Lycan Pass

Lycan Pass - Chapter 30 (FINAL)

       My limbs began to twitch and spasm, my joints twisting into unnatural angles. I watched them dispassionately; I was far too tired to care anymore. Trevor was safe now that John was here. My duty was done, and that was all that I had the energy to care about. My head was beginning to get fuzzy with exhaustion. I winced as my diaphragm jolted and caused a half-wretch, half-hiccup movement in me. Whatever was happening to me was going to be painful. I took the deepest breath I could and waited for the inevitable.

      "John! She's taking in all of Icarus' genetic information! It's too big of a genetic shift, she'll never make it!" So that's what's happening. My body's trying to absorb all of Icarus' shapes. The thought might have terrified me, becoming just like my father, but as the guy said, I'd never make it. All of Icarus' works end with me.

      My eyes rolled sluggishly over to look at my flailing right arm. The hole in my hand bled profusely, but I couldn't feel it anymore. I realized then that I couldn't feel anything. My terror finally began to kick in. I was going to die! I tried to call out to John, but I couldn't feel the words on my lips, nor could I hear them. A pure, unrefined grief poured through me. I was going to die here on the forest floor, unable to give my final words, unable to say goodbye. I'd never get to stretch my legs and sprint through the woods again. I would never again drink the icy waters of the creek that tasted better than any drink that had passed my lips. I'd never again feel the joy of those tender moments between Trevor and I. I felt as though tears must be running down my cheeks, but I couldn't be sure. My vision started graying. The end was coming closer. I strained to look over to where Trevor was. Our eyes met. I tried to move my lips in a manner like 'farewell', but the dark came over me and I slipped away from the world.

      *~ 3 DAYS LATER ~*

      "Trevor, come on. We need to prepare for the burial." John's voice was strained and his face was pinched. He looked extremely stressed. Trevor remained in his seat, as silent as he had been the day that John had found him dying in the forest. John sighed. "Trevor, I need your help."
      "If you had gotten there earlier, it wouldn't have to be this way," Trevor said coldly. John's face hardened.
      "It's no one's fault, Trevor. She fought honorably, no one can deny her that."
      "But what does that matter now?"
      "She will be remembered as one of our greatest; a Seer and a valiant warrior."
      "What good does her reputation do if she's not around to honor it?" John fell silent and looked away.
      "Trevor, this is hard on all of us-"
      "Hard on you?!" he said angrily. "This is all my fault! I only wanted to protect her, I wanted to keep her safe, but everything I did only put her in worse danger than she was in to start with! I love her, and that love is what drove her out into the forest! You have no idea what it's like to watch the one you love being killed and knowing that it's all your fault!"

      "Trevor, stop it," a new voice said. "He was only trying to make you feel better; and the fault is no one's but my own." Anastasia walked up to Trevor. He stood and took her hand.
      "How can you forgive them so easily? Ana, they're banishing you! After all that you've done for them..." Ana sighed.
      "Rules are rules, and I broke the most sacred one twice. I'm thankful that the punishment wasn't worse." She released his hand and touched his cheek sadly. "I'm just glad that I lived and was able to say goodbye this time." She looked up at John as he cleared his throat.

      "About the burial preparations-"
      "For Icarus? I want you to burn his remains and bury the ashes somewhere far away from the village. Do not mark his grave so that none may find him and mourn him." John nodded solemnly and handed Ana a backpack.
      "Here are some supplies you might need on your trip home. There are also all of your personal effects from when you first came here."
      "My classmates- have they been found yet?"
      "Yes, they were all buried by their families months ago."
      "Good," she said sadly. She hoisted the pack onto her shoulder. "Well, it's about time I left." She looked at the two before her, her new family that she would be forced to leave behind. They looked gray and sad. "Care to walk me out?" John linked arms with her and Trevor clasped onto her hand like it was the only thing keeping her alive. He glanced down at it and saw the scar. His heart thudded sorely.