The eerie darkness pressed down on us. Looming like think acrid smoke. The damp murky air choked me as the descent deepened. The sisters' occasional giggles pierced through the hanging silence. A dull thud indicated as we reached the bottom of the well. I stepped out, my ankles penetrated by the dead cold water. I breathed the heavy air with much effort. In the darkness, an intense light shone from a distance. A mirror resonating with light. The Looking glass. But only, this time was different. A pulsing light radiated from within the glassy surface. It illuminated the circle of stone we stood inside. A few step away from where I stood was a rock, flat on the top, a dagger lying on the very top. Its hilt wrapped in red fabric and its blade glinting with death. Next to it sat a chest, carved roses framed the word; Ye Heart. I shuddered. Jest saw it, he inhaled sharply at the sight of it. "No," he said immediately. "Oh yesss..." sang the sisters. "You want to be a hero, don't you?"
"No, never. I refuse this. I don't care if..." he stopped himself.
A bad feeling welled inside me. "What, you don't care if WHAT??" I question. Jest doesn't meet my eyes, "Returning to chess without completing my task means I committed treason, a crime which's punishment is..."
The sisters draw their finger across their neck then giggle.
"NO!" I yell "You can't do that! Take my heart, take it!"
"No Cath, I won't do that." Jest says gently.
"Please! Take it, I have no value for it anyways!"
"But I do, they don't deserve something this valuable." Jest says "It doesn't matter if I die, there's no purpose for me."
"No, I won't let you do that! You mean everything to me!"
The sisters laugh, it echoes around the expanse of the well. Its as if this is amusing to them. "But you haven't even heard our deal yet." Elsie whispers. We stop. "We have made a deal with time." She says
"You have two paths in front of you. One, Jest must carve out Catherine's heart," Jest shifts, I sense his refusal. "Then he may return and be celebrated by the people of chess. The second is... Cath may keep her Heart but, Jest must return for there is nothing left to keep him in this realm. He will return to be imprisoned for the rest of his life. Well... until DEATH of course!" she rattles with laughter. I clench my fist. "Is this funny for you? Because it most definitely isn't!"
"No... but it's the most fun we've had in years..." Lacie sighs.
"Well, if I must enlighten you this-" Anger exploding through the layer of frustration.
"Cath... there's no point, they are not the most obedient kind." He says gently.
"I am not FINISHED" Elsie whines childishly. "Seeing as you both are having some... trouble... coming to a decision, I will make the offer more tempting. While Jest gets locked away to rot in a cell in Chess, Catherine can have her old life back. Her life full of baking and fun and carefreeness."
I smile slightly thinking of my old life.
Lacie comes closer to me looking me in the eyes. "No one will remember anything of the events that occurred after you met Jest, except you of course. And what's more, the king will never have proposed to you. It will be as if Jest never came. Only... you will still miss him while you enjoy your life and Jest withers away." They cackle for the millionth time.
"Cath," Jest puts a soft hand on my shoulder
"NO!" I say whipping around to face him.
"Cath, being a prisoner won't hurt for me if I know you are happily living in Hearts."
"Happily? How could I even live while I think of you being tormented in that prison?"
"I've already said I won't take your heart."
"And I say take it, the only thing that dreadful... THING... has brought me is pain and suffering. I wouldn't even miss it.
"Well make a decision you ninnies! We don't have, well.. all the TIME in the world!" All three laugh again.
We walk next to the iridescent mirror, the stone with the dagger only mere steps away from the glowing glass.
The agony reflected in his eyes as I handed the knife to him. He looked at it with dread and sighed deeply. The one thing he hated more than taking her heart was making her unhappy. He gripped it tight.
"Jest... do it." I say softly.
Tears trickle down his cheeks, stained with kohl. He stepped closer to me. Our eyes met, reflecting the light of the mirror. His hand strokes my cheek, he lifted my lips up to his. I savored this last moment, wishing it to last forever.
Slowly our lips part. He wipes my tear with his thumb. He adjusted the hold on the dagger. He lifts the blade up an clenched his eyes tight shut. I shut mine as well.
One moment.
Two moments
Three moment.
But the blade doesn't pierce flesh.
A clatter of metal against the rock floor punctuates the silence. My eyes snap open. The dagger lies on the floor, my heart intact. I look up in confusion.
"You know I would never do it Cath. Never. Not for anything." He says. "I was once told to steal the heart of the queen of hearts. But in the end she stole mine. But not just my heart, my life soul and mind belongs to you. Take them all and I will only feel happiness. You and I won't be separated, not by walls kingdoms or death. That is why I'm doing this. Not for you but for me." I meet his eyes glowing gold like fire. Before another breath, Jest turns and steps into the blinding light of the glass. A scream of horror escapes my lips. "NO!" I wept running up to the mirror, but it was glass, hard solid glass. From the other side Jest turns around and faces me. He puts his hand on the glass and mouths the words 'I love you'. Banging my fists into the shining glass I sob screaming his name. A wisp of air whispered and the glassy surface began dissolving. Jest's beautiful face fades into thin air. My hand met with nothing but the cold damp air of the well.
My heartbeats cease.
"Jest!" I wail as I crumple onto the floor in anguish.
YOU ARE READING
Destiny is a Strange Thing: Heartless ending
Fanfiction"Sometimes the only thing worth listening to is your heart" Heart broken and hopeless, Catherine's life is shattered after the death of her beloved Jest. But little does she know that there's a hope in the distance. A possibility that will change e...
