The picture on the side is of the binder I've placed the story in to revise and edit and the three journals I originally wrote it in!

Chapter Forty Three

Snowflake's POV

I was beginning to get tired of waking up confused and slightly sluggish. It took a few minutes for me to realize what had all happened and where exactly I was. I also realized the room was spinning slowly because of the drug's effects, which had yet to completely wear off.

I remembered that Kendall was in danger and ran out the door, stumbling along the way. The second I was out, I shifted, which took longer than I was used to as my body attempted to burn off the drug.

They didn't wear off entirely, but it was enough that I was able to run without staggering around. So that was exactly what I did, flying with the wind through the woods and land, ignoring the persistence of any jagged rocks or sharp twigs that frequently stabbed at my paws.

The run was silent, yet I could hear the trees taunting me and the grass laughing cruelly. Both believed I would make it there only to find Kendall's lifeless body questioning why I hadn't done my job. So I pushed myself faster, faster than I realized.

I wasn't the type that prayed, but on my way there, that was all I did. I prayed I was actually going the right way. I prayed I made it there on time. I prayed that Kendall was fine. A small part of me even prayed for the Nolan I knew and that he came to his senses.

I don't think I'd ever been so determined in my life. Not on those nights when I used to sneak out with my friends or on those days where I would do almost anything just to get what I wanted. None of those moments compared to now. They were only minuscule sticks compared to giant trees.

By the time I got there, the only thing I felt I could do was pant to relieve myself from the internal heat raging on as my legs trembled in their attempt to keep me from collapsing.

"I think I see her! Grab some clothes and tell Lance!" I could hear the guards shouting at one another before I saw a few rushing towards me, which I was secretly grateful for. I didn't think I could make it to them without falling to the ground.

"Are you okay?"

"What the hell is your problem? We're going to get fired for your stupidity!"

"Get her some water; she's panting."

I would've called them idiots if I could for attempting to ask me numerous questions when I clearly couldn't respond. So I ignored them, impatiently waiting for a pair of clothes so I could explain what was going on.

It took them a while, but they eventually brought me a long dress out of all things. The guard saw my look and grinned sheepishly, seeming to understand.

"There's a ball going on, and Prince Gordon-" I interrupted him by snatching the dress from him with my teeth and dragging it along the ground as I wearily walked to the forest.

I quickly changed, frustrated with the dress. I wasn't sure how I was supposed to get around with it. But complaining until I got suitable clothes wasn't going to save Kendall's ass.

I found my way back to the guards, walking fast with them following behind. "Someone is coming to-" but I was stopped by a guard running towards us, shouting.

"The west entrance security is down! Someone got through!" He said, alarming the guards.

I quietly cursed, my heart rate picking up again as I tried running in the dress. Along the way, I could hear it tearing along the bottom, but the more it tore, the more I found myself freely running.

Once there, I spotted a woman standing by the doors, skittishly looking around. She saw us, and her eyes widened considerably before she dramatically fell to the floor and gave excuses.

"He told me he'd kill me like he did to them. He-he . . ." but she started sobbing, her words turning into prayers.

"Look for a key," I said, glancing at the thick chains on the handle of the doors. I went over to them, moving around the guards and the pleading girl as I inspected them.

"It's not on her." That didn't surprise me as Nolan probably took the key inside with him.

I didn't think I could break the chains, but I thought with enough force that I could break the lock. So that was exactly what I attempted to do.

After a minute or two of pressure, I heard the lock pop out of place before it fell to the ground. I pulled the chains off as quickly as I could before swinging open the doors.

Immediately, people screamed and swarmed out like flies around us. I walked through the crowd and was met with a full scene.

Nolan was the first thing I saw. He stood by a microphone stand, a gun securely in his hand. When the guards began advancing, he simply waved the gun because he knew they'd stop just as they did. They looked at one another, unsure what to do.

Another quick sweep of the room and I could see Raelynn crying over Lex, who was being examined by someone quietly. I crossed my fingers for her before turning my full attention to the situation.

"I see the drugs wore off faster than I predicted," Nolan said sadly, finally seeming to realize I wasn't going to come around and roam the earth with him.

I walked forward slowly before saying, "This isn't you, Nolan. What happened to the man I loved?"

"He was tired of being stripped of everything, even the only person he truly cared for," he snapped back, momentarily forgetting about Kendall.

I didn't realize Kendall was watching as I neared him, but he apparently was because his hands suddenly yanked me closer. I finally reacted by shoving him behind me, ignoring his heroic attempt.

"You aren't going to kill someone for a decision we made together. As for the rest, you had the chance to change it but ran away instead," I said, some of my earlier anger returning.

"Enough, he does not want you," Kendall said, trying to move. But a human attempting to overpower me was going to get him nowhere.

"I could easily shoot both of you, injuring you and killing him," Nolan said, a pleading look in his eyes. But I wasn't going to give in.

My attention had shifted to Nolan, so I didn't prepare for the next moment. Kendall shoved me to the side just as the bullet flew through the air, shrieking along its path. It nestled itself inside of Kendall, and I found myself screaming for him.

Then, the adrenaline washed out of my body, and I was falling to the floor as my legs eventually gave in.