The Game | Completed

death

August 16

I was standing in a field of all kinds of flowers. Daisies, roses, sunflowers, gardenias, wildflowers, you name it. All of the flowers I knew, and even some I didn't, danced with the light breeze.

They all stood in a jumbled mess, but it was still beautiful, in a crazy and abstract sort of way. The whole field smelled like flowers too It was all so pleasant.

A small cottage was nestled in a clearing on the edge of the field. It looked cozy and warm, familiar for some odd reason. My mind felt hazy, but in the best, possible way.

A petite young woman stood beside me. Her hair was a cherry red hue and her eyes were a soft blue. She took my hand in hers and she smiled softly.

She softly pulled me towards the small cottage in the clearing. Once we entered, she gently sat me down on the bed and pulled a chair over to face me.

"What happened to me? Where are we?" I asked, recognition weighing me down.

She put her soft hand on my cheek and wiped a tear away. "You died." She whispered back.

"I died?" I asked, my voice laced with disbelief. The girl solemnly nodded. Hers eyes held pain and sorrow, which wasn't fair, she was barely older then me, she shouldn't have to know that kind of pain.

"B-But what about Henry? M-my b-b-baby?" I sobbed as I held my stomach, where my baby should've been. She gently pulled my hands from my abdomen and held them in her own.

"They're going to be alright." She told me sincerely.

"No, Henry wont-t! He's gonna fade, and m-my baby, It's not gonna get a chance to live!" I sobbed and the young woman laughed softly.

"Do you know who I am?" She asked. I shook my head slowly and she smiled sadly at me. "My name is Lana, Lana Micheals. I was the first of ten women that Calliope killed." She explained.

I nodded as another sob shook my body. I vaguely recalled a memory of Calliope telling me about a young woman called Lana. "What now? What's going to happen to Henry?" I asked.

She squeezed my arm gently and stood up. She pulled me up and into a tight hug. "Nothing." She whispered in my ear.

I pulled away, "What do you mean?" I asked quietly.

She smiled brokenly, "It isn't your time." She told me. A single tear fell down her face. "As a Mimicker, I can mimic Immortality. I've spent my years in the Inbetween, latching on to whatever being's immortality I could find." She explained and I nodded.

"That's why it was so easy for me to approach you, but now, here I am in your corner of The Underworld, because I'm going to take your place. I'm giving up my partial Immortality to take your place."

I looked up at her, "You can do that?" I whispered.

A large hand landed on my shoulder and a masculine voice whispered in my ear. "Yes, she can."

I gasped quietly, "Henry?" I asked breathlessly. I turned around and studied his beautiful features.

"Let's go home." He whispered. I nodded and kissed him.

I turned back around and hugged Lana, "Thank you, so much." I whispered in her ear and she nodded.

"I loved Henry too once upon a time, but," she leaned in to whisper in my ear, "He never looked at me the way he looks at you. Good luck." She told me and I beamed. I hugged her tightly and grabbed Henry's hand.

"Let's go home." I confirmed.

***

I woke up with a start in my own bed. I was breathing heavily and Henry's hand held mine tightly. I was laying on my back, but to my surprise, it didn't hurt.

"Hey, babe." Henry said softly.

"Wh-what happened?" I asked.

His Adam's Apple bobbed, "Well, you died, and now you're back." He explained and I nodded, confusion still weighing heavy on my mind

I died.

I bit my lip lifted the hem of my oversized t-shirt. The stab wound had completely closed, and there was no scar to prove it had been there in the first place. In fact, I didn't have any scars, not even the ones from before I left Lydia's.

I narrowed my eyes in confusion and Henry laughed at my expression, "The scars faded when you were, um, revived."

I nodded and James burst into the room, "Is she awake?!" The blond man all but yelled.

"Hi, James." I said while a wave of fear washed over me. He opened his mouth to speak but I cut him off. "Is the baby okay?!" He sighed once more and Henry squeezed my hand.

"Well," James started, "Did you try to heal yourself when Calliope stabbed you?" He waited for my response and once I nodded, he continued, "Okay, well from what I can tell, instead of healing yourself, you instinctually healed the baby." He explained.

I furrowed my eyebrows, "Wait, is that why I couldn't heal myself the last time, in the bathroom, either?" I asked and James nodded.

"So, our baby is okay?" Henry asked, and James nodded once more.

"Oh, thank God!" Henry exclaimed.

He kissed my forehead and James said, "I'll leave you two alone to discuss the next couple weeks, okay?" We both nodded and I sat up to face Henry. My bedroom door clicked close and I said, "I did it. I survived to see The Judgement."

Henry nodded but a tear slid down his cheek. "I lost you." He whispered.

I shook my head and placed a chaste kiss on his lips. "I'm right here babe, and I'm not going anywhere." I told him.

He shook his head and said, "You don't know that, what if you don't pass?" He asked. Fear rushed through me once more and I realized that surviving wasn't the only part of the deal.

I had to pass the tests.

I laughed sincerely, trying to calm him, and said, "Oh babe, even if I fail, which I won't, The Council is gonna have to drag me out of the ballroom kicking and screaming." This time it was Henry who let out a laugh.

I stood up and jumped into Henry's lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he pulled my waist into him. I placed a chaste kiss on lips and he murmured, "Kicking and screaming, huh?"

I laughed, "Kicking and screaming." I confirmed. Our faces were only inches apart, and I happily closed the distance. We continued to lock lips until my bedroom door swung open.

The sound of the door handle hitting the plaster of the wall startled us enough to break apart. I nearly fell off Henry's lap when I saw a pale blonde head running towards me. "Are you okay?!" Adrienne yelled.

I laughed and jumped off Henry's lap to hug her. "Yes I'm okay!" I exclaimed and she hugged me tighter.

"I-is the baby okay?" She asked once she pulled away.

I nodded furiously and she squealed, "Thank God! I can't wait to be an aunt!" She yelled. I laughed and walked back over to Henry, sitting back down on his lap.

Adrienne pointed at us, "You know I can never unsee that, right?" She asked and I started uncontrollably laughing.

I bit my lip and asked, "Can you unsee this?" I leaned in a slowly kissed Henry.

Adrienne screeched, "Ya know what? I'll talk to you tomorrow! Brunch at 2!" She ordered and once the door slammed shut behind her, Henry pushed me off his lap and onto the floor.

He was clearly laughing at my expression when I stood up and huffed. "I think I'm gonna have a sleepover in A's room tonight... Yeah! Have fun on your own! Byeeee!" I told him and walked to the door that connected mine and Adrienne's room.

I closed the door behind me ignoring Henry's protests and apologies.

***

A/N: Hey y'all! I hope this chapter answers all the questions from the previous chapters. If it didn't please let me know! Thanks for reading!

Much Love, Kendall