The Good Old Black Lake...8 years later

Now that Holly thought about it, she didnt remember the reason she had become Shadow's friend in the first place.
She had got Holly out of a lot of difficult situations, ie, saved her life.
But still..

The seconds ticked past, Holly going over everything she had ever been through with Shadow. It was only then that she noticed the burning like feeling was even worse now.

((Shes horrible isnt she .... lol))

Natalie frowned as a vision came to mind.

When it ended, she looked around.

"Shadow...where the HELL is Holly...please tell me...if you can?" Natalie asked, "I have to save her..."

She looked around frantically.

Meran patiently waited.

Shadow started to come round from the heavy sedative after her near heart faliure.

Holly wiped her eyes with her sleeves and sniffed.
"If my eyeliner's messed up Im gonna be mad," she muttered to Meran, "OW!"
Evidently, the potion had reached its peak. Man, this was painful.

Meran continued to wait.

Natalie looked at Shadow.

"Shadow...I know you're tired...and I'm so releaved you are ok...but do you know where Holly is?" Natalie asked frantically.

"Antidote..." Holly whispered, "Please. Please. Ill do anything. Anything else. Not that. Just not that.... Anything else. Name it."

Natalie felt her braclet burn.

"HOLLY! DON'T GIVE IN!" Natalie yelled at the top of her lungs.

Shadow looked at Natalie, her eyes almost unseeing.
"I don't know." She said softly.

"You know what you have to do." Meran said, still playing with the antidote.

Holly made a feeble attempt to grab the bottle.
"Anything...." she murmured, covering her ears with her hands in an attempt to block out the pain.

Natalie gave Shadow a nod.

"I'll be back for you," said Natalie softly, and glidded out of the room.

She ran down hall after hall...until she reached stairs.

"HOLLY!" she screamed.

Holly heard no call.
Insted she looked at Meran.
"Kill me...." she whispered, "Please...."

"All you have to do is kill her." Meran said silkily.

Shadow pulled at the ropes holding her arms down and stopping her from moving in an attemt to follow Natalie.

Sick of this, Holly held her breath, swearing on Natalie's life that she would not release it. Anything was better than this.

Natalie ran full pelt up the stairs and burst into the room at the top.

And there they were...

She ran over to the place and whipped out her wand.

"NO!" she screamed.

Meran smiled silkily at Natalie and used his magic to close and lock the door.
"Now I have two options."

"Nat!?" Holly asked, forgetting her promise, "Wha- what options?"

Natalie ran behind Meran and put her wand to his neck.

"WHATEVER IT IS YOU WANT...SHE WON'T DO IT!" she spat.

Meran smiled slightly and summonned Natalie's wand.

Holly choked a reply and said, "Nat, dont, hes powerful......"

Natalie jumped after her wand as it flew to him.

She landed hard on her knees.

Meran stowed the wand under his robes.
"You see the pain your friend is in? There is only one thing I require to end her suffering."

"Bull," Holly said, "Nat dont listen to that ... dont.... ANTIDOTE! PLEASE!"
She looked pleadingly at Meran.
"I wont ever do it ... Nat, kill me please. PLEASE!"

"If you won't, maybe she will." Meran said.

Natalie looked at Holly and then at Meran.

"What's the other option?" she asked calmly.