Zero. Is. Here.

Why can't I get my mind to believe what my eyes see? I also am shocked at his sudden reappearance. I mean, who runs away, only to turn up a Day later? I at least expected it to be another week before we found him.

"What in the name of Dalton is that coward doing here?" Becky hisses, and Max evens seems tense too.

I don't answer her, and even though I'm pretty sure Zero hears from all the way at the other side of the lake, his silver eyes don't shift to hers, and remain locked on mine. He takes a step closer to the water's edge, which in turn makes a painful throb wrack through my brain and make me wince.

"Stay where you are!" I yell loudly in a shaky voice.

Zero's quite far away, but I'm almost certain I can see the hurt flash through his eyes. Then suddenly there's a noise behind him, which even my human ears can hear across the distance.

There's hooting, and loud footfalls, echoing over the roar of the waterfall. Zero quickly turns his back on us and dissapears into the trees. I didn't realize I had been holding my breath until he leaves and I release it.

We all exchange nervous looks, before End grabs my hand and snatches the map from Peter, taking a second to figure out the direction we're supposed to head in and then marching off that way, dragging me along behind him. My body doesn't cooperate for a few seconds, some deep part of me wanting to run back and find Zero, then demand answers from him.

I thought I liked him, like really liked him. I mean after all we had been through on the island it was a little obvious that he liked me, and I had no idea that I was slowly growing feelings for him too. Then I went all out and kissed him out of nowhere, only for my world to be turned upside down once again and my heart broken.

Was it all just a fluke? Did Zero never like me in the first place? Was I just a mission to him? Him running away hasn't eased any of my thoughts. It almost feels like he has just left me to die, the bond slowly constricting itself around my heart.

Almost self consciously I rub my free hand over the area my heart is supposed to be, not feeling anything but sensing that's it's there.

"Forget about him." I hear a soft voice next to me and I inhale sharply, turning my head to see Becky walking fast beside me, eyes almost.....sympathetic. I blink in shock, and barely even manage to nod.

She rolls her eyes at my surprise and picks up her pace with a huff. And Becky's back.

"What-Happened......to....me being.....the navigator!" Peter manages to get out from a few yards behind us.

You would think soldiers would be trained for endurance and harsh climates but Peter is starting to look like a lukewarm mess. His uniform ripped in some places and now muddy all over again, leaves in his hair, and sweat drenching his entire body.

I bet I look just as much of mess as he does. I can almost feel an ocean of water and salt on my skin from sweat, and let's not mention the mysterious bug bites that appear on my skin every now and then. I'm just praying they're mosquitoes and not some exotic poisonous bug I've never heard of.

End ignores me and gives my hand another sharp tug. In curiosity I use my free hand to reach out for his shoulder, but it just goes straight through. I guess only his hand is solid, and is it just me, or did he shiver a little when my hand passed through him?

I quicken my pace to keep up with End, and his long strides force me to half walk, half jog.

"Slow down!" I tell him, and thankfully he slows down, but just a little.

We continue on in silence, the anticipation building as we get closer and closer to the cave my father should be at.

Please let him be there, and please, please let him be alright.

"Were almost there." Max says from a few steps behind me, and I look back to see him pointing at something up ahead. I follow the direction he's pointing at with my eyes and see another break in the trees, this time with a huge rock formation in it instead of a waterfall.

I let go of End's hand, and he lets me, before starting to sprint. Who cares that I've never been the pathetic type, or that I have two left feet when it comes to running. I sprint like my life depends on it, reaching the break in the trees in no time.

I shove a branch out of the way, breathing heavily as I stand in the middle of the opening, staring at the strange rock structure in front of me. It looks as if a giant shard of rock decided to stab it's way through the Earth and pierce the surface. The jagged and pointy rock leans heavily against another huge rock, looking almost like a teepee but made of rock.

I take a step forward into the clearing, only to get yanked back. I turn around, ready to curse End's ear off, but instead I'm surprised to find a its Peter with a tight band around my wrist.

Something in his eyes has changed. He almost seems sad, and maybe even guilty, but in a moment it's gone, replaced with warning.

"Careful. If any guards made it to the cave, they might still have their guns, and will see you as a threat. I should go first."

I nod, and he lets go of my wrist, before slowly walking out into the clearing. I tense, waiting to hear the lock of a gun, or shouting, but nothing happens. Peter looks back, motioning for us to come out of the shelter of the trees.

I hesitantly take another step forward, only for End to slide in front of me, like the good shadow bodyguard he is. I also notice Max try to step in front of Becky, but she only shoves him out of the way. I guess they can sense the same strangeness in the air that I can.

I give End a nod, and we start slowly walking forward, making our way to the rock structure.

There's a big opening in the middle, where it must lead to the cave, and its pitch dark inside, as I peer in.

"Looks familiar." Max says, trying to make the mood lighter by reminding us of how we found him in a cave. Becky and I both roll our eyes at him.

"Ready?" Peter asks me, and I look to him. His eyes are strange again, in a really intense way, almost as if he's trying to tell me something.

"Yes." I say back, and Peter nods one last time, before slowly entering the cave.

I follow him, End close on my heels, with Becky and Max right behind.

It's pitch black, and if any see anything, but I keep moving forward, brushing my feet against the smooth, rock ground with each step. The cave slopes downward, making it seem like we are descending into the Earth, which we probably really are doing.

I lose sight of End completely, his darkness making him impossible to find in the pitch black of the cave, but I can still sense his presence. I can't see Peter anymore, but I can still hear his footsteps, which makes me feel better.

We walk on in silence, and the more we walk, the more my head starts to fill with doubt.

How can my dad be in this pitch black cave? Shouldn't we be calling out for him? But then again, what if something else is in here that we shouldn't disturb unless we want to wake it up?

All the doubts are clustering my head, the thoughts making it hard to think of anything else, which is why I don't notice my increasing headache until it's too late.

Ashley, his voice, so familiar, so heart-wrenching, echoes inside my head, and I stop walking completely, paralyzed.

Someone bumps into me from behind, making me fall to the ground, and Becky curses, falling beside me.

"Watch where your going you stupid-.......Ashley?" She asks, alarmed as I don't move to get up, instead curling into a fetal position at the waves of pain his voice had brought.

Gritting my teeth, I force myself to answer him back.

Get out of my head! I try to snarl.

I know this is hurting you, and I'm sorry, He says, his voice sounding just as much pained as mine is, but you need to get out of there, right now!

A few tears escape my eyes as another wave of pain crashes through my head. I can feel my chest constricting, air harder to breathe now. I feel arms wrap around me, and when I manage to force my eyes open I don't see anything but darkness. It must be End.

Ashley, listen! Zero growls in my head, dragging my attention away from the pain and End and back to his words. Get out of there NOW!

My father is in here! I snarl back, squeezing my eyes closed as I put all my strength into trying to shove him out of my head. You ran away when I needed you most! You have no say in what I do now.

Ashley please! He begs, his voice nearly cracking.

It breaks my heart to hear him like this, and for a second I think about listening to him, because something obviously strange is going on here, but then I remember how he abandoned me to the death this bond will one day bring me, our friendship meaning nothing to him, if you can even call it a friendship.

Break the bond, I tell him, my voice in my head surprisingly calm. Break the fake bond between us and I'll leave. If you don't, I'm kicking you out of my head.

I....I can't. He says regretfully, sadness coating his words.

Another tear slips from my screwed tightly shut eyes, and my mouth opens slightly to inhale gasps. I can't hold out for much longer, I need to end the connection now..

Goodbye Zero. I tell him.

Ashley wait-.

I cut the link in our heads. How unfortunate I can't do the same with the fake bond.

I stay still for another minute, letting the head ache fade and my tense muscles relax. End's cool, but solid arms are still around me, and its almost like being wrapped up in darkness.

"I'm fine." I croak out, opening my eyes as a warmth rushes through me, and I realize Max is kneeled down beside me, a faint yellow glow fading from his hands from when he was probably trying to get rid of the pain.

"Hey what happened?" Peter's voice says, and I am able to see his concerned figure in the dying light. No one answers him.

Suddenly, Max's glowing hands remind me of something.

"Aren't you both Lightlings?" I ask, my gaze boring into Becky and Max.

"I'm a Halfling, in case you forgot." Becky sniffs indignantly.

"But you both can still make light." I push, waiting for them to realize what I'm implying.

A second passes, and then it seems to click into place.

"Ugh, I'm such an idiot! I could have been generating light this whole time!" Max exclaims, and there's a slapping sound in the darkness which I'm guessing is him slapping his forehead.

"I knew I could have been making light this whole time." Becky says cooly and off-handedly. "I just thought the darkness set the mood better."

"Don't worry, I'll make some light right now." Max says, and his hands are just starting to glow, when Peter's voice cuts in.

"No!........I mean, there could be other creatures in this cave that are attracted to light. It would be better if we remained in darkness." Peter says, his voice seeming to stutter.

I shiver at the thought of what those creatures might be, and Max seems to agree because the light forming in his hands dies out, shutting us back and darkness. That's when I notice that End's cool arms aren't around me anymore, and he's dissapeared once again. That shadow always dissapears at the worst times. I don't bother calling out for him, guessing that he's nearby and just blending in.

"Come on." Peter says, and suddenly his hands are gripping my arm and tugging me up. "Only a little farther."

I let him haul me up, and soon we are walking again, the only sound being our footsteps and the occasional breeze that rushes through the hallway.

A few minutes pass, and the cave walls seems to keep expanding, until we are in a very huge cavern. It's still too dark to make out features, but I'm able to see the silhouette of Max and Becky when I look back.

Suddenly, Peter's footsteps in front of me dissapear, and I can't see his silhouette anywhere.

"Peter!" I call out, only for it to echo.

There's nothing but silence as we all hold our breaths. And then there's a faint hissing sound.

"Guys, do you hear that?" I ask, worriedly.

Suddenly light flares to life in the cave, blinding Becky, Max, and I, and making us cry out. I press my hands to my eyes, before slowly cracking them open and slowly getting them used to the sudden light.

"Ashley. I would say this is a pleasant surprise, but I've been expecting you."

The voice sends shivers down my spine and I whip my head up, stunned and mortified at the sight in front of me.

Mrs. Clark stands there, clothes ripped and dirty, hair in tangles, and hands on hips, a smug smirk on her face. Behind her, a wall of guards and Scientists stand, some not meeting my eyes, some of their faces blank. Most of them are holding lighted lamps that must have made that hissing sound when they were turned on.

"Good work, Peter." Mrs. Clark says, directing her gaze to Peter, who stands off to the side, stance stiff and eyes on the ground.

He betrayed us. He never said anything about Mrs. Clark being here. He led u straight into a trap.

My brain struggles to keep up with all that's happening, part of me refusing to accept what is going on. I look back at Becky and Max, who are equally shocked, and notice that End in nowhere in sight.

I turn back to Mrs. Clark, attempting to make my face perfectly blank.

"Where is my father?" I demand, hoping I sound confident and that she won't notice my shaking hands.

Her smirks grows, and she makes a signal with her hands.

The wall of soldiers breaks and my dad is pushed through the opening, led by two guards with blank faces. His hands are tied with rope, his face red and glasses halfway hanging off his face as he utters curses at the guards.

"Dad!" I cry out, and his eyes meet mine.

"Ashley!" He exclaims.

I make a move to run to him, but Mrs Clark steps in front of him, waving her hand in my face. Her wedding band glints on her ring finger, and I look at it in disgust. Who would want to marry this demon?

"Uh uh uh." She says, her smile growing wicked.

"What do you want?" I spit out, my anger furiously growing by the second.

Mrs. Clark gestures to my father before looking back to me with malicious intent in her eyes.

"Let's make a trade."

Dear readers, the bomb has dropped. Mrs Clark is back! Also happy Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoyed, because you won't be getting another update for a month most likely. Instead I'll try to be updating my new Christmas book once every day for the whole month of December. So go give it a try! It's called Christmas with a Cripple, and is supposedly your classic cliche Hallmark romance. Vote, comment, and eat a butt load of Thanksgiving sides, cause weall know people eat the sides more than the actual turkey. Lots of love,

Dangeroustoken.

P.S. unfortunately, I won't be doing a different p.o.v. chapter to celebrate 300k views, because I've been so busy writing the Christmas story, so I would like to thank you guys so much! I may not respond to all comments, even though I try, but just know that I read them all! The power of email is infinite! Thanks so much! I love you all lots, and I hope I made your day by telling you you are one awesome cookie!