A/N: Hey everyone! Since I was so late with my previous chapter upload, and I had some spare time today, I decided to post this one earlier for you all! Also thank you to everyone who has reviewed this story so far, the support means a lot, so this early upload is my gift to you! :)

Chapter Twelve

ROSE P.O.V:

DARKNESS SWIRLED AROUND ME AND it felt good. Even comforting. Just like a warm blanket you snuggled in on a freezing winter's night.

Then suddenly, a sharp pain entered my chest. It felt like my entire body was on fire. I could feel myself falling. I could feel my body, and the bullet that was lodged in my chest. But I couldn't see anything. A dark void seemed to be encasing me.

I continued to fall, and wondered if I'd ever stop. I stretched my arms out, and to my surprise, I felt something. Bracing myself, and ignoring the biting pain in my chest, I used all my strength to latch onto the rough material. My hands burned as I slid down what I know knew was a length of rope, and I eventually came to a stop.

Breathing heavily, I looked up. And for a while all I could see was darkness. But eventually, I noticed a small white dot. It had to be sunlight. I gazed down wards, but there was nothing to be seen. I could feel blood dripping down my chest, and my heart beat slowing. I was so tired, and it would be so much easier to just let myself fall…

No. I couldn't give up. I needed to get to the top, of whatever I was in, which meant I had to start climbing. Slowly, one small hand movement at a time, I began to pull myself up the thick piece of rope. It seemed like hours had passed, but when I looked up, the dot of light appeared to be even further away.

My breathing had begun to quicken, and I could feel that my hands had started to slip. But I wouldn't let myself fall. I was stronger than this.

A piercing sound started to echo around me. It was coming from above. The rope began to vibrate, and horror washed over me as I realised what was happening. Someone was cutting the rope.

"Stop cutting the rope! I'm down here!" I yelled, but the vibrations didn't stop. "Hey! Did you hear me!? SOMEONE'S DOWN HERE! YOU'LL KILL ME!"

The rope slackened, causing me to drop a few feet. But I wasn't going to just give up. Gritting my teeth, I used the adrenaline coursing through my veins to start climbing again. I could feel the bits of twine that was holding the rope together, starting to fray apart. I quickened my pace.

With some miracle, I had managed to almost reach the top. But that's when the rope snapped. And I began to fall again. I readied my body for impact, knowing that this was the end. But instead of hitting the hard ground, I softly landed in a pile of what felt like sand. Which made no sense, as I still should have been killed due to the height. I started to get up, and realised that the bullet was no longer in my chest. I didn't have a wound anymore. I was completely fine.

But as I walked around, using my hands to search for a way out, I realised I wasn't fine. Cold, stone walls were all around me.

I was trapped…

Rose.

I couldn't escape…

"Rose."

No one would ever find me here…

"Rose!"

Light suddenly filled my vision, and I was no longer at the bottom of a pit. Instead, I was in my old room, back at the Academy.

Another spirit dream. But no-one was here, just me.

"Adrian?" I called out, but he didn't reply. Instead, the door to my room began to open. Spinning around, I held up my hands, ready to strike.

The figure was quick, and leaped at me before I had a chance to make my move. But instead of attacking me, they hugged me. Focusing, I realised the figure was a tall, slim girl, with long blonde hair and jade green eyes.

"Lissa…" I muttered in disbelief.

"Finally!" She exclaimed, pulling away so she could look me in the eyes. "I've been trying to get through to you for days. At first, I thought it was me, but then Adrian explained that there has been something blocking our connection to you and-" Lissa let her words trail off, and I watched as her eyes widened with shock. I didn't have time to cover up my injuries, so I knew what she'd be seeing. Tears began to cascade down her cheeks, and I pulled her into a hug to shield her vision.

"I'm okay Liss."

She pushed herself away, clenching her fits in anger.

"No you're not! Don't lie to me Rose!" She yelled, as she paced around the room. "Why are they doing this to you?"

I walked over to her, and forced her to sit on the bed with me.

"They think I'm a monster, so this is like justice to them."

Lissa shook her head with dismay.

"I never thought the Alchemists could be capable of something like this."

I was about to agree when I remember something. How could I have forgotten?

"I don't think the Alchemists are working alone. The people who tortured me, referred to the Alchemists in a way that sounded like they weren't one of them."

"But, who else would the Alchemists work with? And why?"

I wracked my brain, trying to remember more details, but my memory was too hazy.

"I'm not sure Liss, I can't remember anymore details. But as long as you guys are safe, that's all that matters," I stated, getting up off the bed. "It's time we faced the truth. I can't escape, and you guys aren't going to be able to find me in time. And the last thing I want happening, is for Spirit to get the best of you. So you need to end this dream. Now."

"No!" Lissa hissed, pulling me back down on the bed. "Don't you dare give up Rose!"

I let my head fall to the ground.

"You'll be fine without me Lissa. You have Dimitri and Christian…"

"But I need you Rose! I need my best friend!"

My eyes locked with hers, and I spoke with such ferocity that I even managed to frighten myself.

"No, you don't! You're better off without me!"

Lissa pulled back, startled by my tone. But after a moment of silence, she spoke again.

"I get it now."

I looked at her with surprise.

"What?"

"I get why you've given up. It's because the bond's broken between us. You believe that without the bond, you're not a good Guardian and that you can't protect me."

Her words struck me hard. I hadn't realised what had been wrong with me all this time, but Lissa was right. I really did believe that.

"With the bond, I wasn't just a good Guardian. I was a legendary one. With it, I accomplished things that I could never have done without it. And most importantly, without it, we both wouldn't be alive right now."

"You don't know that Rose," she started, but I kept going.

"Don't I? When Victor took you, guess how we found you? That's right, the bond. And how did I know you were in danger with the Mana, or with Avery uh? Even when I was in a completely different Country, I was still able to save your life. And that was all because of the bond. But now it's gone…"

Grabbing my face, Lissa forced me to look at her.

"Now you listen to me Rose Hathaway. You're not a great Guardian because of the bond. You're a great Guardian because you are selfless, passionate and loyal, and also the fiercest fighter I have ever met. Yes, the bond was helpful at times, I'll admit. But when it comes down to it, you've been the one to save lives. I mean, it wasn't the bond that killed more Stirgoi than some adult Guardians have even seen in their entire lives. It was you. And it wasn't the bond that jumped in front of a bullet for me. I mean, it wasn't even Spirit that saved you from dying when you got shot. It was all you Rose."

As I looked into my best friends eyes, I could see pride in them. But I could also see worry.

"But it's more than that. I also need my best friend back. I mean, who else is going to kick my butt back into line if Royal life starts to give me a big head?"

I couldn't help but laugh.

"That would never happen to you," I said, pulling her into a hug.

"It won't as long as you're around."

Lissa was right. I had lost my fight, and all because I thought the bond had been the thing that had kept Lissa safe. But as I sat next to her, I knew that wasn't the truth. It was our friendship that had protected her, and is what would continue to do so.

"You're right, I've been a drama queen. I'm sorry Lissa."

She laughed.

"Oh my gosh, did Rose Hathaway just apologise and admit that she was wrong in the same breath?"

I playfully elbowed her in the side with mock anger, but couldn't help but smile along with her. But our grins soon faded, as we remembered why we were here.

"I'm guessing you guys aren't any closer to finding me?" I asked, having already guessed the answer.

"Actually, we managed to figure out that you're somewhere in West Virginia." I didn't often like being wrong, but this is one of the rare times that I didn't mind. Hope started to bubble up inside me at the thought of being found. "Dimitri's been down there for the past week, trying to find any more leads. But so far…"

"No luck?"

She shook her head.

I couldn't believe another week had just suddenly passed by, but the thought of Dimitri nearby, caused my heart to start racing. I had to see him again. I would see him again.

"Wait, if it's been two weeks, that means the vote is sometime soon right?" I questioned. Despite what was going on, the vote was still majorly important. Lissa needed to win so Jill could return home, and to prevent other things, like the age law from going ahead. If that happened, any sixteen year olds training to be Guardians would be forced to enter the field way before they were ready.

Lissa seemed surprised by the sudden change of topic, but went along with it.

"Yes, it's later tonight actually. I'm confident it will go in my favour though, as I have majority of the council on my side. And when it's all over, I'll be able to use all my resources to help find you."

I was glad that Lissa was feeling good about the vote, but I suddenly had another thought. Adrian had mentioned that something had been blocking both him and Sydney, and that it was pretty much just pure luck that he'd been able to reach me. So how did they get this new intel about where I was?

"Liss, how did you guys find out that I'm in West Virginia? Did one of Sydney's spells work?"

She hesitated, and I could tell that she was hiding something.

"Not exactly, no…"

I got up off the bed again, glad that the Spirit dream was able to take away the pain of my injuries, and stood in front of Lissa.

"What aren't you telling me?"

She averted my eyes.

"It's a long story Rose, and there's no point in me telling it because it won't do you any good."

"Lissa, please tell-"

I suddenly keeled over, a wave of pain suddenly hitting me. It felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach.

"Rose! What's wrong?"

I met her anxious stare.

"I'm beginning to wake up. They've had me on a drip, which has been keeping me unconscious," I spluttered out as I gritted my teeth. A long, thin cut started to appear on my arm. Someone must have decided to get the knife out. "But I'm pretty sure they want me to wake up now!"

Lissa stared in horror, as she grabbed my arm. She closed her eyes in concentration, and I knew she was trying heal it, but she couldn't. There was nothing she could do.

"Rose!"

She looked at me, and I knew she felt useless. I was being hurt, and there was nothing that could stop it.

"It's okay Lissa. I'll be okay, I'm not going to give up alright? Not again."

She nodded, and pulled me into another hug. I closed my eyes, and tried to ignore the feeling of cold, harsh hands trying to slap me awake.

"Please, stay safe Liss. Don't use anymore Spirit, okay?"

But I never got a reply from her. Because that's when I woke up.

A/N: Now that Rose has finally snapped out of her depressed state, will she be able to fight back and prove once and for all that she doesn't need the bond?

Next chapter up soon!

Remember to R&R!

P.s. Thank you for your ongoing support and feedback Mina Luriya! I hope this upload makes you feel at least a little bit better! Get well soon :)