The pain came first, as Avery downed the last drop of poison. He quickly grabbed his antidote and drank that too. But the fire in his veins did not stop. It only raged with more violence. His eyes opened wide as he saw the realization dawn on Scythe Darwin's face. He concocted the wrong antidote. He opened his mouth to shout. He already felt the pain and healing nanites being released in his system, but that did not help much. Scythe Darwin jumped out of his chair and hurried to him, catching him as he fell. The last thing he heard was Amber's sharp scream before he was rendered deadish by the poison in his system.

•••

Amber froze when she heard his roar of pain from across the courtyard. She turned, fear sparking in her gaze, and saw Scythe Darwin holding a dark form in his arms. She screamed then; she screamed and completely lost it. She ran to them, forgetting Victoria, forgetting the gun and her past. All that mattered now was Avery. She did not even question why did she care about him. She kneeled at his side, Scythe Darwin still holding him. He gave her the deadish body.

"An ambudrone is going to arrive." Scythe Darwin spoke rapidly, his eyes darting everywhere. "Our time here is over. I need to go with Scythe Victoria on an urgent matter. Gleaning. We promised the High Blade..." he stopped then shook his head. "Just stay with Avery. We will pick you up in a few hours. Arrangements with your parents have been made." He stood up and gave a look at Avery. "I fear he concocted the wrong antidote..." he shook his head again.

Scythe Victoria joined him, and together, they hugged Amber. Amber was too shaken to mind. Then both of them exited the courtyard, leaving her alone with the deadish body of Avery Greyhall.

Amber cradled his head, furious and worried at the same time. She cursed inwardly at him, about his lack of knowledge in poisons, about...everything. Suddenly, a siren sounded, and an ambudrone arrived, the metal pincers already hauling the body away. She hung onto Avery's limp form, flying upwards with him, dangling in the air.

•••

Avery woke up, his head pounding and his vision blurry. He groaned as he tried to get up. The pain nanites dulled his pain. Slowly, his vision cleared. He noticed the bare walls of the revival center. A girl sat by his bed, sleeping. He then recalled what happened. Amber's scream of horror, his fall, his death...all that came back to him. He winced. Avery gazed at Amber, her straight red hair tangled and her face pale. He smiled and touched her hand. Her eyes flew open. They froze for a moment, staring at each other. Those pretty golden brown eyes and his hazel eyes. Then she hugged him, squeezing hard. He choked and then placed his arms around her.

"I'm fine, Amber. I'm alive," he gave her a small smile.

She just squeezed harder, half relieved and half angry.

"You died, Avery. You actually dared to die. I can't believe that you actually dared."

He just chuckled and hugged her tightly. He felt a warm feeling spread across him. Just being near her made him feel weird. His stomach seemed to have butterflies fluttering around, and his heart thumped at an incredible rate. Then he noticed her trembling. Not out of fear, he realized. But out of anger.

"Hey, uh, I'm sorry that I died," he tried to calm that burning fury.

She continued trembling and started crying. He felt her tears on her shoulder through the fabric. He slowly rubbed her back, his face suddenly burning. He felt that he had just fallen into a trap, a sticky web created by Amber. Suddenly he realized that he cared for her, more than he should. He pushed her away, but seeing her red flushed face and big tears, he immediately wrapped his arms around her again. Amber stopped crying, and she held him, as if she was afraid he'll disappear.

"That was one of the most traumatic experience in my life. Seeing you deadish...cradling your head, with the blank gaze...it was as if you weren't able to be revived. It made me think about...gleaning. Death. Permanent death." She shook with horror and revulsion. "And I cared that you died. I cared." She gave a dry, bitter laugh that made his heart squeeze painfully. "I cared for a snobbish, disdainful boy like you."

He pushed her away again, but gently this time. She did not protest; as a matter of fact, she drew further away, wiping her tears on her sleeves.

"The nurse is here," she whispered.

A jovial nurse came over and bustled around him, checking his pulse and vital signs.

"You are all good!" She grinned. "We would love to have you here, but do refrain from rendering yourself deadish again. Vital signs and pulse is okay, so you have nothing to worry about. You'll live! Although the poison in your system was awfully strong. Seven full hours here...your girlfriend, standing there in the corner was awake most of the time, until I gave her a sleeping pill. She did not look good." The woman gave a little laugh. "I had to force her to injest that pill. Anyways, you are okay now. Please rest for a few days, and oh, some ice cream before you leave?"

Avery nodded absently, and the nurse exited. His gaze kept going back towards the girl with flaming hair, who was staring out of the window. She stayed here with him for seven hours? And refused to leave his side, even if she was exhausted? He felt a surge of affection towards her that absolutely horrified him. He could not be in love. He was never in love. He never fell in love before. He couldn't. He just couldn't. He then remembered the way the nurse called Amber. Your girlfriend, the nurse had said. He hated himself for liking the idea. His heart was pounding, and he shook his head furiously, trying to clear the thoughts swirling around in his mind.

"Hey, you okay?" Amber was looking at him, her eyes still red, worry and exhaustion in her voice.

"Yeah, don't worry about me. Just look at you," he grimaced. "You look like a walking corpse."

"Thank you," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "This is what happens when you do not sleep for over thirty-six hours."

"Thirty-six?"

"I stayed up late revising poisons and toxins for this morning's test," she looked at him sheepishly.

He sighed. He tensed as she walked slowly over and sat on the edge of his bed. And before he could protest, she slapped him in the face. Hard. He gasped and looked at her with incredulity. But she was already hugging him again. She released him, but her face was still inches away from his. Then she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. He froze as she drew away.

"I just needed to know what it felt like," she whispered apologetically.

He did not say anything; instead, he drew her in again and kissed her on the lips. Her mouth felt soft, and her eyes were open wide with surprise. She squeaked and then kissed him back. After a few moments, they drew apart, both breathing hard.

"Don't you just have this warm feeling in you? When we're around each other?" He asked, holding her face.

Amber gave a subtle nod, her expression uncertain.

"Yes, and it is the most confusing feeling I've ever felt."

She hesitated, then bent over and kissed him again. His hands left her face to tousle her hair, and his kiss turned more urgent. She replied with the same force and layed on top of him, her hands holding the back of his neck.

A chuckle and a gasp rose behind them. Amber pushed Avery away quickly, and looked at the visitors. Scythe Darwin stood, opened-mouthed; Scythe Victoria just stared at them with a raised eyebrow; behind, Scythe Catherine made a strange face; the nurse was holding a small bowl of ice-cream, trying to smother her smile; and last but not least, Scythe Marian, Avery's mother, stood, her eyes open wide. The nurse dropped the bowl of ice-cream on Avery's bedside table, gave him a wink, and bustled out of the door.

Scythe Catherine rushed forward, grabbing Amber by the shoulders and started shaking her.

"I trusted you do go school, have a normal day, but not only did you anger Victoria, you dared, but you also dived into this..." she waved her hand at Avery disapprovingly. "this...mess of a situation, and when I came in, I saw you do..." she stopped and glared furiously at her daughter.

Scythe Marian was pacing in the room, shooting knowing looks at her son.

"Honestly," she began, trying to rein in her annoyance and worry. "I would never have imagined that today would turn to this." She gave a curious glance at Amber. "I never seen you...so attached to someone before." Suddenly she gave a light laugh of relief. "I guess you're okay then, after your revival. I mean, you were kissing this young lady, aren't you?" She turned to Isabella. "Catherine, you do have a beautiful daughter."

Scythe Catherine paused her shaking, turned and gave a prideful smile to Marian.

"Thank you Marian. Your son here is lovely too." Then she froze. "Oh gods...you are both going to live under the same roof, with Victoria and Charles...Oh gods..." she started shaking Amber again. "Do not do anything rash, okay? Do not sneak of this his room, do not let him in your room, stay at least five meters away from each other!" She whipped her head and glared at Avery. "And if you lay a single finger on my daughter, you will regret it, understand?"

Avery's chest shook with silent laughter, but his eyes were surprised.

"Yes, Scythe Catherine. I won't touch your daughter." He went slightly red.

Amber herself has turned in a rather deep shade of crimson. She tugged off her mother's hands and muttered something inaudible, surely nothing to friendly towards the witnesses of the scene.