This is the last chapter guys. I thank you for reading this far, and I hope you enjoyed this story. I might write another fic soon, and it might have a connection to this one, but I can't make any promises. Please tell me what you thought of my story, and I hope you have a nice day!

You were desperate.

You felt hollow and your throat hurt from screaming.

You haven't felt this way since your encounter with that thing.

You were holding your best friend's corpse. You didn't know what to do, and you were so lost that you couldn't do anything but cling into her cold body, as if that would bring her back to life.

You would have given her your life if you were able to, and with that thought, realization hit you.

There was one way to save her, a forbidden spell that would make you share your lifespan with her.

You didn't hesitate to cast it, and the moment the words left your mouth, lights surrounded both of you, and you felt overwhelmed as you felt the effects of the spell.

It wasn't pain, instead, it was a wave of emotions, of memories, some you shared together, and others you didn't.

The ones from the past ten years passed through your eyes, and while you did not see them clearly, you felt the pain behind them stabbing you like a knife in the chest, twisting back and forth. The agony ended up wearing you out, and you lost conscience afterwards.

You heard some voices calling out to you, and everything else was a blur. You only managed to wake up for few minutes ever since you casted the spell, however, you couldn't focus on anything before sleep would claim you again. The spell took its toll on your body.

Right now, you're still sleeping, unable to fight off the fatigue. But you suddenly feel a strange tug on your heart that wakes you from your slumber. You feel your chest burning and you're out of breath. You put your hand on your chest, and you feel your raging heartbeats.

This discomfort is not quite yours, but you could still feel it. It is far and yet so close.

You hear someone groaning, and you sit up and look to your left, only to see Croix on a bed beside you.

The first thing you feel is relief.

She is alive.

You can feel your eyes starting to water, but you quickly wipe them and rush to her side. Somehow, the connection the spell created allows you to feel Croix's emotions at some extent, and you feel the ache in your chest growing from whatever nightmare she is witnessing.

You say her name, over and over, until she finally wakes up.

She's gasping for air, as if she has been drowning, suffocating. You try to touch her, but she pulls away, and looks at you.

She looks at you with those green eyes, but this time, there was no amazement, or amusement, or even anger and darkness, there was fear, and it hurts to see her in such state.

Not only can you see her internal battle, you can also feel it. You feel the fear and disgust… a venom that is spreading through the woman before you.

Has she been feeling this way for the past years?

Could this all have been avoided if you have done something different?

Would you have saved her if the darkness hasn't messed with your thoughts? If he hasn't seen through your heart? If you have been quick to move and fight?

"You shouldn't have saved me." She says and this time, you feel your own anger.

You're not angry at her. You're angry at him at yourself, but you can't keep asking 'what ifs'.

You're quick to climb into her bed, invading her personal space so she wouldn't try to avoid you.

"How could you say that?!" You ask, angrily. "I couldn't let you die like that! I couldn't just abandon you! You sacrificed so much, you don't deserve to die like that!"

You couldn't save her in the past, but perhaps you can do something now.

"But how am I supposed to live with so much guilt? I'm a monster like him now! I hate myself and I can't go on for a second without thinking about him!" She tells you, and you feel your heart breaking. "I don't deserve to be saved."

You don't know how much she's been through, and you had it easier compared to her.

You can't imagine how it felt to hold so much darkness, to hold such a powerful and merciless creature inside your body for ten years.

She looks away, but you touch her face, bringing her gaze back to you.

"If it weren't for you, these girls and this school wouldn't be here. You also saved my life twice. You can think all you want, but I'll be here to remind you that you deserve this!"

You want her to know that you're here for here, and you will always be.

She looks at you with wonder, as if she witnessed something she hasn't seen in forever. "That sounds like something you'd say!" It makes her laugh, and it's a sound so beautiful that you can't help but laugh too.

"Croix?"

"…Yes?"

You stare into her green eyes, the same eyes you loved to gaze into when you were young.

"You have survived this long, so could you survive a little longer?"

You're begging her to stay, to never leave you again. You're begging her not to give up, because she has been fighting on her own for so long, and you want to share the burden with her, and to ease her pain.

"I'll try."

You smile and throw your arms around her. She hugs you, hesitantly, and you can feel the loud beating of her heart. You know that you'll never get tired of hearing this sound, because it's the proof that she's alive. You can't afford to lose her again.

Croix keeps her promise as the days pass. She's trying to get better, to live. She goes back to teaching, and thankfully, most students aren't aware of what happened. It makes you feel relieved.

While none of the teachers have discovered your identity, they know about Croix's connection with him, which caused a lot of suspicion especially from professor Finneran. She's always saying not so subtle remarks, and if it weren't for the headmistress insisting on hiding the matter, who knew what would have happen to your friend?

It makes your blood boil with rage, but whenever you try to say something, Croix seems to feel your anger and answers them with a smirk, to show them that she did not care. She would walk away with a smile, knowing that they are too scared to fight her. To everyone else, she seems confident, but you're the only one who knows how she feels.

You want to help her, stand up to her, but she won't let you so that no one would suspect you.

To this day, she's still looking out for you, and you can't help but feel guilty.

Everything that has happened to her has been your fault. She died to protect you, and no matter how much you do, you know you could never repay her. The thought alone makes you feel overwhelmed.

You only watch her from a distance, and you barely talk as if you're strangers, but the truth is, you have a deeper connection than anyone.

In some languages, the spell is called Star crossed.

It tells the story of two lovers, who despite their sincere love for each other, were bound to get separated. One of them was a witch, and she couldn't accept their fate, so she created a spell that would bound their lives, and their feelings so that no matter how wide the distance is, they would still feel each other's love, and so that the moment one dies, the other would follow, and they can be together.

You found the spell one day when you were searching for anything that would help you defeat the darkness, and you couldn't help but be fascinated with it.

You think that it's sad and romantic, but the thought makes you feel embarrassed and wish that Croix wouldn't find out about the story because you know that you won't hear the end of it.

Your nightmares have been frequent, but usually, they would end as soon as they started, but tonight, something is different. You feel an intense pain in your chest, and it causes you to revisit your worst memories through your sleep.

You're frozen as his demonic eyes stare through yours, and you hear Croix calling your name, but you can't move, and in the blink of an eye, he possess her, and you watch as those green orbs start to darken.

You lose the shiny rod, your white clothes are tainted and you don't know what to do.

You give up your name and your dream, and create a new identity instead. You try not to think of the children who used to watch you with admiration.

You're hurt, and you're panting as you stare into his eyes again, but you're no longer afraid of him. You want to hurt him for everything he took away from you, but he ends up taking the one thing you have left.

You watch as Croix shields you, and gives up her life for you.

You hold her and you beg her to live, but she smiles at you and says your name for one last time.

You wake up and clutch your chest, as the pain grows and it becomes harder to breathe.

This pain… This hatred… All of this self-loathing and guilt, the sadness and the disgust… these feelings aren't yours!

It doesn't take you long to leave your bed, take your broom and search for her.

Except, you don't really look for her, because you know exactly where she would be, so you fly to the tower, where the sorcerer's stone is.

Your suspicions are confirmed when you arrive and find her standing there, staring at the view. She notices you right away, and turns to look at you, but her eyes widen when she does.

You're on your knees, trying to catch your breath, and you realize that you're crying when she kneels before you and wipe your tears.

You have been so scared when you felt her feelings, you have been terrified of losing her.

Her hand rests on your cheek, and she directs your gaze to her. She looks at understanding, but you can see a hint of guilt in her eyes. It's amazing how much of an open book you are to each other.

"I think about dying every day." She says, and you just listen to her, unable to say anything. "He really messed me up, Chariot. He's been part of me for so long, and I feel so empty now that he's gone. Everyday has been an internal battle with him, and now, I feel lost and I don't know what to do." She sounds so vulnerable, and it breaks your heart.

You want to say something, reassure her, but you can't. You don't know what to say, or what to do. You just stare at her, and you see the light of the sorcerer's stone reflecting in her beautiful eyes. You raise your hand and put it on hers, the gesture makes her smile a little.

"But I don't want to give up yet. Not while he's still around. I won't let him take away what I spent years to protect." She states and stands up. She gives you hand, and you take it, and it reminds you of all the times she helped you up when you were kids.

Even now, she's still doing it.

She looks into the distance, and you can see the sun starting to rise. You remember how you two used to sneak out to watch the stunning view, to this day, you have you no idea how you have never been caught.

"Do you think I can do it? Do you think that there will be a day where I'll be at peace?" Croix asks and looks into your eyes.

You smile and hold her hand.

"I believe with all my heart that everything will turn out alright." You tell her, and she smiles back before looking back at the sunrise.

You haven't believed in so long, but now, you can't help but trust your heart.

Soon, you will face him again, but you will both be ready.

You won't let fear paralyze you, and she won't let him take control again.

You will face him together, and you will win.

Here's a list of the songs I used to write the chapters:

NF-Paralyzed / NF-Can you hold me? / I found - Amber run / Colors - Halsey