24 Dreams Of You And Me

85) The Root Cause

"We are really just shuffling the problem around as opposed to dealing with the root cause."
-Matt Austin

***

Levi gently placed his hand on Alyssa's cheek and made her look up. Her eyes were closed and when he talked to her she didn't reply.

She'd been like that since four hours.

He knew he couldn't wait any longer. He also knew she was fighting an internal battle and he couldn't help her.

He wanted to be here when she woke up, if she woke up. He'd been hoping she would and when she does, she'll be herself again.

He had played over the scenario in his head a hundred times. How he'd smile at her and thank God. How she'll latch on to him and experience emotions again. How he'll gently hug her back and then kiss her forehead as a welcome back. How they'll go back to Earth.

What he hadn't thought was what will happen if they are able to get back.

Julia, who standing outside the door, cleared her throat. "It's been hours."

He looked over his shoulder. "Won't be long now."

"We have to go, Levi. Every second counts."

He looked back at her slouchy figure. He didn't want to go anywhere and this desire was deep, it scared him a little. Everything he needed was his to take, but he couldn't make up his mind to go.

He was hoping she'll be fine when this time came but she wasn't. It was taking much longer and all he wanted to do was set her free. He couldn't bear causing her more pain.

He gazed at her a little longer and then turned around. "I'll be back for her."

"That's too much risk. I can't allow that. We're letting at least one of you live, can't you be satisfied with that?" The Angel said.

Levi nodded at the table. "It's the ingredients bag." He said and Julia's eyes fell on the bag. "I'm not taking it with me as an insurance that you will bring me back here."

"Or what? You'll kill me? What's another Angel to you."

"I didn't mean to." He gritted his teeth.

"But you did. Here's a chance to get out alive. So take it. Forget the girl. She can't expiate herself. You can by destroying the purple rose in the spell."

"We can both do that. Alyssa knows about the roses, the Garden and the witch more than any of us."

"But she isn't speaking, is she?"

He looked back at Alyssa as the Angel continued, "this is her final stage. The symbols have finally gotten to her. Whatever is happening inside her, we can't predict the outcomes. She may come back her, she may not."

"I need to be here however she comes back because if she's herself, she'll need this ring." He showed her the ring on his finger.

"If you stay, you both will have no chance of getting back. Come with me now and hurry. So maybe we can come back before she wakes." The Angel persuaded him with the only thing she knows he cared about.

Levi thought for a while. He knew getting the purple rose was a now or never. So with a heavy hearted feeling, he walked out on Alyssa and nodded at Julia.

The Angel placed her hand on his shoulder and the next second, teleported them to the cabin in the forest where Anthony was waiting for them with an unconscious Trisha on the ground.

"Is this it?" Levi asked, looking at the cabin.

"Yes." Julia replied.

"How am I supposed to-"