I get a weird feeling and jolt awake. Chase jumps and tightens his arms around me. "Are you okay," he whispers, panicking. He takes my face in his hands, "Are you hurt? Can you hear me? Can you see? Can you breathe? Are you alive? Speak to me, Lyrica! Speak to me!" "Get a hold of yourself, Prince Charming," I say, rubbing his hands. "I'm fine. I just feel...strange." "What do you mean," Chase asks, worried. He rubs my arms. "I...I don't know," I reply. "Something doesn't feel right." "Maybe you're still sick," Chase says, softly. "Do you need some medicine? What exactly is making you feel so strange?" "I don't know," I reply. "Ever since I heard Tanya's voice in my head, I've been going crazy. It's like she's trying to get to me through my mind. I can't relax and I don't know what to do. I'm tired of feeling so helpless." "You're not helpless," Chase says. "You're strong and brave. Listen, Lyrica. You were always there for me. Even when I was tortured and could only speak Nursery Rhyme, you never gave up on me. I need you. The whole world needs you. You're a hero. Don't you ever forget that." I nod, tears streaming down my face, and Chase takes me in his arms and hugs me tightly. Neither of us say anything. We just stay in that position, happy to be together. "We can't wait any longer," I whisper. "We have to find Tanya and put an end to this once and for all." "Not right now," Chase says, softly. "You're too ill. We don't know what's wrong with you. If we go out there and fight, you could get hurt or worse." "Chase, I'm not letting you keep me from fighting," I say. "And I'm not letting you die," he says. I sigh. I'm too tired to argue with him right now, so I sink into his touch and relax. I'll figure out a way to fight later. Chase isn't going to stop me. No one is going to stop me.

  A few hours later, everyone in the house is asleep. Perfect, I think. I look up at Chase, my Little Genius, and he's fast asleep. Sleeping like a baby. You know how they say that you look younger in your sleep? Well, Chase certainly does. It makes him look innocent, and somehow, it feels like I'm falling in love with him all over again. I smile. I almost feel bad about doing this. I know that if I leave and everyone finds out that I'm gone, they'll be worried sick. But I have to do this. To prove to everyone, and myself, that I'm not just some damsel in distress who needs saving. I manage to wriggle my way out of Chase's secure hold. I kneel down by his side of the bed. "I love you, Little Genius," I whisper, running my fingers through his hair. He smiles in his sleep. A tear rolls down my cheek as I bend down to kiss him on the forehead. "I'm sorry," I whisper against his forehead. "But I have to do this. I'm strong. I can get through this." At this point, I know that I'm talking to myself, but I don't care. I just keep talking, "If I don't make it back, I just want you to know that...you're not a monster. Please don't hate yourself. I don't know what I would do without you. I love you. God, I love you, you have no idea how much I love you, Chase Davenport. I'm crazy about you. Your family is awesome. I love your family. Adam and Leo are like my brothers, Bree is like my sister, Donald and Tasha are like my real aunt and uncle, I have the best adoptive dad, and possibly the best real dad, that anyone could ever ask for, and the people from Mighty Med are great. I...I'm just really gonna miss you, but I have to do this."

  Chase doesn't move a muscle. His light snoring doesn't stop. Everything is peaceful. There's nothing stopping me now. As difficult as it is for me to do, I kiss Chase one last time and whisper a fair well to the rest of the family. I make sure that I have the comic books that Adam and Leo gave me, the BFF necklace from Bree, the pillow that Donald and Tasha gave me when I moved in, the photos that I took at the party with Daddy Douglas, and the silver heart locket that Chase gave me for our nine month anniversary. Quietly and carefully, I open the window, climb onto the windowsill, and jump.