Your mom is crazy
Celine is dying.
She is looking for you.
I have a cold.
You really don't care about your mother, do you?
Nope.

{Echo}

We were sitting outside a hospital room in the Magical Injuries wing of the closest hospital we could find.

My heart was pounding; I had never been so nervous, except for one occasion. But we will get to that much later.

We had carried Celine from the room to the reception of the hostel and asked for directions to the nearest hospital. The hostel owners offered to help us out and gave us a cart to take her there.

The cart was lots of help. If we didn't have it, we might have been too late.

On the way the hospital, Celine started screaming that the pain was unbearable and passed out a while later. She was pale and sweaty and we could all see the burn rapidly expanding to her feet. We kept running and soon we were waiting for the doctors to give us some good news.

Oliver and Felix looked shocked. I think that Oliver was kind of overreacting. None of this was his fault, and Celine was just his crush. As for Felix, Celine was the only family he had left. I couldn't imagine what I would do if anything happened to Oliver. I think he was having a hard time accepting what was happening.

I don't know what I looked like, and I don't really care either, but I'm sure it was messy.

Two hours later, we were finally approached by a doctor.

«Celine Blink's family?» he asked eyeing us suspiciously.

«Yes, sir! Is she okay?» Felix rushed.

The doctor sighed and explained.

«She will be okay, that's what matters. The only problem is that her genetical organs were seriously burnt. She won't be able to have children, but I think it's a little too early to talk about that anyway.» he said when he saw our confused faces.

«Can we see her?» Oliver asked.

«She's sleeping right now, you can see her in the morning. I'm afraid she will have to spend the night here.»

«Okay, we'll stay too. When can we take her back home?» Felix questioned.

«In a couple of days at most. We removed most of the burn marks, but she still has some. They won't hurt her anymore, though, they will be nothing but scars.» the doctor replied and left.

I wanted to cry right then, in front of everyone. But I didn't. I had to be strong for Oliver and Felix, and because I never cry.

Shut up, you have no proof (I burnt it).

Felix excused himself and went to the restroom.

«This is all my fault.» I said before I could stop myself.

«Damn right it is.» Oliver retorted. «Everything. If you had just given that shifter the necklace, we would still be home and lots of people would have been alive and with their families.»

«You think I don't know that? Whatever it is you've thought about me, I already have. Even the things you don't even know have been thinking.» he didn't reply, so I took a deep breath and continued. I told him something I had been thinking for quite a long time and I had told him from the beginning, only now I was being far more serious. «When we find the necklace, you're going home alone. I'm not coming with you.»

«What the hell are you talking about, of course you're coming. Mom is probably looking for us like crazy! You can't just abandon her!»

«I'm sorry to tell you, Ollie, but she abandoned me when dad died. She never really cared, but dad's death was the last straw for her.»

«You can't be serious right now. This is a joke, right?»

«Well, before I snapped and killed a dozen people I had a chance of going back home, but now that you hate me there is no reason for me to return to Earth.»

«Fine. You don't wanna come? So be it.» he said.

«I didn't mean to get you any angrier. It's not my fault I'm treated like garbage back home!»

«Then why don't you talk to mom about it?»

«Do you think I haven't tried? She says I'm being paranoid and when I protest she tells me to not be rude. As if you don't know her. Everything I do is wrong. And you know why? Because it's nothing like what mom wants. Mom always wanted a son. Remember all those "bedtime stories" she told us? Whenever she mentioned wanting a son, she glared at me as if I was a burden. But you wouldn't know, would you? All you got was smiles and compliments.» I explained.

«Maybe she is just being tough just for the sake of making you tough too. Did you ever think of that?»

«Maybe you have started evolving into a male version of her. Have you ever thought of that?» I retorted.

«Well, maybe, mom doesn't say you're rude out of nowhere. Maybe, someone has given her the right to talk like that.»

«I'm not rude. I'm mean and sarcastic, there's a difference.»

«You're hopeless.»

«At least I'm older.» I told him and flashed a cheeky smile.

«I hate you.» he smiled back.

«Oh, shut up. You love me.» I extended my arms. «Hug?»

«Whatever.» he replied and hugged me.

It was good to have my brother back. Even though the way and circumstances of that were really weird.

«So you too made up, eh? It was about time. You two arguing is what got us in this situation.» Felix had returned from the restroom. «Not that I'm blaming anyone!» he rushed later.

«So... How are we going to pay the hospital fees?» I asked.

«I hadn't thought if that.» Oliver replied.

«Great... Would it do the Queen any bad to leave us some money?» I complained.

«Would you take it?» Felix asked.

«No, I'm too proud. But still!» I replied.

«So... Who's going to work at the kitchen?» Oliver asked.

«Not it!» I rushed.

«Dammit. I hate you two.» Felix laughed.

«We hate each other too, don't worry.» I added.

«For once, I'm gonna have to go with Echo.» Oliver laughed too.

«Keep it down, you're in a hospital!» a nurse warned us as she walked by.

«Sorry!» we all whispered panicking and burst out laughing when she was out of earshot.

«We're idiots.» I said.

«You two, maybe. I'm no idiot.» Oliver argued.

«Whatever helps you sleep at night.» I smirked.

*Celine*

I bet you didn't expect the half dead girl to get a point of view.

Well, sorry to disappoint, but I'm the one dying in the hospital right now. Was that too arrogant and self-centered? I didn't mean for it to sound that way. Sorry.

I woke up at the hospital. I immediately touched my stomach and was surprised to see it didn't hurt at all.

A nurse came in my room and I sat up.

«Oh! Would you look at that! Your family is waiting outside and would be delighted to see you. I just have to take a look at your burns and I will call them right in, okay?» that nurse spoke really fast.

«Uh... Sure?» I replied reluctantly.

She checked some things at the monitor, or whatever the hell that thing is called, and then left to get the others.

They rushed inside at the speed of light, but Echo stayed behind Oliver and Felix. She looked guilty.

They didn't stay long because the nurse insisted they left me rest which was stupid.

After hours of trying to sleep a bit to get rid of the never-ending boredom, I managed to fall asleep.

The next morning we packed our stuff and disappeared from the hospital before they told us about the bill. We needed the money.

Yeah, I know. This is the second time in 3 days that we run away from a place without paying. We are practically criminals now, but it's all part of surviving. Who cares about rules when you are on the run? Survival always comes first. It's an instinct. Don't judge us.

Once we arrived at the next village, the first thing we did was find a place to stay. Jobs were not as urgent yet.

We only had a few days before that ball the Queen invited us to go to, but we still hadn't decided whether we were going or not. Whenever the topic was brought up, we all ended up arguing and at each other's throats, so I was very careful when I started talking about it at the hostel.

«So... We need to talk about something.» I said reluctantly.

«What? Can't we just enjoy these five minutes with no problems?» Echo replied and fell on one of the beds with her face.

The room was small, the wallpapers were half torn-out and the bathroom was so disgusting I would rather do my business on the backyard. That was why the room was so cheap too.

«No problems? Did you see the room?» Oliver asked her.

«Can you just listen to me before you start trying to kill each other again?» I demanded.  They all looked at me expectantly. «Can you really not think of a pressing and unsolved matter right now?»

They all stared at me confused, except for Echo who kept lying down on her face on the bed silently.

«The Queen's ball! What are we going to do about that?» I sighed.

«I say we go. I don't know the Queen, but she doesn't seem like the kind of person that would send an army to kill a bunch of teenagers.» Echo said without looking up from the bed.

«She's obviously not thinking straight. Her lying down like that must have caused some brain damage because of the lack of oxygen.» Oliver retorted. Echo turned her head so she could see him.

«Shut your mouth, little brother. We know I'm not the one with the brain damage here.»

«Stop it! The both of you! If you can't agree on this simple matter, then you don't get to decide. For just a few minutes stop arguing and think!» I snapped at them.

«She's right, you know...» Felix supported. He had been awfully quiet lately.

«Thank you! Now let's vote. Who says we go?»

Echo, who had turned back to looking at the bed since I snapped, raised her hand in a boring manner. I followed. The guys looked at each other as if they were having a silent argument and then Felix raised his hand while Oliver glared at him and shook his head.

«You, guys, are out of your minds. You're going to get us all killed.»

«Well, the majority of us says we should go, so we are going. All of us. Besides, you're the only one that wants to go home, anyway.» Echo replied. Her voice was muffled because of the pillows, but we could all make out what she said.

Felix and I didn't know about that decision, so it can as a huge surprise to both of us. Oliver looked like he already knew, as he just shook his head again.

«Sometimes, I just really don't get you.» he told her and we all went to bed. We were exhausted from the trip and running away from the hospital.

Apart from that, if we were to go to the ball, we had to go shopping the next day. It's not like we had formal clothes for such a "royal" event.

A/N: Bello peeps! I have had a really hard time writing these chapters. The last 3 (up until this one) have taken a month each, so they obviously suck. Sorry about that.

And there are not many chapters yet. This story is closing in to an end!

That's all for now. See you soon!!!

-Choco<3