A vicious wind pelted my body, the night was cruel and uninviting. I had ran away from them, my thoughts were blurred by the distraction of my frozen fingers. I did not take the time to dress for this weather, my body shivered intensely as I continued to run heaving in burning lungs. My feet were beginning to go numb and my hands were turning red, I wanted to go home but I wouldn't turn back. All I could process was to keep going, I refused to look behind me I even drowned out the calls of my name. The farther I had gotten away from home, the quieter the shouting became. Slowly the pleads for me had been washed away.

The voice that called for me, it was my mother, I swore it. Reminded of her smart nature, I darted down a scenic route towards a nearby park. This way nobody could follow me through car, and I was certain that was her choice of transportation. Nearby I could see the snow covered park swings that had not been used for some time. I continued to race past them, the intense burning pain grew stronger and stronger within my lungs. I wouldn't be able to run in these temperatures for much longer, I found myself exhausted for breath as if I were being pulled deep into the ocean.

Reaching the end of the park I crashed into a pocket of pine trees where I could be hidden. My head rushed intensely as I gasped for breath, I could no longer deal with the harsh weather. It was probably only a half hour I had been out, but the freezing cold made it feel much longer. I pushed my body against the icy ground attempting to retain any warmth. However it was useless trying, this white battlefield was relentless. As soon as I began to breath and think I realized, I was going to die out here.

My irrational decision from a shock and fear drove me to run, was it the right choice? Just like me though I ran away from all my problems, I ran away from the entire world. As my arms began to numb I curled inwards into a fetal position, I felt alone. Closing my eyes I tried to focus, I could see memories flashing by me. The kinds in which I had done wrong, the cold defeat and desperation I had while struggling through life. All of the horrible things that had made me always be afraid of everything, I could see all these terrible memories taunt me. Suddenly though, I was gifted the light I could hear a voice.

I remembered my mother, standing by me on the first day of school telling me I'll have fun. Then another flashed by, I was crying from being bullied, she bought me a purple rabbit plush to cheer me up. I got older and I could feel the torment worsen, I couldn't see light, I met Vicki she stuck by me and befriended me. Time passes more and more, until now, when none of those old friends in high school bothered to call, Vicki still hung out with me. I gasped a deep breath as I fluttered my eyes open once more, I had never been alone.

I began to worry about her, I began to worry what would happen if I disappeared. I couldn't protect them or stop a world of destruction, they wouldn't see it coming with Vicki and I. However the heart crushing fact returned that kicked my whole body into panic, I was going to die here. I was going to die because I was too selfish and afraid to prevent a ridiculous fear.

Acid burning tears flooded down my face as I sobbed pathetically. The hot burning sensation against my flushed cheeks quickly grew into frozen ice. I was lost, I hadn't even known where I was and I was so cold I could barely move. My body stopped shivering now, the pain of the chilling winds had simply began to fade away. I was in a state of reality I hadn't seen, I felt warm and foggy as if everything was alright. Slowing my breaths I sighed, I was exhausted and I shut my heavy eyelids. I quickly fell into a deep sleep, no dreams, no nightmares, just a void of darkness.

******

My mothers voice called, "Britney, Britney please can you hear me?"

My eyes fluttered and all I could see was a faded blur of bright lights, I mumbled attempting to push out real words. Her words started again but drowned out once more, I couldn't focus on anything around me. In a frustrated attempt to communicate I shouted out more mumbles but I couldn't even hear what I had spilled from my lips. The world around me grew darker once more, my vision was in utter darkness. Still exhausted I huffed and jetted back into my slumber.

******

I returned to my life, it was abrupt as I darted my head in fear of where I had been. Around me was a pale white room with pleasant artwork and medical tools placed around the area. Suddenly I realized I was in a hospital, my arm hooked up to an iv I began to feel immediately queasy. My direct instinct was to tear out the iv and to leave, but I ignored my cowardliness and waited for a sign. Frigid and confused I waited for what seemed a good hour before a doctor finally entered.

"You're awake, this is excellent news. How are you feeling on a scale of one to ten?" The male scrawny doctor asked.

"Six, my head really hurts" I explained my vision blurry.

He kept his dark brown eyes trained on me, "That's wonderful progress, do you think you can walk?"

"Yes, I feel fine. Can you please tell me what's going on?" I replied in confusion.

Brushing back his black hair he answered, "You suffered from hypothermia from rapid exposure to freezing temperatures. You were in a coma for two days, you were close to death but..."

"What? How am I alive? I should be dead!" I cried irrationally.

"You miraculously bounced back, some people are miracle cases and you're just one of them" The man spoke calmly, "However a blood test shows some levels in your body were strange. I'll run a few tests to see if you're all ready to go home, I'd want to keep you here longer as precaution but that's up to you."

I stared at him with disbelief, "I want to be home as soon as possible..."

"Alright your family and a huge amount of people are waiting to see you outside, I'll give them the news" The doctor explained with a wide grin.

I watched the young tall male swiftly and calmly push out the door. Once he disappeared I wracked my brain to piece together any reasoning to why I had survived. In general I was one of the weakest in my family, so it couldn't have just been dumb luck. Pondering intensely it finally hit me, Lysandre's medicine could have caused something. It wasn't from this world, I now needed to know more than ever if that's why I was alive. Yet at the same time I had no desire to see any of them, a gut instinct wished for them to go away.

The doctor returned almost as soon as he had left, "Alright, they're aware and excited. We'll just do some tests and then determine if you're good to go!"

******

I peered out from a corner hallway in the hospital, I wasn't sure if I was ready to approach them but I was ready to go. The sea-foam colored walls gave me a soothing comfort as I continued down the hallway. As I got closer my parents were finally in eyesight, but it wasn't just them. Along with my birthed parents was my brother, Vicki, and of course the villains. A sudden horrible gut feeling told me that they had found out, and all I wanted to do was turn around. Yet something made me want to face these doubts instead of running, it was time to grow up.

My mothers blue eyes watered, "Britney you're okay, you're safe!"

"Yes, I'm so sorry for everything. I didn't know what I was thinking..." I mumbled with sorrow.

She quickly embraced me as she burst into tears, "If something was wrong you could have just talked to us! You know I would never hate you, I love you so much."

I began to sob softly, "I thought if you knew, I thought if I was truthful- I'm sorry!"

"The men that raced out after you, well we found out they were living in the house. I was obviously furious!" My father said sternly, "But your mother is allowing them to stay as long as they pay rent and clean. I think it's ludicrous, if any of them do anything I will snap their necks!"

I hesitated while backing away, "They... Chased after me?"

"If it weren't for them, we would have never found you" My brother piped in gazing at the ground.

"Vicki, is that true?" I asked.

She shrugged, "Yes, Ghetsis was the first to bolt after you apparently..."

"I was the one who found you though!" Colress interrupted in a proud tone.

My vision grew foggy from tears, "I don't understand... Thank you for saving my life."

"Well I say we get out of here and celebrate, I can't be thankful enough that you're okay!" My father admitted.

I smiled deeply watching all of them, "I couldn't be more thankful, I love you, all of you."

******

Once at home again we hung around the living room, it was finally nice to enjoy the company of everyone. I lied across a large brown couch with Vicki across from me as well. My father a little tipsy droned on about politics with Giovanni, the two seemed to get along fairly well. All at one moment I had seen my life pass by, and now by chance I had still been here. This did not excuse the villains however, I would let rest for now but I needed a plan. It would be no use forcing them, I would have to change their minds and bide my time. There's good in everyone, if they saved my life then I could do the same for our home.

Lysandre approached my side with a sly grin, "How does it feel to be alive? Wonderful isn't it?"

"I know what happened wasn't a miracle, it was the medicine wasn't it? What was it? Is it something bad?" I questioned him quietly.

He chuckled while rubbing his red beard, "I guess you could say so, it gives you some increased immunity. It's not going to kill you I promise, but you may live for a long while."

"I guess living is better than dying..." I sighed at his taunting nature.

"Indeed it is, perhaps in the future there will be more surprises" Lysandre claimed as he strutted away.

I found myself observing him for quite awhile, the way he interacted with others and what he said. These constant games they played with us drove me insane, I couldn't imagine what games they must have played with Vicki as well. I'd have to admit though that they were doing an excellent job at just that, Lysandre is absolutely charming but in all the wrong ways. It was more than frustrating, but why did they care to save me?

Archie plopped himself right in-between Vicki and I almost out of nowhere. He wore a great grin, meanwhile Vicki glared at him like she were to kill him. Leaning back he cocked his head at me in an innocent way, his large blue eyes begging for praise.

"What's with the puppy face, Archie?" I teased.

He rolled his eyes, "I'm glad to see you too!"

"What were you expecting, me to become utterly loyal and dress like a tramp for you?" I chuckled at him, "Thank you though, thank you all for saving me. I'm very grateful."

Archie raised a brow, "I wouldn't mind a loyal follower with a skimpy outfit though?"

"Seriously, I was being sarcastic!" I replied rolling my eyes.

"I knew that..." He said sheepishly.

The man made up an excuse to move away from the awkwardness, it was hilarious but flattering in an odd way. Vicki stared at him as he dashed off and she gritted her teeth as if she were about to beat him with a pillow again. It was pretty obvious by now that Archie and Vicki were on bad terms, probably because Archie wouldn't stop annoying her. She turned her gaze to me once he was out of site and smiled, her brown eyes shined brightly against the fluorescent lights.

"I really missed you" Vicki spoke pleasantly.

I forced a smile, "I'm still sorry for what I've done, I'm an idiot."

"It's okay we can be crazy idiots together, you live you learn!" Vicki chuckled lightening the mood.

I nodded in agreement, "Two crazy ass friends against the world, sounds great."

******

I stumbled downstairs from hours of conversing and enjoying the night, everyone was now asleep and I had made my nightly herbal tea. With shadows blurring my view I tripped over a step and began to fly forward. I let out a horrified squeak but was quickly saved as someone pulled me backwards grabbing my torso and my blue mug. My heart still rapidly fluttering in my chest I let myself simmer down and release a huge sigh of relief. The darkness hid my savior, so I stepped back up the stairs to get a better view.

Still in the shadows I hummed, "Thank you!"

"You're very welcome" Ghetsis' voice mumbled from the darkness.

I back peddled to sit on the top of the staircase where the light switch had been. Flicking it on I confirmed his dark and taller figure along with the creepy red stare and long green hair. I was horribly embarrassed to have been scooped up by the creepiest person ever, but I let it go and eased myself to relax while I sipped my tea. As I sipped gently he stared back at me awkwardly with his dark red eyes as if he didn't have an idea what to do next.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?" I asked trying to help him out.

He grumbled, "I would sleep but you have a habit of being a clumsy imbecile."

"You didn't have to help me you know" I retorted after taking another sip.

Ghetsis hesitated a reply, "Apparently I do because you almost got yourself killed the last time..."

"Yes but, why do you care?" I pulled at him curiously, "As far as I'm concerned you're the only one here who is selfish and is absolutely in love with themselves."

"I am not in love with myself, I am just simply quite close to godliness is all!" Ghetsis stammered in defense.

I placed a hand on my forehead, "Are you going to sit with me or continue to fail at being humble?"

Ghetsis narrowed his stare skeptically, "Why would I sit with you?"

"Well obviously you don't have anything better to do since you bothered to catch my fall" I cracked in a witty response.

"You're absolutely irritating sometimes..." He sighed in defeat.

The tall male carefully paced himself to the top of the staircase. He followed his awkward nature by plopping down at my side while glaring at the floor. I felt pity for the strange man, he had no social skills whatsoever and was worse than Vicki and I. In my own guilt for treating him so badly I patted him lightly on the back as I reached the end of my tea. I knew for certain his intentions were cruel, but after all he has done I owed something to him in the very least I could try to relax. Not to mention that the only hope of this worlds survival now relied on changing all of their minds before they could finish the device, so instead they'd go home and forget everything.

I swallowed my pride and chimed, "This is nice..."

"Why are you even bothering with talking to me?" Ghetsis cut back obviously avoiding my distraction.

I cocked my head at him, "Excuse me?"

"You've been nothing but bitter with me, why out of the blue are you attempting idle chit-chat" He explained coldly.

I sighed, "Exactly, I've been a complete asshole and you've been trying to play nice. The least I could do is return the favor, especially since I owe you my life."

"You owe a lot to me" Ghetsis confirmed.

"Well in case you thought I've forgotten, N spilled the beans on whatever plans you may have had to control my world" I replied nervously, "I'll do everything it takes even if it means my life, to make sure the people I love are safe."

"It's not just me, but I would consider your partnership for their freedom" Ghetsis blurted awkwardly.

I got up and sighed, "Goodnight Ghetsis..."

******
END CHAPTER

Authors Note: Ghetsis just can't seem to keep his words to himself, damn him and his speeches. Anyway, this one was a bit of a game changer and I hope you continue to enjoy the story! I'm always open to comments and suggestions, pointing out errors is fine too I'm always striving to improve. Also thank you to all the people who have continued to follow the story and write positive reviews. You're all the reason why I keep writing!