Hey, everyone!

SOOOO sorry for not updating any earlier. I feel so ashamed… I know I let you all down and I promise I will try harder to write. I had just come back from my summer holiday and already have tests! I shouldn't be giving excuses so ignore that last line.

I won't blame you for any hate left in the reviews after this, and in fact, I might agree with you.

Just please don't forget I love you guys so much, you are what keeps me writing and you all inspire me.

Again, really sorry and hope you all can forgive me.

Chapter 13

Why did I take only one drop?

I mean, that was the stupidest thing I've ever done. My night was restless, but I guess that I deserve it. I let my family down, thousands of people, all my friends.

And Cal. Especially Cal.

I sit here comfy in a warm castle, worrying about petty problems like love while others out there have to suffer for their support, have to fight for the wrong reasons, have to leave a life full of labour from birth.

I'd spit at myself.

My sleep began silently, dreamless, in the endless dark.

Well, at least it seemed endless at the beginning.

Then I heard a voice. It seemed familiar, and that could definitely not be good. Melodic, sweet, eerily singing my name.

A small, fragile hand, pale and glowing in the darkness reached out towards me.

"Mare... Mare... Why did you leave me, Mare?" The singing stopped. The hand became blurred by a sort of mist and turned so the palm was facing upwards questioningly.

The hand was crippled, as though broken.

I was paralysed, unable to move at all. My heart beat faster, threatening to rip right out of my chest.

A name was choking in my throat, but, like the coward I am, I was too afraid to say it.

"Because of you, I'm dead. Because you left me!" The sweet voice became hoarse and sour, turning from young and innocent to old and hag-like. The hand in one smooth motion clenched into a fist.

Gisa.

"And now look at what I've become! It's all YOUR FAULT!" She stepped out from the darkness, her red hair glowing like fire. But it wasn't like I remembered. It was animal-like, wild and half-shaved. It was uneven and tangled, the ends dripping blood. Her skin was paler than before, her cheeks sunken in. Her clothes were shredded and soaked in blood. I tried to reach out to her, but nothing happened. Then, the most horrifying thing happened.

Her skin began shrivelling, wrinkling and slowly falling off, bit by bit. Her hair flew upwards, defying gravity. Gisa began falling to her knees slowly, like a melting candle. As her skin shredded off, I could see muscles, blood and other things indescribable. Her eyeballs slithered out and her teeth falling put and rolling away.

"Help me, Mare! DO SOMETHING! ANYTHING!" She cried as she crumpled. I couldn't move, I couldn't even breathe. I just stayed there, helplessly watching my sister rot right before my eyes. Her bones were poking out now, and even those began to disappear.

But this isn't real.

When that voice spoke, everything froze. The remains of Gisa's body sank into the ground. My body solidified and I gasped. A light flashed on me and, as if a screen flickered to life, an image came on.

A small, dank cell, cold and dark. Rats slipped in the corners and spiders hung from the walls, cobwebs filling each corner.

"Mare...? Mare?" The voice was sweet still, but not sickly sweet nor phoney. It was more natural and tired, weak.

"Gi... Gisa?" I croaked. I didn't want this to be like what I had seen before, but I had to know the truth.

"Mare!" She cried, her fragile figure appearing on the mirage. I could have collapsed and sobbed hysterically right there on the spot. Her arm was wrapped in a makeshift bandage. "Mare, I know there's no time for explanations, but that wasn't real. This is real. I'm here in the castle, in the cells. Search the cells, all the cells! Don't forget; the cells! I haven't got much time, just remember the cells! And one more thing, E-"

The vision was cut off and I awoke, shaking, soaked with sweat. I wrapped myself with the sheets, dropping back on my bed.

I breathed heavily, my eyes shutting.

Crack.

I sat up quickly. Somebody was in my room. I peered into the darkness, trying to make out a shape. My eyes widened in shock and I opened my mouth to scream, but a slender gloved hand shut me up. I thrashed angrily, but the last thing I remember was an unnatural sweet smell filling my lungs and the black taking over me.