The area around her shoulder throbbed, a dull pain pulsing through the purpling bruise. It didn't help that that was the exact place that her strip of deep purple material was tightly tied. But that was the least of her worries at the moment. Hell, it wasn't even more than a tickle compared to the intense burning that spread through her veins like a wild fire, causing her vision to blur at random moments and black dots to line the edges of her vision. The poison was destroying her from the inside out, forcing blood to bubble from her mouth with every little cough.

It hurt, and the labyrinth she was pushing herself through was just making her already bad mood deteriorate even more. The only thing that kept her sane was her memories. Her brother, Jet, and the thought that Yuki, wherever the girl the blue haired girl was, was waiting for rescue. Or dead. V growled at that. Stupid mind. Why did it seem, now of all times, to turn on her? To feed her brain heart wrenching thoughts. Every time she tried to think happy thoughts, one of her tricks to staying calm in desperate situations, the images would morph, blood splattering every inch of her friends body and her usually glistening eyes murky, no longer their vibrant sea blue. V shook her head, wavy white locks fluttering around her head with the action as she slowed to a stop. Ice blue eyes bore into the ground as she heaved, sucking in quick, needy breaths. Her hands gripped into tight fists at her sides.

"You're annoying, always talking about 'Jet this' and 'Jet that'. Cork it would you!"

Yuki…

Sure, maybe she didn't come across as kind at first. But she was, V had come to understand that about the snow mage over the months… weeks… however the hell long they had been locked down in that cell together. Below the ice-cold exterior, Yuki was a kind hearted girl. And after hearing everything about the girls past, V could clearly see why the seventeen year old had built up such a big wall. That one night changed everything between them.

The one night that V had seen Yuki cry, the crystalline drops running down her unblemished skin – that one break in her defences that the blue haired teen had never wanted anyone to see. But she had been caught, and it wasn't long before every brick was crumbling and V was holding the girl in her arms, listening as she poured her heart out, tears soaking the silver haired girls shoulder as the other sobbed.

And when everything finally calmed down, and the snow mages sobs turned into mere hiccups, V had plastered on a smile, changing the subject from the depressing tale murder and misery and instead to the cheerful moments that each had spent with their families and guilds. And for the rest of the silent even, that was all they did. Whispered stories of high adventures, silly conversations and stupid, immature fights filled the otherwise silent air of the dingy cell, and when the two awoke the next morning, neither sure when they had fallen asleep, the tense atmosphere that had clogged the air had vanished leaving a calmer environment.

Suddenly, V was aware of something warm and wet trailing down her skin, leaking from her palms. Blood. She had dug her nails in so deep that she had broken the skin, letting crimson droplets leave red streaks down her arm. Taking a shaky breath, the nineteen year old slowly pulled her nails free from her flesh, wincing slightly as a burst of cold wind hit the new cuts, making them sting. He eyes trailed up towards the bleeping red numbers glowing in the dim lighting, the short amount of time slowly registering in her mind. One hour and fifteen minutes. Only one hour and fifteen minutes left to find Yuki and get the hell out of there. Suddenly the numbers blurred, and V snapped her head down, hand reaching up to trail her fingers across her damp face. Was she crying? Yes… her fingers came away wet – slightly shiny with moisture. Why was she crying?

"Is the pressure getting to you, miss V?" The announcer's voice reverberated off of each wall, the vibrations buzzing through V's muscles. Hurriedly she brought the butt of her palms up to her face and rubbed at her eyes, trying to stop the tears.

"Shut up you bastard…" She grumbled before sniffing and wiping at her nose, adding more pressure to her muscles as she once again started walking. Yuki better still be alive…

"Don't die on me now, you blue haired bitch!"

Yuki smiled softly and tilted her head upwards towards the open entrance of the room, hearing the words still echo through the hallway. Bitch, eh? A small chuckle pushed its way forwards and out of the girls lips as her head dropped again, sea blue eyes softening as she gazed at the floor. That damn V, shouting unnecessary stuff again. Who was the bitch here?

But Yuki was glad to know that the white-head was still alive – still fighting. That meant that there was still hope. But she had known from the beginning, hadn't she? Ever since she had first regained consciousness, Yuki had known that V wouldn't give up – she just wasn't that type of person. Plus, she seemed adamant that her brother Jet was alive and waiting for her, that must have given her some determination, right?

Yuki suddenly looked down at the ground, body slackening slightly in her restraints, chains jangling. The loud clinking seemed to echo in the tiny room, the sound reverberating off of the surrounding walls. The blue haired girls eyes softened. She had faith in V – a strong, unwavering faith – but that didn't stop the doubt that managed to claw its way into her heart, filling her mind with these thoughts. These horrible images, a slideshow of ghastly scenarios that just kept repeating themselves over and over again, causing her heartstrings to tug painfully and her sanity to waver. But she had to stay strong. For V. For herself.

So she remembered the good memories – a very small amount – of her time in the cell. Of her time with V. She remembered the way the girl would talk so passionately of her brother, their bond as thick as the strongest lead. She remembered how the girls usually loud personality had dimmed, turning soft and caring when Yuki had broken down due to the trials of her haunting past.

A past that even now refused to leave her alone. Maybe it was due to this that the images her brain conjured up of her friend's corpses seemed so vivid and lifelike. Maybe it was because she had already seen the black veils of death wrap around those who were important to her before. Back at that horrible time when she had seen her mother and father, her little sister, torn away from the land of the living right before he very eyes, their own usually bright orbs becoming hazed and glassy with the coldness of death.

No. Why was she thinking of this now? These thoughts were the last thing she needed! Think positive, Yuki, she whispered to herself, mentally trying to keep faith. V will come – you'll both survive. Just believe… believe...

Slowly she raised her head upwards, neck stiff and a dull ache taking rest in the inactive muscles. One hour and ten minutes. Another ten minutes had gone by. Another six hundred seconds wasted on useless memories. Damn it. Damn it all to hell.

Sea blue eyes flickered over to the wide entrance of the room, flashes of hope flashing across the cerulean orbs. She could see down the hallway, and she watched as the lachrima lights switched from on to off to on again like some freaky scene from a horror movie. Come on V…

Come on…

"I believe in you."

It's short - I know, and I'm so sorry! On the bright side, I've chosen what options I'm taking! Art, Media, History and Textiles! YAY! I'm so relieved, now all I need to do is wait for the form to fill them out and a HUGE weight will be lifted!

Well, this is the second of the two teams' chapters, so that means voting time! I will set up the poll on my page and it will last for three days, as per usual, and then the final one or two chapters of this tournament will be released! (I might even add in a Christmas special if I get the energy XD)

I would prefer if people would vote using the poll, because it makes my life a lot easier considering I wouldn't have to keep a tally on a sheet of paper (Which I would probably end up losing...) but if you really want to vote using reviews then that's fine, I'll still count them :)

And guys! I've started watching Hetalia and it's AWESOME! My favourite characters so far are Romano and Prussia~ (SORRY ENGLAND! I KNOW I LIVE IN YOU BUT I LIKE LOVI AND GIL MORE!)

I can't get over the fact that Iggy has the same voice actor as Sasuke though. I'll just be sitting there watching him talk to Flying Mint bunny and all I can imagine is Sasuke talking to them instead and then Naruto popping round the side smiling and whatnot before freezing and think "What the hell...?" XD I CAN'T STOP LAUGHING AND EVERYONE IN THE LIBRARY JUST LOOKS AT ME WEIRDLY!

Carter: Just hurry up, would you... I'm hungry and you said we'd go to Cosmo's!

Me: Fine, fine, don't get your knickers in a twist! One last thing before I go! I made my friend in Texas laugh by telling her the sentence "Just popping to the loo" DO NO OTHER COUNTRIES USE THE WORD 'LOO'?! IS THAT WHAT YOU GUYS WOULD CLASS AS A 'STEREOTYPICAL BRIT'?!

Carter: EM! HURRY UP!

Me: Ok, I'm shutting up now...

BYE GUYS!

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!