listened to while writting this; Go, by Asia, and Seperate Ways (Worlds Apart), by Journey. I couldn't decide which one was better battle music, so I decided that the were both perfect for this chapter. They're good songs anyways.

So excited for the new chapter of Pandora Hearts that will come out soon, but will probably be late again (takes a few days to get english scanlation.)

I do not own Pandora Hearts in any way.

ch.28: Midnight

Something caught my attention. I turned from the empty space and looked to see a tiny light. Faint echoes came from it, and, even if I couldn't make out the words, much less hear them, it gave rise to a faint glimmer of hope within me.

"Light." I muttered weakly.

My hands twitched at seeing it. It seemed far away, but, what was beyond that? Was it a way out of here?

There's sense in hoping and trying, right?

I tried to shallow down my fear that I was feeling at the moment, and then, just like the first time I found myself in the Abyss, I took off running. The light was still far away, but I could reach out and keep trying to grab it until I could take it and let the light take me.

That's right, I need to get back. I need to get back to Elliot, my best friend and master. I need to get back to Carrie, my love. I need...to get back to the real world and the people who care about me.

If this was a way to break through my subconscious, find a way out and regain control of my body, let it be; I want it to be true.

I'm getting out of here!

"Carrie." Someone called to me. "Carrie!"

My eyes fluttered open and I saw the identical icy eyes of Elliot looking down at me. "Elliot..."

I sat up, and I looked around, finding that we were in some kind of large room. Old rusted mechanical part hung from all kinds o places, and an old catwalk was above us, still in good condition by the looks of it.

Then I remembered. I had heard this high pitched noise, like white noise, and then I collapsed. My guess, the Baskervilles had anticipated our arrival. Elliot must of been knocked out too, otherwise he might not be here with me.

"Deja vu." I muttered.

"Huh?"

I must of confused him by saying that. "What happened to us yesterday, it happened again."

"Oh, that. On top of that, my sword is gone too. Those Baskervilles probably took it, and I'm getting it back." He stood up, looking over our surroundings. "Anyway, where do you thing we are?"

"Somewhere inside the complex, I'm sure."

"Of course you are." We both looked back op at the catwalk, the source of this voice, and we saw Heather and Dan standing there, looking down at us. Mark was the only one not here.

"You?" Elliot exclaimed.

"Hey, what about the other?" I asked, getting up as well. "Also, what do you want from us."

"Mark is unwell at the moment and is resting." Dan answered. "But then again, that's none of your concern."

"We only want to keep you at bay, just for a little while longer until Glen can be released." Heather added.

"You mean Leo?" I could practically feel the rage radiating from him.

Oh, wait, that's right! I glared at them and demanded, "Where is Leo?"

"Right here." It wasn't any of the Baskervilles who said it. Heather stepped aside and there, before my eyes, was Leo. He was dressed in the clothes that he wore to the dance at school, with the exception of a purple ribbon in place of the red one. One different thing is that there was a sword in its holster strapped to his side, which was odd considering he's bad with swords. His glasses were still one his face, but they were titled down so slightly that I saw his eyes, and my breath caught in my throat when I saw the color.

Those violet eyes were black once again.

"L-Leo...?" I carefully asked, hoping I had misjudged the color.

"Hello, young Carrie, or should I say...Anastasia Mouchette." He said calmly.

My eyes widened, Glen had control of him again. "You bastard! What have you done with Leo!"

"Calm down." He cast a devious smile at me. "But you should forget about him, because he is gone."

"W-what?" I didn't know what he was saying, or believe it ether.

"Leo, what the hell are you going on about, you idiot?" Elliot asked. "Why are you calling her Anastasia?"

"Oh, Elliot. You really don't get it, which is to be expected I guess." He then turned his attention back to me. "I guess you don't seem to realize it yourself, who you really are."

"Cut the crap, Leo!" I shouted. "This is stupid! Whether or not I'm some reincarnation, it doesn't matter. I'm just 'Carrie', not 'Anastasia'. And I...just want you." I took a step forward, looking up at him with a desperate face. "Please, I love you, Leo, and can't we just continue on? This is foolish, so come back down here and kiss me and tell me that we can fight them instead?"

He blinked but the narrowed his eyes at me. "In a game like this...why would I love you?"

That did it. I could practically feel my heart break at those words. "B-but, Leo...if you go though with this...y-your body will-"

"Forget that!" His hand tightened on the railing of the catwalk. "This is just a game of tag you see. And I...I don't have feelings for an insolent girl." He let go of the railing and took a step back. "Have fun playing tag with the Cards."

"Leo!"

He looked back down at me, and there were...tears? "I...stop calling me Leo. It's Glen."

With that, him and the Baskervilles walked away, but I couldn't grasp those words that Leo had said to me. But then, what were the tears for? Did he not mean what he said?

"Dammit, Leo, get back here!" Elliot called after them, but it was no use.

"Elliot, stop." I said, holding an arm outstretched in front of him. "There are other things to take care of."

From the shadows, Chains slinked out towards us, multiple in number, and I knew quickly that they were Cards, the weakest kind of Chain. Elliot's sword was missing, so I had to be the one to protect him.

"Elliot, get behind me." I said in a lower voice.

"Huh? What are you-"

"My power is dangerous, so get behind me." The Cards came into focus, and I was about ready to obliterate them all.

"Carrie, even though they are Cards, there's a massive amount." Raven spoke up.

'It's been a while, Raven.' I said back. 'I need your help here.'

"What do you suggest we do?"

'Kill them all!'

My eyes grew wide, and chains lashed out, impaling the first string and turning them into dust. The second string was quicker to react, and I charged head on at them chains striking them and black fathers falling down as they dissolved into dust.

There's probably three or four more strings of about ten each by the looks of things. I moved back to Elliot in preparation for the next string.

They came, and I killed them off one by one. However, by the time the fourth string came. I wasn't sure how much longer I would be able to keep this up. I charged into another attack with the first string, but one of the Cards caught me and knocked me back with one swing at me.

"Carrie!" Elliot exclaimed as I skidded back to where he was.

"I'm fine." I managed, getting back on my feet. The Cards were closing in on us, and I might just need to call out more power to get rid of these things, but that might send me into a berserker mode, and I might hurt Elliot in the process.

If it has to come down to calling upon that though, they're be no choice.

Suddenly, something like daggers rained down from the ceiling, obliterating the forth string. Then a vortex of blue flames came are demolished the fifth and final string.

"Catch." A voice said, we turned in it's direction, and Elliot just barely caught something that was being thrown at him.

"My sword!" He exclaimed.

I looked at Elliot, then back at this person who had helped us. They were standing atop a large piece of machinery, and I couldn't see their face because it was shadowed. Who ever this person was, they had helped us, so the least I can do is thank them.

"Thanks." I said up to them.

"No problem." the person answered, obviously a male by their voice. "You have to hurry though, there's not much time left!"

"What do you- wait." I turned to Elliot. "How long were we out?"

"I don't know."

Feeling panic, I looked back at the mysterious stranger. "What time is it?"

"11:00 PM." He answered reluctantly.

"Shit!" I exclaimed. "We've only got an hour left."

"Wait." I looked back at the stranger. "He's still there you know, Glen just has him locked away. He still loves you."

"Ah, I..." I shook my head, blinking away the tears. "Who are you?"

The person sighed. "I'm sorry. I can't tell you right now. But, I'll tell you this. Besides the power of your Chain, there is one deep inside you that only you can use, one that transcends the Abyss itself."

'A power?' Raven had mentioned that a few times before, and now this person was confirming it for me.

Did I really have a power like that?

"Thanks a lot. I-" But they were gone, just like that. I sighed and glanced back at Elliot. "Come on, Elliot. We haven't a moment to lose!"

"Leo." I hear her voice.

I stop running and slow down to a walk, straining to hear her voice again. I'm looking for her, but she's nowhere in this void.

"In this game...why would I ever love you?"

My eyes widened, because it was my own voice, but I never spoke those words; Glen was using my voice.

"No!" I cried out, my words echoing. "Carrie, don't listen to him!"

I don't want to hear my voice say those words to me, because it's not me, it's Glen. Does she not see that I'm being used? Can't she...

'Don't listen, Carrie!' My own thoughts were turning against me now, knowing that her heart was breaking.

"Carrie." I cried a silent tear rolling down my cheek. "I love you!"

I sniffle to try and stop anymore tears, and then, gathering myself once more, I start running again, the light closer now, even if the pain in me is growing worse.

"It's nearly time, Glen-sama." Heather announced.

"Good." His was trying to ignore the pounding in his head, but it was getting worse, almost to the breaking point.

'How can he still fight?' Glen asked himself. 'How is he that close?'

"Soon you'll be free, Glen-sama. And that egg shell will be out of the way." She continued. She then looked over at Dan. "Will you go wake Mark? I don't care how much he wants to sleep. His medicine should of kicked in by now, so he should be well enough to come."

Dan nodded and turned to go back to the room that Mark was in. The other boy's condition was strange, and, after this was all said and done, he knew he'd have to examine the boy to see how his health was. Mark had complained several times that he was fine, but he and Heather and agreed that if he had another attack, worse than before, they would take him to the hospital whiter he liked it or not.

As he turned down a corridor, he didn't notice the two others there. It wasn't until one of them grabbed him and hit him on the head with something hard did he acknowledge their presence.

"He'll be fine." I told Elliot as I set Dan up against a peice of machinery.

"You ready?" He asked me.

I nodded in response. "Yeah, I am. But, Elliot, that power I have, if I activate it somehow and I go out of control, get Leo out of here, okay?"

He was silent for a moment, but then answered. "Yeah, whatever."

I knew he understood.

We snuck along the shadows of the ruins, keeping an eye on Heather and Leo. Finally, we came to a large open room. Most of it was in tact, and in the center, there were sigils drawn out in a pattern.

"Now we just wait for Dan and Mark." Heather said. "They're short on time though."

"They'll be here, but I can live with the fact that this boy will be dead soon. He's always been a hinderance."

"Yes, Glen-sama."

"Now!" I shouted. Elliot responded to my command as he drew his sword and jumped out at Heather. Meanwhile, I brought out a chain and let it coil around my hand, then aiming it at Leo. It didn't strike him, but hit the concrette off to the side. Heather dodged Elliot's sword and I went to stand next to him as the chain came back to my hand.

"Leo, stand down." I commanded.

He just snickered, and a gust of wind picked up. "You know we are Baskervilles, so why?"

"Shut it, Glen! I know your game." He raised an eyebrow at me in response. "You're only useing his voice, but only I know. Leo loves me no matter what! He can break free!"

"If it's a battle you're looking for, let it be so." The I saw it again, the Chain whose power was coroding Leo's body; Jabberwock.

"That's Jabberwock?" Elliot exclaimed.

"Yeah, and I'll fight it."

"What? Carrie-"

I put a hand on hs shoulder. "Elliot, I need to face this with Raven, I've done it before. You take care of Heather."

"Have you made up your mind yet?" Leo asked, yawning. "This game is boring."

"Yeah." I summoned Raven and it fully appeared, letting out a shreak. "We will fight!"

He turned to Heather, who nodded in response, then lunged at me, but Elliot blocked her with his sword. "You'll have to kill me to get her, and I don't die easy."

Elliot and Heather began their fight as she drew out twin daggers. I took after Leo, and our Chains began their own battle.

Everyone was faced down with an opponent; Elliot and Heather, Raven and Jabberwock, and me and my true love...Leo.

The clang of swords, the clash of two Chains, there was no doubt about it; something was happening.

I heard a sudden muffled cry and I saw an image float by. I saw Carrie, jumping up to dodge a Chain but caught in the gust of the two bird-like Chains, sending her back to the ground.

"Carrie!"

I had to get out of here, I had to help her. The light was so far though, how was I suposed to get there in time?

I saw another image float by, this time of Elliot battiling the girl named Heather. "Elliot!"

I needed to keep moving, even though I was tired.

When I looked back towards that light though, it was different. This time, it was right in front of me.

The light was here, the light that could lead me home. But, then again, what if it didn't? What if it was a trap that would keep me trapped here forever...or worse?

The two images passed by, Carrie and Elliot continued to fight. Just seeing them like this, while I can't do a thing, it tears me up. I want to help them.

I turned back to the light and took in into my hands, glowing brighter until the entire void was filled with it.

Raven was doing well in fighting off Jabberwock, and Elliot with Heather. As for me though, Leo kept blocking my attacks. I was becoming frustrated with this. If I was going to be able to do anything before I resort to something else, I needed to get closer, not use the chains and instead hand to hand combat.

"What's the matter?" Leo asked as I just barely missed another chain from striking me. "Is this boring you? Are you tired of this game of tag that we-"

He suddenly stopped, his eyes behind his glasses growing wide and then clutching his head suddenly. Raven stopped attacking as Jabberwock faded away, and as I looked back at Leo, I realized that I needed to go in now. I would end all of this, whether I liked it or not.

'This is it!' I sealed up Raven, but kept a fraction of it's power out and went in. Leo turned his head up to me once I approached him, and took my arm, twisting it behind me.

"Carrie!" Elliot exclaimed, seeing me, but then barley missing Heather as her daggers caught a few strands of his hair, cutting it.

I tried to break free, and I got my chance when I saw Leo wince in pain again, a hand going to his head. I elbowed him, just as I had accidentally done a few weeks ago, and he let go of me. I was about to twist his own arms behind him, but not before I grabbed his shoulders and saw something.

Through the lenses, I saw a rich violet, not black.

I let go and took a step back. "L-Leo...?"

I know that color is looking back at me; Leo is looking back at me. He looks to be in shock, and I can well imagine that, but, really, all that mattered was that my lover had come back...Leo had come back.

I couldn't draw out the courage to even think about removing the fragment, much less speak. He was quicker than me though, as he opened his mouth to say something. However, he stopped and his face contorted into panic, turning from me and running off into a corridor that was falling apart.

"Leo!" At that moment, I noticed that Elliot had managed to ward off Heather enough, because she miscalculated her jump and slipped, hitting her head and rendering her unconscious. I decided to ignore this, and chase after Leo instead.

"Carrie?" I heard Elliot call after me. "Where are you going?"

I wasn't listening. Rather, I was running down the corridor. After a moment, it gave way into the outside, and soon I was met with a line of trees.

'Where are you, Leo?'

I'm running, my legs won't stop moving. My breath is raged as I run, trying to find some destination, but I don't even know why I'm running. Maybe because I need to? Why is that?

I had come back and I had seen her face, that beautiful face. And her eyes, they were filled with a furry, but they were locked with mine and they didn't fade until the last second.

She called my name, but I was just barely managing to stay like that. I had no choice but to run.

Ruins were around me, yet I was running through a woods, and the only word in my head was my only instinct.

Run.

Something else was wrong though, besides that single word repeating over and over in my head in tune with the painful beating of my heart inside my chest. The corrosion I had felt back in the void was much stronger now, making my head hurt, sending spasms of pain pulsing though my body. It was all painful, like being stabbed with a hundred needles.

I soon broke through the line of trees, and a pool of water came into my vision. More ruins of this place were still around, but they were in the distance. I staggered towards it, but the pain that had been locked up inside exploded throughout my body, making me collapse onto the ground.

My arms wrapped around myself as I struggled to breathe, pained gasps and whimpers sliding past my lips. I rolled over onto my side, pressing my arms against me to try and make the pain go away, and failing miserably. I then tasted something warm in my mouth, and I coughed, finding that it was blood.

It trickled down from a corner of my mouth as I coughed up more, spitting it out onto the ground. Honestly, I was a bit frightened, because I didn't know what was happening. What was happening to my body?

'What's happening to me?'

"Leo...?" Ah, is that...her voice? ...yes, it is!

"C-Carr..ie...?" I rasped.

A pair of arms picked me up from the ground, and a face came into view...her face. It was the face I had come to love, and I was so happy to see it as she pressed her warm body to mine, even seeing those light blue eyes was so precious. She pushed away my bangs and slid my glasses down halfway, exposing my eyes.

She looked like an angel in those dancing lights, but her eyes looked sad. Oh God, I hate seeing her cry. Please don't cry.

"What's wrong?" She asked, her voice concerned,

"I...I don't know." I was then overcome by a fit of coughs, my hand clamped around my mouth. After it faded, I pulled my hand away to see that there was blood on it. I couldn't help but to tremble in fear. "Carrie, help me, please!"

Her face remained the same, but then she pulled me close to her. "You're alright, Leo. I'm here."

My breathing was labored, but I managed to put my trembling arms around her. "Carrie...I...if this were to ever happen again, won't you...won't you come for me?"

"Yes, Leo." She answered.

"Will you hold me in your arms, just like this?"

"Yes."

"Will you...kiss me and make everything alright?"

She hesitated but then answered. "Yes, Leo. I will come save you."

Her words made tears come into my eyes. "Carrie." I couldn't help but to let the tears flow. "Please, just hold me like this, just for a little bit longer."

That's when it hit me; I've seen this all before. Everything that was happening here, it happened in that dream! That dream had showed me the future, and it came true. As long as she loves me, I will hold on.

I wanted to stay in her arms...forever.

There was suddenly a sharp pain in my chest, and I could feel my heartbeat increasing to a dangerous pace. It rang in my ears, and my vision was becoming blurred.

"Stupid boy."

"No!" I shouted, making Carrie look at me in surprise. "Carrie, get away!"

I pushed her from me and I tried to get up and run. I didn't get farther than one step before my knees buckled and I fell down, those painful waves of pain enveloping me in darkness once more.

'No! Carrie!'

"Leo!" I cried out as he fell to the ground. I could only watch as pained yells were ripped from his throat and he squirmed about on the ground, his hands twitching erratically and his limbs flailing about.

Without warning though, he stopped moving and fell silent. My eyes widened as the seconds went on, Leo still unmoving.

Slowly, I stood, trying to look for any signs of life. "Leo...?"

Relief flooded me when he wearily let out a groan, but it was shattered when he sat up, and I saw that his eyes were black once more.

'No!' My mind screamed.

His eyes locked with mine, and then they flashed. A wave of energy sent me flying back into a nearby tree, and I slumped down against it.

All I saw were those black eyes before I lost consciousness.

'Where is she?' My eyes darted around, looking for Carrie. I had gotten Heather off my back for now, but she'd be back soon enough.

Then, a harsh cry resounded through the air, one only I knew.

"Leo?" I ran down the corridor, looking for a way out and to find Leo, because I knew the scream had come from him.

After a moment, the corridor fell apart into an open space, a pool of water nearby. The sky above was cloudy, and there was a gusting wind in the trees. Off to the side, I saw Carrie, she was slumped down against a tree, clearly unconscious.

Then another gust of wind came along, and I saw him, standing in the middle of the empty space; Leo.

"Ha-ha. Hello, Elliot." He chuckled. He then reached for a sword that was at his side, drawing it out and pointing its blade at me. "So nice to see you."

I growled, knowing I'd have to fight back with my own weapon. My hand gripped the hilt of my sword and I drew it from it's holster.

"Stop this, Leo." I demanded.

"I think not." He then took a running start at me with an insane grin, and I charged at him too, the metal clang of our swords resounding.

I stirred and my eyes opened. The sky was dark and I was leaning back against a tree. I was dazed and confused, not having a clue what was going on...until I heard the clang of a sword.

I looked to the sound and saw Elliot dodge an attack from Leo, who held a sword and kept swinging it at Elliot wildly. I felt frozen as I watched my two friends fights against each other, now regretting I hadn't drawn my dagger while I had the chance. I had wasted it getting lost in that one moment when I held Leo in my arms, but I wouldn't have been able to live with myself If I had done it then.

However, looking at the eyes of my lover, those aren't the eyes I know so well. That isn't Leo, only someone who shares that body. It's Glen using Leo, and the crazed emotions fueling him into insanity once more.

That made my heart ache, because I never wanted that to happen again, I was going to make sure of that. Ah, yes...I will.

Elliot dodged yet another attack, but he tripped and fell backwards. His sword slipped from his hand, and he let out a growl as he glanced at Leo, who just smirked.

"Aw, poor Elliot." He said, raising his sword. "Looks like this game is over for you."

'Wait...no, Elliot!' I realized what Leo was about to do and I leapt to my feet. 'Leo, don't do it!'

Elliot was defenseless, and in this state, Leo would bring his sword down on Elliot without hesitation.

"You've lost this game of tag!"

I couldn't take it anymore and I started running towards them. I had already lost Leo to Glen, I can't let Elliot die, not again.

'No, I'm not losing anyone else!'

Pain flared across my chest as I jumped in front of Elliot, shielding him from the attack. I opened my eyes that had closed shut to find that the cold metal of the sword that Leo was holding was stained with blood...my blood.

In one second, violet returned to his eyes and he dropped the sword, clattering as it hit the ground.

"C-Carrie...?" He asked in disbelief.

I found it miraculous that I was able to stay on my feet, but as I wearily glanced up at Leo, my hand was slowly reaching for the dagger hidden in my coat.

"I'm sorry, Leo" With that, I took his arm, pulling him close to me, just as my hand closed around the dagger's hilt. I pulled it from my coat and plugged it deep into his chest, right through the incuse.

"Forgive me."

Cliffhanger! (sorry) Gosh, I'm axnious about the new chapter of the manga. We finally get the truth through some well deserved back story, and I still can't forgive Jack! (I hope you live Leo!) The next chapter will be up in a few days, and we'll finally see Carrie's power. And a note on the mystery man, you'll find out about him on the last chapter and in the sequel.

As always feel free to leave a reveiw.