Fall {ON HOLD}

Chapter Five

Author's Note: I'm really excited for this story! I can't wait for you all to see what's actually going on! Well, I guess I can just tell you now. Are you listening? Daniel's secret is that you're all gullible enough to believe I would tell you! Never going to happen! *evil laugh here* If you really want to know, read on to find out! Remember to vote, comment and PM! Love hearing from you! Thanks and Happy Reading!

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Its been four days since my fight with Daniel. My attempts to get out of here have all failed. My family is already losing hope, and frankly, so am I. I've tried to find Daniel and apologize, but I don't know where to look. This is really when I realize my situation, when it dawns on me that the only way I'm going to figure everything out is with Daniel's help. Sighing, I get up and begin my search for him once again.

I walk through the stark white halls that have become so familiar-even in this short time. The constant rush of doctors and nurses doesn't faze me as I peek into each room. I search three floors for Daniel before I finally spot him walking out of a door marked "Morgue". I gasp- what was he doing in there? swallowing my pride I walk over to him.

"I need to talk to you." I say

"Fine. Then talk."

"Right here? With all these people? I don't want everyone to hear me- oh. Right."

At this, he smiles, but there's an emotion behind it I can't place. He motions for me to continue, and I take a deep breath.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you. It was mean and wrong of me. I'm sorry."

"It's okay Vanessa. I get it."

"Thanks."

Neither one of us really knows what to say next, so we walk in silence for a while. Eventually, Daniel turns to walk away.

"Daniel? Where are you going? I thought we were good."

"We are. There's just something I didn't finish in there." he gestures to the door I saw him come out of earlier.

"Can I come with you?" I ask, curious about what he might have to do in a morgue.

"Sorry Vanessa, I'd rather do this alone. Maybe one day I'll show you, but not today."

My face falls. I try to object, but I can see from the look on Daniel's face that he's right, whatever he has to do, he has to do it alone. I shrug and try to keep the disappointment from showing through.

"I'll meet you in your hospital room later." he says turning around.

I watch his retreating back. he walks with his head down and his shoulders hunched, as if he's sending a message telling no one to approach him. As I stand there, watching him walk into the morgue, my mind is overtaken by one thought, and I know that there's more to his story than he lets on, even though I don't know why.

I run my fingers through my hairspray coated, blood stained, long brown hair. Cautiously, I touch one of the bruises on my cheek, though I know I will feel nothing. It's as if, in this dimension, my sense of physical pain is asleep with my body. It's as frightening as it is intriguing. I'm drawn out of my thoughts by a familiar figure in the doorway- actually, two familiar figures in the doorway.

"Hey Vanessa..." Sabrina says quietly. She and Alex walk over and each take one of my hands.

"Listen, Sab? Do we have to do this? It's not like she's going to know."

I hold my breath. Whatever they came to do, it's not good.

"Yes Alex, we have to." she turns to me before continuing. "The doctors said that coma patients can sometimes hear people, so we thought we owed it to you to tell you this-"

"We're flying back home! There, I said it. It's not like you're going to wake up soon anyway and we have to go back... I'm sorry."

I can barely hear Sabrina scolding Alex, or them walking out the door. All I can do is stand there, frozen. My own siblings are leaving me when I need them most just because I'm not going to wake up soon anyway! I know they didn't choose to leave, that my parents are forcing them. I know how hard it was to come here and tell me, and I know it's not them I should be angry with. Yet that's all I'm feeling, anger and sadness.

I don't care that Daniel walks in, concern evident on his face. I don't respond when he asks over and over again what's wrong. I don't bother to object when he puts his arms around me, whispering meaningless words into my ear. All I do is cry, and cry. I cry out all the anger my parents and siblings have caused. I cry out all the frustration, all the unanswered questions this situation has left me with. I cry out all the fear about getting back, about not knowing what to do. And finally, when I can cry no more, I address Daniel.

"Daniel? look how dark it is. It must be nighttime. I think I'm going to sleep. Oh Daniel, you'll let me sleep this time, won't you?"

I wince when I realize I sound like a five year old, but I'm too tired from all the crying to care. Daniel springs up, spinning me around to look at him. Anger and an unrecognizable emotion take up his face.

"No," he says "no I'm not letting me sleep."

"But Daniel, why not?"

"Because," he says, the emotion fleeing his face as quickly as it appeared. "that's how she died."

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Author's Note: Hello again! I'm so thankful for all the reads this story has received! You guys are amazing! I know I ended this chapter with a cliffhanger... OOPS! #sorrynotsorry

We did find out a little more about Daniel though, but that's most definitely not everything. I'm always happy to receive comments and PMs, so if you have any thoughts or questions, I'd love to hear them. Also, please remember to vote! I might update early since my weekend is looking pretty packed, but no promises. If I don't update early then I will definitely update at some point on the weekend. Thanks again and Happy Reading!