It happened the night before the night before New Year's, the night of the 29th of December.

Antoinette still hadn't come back, and we couldn't avoid the elephant in the room. I knew I had placed my trust in whatever she was doing, but knowing what Li was capable of, that trust could only last so long before I started getting my own doubts.

At least I had some confirmation of what she was doing, or that whatever it was came from her own volition, Claire and Kristina had nothing to go on and, according to our conversation the previous day, they still firmly believed it was because of their argument that she left in the first place.

"I thought she'd be back by now..." I heard Claire say that afternoon. "I'm really getting worried, what if we made her so mad she'll never ever come back?"

"Then we'll wait for an eternity if that's what it takes until we're all together again," was Kristina's response.

I thought about that exchange late into the night, it was because of it that I had a hard time sleeping, staying in a perpetual state between consciousness and dreamland.

During my hazy consciousness, I heard her voice.

"Sebastian, it's me. Don't freak out and don't move."

I opened my eyes to see the dark sillhouette of Antoinette standing by my bed. Normally I would have done something, but I didn't know if this was a dream, a hallucination, or an illusion. I stared quietly.

She smiled at me and continued.

"I don't have time so I'll make this quick. Do you remember that metal door we found in the forest during the boat race? When New Year's comes by, go there during the fireworks. I'll explain everything to you - but don't worry, I'm fine. And, whatever you do, don't tell them anything. You can't take that risk."

And just like that, she left.

I felt confused and sad, but at that time I was too tired to care, so I fell asleep shortly after.

Then came New Year's, and the three of us stood side by side at the dock overlooking a lake, illuminated by the afternoon glow. Claire held a small makeshift boat she fixed up out of a box and some plastic water bottles, and inside of it was a photograph of Antoinette and her little bag. The boat was placed into the water and with a soft tap of the foot, it began to sail. Claire shuffled in her spot and looked down.

"I tried asking for a bow and arrow to make this like a viking send-off, but..."

"No reasonable person would ever entrust you with a weapon," I finished the sentence for her. She nodded sadly.

We watched the little boat float about until Kristina cleared her throat.

"Tonight... we say goodbye to a dear friend." She spoke softly, as if she didn't want to break the silence that surrounded us. I turned to watch the water, how our tribute passed through with small ripples along the surface.

"Antoinette Delacroix. Though you might not have thought the same, you were one of our best friends. I wish we could apologize for the things we did to you, and the things you lost from our faults." She paused, and from the corner of my eye I saw her take Claire's hand. "But every day you were with us, the brief time in which there were four of us, you helped us feel like a family... the way one should be."

Then they looked at me, and Claire outstretched her other hand.

I silently took it and faced the water again.

It was calm, fitting for the night.

"We can only hope you'll find your way back," she said. "...When you do, you'll be recieved with open arms. Until that day comes, your memory will stay with us."

I wanted to say something, to mention how I saw her that night, but every time I wanted to, that warning mind flashed in my mind.

"You can't take that risk."

No matter how much I thought about it, it didn't make sense. So, as I watched my two friends mourn over her loss, I decided to not think about it.

If I couldn't understand it, it wouldn't do me any good to keep thinking.

I squeezed Claire's hand when I heard her choke back her tears, and for a long time we stood together, finally united at the worst of times.

With New Year's now hours away, none of us were really in a mood to celebrate. Claire said she'd be taking a nap and would wake up in time for the fireworks show, but I doubted if she really meant it. Kristina followed, and though there was still time for night to really settle in, the skies already seemed much darker.

Dark, but beautiful. I took the opportunity to take a walk.

Antoinette's message for me said I had to wait until the fireworks, even if I felt restless now. I wondered the reason for this, but as I entered the elevator and saw the screen, I realized why.
As long as the system wasn't preoccupied with something big, something like a firework's display, then I couldn't sneak off. What were the odds that he would notice one person running into the woods whilst that was going on? They weren't zero, but they were definitely higher than if I would have gone at a time like this.

I had to think of a good way to pass the time, one that wouldn't make me seem suspicious in the eyes of Li, but one that wouldn't hold me up.

So I went back to the lake, where our tribute continued to aimlessly float, and sat at the dock.
It didn't take long for footsteps to come from behind me.

"Sebastian?" Anya's voice sounded timid. I didn't look back.

I heard her huff quietly and walk closer until she stood right behind me. Still I said nothing, and it was only when she tapped my shoulder that I felt obligated to recognize her existence.

"What is it, Anya? I'm a little busy right now," I said, doing absolutely nothing.

I could hear her shuffling in place, as if deciding what to do next, and eventually she sat at my side, bringing her knees up and adjusting her dress.

"I..." She hesitated. "...wanted to apologize."

I immediately turned my head towards her.

"...You're like three days late."

She exhaled out of her nose and sighed.

"I know," she said. "I needed that time to think. You really make a lasting impression, did you know? That tantrum of yours got me thinking."

"Tantrum? That's not how you apologize."

I may have been a little harder than necessary, but at that moment I had more pressing issues on my mind. I had no time to be wasting with this half-baked apology when I was about to undergo a stealth mission. Anya waved her hands apologetically, smiling.

"Oh, I'm just teasing. You know how it is." She let her hands fall afterwards and turned her gaze to the water, where our boat had stopped moving. After bracing herself, I imagined, she continued: "You were right on something."

I deadpanned at her. Where did she think she would get stating the obvious?

"Time ago, you said to me that my bloodline didn't matter where we were, because in death we are all equals. I said you were an idiot and ignored you."

"You didn't call me an idiot," I said defensively.
"I didn't? Well, I certainly thought it."

I pulled a face. "You don't apologize often, do you?"

"I'm making the effort," she retorted with her head held up high.

As I rolled my eyes, she continued.

"When you said that, I didn't believe you. I don't think you know, but the Sokolov family is one of the most famous elite families in all of Europe, our father is the CEO of one of the largest multinational corporations in the world, and it's been in our family for generations. Which is why my bloodline," she continued, wagging a finger in front of my face, "is everything to me."

She stopped there, and for a moment I could see a conflicted look sketched over her face.

"And yet... because of my pride in that name, I ended up lashing out at my friend - you."

"That wasn't the problem."

"That was entirely the problem," she stated. "I considered my name more important than my family and than my friend." Anya fidgeted with her hands as she lowered her gaze to the water. "You've made me realize that... well, I understand that the Sokolov name isn't as important to me as it is to other people. Epecially here-" she made a vague gesture- "Where everyone is the same. With all that in mind, I came to one simple conclusion."

I raised my eyebrows. I thought I knew where this would go, but then again Anya always was one to catch me off guard. As I looked at her, she turned her head and locked her eyes with mine.

"I realized that... deep inside, what's most important to me isn't my name," said Anya Sokolov.

The lake was quiet as I took in her answer and the genuineness of which she said it with. I felt the need to speak up, but nothing came out.
She smiled wistfully and looked away again.
"Dean especially helped me figure that out. He asked me a particularly hard question, he said: if I had to choose between inheriting my father's business but never seeing my friends again, or to spend one more month with my friends but to be disowned... the answer came quickly. I think, after that, I finally understood. Kristina made that same decision, the only difference was that she made it before I did."

"Huh..."

I wasn't sure what to say. Of course, it was nice to hear all this and see this maturity, but why come to me about it? I asked her that.

She would hum in thought before a faint smile faded onto her face.

"I suppose I value your opinion. You've shown to be quite insightful when it comes to others and, obviously, it was because of you that I came to this revelation."

Flattered as I was, a more pressing thought flashed in my head.

"Does this mean you'll apologize to Kristina? Accept her..." Though I trailed off in case it was still a sensitive subject, Anya finished the sentence for me.

"Accept her genuine happiness?" she said with a bittersweet tone. "Yes, but... I'll be honest, I don't know if I'll ever be able to accept the fact she's... well, you know."

"Gay?"

"Yes."

I exhaled out of my nose. Baby steps, if nothing else.

This much I understood. It must be so much more difficult to accept that coming from such a family, but after all she did to get here, I decided to give Anya a break.

I nudged her side and said:

"I'll let her know. Maybe this is the first step to a family reunion."

She smiled, but I decided not to go any farther than that.

"Thank you, Sebastian." Something in the way she said it made it seem as though a weight had just been lifted. "I do value your friendship. I said as much on Christmas and I'll say it again."

"Yeah, yeah. Hey, shouldn't you be getting back? The fireworks are going to start soon." I waved my watch about, prompting Anya to check her own.

We said our farewells after that, and looking much better than she did when she got here, Anya left.

The ten minute countdown could be heard through all of Paradise, it would be amazing if someone missed it. I checked my watch, relieved and a little surprised to find both Claire and Kristina still in 1-A as they said, and set off, giving the now sinking tribute one final look, a reminder of why I did this.

Now, as preparations were made, would be the perfect time.

I didn't bring anything with me, just in case, and teleported to the waterfall where we crashed during our race. From there, I walked steadily and swiftly, looking all around to make sure nothing would happen.

Before long I'd reached the metal trap door. Last time it was locked, but if Antoinette was telling the truth then...

I reached for the handle and braced myself.
To my surprise, it opened, and I found myself staring into the darkness below before noticing the ladder going down.

Antoinette must be down there somewhere. It was finally time to see just what the hell was going on.

I heard the fireworks finally going off in the distance. Those muted explosions were my only partners in my descent to the darkness, but even they were too far to illuminate what lay ahead. Alone, I moved forward. Wherever her trust would take me.