Before the Ever Green (BTEG #1) ✔️

Chapter 48

I didn't even realize I was asleep, until I feel the jolt of the train stopping, which ends with a pain in my stomach, from where I hit the table in front of me. I pull myself up, off the seat and out the door. The air smells lovely. A lot better than the smell of the capital or Chico. This is nice.

The smell is off pine, which reminds me of being outside in the meadow, with a book. It reminds me of how I grew up, and what I am planning on leaving. I look up from the ground, and urge my feet to move my body forward. It barely works, but I manage to make myself move slowly.
I am looking around at everything. Mom brought me here for our first and last family vacation, when I was 10. It looks so different, but it has been 6 years. 6 long years. I walk down to the end gate, and wait for it to open. When it does, myself and 20 other people march out of the train station. We all go in different directions. I am heading to the beach. That's where the caves are. There are 5 other people going to the beach, too. I don't pay any attention to the others. I have no reason to.
I follow the map in my memory, to the dark caves.
It is really just one large cave that connects with the sand, but it has several caverns. I walk in, slowly, it really is dark in here. I try and hold a light in my hand. It isn't very bright, but bright enough. Where would a little magical stone be? I ask my self, turning my head to look around. I walk for a few minutes, until I have reach the very back of the cave. I turn, in defeat, when I notice a tiny light. I wouldn't have noticed it, if I weren't looking. Lucky I was. I walk in the direction of the shining light.
It is beautiful.
The stone is on top of a tall stone, almost stuck. It is glowing in multiple colors, mainly purple.
I walk towards it, and hear a rumbling. I step back, and the rumbling stops. How am I supposed to get it? I don't want a bunch of rocks falling on top of me. That would defeat the purpose of coming here, today. I let out an exasperated sigh. I hear footsteps outside. I head out, and look around. Nothing.
I go back inside, and try and figure out how to get the stone. I am staring at the stone. I outreach my hand, and focus my mind of picking it up. I can see it slightly lift from it's stand, but not enough. All my muscles everyone are tight. Focus. Focus. Focus. I try harder. It lifts more. It is finally up enough that I can pull it towards me. Right into my hand. I will be free of the burden everyone thinks is a gift. I don't need to defeat Forest Green. I don't need to start a war. I need this stone, and it is floating towards me. The closer it gets, the more it glows.
I hear the footsteps louder, I turn my head, but don't see anything. "Addilyn! No!" Everett calls, when the stone is only a few feet from me. Come on, stone! Hurry up! Before it is in my hand, Everett jumps in front of it, grabbing the stone with his hands.
I scream, "No!" I can feel the blast of energy, which is released when his skin touches the stones surface. I look over to Everett's limp body. I kneel down next to him. "No. No. No." I have tears swelling in my eyes, "Everett." I can barely speak. How did this happen? I am shaking him.
I can feel his breathe release, and he says 3 little words, "I love you." A cough, "Don't do it."
"Everett...Stay with me." I am crying, and shaking him. "I'm not worth it." My voice is so quiet, I can't be sure I even said it. Did he just hold it long enough? I wipe the tears from my eyes, "I can fix this." I tell myself. I place my hands on his chest, and focus my mind. I focus on his kindness. I focus on how important he was to me...everyone who knew him. I focus on who he was, and what he was willing to do. I should be the one laying there limp. He should be alive, living an important life. I may not know who he was before he moved to Placerville, but I do know that he was a lot more important to the world than I will ever be. His kindness. His love. His hope. His sacrifice. He will live. He will live... "He will live," I whisper to myself. "You will live," I whisper to him. I lay my head down on his chest, "Please." I am starting to loose hope, "Please stay with me. I won't use the stone, please." I pause, "Everett...I need you."
I am sobbing now, "You have to stay, please. Please."
I feel nothing... I am sobbing. I can't stop it. I can't force my energy into him, anymore. He is laying here, I am laying my head on his chest. Just like the night before, except now...he's not going to wake up. He won't see me, the world, Allison, or anything with his two gorgeous blue eyes.
I don't want to be on this Earth any more, but I can't do anything about it. I just lay here, sobbing.
"Come back to me." I say
x x x
I don't know how long I've been laying here, but I do know I fell asleep. I open my eyes slightly. I am startled by the weight in my back. I sit up quickly. I hear a light moan, and turn to face Everett. He is blinking several times, he sits up, slowly. I hug him immediately, and I am crying, again. He wraps his arms around me. I pull away, slightly, "I thought I lost you."
He moves a piece of hair sort my face and smiles, "Please tell me you didn't use the stone."
I make a light with my hand, "No. And...I promise I won't."
"Why did you come here? Why ever think of using the stone?"
I let out a sigh, "I don't want to start this war. I wanted to have a normal life. You've seen how they treat my mother. I don't want to be that person."
"Then don't let them treat you that way. Show them you, not who they think you to be."
"It's not that simple,"
"Is it ever?"
"I guess not."
"We should get back," he says. I help him up. We go out of the cave, and I notice that the sun is only now setting.
I look up at Everett. He takes my hand, and we walk the beach, by the water. The water is beating at our legs, but it doesn't bother me. The sunset is beautiful, when it hits the water, and leaves orange steaks to flow with the waves. I tilt my head, so it is on Everett's shoulder, he looks down at me, and I look up at him, removing my head from his shoulder, "Thank you." I say
"For what?" He genuinely looks confused.
"For stopping me. For believing in me. For helping me."
"I did nothing."
I am confused, but don't ask questions. Instead, I walk the side of the beach with him, until we have to go up the hill, to reach the train. We don't sit in one of the boxes this time, but instead on the aisle. I am closest to window. When the train starts, I look out at all the color blending together, as we move so fast. I watch the birds fly in the sky, working as a team.
I see hope.