The big city.

Laurinda closed her eyes, her hands in tight fists at her sides. They were shaking. Her normally so calm and collected composure was gone. She was breaking down.

"But....but if I tell them...they'll take me away," she whispered. "I don't know where I'll end up. And then...then I can't ever see you again," she whispered. She looked down at her feet, her hair falling over her face and hiding the tears in her eyes. "I'd been on my own for almost a year. I didn't want to trust anyone anymore. I never wanted to. But then...then you helped me. After I broke into your house, after I stole from you, you helped me. And you kept helping me. And I don't..I don't want to leave," she whispered.
~!!~
Ashlyn closed her eyes tightly. This was what she had wanted for so long; just to be with him like this. She had realized she loved him a long time ago, but never said a thing after that night. She didn't want to like him. She wanted to forget about him.

She kissed him back gently, not caring about the blood in her mouth. She knew full well where shew as heading, and she knew that this might be the last time she could see him. She pulled away, turning her face away from his. She felt strangely calm, for someone who was dying.
~!!~
Andrea stood in the same spot on the front porch for a few moments before turning back into the house. She was silent as she walked over to her son.

"Your father is gone. If he comes back, I'll be back," She said simply, and kissed the top of his head before disappearing. Cora blinked in surprise; just like that? She looked at the open door, then back at Carlisle silently.
~!!~
Sable looked at the girl sitting in front of him now. He was feeling that same thing he had before, like something was trying to remind him of her. But he had never seen her before; had he?
~!!~
Melanie shook her head. "I don't lie," she said. "I haven't loved you since the day I died. I was toying with you, don't you see that?" She asked, looking at him. "In fact, I hate you. It's your fault I'm dead. I killed myself for you. For love." She didn't blame him for her death, but she was saying this, only to make him hate her. "In fact," she said. "I hate you." This hurt her more than any pain ever could.
~!!~
Andrew sighed in annoyance. "Yes, yes. Whatever. I don't know where she is now. She probably got lost." He looked at him, a small smirk creeping across his face.

"Did she really just say that or have I gone crazy?" Carlisle asked completely confused.

Lance made her look up at him. "Please." He said. "I want you to be safe. Do you know how much I worry?" He asked.

~!!~
Mason watched her. He had nothing else to do. Silent tears ran down his cheeks.

~!!~
Clara looked at him. "Well, have fun." She said and disappeared, but not before she knocked something down. Jade spun around. She saw no one. "Who's there?' She called in a shaky voice.

~!!~
Warren stepped back. "I don't believe you." He said softly. "You wouldn't do that to me." He said.

~!!~
"Why are smiling?" He demand.

Laurinda shook her head quickly, looking up at the much taller boy. "No," she said quietly. "I don't."
~!!~
"Mason?" Ashlyn asked quietly, turning to look at him. She was sitting on the floor, trying not to cry. It was dark, and she could barely see him. "Will I be a demon?" She finally asked, wrapping her arms around herself tightly.
~!!~
Sable frowned, and made himself visible to the girl. The feeling was still there, but he wouldn't let it bother him.
~!!~
Melody had found Raven by now, and was frowning, looking at the young girl.

"I have a job for you!" She said. Raven frowned.

"What is it?" She asked quietly.

"A girl. She needs you to be her guardian." Raven's eyes widened.

"A guardian??" She asked. "But...I don't know how to do that!"
~!!~
Melanie shook her head. "Then you never knew me," she said, taking a step back now as well. "I hate you, Warren. I don't ever want to see your face again. I'm sick of you. I don't want you anymore."
~!!~
Andrew's smirk only deepened. "Oh, no reason," he said. "You know," he said slowly, drawing his words out. "I like the insane her better. Maybe she'll stay that way one of these times."
~!!~
Cora frowned. "No, I heard it too," she said quietly. She glanced over at him. "This is good news, right?" She asked finally.

"I... I think so..." Carlisle said, he was dazed at the moment. His father just left? What happened? He was so confused.

"And you never will." He said. "I promise I won't lose contact with you." He said softly.

~!!~
Jade's eyes widened. "Sable!" She said, hardly believing it.

~!!~
Warren stepped back. He shook his head. "I don't want to believe you." His voice was heavy with with tears he refused to cry.

~!!~
"NO!" Tyler yelled, and turned to Jake. "I don't care what I have to give, just fix this!"

~!!~
Mason closed his eyes. "I can't tell you." He said. "I don't know. "If I had my way you would be an angel."

Laurinda shook her head suddenly. "No!" She shouted. Heather was watching silently from the corner of the room. "You say that now, but you'll forget about me!!" She cried. "They always do. My 'friends', those who thought they knew me. None of them bothered to try and get ahold of me after I ran away. None of them knew me. None of them cared. As soon as I leave, you'll forget about me," she said quietly. "I'll just be that little girl who intruded on you. You won't remember my name, you won't remember my face," She said quietly.
~!!~
Sable frowned. "That's not my name," he said slowly, glancing around the room. That was when Raven appeared. Her eyes widened, looking first at Jade, then at Sable.

"Sa---ble," she said slowly, piecing two and two together. Anger flashed in his eyes.

"That's not my name!" he shouted again.
~!!~
"I don't care what you want!" Melanie snapped. "You're an idiot if you can't see the truth that is standing right in front of you."
~!!~
Andrew sighed, more in annoyance than anything else. "And so it begins again.." he mumbled. "what, are you two just going to pass it back and forth?" He asked.
~!!~
Cora frowned, and reached down and took his hand in hers. "Well, I'm glad," she said softly, and stepped outside now.
~!!~
Ashlyn was crying freely now. She didn't care anymore.

"It was always you," she said softly. "Ever since you died, it's always been you. I never thought of anyone else," she said quietly, looking over at him again. Everything hurt, and it was getting hard to see. She didn't picture death like this.

Carlisle took another glance upstairs before following Cora out, "Yeah... Me too..." he muttered. "Walk or drive?" he asked her as he shut the door behind him.

Lance made her look at him. He didn't look happy. "I'm not your past friends. I don't think you are some little girl, I couldn't forget you if I tried." He said.

~!!~
"Sable." Jade repeated. "If that isn't your name; what is it?" She asked.

~!!~
Warren looked at her, sadness crossing his face. "I still love you." He said, softly.

~!!~
There was something in his eye that said he wasn't joking. "No, I'll make sure she'll never gets hurt by her love for me again." He said.

~!!~
He touch her cheek. "Please let me take you ti the hospital." He begged.

Cora smiled at him. "Either one is fine with me," she said softly. Her mind was racing now; what had just happened with Andrea and Isaac?
~!!~
Sable frowned. "Alexavier," He said simply. Raven was staring at him incredulously. "Sable..it's me. Dont' you recognize me?" She asked softly, taking a step toward him . He glared at her and stepepd back.
~!!~
Melanie shook her head. "Then you're a bigger idiot than I ever took you for," She said. Her words felt like knives in her chest.
~!!~
Andrew's smirk deepened. "Then I think you don't knwo her as well as you say you do," He said simply.
~!!~
Laurinda felt a tear slip down her cheek, her fists shaking at her sides. "But I---" She started, but cut herself off. She pulled away and buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking. She had never cried this much, not in front of him nor anyone else. She didn't know what to do.
~!!~
Ashlyn shook her head slowly. "No point," She said quietly, laying her head on the edge of the bed and staring up at the ceiling. "No point," She repeated, the blood trickling down her chin.

Jade was frowning as well. "Why are you here?" She asked. She was happy he was here, but something didn't seem right.

~!!~
"And somewhere deep down, I know you still love me."He said, turning quietly running up the stairs, he couldn't believe it, he wouldn't allow himself.

~!!~
"I know she won't like it, and she'll do it again, but she won't have the chance to do it again, if I'm not around, she won't be able to, she'll get over me in time." He sounded sad.

~!!~
"Lulu." He said softly, but said nothing more.

~!!~
Mason looked sad. "But I don't want you dead." He said.

"And then maybe she can move on," Andrew said suddenly, standing up. "Maybe you're right. But who will she have to move onto? Me?" A small smirk made its way across his face. "Not that I would mind...." He said slowly, trailing off at the end.
~!!~
Ashlyn shook her head. "I don't want to die," She cried softly. "I don't want to, but..." She trailed off at the end, shaking her head. "I know who did this," She moaned, her hands over her stomach. "It was a boy. I recognized him, from my old school. And I know who told him to," She added softly. "I know it was David. He probably--" she cut herself off, coughing again. Blood was thick in her mouth. "Probably didn't think he'd go this far, though."
~!!~
Sable smirked, taking a step forward. It all came back to him then, what a demon was supposed to do. How he was to do it. But nothing about this girl or the young blonde one came to him, and he didn't understand why they were calling him Sable.

"I'm your demon, as they put it," He siad, with a smile that made Raven's skin crawl.
~!!~
Melanie watched him go, and waited until she could no longer hear him before disappearing. She reappeared in the goddess' throne room, tears in her eyes that she refused to let fall. She pushed them back, and looked at the goddess, face impassive, saying nothing yet.
~!!~
Laurinda turned away from him, though her shoulders continued to shake, her sobs echoing throughout the room. She wanted to stay with him, but she wanted to finally get rid of the fear that followed her around constantly. She didn't know what to do. She didn't want to be stuck with some family she didn't even know, but that's exactly what would happen if she went to the police. She felt so torn, more so than she ever had before.

"I wouldn't mind walking?" Carlisle said so it sounded like a question..

Tyler frowned. "Since you seem to know so much," He said bitterly. "What should I do?" He asked.

~!!~
Mason frowned. "What will he do when he finds you dead in his home?" He asked.

~!!~
Jade frowned, and shook her head. "You wouldn't do that to me." She said softly.

~!!~
Isaac was staring at the goddess, his cheek was red. "I said; no." He said, anger in his voice.

The goddess was holding a feather in her hand. "What is her name? Annabell?" She asked, and his eyes grew wide.

"You wouldn't dare." He said, his jaw tight. "Do you want to find out?" The goddess asked. With one last glare he disappeared. The goddess turned her gaze to the girl. "What?"

~!!~
Lance sighed, and turned around, walking out of the study.

Heather frowned and followed her brother.

Laurinda fell to her knees, and when she finally opened her eyes again, saw that he was gone. Her heart felt heavy. She didn't know why, but she felt almost...betrayed, that he had left her here. She shook her head, pushing herself to her feet. It was over. It had to be.

She grabbed her backpack, and took out a sheet of paper. The fear was too much. She didn't want to deal with it anymore, but if she had her way she wouldn't allow herself to be taken off to some home, either. She took the pen and wrote with trembling figners on the paper.

'Dear Lance. I'm going to the police. I'm tired of living in fear. Thank you for everything. I'm sorry for being a burden. I'll miss you. --Lulu.'

She didn't know what posessed her to write his nickname for her, but she shook it off, folded up the paper, and set it on the chair. She walked over to the window and pushed it open. Even if she managed to get away without being taken somewhere, she didn't want to come back here. She was sick of being a burden to him. Even if he wouldn't say she was one, she knew better. She slipped out of the window, and dropped down to the ground below her. The night air was cool on her skin as she began to walk, towards the police station.
~!!~
Cora nodded, smiling at him. "Sounds good," She said softly, keeping ahold of his hand. "It's a nice night," She added, looking up at the moon that hung low in the sky.
~!!~
Andrew laughed. "Don't ask me," he said. "I benefit if you leave, so why should I want you to stay?" He asked. "You leave, and I have a chance with Elliot," He mused. "Though..I must say, she is a good kisser."
~!!~
Sable laughed. "And why wouldn't I??" He demanded. "I don't know you. I have no connections with you, either of you, so why should I care?" His words felt like a knife in her heart.
~!!~
"I'm done," Melanie said simply. "With Hope. I left, and I'm not going back." Her voice didn't waver, despite what she was feeling.
~!!~
Ashlyn flinched at his words, but was silent for a moment. "Beats me," She finally said. "Freak out. Throw my body in a lake. Bury me in the backyard. I don't know, and I don't care," she said. She struggled to stand, but only fell back down, this time on the bed. She carefully sat back, her back against the headboard. She coughed again, and her stomach throbbed. The pain was blinding.

"Yes, it is." Carlisle said with a small smile. He tightened his grip on her hand just barely before he headed off for the home of Lance Sparrow.

Lance walked back in, carrying something. When he saw she was missing, the window open, and the note on the chair that something fell and broke. He picked up the paper, and read it two or three times. He say down in the chair, not even bothering to pick up the broken item.

~!!~
That did it. Tyler broke his nose again. "Shut up!" He yelled.

~!!~
Jade fell silent. "Sable." She said softly. She shook her head. "Why would you want to hurt me in the first place then?" She demanded. "What did I do to you?" She asked, she couldn't stop the tears flowing from her eyes.

~!!~
The goddess sighed. "And why not?" She asked.

~!!~
Mason looked away. "Do you want me to stay?" He asked. "No, I will, you watched me die..." His voice trailed off, and he sat on the edge of the bed.

Heather frowned, and looked over at the note. She sighed, and sat down on the ground near her brother, by the chair. She looked up at him silently. She knew somethign was really wrong; her brother would never leave something lying on the floor like that.
~!!~
Cora smiled at him, and as they walked someone ran past her, almost knocking her over. She blinked in surprise and spun around, and saw a flash of red hair, but whoever it was was long gone by now.

Laurinda didn't stop to apologize to whoever she had run into. She just wanted to keep running, and get this over with before she lost her nerve. she already felt it slipping away.
~!!~
Melanie frowned. "Because. I don't want to," she said simply, arms folded across her chest stubbornly. "I don't want to deal with any of them anymore."
~!!~
Andrew glared at him. "That's getting really annoying," he said, his hand over his nose. He took it away a few moments later, sighing. "But I guess it's to be expected," He said, taking a step back. "Do what you want. I don't care anymore," he said.
~!!~
Ashlyn looked over at him, her vision blurring. She really thought it was over, until she realized it was just her tears. "Mason..." she said softly, and then said something she would never have said unless she really were dying. "I'm sorry. I'm...I'm scared."
~!!~
Sable glared at her. "I told you, that's not my name!!" he shouted. Raven looked stunned, speechless, beyond words.

"What was that?" Carlisle asked, not sure why someone nearly knocked Cora over and said nothing.

Link stood up moments later, and put the note in his pocket, and began to slowly clean up the mess, through he didn't seem worry about it. Matter of a fact, he left a few pieces on the floor.

~!!~
"And what if I turned him into a fallen again?" She asked.

~!!~
Tyler frowned. "Don't act like you ever cared for anyone." He spat.

~!!~
Mason took her hand. "I'm sorry, I couldn't protect you.' He said softly.

~!!~
"No." She said softly. "You aren't Sable." She sounded pained. "Sable wouldn't shout over something like that." Tears were running down her face. "Your just someone with his face."

"I don't know..." Cora said slowly. She turned back to him, held his hand tighter, and began to walk again.
~!!~
Laurinda didn't stop until she stood in front of the police station. It was almost 9 pm, and it was practically empty. She clenched and unclenched her fists for a few moments befoe taking a deep breathe.

"Thank you, Lance," She said softly, and pulled the door open and stepped inside.
~!!~
Andrew suddenly grew angry. Thoughts of Lee flashed thorugh his mind as he grabbed Tyler by the arm. "Don't act like you know a thing about me," He spat.
~!!~
"I already told you I'm not him," Sable said, sounding annoyed. Raven looked at Jade, eyes blurred with tears.
~!!~
Ashlyn shook her head slowly. "Not your fault," She coughed. She lay her head back, closing her eyes. Every breathe hurt more than the last. "I'm scared..." She mumbled, but her breathing was slowing down. She didn't understand why everything hurt so bad. The sound of her won breathing kept fading in and out; she coudlnl't concentrate.
~!!~
Heather frowned, and touched her brother's arm gently.
~!!~
"I wouldn't care," Melanie said simply. "I don't love him anymore. I'm done with him; I don't care what you do," she said simply. She knew how big of a bluff this was; she just hoped it would work. She knew she couldn't hold in her sadness for much longer.

"There is nothing to know about you." He spat, yanking free. "You are scum, and I bet you always were!"

~!!~
"And you never answered me; Why would you want to hurt me? What did I ever do to you?" She asked, her hands shaking at her sides, she was trying to be string, but she was about to break.

~!!~
Mason touched her cheek. "Ashlyn." he said softly.

~!!~
The goddess frowned. "Then why won't you hurt him, by having Hope kill herself. Do this, and I'll believe you. If not, I will be forced to turn him into something worse then a fallen." She said, smirking.

Carlisle shrugged before following her. He stopped once they reached Lance's home. "This is it, right?" he asked, he wasn't entirely sure since he blocked the time not spent with Cora from his head.

Cora nodded. "Yeah, this it," She said quietly, looking up at the house. She reached up a hand and knocked quickly, keeping the other in his hand.
~!!~
Sable said nothing; it was as if silence had overtaken him. Raven couldn't take it anymore.

"Sable!" She shouted, taking a step towards him. "You can't tell me you don't recognize me at all!" She cried. He was silent still.
~!!~
Melanie had underestimated her, she knew that now. She knew that making Hope do that...then he would truly hate her. She was doing this so she wouldn't have to hurt him anymore, so he could stay with Hope! But now...

She had to do this now; she wouldn't allow him to be hurt again. No matter how much this would hurt him.

"Fine," she said quietly.
~!!~
Ashlyn shook her head slowly. "I hate him," She said softly. "David. He did this to me," She coughed again, and turned her head away from him. "It's his fault. You know," She laughed slightly here. "I don't know why I came here in the first place. I had no where else to go, I guess."
~!!~
Andrew glared at him, and looked ready to strangle him when a figure appeared next to him. It was a girl, he noticed straightawy from her slim figure. Her short black hair went down to her chin, and she was wearing a dark blue dres, one that was very familiar to him. His eyes widened in realization.

"Lee?" He said quietly. She smiled sadly at him, and for a moment he could see the vulnerable side of her, the one she had let only him see in life, but it was gone just as quickly, as was his . He remembered her last words to him and scoffed, turning away.

"Time to go. I'm sick of your arguing," She said. Her voice made his knees grow weak, but he didn't have to worry about it for long, for she grabbed their arms and disappeared.

Tyler looked at the girl. "What is going on?" He demanded.

~!!~
Mason looked sad. "You should of have stayed were you were." He said.

~!!~
The goddess smirked. "Good girl." She said.

~!!~
Jade stepped forward him, she couldn't help it. She touched his cheek. She looked so sad.