Children Of Eden One Shots

She's Gone

                            Lachlan POV
                    After Children Of Eden
                          ————————
"Rowan?" I ask. I don't even spare a glance back. "Is he breathing?"

Silence. I look in the rear view mirror. Nothing. I see neither of them. Still driving at top speed I spare a glance back and see Ash laying on the back seat.

"Rowan?" I ask again, redirecting my attention to the road. I'm driving 60 MPH, I can't look back there any longer. She still doesn't reply. I can't begin to guess why she's being silent. "Rowan?" I'm getting agitated under these circumstances.

"She's gone," I hear a wheezing breath whisper. I almost ignore him.

"Rowan, what is he saying?" I ask. I could have almost sworn he said she's gone. I try to control my rapid breathing as I fear the worst. I look in the rear view and see no one chasing me...yet. I take a huge risk, slamming on the breaks. I look in the back seat and see Ash, but not Rowan. Some small groan of agony comes out of my throat, it's barely audible. But I can't stop any longer than those few seconds. I look forwards and press on the gas even harder.

I drive 90 MPH as I escape. I grip the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turn white. Rowan is gone. They'll kill her, there's nothing else they would do. They're going to kill my Rowan. I hate myself for using a possessive pronouns when talking about her. I only knew her for two days but...is it possible I loved her? I know I liked her a lot...I'd even die for her...but in these times I would probably die for a stranger. Is it possible to truly love someone in two days? If it's possible, that's what I'm feeling.

I can't believe it but as I drive at break neck speed I see flashes of Rowan. I see her curled up on the ground when I first met her. I see her after almost being eaten my nanosand. I saved her then. I couldn't save her now. I see her first sight of the tree in the Underground, how happy she was. I love that beautiful smile.

I see her blank expression as she met all of the people of the Underground. I see her knocking on my door...her kissing me. I start hitting the steering wheel repeatedly.

"Bikk, Bikk, Bikk, Bikk, Bikk!" I curse as I drive. What have I done? How could I allow myself to get attached to another human being? Haven't I learned by now nothing good can last forever? Almost everyone that has ever mattered to me has left me. Now Rowan?

For a moment my foot twitches, and I almost slam on the breaks, turn around and save her. But I don't. I can't save her even if I tried. I'd be killing me and Ash. Rowan made me promise that if anything happened to her I would save Ash. It's too late for her now...

Finally, we're in the outer circles. I pull over, and pull Ash out of the car. He's passed out and barely breathing. I run block after block with Ash slung over my shoulder. Once I think I've lost any Greenshirt who might be following me, I head to the Underground. Somehow, as I jog I feel hollow, hurt, in pain. I never wanted anything bad to happen to her, now bad things will. They'll torture her. Her poor, innocent, untouched mind.

She was so innocent. Too innocent for this world. Yet strong. She was so tiny compared to me. Her soft hands, her narrow shoulders, everything was just another thing about her that was too innocent. I wanted to protect her from this world, but I failed. I keep imagining her beautiful face, and it haunts me.

They'll kill her. Oh, Earth I can't imagine that! I can't imagine her warm body so lifeless and cold! Her red lips, blue and chapped. Her tan skin, pale and cold. I shake, not just because the physical strain of carrying Ash, but also from the emotional strain. I shake with emotion. Will Ash ever forgive me? Will Lark? But how is that even important when I might never forgive myself?

Time heals all wounds. I pray that isn't true. I've always thought there was something more painful than grief in that sentence. Time doesn't heal wounds. Forgetfulness does. As time goes on we forget, and we think that's comfort. In time I will forget what it feels like to kiss her, to fall asleep with her beside me, I will forget what her laugh sounds like. I will forget what her smile looks like. I will forget how soft her hands are, except for the finger tips. Her fingertips were callused. The details of her that I have engraved in my memory will fade, and she will be lost.

If I forget about her, the pain will go away, but that's not what I want. I don't want to be in pain for the rest of my life, I know that, but I don't want to forget. If I forget that almost means I didn't care about her. If I forget how do I know she was even real? I can't bare the thought of forgetting. I don't want to not care about her loss. I pray that time does not heal all wounds.

I take one last glance around me then duck into the alley with the grate in it. I kick aside the grate and drop Ash into the hole.

"Sorry Ash," I mumble, knowing I will have to kick his head when I go down. I wait about thirty seconds, then jump in after him, swinging the grate closed behind me. I take the exhilarating ride down the slide to clear my mind. Earth, I'm so numb. Yet, so hurt.

When I reach the end of the slide I don't kick Ash's head. I emerge from the slide and I see one of the guards pulled him out. His name is Lake.

"Hey! You're alive, you succeeded! I can't believe it. Where's Rowan?" Lake asks.

With a cold, blank expression, I turn to him and say, "She's gone."
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Never expect me to update this One Shots fanfic. This is on the back burner so it might take me like months to update. And honestly, that's fine with me because that's why I'm doing One Shots. Anyway, just fair warning y'all, I won't be updating this often. I'm focusing on my other fanfics.

As the prophecy foretold, have a good day.

...and thus, I die...