Hello, everyone!

I finally found out what a Beta Reader is! And I made a profile for myself!

Anyway, I ended the last chapter with a cliffhanger, so it would be cruel to keep you waiting.

Chapter 11

"Cal?" I whispered.

"Yes, it's me," He answered smoothly, reaching out to touch me. His hand stopped mid-air, a few millimetres away from mine. Something in my heart crumbled. I collapsed on the couch, my head in my hands.

"Why are you... How did you-?" I cried.

"Shh! What do you think will happen if somebody wakes up? We found another newblood and this one's special. They can create holograms and contact others using their ability," His face fell. "But no physical interaction." He looked around. "Mare, what were you doing in Maven's room?"

Uh-oh.

"I was... Um... Gathering information. I was looking around for how to get out of the castle." My words stumbled over one another and Cal raised an eyebrow. "I've missed you, Cal..." I said, finally speaking the truth. I so wanted him to hold me, I wanted to be with him. But it was impossible. "What are you doing here?"

"I had to see you. Maven broadcasted all the fights and a clip of you and Evangeline in the torture chamber. Are you all right?" He asked, caring. I didn't deserve him. I took a deep breath.

"Yes, I'm fine. Maven made sure all my injuries had been healed. And, most of the time, it wasn't Maven..." I trailed off, as Cal stared at me.

"Oh. I understand. So, I'll just go then. I hope that I wasn't interrupting anything."

"What are you talking about? Please, don't go!" I begged as his image began to fade. It became clearer. "Cal, how did you get all those?" I gestured to all his bruises and cuts. He mumbled something. "What? I can't hear you."

"We've been... trying to get you back... So far we haven't had any progress," He said.

"How could you do something so irrational? I sacrificed myself to keep you all safe and then you go and almost get yourself killed!" I stood up and walked to him, getting so close that we were closer than he was touching to my hand. "I care for you. This isn't pity or anything else. This is love." I whispered, my words laced with truth. I reached out to touch him. He backed away, holding up a hand.

"Mare, if touch me, I'll disappear. Be careful!" I pulled away, sitting back on the couch in alarm from his anger. He sighed.

"I'm sorry. It's just... We have a lot going on back there," He muttered, running a hand through his hair, his head tilted downwards.

"Cal, what happened...? What aren't you telling me?" I asked. He looked up at me.

"Mare... Gisa, she's... She's dead," He said, tears filling his eyes. I stopped. Everything blurred then came back into focus moments later continuously. Cal was saying something but I couldn't hear. I closed my eyes and stopped, lying back. I stood up and walked over to the edge of the balcony. Cal was running towards me but I didn't care. Suddenly, everything went black.

I heard shouts and felt someone shaking me. Soft lips pressed against mine and blew air into my lungs. They pulled away and pressed down again, repeating the process. I sat up, coughing and gagging.

"Mare!" Strong arms grabbed me and pulled me close. "I almost lost you... Never do that again!" They squeezed me tight.

"I-think that you- might lose me- for real now-" I choked. Maven loosened his grip and after a while, let go.

"Sorry," He said. Then he grabbed my face and kissed me. I was stunned but kissed him back until I noticed a figure standing in the shadows behind Maven. I pulled away and stared at Cal. His expression was not angry like I expected it to be, but sad and depressed.

I would have felt a little better if he were angry. Maven held me by the shoulders and shook me again.

"What happened? I heard a loud thud and shouts. When I came out, I saw you on the ground and thought you were dead! Then all of a sudden, Cal appears out of nowhere, crying and says that you just collapsed!" He sighed and pressed his forehead against mine.

"Please stop trying to kill yourself," He said under his breath. I coughed.

"Could Cal and I have a few moments alone, please?" I said softly. He nodded and stood up, leaving us.

"I can explain-" I took a few steps towards him.

"No, you don't need to. You've moved on, and decided to spew lies to keep me from hurting. Mare, I could have forgiven you without the lies,"

"But it's not like that! I swear-"

"It's exactly like that! I can't take it anymore, all your lies and everything else!" He backed away, keeping his eyes on me. "I still love you and always will, but clearly, you don't." Cal took a deep breath. "Trust me when I say this, it'll be easier for the both of us if I didn't visit again. Good-bye, Mare. And this time? This is the last time,"

Then, he left me. Forever.

That word echoed in my mind as I collapsed on the couch, slumping down with tears rolling down my cheeks.

"But I do love you," I whispered in the darkness.