Into the Light

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I took both of her hands in mine and met her gaze. "I believe in you. No matter what happens, I know that you can do this and that you will kick her ass. I'll be right there with you. If she manages to get inside your head again, just try to think of me. Find me. I'll bring you back to me. I promise. I love you and no one will take you from me. Not even the big badass Darkness." Her eyes glittered with tears for a moment, before she looked away from me. She took one of her hands from mine and rubbed her eyes, then sniffed. After she took a shaky breath, she met my gaze again. "I love you, Colby," she replied, with her voice barely more than a whisper. She leaned forwards and pressed her soft lips briefly to mine. "I need you to promise me something." Her eyes had a determined shine to them and she clenched her jaw. I was a little worried about what she was about to ask me but I would do anything for her. "Anything," I replied. She took a deep breath and squeezed my hand a little. "If Lil- the Darkness manages to get inside my head-" "She won't," I interrupted, earning myself a stern  look from her. "IF," she continued, emphasizing the word. "if she manages to control me, I need you to stop me. No matter what it takes." I was a little confused by her words. "Of course I'm going to try and stop  you, Anna. I told you, I'll bring you back to me." She shook her head and bit her bottom lip. "No, you aren't understanding, Colby. I won't be able to live with myself if I hurt one of you. I need you to...stop me. Even if you don't like the way you have to do it. If you have to..." She swallowed hard, like it hurt to force the word out. I was getting a sick feeling in my stomach. I let go of her hands and leaned back, shaking my head at her. "No, I WON'T do that," I said. There was no way that I could do what she was asking. "Colby, you have too!" she exclaimed, grabbing my hands again. "I CAN'T hurt anyone that I love and I don't know if I can fight her off. If it comes to that...if I'm about to hurt one of you, or worse...just please, do this for me. I know it's a lot to ask, but please. I need you to promise me." I yanked my hands from hers and stood up, glaring down at her. "NO. You can't ask me to do that, Anna! It's not fair. I won't be able to- I can't- just NO," I exclaimed. She stood up in front of me, and placed her hands on both sides of my face, forcing me to hold her gaze. "I know it's a lot. I know that it will hurt, if you feel for me what I feel for you. I hate that I have to ask you this, Colby, but...it has to be you. If it comes down to me or you and your friends, you have to stop me. You have to kill me." I shook my head hard and pulled away from her again. "I won't," I pleaded with her. "I can't. Don't ask me to do this, Anna. I can't choose. We'll all be okay. It won't come to that." "Please, just promise me. If you can't bring me back, you have to end it. It's the only way. If I hurt one of you, I'll have to live with that for the rest of my life. I can't do that. Please," she begged. How was I supposed to agree to something like that? There was no way! I dragged my hand through my hair, feeling the strands getting caught in my rings. The only way that I could agree to this was if I made sure that it didn't come to that. That's what I would do. I wouldn't let her hurt any of us, but I wasn't going to kill her either. I would make sure that she came back to me. "Fine," I replied. "I'll do it." Her eyes filled with tears and it seemed like the light dimmed in her eyes, just a little. "I don't like this, Anna. I'm going to exhaust every possibility before it comes to that." She nodded, just one short jerk of her head and bit her lip so hard, I thought she would draw blood. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her into my chest, enveloping her with my other arm. She sniffed and wrapped her arms around waist, holding on tight. I couldn't lose her. Not now that I had finally found someone that I could see spending the rest of my life with. Whoa. Wait a minute. That thought surprised even me, and it came from my brain. Did I really see myself building a family with her? Going on our own adventures together, traveling the world? Growing old together? Yes. I did. I could see the image so clearly in my mind, it made my heart yearn for it. Anna walking down the aisle towards me, in a white dress that blew my mind. Me, pacing the hospital floors, waiting for our child to be born. A beautiful little girl, with chubby hands and emerald green eyes, running to me, so that I could pick her up and spin her around. Going to Hawaii on family vacations, with Sam and Katrina and their children. Holding her close, as we danced in the kitchen, both of our hair turning white. I wanted that life. I needed it. I would do anything to obtain it. I kissed the top of her head, then pulled back a little. "Are you ready?" I asked, quietly. She sighed and nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be." I took her hand in mine. I looked around and noticed that I had forgotten that everyone else was in the room with us. They had said nothing, just watched the scene unfold like a movie. Sam watching me intently. I knew that he knew I wouldn't do what I said. He knew that I would do anything, and I mean anything, to stop it. I could see his mind working and suddenly I saw it, when he met my gaze. "No," I said quietly, shaking my head at him. He furrowed his brow and stood up. "We should probably go. It's getting late," he said, holding his hand out to Katrina. Ash stood and led us all outside. We were quiet, as we made our way to the clearing. There was nothing to say just yet. We knew what we were supposed to do and we weren't ready to say our goodbyes. Even though we were all terrified that we wouldn't make it out of this alive, we still had a little hope that it would work out for us. Just before we reached the clearing, I heard voices and loud pops and bangs, along with a ripping sound.