𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥'𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝟐 | 𝟏𝟖+

Cʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ Eɪɢʜᴛᴇᴇɴ: Gᴇᴛ Tʜᴇ Fᴜᴄᴋ Uᴘ

A vast meadow, an endless sea of vibrant wildflowers, stretches out in front of me. The blooms sway gently in the warm breeze, their delicate petals dancing in shades of emerald, amethyst, and gold. The sky above is so clear and bright that it almost hurts to look at, with wispy clouds drifting carelessly across the canvas.

As I continue through the meadow, the sound of children's laughter surrounds me. It's a joyous symphony that seems to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. In the distance, two figures sit on the ground at the edge of a cliff, their backs to me as they gaze out at the horizon. The children are darting around them, their laughter ringing out like tiny bells. The sun is just starting to dip below the mountains, painting the sky in an array of pinks, oranges, and blues.

I move closer.

I'm standing right behind them, close enough to reach out and touch them if I wanted to. "Excuse me," I say softly, not wanting to startle them.

The woman turns. The woman is me.

I'm sitting on the ground, the man's solid warmth pressed against my side.

I look out at the horizon.

One of the children breaks away from the group and runs towards me, plopping down on the ground right in front of me with a grin that could rival the sun. "Hi, Mommy!" he exclaims.

I stare at him, my eyes widening in surprise as I take in his features. Damien's eyes, those same dark brown eyes that seem to see straight into my soul. And his smile. A carbon copy.

"You're a boy?" I whisper. "I always thought you were a girl." I pull him into my arms, hugging him tight against my chest. "Hey, honey," I murmur. "I'm so happy to see you."

Another child approaches - an older girl this time. She sits down beside me, leaning her head on my shoulder. "Hi, Mom," she says softly.

I turn to look at her, my eyes drinking in every detail of her face. "Penny," I breathe. "You're so grown up." I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close and holding on for dear life. "I'm so sorry."

"I forgive you, Mom."

Slowly, I turn my head, seeking out the man who sits beside me. First, I see Faith, perched on his lap like a tiny bird. She's waving at me, her little face split into a grin. And behind her, holding her close with an expression of pure joy–

Damien.

Slowly, I rise to my feet, my legs trembling slightly beneath me. I take a step forward, then another, until I'm standing at the very edge of the cliff, the wind whipping through my hair.

I turn back, my eyes sweeping over the scene before me.

My family.

All gathered together. All of them happy. All of them whole.

I feel the tears begin to flow, hot and fast down my cheeks, but I make no move to wipe them away. I feel a tug at the back of my mind, a whisper of something dark and urgent that I can't ignore. With a smile on my face and tears in my eyes, I walk backwards off of the cliff, my eyes never leaving their faces, my heart aching with each step I take. The ground disappears beneath my feet, and I'm falling, plummeting through air like stone through water. The wind rushes past me, roaring in my ears like a thousand angry voices. I close my eyes, bracing myself for the impact that I know is coming.

My eyes snap open. My body is heavy, weighed down by an invisible force. I try to lift my head first, but the effort is too much. I start with my hands, wiggling my fingers one by one until I can feel the blood flowing back into them. Then my arms, slowly at first, then with more confidence as the sensation returns. Finally, I focus on my legs, willing them to move, to support my weight.