Hey everyone, I don't want to be annoying but I need to know whether people are enjoying this story. If I don't receive any feedback, I'm going to assume that this story isn't being likde by majority of people, and therefore stop posting chapters.

But now that's out of the way, here's the next chapter:

Chapter Six:

THE MAN WORE AN EXPRESSION of agitation, but not one of shock or surprise. The ring had worked!

"What took so long?" He asked as he pulled me in front of him. I watched as Sydney silently walked over to where Adrian and Dimitri stood. Adrian's smile radiated more warmth than I had ever seen before, and I could tell he wanted so badly to embrace the woman he loved, right there and then. But he had no chance to do so, as Sydney followed my last minute instructions and pulled both men in the direction of the door. Dimitri glanced back, and met my eyes, but I evaded his look. I needed to focus.

The man realised that I wasn't going to answer, so he placed a hand on my shoulder to make me start walking. The others had disappeared around the corner. I waited a few more moments before making my move.

Turning on my heels, I punched the man directly in the face. He never saw it coming, after all, fighting wasn't a part of Alchemist's training. Unfortunately for him, I was a Dhampir.

The guy stumbled back, giving me a chance to grab the ID card that hanged around his neck. He reached out for my arm, but I easily blocked it and pushed him back. He fell to the floor, clearly stunned by what he could only assume to be Sydney's sudden increase in strength. I bolted around the corner, heading straight for the door. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the guy struggling to catch up with me. I needed to time this right. He was on the radio, and I knew that if I got too far ahead, he would ask for back up and for the building to be locked down. I slowed my pace, feigning exhaustion.

Up ahead, I could see Sydney, Dimitri and Adrian waiting by the door. I watched as realisation washed over their faces. Dimitri shook his head, and I knew he wanted me to stop. But I couldn't, this was the only way. My grip tightened on the card, as I came to a sudden halt at the door. I swiped it, hoping that the Alchemist's hadn't already shutdown the lock on the door. The light turned green, and I threw open the door. A hand clasped around my left arm, and I was pulled back. Adrian grabbed Sydney's hand, and hurried through the already closing door. Dimitri paused, clearly torn. He didn't like this new plan of mine, but he trusted me. And that's what I loved about him. He always believed in me. He glanced at me one last time, as if to say: be careful. And then, he was gone. The door slammed shut, and the Alchemist man pinned both my hands behind my back, ripping his ID card out of my hand as he did.

"Did you really think that was going to work?"

I hanged my head in fake disappointment as we headed back to the cells. But really, I was smiling.

My friends had made it through the door, and would be out of this place in no time. All I had to do now was follow the rest of the plan, and I'd be out of here too. Easy enough.

I was shoved back into Sydney's cell, were I sat on the cot and began to wait. As glad as I was that the plan had worked so far, I hated being stuck in a cell. It brought back the memories I had tried to forget about.

Just breathe.

But the more I ignored the images, the more prominent they become.

Pain.

My chest tightened, and my skin started to drip with sweat.

Darkness.

I needed to be strong!

Blood.

I needed to pull it together, otherwise I really would be trapped!

Death.

"Stop it!" I yelled, grabbing my head in frustration. "That's all in the past!"

"What's in the past Miss Sage?"

I looked up, startled, to find a man at the cell door. I could only see his face through the bars, and for a moment I thought it was the same Alchemist from before. But this guy was someone else. The shadows of the room covered most of his features, but his tone radiated authority. To prove my point, he opened the door and ordered two younger Alchemist's inside to restrain me.

Finally, it was moving time.

I waited for them to escort me out, but they just stood there holding me, while the older male stared at me critically, almost like he was studying something. I thought he was waiting for me to reply to his previous question, but a sinking feeling in my stomach told me it was much more than that.

"Do you know what I find remarkable Miss Sage?"

I shook my head. He closed the door behind him and took a step forward. My body tensed. "I find it remarkable that people, or should I say, certain vampires, think they can pull a stunt without the Alchemist's realising. They actually have the arrogance to believe that they can fool us."

He took another step closer, allowing the dim light in the room to reflect against his dark hair. His features were harsh, and his eyes were cruel. But at the same time, he reminded me of someone…

"Nothing to add? Surely a bright young girl like you would have something to say about all this," he remarked, sweeping his hand in emphasis. I flinched as his hand struck out and latched onto my hand. "But then again, you're not Sydney are you?"

He ripped the silver ring off my middle finger, and tossed it to the ground.

How did he know?

Guess I'd just have to enact the escape plan a tad earlier.

I elbowed my captors in the stomach, and then spun around, aiming my foot at the man's face.

He managed to dodge the blow, and grabbed my leg. He twisted my foot upright until there was a snap, and I collapsed to the ground in agony. I began to get up, ignoring the seering pain, but the man back handed me in the face with so much strength, I could taste blood in my mouth. The other two men, now recovered, were on me again and kept me pinned down. The man leaned over and grabbed my chin, so our eyes were forced to meet.

"Ah, the famous Rose Hathaway." He smirked. "It seems the rumours have been wrong. You're just another pathetic devil filled with nothing but darkness."

"I'll show you pathetic," I hissed, freeing my hand and punching the guy straight in the nose. He buckled, giving me the chance I needed. The crunch of his nose distracted the other two guys enough for me to punch one guy in the throat, and throw the other guy's head into the brick wall. Wasting no time, I used the cot to stumble to my feet. Practically hopping thanks to my new injury, I eventually got to the door, and tried to pry it open but it was locked.

Shit.

I saw movement behind me, but I reacted to slow. My whole body was shoved against the door, before I was thrown back onto the floor. I looked up to see the man holding his nose. Fury was all over his face.

"You shouldn't have done that." He reached into his coat pocket, and pulled out a silver stake. What, were we just handing out fricken stakes now?

"That won't work on me," I remarked blatantly, as I tried to get back onto my feet.

"Maybe not, but it will still hurt you." He moved before I could even flinch. I screamed as the stake entered my leg, and lend over to rip it out, but the man push me back.

He leaned over me, and his hands wrapped around my throat.

"Where is Sydney you monster? Where is my daughter!?"

I froze.

I couldn't believe it, but this guy was actually Sydney's father. That's who he reminded me of. Except where Sydney was full of light and love, he was filled with nothing but hatred. He was the real monster here.

The others must have gotten away, I realised. If he has no idea where she is, it means they're safe.

There was no way I was going to tell him anything. Taking the high road, I took a deep breath and spat in his face. Blood and saliva splattered across his eyes, but he hardly blinked. "You will talk," he stated firmly.

That's when I noticed that his key card was hanging out of his pocket. If I could get to it, I could open the door…

I went to reach for it, but my arm didn't respond. I began to panic. I couldn't even feel my arms, or my legs. The pain from the stake was now completely gone. I was starting to feel dizzy and faint, which I thought was from the blood loss. But as I looked around, I found the man I had punched in the throat, pulling something out of my arm. A needle.

No, this wasn't the plan.

My head fell back, and my eyes began to close. I fought to keep them open, but I no longer had control over them.

But you got the others out, I told myself. And that's all that matters.

Yet I had still failed. I had broken my promise to Dimitri. I had told him to trust me, and that I would be fine. I thought I knew what I was doing, but the Alchemists had somehow figured everything out.

As my eyes slid shut, and I slipped into darkness, I could hear Dimitri's words play through my mind.

I'm afraid of how you'll act. It's like you've lost your fight…

He had never been more right, and now I had no idea what was going to happen. All I could hope for was another chance to fight back.

That's if I ever awoke again.