The Hidden Princess

Chapter Ten: Just Let Me Go

Alex's P.O.V.
It wasn't until midnight that Josephine had finally awoken. "Josie...are you alright?" The words flew out of my mouth before I could stop them. As her eyes fluttered open, Tikki became impatient. "Ugh...my head hurts..." Josephine's voice was raspy and sounded tired despite how long she was asleep for. "Josephine. You're awake." Tikki smiled.

"What did you just call me, Tikki?" Josie sat up quickly. "I called you Josephine. That's your name." Tikki sounded as if she was trying to press the fact that that was her name. "I...what on earth happened? Why am I at the house? Was I not on the Eiffel Tower? What time is it?" She went to reach for her phone.

"It's midnight...it's the day after your birthday. You were on the Eiffel tower...until you went to go to school and ran home after Samantha beat you..." Tikki sounded as if she wanted to cry. "Why am I here then?" Josie looked horribly confused. "He can explain better than I can. He saw everything." Tikki pointed at me.

Emma's P.O.V.
"Why are you here?!" My voice cracked as I tried to speak. "Calm down, Josie. I'm the reason you are alive right now. You ran home after whatever happened with Samantha and you were about to try to kill yourself when I stopped you. You were crying badly and after I hugged you, you kind of passed out." Alex tried to explain, but nothing was registering.

"I do not understand...I do not remember anything." I sighed. "I'd imagine that your brain shut it out to protect you." His voice sounded as if he wanted to cry. "Did we have homework?" I glanced at him. "Um....I don't know..." His eyes avoided mine. "Did you not go to school?" My voice rose in volume once again. "No, I didn't. I was a little too worried about you to go to school." His volume slowly began matched mine.

"Alex!" I scolded, feeling a bit guilty after I did. "What?! Would you rather me have left you be and risk letting you die because of your own stupid decision?!" He screamed. His volume and tone terrified me. Not because he was angry, but because I have never heard him so upset in the entire three years I've known him. "P-Please don't yell anymore..." I cowered back a little, scared of what he was capable of.

"Why? Are you finally scared of me? Is that what you wanted? Did you want me to yell so you could suddenly start acting like the victim all of a sudden?!" His voice calmed only for a moment before he began to yell again. "Look, I'm sorry! Okay?! I'm sorry! I won't bother you anymore!" I stood, tears streaming down my face. I walked over to the balcony and threw the door open.

"Josephine! Don't do it!" Tikki pleaded as I stood near the edge of the balcony. "If you truly loved me, you would just let me go." I looked down at the ground, tears falling faster than I could wipe them away. "Josie! I-I'm sorry! Anything but this! Please don't. I-I love you more than anything.... that's why I can't let you go!" I felt a pair of arms wrap themselves around me and forcefully pull me away from the edge.