Sorry I'm late, but here's chapter 44 just for you. Please R&R and I shall see you at the bottom of the page.

POV: Lucy, Natsu

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail

Dammit. Dammit. Dammit. Dammit. DAMMIT!

Before Natsu fully enters the main room I close my door not caring if it slams shut as I race down the now dark corridor after I turn off the lights. My heart is beating so loud in my ears that I can't hear if he heard me and is now following me. My instinct to flee has completely taken over and I know that if I stay any longer Natsu can find out that I remember everything. Along with the fact that I've learned knowledge that he and the others have tried to keep from me.

I crash into something hard and I fall backwards causing the wind to be knocked out of me as stars float across my vision in dizzying circles. Through my dizziness I force myself to stand and feel the world tip violently to the side but I'm somehow able to catch myself on the door before I fall again.

The back of my hand hits the doorknob in my erratic search and I try to shove the key into the keyhole that's impossible to find in the dark. Somehow the key eventually finds the hold and I turn it and pull the door open just as the door behind me opens flooding the corridor with light. Before the door can fully open behind me I race into the room and slam the door behind me.

"Lucy, what's wrong?" Kageyama asks behind me and I whip around to stare at the surprised man, "Lucy, you're bleeding."

Wiping the back of my hand under my nose I watch as sticky red blood smears from my hand and onto the sleeve of my beige jacket, but I can't be bothered by that now. Looking around the long room, my eyes land on the window at the end of the hall. It's probably my only means of escape now.

"It's not a real window. It's just there for show," Kageyama says following my gaze, "And guessing from your anxious appearance I'm guessing that one of the bounty hunters is here."

Nodding, I gasp for breath as I choke out, "Its Natsu," making the raven haired male's dark eyes widen in surprise, "I need - I need to get out before he finds me," I pant as the room begins to spin faster making me see double. Through my spinning mind I crash into the bars of Kageyama's jail cell, "Please, I need to find a way to get out of here."

Kageyama gives me a pained expression. Of course, how could I ask him for a means of escape when even he can't get out of here? What am I going to do now? I'm going to be found out and who knows what's going to happen now?

"Lucy, close your eyes," Kageyama instructs me and I stare at him confused. Before I can ask him why I hear the doorknob rattle behind me making me freeze in fear. Taking my hand through the iron bars, Kageyama forces me to look at him, "Close your eyes, quickly." I want to ask him why, why was it so important for me to close my eyes when I'm so close to being found out? Instead, on some internal whim, I do as he asks.

He mutters something under his breath and then I'm falling down a dark hole.

I walk towards the door of the well known hideout feeling completely worn out. Lucy hadn't shown up to school today and because of the way she had acted yesterday I couldn't find it in me to stay concentrated at school. A few of the teachers complained with my lack of concentration causing Erza to scold me and after a while I started getting a massive headache, so while everyone was busy at lunch I snuck my way off of campus.

For about a few minutes I had spent my time walking around not knowing where to go. I wanted nothing more than to go home and sleep the rest of the day away, seeming as I hadn't slept a wink the night before. I had to rethink on the idea knowing very well that the housekeeper Virgo would no doubt inform Makarov of my unexcused absence. So with nowhere else to go I decided to go to HQ since no one ever seems to go there during the day.

Now that I think about it we should probably install an alarm system or actually lock the door. Who knows who might find their way into Fairy Tail's secret hideout whether it be intentional or not.

Sighing, I push the thick door open and walk in to the dimly lit room. Before my foot fully enters the room I hear a door click somewhere inside and I freeze, my hunter instincts running on full alert. I wait for a few seconds to see if I hear anything else before I push my way into the empty room.

Looking around I can tell that nothing has been touched since I was last here which had only been some hours ago. Papers from last night's investigation session still litter the round beaten up table and floor at the back of the room. Everything looks fine and probably what I thought I had heard had been nothing more than my own tired imagination.

I really need some sleep.

Moving towards the nearby beaten tan couch, I'm about to throw myself onto it when I hear a loud crash come from the door at the back of the room. The very door that Makarov insists that we all stay away from with the exception of himself, Juvia, and the Thunder God Tribe. All I know is that behind that door there is just a long dark corridor that leads to a locked door, the only door that ever seems to be locked in this place.

Curious to the noise, I make my way over and open the door just as the door down the hall slams shut quite forcefully. Flipping on the lights, I palm my pocketknife that I never leave home without and slowly make my way towards the door. When I reach it I rattle the knob and sure enough it's locked which doesn't explain how it had been opened before. Only the people who are allowed into the room hold keys and all of them are back at school save for Laxus who should be back at Fairy Hills taking care of Lucy.

Something on the ground catches my eyes and I pick it up to reveal a long brass key. Curious, I slip the key into the door's key hole and it goes in easily. I turn the key until I hear a click showing that the door is now unlocked meaning that this could be the key the stranger inside the room used to enter the room.

Behind the now unlocked door I hear a muffled scream that lasts for only a few seconds before everything goes quiet again. I rip the door open not expecting at all what the strange room holds before me.

Stretching in a long line parallel from me are jail cells that hold a few of the missing Eisenwald members, and in the cell right in front of me stands the very demon I'd been wishing to find. Furious fire burns every inch of me as I glare daggers at a surprised Kageyama who is clutching the iron bars of his cell looking battered.

He had been the reason Lucy had gotten hurt this time. He had somehow found out information of her and come after her after our encounter a few months ago. I should have done something against his threat at the time, but at least now I can get my revenge for him hurting Lucy. I would never forgive him for making her go through what she had.

"Come on, don't look at me that way," comes Kageyama's cocky voice from where he leans against the iron bars looking laid-back, "I thought you'd be more than relieved to see me still alive."

Glaring at the raven haired teen, even though he's actually well over his forties by now, I clutch my switchblade as I search the otherwise empty room, "Who was here before?" I ask and Kageyama shrugs while shaking his head.

"What do you mean? I've been all alone save for my silent companions," He says while gesturing to the cells beside him where a few pair of eyes stare back at me, "You've been my first visitor all day, although I do believe that you shouldn't even be back here," he mocks making my glare intensify.

"Then how do you explain the door slamming close and the discarded key?" I ask as he continues to look back at me dumbly.

"Maybe you're seeing things. It wouldn't be the first time," he answers with a grin.

Having about just enough with this guy, I reach in through the iron bars and grab hold of Kageyama's dirty coat. I tug him towards me and force him to slam his face against the iron bars with a sickening crash, "Then explain the blood on the floor," I growl as I pull him tighter against the cold iron bars, "Unless you want to kiss your connection to this world goodbye I suggest you start talking. Who was here just a while ago?"

Through the evident pain that I'm causing the dark eyed man, he forces a smile and starts to laugh in short gasps like a madman, "I'll never tell," he wheezes as he tries to push himself away from me, "You can kill me if you please, but I won't tell you a thing."

Pushing him away from me, I stand my ground as I watch him fall to the ground in a heavy heap as he continues to cackle. Not feeling it worth my time to deal with him now, I turn around and start walking away back the way I had come from. If I stay in this room a minute longer there's no doubt in my mind that I'll kill Kageyama without a second thought. Seeming as Kageyama is still alive with the old man's knowledge I'm pretty sure that he's still needed alive.

"You can't save her you know," I freeze with my hand resting on the doorknob at the sound of Kageyama's serious tone when only seconds before he had been laughing like a maniac, "No matter how hard you try you're going to end up losing her."

Turning, I stare at the male who sends me a hard look in return, "What would you know," I then ask causing him to smile without mirth.

He answers by facing his back towards me, but I didn't miss the strange dead look inside his eyes.

Without another word I close the door completely ending our conversation.

So my internet has been down until now which was why I haven't been able to update. Thankfully it's now fixed and I can finally update this chapter. I might update late again, just as a warning, since I have mid-terms this week along with a competition for band. If I find time to update I will but if not I'll see you all next Saturday. Either way I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Shout Outs

Great thanks to all of my Fantastic Favorites...

- BellaStellaThe Reader

- RosesOfTruth

- Rainbowpoptartcat

- Lunarii

- ErzaScarlet10901

To my Fabulous Followers...

- Rainbowpoptartcat

- Alice Harkey

- Shamssia

- BellaStellaThe Reader

- Lunarii

- ErzaScarlet10901

And to all of my Fantabulous Reviewers...

- Snavej = I'm glad that you now understand what's somewhat going on and I'm happy that you enjoyed the chapter.

- BeastlyTick59 = I'm presuming you liked the chapter and I'm kind of happy that you didn't expect that.

- FanFictionLeon = I'm happy you enjoyed the chapter, and clear it up no one other than Kageyama know that Lucy is dead that is why Natsu continues to protect her. On another note, I so did not expect what happened on this week's chapter of Fairy Tail! Gray becoming evil and just leaving Juvia like that is just unbelievable!

- richgirl555cub = It's ok about the reviewing, as long as you're reading then I'm fine. I'm also happy you enjoyed the chapter and as for which way Lucy's path will lead her, you'll just have to keep reading to find out.

- SpuSpu = I'm happy you enjoyed the chapter and sorry for the disappointment of Natsu not finding out just yet.

- cookie. panda-roo = I liked that Natsu and Lucy had a small NaLu moment in the last chapter of the manga. Loved how Juvia told them to get a room. Super cute!

- Reallyfanofstories = We'll see on the relationship thing, and I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter.

- RosesOfTruth = Glad you enjoyed the chapter.

- HazelDragonNora = She ran. What else is there to do.

- Fairy Tail Fanatic 4EVER = And those answers shall be answered as the story progresses.

- Rainbowpoptartcat = Well that's what the rules are for. At least nothing that bad happened to her. Just a bloody nose. Also, I'm glad things make sense now.

Well that's all the shout outs for today.

If you are enjoying my story so far please follow, favorite, and review - remember, reviews are a writers candy - and if you have any questions or ideas you'd like to see put into this story you can also PM me and I'll gladly add it in.

Until next time my lovelies.