Again, I didn't feel like choosing only one lyrics. Not for this chapter. This is the last chapter and in a way it's very special to me (and one of the most important of the whole story), hence the two different songs. As I already said, Of these chains is the main theme of the story. Other songs that contributed to this chapter are The silence by Alexandra Burke and Battlefield by Lea Michele. I don't know if someone actually listens to them, but I had to say it, in case someone does. I finished, I swear.

Part One

Walk away

Chapter VIII

Put your hand to mine and feel this emptiness,
there's no beat in my chest
cause there's nothing left
No, it ain't a goodbye, it's a last caress

(Believe, Hollywood Undead)

I need to leave,
but I only want to stay with you

Let me take you when I go, when I go
I don't wanna do this on my own, on my own

I'm breaking free,
but of these chains
oh, let this one remain

(Of these chains, RED)

Everything is wonderful.

Two months have passed since you and Paige made it official and things between the two of you couldn't go better – you are going strong and you couldn't be happier. You've built so much memories together in those months and it's like you're recovering the time Paige thinks you've lost – you don't feel the same way, you have not lost time, all the time it took to get where you are is exactly the right amount it was supposed to take.

You invited her to Rosewood so she could meet your parents and you could celebrate graduation together as a family – you asked her uncle to come, too – and, after some hesitation, she agreed, accepting your words of reassurance.

Though she was a bit scared to meet your parents, they seemed to hit off immediately, surprisingly her and your father the most. It made you so happy to see how they welcomed her, with big smiles and open arms, but the unbelieving gleeful teary look on Paige's eyes was the thing that made your heart melt.

Your mother took her under her wing, promising she would teach her how to cook, smiling proudly when Paige succeeded in making fantastic empanadas – something you never learned how to prepare, much to your mother's disdain. Your father, instead, insisted on playing poker with her, saying that every daughter of his should know the game – and her smile was so beautiful in that moment. You join them some nights, but most of the time you just sit there and watch them interact with a content smile on your lips.

After you made up with Hanna, they got to know each other better and their relationship grew into a playful friendship, always laughing and bickering over the stupidest things, playing pranks together and you being their favourite victim – not that you don't have your revenges.

There was just one member of your family she hadn't met yet – Spencer. While you decided to keep quiet about her not to make Paige nervous, Hanna thought it would have been fun to do exactly that, so when she finally met Spencer she was a nervous wreck, but she hid it well – later she would quietly tell you that she was more scared to meet her than your father. Their stubbornness and competiveness made them clash immediately, but they got along well – though neither of them would admit it.

Her uncle came only the day of the party, bringing some photos of baby Paige with him and your parents thought it would be a good idea to do the same – it wasn't. By the end of the night, you couldn't breathe for how much you laughed, but you couldn't even look at each other without blushing and that amused your relatives to no end.

It was only when you got to your room that you began to make fun of the other. Soon after that a pillow fight began between your laughter which ended the moment you kissed her – her competiveness makes it hard for her to accept a truce, so kissing her is the only solution, one that you like very much.

You can't help but smile all the time, because you're happy and you are in love, because the reality you were looking for is so much better than the one you imagined, because you feel blessed and finally in a lasting peace of mind.

Everything is wonderful.

Until it isn't anymore.

"Em, are you awake?"

You stay silent and you keep your eyes closed as she moves to control you're actually sleeping, before slowly getting out of the bed, trying not to make any noise. You wait for the door to close after her and then you quickly jump out of the bed, ready to follow her.

Paige has been acting strange for the past few days, being much quieter than usual, avoiding as much as possible your touch, looking distracted for the most of the time, leaving in the middle of the night and returning after a couple of hours, always apologizing, not realizing you are awake each time.

You didn't have the courage to tell and ask her, afraid she wouldn't answer – afraid you wouldn't like the answer. You didn't have the courage to follow her, until now. You need to know, no matter what the answer is.

You quietly get out of the room and make your way downstairs, making sure not to make any noise. You see the light of the porch lit and you look out the door, shifting the curtain to get a clear view. She's sitting on the steps, staring in the darkness, like she's waiting for something – or someone. After a few moments, someone arrives and your eyes widen when you recognize who he is. Robert. What is he doing here?

"Thanks for coming here again."

Again? Is he the one she's been meeting with? When did they start talking again? For how long? Why didn't she tell you? You gulp as they hug each other and stay that way for a few moments, you stare at them as Paige clings harder onto him and you bite your lip. What this is about?

"Always."

They sit on the steps and he stares at her, waiting for her to speak, but she just keeps her head down. You sigh softly, a part of you knows you shouldn't be doing this, but the other just keeps on telling you that if Paige hadn't been so secretive you wouldn't have to do it. Before you get to a conclusion about what to do, she speaks, making the decision for you.

"She's been noticing something is wrong, sometimes she looks at me in a way that… I don't know. She never says anything, she just stares at me."

"You should tell her."

You cringe. Tell you what? What is she hiding from you? You think about everything you possibly can, but you don't come up with a definite answer. You tighten your grip around the door frame as you lean in to listen closely.

"I know, but how can I?"

"She'll understand."

He lays his hand on her shoulder, but she shakes it off sharply. She takes her head between her hands and begins to slowly shake her head. After a few seconds, you can hear her sobbing and you ache in anguish. What are you supposed to understand? What's happening?

"She shouldn't have to."

That breaks you. You lean to the wall and you slowly fall to the ground, as tears begin to pour from your eyes. You try to contain your own sobs covering your mouth.

"I thought I could be finally happy, you know? But it doesn't matter what I do, how hard I try, something always holds me back, I'm always chained."

"Paige…"

"And you know what's worse? That I always hurt someone. First Val, then you and now her."

"But we're always here, we would never leave your side. She would stay."

"I know she would, but I can't let her. I have to do it on my own. This world is too cruel."

There's such a finality in her words, like she just decided what she is going to do – and that kills you, you feel as someone just stabbed you in the heart. You could go out there and demand explanations, extracting the dagger and letting the wound bleed, but you're not going to do that. You will wait for Paige to do it.

You slowly get up and quietly make your way back to your room. You stare at the bed you share with her and more tears spill from your eyes – you're quick to wipe them away. You slowly reach it and lay on it, fully knowing you won't be able to get any sleep tonight, and you just wait, without really knowing what you're waiting for. You're not waiting for Paige, you're not waiting for the heartbreak. So what are you waiting for?

It doesn't take long for Paige to come back, too. You hear the cracking of the door and her soft curse – you almost smile at that, you hear her slipping into the bed, you feel her hand caressing your hip, sliding her finger up and down your side, making your skin tickle. She gently kisses the top of your head as you inhale her sweet perfume, being all you can smell. You keep your eyes shut – darkness being the only thing you see – as you try to maintain your relaxed posture, biting hard your lip. All you can taste is blood.

You wait for her usual apology, but this time you don't get only that – no, this time you get some kind of explanation, too. You feel the dagger moving, but it remains there, its spike pushing hard against your heart. She's never done this before – she never touched you, she never offered anything more than a weak apology. You know what this is. This is the end.

"I've been weighing all the possible solutions, but… I'm sorry."

In the end you're the one to extract the dagger, not being able to wait any longer. You waited and waited, wanting her to tell you on her accord, then you started to stare more and more, dropping hints always more often to make her understand you know, but, even though you've seen recognition in her eyes, she still didn't say anything. Eventually, it comes to the point where you just can't wait anymore.

It happens on the very much quiet way back from your old high school – you wanted to show her the town you grew up in, you wanted her to know all the things she didn't already. You don't know why you did it, why let her know more when you know she's going to break your heart? Why open yourself to more pain?

It's the simplest of the many whys that have been running through your mind since you found out about it that finally makes you snap – why? It's all you ask her, your voice dry and harsh. The alarmed look on her eyes – one you've come to be very familiar with these past days – is not there this time and that tells you she was expecting you to bring it up. You briefly wonder why she didn't say anything if she was aware you've been knowing for some time, but you quickly push that thought off your head. You don't need more whys. You need answers.

"How long?"

"A few days."

She nods, accepting your answer, and then she looks down. She sighs as she weakly kicks a small rock and she opens her mouth, only to close it again. You just stand there, waiting, and you almost chuckle as you realize something – you thought you were done waiting for Paige, but that's all you've done for the past week. You are never done waiting for Paige. She'll never stop running. Will you ever stop chasing her?

"I never wanted this."

"Then don't do it."

"I have to."

"Bullshits."

She snorts and shakes her head, but she says no more. You bite your lip, trying to control your rage, before that rage controls you. There are many things you can't control, but there is just one thing you can't let yourself be controlled, consumed by. It happened once already and you won't let that happen again.

"This isn't fair."

You whisper, your voice shaking and breaking. This is not fair. How could it be? She wipes out the tears on her eyes with the palm of her hand, then she closes her eyes and shakes her head again, looking down.

"Maybe not", she sighs, "But, right now, this is what's supposed to happen to us."

You look down at that, too. You bite the inside of your cheek to prevent yourself from crying, but it isn't enough, so you let the tears run free. With the little strength you have left, you ask her why once again. Why does she have to go when she knows you would stay? The only answer you get is silence. You keep your head down as you nod – you couldn't have expected a different answer from her. You couldn't have expected any answer from her.

"Then go. Just… You can run from me, but you just can't keep on running."

There's no venom, no rage in your words. No more tears on her eyes. Just defeat. You accept you've lost. You can't fight anymore, you're too tired, there's no strength left on you anymore. You could scream, but you don't think she would hear you. In this battlefield, neither of you won, you just lost, both raising a white flag in surrender. No winners. Only losers.

"Do you think I want this?", she keeps her voice low and steady – but you know she's just as broken as you, "I don't. There is nothing I wish more than to stay and be with you. But you taught me to do the right thing, and that's what I am doing."

You sink your teeth into your lip, tasting blood again. The dagger is out, the wound bleeds, you burn. You don't want answers anymore, they wouldn't change anything. You run, leaving Paige behind. You run, not knowing where you're going. You just run, away from Paige, from the pain. You just run and you don't stop.

You'll never be able to wash off the blood in your hands.

She's the first one you see when hours later you come back to your house – she's sitting on the steps of the porch, her bag on her feet. Beside her, your father. They both stand up when they see you. You stare at Paige and you see with the corner of your eye your father slowly getting back inside, leaving the two of you alone. You knew she was going to leave, you knew, but it hurts all the same. It doesn't matter how much you prepared yourself for this, you aren't ready. You would never be.

"Please, don't go."

She bites her lip, "I have to."

You already knew her answer, but you close your eyes in pain anyway. You had to try and ask her, you had to, but it's not possible to convince someone as determined as her. All you can do is accept that and you may accept it, but it'll never be right.

You hear a car stopping behind you and you turn. Robert. You look at her, how long has she been planning about leaving? She explains he will take her back to Palo Alto where she'll stay with her uncle for a few months and start looking for a job. You understand that she planned everything since she started changing – and you should have known it, Paige is a planner, she doesn't do anything before thinking and over-thinking about it.

She speaks and speaks, but you can't hear any word she says. All you can do is stare at the movements of her lips. You slowly lean in as she becomes aware of your intentions and keeps silent, simply looking at you in the eyes, making sure this isn't something you would later regret – you won't.

You kiss softly before you wrap your hands around her neck, engulfing her in an hug. You lose yourself in her hair, you inhale her scent and hold her tightly, you don't want to let her go. But you have to.

"Don't let me hold you back. Don't let me be your chain, Emily."

Her voice is barely a whisper. Her breath is fresh on your skin. It's something you can't promise, something you aren't going to promise. Her eyes are gentle. Her hand on your cheek is soft, the stroke she gives is light and gentle. You… You are just broken. You can't promise that.

You are broken and you can only but watch her as she grabs her bag and walks away without looking back, as your knees go weak and you fall to the ground – no one there to catch you from falling.

You can't do nothing but watch her walking away, knowing that this time she won't come back.

Author's note: Hey, I'll just answer to the guest before running away and hiding somewhere - you already knew it was going to end this way, though. Thank you, guest, I'm the worst at writing happy things, so if at least you enjoyed... well, that's a huge relief. And thank you to all of you, really.
Second part will be up around the first three months of the new year - duty calls.

Have a nice time until then. :)

Meek hides.