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Ivy

I had bitten my nails to the extent I was scared my teeth was going to begin chewing all the way down to my skin. Malcolm had asked to be left alone, after me, Fiona and Roman tried to console him. Caramel was no where to be found and I was back at the apartment with just Roman. My feet hitting the ground repeatedly in worry, anger, and anxiousness.

Worried because Ethan wasn't picking or returning any of my calls, angry because Dean had gone completely AWOL after the Core was given to him, and still, nothing big was happening... it was all so quiet... The events of tonight seemed to have shocked everyone back into their hiding place; and anxious because we seemed to have failed... Dean was never to be trusted, and we foolishly trusted him.

I knew something was about to happen, I could already feel it. My heart pounding against my chest was preparing itself for the worst. It felt like everyone was waiting for that something big, the clarification of our failure, our doom. The end of this whole Charade, a final goodbye to our freedom.

"I can't believe he fooled us." Roman said out of no where.

My gaze met his. "The tracker disappeared, didn't it?" I asked, already knowing that was going to happen. The tracker following the Core had been the only clue to trace them... Even though we had lost track of the location a long time ago, the tracker still had the light beeping from it, but now, it had turned off.

Roman nodded. "What are we gonna do now?"

I sighed. "Honestly Roman, I have no idea." I said.

"And Ethan's still not picking up?"

I shook my head at that question. "I don't know why he would lie to me. He promised he'd meet me back at the RTR but he didn't even show up, he's not even calling back. I just wanna know if he's okay."

"I'm sure he's fine," Roman reassured. "He must be going through a lot right now, Ivy... With the situation that went down with Ralph, and then to Edith. I don't even want to be Ethan right now." Roman said.

He was right. I knew all this wouldn't go down well with Ethan, he would most definitely blame himself for this. But it was out of everyone's hand... we couldn't have predicted Ralph would even do this... We couldn't have foreseen Edith never coming back.

I sighed, tears piling up in my eyes. "We lost so many people today Roman... Not just physically but mentally too. It just feels like we walked right into a trap. We got the Core, but gave it right to the devil."

"Anyone would have done much more stupid things just for freedom, Ivy. Does it matter if we walked into a trap? No... No it doesn't. what matters is that we walked... we didn't just stand by and do nothing like the other cowards... we made a move, and even if at the end, we didn't get the end result we needed, we still did something. That is prove enough that we can do more if we set our minds to it."

"You're right... We shouldn't give up yet." I said, wiping the tears that had managed to escape. "I'll keep on trying Ethan's num-"

I stopped when the notification sound came up on my phone, my eyes going to the screen.

I jumped right up.

"What is it?" Roman asked.

"It's a text from Ethan." I responded, opening it immediately.

Murray:

Meet me at the top of the Musel... Please don't die while climbing.

"What does it say?"

"He wants to meet at the Musel, and he told me not to die while climbing."

Roman's eyes widened. "You're going to climb up that... that thing?"

I nodded, slipping my phone back into pocket. "Yeah... wouldn't be the first time." I said, grabbing my jacket. "Stay here, and at alert, I'll be back soon."

* * *

I was almost out of breath the moment I reached the top, my chest heaving as I fought for breath in my crouched position, basking in the fact that I had done that all alone, and that too, fearless.

He was the first thing I saw when my eyes registered my surroundings. The cold chill air was quick to claim positions on each corner of my skin, denying my jacket the warmth it was meant to provide me.

Ethan smiled down at me. "You didn't die... Awesome." He said, giving me his hand so I could come up to my full height. I took his warm hand in mine, loving the feeling of the cold running out from me, replaced by his familiar warmth.

"You couldn't have picked a more life non threatening venue?"

"That doesn't sound like us now, does it?"

I couldn't help the smile that spread across my lips as I went into his warm embrace, holding on to him for dear life. Breathing him in because he felt like the only valid oxygen I'd ever have. "Why weren't you picking my calls? I was worried about you."

"I know." he said as held on to me, just as tight as I held on to him. "How are you holding up?"

"I think we both know..." I said softly. "How are you?" I asked, listening to the calm of his heartbeat.

"I don't know... Ashamed..."

I pulled away softly to meet his gaze. Although they gave nothing away but I could see from the way they stared right back at me, that he wasn't okay. It was that kind of emotion your body couldn't even give a name to. "Ashamed of what?"

"How easily I let us get fooled by Dean and Glory."

I furrowed my brows. "Glory knew didn't she?"

He nodded. "This was her plan all along, Ivy. We literally walked right into her trap." He said. "We played her games, and eventually, just like she planned, made wrong turns."

"Did you go to see her?"

He shook his head. "No, she came to see me."

"What did she want?" I asked.

He sighed. "They're gonna be moving from this dimension in just a few hours, or minutes, I don't know."

My eyes widened. "What?"

"Yeah... And guess what? Humans aren't allowed in this dimension. If you're human, you wouldn't be able to cross through."

"Why?"

"I don't know, it's a human free dimension I guess, that way, no one's going to get humans in to wreck the havoc that was wrecked here tonight. According to Glory, it was the only flaw of this Dimension." He said. "Uh... she also gave me this." He pulled out a small tube, the content had a purplish hue to it.

"What's that?" I asked, taking it from him to stare closely at it.

"Since we're human, that is supposed to help us cross through without problems, or whatever it was she said."

"Oh..."

"Yeah, that one's for you though." He said.

"Where's yours?"

"I drank it already." He informed. "I don't know when this is gonna pop up, so, you better drink it now." He said, sounding calm... Too calm about the whole situation.

"Are you... okay?" I asked, watching him closely.

"We both know I'm not... but I will be a bit okay if you drink that." He smiled.

I sighed, opening the tube and downing the content in one gulp. "Ew, it has no taste." I said, knowing my face wasn't the greatest sight to look at.

His smile widened. "What, did you expect it to taste nice?"

I threw the empty tube away... "I guess not." I said, my gaze falling to his again.

The smile was gone this time... He just stared at me.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm just thinking... wondering how we even got to this point. Kyle problems and normal high school drama feels like Christmas."

I chuckled. "I agree, we're too young for this."

"Edith was too young to die." He said out of nowhere.

I sighed, wrapping my arms around him to share some comfort. "I'm sure she's free now... in a better place."

"Yeah... hopefully somewhere better than here." He said.

"Yeah, hopefully so."

A comfortable silence stretched on... but in it, was something heavy.. something he wasn't sharing with me.

Something was off... with him... with this moment..

I moved away... "Eth--"

A loud blaring sound erupted from all around us, lights coming on in all corners of the dimension, A large hologram display on the sky, repeating words that the loud voice of an AI kept on repeating.

"All subjects are demanded to make a crossover from the district immediately to the new earth. All subjects are demanded to make a crossover from the district immediately to the new earth."

"It's time." Ethan said, pulling away from me immediately.

The chaotic sound came in multiples from below.. it was sickening to hear, and I could just imagine the disaster of movements going on from dimension to dimension.

"All subjects are demanded to make a crossover from the district immediately to the new earth."

"Come on."

* * *

As guessed, the chaos below was terrifying. People were striving frantically to make their way to the district. Ethan held my hand all through, as we squeezed our way through the crowd. Luckily, we found Roman struggling to make it out of the Base gate.

"What the hell is happening?" Roman yelled as we all met up, fighting to gain balance in the crowd.

"We're making the move now." Ethan answered. "The portals aren't going to be opened for too long, we have to go now."

We pushed our way towards the district, running when we had enough room to do so.

"What about Fiona, Caramel and Malcolm?!" Roman asked.

"Trust me," Ethan fought out. "If they heard the announcement, they are running the same direction as we are right now."

With that, we each focused our attention on getting to the Rebels district.

In no time, I could tell we had gotten there, seeing as the crowd seemed to have thinned out with the amount of people running through the large portal, just a few steps ahead of us. It was so bright and even if you strained your eyes, you couldn't see what was beyond that portal.

"What are they running into?" Roman asked as we stopped running, watching how the crowd thinned out little by little.

"Hopefully a place a little more open and free than this." Ethan said, his gaze falling to mine. "This is it."

I furrowed my brows, about to ask him why he sounded that way before his gaze left mine to Roman.

"Roman, please take care of Ivy for me,"

Wait... what?

"Make sure you stay clear of Glory's way immediately you cross over... just run to a place you know is safe. It's a replica of earth so you know exactly where is safe and where to run to. She's going to be looking for you if she doesn't see me--"

"Wait wait wait... just hold on a second," I stopped him. "What the hell are you talking about, Ethan? Why are you talking like you're not- you're not coming with us?"

He gulped down, his gaze falling to mine once more. "That's because I'm not coming with you, Ponytail."

I stopped, searching his eyes for any hint of a joke, all I saw was seriousness and hurt.

I shook my head. "What do you mean? wh-what are you--" I stopped, the lump in my throat blocking my vocals as I tried to blink my vision clear.

Roman stood there, staring wide-eyed in disbelief.

"Listen," Ethan said, pulling me to him. "I lied... I lied at the Musel... The serum I gave to you was the only one there is."

My head moved from left to right, refusing to let his word register. "No... no... te-tell me you're joking right now."

He shook his head, his hand coming to cup my face. "I'm not, Ponytail... I wish I was, but I'm- I'm not."

I could taste my tears at the back of my throat before they came falling from my eyes down to my cheek. "No... no... This isn't real... you're lying to me right now... you- you wouldn't- you wouldn't do this to me, no..."

"Ivy... look at me." He tried to hold me upright, I didn't even realize I was breaking right there. "I didn't know what else to do... it was just one serum... I had to. I'm so sorry."

From my tear filled eyes, I could also spot the moisture on his cheek.

My ears felt too numb to hear the almost quiet area around us... The crowd had almost thinned out, but people still ran from different ends of the sector.

"Why would you make such a decision? wh-why didn't you tell me? I'm not leaving this dimension without you... I'm not going anywhere without you..."

"No.. no don't say that, Ivy. I did this because I love you, okay... I was not about to leave you behind."

"And you think I'm going to leave you behind?" My tears didn't stop pouring.

"Yes, yes you are... Someone's gotta live for the both us... I'd rather that someone be you, you have so much to live for. And you're the only one I trust to handle my life for me."

"You also have so much to live for, Ethan. What are you talking about? You deserve the right to live, just like everyone of us-"

"All subjects are demanded to crossover from the district to the new earth in 20 minutes."

"Now's not the time to be stubborn Ivy." He said, his voice stronger as he held my shoulders. "I need you to be strong, please."

Strong? Strong? How the hell am I supposed to be strong? He was leaving me...My strength was leaving me...

I broke down in sobs.

He pulled me into his arms in a warm embrace. "God knows I don't want to leave you... not right now, not ever. I just love you too much. I would never want to live the day I see you hurt." He whispered against my hair.

"I will never forgive you for this." I let out in between sobs.

I heard him chuckle lightly, coming to place his forehead atop mine.

"As long as you're alive to be mad at me, then it's fine." He said.

"How am I supposed to live without you? I can't— I just can't... you can't expect this from me... I can't give you this, I'm sorry... if you're staying here, then I'm staying too."

He pulled away, his eyes now pleading. "Ivy please see reason, I beg you."

"I'm not going and that's—"

"All subjects are demanded to crossover from the district to the new earth in 10 minutes."

"Roman, you guys have to go now." He said, letting go of me completely, his gaze not meeting mine. "Please take her away."

"No no... Ethan I can't do this without you."

Roman's hand encircled around my arm. "Ivy come on we have to go."

"Let go of me." I tried to fight off from his grip. "I'm not going anywhere Roman, let me go!"

"Take care of her for me okay?" Ethan told Roman, almost pleading.

"I will." Roman said, pulling me further away from him... I didn't know what to do, my knees felt so weak, and I felt just about dizzy with all the crying.

Then he turned, walking away from me, he didn't move to even look back as I got swallowed by the light... I couldn't take that much emotional stress, it felt like my whole body pleaded for a little rest, but I didn't want to give it... I wanted to kick and scream and then beg for him to come back to me... But my lips refused to even move... All I could manage to let out was his name before I got swept through the light, and then into darkness.

___

Ethan

Everything, it took everything I had not to pull her back to me, not to melt when she yelled out my name. The moment I seized to feel her presence, my heart shredded in two... I felt completely and utterly alone. I could feel something constantly connecting with my heart, twisting, turning and piercing.

I wouldn't deny it, I was scared.

From behind me, I felt the bright light close up slowly, welcomed by a very deafening silence, as I waited... waited for what exactly?

I wasn't sure what was supposed to happen next, but according to what Dean had said, this dimension would self destruct the moment the portal closed, judging from the darkness in the sky, I was quite positive all the portals in each dimension were long closed.

Or was this all--

"We meet again, Old friend." A voice I recognised quite well, said from behind me, I had to turn around to be sure.

What the--

"God, I've always wanted to say that, thank you Glory for this opportunity." Silas grinned. "I feel like I'm in one of those movies where the villain makes the villain speech and shit... They literally always use that line... I never knew people make good movies these days-- We should catch some together... Old friend."

Then he laughed, almost like he had cracked a funny joke. "Did you- did you see what I did there?"

"No."

"Still a bitch are we?"

"What the hell are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be gone?"

"Meh, the Important people don't just get gone... We're always hanging around... just like you are right now... Well, you're about to be lying around, but same thing."

"What does that ev-"

Before I could complete that statement, he brought out a small cone-like shaped plastic from his pocket, bringing it between his lips and blowing at the circular entrance for his end.

Suddenly, I felt a small sting at my neck, my hand going to feel the little needle poking at my skin, and filling my system with whatever it was, the needle contained. Immediately, I took it out, throwing it to side as I felt my throat close up, my knees failing me as I fell weakly to the ground.

Weak, that was exactly how I felt all over, I couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't do anything.

That was when I heard it.. Her cool calculating footsteps reached my ear before my eyes caught her crouching beside me.

Glory smiled sweetly at me, her had coming to graze the side of my face. "Thank you Ethan, thank you for coming to me."

Yet again, I played right into her game... and lost, drastically.

Her other hand came to hold my arm in a tender way, as she smiled. "I'm about to change your life... When you wake up, you'll become a new person. Now go to sleep, Ethan... We have a lot of work to do."

____

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MY ROBOTIC BOYFRIEND WILL RETURN...