The Mistletoe

Chapter XXIII

The town had already calmed down, and we gathered at Laura's house. They tried to incinerate Carmilla's body, but it seemed to have no effect. So, they decided to take the remains, seal them, and send them somewhere undisclosed. In case any vampire or remaining servant of Carmilla knew the exact location of her body, they would wait until the effects of my blood on her disappeared and then proceed with the cremation. The body had been taken by the Dutch investigator, who would subject it to study.

"I have another case to solve. Thank you for letting me come. The experience has been enriching, and I believe I have more knowledge to approach my next case."

"A pleasure for us that you came, Doctor," said the Baron and Laura's father. As the gentleman left, taking Carmilla's newly sealed coffin in his carriage, the Baron apologized and also withdrew.

Laura and I had spoken with her father and reached an agreement that nothing would be mentioned about me or my involvement in the events. Laura's father, along with the Baron and the Dutch investigator, would use all the necessary resources and influences to hide my identity and erase any trace that could lead to me. According to Carmilla's letters, other creatures or the aristocrat called "The Dragon" could use my blood for nefarious purposes. They also didn't know how my actions might have truly impacted the timeline. Any mention of a time traveler or something similar could generate much controversy or even affect my timeline, assuming it wasn't already a mess. I knew that by staying alive, it was very likely that both my mother and father, as well as everyone who influenced my existence, followed the normal route. But there was a doubt that I might have created an alternate timeline and, upon returning, would encounter the original timeline. Laura or her family might not remember me because, in my timeline, she never knew me.

My other fear was arriving in the alternate timeline and leaving my father stranded in the original timeline. But then I remembered his words: "It's likely that everything you do, even if it's just getting up two minutes later, has already created an alternate timeline, and we simply jump from one line to another. Anyway, time has its own rules, and we are simple passengers in it, like a leaf falling into a river."

"Do not worry about things you cannot control," I thought again and finally surrendered to such thoughts. The rock that the crow had given me seemed to have changed color, and the mist was covering Laura's melancholic town again. I felt it was time to go back, and the crow was ready.

I gathered my belongings along with the sword and looked toward the path shrouded in mist. My heart tightened with fear and sadness, but I knew it was the right thing to do. I had to go back, and this seemed to be the moment.

Laura and her father left me at the entrance, and she handed me what seemed to be an antique watch. "Here, a keepsake from us. Maybe it can help you in the future."

"Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to both of you. Truly, I've never met such kind people; the experience has been quite an adventure."

Laura's father hugged me and said, "Thank you as well. Without you, my daughter might have died or been left with a great trauma for life."

He left with Mrs. Perrodon, and I was left alone with Laura.

"You have inspired me, you've inspired all of us, my dear Miguel. Thanks to you, I feel like I can be more, go beyond, and move forward no matter what happens."

I took a deep breath, looking around, and said, "Before I met you, I saw girls differently. You and your family have shown me how important it is to spend time with someone, talk face to face, and enjoy every moment because I'll never know when I'll die. I saw the good and the bad in girls, right?" I joked.

We both laughed. Then she looked at me and sighed, saying, "Don't feel bad. I know you think Carmilla ruined your first experiences and that you longed for something different. The first time, I don't think it's about something physical, but the emotional moment that leads to the act. It doesn't count if it's not consensual, believe me, I don't count it either."