A/N: As this is a mature story and the final book of a trilogy, please read the author's note preceding this chapter for important information.

*August 14, 2010*

I heard bangs.

No, they were knocks. Someone was at the door.

Nicholas.

With the little energy and consciousness I had left, I crawled into the foyer.

Nicholas is coming back for me so that I could go to L.A. with him. He promised he'd never leave. He told me he wouldn't live without me, and now he's back.

On my knees, I pulled the door open.

"Nicholas..." The rest of my apology got caught in my throat. "No! No."

It was Phoebe. She stood silent and bewildered at my doorstep. Then,

"Oh my God! Katherine! Katherine, what happened?"

When she rushed past me into the living room, she wanted to call maintenance to fix the shattered glass doors. When she saw the blood on the cup, the sofa, and floor, she called 911. I heard her say the word "ambulance," and cried out. Struggling up to my feet, I slapped her phone out of her hand before she could give them the address.

"I'm fine." I clutched my chest as the room began to spin. "I-I'm not bleeding any- anymore."

"Katherine, please sit down. You're gonna collapse." She tried to lead me to the couch, but I pushed her hand away. "Katherine, Nicholas must've hit you. You need to see a doctor."

"He-" I remembered his screams at the sound of his name. They sliced through me so deeply, I bent over at the middle. I wasn't strong enough to fight her off this time. Phoebe helped me over to the wall with the painted arch. "He didn't. He didn't hit me."

My thoughts were on a racetrack, racing against time. One would start and get caught off by the next and the next. I couldn't keep up with them just like I couldn't breathe. Through the wild harsh words were blurry memories and in them was so much darkness, so much fire.

"There's blood everywhere." Phoebe covered her nose, her hands shaking and her eyes watering.

"I'm okay." I wrenched my arms out of hers, glaring. "You called Nicholas and told him about the money, didn't you!" I pulled at my yellow t-shirt, feeling confined by it. My skin felt like a rubber suit. I had to take it off. I had to take it all off.

"I-"

"Don't lie to me, Phoebe." I was swallowing air like I had just crawled out from a makeshift grave. It met the rocks in my lungs, which grew in size with each breath. "I'm so sick of your-"

"Alright, I did. I called him."

I pushed her feebly, yet still she stumbled back.

Why couldn't she- she just had to- I need to be with- I needed Nicholas- I needed my- I needed- Why was she- Liar- He would never touch her. He would never touch her.

"You didn't even tell me that you spread the... lie. You lied— he raped you. Why?"

"Katherine..." Her eyes opened wide as she shook her head.

"How dare you come here, calling-" I leaned my head back against the wall unable to catch my breath. "911, trying to fix this mess you caused?"

"I have to take you to the hospital."

"Get out. Get out!"

I hope you rot- You took him- I made him go- I love him so much- I hate you. I hate my life. I have no- How could Zach-

"I can't do that, either," I heard her say. I couldn't open my eyes anymore. The lights were too bright to open them. "You're in trouble, Katherine. If you don't let me help you, who will?"

I tried telling her that she was the last person I needed but my stomach heaved as soon I opened my mouth. I bent over, convulsing, expelling hot air.

"Please let me help you." She knelt down, and I couldn't deny her. I shook in her arms, instead, scratching my arms. I didn't want this skin. I wanted Nicholas's. I wanted to fly inside of him and wrap myself in his skin.

"Oh God, Katherine! Katherine, stop!"

I shook so badly, I bit my tongue.

Then, I tumbled into the darkness once more.