I couldn't breath. I didn't know how.

Rage and distress flooded my body and warmed the pit of my stomach, but it didn't phase me as much as it would've 3 weeks ago. By now I should be used to the bombshells and surprises that've been dropped on me.

Clutching the ring tightly in my left hand, I dropped the envelope and reached for the front door, only successful in completely turning the knob before Nikita howled at me to stop.

'Ellie! You've just traveled 53 miles in 2 days with the only rest being sleeping inbetween two boulders. You've just found out that Blade took your mother and brother, and you want to go BACK out there with nothing but what's in the bag on your back-well, what's left in it, anyway? Rest, Ellie! Take a shower, sleep, eat..just relax, okay? Everything will be okay. I promise.'

Her words spoke truth and I knew I should do what she said, but I didn't want to wait around in the comfort of my home while my family could be getting tortured, beaten, or starved at that very moment. Shaking my head in defiance, I pulled open the door and took a step outside.

'Elenore, stop. I told you to spend the night and rest, which is what you're going to do. I swear El, don't take another step unless it's back inside.' Going over my options in my head, I decided to test Nikita and took another step. Suddenly my body shook and my legs quivered, involuntarily turning my body around and taking the shaky, robotic step back inside. Fighting the inner-pushes did nothing, so instead of fighting it I let my rigid body go however it wanted to.

'Nikita! Why the hell did you just take over my body? You said you'd never do that unless it was absolutely necessary!' I fumed, enraged that she would break the promise she made to me so many years ago. Slamming the door shut behind me, I stormed up the stairs and into my room.

'It WAS necessary,' Nikita replied before settling into a silent sleep.

Everything was exactly the same as when I left it; my hair curler and makeup was laying on the vanity, the covers rumpled in a mad dash to fix it before I had to get ready for the Running, and my towel hanging over the top of the closet door to dry so I could use it the next day. Only 2 months ago I was so sure I would make it to the border-so certain that I would pass through finish line and go straight home with Isaac. Little did I know that I would be caught by my true mate and be brought into a world so confusing, so heartbreaking.

Untying the bag from my back and tossing it onto the bed, I inhaled the stale scent and dust that collected over the past months. Deciding to open a window and take a glance at the clock, I saw it was 4:56 p.m. Enough time to drop by Haley's old house, I thought sadly.

But first I need to change out of these Khakis and tanktop. Opening my closet and pulling out a pair of skinny jeans and a T-shirt, a sudden pressure pounded my brain with fury, like the way your muscles tighten up and throb when you first use them after a long break. My vision wavered and the tops of my eyes hurt, causing me to squeeze them shut as tight as I could.

'Elenore? Is that you?'

I couldn't believe it. Was it..him? I waited a few seconds to make sure I wasn't imagining things.

'Elenore, please. Answer me. Is that you?'

I held off and waited a few more seconds.

'Baby, I'm breaking down..I havn't seen or heard from you in weeks and it's drove me crazy every single second. Please, Ell, just say something.'

The pressure in my brain ceased and the tops of my eyes went back to normal. How, how do I respond?

'Hi,' I stated simply. No emotion was displayed in that simple word-no anger, hatred, sadness, or regret. Just sound.

Mentally I could hear Tiberius sighing with relief.

'Elenore! Oh my goddess, where are you? Are you okay? Tell me where you are so I can get you!'

I ran over the options in my head-tell him where I am and let him come get me, or get my family myself?

I chose option C.

'No. I'm fine, but you don't need to know where I am. Tomorrow I'm coming to the Mansion, but only because I need help getting my family back from Blade. Don't think this means I love you, because I don't-not anymore. You ruined my life by what you did to Haley, let alone to Gail and the rest of her family. I will never forgive you for that, so don't even try begging for another chance.'

'Wait, what? No! I never killed Mahala, baby. You have it all wrong! The only reason you think that is because all of us in the Alpha Mansion-including Mahala and Gail-decided to spread that rumor so you would come back! I know you were kidnapped at first, but then once we got wind that you escaped, we assumed spreading that would encourage you to come back straight to us. I admit, it was a stupid plan, but please just try to understand where we stood! Mahala is ALIVE, baby girl. She's right here with me.'

Adrenaline rushed through my veins and awoke feelings dulled from pounding upon pounding of sad heartbreaks.

'She..she's what?' I gasped, my eyes growing to the size of quarters as I fell on my butt back onto the dusty bed.

'She's alive Ellie. You actually thought I would do that to you?'

I paused for a moment to collect my thoughts.

'I'll be there first thing in the morning.'