The next day after her awakening, Hailie felt much better. After spending so much time in the hospital bed, she was eager to stand up and walk around. Her mum wanted her to lay down for just another day, but Hailie was so bored that there was no way for her to stay in bed any longer. Besides, her doctor agreed that she should start functioning normally and getting used to walking with crutches. Stiffening and stabilization was necessary for a period of usually one to two months. In her case, doctors said she should be fine after a few weeks. Rather sooner than later, because she got to the hospital quickly enough after being shot, and the operation was successful.

Molly helped Hailie get up. After laying for a few days, without any movement, it was harder to walk again. Harder than Hailie thought. But with every step she was getting better at it, until she reached the end of the corridor, feeling sweat running down her spine.

"You're doing great," Molly said, helping her sit down. "You'll see, a few weeks and you're going to be standing on your own feet again, better than before."

Hailie sent her a weak smile. It was nice of Molly to try and comfort her. She was feeling a bit down, after being shot and having problems with walking, but it was temporary. She knew that soon she'll get back to full strength. But before that, she had some hard moments ahead of her, and a rehabilitation.

"I'm a fighter. I'll be fine," Hailie said, gazing at Molly, who didn't look like herself at all. She was almost always wearing formal clothes, but now, in the hospital, she had an oversized pink sweater and sweatpants in the same color.

"Yes, you're the strongest fighter I've ever seen." She hugged her, holding Hailie in her arms for a longer while. "I should've spoken with you more often. You must've felt left behind by all of us."

"It's okay, Molly."

She shook her head. "No, it's not. We know what you've been through. Buying you a new house, sending you to college, we were forcing you to start a new life, and we never talked about it with you."

"I wasn't so keen on talking either," Hailie reminded, making Molly chuckle.

Yes, with Hailie it was more than hard to talk. She was always so withdrawn, but after the court fight with Jayson, after the problems started for the first time, that's when Hailie became completely introverted. She wasn't as happy as she used to be. But now, even though she had to survive another confrontation with Jayson, it seemed that she was happy. Like she changed through this time, since she moved to the house.

"But that doesn't mean that I should just give up on you, and that's what I did. I continued living my own life, leaving you behind."

It seemed like Molly finally noticed what Hailie was feeling deep down.

"We're just so different."

Molly took her by the hand. "But we're still sisters." She looked into Hailie's hazel eyes. "I promise, I won't leave you again."

Hailie nodded, because everything was yet to be decided. Those were only words and knowing her sister, the outcome might be a bit different. But for now, she was here, and that was the most important thing.

A nurse passed by them, walking into the room across. Hailie noticed a girl laying there, and she recognized her right away.

"Could you bring me some hot chocolate?" she asked Molly, knowing that her sister wouldn't be too happy about the conversation between Hailie and Amy. She still didn't like her, and she couldn't be blamed for that. Amy used to be a real bitch.

"Sure, I'll be right back." Molly stood up and walked to the elevator that was at the end of the corridor, behind the turn.

As soon as Molly disappeared from Hailie's eyesight, she took the crutches and went to Amy's room. There was nobody else inside and Hailie had a feeling that her parents still hadn't come to the hospital. She hasn't seen any flowers or letters, even though she always thought about Amy as a popular girl with many friends. But now, there was nobody by her side.

"Hailie?" Amy noticed her right away, and Hailie saw that she looked a bit different.

She used to have those beautiful honey-colored hair, but they were gone. Partly at least, because doctors had to remove some of them since she had an operation. Her almond eyes were tired and red, like she cried a lot. And that excited bitchy spark that was always in her eyes was gone as well.

"Hi, I came to check on you." With a bit of trouble, Hailie got to the chair.

"That's nice. Except for nurses and doctors, you're the first person to visit me." She gave her a weak smile.

"What about your parents?" Hailie asked, because it seemed really weird to her that they weren't with their daughter. Especially that she almost died. Even now, there might've been complications. So, where were they?

Amy wasn't eager to talk about them, but she replied, "Doctors called them, but they're on some business trip and can't come to the town. They said they're happy I'm coming back to health and that they'll try to visit me next week." She shrugged, pretending that it meant nothing to her. Hailie could see that she was hurt back inside. She kind of felt sorry for her, even though it looked like karma came back to her.

"It sucks."

"Can't say I'm surprised." They were never by Amy's side and Hailie knew something about that. They had their moments of talking about some more serious topics. Once Amy drank up too much and she started telling Hailie how much her family is screwed up and ignorant. "I'm glad to see that you're okay as well. I was asking nurses about you, and they told me everything that happened." She pointed at the newspaper lying on her bedside table. "Besides, we're famous now." Hailie noticed that they were on the front page, along with Jayson. In a town like this everybody probably talked about this. Maybe they were thinking that it happened to Hailie, because she's living in the Bloody Mansion. But she didn't die. She was very much alive.

"Cool. Can't wait to give autographs to all those reporters that are probably waiting outside for us and our story of how we fought against a psycho with a gun."

Amy laughed at Hailie's joke. They weren't that kind of famous.

Or maybe? She wouldn't mind making money by telling this story on the television.

"I've heard that this policeman that you're friends with, that he killed Jayson."

"He had no choice." And he wasn't hesitating. "I'm glad you survived the shot. Everybody says I'm a fighter, but you're one too. I mean, look at you, you came out of this without a big health detriment." It was a real miracle.

"Oh no, it's better to not look at me. I'm so ugly. I never want to look in the mirror again, at least not until my hair grows back." Amy must've taken it seriously, because indeed all the mirrors in the room were covered or put down.

Hailie took a small mirror that was lying on the bedside table. She opened it and gave it to Amy. "No, you're still as beautiful as you were. I always thought of you as one of the prettiest girls in the world. That hasn't changed."

Amy's mouth started trembling, as she tried to stop the tears. "I'm sorry, I don't want to cry." But it was so hard to not cry.

"No, don't be." Hailie took her by the hand.

"You're so nice to me, even though I was so horrible as a friend. I kept letting you down, making you feel worse on every occasion." She wasn't wrong. Amy was a shitty friend, but Hailie hadn't seen it until they finally stopped being friends. Earlier, she was believing in every word that Amy said. It was hard to count, but she gave her a complex about every single thing she was roasting Hailie for.

"You were kind of the worst," Hailie admitted. She might've even said that Amy hasn't changed that much, considering she led Declan to his death only because he cheated on her.

Amy chuckled, "Yeah, I can't blame you for thinking like that. I was always standing on Jay's side. I never stopped to think about what truly happened in that funhouse. It was easier to believe his version. I was ignorant, telling lies about you to the whole school, calling you crazy ex-girlfriend, while you were his victim. I can't imagine how horrible you must've felt. I'm so ashamed that I took his side in court, that I didn't tell the truth. Maybe I just tend to destroy everything that's best in my life."

Hailie parted her mouth. Those were some strong words she didn't expect from Amy.

"It was worse than Hell." She could say it aloud, since she actually visited Hell, and it actually was worse than being down there. "But it's over now."

Amy put down the mirror that Hailie gave her. She still didn't have enough strength to look at her reflection. Hailie thought that maybe she was complaining about her looks all this time only because she herself felt not pretty enough.

"And I'm seeing how wrong I was only after almost dying because of this crazy maniac." She thought that maybe it was better to somehow lead both of them into the Bloody Mansion. The problem would've been solved faster. "I guess that what I'm trying to say is, 'I'm sorry.' I'm sorry for everything. You deserved a better friend than me, one that would stand by your side, no matter what. The one, who would be there for you, and who wouldn't call you fat, and clumsy, and lame, and all the other things I've called you. This was so wrong, and I'm sorry." She tried to not weep, even though she felt so much remorse and regret. "I'm just hoping that someday again you could give me another chance."

Hailie sighed. Maybe she was just too good hearted, but she really felt sorry for Amy. She realized all those things a little bit too late. Or maybe not? It depended on Hailie, whether she would forgive her or not. And deep down she already knew the answer to this question.

"Maybe that someday again could be today," she replied, looking into Amy's tired, almond-like eyes. "We all made mistakes, and I forgive you, Amy. You're still a lot like," she looked for the right word in her mind, "like you, but I also see that you changed."

"Thank you, Hailie." Amy smiled at her, and Hailie replied with the same gesture. "I promise to be better," she added, chuckling. And she really meant it. 

Suddenly, Molly walked into the room, with hot chocolate in her hand.

"Hailie, I've been looking for you!" she said with a bit of irritation. "What are you doing here, come on." She waved at her, not particularly happy about seeing she was spending time with Amy.

"I'll check on you later too," she promised, and squeezed Amy's hand before standing up. 

It seemed like for now Hailie was the only person to be by Amy's side. 

Molly helped her walk out of the room. Only after they left, she asked, "What's that about? Does this traumatic experience make you closer or something? Remember that she's a snake in a human form."

"Don't worry, it's not something I could forget about."

Hailie forgave Amy. She was even willing to give her a second chance, although she wasn't looking for an old-new best friend. But even though she was ready to talk with her again, it wasn't that easy to forget everything. The past taught her to be careful, and that's how she was going to act, at least until she'll be certain that Amy really changed.

One could never be too sure about it.