Author's Note: I do not own Nine Lives of Chloe King nor any of the characters except the ones you guys do not recognize. Most of the places are made up and don't actually exist. AND I'd like to tell you guys how much I appreciate your reviews. I know it's been a while since I've written but I've gotten some free time on my hands. So here ya go!

Twenty-Five

Chloe POV

I felt as if everything else happened in slow motion. Everyone has an experience like this where something horrible occurs right in front of them and it's almost as if they're paralyzed to move for a few seconds. The way they both just seem to be falling until they were nearly completely over the edge. My body seemed to react before my mind could process what was going on. I lunged forward, my arm cast out towards the two boys. I managed to grab Alek's arm before he fell. Considering the fact that he was heavier than me, my feet began to skid across the rough asphalt tugging me until I was on my knees straining with all my might. I grabbed both of his wrists with my hands now. That's when the panic registered in. Alex was hanging onto the roof with his fingertips. My boyfriend looked at me.

"Let go," he ordered. I shook my head. "Chloe…you're going to fall with me if you hang on. Let go. I'll be fine."

"I can do this," I spat out through gritted teeth. My strength was weakening. My hands began to sweat; I could feel Alek's arm slipping little by little, almost as if the world was trying to taunt me, to trick me into thinking he was going to fall. No! My brain screamed. Hold on! Don't let him fall!

What the fuck did my brain think I was trying to do?

Alex's fingers were already coming off the building. He had a panic look on his face. The moment of truth hit me like a huge brick wall. I couldn't save both of them. I may not be able to save myself if I continued to hold on. But due to the love I felt for this British boy, my fingers tightened around his skin painfully. Dying would be nothing to me anyways. It was his life on the line.

"Chloe-"

"Alek shut up!" I snapped. "You're not going to fall, okay?"

Even though my words were calm, my heart was thumping wildly in my chest. I straightened myself and gave a tug to lift him; I barely made a difference to his dangling form. I, however, was less likely to fall to my demise. I looked over at Alex.

"I'm sorry," I admitted. And I truly was. There was nothing I could do to help him. Even though he was a major jerk, he didn't deserve to die like this. But if I was to save him I would lose Alek, and I wouldn't do that. I was selfish. I couldn't be apart from him.

"It's okay, Beautiful. Hopefully Baset will take pity on my soul."

"Call her beautiful one more time and I'll kill you myself, forget the roof," I heard Alek mumble. I would've rolled my eyes if we weren't in this predicament. Alex wanted to pick a fight, I guess.

"Not my fault she is," he retorted. "Beautiful and blessed."

"I will-"

"Now is not the time!" I nearly shouted. Seriously, they're both close to dying and they're going to continue to bicker. Alex closed his eyes. He was gripping the roof for dear life. Time was running out. And Alek wasn't getting any lighter.

"Take care of her," Alex finally said. Then he opened his eyes and looked at me again. "It was an honor to meet you, Uniter. Save the world and bring everyone together. I know you can do it."

I was about to do everything I could to save him, when he closed his eyes once more and let go of the roof.

"NO! OH MY GOD!" I screamed. I extended my hearing but I never heard the sound of an impact. I compelled myself to pay attention on getting Alek back on the safety side. I was a few seconds away from losing my grip. I squeezed my eyes shut and pulled again. I forced myself to feel – the love I had, the fear of losing him, the desperation to save his life – and something in me snapped. The strength I felt earlier this morning was nothing compared to the power coursing through my veins now. I yanked on Alek's arm one more time and slowly he was being pulled back on to the roof. I let go of his arms when he was able to grip the surface and I scrambled to my feet to help him over until he was fully standing. He threw his arms around me and buried his face in my neck. I clung to him. When his grip tightened around me protectively, I realized I was shaking.

"It's okay," he soothed. I held on for a moment longer before pushing him away.

"Alex!" I exclaimed. I rushed over to edge and peered down. No body. No sign of Alex at all.

"Where is he?" I demanded. Alek came to stand beside me. His eyes swept around the area, looking for the boy who had just willingly let go of the roof. He should've fallen to his death. He couldn't have survived that fall. It wasn't possible.

"Mai Abilities?" I asked Alek. He shook his head.

"Our abilities aren't that good. He would've hit solid pavement. If he had managed to survive, he'd be in a coma or paralyzed."

"Then where is he? People can't just vanish in thin air!"

"I don't know where he is, Chloe. But we've got to go."

"Why?"

Alek pointed down. There was a small army of guards assembled, but they weren't Mai. They wore white suits – with the words 'The Order' written across the back. Behind them, several black cars were pulling up. We would be surrounded.

"Looks like we're being hunted down," he said. "And they picked the place with future warriors. We need to get everyone out now."

Would we even be able to get everyone out? How the hell did The Order even know where we were? One more look down and I knew I didn't have time to ask questions. I had a duty as the Uniter to keep my kind safe. And that was what I intended to do. I heard the sound of a gun locking and broke out into a run. I could hear Alek behind me. before I saved anyone else, I wanted to find Jasmine immediately. Which I did, by colliding into her at the stairs. I fell against the steps and so did she.

"We got to stop meeting like this," I said. She cracked a smile.

"Bad news. The Order-"

"We already know," Alek supplied. "What's going on?"

"Sam's evacuating as many Mai's as he can but we need some people to hold them off while the rest escape."

Glancing at both their faces I knew that we would be some of those people who would stay and help. They both looked at me, silently asking the same question that they would've already known the answer to. I nodded. Of course we would fight. Right now, saving the other Mai would be my priority. I would worry about uniting both sides later.

"I have more bad news," Jasmine said, before we headed into a battle we weren't sure we'd come out alive.

"What? Your boyfriend didn't get to kiss you goodbye?" Alek asked. Jasmine glared at him.

"No, Jerk. Someone lead The Order to us. Chloe, it was the Dean."

A/N: Review :p HAHAHAHA. Sorry I just had to. I didn't really anticipate this outcome… but I like it Hope you guys like this chapter. PLEASE! PLEASE! REVIEW! And I guess suggest to others who you think might like my story, too. Peace! I'll try and write more soon.