I Followed

I Pushed

~~~Zoey's POV~~~

I was distraught. I stayed in my room for days, not coming out, refusing food, just sitting there. Hoping that the moment would get out of my head. Rythian told me he wasn't going to kill Sjin. He pulled back his blade, I know he didn't mean it. I saw it coming. I rushed onto the yard. Screaming his name, I held his dying body. I knew he would die. I knew I couldn't save him. I wasn't powerful enough. If I'd listened to Rythian when he was teaching me to enhance my power. I remember burying my face into his arm as he held his dead friend. I remember crying, and his arm being almost soaking when I finally let go. I remember our connection, Duncan and I, when we did science together. Laughing. Enjoying life. Rythian explained. He explained that after we'd gone, after we'd walked away as kids, they looked in the crystal ball. They saw the duel. They saw the four men, after revenge and power. And they saw the death. They saw Rythian kill Duncan, and they didn't forget. They just went on with their lives. They just waited for the moment, knowing they couldn't change it.

They just let him die.

I realised. I was 8 months pregnant. This is not good for the baby. This isn't good. I need to eat. I need to. Where is the fridge? My own castle is different. This room wasn't here. Or was it? Am I insane? What's going on? Duncan's dead. I'm giving birth? Yes, no. I'm fine. Am I spinning? I think I'm spinning. Or is the room spinning? Where am I? Where's Rythian? Am I alive? Did I die? I don't think I can feel the floor. The floor feels different. Did I collapse? The world wasn't this tall before. Is that Rythian? Rythian. Rythian. Rythian. Rythian. Rythian.

"Rythian!" I scream. He rushes in. I don't know where I am. "I don't know where I am." Am I crying? I sob into his lap. "What's wrong? What's wrong with me?" I beg

"I'll get you to the medical ward." He rushes me. He picks me up. It sickening, the motion. I don't want to move. "You'll be fine." Is my baby okay? Is our baby okay? Am I okay? I still think I'm dead. This doesn't happen. My baby. Halfing's baby. Two halfings. Is this normal for a halfing's baby? Did Rata feel this? Rata. I need Rata. She's had a child. Am I having a child? I'm dizzy. I want to go home. The white in the hospital is dizzy. It's cream. No, it's white. I'll settle on dark red. It's dark red. The walls go away. I'm left in nothingness. I see a woman. She has wonderful golden hair, and red eyes. Beautiful red eyes. Do I remember this woman? I think I've seen her before.

"Don't worry, little Zoeya. You'll be fine." She whispers. It just went quiet. Why didn't I hear the noise disappear? Yes, noise disappears. Well done Zoey. Am I being sarcastic? I can't remember.

"Where am I?" I cry. I want to go home. I want to go back to Blackrock. Before the explosion. When I knew my childhood. When I knew who this woman was.

"You're in your mind. If you looked hard enough, I knew you would find me. I'm your mother. I'm a blaze, but I didn't let the town know. I was human to them. Just don't worry. It will be painful. But relax. Listen. Listen to Rythian. You and Rythian. We're always here for you. Me, your father, who you never met so can't remember, and-"

"And me." A voice interrupts. I'm not dizzy anymore. I'm calm. Mum helped. Mum helped me calm down. "I'm here, but I'm not evil, don't worry." The voice, a woman, comes out of the darkness. Rythian's.... something. "Yes, I am Rythian's... something." She laughed. I like laughter. "I'm Rythian's Mum. But I'm not evil. I want to see my kids again. Tell him I love him. Tell him I'm sorry. Don't break his heart." She faded. Mum faded. I felt a breeze go past me. I opened my eyes. Back in the room. But I'm not in his arms. I'm in a bed. I look to my left. A heart monitor drops a funky beat. I like it. I look to my right. Rythian stares at me with a worried expression. He holds my hands. He squeezes it. I smile. It's like a squirty flower thing, that squirts happiness, not water, and it's a hand, not a pump.

There's a woman. It's painful. I deal with pain well. Because pain doesn't last forever.

Mushrooms. Where are the Mushrooms? I need Erin and Lucie and Tia with me. I need my Mooshrooms. Daisy. Steven. Nilesy Jr. That's a problem. I haven't seen them for a while. Are they dead? I know Hannah's okay. She's permanantly in a safe house, on a faraway island, with Nilesy. So Nilesy's fine. Or is he? Maybe they bombed the island. Nah, they're too chicken for that. Chicken. Teep likes chicken. I like chickens, but not chicken. The meat is horrible. All meat is horrible. But not for Tee. Tee's a dinosaur.

Oh, pain. That's not new. Am I...? Yes. I'm having a child. I'm glowing. That's new. Glowing orange. I look at Rythian. Ooh, he's glowing too. Ooh, he's glowing purple! That's my favourite colour. After orange. I'm happy I'm glowing orange.

"Push." Nurse Carla says simply. Okay! Why not! That's painful.

"Come on, Zoey" Rythian kneels to my level. He's seriously serious. Grumpy grumpy serious. B-o-r-i-n-g.  I've stopped glowing. I'm normal... ish. I feel energy in my eyes. I know Rythian's feeling it too. His eyes are like... burning... Really bright. Pretty eyes! That's a reason! Pretty eyes. Oh hey, a baby! This is a strange baby. It has... One purple eye, and one red eye. They light up the room, and... Oh hey, Rythian's crying. Why is he crying? Oh, right... We do have a child.... Is it a boy or a-

"It's a girl. A sweet little girl" He whispers. "Name?" He asks me

"Name? Oh, I didn't think of this. I search my brain. Who is Mushroom of the week? Anna Hope. I like that name. "I think... Anna." Rythian smiles "Anna Hope." I smile back

That's her name. Anna Hope Enderborn. With her mismatched eyes and fair skin, that is my daughter. No. That is our daughter.