Amid The Ruins (Male Reader x Yandere Ex-Girlfriend)

Chapter 6: Forsaken (Final)

Present day

Third POV

(Y/N): I followed her trail north... always north... and always one step behind... never stopping... driven by my fires of rage... and revenge...

(Y/N) was lying in Walton's bed, sallow as a corpse, barely able to speak, drained now of everything.

(Y/N): ...for years now I've followed her. Only to arrive at this place. Tired. So very tired. I never did find... whatever it was... I was looking for... and neither will you, my friend. Value life above ambition... or those glittering prizes you seek will crumble to dust in your fingers... as they have in mine.  See your loved ones again. I cannot.

Walton took (Y/N)'s hand and laid it gently back to his chest.

Walton: *Softly* Rest now.

(Y/N) was silent. His breathing shallow. Walton just stood and waited. (Y/N)'s eyes fluttered open as if staring at something unseen. Perhaps, the faces of those he loved. The eyes glazed. A peaceful death.

Walton stood up, put on his coat and walked outside. Jackson was leaning on the gunwale, staring off across the ice, his coat open. Walton joined him, surprised at how warm it is. He hold up his hand, testing the breeze.

Walton: A warning wind.

Jackson: The ice will break yet. How's our guest?

Walton: He died. Raving about phantoms. He was mad, poor devil. Gather a detail. Have the body removed from my cabin.

Jackson: Aye, Captain.

He moved off to gather help. Walton turned and headed back to his cabin. Walton entered and froze at the sound of soft weeping. Could it be the dead man? He glanced down, wet footprints led across the floor. He eased forward, the tiny bed chamber coming slowly into view. A dark figure is hunched and weeping at bedside, holding the corpse's hand. 

Walton: Who are you?

The figure swiveled it's head, revealing it's face to the dim yellow light. 

Sophia: It doesn't matter anymore...

Walton put a hand on his pistol, preparing for a fight. She didn't care and only stared at (Y/N)'s body.

Sophia: You were with him at the end.

Walton: Yes.

Sophia: I was watching.

Walton glanced to the porthole, ajar and creaking in the breeze, chilled at the thought. Sophia returned her gaze to (Y/N).

Sophia: I longed to be with him. But I wanted his final moments to have peace. I could see you were a friend to him.

Walton: What is that to you? Evil as you are.

Sophia: I am as he made me. In his own image.

Walton: You drove him to his torment.

Sophia: And he drove me to mine.

Walton: Then why weep for him?

Sophia: Would you not? He was friend. And lover. We fell from grace together. He from his God. I from mine.

She gently stroked (Y/N)'s cheek. She reaches up with two fingers, closing the staring eyes.

Sophia: *Whispering* Could we ever have forgiven?

The question went unanswered. She rose up, gliding in shadow to the door.

Sophia: I've never been shown a kindness. Show me one now.