Eden's Gate

Chapter 21 - Good Luck Nick and Kim

Mary pulled up to the bunker in the Death Wish, waiting until I got it before driving back to Fall's End. We sat in silence, passing others as they rejoiced. Fireworks lit up the sky in celebration at their liberation. We pulled up outside The Spread Eagle, Mary looked at me, wanting to say something but left, walking into the bar. I sat there for a moment, pushing the pain as far down as I could. I took a deep breath before getting out of the vehicle, Boomer and Peaches walking to my side, rubbing their heads against my legs. I gave them a weak smile before walking into the bar. Everyone inside was smiling, drinking and chatting to each other. Mary smiled at me as I walked in, handing a beer to Nick as I walked up to the counter. Nick turned around, smiling at me and throwing his arm around my shoulder.

"Goddamn. I ain't never seen anything like that before." Nick handed me a beer, clinking them together in cheers. Jerome walked over, a smile spread across his face.

"Thanks... I knew we saved you for a reason." Jerome thanked me, clinking our beers together.

"Hey!" Mary called for me. I walked over to the bar, leaning as she lifted her beer up. She smiled, gratitude leaking into her tone and expression. "You gave us something back we thought we'd never have again: Hope." We clinked our bottles together. "Whatever happens next, we're with you." Hudson walked over, putting her hand on my arm. I turned to face her.

"Hey. That was a hell of a job, Rook. The way I see it, you're the one in charge now. If you ever need anything, you just let me know –" Hudson thanked me. I looked around at everyone.

"I'm not a leader, I'm not the one in charge," I whispered, my eyes fell to the floor. Tears sprang into my eyes, trying to escape, as the pain I felt increased. I heard footsteps walking closer to me, an arm wrapped around my shoulder, pulling me into a hug. Three more pairs of arms surrounded me as I cried, not saying anything. They stood there, hugging me whilst I cried, letting me release all my hurt. Once I stopped, my breath still hitched in my throat. Mary lead me upstairs, into her spare bedroom. We sat on the edge of the bed, her arm still around my shoulders.

"I can't imagine the pain you're going through, Jasmine. But we are all here for you." Mary consoled me, gently rubbing my back to calm me. I looked up at her, my eyes red and puffy from crying, deep purple bags under them for days of no sleep.

"I couldn't do it," I whispered. "I didn't kill me. When I grabbed the key to the bunker, he looked at me. He'd always had this look of madness and insanity in his eye before but in that moment... there was only love, no trace of madness. I took the key and hot him in the shoulder. With these." I pulled out the pistol I'd used to shoot John with, removing the magazine.

"What are they?" Mary asked. I was surprised she didn't yell at me for not killing John.

"Bliss Bullets. I stole them from some Peggies a while back. Thought they could be useful so I kept them. They knock the person out for hours, even when they wake up, they're disorientated." We sat in silence for a moment.

"Why didn't you kill him? You shot him, but why not make it a fatal shot?" Mary asked. I sighed, before sitting up straight.

"Because there are things worse than death. The Seed's may be my soulmates, but they have hurt too many people. Dying would be a blessing for them. The pain you feel from the soulmate bond breaking is intense, it's what I'm feeling now. Once John wakes up, I imagine he'll feel the same pain." My eyes lids started to droop, my exhaustion catching up with me. Mary took my boots and clothes off, pulling a white vest top and a pair of shorts on me, before laying me on the bed. She tucked me in, stroking my hair as I drifted off into the dark comforting embrace of sleep.