Being cuddled in Kierran's arms was the most wondeful thing I had ever experienced. All of my worries vansihed and a deep calm invaded me.

Kierran had insisted in resting for a while before deciding what to do next since my legs were slowly beginning to des-numb.

He had his back leaned on the wall, with me in his lap. My head rested on his chest. I could feel his heart beating under my hand. The beating increased when I raised my head and kissed the corner of his mouth and I laughed.

"What's so funny?" He asked curling a strand of my red hair around his finger.

I smiled to myself "Nothing, just that... we've been acting like kids since we first met"

He grinned and pulled me even closer, bringing my lips to his. Goosebumps formed in my arms as I tangled them in his hair.

I may not have my mother's support anymore, I might not be able to move my legs and die in two days but none of that mattered when Kierran was holding me. I felt delicate and safe, something I had so often dreamed about when in the Mortal wolrld I was just a ghost.

Our kiss deepened and the initially gentle touch, became a full-toe-curling-passionate kiss.

When we were finally able to break contact he kissed my forehead. "How are your legs doing now?"

" Better, I feel like running now"

He laughed. "As long as you don't leave me behind..."

"Not happening" I grinned.

Kierran started running his fingers along my arm. The touch was so featherly it left me wanting for more. Holy peppers, when had I become a Kierran-lusting-over girl?

I dozed off for a while with him caressing my arms.

I was finally able to walk again when I woke up, which gave some hope, maybe I wasn't that sick.

This time I paid close attention to absolutely everything surrounding me. Kierran looked relaxed but I knew he was as worried as me. And we starting to really miss Grimalkin, because without him, we didn't have the slightest idea of where to go.

My mind kept wandering towards the inevitable confession. I looked at Kierran from the corner of my eye. How would I tell him now that I was to die? Now I knew it would affect him. I didn't know what exactly was what we were, but it was something that couldn't be ignored.

We turned right and found a dead end so we had to head back and choose the other path, which also divided itself into two passages.

Choose the left one.

My head perked up. That hadn't been Kierran's voice.

"We should take this one" I suggested pointing at the left.

"Okay"

I was sure I hadn't imagined it, and felt curious. Uhhh who is there?

No answer.

Whatever, I just hope you're trying to help and aren't some creepy thing luring us into a trap.

The voice kept popping in my head only to give me directions, without replying to my attempts of chatting. But something was off. There was a car in front of us,

Kierran frowned "What the hell?"

"I was thinking the same thing"

We continued walking and the tunnel started widening; and more unusual things kept appearing. The path was now a street, and we were walking right through it.

Light filled the place and when I looked up, I let out a gasp. I was looking at the sky!

I coughed. "Tell me you also see that"

"Yeah, I see it"

"Good because I think I might be going insane"

He stopped in his tracks. "Shit"

"What?"

Kierran let go of my hand and walked a few steps forward. I followed him.

I stumbled back a little when houses appeared and also people.

"Kierran, what's happening?"

He didn't answer me but returned to my side.

I knew I had had enough when I saw my Mom, who was supposed to be 3 feet under the ground, coming towards me.

"Mom?"

Kierran looked at me as if I had grown another head. "What?"

"My Mom is there! How can that be?" She was smiling at me sadly and was wearing her old worn out jeans and usual button-down shirt.

"Summer I don't see anybody rather than you" He replied keeping his eyes focused ahead.

I knitted my eyebrows together. How could he not see her? She was right there!

My pulse quickened and I coughed again. "Mom? Can you see me?"

She stopped a few feet from me "Of course darling"

"No, because I'll protect her!" Kierran suddenly spat.

Okay, now I was lost. "Who are you talking to?"

Kierran put both hands on my shoulders. "No, Summer, who are you talking to?" He moved his hands until they were holding my face "Tell me exactly what you see"

"Ummm my mom, houses, a couple of trees" My breath caught in my throat "This is my home, my old neighborhood"

He threw his head back and sighed heavily "I'm in the wyldwood"

My eyes widened. "What?!"

"That's what I see. Someone's playing with our minds"

I glanced back at my Mom. She looked quite real. I felt like crying.

"Mom, what are you doing here?"

"Why couldn't you be a normal girl, Summer?And stay at home "

"Because -"

I was cut off by Kierran's scream. "DON'T LEAVE!"

"Kierran, I'm right here" He was looking around frantically, and I realized he couldn't see me. "Kierran!"

This was beyond crazy! We were mentally kilometers apart even though physically he was right beside me. His illusion was different from mine. I wondered what exactly was his.

Mom frowned. "Your life is a mess, well, you never really had a life"

My anger surfaced "That isn't my fault"

Her expression became confused "Who is it then? You chose to not to have friends. I was always worried about you. I could not stand it"

"What are you saying?"

She just smiled at me and turned around walking the opposite direction. I glanced back at Kierran who had his eyes firmly closed and jaw set. I didn't want to leave him alone so I stepped in front of him.

"Kierran, I'm here" I whispered.

His breath came slower now, and relaxed a bit. "You won't leave?"

I gulped "No, I won't" Standing on my tiptoes I placed a soft kiss on his lips.

Before I pulled back, his arms came around me. I rested my head on his chest breathing in his scent. "That wasn't nice" He threaded his finger down my hair.

"I bet"

"I'm back at the maze"

"I'm still in my illusion. How did you get out?"

"I'm not sure, I don't know how to explain it"

I bit my lip. "Let's get my Mom"

We followed her crossing some streets and a park. My insides froze when I recognized the place. She was leading us to her grave.

"Here it is darling. This is how I ended up. I was so stressed over you that I simply couldn't handle all of it" She vanished. Everything vanished, and I was back at the hospital, beside her bed, alone.

"No!" Kierran wasn't with me.

No, this is not real. He must be near. You just can't see him.

My mom was lying on the bed peacefully sleeping. I had no idea where they wanted to go with this but I wasn't buying it.

"Whoever is doing this knock it off or I'll beat the crap out of you!"

A nurse appeared and checked on my mom.

I asked the question I had never asked when in the Mortal Realm while I just kept to myself in the corner of her room. "How is she?"

The fake nurse patted my shoulder "Her blood pressure is very high, that may be due to constant stress and worry"

"But she has lung cancer, blood pressure's never been a major issue"

Her face was almost sorry for me "I'm afraid it has, just that she never told you"