Before You Remember

Season 2 Chapter 1: Her sacrifices to keep him warm

Note: Thanks for staying to read Season 2!
Just to re-fresh everyone's minds - the previous 2 chapters are alternate endings. The real ending is that Sans dies, and Season 2 follows ahead from her death.

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Cassie wakes up in a temple. His body is fully bandaged, and it doesn't take long for him to recall last night. He panics and tries to run out, albeit his wasted legs that don't allow him to walk anymore. The healer and the security personnel stand in front of his door, upon seeing the commotion.

"No....no...." Cassie cries out. How could she possibly do that? How could she leave him all alone after they had finally reunited?

"Mr. Cassie," the healer calls out, "Uhm. While Sans was alive, she infused her consciousness with mine and told me that she wanted to keep you alive. That was her last wish. She also told you not to be too sad and someday the both of you will meet again."

"Meet? Maybe she means I'll meet her after I die," he says sorrowfully.

"She said she doesn't want you to die and you must continue to live on," the healer comments, "she has tasked me with this mission to be with you so that I can constantly heal you."

"You have done enough. Her infused ability shouldn't affect you anymore now that she's dead. You were unnecessarily dragged into this. Please leave." Cassie pushes the healer away.

The healer sighs. "I never felt like she subdued me into agreeing. Yeah maybe this is manipulation...but when I saw her fight the minister, I knew that I wanted to carry on her last wish for you." The security personnel nod his head repeatedly too, concurring with the healer's comments.

Cassie isn't particularly against what they want as nothing matters now anyway. The love of his life is dead and if not for her wish, he would have taken his life as well. He looks around his surroundings and sees a lot of plants and mythical creatures on the walls of the room. "Where are we?"

The doors open and an old lady stands in front of the door. "You are in the temple of Great Mother Nature."

"Is this an ancient religion before? I think I heard before that this is the religion that the olden day possessors prayed to."

"Yes, you're right. Before possessors were this widespread, they were a super tiny aspect of the population. Many believed possessors only appeared due to radiation, but they existed even beforehand."

"Are we still within the country's zone?"

"No," the healer states, "the cocoon somehow ended up in the border zones of our neighbouring countries."

"Yes," the old lady says, "our temple is well protected by the mountains and trees here. I am surprised that I found the group of you huddled together at the mouth of the mountain. The trek to the mountains is not easy too - many have gotten lost and lost their lives on the way. It is fate that the three of you found your way into the mountains and this temple specifically. Please stay as long as you want until you are ready for departure." Then, the old lady heads off to do other work.

Maybe it is fate then, Cassie thinks to himself. He doesn't want to return to a world where his Ayla doesn't exist. Initially, he had his doubts about whether Sans was Ayla. Her confession to Jax sealed his suspicions that she was no longer the same person as before. However, throughout his time with her in the federation, he felt like she was still familiar and very lovable. Cassie had the instinctive desire to take care of her and shield her away from the eyes of the federation and Crescent.

He regrets not being able to find her after she was taken by the federation. Wherever she goes, he wants to follow and keep her happiness. But now without a purpose, he did not know what he could do in his life.