Destiny of Paradise

Graduation

Sam

"Where am I?" I asked myself as I ran my hand through the smooth sand beneath my feet. It felt almost like water. The sky was darker than tar. The only reason I could see anything was the blinding, white light in front of me. I took the hint and walked towards the light. Each step sent a crunch through the air. "What's going on?"

"Sam..." I quickly whipped around. It was like someone just whispered in my ear.

"Show yourself!" I screamed as I rapidly looked around. As I looked back at the light, a shadow blocked it. A human shadow.

"Sam..." The voice repeated. I approached the figure, and they only stared at me. I was able to see three feature. It was a woman, and beautiful woman. She had jet black hair and bright purple eyes. She donned a white robe. Tears dripped down her face as she quietly sobbed.

"Who are you?" I asked. That question must've set her off as she fell on her knees and wailed loudly, covering her eyes with her hands.

"Quite unfortunate." A second voice from behind me sighed. I looked back and saw a familiar face.

"You're..."

"The woman you ate, yeah." She finished.

"Sorry." I said.

"Well, if it wasn't now, it would've happened later." She sighed. "It's not like I'd ever have to use it anyways. You just saved me a long thirteen years." The woman in front of me was still crying, beating her head into the sand.

"Where am I?" I asked the Tybur woman.

"I haven't the faintest clue." She answered. "I was a shifter, but I knew next to nothing about the specifics."

"This is the paths." The first woman sniffed as she stood back up. "You must be the previous War Hammer holder." She looked at the woman behind me.

"Lara Tybur." She answered. Laura looked at the other woman and I. "I feel like I'm a third wheel right now. We'll talk later, Sam." The moment I blinked, she vanished.

"W-What?" I said.

"I'm sorry." The woman said as she hugged me.

"Who are you?" She responded by only hugging me tighter.

"Thank goodness you're safe." She whispered. "I was so worried." I had enough and shoved her off.

"Don't touch me." I snapped. "I don't even know who you are." The woman sighed before walking towards the light.

"Follow me." I reluctantly followed her lead.

A silent dozen minutes followed, but the light began to take form. It was like a tree of light with branches shooting out in every direction.

"As I said, this is the paths." She explained. "I spent almost as much time here as I did in your world."

"Wait... did'?"

"I'm... not really alive anymore." She explained.

"Then how are you here?" I asked. The woman looked down to the sand and clenched her bare feet.

"I wish I could be with you and her... but I failed." She explained. "Ah, she's here."

"Who?" I asked. The woman pointed in front of her and revealed a girl who barely scratched ten-years-old.

"The source." She answered.

"Will you answer one damn question?!" I snapped at her.

"I wish I could." She sighed as she lowered her hand. "But these are answers you'll need to find yourself. Don't worry. We'll see each other many more times."