Location: Medics Office
The hands on the clock ticked by, Lola bowed her head as a minute remained. āThis is the closest Iāve ever gottenā she sighed. āYou must be excited to finally take me.ā Death did not respond but she could sense the truth behind her words. This realm had become all too familiar. She had stood here twice before and the closest she had ever gotten to death was a minute and a half.
Her life began to flicker before her eyes and all the good things surfaced. She saw her mom embracing her face, telling her how much she loved her. She saw the day she met Riley, his eyes gleaming as they played on the swingset. She saw a sunset, it took her breath away like it had the day she saw it. The colors were a mixture of purple, pink and orange and it was fading over the ocean liner, it had lasted for several minutes and she wished she could sit through it again. She saw silly things like the day she grew breasts, the first time she got drunk and the first time she got high. She saw her first dance, her first perfected potion and her first kiss. She saw it all and then, she saw Forrest. The memory lingered for a long moment, she lay next to him on his bed. Her hand resting on his chest, she felt so small next to him and yet like a perfect puzzle piece. Her eyes were locked onto his beautiful golden ones. He looked so at peace as he gazed upon her. Why did this man bring her such joy and fear all in one and why was he significant enough to appear?
The memories faded, a single tear rolled down her cheek, this was it. Tubular bells sounded, the clock boomed announcing the last ten seconds. Lola held her breath as she watched with wide eyes, the end was here. The wind began to pick up and the waves in the distance grew more fierce. She felt cold and she felt scared. She wasnāt ready, she didnāt want to be taken but with every chime her heart dropped.
Suddenly, dark liquid began to drip from her mouth. She creased her brows and lifted her hand to wipe it. āDelens tenebrisā she mumbled as she recognized the substance. The tubular bells had stopped with one second to spare, she glanced up at Death feeling perplexed. She opened her mouth to speak but it was like she was flung back into reality.
Lola bolted upright in the bed breathing heavily with sweat droplets on her forehead. She placed a hand over her racing heart and stared at her legs with wide eyes as black tears poured. āOh my God.ā She swallowed hard and dug the palms of her hands into the mattress, she squeezed her eyes shut and took a couple breaths to calm herself. She began counting from ten and when she reached one she slowly opened her eyes again.
She looked over at Forrest and a grateful smile appeared on her flushed face. He was so calm and there was worry in his eyes. He looked so beautiful, she wanted to kiss him but she felt a lump in her throat. She vaguely remembered how she got back to the castle. Her mind shifted to thoughts of Riley and The Hunters, she shuddered, Riley must have transported her here.
She shifted her eyes from Forrestās face and stared at her bare feet. She twinkled her toes in slight disbelief, she was alive and she was here. She began sobbing and dropped her face in her hands āThank godā she cried. Her lip quivered and goosebumps rose on her arms, she was overjoyed. She wiped the tears and looked over at Forrest again āI just wanted to go homeā she simply stated through saddened eyes. She touched her skin where the arrow had punctured, the wound was bruised. Thatās when she also noticed the bracelet from Riley; she began tracing it with her finger and her heart pulsed. His words rang repeatedly in her mind Three days, three days, three days.
She took a breath, bit her lip and rolled her eyes āIām so fuckedā she mumbled.
Location: Hospital
"Oh, yeah, ya know, I'm in supercritical condition. They're not sure if I'm gonna make it."
Jason dropped his hand from Vitaneās cheek as he became aware of his surroundings. Her pierced eyes of confusion had triggered a memory filling the void. The fight replayed in his head and he recalled an explosion. Frustration settled in as he couldnāt comprehend how he lost. He was so sure of his opponent but even after two hundred and fifty years this world never ceased to surprise him. He glanced down at his body, he was nearly healed minus a big gash on his leg that struggled. Great, another scar. He looked pretty good considering but irritation clouded his mind, was he truly immortal? He had just endured the most brutal blast and part of him knew that even without the help from the medics he would have healed eventually.
His thoughts shifted to his previous visit at this hospital. His friend Eli had found him in the woods by chance, he was in equally horrid condition. Jason winced at the memory and brushed his suicidal thoughts aside, no need for dark thoughts at a time like this, especially when she was here. Looking upon her beautiful face he recalled his urgency to return to her. When she got into the bed with him he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her in closely. Fear in his eyes, he was sure that he had lost her and he would need to thank his brother later.
He brushed his hand along her arm as he rested his cheek against her head. Why was she still here? She had every opportunity to flee and he would have let her, that was supposed to be the plan right? He had so many questions but none were worth ruining this moment. He never wanted to let her go as he felt her breath and nothing could ever compare. He gently lifted her up closer to him and placed a finger under her chin. He leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips, butterflies fluttered, this is all he wanted. He breathed into her and brushed some hair from her face. He pulled away and gazed upon her beautiful green eyes āIām ready to go homeā he said softly.
With the remote at his bedside he called upon a nurse. Jason let go of Vitane so she could do a final check up to discharge him. He no longer had a shirt and his leather jacket was ruined, he grimaced, his jacket meant the world to him. His pants were in decent condition so he slipped them on and tucked the jacket under his arm. He took hold of Vitaneās hand and they made their way to reception, he signed out on the patient sheet and told them not to worry about calling Forrest. They made their way to the front doors and nearby were two teleportation devices. He stepped on one and held Vitane close and they teleported into his room. He let go of Vitane and dropped his jacket by his feet. He plopped down on the edge of his bed and brushed a hand through his hair, two close calls in one day, he sighed. He analyzed his torso, thank goodness for all his tattoos as they hid his scars so well.
He looked up at Vitane his face calm and blank but his mind wandering, why did he feel this way? He felt like she needed to understand him and to know more about him, the desire was resentful but this woman suddenly meant everything to him. āIām sorry I killed you parentsā he said slowly āTruthfully I donāt remember much about my Dublin.ā He dropped his gaze and stared at his hands as he spoke āThat was the first time in about a hundred years that I longed to heal. Iāve tried killing myself probably about three times your age. Immortality is a curse and you shouldnāt endure my misery. I donāt know why you came to my side or frankly why you care. I know I should but I donāt ever want to let you go.ā His eyes became clouded with tears as he finally looked upon her face āBut you have every right to leave Vitane, the door is yours and you may go.ā