Rebirth

Chapter 39: Unwanted Goodbyes

The light cut at us, bringing us upward. I imagined what the spell would eventually do to us, and came to the conclusion that it would just slowly eradicate us. As high as we were, anyone who wasn't blind would see the pillar of light. I looked at Garlos, grabbing his arm, forming a shield of flames. Thinking hard, I focused. I hadn't used the things Syrreth taught me, but if there was any chance, now would be it. Around my flames, I focused, willing light to surround us. As it did, we dropped like a rock, straight through the center of the pillar until we hit the ground and the light vanished. Dirt swallowed us, the flames still burning dimly. I pulled my head up, blowing the dirt away and breathing heavy, ignoring the blood dripping from my head and legs.

Steve watched me, eyes wide with nothing but shock. "How.. How did you.."

I looked at Garlos, who lay unconscious in the dirt. He was alive, sure, but he wouldn't be getting back up too soon. Laying his arm down, I looked up at Steve from the crater we were in, breathing heavy.

"You survived.. My strongest spell... How.. What are you.. What kind of monster ARE you..." He stepped back slowly. "What kind of creature exists..."

I wiped the dirt from my chin, watching him closely. "Almost got us with that one..."

"Over and over.. I beat you down, and you keep getting back up.. Why! Why won't you just..." He trailed, closed his mouth, eyes calculating and studying me. His lips rose in a smirk, "Oh.. Is that it.... Friendship.. Caring for those close to you.. This isn't a fairy tale, Justin. It's reality."

"Who said I relied on my friends to pull off my wins? Most of the time, like now, I'm on my own." I looked down at Garlos. "I'm grateful for them, but I never directly asked for help."

"I can see I can't get through to you. Unless you've experienced the loss I have, we'll be on two different sides of the same coin..." His smirk widened. "... So, let's do just that." He laughed loudly, then quickly vanished in a bright light. A dark feeling began building in my gut then, and I instantly gave chase, forgetting about Garlos, and hoping Steve was bluffing about what he planned to do.

Maneuvering through the rubble brought towards the celebrating army. Among them, Michael was flicking his head around, confusion in his eyes. I pushed past the guards, bounding to Michael and breathing heavily before I spoke. "What's.. Wrong.."

"Jocelynn just disappeared," He said, finally looking at me. "She was here just a moment ago, and then she just.. Poofed. Gone."

My eyes widened, and I began looking around, focusing my eyes to search for a magic trail leading away. I was praying I was wrong, that growing tension and fear in my chest was just me jumping to conclusion. Part of me knew that was wishful thinking.

My eyes spotted a faint gas heading towards the cathedral. I hurried after it, running as fast as my feet would allow. As I moved past the trail, I began noticing how exhausted I felt. My legs wobbled with each step, my arms felt dead with each swing. I used up way too much magic prior to all of this madness, and wasted even more dealing with Steve. When I caught up to him, I'd have to end it quickly, and make sure he stays down for good.

The moonlight was blocked by the clouds when I arrived to the ruined cathedral. It was as I had left it during the trials, blown to pieces from underneath upwards. Steve stood at the (surprisingly) still standing doors. In front of him, Jocelynn was tied up by a thick rope, arms bound behind her back. Her eyes beamed when she saw me, but she kept any excitement to herself. The slightest thing could set Steve off. He watched me as I skid to a halt, breathing heavily. It was just the three of us now.

"Are you willing to listen now," He said.

I watched him. Not wanting to put Jocelynn at more risk than she was, I nodded reluctantly. He closed his eyes, and I could have used that moment to strike, but he could've killed her before I even reached her. I had to plan and wait for him to slip somewhere. "As I had said before.. I had been abandoned. No, a better word, betrayed. I gave, I cared, I did everything I could, and yet I was tossed aside when they didn't like it."

"Hell, if this is how you'd react, I'd do the same thing." I came up with a small strategy, as risky as it was. Make him, hope he becomes so blinded by fury that he'd throw himself at me, and I could beat him then.

He kept calm, speaking low. "I look at you, and compare it to myself. It's amazing, how similar we are. Don't you ever question why you're friends with them? Don't you ever feel empty inside, just being around them, doesn't it fill you with a void feeling?"

I kept my jaw tight.

He relaxed himself, "I guess not." Jocelynn growled lightly, sharply jerking her head back and biting Steve's hand. He cried out, releasing the rope and clutching his hand. Jocelynn bounded towards me, and I reached out to grab her and race the two of us away. Steve would roar of hate, curse us both, and go into hiding. That was MY hope, but reality had different plans.

Steve regained himself quickly. Before we made any type of contact, my heart shot in my throat. Time seemed to fall still, and the air grew immensely colder. I froze, the beam of light cutting a deep gash in my right cheek. The pain was nonexistent though, because I wasn't focused on that. My eyes were locked on the hole in Jocelynn's stomach, followed by the blood she coughed up. Steve was glaring hatefully at us, hand outstretched.

I held my arms out, catching Jocelynn before she hit the ground, and time seemed to resume. "Hey! Hey! Pull yourself together!"

"Kinda.. Hard to.. Do at the.. Moment.." She wheezed. I placed my ear to her chest, listening closely. Her heart beat was slow, and only growing slower. "No.. Not again.."
"Oh.. buck up will ya..." She giggled weakly, before breaking into another violent cough. When she stopped, she looked up at me. There was a hint of fear in her eyes, yet something stronger lurked within. Happiness. "Hey.. what's with the.. Tears..."

I hadn't realized I started crying. I blinked them away, holding her tight. "Listen.. Justin.." She started. I kept my face buried in her shoulder, my hold tightening around her, but listening closely. "About three years right.. We've been together three years now.. We laughed... We argued.. Pretty much everything in the book... It was almost like we were married.." Weakly, she chuckled. "I would've loved that life..."

"Save your strength.." I said quietly. "I'll get you fixed up.. You'll be good as new.. I promise..."

She was quiet for few seconds, then she looked at me slowly. ".. Yeah.. I guess so.. Say.. We haven't.. had any time... for us since we met... up, have we?"

I looked at her, locking eyes.

"Don't... Don't let yourself... be consumed by hate... Remember this.. Live for.. Us both. We made.. A deal, that you'd try.. To be happy.."

I nodded. With the last of her strength, she crashed our lips together. The warmth intensified, and the feeling of intense magic swelled though my body. Her blood entered my mouth when she coughed separating us, then she went still, head resting against my chest. The tears flowed heavy. There was no changing this one. No amount of magic in the world could have corrected this. Gently, I laid her down, tears dripping on her cheek, and I gently kissed her forehead, and let her fall into the eternal slumber known as death.