Twenty feet was understandably high. But falling from that height, not a good idea.

Not unless you had a safety net down below.

I did.

Fabian narrowly caught me, and I was breathing heavily, my screams still vibrating. Fabian pursed his lips, in a motion that stated, "No. Not yet." I wanted to yell at him, thank him, and tell him to release me from this comfortable position. We hid under a tree, our shadows folding into the darkness provided.

We were silent, and still. I would have stopped breathing entirely, as the shock settled in, but Fabian kept jolting me awake with a light pressure on my upper arm.

"They're dead, Madam," a male voice rang out. "We must go. We shall convince the Perfects to believe they never existed.

"No," a lighter voice commanded. Her voice was so strong and full of authority. She placed a spell on anyone, every word their command. If she had asked me to jump off a roof, I would have.

But I just jumped three stories, how different could it be?

"Let's wait a few more minutes," the same voice recommended.

"Honestly, I don't understand how two simple people managed to take out two of The Council Members. It just isn't possible," a new, unique voice speculated.

"Well, what kind of people could both go through the test without any detection of the truth?" the first counter acted.

"I know for a fact that Nina was helped," the second voice stated proudly. "It was that Clarke. He was executed last night."

I began to thrash, but they seemed not to notice. Fabian's arms tightened around me, as tears cascaded down my face. I began to even attempt to pull away from him. I was ready to rewind, and throw Madam Snake face and her posse down the window, and watch as my safety net let them die.

They killed my best friend. Jerome saved me, and I messed up. Mara must be devastated, and I-

-I made a child fatherless, just like me. I am the reason why a child is going to go through so much pain and misery. Maybe if I hadn't made so many mistakes, it would be ok. Maybe I wouldn't have had to threaten The Council, and make them cause suspicions about me.

And suspicions about Fabian. He deserved none of this. He was the only person left it seemed, who cared about me.

"Nina," Fabian whispered. I just shook my head, and I buried my face into his dress shirt. I am so sorry, Jennifer, I thought, I am so sorry.

"Our patrol outside hasn't spotted them," the first voice confirmed. "They are gone."

"Then we must find them," the obvious leader declared.

"Fabian, run," I muttered.

"What?" he asked.

"They'll find us soon." I stated, "If we get a head start, then they won't find us."

"Nina, I might drop you," he warned.

"I'm ok with that."

Fabian was skeptical, and I leaned in close to his body, my head in his chest again. "Fabian, I only feel like perfect when I am with you. This-" I took in his smell of fresh books and the ocean, "-this makes me feel whole. The few simple words you say change my life."

"Nina-"

I stubbornly, wrapped my arms around him, and leaned as close to his ear as I could, as the yells seemed to get closer, "Go."

With that he took off.

He headed for the woods and everyone could see the movement. There were howls and screams behind us. I could feel glows of light upon me, my injured foot, dangling in the open for them to see. I could hear several of them mention it, and I could feel Fabian's heart pounding, and I could feel his breathing become shallow.

"I got her!" someone yelled behind her. I didn't understand what he said, until I was pushed onto the ground, and Fabian groaned against a tree.

With a knife in his arm.

"No!" I cried, as tears ran down my face. I removed the knife, gently, watching him yell in pain, causing my heart to shatter. "No! Fabian!" I could see the blood draining from his face, and I had nothing to stop the blood. I ripped off the bottom of my shirt, and I shivered from the cold air. My tank top was thin and not enough to protect me, but Fabian was dying before my eyes. I wasn't going to let negative degree weather stop me from attempting to save his life.

I tied the fabric tightly around his arm, my tears tangling with his blood, oozing down the side of his skin.

I could hear the shouts get closer and I did it before I knew why. I wiped the blood off of the weapon, before my anger got the best of me. I threw the knife in the direction of the cops. I heard a groan, it was probably a minor injury, I wasn't aiming or intending to harm. But it was enough.

The distraction was precious as I dragged Fabian along. I heard him moan and scream, no matter how many times I tried to get him to be silent.

"Fabian, please," I begged.

No response.

"Fabian," I said, bending down when I laid him gently on the rough dirt. I shook him lightly and his eyes were shut. "Fabian!" I yelled as loud as I could. The cops could find me, but Fabian dying would be more painful than any punishment The Council could offer.

I hit him, slapped him, several times, yet he wouldn't wake up. "Fabian!" I cried.

I leaned downwards and placed my ear right about his heart, where the only proof of him being alive was pounding softly.

"I won't let you die," I promised the same way he did to me earlier. I looked around, desperate for someplace to hide us.

But all I saw was dirt. There was a cave, but it was dangerous. The Council could believe we are in one and begin to explode each and every one of them. I wouldn't take the chance.

The only option was the trees, each one as high as love's power, seemingly infinite.

It was stronger than any will.

I could never make it up as high as Fabian could, my wound's bandages already opening up, but I had to make it high enough that we wouldn't be spotted, but low enough that I could see what was going on below. Not to mention, place Fabian three branches higher, each branch thick enough that I could climb up, with pressure on only one leg, that way I can help him if he gets in trouble.

But I was more likely to get into that than him.

I tried one more time. "Fabian?" I whispered.

His eyes fluttered open. He was adjusting to the lighting and was about to pass out again when I grabbed his collar, my fingers pinching his skin.

"Listen to me," I demanded. "You are not falling asleep again. Not until I know it won't be forever." I pointed upwards, "Climb."

"What?" he questioned. "Nina, we have to keep going."

"Fabian, I will not let you go any farther, because I will be worried that every minute that passes you'll-" I stopped. "Just climb." I didn't finish. I didn't want him to know that him dying and leaving me here alone would only cause my life to be invaluable. That him gone would be like a candle glowing brightly before someone blows it out.

Fabian, don't blow it out.

He did only after I swore to follow him. I let him go at least halfway up before I told him to sit.

And I knew he looked down.

I climbed onto the branch underneath his. "Fabian, Fabian," I said. I grabbed his shaking hands, "Look at me." His gaze shifted to my eyes. "You are not going to die. I will catch you before you ever do." His concrete blue eyes stared at me, burning holes into my skin. I saw his gaze shift downwards, and I let go of his warm fingers.

"Um… I'll go look around," I stated before he grabbed my arm again.

"I can't let you," he said. Then he began to stutter, "Not-Not like that. You'll execrate a lot of pressure on your leg. Just go to sleep, I'll take first watch."

"No way!" I screamed in a hushed tone. "You are not going to watch. You could fall asleep again. Besides, we need to clean your arm."

He closed his eyes and leaned against the trunk of the tree. He seemed to concentration on what he was doing, before opening his eyes and whispering, "Pocket."

I narrowed my eyes before I plunged my hand into his front left pocket, where there was a bulge I didn't notice before. I pulled out two bottles of antiseptic and on his left side pocket; there were five rolls of gauzes.

"You had this?" I exclaimed, already opening a bottle. I began to pour it over the wound gingerly, as he hissed and grasped one of my hands: the one that was lying on his knee.

And just like him, I didn't let go.

"I brought it for you," he explained. "For your leg, in case we had to run. I stuffed some in my pocket when you were nearly passing out. I knew that The Council would come in a matter of seconds so I just put them in my pockets."

I began to bandage the wound.

"Let me do your leg," he insisted. I continued to wrap the cloth around his arm.

"No, that can wait."

"No, it can't."

"Yes, it can."

"Nina."

"Fabian."

"Give it to me."

"No."

"Nina."

And for some reason, I looked into his face. In the moonlight, it looked like a shadow had covered his face. This shadow revealed the Fabian many never saw: the vulnerable, loving, ready to fight, protective, and tired Fabian. Tired of the fact that even when he tried so hard, all his loved ones slipped away.

This was the Fabian that was rare for everyone else, but normal for me.

By the time he was done cleaning my gash and wrapping it, my stomach was starving. After the past couple of weeks of three meal courses, I forgot what it was like to starve.

Oh my God, how is Fabian going to survive here?

"Nina," he whispered.

"Shh," I hushed, "just go to sleep."

His eyes were drooping as he called out, "Good night."

"Good night," I replied, "and I won't let anything bite you." I traced the outline of his shadow, and his smile was like a child's, when his mom whispered him sweet dreams.

I placed my lips to his forehead, and I leaned into him.

Don't think I love him because I don't.

I don't love him; I'd just die for him.

And one thought haunted me that night, Isn't that the same thing?