The Valley of Fears

THE AWAKENING

Magnolia was shrouded in darkness. The town was quiet as the people of Magnolia slept in peace. The stars danced across the night sky, shining in the darkness oh so brilliantly. Gajeel, however, was slouched in the chair next to Levy's bed. His head was resting on the palm of his hand as he watched Levy's sleeping form. He hasn't closed his eyes once to sleep since he heard the news of Levy dying.

His mind kept jumping to unwanted thoughts every time he closed his eyes so he decided he would just not sleep and watch Levy while he still could. The sun, however, was long since gone as darkness crept over the room. Darkening the room. Setting a certain aura of gloom.

What will he do without her?

Gajeel's mind was numb, yet his mind was reeling with possibilities of how to cure her but deep down he knew there was nothing he or anybody else could do to save her.

It was set in stone. She was dying. They've lost.

Gajeel slipped his fingers through his hair as he rested his forehead on his palm. This was his entire fault. There was a silent knock on the door before it opened slowly. Gajeel didn't bother turning around to see who entered; he already had an idea of who it was.

"Gajeel, Erza told us the news." Lily said as he entered the room carefully, almost like he was walking on eggs.

Lily stood close to the door as he waited for an answer, watching Gajeel's back, but Gajeel didn't feel like talking so he didn't bother answering Lily. He didn't even acknowledge Lily's presence. Lily sighed as he walked over to the chair Gajeel was sitting in as he spoke again.

"It's already three o'clock Gajeel... Why don't you come home and sleep." Lily asked as he tried to get his friend to sleep and away from the hospital room.

Levy wouldn't want him to mope around like this. It also wasn't healthy to stay up the whole night. Lily looked up at Gajeel for a long time, he didn't speak or move. He just looked at the floor with empty eyes. It didn't even look like he knew Lily was there.

Lily sighed as he turned his gaze to Levy. She looked peaceful; it didn't look like she was dying of an incurable infection. Lily was watching levy when Gajeel surprised him and opened his mouth.

"How can I sleep at a time like this, Lily?" Gajeel said in a soft tone that was barely a whisper.

Lily was at a loss of words. He looked from levy back to Gajeel.

"Erza said Levy would wake up in the morning. Staying up the whole night won't do anyone any good." Lily said trying to convince him to go home, but it was like he was talking to a wall.

"I'm going to lose her Lily... what am I going to do then." Gajeel said with an empty almost broken voice.

"For one, you can use the time she has left to the fullest. Not sleeping isn't going to help." Lily said as he furrowed his eyebrows, it felt like he was repeating himself but he didn't know what else to say to comfort his friend.

"She's not going to remember me when she wakes up Lily." Gajeel said as he lifted his head and dropped his arm, turning his gaze to Levy again.

"Let's go home Gajeel..." Lily said in a defeated voice, he already knew the answer.

Lily balled his fists as he watched Gajeel's eyes. He could see the life leaving his eyes even though he wasn't dead.

"I can't go home yet. I'll sleep tonight Lily." Gajeel said in a soft tone as he watched levy.

"Then I'm staying too." Lily said with conviction, he wanted to do his best to support his friend and be there for both his friends.

He wanted to scream and he wanted to cry at the same time. His closest friend was in pain and he couldn't do anything about it while his other friend was dying and he also couldn't do anything about it. It was the most frustrating feeling on earth not being able to fix what is broken no matter how badly he wanted to.