During the Seven Years

Chapter 14

The mountains loom around us, ominous and vast as we push forward, snow flurries swirling like tiny daggers in the wind. I shiver, pulling my coat tighter, but the relentless cold still seeps through. I glance over at Loke, who's standing a few feet away, his figure strong against the storm's fury.

"Lucy, stay close to me," he says, extending his hand, his voice a calm anchor in the chaos.

I nod, reaching out. But as my fingers graze his, the ground beneath me gives way. I barely have time to gasp before I'm plummeting, the cold air rushing past me, and all I can do is squeeze my eyes shut.

I brace for impact, and after what feels like an eternity, I land softly on snow-covered ground. The darkness around me is so intense, the air heavy with a chill far colder than before. Standing up slowly, I glance around in confusion and dread. Where am I?

The biting wind stirs, tousling my hair, and as it blows in front of my face, something in the atmosphere shifts. Shapes begin to emerge, growing clearer, and my heart skips a beat. Figures materialize in front of me, one by one, faces I know all too well. I stare, wide-eyed, unable to believe it—Natsu, Mirajane, Erza, and more, all my friends who were lost on Tenrou Island.

Tears prick at my eyes as I struggle to process their sudden appearance, hope and disbelief warring within me. A broad grin spreads across Natsu's face as he steps forward.

"Luce! I'm happy to see you again!" His voice is so warm, so familiar, it cuts through my heart like a knife.

"Natsu..." I whisper, my throat tight with longing and guilt.

"Hey, we're right here," Mirajane says, placing her hand on my shoulder. I start to relax at her gentle touch, but then her gaze hardens. "We won't leave you... like you left us."

I step back, stunned. "What? I didn't... I..."

"You weren't with us when it mattered," she says coldly. "Think about what might've happened if you were there." Her words echo, each one striking me with sharp, unrelenting clarity.

Erza crosses her arms, her gaze piercing. "Chances are, we would still be here if you had been with us," she states, her tone cutting and unyielding.

I open my mouth, trying to form words, to explain, but they die in my throat. "I'm... I'm sorry..." I say weakly, dropping to my knees, helpless against the weight of their accusations.

"Sorry won't bring us back," Evergreen's voice sneers, sharp and mocking. "You're too weak. You wouldn't have been able to make a difference."

"Even Wendy is stronger than you!" someone else laughs, the words twisting painfully in my chest.

My heart aches, guilt wrapping around me like chains. I've known I wasn't the strongest, but hearing it from them... it feels like a blade cutting deeper. I close my eyes, taking a slow breath, then open them and rise to my feet, determined. "I understand what you're saying," I say, my voice stronger now, my hands clenched tightly. "I still have so much to learn, and I'm nowhere near strong enough. But I won't give up!"

The faces that had seemed so angry, so judgmental, now look surprised. They study me in silence, a glint of approval in their eyes. Then, slowly, they begin to fade away, leaving me alone. Despite the pain, a bittersweet smile forms on my face. I want to be with my friends again. I want to laugh with them, to share stories, to be part of the family I'd nearly lost.

But before I can dwell on the emptiness, the ground begins to rumble beneath my feet. The temperature drops even further, the shadows around me twisting, growing darker and denser. I feel a wave of dread, cold and suffocating, as if something sinister is lurking just beyond my vision. The shadows thicken, pressing in on me, until it feels like the weight of the world is crushing down on my shoulders.

I clutch my head, squeezing my eyes shut, trying to block out the rising terror. "Someone... please... help me," I whisper, my voice barely audible as the darkness tightens around me. My legs give out, and I collapse onto the frozen ground, the cold sinking deep into my bones. My eyelids grow heavy, the world blurring, and I drift into unconsciousness, lost in the shadows.