NOT EDITED. YOU GET THE POINT.

"Liam!"

I'm screeching like a mad man as I sprint towards the house, gun still in hand and hair whipping around my face as I near the entrance. Stella is right next to me the whole time and makes sure to grip me when I attempt to inspect the mouth of the fire.

I scour the area for the others, screaming their names. Adam appears first, leapt from a window and with Rosalyn in tow. Their arms and faces are covered in black ash.

"We've located the others to the shed," Rosalyn coughs. "But Alfie's car caught fire in the garage."

My heart drops into my stomach and I resist the urge to be sick, "Get to the car," I command. "We need to get everyone out of the area and quick."

"Are the Purgatory close?" Stella questions.

"No," Adam answers. "They were never here." Never here?

"Where's Liam?" I say, but the burning in my neck is getting worse. Run, run, run. "Is he in the shed?"

"No," Adam repeats. "He's in the house, getting the stuff but Paz, he-"

I don't give Adam the time to respond before I'm bolting for the entrance. Stella screams after me to stop, because the whole house could blow - now that we know Alfie's car has caught fire as well - but I don't give a damn. They couldn't have expected me to even dare leave Liam behind. 

The gun is forgotten as I scale the side and climb through the window which Adam had leaped from. I tug my shirt to cover my nose and my eyes burn as I make my way through, over a fallen banister and broken glass. 

"Liam! Liam!" I scream out to him as I enter the hall, only to discover half of it has been burnt and I can't cross to the other side. There is no response.

My eyes water, not only due to the smoke, but because I cannot repress the horror filled thoughts that cross my mind on where he could and why he is not responding. My fingers tremble as I look for another way. Then I notice the fallen floorboards from above the kitchen and I move.

I scale down the stairs and dash to the kitchen, where I discover gas canteens. "What the fuck," I breathe and regret it when I going into a hysterical coughing fit. Gas canteens? This must be how it caught so quickly. But how did-

"Get off!"

Ruby?

There is shrill screaming as I clamber onto the kitchen tops and grasp the floorboards, dangling once I swing myself up. I struggle to get a grip and I have to propel myself up just to drag the rest of my body up. The floorboards creak underneath my weight and for a moment, I panic. 

Luckily, I get myself up in time to dash down. There is a blood curling scream. Grunts following and a thud sounds and-

"Ronnie!"

The room the shrills are coming from is down the hall and the door is in flames. I pry a burnt floorboard off and smash through as hard as I can, till the doors chips and I'm able to slam it down with my foot. The door fly's off it's hinges and my eyes widen at the sight before me.

Ruby's body is covered in red welts -- most likely burns -- and her eyes are wide open, head titled to the side at an odd angle and Paz standing above her, knuckles bruised and a bite mark on his hand. 

But most importantly, he reeks of gasoline. I don't think.

And then's he charging at me, hands out reached to grasp me, but not to hurt me like Ruby. He simply slams me into the wall as he charges pass, eyes wide and frantic for an escape.

It's always the quiet ones. 

I don't hesitate to chase.

I grasp him by his hoodie and yank him back before he can dash through the hole in the ground and run off into the night, never holding responsibility for his actions. I have him up against the wall in no time. "What did you do!" I'm screaming but I don't think I really want an answer, because I know what he's done.

"They told me!" His voice is raspy and he doesn't dwell before elbowing me and taking me to the ground, delivering a swift punch to my jaw bone. My world spirals but I hold him to me as I knee him in the stomach and spit in his face. 

I manage to flip us over but it's not long before Paz crawls off, dashing to grab my legs and drag me across the floorboards. I scream as the wood digs into my back. But Paz cuts me off when he kicks at my ribs and grasps my nose, ready to snap it once again. I don't let him. 

I jab at his throat and he chokes, skittering like a crazed animal. I swipe at his legs and he collaspes back onto the ground. I take the chance to gather the floorboard from earlier and utilize it as my weapon. I really regret throwing my gun now. 

But then I smash it across his face and Paz is howling. Our chance at either of us escaping is done as the kitchen has now caught, creating a fiery pit that only means death if we jump. I have no intents of jumping, though. But Paz wants me to.

He grasps at my useless weapon and lurches me over him, to where my hair dangles over my head and fire is roaring beneath me, blasting heat into my face. I feel sweat trickle down my neck. 

His hands are at my arms, attempting to throw me over into the fire when I roll onto my back and kick his stomach, sending him flying back. I throw myself at his body and we take a tumble for dominance when he bucks me off. But I'm crazed at this point thinking, for Ruby, for his betrayal, for Liam. 

"Where is Liam?" I demand when I have my forearm pinned at his throat. "Where is he?"

"Dead!" He screams and my heart plummets. 

He wrenches my head back with his fingers tangled in my locks and sends three swift jabs to my stomach, flipping me and wrapping his hands around my throat. 

My air is cut off as I thrash beneath him, his fingers twisting and I think this is it. I am bound to die by the hands of a person I thought was on our side, only to delude us. Liam's not dead. Liam's not dead. Get up! Get up!

I'm screaming at myself that this is not how I will go. I will not die by the hands of Paz. I will not die here in Liam's old home when I know he is not dead. So I fight.

I jab two fingers into his eyes - it's the best I got at this point - and return the kicks he gave me earlier, further back till he wobbles over and I know I've got him. 

"Ronnie! No!" It's Adam; I don't need to turn around to see, so I shove Paz over and listen to his screams as the fire swallows him. I watch him thrash from above, till his body is red and then black and till his hollers have died in his throat. Till he is no longer breathing. People that I've killed in one night: 2. 

I don't feel sick like I did with Mandy, even though I knew she hurt someone close to me. All I feel is betrayed and hurt and worried that he's done something to Liam. So I don't give a shit he's been burned. 

Adam's eyes are wide when I meet them. Blood dribbles down my chin and I'm sure I look like a monster; blood on my face and ash on my body. My throat feels dry as I swallow and I don't have time to digest what went down when I storm pass Adam, looking through any room for Liam. Adam seizes my arm before I can continue.

"The house is going to cave, come on!" He's tugging at my wrist now, but he must be completely stupid if he thinks I'm going to leave Liam behind; if he's even in here at all. 

"Did you find him?" I ask and when Adam shakes his head no and opens his mouth to speak, I wrench my arm from him and call Liam's name out again, searching for him and smashing through any door I can. He reaches for me again and that's when I take off, screeching Liam's name louder as the ground rumbles and the ceiling collapses, separating Adam from following after me. The ceiling smashes through the ground, taking it down and me down with it.

I manage to catch onto the edge before I'm swallowed by the flames like Paz was, dangling and feeling the fire lick at my boots. Adam is screaming for me now and I'm clawing to pull myself up, but the boards creek again and I'm sure if I even attempt to move, they will go down and I, with it. 

Maybe it's karma. Maybe it's because I gave Paz such a horrible death that now I will meet the same fate. 

My arms shake. 

I cry out when my hand slips and the tears gather in my eyes, because I'm not ready to go like this, especially when I know Liam has not been found. He could be bleeding out right now, or unconscious. Maybe he inhaled too much smoke when he was getting stuff, maybe Paz cornered him. I'm not sure, but I am determined not to die without knowing. I cannot die.

Paz deserved it. So did Mandy. They deserved it'; they got what was coming. It's my sole reasoning. The only way I'll be able to go to sleep at night. It's not karma because it can't be.

So I claw and  wriggle to get out of the fire's path. Adam is trying to get to me. Just when I press my stomach to the boards and attempt to pull myself up, the boards creek again and my grip has gone slack, because there is nothing to grasp. Nothing but air.

So I close my eyes, waiting for impact. Waiting for flames to engulf me and turn my skin red, to swelter till ash. 

And then a hand grasps mine. 

It's like the heavens are singing when I open again only to find myself staring into familiar green orbs. I cry out, not because the fire is at my calves, but because Liam is here. He's alive. He's okay. 

He wrenches me up with a grunt and I land on him, gripping at his forearms and I can feel the sticky substance of blood as my hands explore his chest. Tears gather in my eyes, "You're okay," I choke. Well, maybe not. He's hurt, but alive and that's all that matters at this point.

He cradles my head and presses a bruising kiss to my lips, holding me to him so tightly that I can barely breathe. I kiss him back with equal fever and fist my hands in his hair. We pull back with a gasp and then we're up, fingers intertwined as he busts a glass with a punch and ushers me out first. I comply and we leap onto the roof, scaling down the roof till we get to the edge and I see everyone in the distance, calling for us. And I feel it again, the House rumbles like it is ready to give, but I know better. 

So I push Liam with all the force I can muster off to the ground and to Adam who is waiting below. He drags him and our eyes meet temporally, as if he knows. Maybe he does.

My feet kiss the edge of the roof and I am ready for flight, to dive onto the grass and race towards them both. I don't get the chance to.

The house implodes and it takes me down with it.

                My ears are ringing.

Something splatters against my cheek, like raindrops. One and then two and then three. Rough lips against mine and it's like they are breathing life into me as they pound on my chest. They rattle me as if I am a doll. 

It's deja vu.

It's like I'm back on that roof when Liam found me, grasped me and begged me to stay with him. I remember the rain and feeling like this when I woke up; limbs heavy, unable to open my eyes, and in severe pain. But I suppose this is a good sign. 

I can feel pain and I'm sure you can't in death. 

If I'm alive, then I must be lucky. 

I fell in with the house. I should be dead. I should have been burnt to a crisp and turned into ash. But I'm not.

Hairs tickle at my nose and calloused fingers shake me harder. My head pounds and I want to scream at them to stop. But then their hands are gone and another replase them, fingers pressed against my throat searching for life. 

My body shakes with dry coughs as I bolt up, lean over and dry heave but nothing comes up. My tongue feels thick in my mouth and someone smooths at my back. The ringing clears and I can hear them, crying in my ear as they embrace me, hold me to them and whispers my name in watery relief. 

"Ronnie," A familiar voice sobs. "Ronnie, you're back!"

I blink in the direction of the voice to discover Belle with her hands clasped over her mouth, fingers dirty and blue hair sticking up in all directions. Tears stream down her face and I'm so confused when I reel to look at them all. 

Liam is rocking me and I am limp in his hold, staring over his shoulder at everyone that surrounds us. There is not a single dry eye, all wet with tears and worried expressions. 

Liam transfers to cradle me, staring down into my eyes as he secures his arms under my knees and kisses me again. He kisses me softly, gently as if now he is afraid to hurt me when just minutes ago he was shaking me and pounding on my chest. 

I wrap my fingers around his biceps and meet his eyes, dazed. I make a gesture for something to drink and not even a minute later, Liam is pressing a canteen to my lips and I drink greedily, till I can finally swallow without pain.

"Back?" Is the first word I croak. My eyes fall to Stella, who looks horrified as she towers above me and reaches for my hand. She clutches it to her chest as she nods. It's the second time I've ever seen her so emotional.

"You stopped breathing. When we pulled you out, you stopped." Stella says but her voice is shaky. "You were dead Ronnie, I was so sure of it!" She conceals her mouth when she chokes. 

I was dead?

"For two minutes, you were dead," Stella continues. "Liam had to bring you back." I nod, but my head feels funny. "Don't ever pull that heroic shit again or I'll kill you for real!"

I crack a smile through my headache while Liam snarls and everyone shouts that it's not funny. I think it's hilarious. I've just come back from the dead and Stella is already threatening to send me back.

I guess I should have expected that.

"You're a crazy bitch, Ron." Jeremy chimes and I peer at him. His arm is wrapped around a shaking Rosalyn. And then I remember Ruby.

"Ruby," Is all I say and Rosalyn nods, shaking with sobs. 

"I know," She cries. "Paz was... he was-"

"A traitor," I complete for her. "I killed him."

No one seems phased by remark. Only Adam flinches, but that's probably because he witnessed me to do it. I killed Mandy too, I think. I don't want to voice it. I'll probably only confess to Liam. When we're alone and I feel like I can, I will. 

"We need to get you cleaned up." Liam says before anyone can respond, though it didn't seem like anyone would anyway. I don't complain when he lifts me and I can see over his shoulder, beyond familiar faces I see the torched house and ashy remains. 

Paz's body lies within the rubble and there it will remain, surely. But I want to find Ruby's. So does Rosalyn. I can see it when she glances to the house and if I was strong enough, I'd help her. So she can have some semblance of closure. Ruby is our first lost, Paz the second, and for a few minutes, I was the third. 

I let that settle as my wounds are tended.

        Adam gets to work, utilizing Liam's map to get us to Wisconsin.  It will take twenty three hours and fifty six minutes. 1, 612. 2 miles. It's daunting. 

It's our only option at this point and the stuff we have managed to save is only clothes. What money we had is gone and our food stock is low. Stella steals on the third day and I don't object, because I'm so hungry.

Liam stays by my side when we get on the road. He trusts Stella to drive while I lounge in his lap and stare out the window. His arm remains wrapped my waist and my fingers splayed across his neck. He refuses to let me out of sight. I'm lucky I've gotten to use the bathroom.

I suffered burns on my calves - though not as bad as I thought - and naturally, many bruises a long with a bruised rib. I don't understand why I'm here and why I'm not worse, but I'm thankful that I am. It pains me to walk but it's not as bad as the first day. With Liam and our new mating, it seems like my healing has kicked up notch. Maybe that's what saved me, I wonder, our bond. 

Liam explains that it could be so. That now that we have mated, my Alpha blood is kicking in and is in more of effect. I guess I'm stronger now. That's probably how I kicked Paz's ass, since he was a good fighter. Or maybe my body realized if I died, Liam would go with me so it got kicked into gear. I don't know and I don't really care at this point.

We reach Montana and settle there for a day of rest, lounging in some dingy motel and on lumpy beds but it's glorious. Liam and I are able to scrounge for our own room. He makes love to me gently that night, careful of left over bruises and his eyes are locked to mine the whole time, lips wet against mine. When I blink, I realize my lashes are damp. 

"I love you," He pants into my neck. "Don't do that again."

"I won't," I say to appease him. It's a lie. I didn't mean to play the hero in truth, I had solely worried for his being and what would have happened to him instead of me. I think that's what love does to you; it destroys any sense of self preservation because you cannot imagine anything ever happening to the one you love. You want to protect them and when it comes down to it, you do. Liam has risked sacrificing himself for me so I figure we're even now. Then again, Liam didn't die when he did.

He can be pissed at me all he wants. He'll still love me crazy and I'll still love him crazy. "We're even," I whisper to him but he steals my breath when he bites at his mark again. 

The next day, we're back to business and everyone is chattering about the disgusting motel and the hive of cockroaches they discovered in their bath. I guess Liam and I got lucky. I laugh anyway and Belle settles next to me for the drive. Liam has been forced into controlling the wheel but he keeps his eyes on me through the rear view mirror.

"How do you feel?" Belle asks me. She rakes a hand through her hair and I notice blonde roots are starting to appear. She'll have to dye it again soon.

"Better," I shoot her a smile and she sends one back. 

"I'm glad." She says and then the smile slips from her face as she fiddles with her fingers. "I hope this will all be over soon."

"It will be," I assure her. "And I promise I won't die again." I joke. Belle seems unsettled by comment. Alright, don't joke about my near death experience yet. Got it. 

Stella sends me an annoyed look from the passenger seat and I shrug.

Belle is silent and when the sun sets, she turns to me and whispers, "Paz means peace."

I hum.

What a crock of shit his name was then.

-----------------------

Ronnie died! :o

You know, for like half a second and then she's back. Bam! The next chapter will be no rest. We'll probably reach Ron's mysterious aunt, but let's mourn Ruby.

And did you guys see that coming? Paz was a traitorous bitch and the Purgatory set him up to it. His involvement with them will come later into explanation, I just didn't want to throw everything in your face.

I have a plan, guys, I have a plan!

I think Ronnie is rattled by the fact she killed two people just because she isn't use to it. She went in knowing, but doing is another action. She just needs time to digest it. The other time she actually killed someone, she didn't know the person so it didn't effect her as much. I want to make her emotions as real as possible. 

Anywho, sorry if it's a little short. I tried to spare you the torture of not knowing if Liam was okay or not - did you actually think I would kill of the bae? Nah - but I did kill off Ronnie. For like, two minutes. I would never kill her permanently though. This ain't no Divergent shit! (Is that spoiler? I like the book nonetheless)

I love Lonnie too much. <3

Until next time,

- CeCe.