NO MORE RUNNING

GEPOV

Vendetta's eyes begin to flutter open and first thing she sees is that her friends around a different bed.

She hailed down a nurse, "What happened over there?" Vendetta weekly asked.

"Detective Tenterhooks fainted from some questioning and he's blocked as well, like you." She answered with a creepy smile.

"What's your name?" Vendetta asked with an uneasy feeling.

"Clarabelle!", She yelled, "I got my job back, yeah!"

"Oh crap." Vendetta muttered, "Can you get my friends over there?"

"Even the passed out one?" Clara tilted her head.

"The ones who are awake."

"OK." Clarabelle giggled and called after them, "Goth chick's awake!" Valkyrie ran to Vendetta's bed as she sat up and leaned against the wall.

"You alright? You fainted right when you were going to tell us something." Vendetta remembered what she was going to say but refused to say it.

"I forgot what it was. How long was I under?"

"A little over a day. Rife did the same thing too." Valkyrie glanced at Rife and the others came by too.

"Can you do magic? Ghastly asked.

"I can't feel it, I'll try though." Her fingers snapped and nothing and tried and tried again but nothing, "I can't, I'm going to grow old now!" Vendetta sighed, "How did Rife get, you know."

"We were asking him questions, well Geoffrey and Philomena did, he fainted right when he was going to tell us who he danced with or something." Vendetta went rigid and fought the urge to tell her what happened. A *beep* came from Vendetta's pocket.

"Can I ask you something random?" Vendetta turned to face Ghastly, "When will you finish my clothes?"

"As soon as possible." Ghastly answered and walked out.

"Good. I need to go, excuse me please." They cleared her way and she caught bus to the café across from the green inn. Oracle was sitting inside and sipping her tea carefully with a second glass beside her.

"Excellent. You came." She smiled and offered Vendetta the second glass, "Take it, it's blue tea." Vendetta hesitated and took a sip.

"What did you do to Rife." Vendetta ordered.

"Your friends got too curious, that's all." Oracle examined Vendetta did one laugh, "I think you suffered enough, here." she glared at Vendetta, never lost eye contact. She felt her powers return and she eased up, "Better, right?" Oracle asked and Vendetta nodded.

"Tell me, why aren't you saying anything?" Oracle asked again.

"Thank you, why did you page me?"

"I just wanted to be sure. doesn't your side hurt at the weirdest times?" Oracle hinted.

Vendetta glared, "I thought my friends would be my force, not pain."

"Oh, it will be, don't worry I was making sure. That force will start, eh, now. Try it."

"What friends do I have here?" Oracle pointed at the old man that helped her when Donny was framing her, "He's so kind."

"Relax, it won't be anything intense, try telling that man behind you who I am than watch."

Vendetta hesitated and scooted toward the man behind her, "Hey, this week-looking girl is Oracle, She wants to-" Oracle poker her and pointed at the old man cut his finger.

"OK. Can I go now?" Oracle pointed for the door and Vendetta ran, to lose no time she jumped and transformed into a raven when no one was looking. She flew over to the Sanctuary to find Cleavers doing patrol. Vendetta landed and as she walked she to her former self. The Cleavers stared at her and she walked in. Vendetta ran inside to Nye's and found Rife reading an atlas. Oh, thank god she thought.

"Hey Rife." She called.

He put his atlas down and looked at who called him, "Oh, hi Vendetta!"

"How are you?" She asked.

"I can assure you I've been better." He laughed.

"Do you have your magic?" Vendetta asked.

"I can't really do magic." He whispered, "But I'll try some fire." His fingers snapped and a spark was set off, "I need help, I think."

Vendetta laughed, "You do, I'll help but at least you can do it. don't take this the wrong way but when were you born? Because you look a year or two older than me."

Rife laughed and said, "I was born in 1952. And you?"

"1928." Rife frowned, "What?" she asked.

"It's just that you're older by like twenty years and you look better than I do." He looked at Vendetta, who slightly blushed, "That came out so wrong, sorry."

Vendetta laughed, "A little bit. Let me teach you enough just to keep your youth."

Rife smiled, "I would like that."

"OK. I have to go, good night."

"See you." He waved as Vendetta left and got back to his atlas.

Vendetta stepped outside the room to find Tanith and Ghastly kissing down the hall. Before she could slip away Skulduggery caught her.

"Hello Vendetta." Skulduggery said, "Feeling better?"

"Much, thanks." Tanith spotted her and the two joined them.

"Where did you go?" Ghastly asked and crossed his arms.

"A friend paged me and I needed to help them." Vendetta started to get desperate, "I need to go home now, bye."

"Which friend?" Skulduggery asked.

"Soap Opera, my co-worker." She was now desperate, "I really need to go now, bye."

"Need a lift?" Tanith asked.

"No, I'll fly. Good night." She ran down the halls as soon as they couldn't see her and she took flight. She wished Oracle would force her with pain to herself and not to her friends. How can she be by them now? She can't run from this, there's no way. No more hiding.

Dramatic ending! Good old trusty Soap Opera. I miss wifi, there's connections at my cousins but they forgot the password! Their kids are naked and twirling, HELP!