You Better Not Be Her Prey 3

Chapter 11: One Last Time

I went through several more rounds in the next few days, and every day, I felt more and more like myself. It hurt seeing Bucky on the other side of the glass in my cell, and not being able to touch or hold him hurt worse than anything in the world. Every so often, he and I would sit across from each other, with only the glass to separate us, and we would talk to each other. We would speak most often of the kids, but sometimes we would just sit and draw comfort from each other as best as we could with the glass between us. 

At least two weeks after I was first brought in to remove the Angel from my mind and body, Enoch came in with two other angels. They got me to sit cross-legged on the floor, while they wrapped a power-inhibiting bracelet around my wrist. Enoch sat in front of me. 

'Your treatment is almost over. How are you feeling today?' he asked. 

'Better. More myself.' 

'That's good. Do you want to see her again? One last time?' I swallowed back the lump in my throat and met his eyes. 

'Yes.' He sat across from me, cross-legged, and extended his hands. 

'Take my hands. I'll guide you.' I took his hands softly. Outside of the glass, I saw Bucky standing there, watching me intently. He let a small smile slip, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. Longing or sadness, I wasn't sure what it meant. I smiled back at him. 'Close your eyes,' the Angel said. I closed my eyes, and it was dark for a while. I felt the Angel slowly pull me to a standing position, with my eyes still closed. 

My eyes opened in a garden full of chirping birds. Sitting up, I noticed I was laying on a bed of soft green grass. Pulling myself to my feet, I walked forwards to a figure sitting on a bench. I saw the short white hair, and tears sprang to my eyes. Stepping forward, I sat on the bench next to the woman. I could tell - it was my mother. 

'Mom...' I spoke. She turned to me, her eyes just as bright and merry as they were the last time I saw her alive and well. We hugged and I sobbed, clutching onto my mother like a clingy child. I heard her shushing me and soothing me, stroking my hair. When she pulled back from me, she stroked the hair out of my eyes, looking at me with loving concern in her eyes. 'I've missed you so much, Mom,' I said brokenly. 

'I know, sweetheart. I have too. I've been waiting here for you. The Angel told me this was the halfway point until I can go to a better place.' 

'It's beautiful,' I said, scrubbing away my tears and looking around at the small paradise. I met my mom's eyes again. 'How long have you been here?' 

'Long enough, darling. The Angel put me here as soon as they brought you in. I was floating in darkness for a really long time, but when the Angel brought you in to remove that - spirit from your mind and body, the Angel intended to make a deal with you from the outset. He knew you'd need to see me one more time.' 

'I can't go the rest of this journey without you, Mom.' 

'Yes, you can. You have your kids. You have your father, and you have your husband. All of which care very much about you. You get to start over after the Angel fully leaves you. You get to go back to the way things once were. You'll catch the doppelganger, and you'll bring her to justice. I know you'll do all of these things. And you can go back to being a hero.' 

'Are you disappointed in me?' 

'No, darling. I'm not disappointed in you. You didn't have control over what you were doing. The Angel was hurting you, infecting your very being. You're not at fault for what happened to those people.' 

'But I killed them. Regardless of who was in my body, it was my hands that killed. My hands shed innocent blood.' 

'Some of them were far from innocent.' 

'That doesn't justify anything. Some of them were far too young to die.' 

'You couldn't control anything that was happening. I do not judge you. And neither do those who love you, those who are still alive. I love you very much, Adelaide. Please know that. You are capable of and worthy of so much love.' 

'I don't deserve the love you give me.' 

'You are wholly deserving of it, Adelaide. You've had people hate and fear you all your life, it's only fair that you've got people who love you and want to protect you.'

'Thank you - for all that you did when I was younger. I'm sorry that I wasn't the nicest person -' She put her fingers on my mouth, shushing me. 

'No. You were the best daughter I could have asked for. I thanked God every day that he made you healthy and strong, and I thanked him that he gave me a very precious daughter. I love you more than you will ever know, Adelaide.' I hugged her again and let out a soft sob. 

'Thank you for being my mom. Thank you so much.' I sobbed brokenly, clutching onto her. Suddenly, I heard the Angel's voice. 

'Our time's up. Let's go.' I stood, holding my mother's hand. I let the tears freely spill, and she reached out, touching my cheek tenderly. 

'Go, my darling. Go, and live your life the way it was meant to be.' 

'Will I ever see you again?' I asked. 

'You will - one day. I'm sure of it.' I took the Angel's hand, and he led me to the centre of the garden where he took both of my hands in his. I looked back, seeing she was no longer there on the bench. Closing my eyes, my vision swirled into blackness. 

My eyes snapped open, glowing a white-gold colour, then fading just as quickly as they had come. I collapsed, the Angel grabbing me and lowering me to the floor. The door opened, and Bucky bolted in. I disengaged from the Angel and buried my head in Bucky's chest as he pulled me into his arms, sobbing loudly. I blinked, my body relaxing as I fell asleep in his arms. The last thing that I saw as I closed my eyes was Bucky sweeping me up in his arms. 

'It's okay, doll. Just rest.' I felt his lips tenderly pressing to my forehead, and then my eyes closed, sending me into sweet oblivion.