OMG THIS IS ALMOST THE END OF THE STORY!

I never thought that I, Mikki, would live to see the day that a story finishes

I AM SO HAPPY I MIGHT START A HAPPY DANCE BUT UNFORTUNATELY, this chapter is a bit intense so I think I'm going to have to wait until I get your responses

If you guys are wondering, yes I am still in Korea and I am living it up xD

But, I said I could update so here I am!

Hope you guys love it and as a request, try reading my Jeff the Killer story that you can find IN MY PROFILE! It's one of the few stories I really love and is coming really great :)

So without further ado, HERE IS THE CHAPTER!

IMPORTANT A/N THAT YOU GUYS MUST READ! AND I MEAN IT! DON'T YOU DARE SKIP THIS AN!

You guys are going to hate me for this even more but I decided to change the chapter a bit by adding something in the end. For those who haven't read the chapter before i changed it, well then, I hope you like it

For those who have read the chapter before I changed it, well then, please do not kill me for doing this to you guys.

Honestly, I wanted to add the small bit in the next chapter but then I realized that it seemed -how to put it- not intense enough. So, decided to move the small bit into this one for a bit more effect that will make the next chapter good (I least, I hope it will be good)

And I feel like by adding this small bit, it gives you an idea of what happened after Jeb did what he did (not spoiling it for those who haven't read this chapter yet)

Once again, I am so sorry that there was this kind of change and I really do hope that you guys who have both read or unread this chapter yet NOT KILL ME :)

And so, without further ado (like last time), HERE IS THE CHAPTER!

- Chapter 20: Goodbye and Farewell -

"She's not answering her phone. I don't know what's up." Ella sighed as she threw her phone across the lunch table. Everyone else sighed as well.

After Fang had listened to the song, he texted everyone else and they all knew that something was wrong with her. Even though she had lied to them, they all forgave her easily. They all understood how it felt with keeping a big secret from everyone and honestly, they were all tired at being mad. They didn't want to be mad anymore. They just wanted their friend back.

And now, she wasn't answering them.

"What do we do now?" Iggy asked and they all shrugged.

"I have no idea." Gazzy said in defeat but Angel had a different idea.

"I think we have to help her. Obviously, something is up. We know her; something like this song definitely gives a hint on what's happening. Someone is controlling her. We just need to find a way to help her." Everyone nodded.

"But how?" Iggy asked.

"I heard there's going to be a concert this Sunday. How about we get tickets and just sneak in backstage?" Ella suggested and everyone agreed.

"How much are they?" Nudge asked and Ella quickly looked them up. Her face fell immediately.

"Sold out." She said, much to everyone's dismay.

"There must be some way in." Gazzy said and they all started to brainstorm while Fang decided to check the radio to see if there were any updates on Max.

"Isabella Masters' concert is sold out but never fear for Radio 8 is here! Be the 51 caller and get 2 tickets and backstage passes for free! Call 555- 0880 now and be the lucky 51st caller! Starting now!" Fang had his phone out the moment he heard caller. Everyone else saw him and quickly followed but one by one, their faces fell. That is, until Ella screamed yes in the cafeteria.

"2 tickets on the go!" She shouted in joy and everyone cheered with her.

"Who's going to go then?" Angel asked and they all looked at Ella and Fang.

"You two. Definitely you two." Nudge said and everyone else agreed.

"So, it's settled then. This Sunday, you guys go to the concert, go backstage, meet Max, and try to figure out what's wrong." Angel strategized and for once, they all felt happy.

Sunday came and Ella and Fang were ready to go to the concert.

"Do you think she'll recognize us?" Ella asked Fang in doubt and he nodded.

"She will. For one, there is only one person she knows that wears only black." Ella giggled as she nodded in agreement.

"Come on. Let's go save Max." And they were off.

As they arrived, they saw that already a thousand people were gathered in the stadium in hopeful eyes. They took the VIP route, as they got backstage passes as well, and soon enough they were in backstage. Everyone was hustling around, putting on their makeup and clothes.

Ella and Fang decided that they would split up and find Max, which wasn't very hard since there was a mob of makeup people around one person.

Fang waited until the mob dissipated and after a long moment, he found himself standing right in front of Max.

"Yes? Can I help you? Are you the winner from Radio 8?" She asked in monotone and Fang was taken back. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

"Max, it's me." He said but she just stared at him.

"I'm sorry, am I supposed to know you? You don't seem familiar." She said as confusion was plain in her eyes.

"Max –"

"I'm sorry. My name's not Max. It's Isabella, Ella for short. What girl would be called Max anyways? It's a guy's name."

"You would be called Max since you hated being girly and everything. Max, don't you remember me?" Fang's hope was slowly starting to fade.

"Why would I be called Max? It's absolutely disgusting. Look, if you want an autograph, you're going to have to wait until the end of the concert. You already have the privilege to be backstage but I have to be fair and give the autograph after, just like everyone else."

"Max…"

"My name is not Max!" She suddenly said and at that moment, Ella came in.

"Fang, you found – Max?" She changed her sentence once she saw her.

"Ok, you guys must be kidding me right now. I am not Max. Maybe I look like some friend of yours but I'm not Max. I'm Isabella, ok? I'm a guitar sensation, a legend, not some petty friend of yours. Please stop calling me that." Max said aggressively and Ella shrunk back.

"Fang, what's happening?" She whispered but al Fang could give her was a subtle shrug.

"If you want a tour around here, ask the manager or something. I have to get ready. If you excuse me…" She scooted around them and left hastily.

"Fang… Did you – "Ella started to say after she left.

"Yeah. Her eyes were blank throughout the whole conversation."

~.~

The concert was, though Fang hated to admit it, amazing. Her voice rang throughout the whole stadium and it was beautiful. Her songs, though, were spine chilling.

The concert ended beautifully depressing and soon enough, everyone was running to line up to get her autograph. As a last attempt, Ella and Fang ran with the crowd.

Who knew how long they stood waiting for their turn to arrive. Too many people spent too much time getting their autographs, taking their pictures, and attempting to flirt with Max. So, after what seemed to more than 100 years, Ella and Fang were next in line to meet up with Max, or Isabella Masters.

"Next!" She called out and both Fang and Ella took a deep breath before moving towards her. Her eyes sparked with angry recognition.

"You." She growled at Fang as she started to sign the pictures. "What're your names?"

"Her name's Ella Martinez and I'm Fang Masters. Do you remember us?" Fang asked cautiously.

"Yeah, I remember you two. You guys kept calling me by a name that's not even mine." She replied in the same cold tone.

"No, I mean, with our names. Doesn't it sound familiar?" She hesitates for a moment.

"Well yeah. My nickname is Ella. And my last name is Masters…" She trailed off as her face filled with confusion. Fang felt hope surge through him once more. Whatever happened to her, she was slowly starting to remember again.

"It's us, Max. You and I, we were best friends since 3rd grade, even after you were discovered as a super model. You met Fang at school, after you decided that you wanted to have a normal life. You two dated and you guys were so happy together. Please remember us, Max. Everyone misses you. Angel and Gazzy both sniffle every time they hear your name and Nudge and Iggy always hide their tears. We miss you. Please come back to us." Ella told her and Max's face turned more and more into pure and utter confusion.

"Nudge…? Angel…?" She questioned every name and Fang gulped, in hope of Max's remembering.

"Max, I love you." Fang decided to say at last and she snapped her head at him.

"You… what?"

"I love you. I love you so much." He said, emphasizing his phrase.

"…Fang?" She slowly said his name and he saw a spark of recognition in that name.

"Max, do you remember me?" He asked but before he could answer, both Ella and Fang were suddenly grabbed from the side by two humongous bodyguards.

"Took too much time. Next!" One of them called out and before they knew it, they were kicked out and out of the concert stadium.

I have never felt so confused before in my life. The two people, Ella and Fang, have done something to brain to make it feel like mush.

And all the other names… I know those names from somewhere, and they are not common names… or well, nicknames.

Did I know them? Did I know them in school? But that impossible. I was homeschooled because I was almost raped. My parents took precautions so that that wouldn't happen again. And yet… There was something so familiar about their voices… And when Fang had told me he loved me… There was something between the two of us, wasn't there?

I groan in utter annoyance. This is too much information for me to process. I need some time to rest and ease my mind.

I go up to my room and take out my guitar. Ah, my guitar. My one and only trusted instrument. My soulmate in music.

I start play the simple tunes and slowly start to go faster and faster. I end up playing Metallica's Master of the Puppets and déjà vu hits me hard.

I remember playing the same song in a house to someone… But who?

I abruptly stop and at that moment, my door opens and my dad enters, smiling.

"Amazing job out there, Ella. I'm so proud of you." Dad compliments and goes to hug me. I hug him back. I can trust my dad, right? I can tell him this déjà vu stuff, right?

"Hey dad?" I start to ask.

"Hmm?"

"Can I tell you something?"

"I don't know what happened or how it happened but it was official the time when we went backstage. She didn't remember us." Ella explained to the group and they nodded seriously.

"So she must have lost her memories somehow. But what happened next?" Iggy asked and Fang sighed.

"We stood in line to 'get her autograph'," Ella put quotation marks while saying that, "and we tried to her to remember us. We almost got through her but then stupid bodyguards came up out of nowhere and kicked us out." She said angrily and the group all sighed.

"What do we do now, then? Obviously something is up and something or someone made her forget." Nudge said and they all agreed. What were they going to do?

"I say we keep trying. We need to get her attention and I say we start by researching where she is and what she's doing." Fang said and everyone nodded.

Right now, everything around didn't matter. What mattered was saving Max.

"Get away from her, you peasant!" My mother's voice cuts through and I run towards that direction to see what's up.

"I need to talk to her. I don't want to burden you madam, but she is important to us. You have to let us through." An unknown voice answers.

I don't know if I should intrude or not so I just hide in the corner that's close enough to my mother and the stranger.

"She is not important to you, though. So get off of our property or so help me I'll –" Her voice is cut off my father's.

"Anne, what's the matter?" He pats her shoulder and she sighs.

"These – these filthy people think they can just waltz into our property, thinking that they can just talk to our daughter. I mean, there's logic here that these idiots can't understand." She exasperates while dad just nods his head in understanding.

"I understand. Let me talk to them, Anne. You know you can't have a lot of stress."

"I know. I'll be in the bedroom." And my mother leaves, leaving dad with the unknown people. His sympathetic voice changes immediately to that of coldness.

"You little kids better run off before I call the police." He sneers.

"You can't do that. We are technically doing no harm to your property." A female voice answers.

"What do you want?"

"We want to talk to Max." The unknown voice from before says and I'm confused. Was there a person named Max in this house?

"There is no Max in this house." Dad voices my thoughts. "So get off and go back to school."

"Not until you show us Max. We want to just talk to her for a bit." A much lighter female voice says.

"Listen here, I have no time for punks like you. I'm going to say it one more time: GET OFF OF OUR PROPERTY!"

"WE WON'T UNTIL YOU LET US TALK TO MAX!"

"YOUR MAX IS NO LONGER IN THIS WORLD! GIVE UP AND LEAVE!" I can't take it anymore. I come out of the corner.

"Dad?" I timidly say and he turns around, shocked. I peer through the door and see that there are 6 people waiting impatiently. 2 of them look so familiar to me. I decide to ignore it for a moment.

"Ella, what are you doing here? I thought you were in your room, working on your next song."

"I was. Until I got hungry and went to the kitchen for a glass of water. Dad, why are you shouting? And why were you talking about a Max? There's no Max living here."

"Of course not, darling. There is no Max in this house." He says and glares at the 6 people. While dad's distracted, a handsome dark haired boy penetrates the entrance and comes up to me.

"Max, it's me. Don't you remember? It's me, Fang." He says and grabs my hand. A strange sense of déjà vu hits me hard and I brush off his hands.

"How dare you touch my daughter?" My dad roars from behind and slaps the boy hard on his head. He staggers and the 5 people all act at once, attacking my dad in all directions.

But I'm not doing anything to help him. I just stand there, looking at the boy named Fang.

"Fang? I don't know anyone who's named Fang. I don't know you." I say, confused. He grunts in annoyance.

"Remember the concert? Me and Ella, that's the brown haired one, won tickets from the radio and got backstage passes. We also got autographs from you. We talked to you, Max."

"My name's not Max." I say.

"Your name is Maximum Ride. You're 17 and you were a supermodel. You wanted a normal life so you disguised yourself as a normal girl and went to our school. You met Ella and the rest of us. You entranced me so greatly, Max. I swore never to date another girl again after what happened to Maya but you broke it in like 3 seconds. Max, we dated and we confessed that we loved each other at prom. Max, please, remember me." He pleads and before I know it, his lips are in touch with mine.

Everything comes back to me.

I kiss him more and more forcefully with every passing second and he responds in every way. When we finally separate from each other, he lays his hand on my cheek.

"Fang… Fang, it's you. It's really you." I say, emotion taking over my entire body and I clasp my hands to his cheeks. "I remember you. I remember you." I keep saying over and over and he hugs me tightly.

"I'm so sorry, about everything." He whispers and kisses my forehead.

"NO!" A roar stops everyone cold and I see dad, no – Jeb – with eyes as cold as Antarctica. His eyes stop at Fang's and points at him.

"It's all your fault, isn't it? You – you ruined everything. We had everything planned out for Ella. I had spent more than 7 years learning the art of hypnosis, getting humiliated in front of millions people when I couldn't hypnotize properly, getting beat every time I did wrong, just so that if Ella's supermodel business failed. Plan B was supposed to work perfectly. She would start her career as a singer and keep making money for us. But now, you ruined it all!" He screams.

"You purposely hypnotized me so that you and that witch could get money? You were just using me for money?" I scream back and I stalk up to him. "I loved you so much, dad. Every day I fantasized having a perfect life with you but you're just like that witch, aren't you?" My hand goes up and slaps his cheek hard.

Ella, Nudge, Iggy, Angel, and Gazzy are all frozen in place, watching the scenery. I glance at them and give them an apologetic smile. They all snap back to reality and run towards me and hug me.

"I missed you guys so much." I say and they all mutter the same time.

"No! No, no, no! This wasn't supposed to happen! This wasn't supposed to happen!" Jeb screeches as he cradles his cheek. "Your fault! It's all your fault!" His vision is on Fang and before I can process it, he has a gun on his hand.

"No. Jeb, what are you doing?" I yell in panic as I run to protect my lover. But it's too late.

"ALL. YOUR. FAULT!" He screams as he pulls the trigger.

5 years later...

The mist was covering the whole place as if it were drawn to it.

She should have known the mist would always be here.

She would have laughed at the irony.

But this was no laughing matter.

She walked through the mist, barely able to see what was in front of her. She tripped countless times to the small pebbles that were hindrances to her, and she couldn't count how many times she swore while protecting the flowers she had bought from a near flower shop.

After what seemed like forever, she finally found it.

She thought she would never find it.

But she did.

She dropped to her knees.

She didn't even know she was crying but she felt her tears running down her cheeks and soon enough, she was forcing them out ardently. In times like this, it was okay to be weak, it was okay to cry for once.

She knew she had to pull it together. But she couldn't. It wasn't because of what had happened. It was because of what happened after.

The moment the victim's last breath was drawn, she had stood up and without another word to the people surrounding her, she ran and ran and ran... And never went back.

But finally, after 5 years, she decided to come back to the place where it all started without anyone knowing.

She decided to finally get some confidence and walk onto the road of emptiness, in hopes of crossing to the road of hope, lies, truth, and pain.

And so, here she was.

She had crossed over to the road of emotion and while a small part of her regretted even coming here in the first place, the remaining part - which was a big part - congratulated her for doing at least that much.

She placed the white flowers onto the ground, right in front of worn out stone.

And then, she whispered, "Rest in peace."

In the End by Black Veil Brides

I recently got into Black Butler (and I am loving it) but the anime was so sad and so unfair to Sebastian (who is hot as eff)

Anyways, going back to the chapter...

Are you guys angry?

Please don't be! I honestly swear that it wouldn't go like this but as I was writing this chapter, this idea just came up to me so I was like, sure why the fuck not?

But now I realize what I did and I'm like facepalming right now

Hope you guys can wait a bit longer for the next chapter and please refrain from swearing at me for the cliffhanger

R&R!

Peace!

CONTINUING THE AN FROM THE TOP

Are you guys ok to handle the small bit I added?

Of you couldn't, then... I AM SO SORRY FOR WHAT I DID TO YOU!

But, all in all, I really like this chapter (even though it was a little rushed I guess) and I hope you guys liked it too (especially the small bit I added)

If you guys didn't read the AN on top, then shame on you!

But if you did, then you must have at least expected this kind of thing, right?

Love you guys for supporting me so much on this story and I am pretty certain that the next chapter will be the last of this story

Let us hope for the end!