NOW I KNOW

45- Where You Don't See Me

I feel terrible, leaving Lisa to be vulnerable.
But there's nothing I can do for her right now. There is something I can do for him.

I mount Concorde and bring her toward James.
He looks past me.
How do I help him?
"....What happened?" I start.

He doesn't answer for a long while. I know it must be painful, but it's not like I have all...day? We have probably been here longer than a day by now.
The other Dark Riders are focused on Alex for now.
He sighs.
"I....I couldn't take it anymore. I didn't... I didn't want you guys to keep looking at me like I was the one who died.. So I..."
Did I really do that? Oh, fuck.

James continues. "And then... Sabine, she came out of nowhere and told me.. That she would bring them back if I joined them.." Oh.... Oh my god, he's crying...
That bitch. How can you do that to someone? That's a new low, even for Sabine. "Oh, James... No one can do that. Not even any of us. Sabine lied to you."

"...Then why did you let them die?" He says, barely over a whisper.
I don't understand.
What is that supposed to mean?
"...What? We didn't even notice until it was too late. We were individually battling the Dark Riders, then all of a sudden Spirit started screaming and bucking. And Sabine had this huge, horrific grin on her face."

/////////////////////////////////////////////

All this time.
I believed her.
I thought the Soul Riders killed them.
But it was Sabine.
This is too much. I don't know how to process this.

Before I know what's happening, I can feel so much energy.
My rage is building.
Somehow, I'm sending out lightning. It hits all of the Dark Riders.

////////////////////////////////////////////

Alex helps me off the ground. I stand up, leaning on Meteor.
I squint at the sudden light.
It's sunlight, it's healing energy, it's lightning, everything.
What happened while I was asleep?
Anne on Concorde is in front of James on Mayor Peanut.
She's smiling. I'll have to ask what happened when we're not losing.
But we're losing right now, so I have to help.

//////////////////////////////////////////

I slowly rise from the sticky bubblegum ground. What's going on?
Why is it so bright?
My legs are wobbly and weak but I mount Starshine to get a better view.

/////////////////////////////////////////

Ok first he's Garnok now he's Aideen what the Fripp is happening?
Wish Linda predicted this! Mondays.

Sabine has long been weakened, collapsed on the ground like a neglected ragdoll. Jay is barely hanging onto her horse. Chiyo is hanging on.
And Katja is still behind me, draining me.
How is she so persistent?
Someone help me...