Three Worlds Apart

Chapter XXVI, Evelina

I never thought I'd see the day that Ashton Tessera died. Now I have.

Samuel and I stand watching Amelia and Ashlynn, I'm glad they still have each other. I glance at Samuel, at least I have him. I still don't know what he means to me but whatever happens I know he won't abandon me.

The ground rumbles and I look at Samuel and the others, they can all cause Earth quakes. None of them have this time, they look as confused as I do.

Ashlynn cries out and points towards the cave entrance. Amelia let's out a strangled cry but there is nothing we can do.

The cave collapses, killing everyone below.

I feel a slight pang for everyone I knew. They didn't stand a chance.

"That's what he meant." Samuel says. We turn to look at him, shock still on all our faces.

"When he said that killing him was condemning everyone underground, he's rigged it to collapse if he died so the deaths of everyone would be our fault." Samuel explains.

We stare at each other, we did cause all those people to die but it was really Ashton Tessera who did this to them.

The look on Samuel's face tells me that he's thinking the same thing I am. The looks on Amelia and Ashlynn's faces tell me that they are not.

That's the problem with us, with Samuel and I. We don't feel what we've done, I can detach myself from something and believe that I have done nothing wrong.

Amelia and Ashlynn were raised proporly, they feel so much more than I have in my whole life. It makes me wonder what else I have missed out on. I'm sure I missed out on a childhood. I wish I could go back and do it all over but I can't, I can only improve what I have left.

"Come on." I say, "We need to go."

When Amelia and Ashlynn don't move I add, "We need to find your friends." This makes them move, grudgingly. 

I want to make them move faster but I can tell that even in her weakened state, Amelia could fight me and win easily. She and Ashlynn will not take kindly to being made to move faster.

"It would be easiest to fly." Amelia says.

Ashlynn moves up to take my hand and Amelia takes Samuel's, I grab Samuel's other hand. This is going to scare the crap out of me.

I grit my teeth as they soar into the air pulling us with them. I have to keep my teeth clenched or I might start screaming.

Amelia is leading the way, pulling the rest of us behind her.

It's actually quite beautiful to see everything below us, as long as I don't really think about how easily I could fall. If Amelia or Ashlynn falters we could be dead within seconds.

I'm not ready to die.

Selfish. That's what I am. I want so much even though I've been safe my whole life. Amelia and Ashlynn grew up on the run and still I want what they have.

They will always be the better people.

Towns flash beneath us. At first I try to count them but give up almost at once. Amelia seems to know where she is going. I hope she does.

Amelia's sharp eyes are searching for the right town, are we even in the right country? What country were we in before? What country is Amelia's home in?

Is her Dawson waiting for her?

No. He thinks she's dead. Does he still love her? Does he miss her the way she misses him? Is it worth it to love someone that much?