Lovers

Chapter 3

(Y/N) POV
Darkness... that's all I could see. A black empty void, yet I didn't feel fear. Instead I felt at peace .... I felt safe. The blackness was like a warm blanket on a cold winter night.
I sat up, looking down I saw blackness as well. I could feel my stomach lurch, my mind trying to comprehend if I was falling or if I was on solid ground.
I tore my gaze from the floor, looking around. Trying to find a source of light anywhere.
"Why are you here?" A child's voice echoed across the darkness. I turned around to see ... myself but as a child. My ... her red eyes staring into mine with confusion.
"You shouldn't be here yet." She continued, cocking her head slightly to the side.
      I did the same asking, "What do you mean? I don't understand?"
      "It's not your time." Was all she said, ignoring my question. She then look down for a moment, as if thinking, then looked back up at me. "You are lost."
      "I'm sorry?" I responded, more confused.
      She turned and begin to walk away. After a couple of paces she stopped and turned her head. "Come on. We don't have all day." She begin walking forward, with her hands behind her back.
'What sort of dream is this?' I thought hesitant to follow her. Then flashes appeared in my mind... memories. Ryder, Reich, America.... gun shot, pain. Oh yea... that. I focused on my younger self.
'She must be here to help... or to show my life from beginning to end. I can trust myself... right?' I thought, jumbling up sentences inside my head. I could hardly think clearly in this situation. Even my own thoughts were confusing me.
      I then shook my head, jogging towards my younger self to catch up. I slowed to a walk once I was close behind her.
      She didn't speak, not even a glance towards me, she just kept walking. Her eyes focused straight ahead, her strides confident. She really is my younger self.
      I remember that time. It was so simple yet frustrating at the same time. I never understood the purpose of relationships or really joy. I used to see it as a distraction, the task ahead always being more important.
       "Stop." My younger voice commanded, snapping out of my thoughts. I look at her for a moment before looking ahead, seeing a single red door. My eyes widened, I know that door.
      I glared at my younger self, "What is the meaning of this?"
      She simply looked at me with a blank look. "Past this door, there will be three trials. Each trial will test you in every way, shape, and form. But be careful... one wrong move can result in your death." She said, gesturing to the door.
I took a cautious step forward, "What if I choose not to participate in the trials?"
"Then you will be stuck in this state forever. Neither alive nor dead." My younger self answered, her voice beginning to have an echo effect. "Good luck (Y/N)." Was all she said, before fading away.
"Wait! Come back! What is my first trial!?" I called out, but she was already gone. I let out a small sigh, "Who knew I was good speaking in riddles."
I look back at the familiar red door, my stare hardened. I walk up to the door, placing my hand on the knob. I took a deep breath in and out. Preparing myself for what will show up behind this door.
Then opened it, I took a step into the room. But I then collapse to the ground, feeling tiredness take over me.
I shot open my eyes, wide awake. I look around to see where I was expecting to see the black void. But instead ... I'm in my room. Was everything that just happened with Ryder all a dream?
I look down at myself, seeing no bruises or bandages. I let out a sigh of relief, it was all just a nightmare.
I felt joy spread across my features, jumping up out of bed. I look at the time on my phone to see it was around eight in the morning. North should be up by now!
Man, It felt like I haven't seen them in years. I ran out of the door screaming out, "Hey North!" I run to the stairs looking down into the living room, expecting to see North. However, there was no one there.
"North?" I mumbled out, my smile turning into a frown. I walk down stairs in to the living room, looking around. "North!" I called out again. No answer.
I shrugged, maybe he was still asleep. I begin to look around for Soviet, knowing he must be awake as well around this time. "Soviet!" I called out for the fifth time. Still getting no answer.
I walk back into the living room, more confused than ever. Where could they have gone? They don't go anywhere without telling me... that I know of anyway. Who knows if they ever snuck out at night to do god knows what.
I feel something slither onto my feet, I look down seeing Echo looking back up at me. She flicked her tongue in and out. I pick her up saying, "Hey Echo, do you know where our countries went?"
She gave me a blank look in return, then just wrapped around one of my arms. "No huh. Me neither."
"America! Russia! Phil!" I begin to call out the other country names. I doubt they are awake around this time ... but it's worth a shot.
"Sis? What are you screaming about?" I froze, my eyes widening. I turn around, looking up towards the banister. I look over the black haired man, his tired blue eyes gleamed with confusion, and his (s/c) skin could only be seen on his face and arms as he wore sweatpants and a T-shirt.
"Hunter." I stutter out, tears forming.
Hunter noticed this, as the tiredness in his eyes seemed to disappear as alarm replaced it. He ran down the stares getting to me immediately, "Hey are you ok? You look as if you seen a ghost."
      I reached out and touched his chest, he felt real. "You ... are really here." I said, looking into his eyes.
      Hunter gave me a confused look, "Um... yeah of course I am. Where else would I be?"
      I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him in for a hug, crying into his shoulder. Hunter stumbled back a few paces, wrapping his arms around my waist.
      "Hey, hey easy. I'm still a bit sore from working out yesterday." He said with a chuckle. I balled a part of his shirt as I clenched my hand into a fist.
      Once I was done crying I pulled away, wiping my tears away with the back of my hand. "You good?" Hunter asks, his tone holding worry.
       "Yeah, yeah I'm good. Um... what's today's date again?" I responded sniffling a little. Maybe everything was a dream... Hunter's death, taking over the business, loosing all my friends... meeting the countries.
      "Um, it's June 14 20xx? Today you have that interview with the zoo?" Hunter answered, seeming slightly unsure.
      My heart sank, today is the day. The day he dies... the day I will never see him again. But... I could warn him! I could stop it all from happening. I was about to open my mouth to speak, till I heard a phone ringing.
      I heard Hunter sigh, "Be right back." He walks away, heading towards the kitchen. Oh right, mother calls him about something, he never told me what though. All I know is that he wasn't very happy.
      I begin to think, should I tell him? Of course the answer would be yes but... what would be the consequences. One I wouldn't have known that my friends were actually fake friends, I would have never been close to Benjamin as I am now, I most likely wouldn't have met the countries... and his mission wouldn't be complete. I, finally, was able to feel true emotion, was able to blush or even have butterflies in my stomach. Hunter always wanted me to feel that, and I have but... not with him around.
      I can't change what will happen, if I stop the person from killing him now, then they will just try again and again until they are successful. He would be constantly looking over his back, moving from place to place, be suspicious of everyone... even his best friend Benjamin.
      I don't want him to live like that for the rest of his life. Besides... I love him and he is at peace now. Watching over me from above, he's probably with dad.
      "I'm sorry brother... but it must be this way." I said out loud. Then there was a bright flash. I look down, seeing his dead body.
      I kneeled down, tears flowing down my cheeks. I smiled softly, "Rest in peace brother." I then see a faded figure in front of me, smiling at me. "I'll see you in the next life."
      "I'll be waiting little sister." The figure said, before disappearing into fog. I then notice something different this time, in the pool of blood was a two diamond earring with a gold rim.
      It looked familiar to me, like I've seen it before somewhere.
      Before I could inspect it further the whole room turned to mist, fading out of existence. "You have completed the first trial." I hear my young voice echo.
      I was once again in the dark, pitch black, room. "I don't understand... how was this a trial? All I did was relive a painful memory." I said, looking around.
      "That is true." I whirl around to see not only my younger self, but my brother as well.
      "Hunter?" I whisper out.
      "This trial had to do with acceptance. You had to accept the fact that some things can't be changed ... no matter how hard you try. They will also lead to what you are trying to avoid." Hunter informed, his monotone type voice sounding strange to me.
      "And you have completed this trial. Rather quickly than expected might I add." My younger self said with a raised brow.
      "Now it is time for you to move on to the second trial." Hunter said, holding out a stick towards me. "Take it." He ordered, glancing down at the stick then back up to me as a gesture.
      I reached out for the stick, grabbing hold of it. Then the ground below me disappeared, the black ceiling above changing to a blue sky with white clouds.
      I let out a terrified scream as I felt myself falling through air. The wind in my ears sounding like having your car window rolled down on a 80 mile per hour highway, hardly able to hear my scream.
      I then landed in a tree, feeling branches break from my weight, some just bending away. The tree was able to slow me down, but not enough, as I landed back first on the green grass, knocking the air out of my lungs.
      I sat up, taking in a breath of air and letting it out slowly. Hoping to slow down my beating heart. I notice it was a maple tree, as some of the leaves fell down on top of me, recognizing the large five pointed leaf anywhere.
      I stood up on my feet, brushing the dirt off my pants. They couldn't have brought me here by just waking me up next to the tree or something? But no, they had to send me here by making fall through the sky.
      "(Y/N)!" I heard a child scream out. I look over to see who called my name to see a younger version of my brother running up to a younger version of myself sitting on a chair on the porch.
      "What is it Hunter?" My younger self asked, looking up from her book.
      "Look what I found!" Hunter exclaimed, holding up a small stick, the same stick the full grown Hunter was holding in the pitch black space.
      "Cool." My younger self replies, turning back to look at her book. I notice Hunter frown, before he just shakes his head and decides to sit next to her.
      I took a couple steps closer, staying behind the bushes to make sure I'm not seen. Wait a second... I remember this. This is where we caught mom and dad arguing about something ... but I can't remember what. All I can remember about it is them mentioning my therapist appointment.
      I then hear something break from inside the house, so did the other two as they stopped chatting and look behind them towards the house. They stood up and ran in, my younger self simply speed walking.
      A bright flash filled my vision, then as my eyes adjusted I see myself in the living room of my old house. "This comes from your side of the family! You should know how to deal with someone like her!" I heard my father shout. Oh right... they were arguing about me.
      "As if I know how to deal with it! It's been ages since the last sociopath in the family!" My mother argued.
      "Well you can't just drop all the responsibility on me! She is just as much your daughter as she is mine!" My father growled. Me- My younger self and younger Hunter watching the full exchange from inside the living room.
      "Mom? Dad?" Hunter said, stepping towards them cautiously.
      Their attention snapped towards Hunter and my younger self, seeming to realize our presence. My mother smiled sheepishly, "Oh hello Hunter dear, what is it?"
      "What's going on?" Hunter asks, looking between mother and father. I watched as father ran a hand through his (h/c) locks in frustration as my mother seemed unsure of what to say. 
      "Hunter, this is none of your concern. Take your sister and go outside." My father said, sounding frustrated.
      "You were talking about (Y/N) weren't you?" Hunter asked.
      "You heard your father. Run along now." Mother said with a strained smile.
      "What were you saying about sissy!? She's not a monster!" Hunter defended, not moving from his place.
      Oh yea, we were standing here for a good hour listening to the argument between the two... I don't remember who called me a monster though... mother probably. How far was I flashed forward? What happens around this time again?
      They started arguing a little more, as I get lost in thought. Trying to remember what was going to happen... was is this trial even about?
      I was snatched out of my thoughts as mother snatched my brother by the arm squeezing him tightly. 'Oh now I remember. This is where I felt anger for the first time and defended Hunter!' I thought in excitement. 'Although in the end I ended up getting punished in almost every way possible... it was still worth it though.'
       I looked down at my younger self, waiting for her to lash out. But she simply stared on, watching as they argue and mother's grip tightened. My father trying to get her to let him go.
      I tried to give myself a little nudge forward, but my hand passed right through her. Guess I practically a ghost... but there is another thing I can try.
      I bent forward, whispering in her ear "Look how they are treating him." She seemed to hear me, as her eyes narrowed. "Isn't that unfair." I continued, a triumphant smirk on my face, knowing this would work.
      "He defended you, told them how idiotic they were being, and instead of owning up to their mistake ... they take their anger out on him." I whispered.
I notice my younger self clench her fist, grinding her teeth as well. "Leave him alone!" My younger self shouted in anger, surprising my mother and my father. Including my mother who looked at my younger self in surprise, then a smile spread across his face.
"He did nothing wrong! It was you two who were having a dumb argument!" She continued to shout, glaring at the both of them.
Then everything disappeared again, fading into mist. The last thing I saw, was my father holding a smile, trying to hold back a laugh.
I saw myself in the dark room once more, looking around waiting for my younger self and my older brother to show up, telling me I passed the trial. Instead I heard a dark chuckle, echoing around the darkness.
I look around wildly, before my eyes landed on Ryder. His green eyes sparkled with excitement, a sick smirk spread across his face. I froze in fear, my eyes widening, my body beginning to tremble.
"What's wrong dear, you look as if you've seen a ghost." Ryder said with a chuckle. The a gun shot fired, I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder causing me to stumble back.
I look over at my shoulder, seeing a bullet would, the shirt beginning to get soaked in blood. "Ops... finger slipped." Ryder said with a shrug.
I placed my hand on the wound, putting pressure on it to try and stop the bleeding. I look back over at Ryder in fear, as he aimed his gun at my head.
He then fired again, I stepped to the side quickly, missing the bullet by a millimeter. He fired again and again, I kept moving, on slip could get me killed.
He was then all of a sudden in front of me, striking me across the face with a closed fist. I was knocked to the ground, skidding across it a little.
"Remember. This is your mind. Your playground. You choose the rules." Said a voice that sounded like my fathers.
"Get up (Y/N)!" Shouted my brother.
"Show him no fear!" Shouted my younger self.
"Fight back!" All of them shouted loudly.
I look back up at Ryder from the ground, he was smiling at me. A sickening smile... a triumphant smile, like a predator cornering its prey.
I pushed back my fear, showing him only anger. I stood up, feeling something in my hand. I look down seeing a silver sword with a red holder.
Ryder bursted out laughing, "You brought a knife to a gun fight!?" I stood up straight, showing confidence, ignoring the pain in my shoulder. "Oh this will be fun!" He said with a smirk, as he aimed his gun once more.
I stood in the fighting stance America taught me, getting ready to dodge. He then begin to fire, I zigzagged, preventing him from getting a good shot. "Stop moving so much." He grumbled, firing more rounds.
Once I was close enough, I move my sword upwards, slicing the top of his hand holding the gun, causing him to drop it. I then used my foot to kick him back, moving him away from the gun. He stumbled backwards but regained his footing, I used this small chance to kick the gun far away so he will have a slim chance of getting it back.
"You bi-" I cut him off by slicing his arm, taking advantage of his distracted state. Although I was aiming for his chest but he moved away in time.
Now he was on the defensive, as I was on offense. Trying to strike him down, swinging my sword aiming for weak points on the human body while also searching for an opening.
I then got an idea, I acted as if I was aiming for his arm once more, causing him to move to the side to dodge. However, I lowered my sword, striking him across the leg. Ryder crumbled to the ground, onto his knees, griping his leg.
I then pointed my sword at his neck saying, "It's over Ryder."
South's POV
I was watching over (Y/N), waiting for any signs of her waking as the others went to fetch some food.
I was beginning to get bored when all of a sudden, I notice some movement. My eyes widened, uncrossing my arms, stepping closer to the window. Maybe I was seeing things.
Then her body shifted, as if she was trying to get comfortable. My eyes sparkled in excitement, as I quickly pulled out my phone, fumbling it in my hands before dropping it.
I quickly picked it back up and dialed North's number quickly. I held it up to my ear, hearing it ring a few times before North picked up. "South I already told you, I'll get -"
"I think (Y/N)'s going to wake up soon!" I interrupted him.
"What!?" North exclaimed over the phone, sounding surprised and joyful at the same time.
"She just started to move!" I told him, practically screaming into the phone now.
"Alright we're on our way! Keep an eye on her and get one of the nurses to fetch Grey!" North told me, before hanging up.
I smiled, quickly looking around for a nurse. I can't wait to see her smile again!
(Y/N)'s POV
A shadow fell on Ryder's eyes. I kept the sword on his throat, waiting for him to disappear like the other times. Before I could even react, I felt something sharp dig deep into my leg, a smug look formed on his face.
I screamed out in pain, as I stumbled back slightly. Ryder then launched himself upward, jumping on top of me, shoving me to the ground. He knocked the sword out of my hand, then pinned me to the ground with his hand wrapped around my throat, cutting off my air way.
Out of instinct I begin to claw at his arm and hand, trying to get him to let go.
South's POV
Grey came around the corner, his eyes full of hope. "Is she waking?" He asked, walking up to me.
"She was moving around a bit, I think she might be." I told him, looking back at (Y/N) with a bright smile on my face.
Then a loud beeping sound came from inside the room, seeing the heart meter going wild.
"She's going into cardiac arrest!" Grey shouted, running into the room. He begin to do CPR, as nurses begin running around, some going into the room as well.
(Y/N)'s POV
His grip around my throat tightened, he grabbed hold of the knife in my leg and yanked it out. My mouth gapped open in a silent scream.
Ryder chuckled, "You know ... I've been waiting for this since the day you threw me into that jail cell."
My sight began to blur, my eye lids growing heavy. My grip starting to loosen around his arm.
South's POV
I began to chew on my finger nails, watching them work in anticipation. I heard running coming from down the hall, I didn't bother to look, knowing who it probably is.
"What's going on!?" America questioned, standing next to me.
"She went into cardiac arrest." I answered, not taking my eyes off of the event playing out.
"But I thought you said she was waking up!?" North growled.
"I thought she was! She was moving around seconds ago!" I protested.
Then her heart line went flat, inconstant beep now sounding. "Give me the defibrillator!" I heard Grey shout. A couple of nurses rolled up a cart.
Grey exposed her chest but luckily one of the nurses was blocking the view of showing anything.
We watched as Grey put two sort of pads on two spots, one little below the shoulder and the other diagonal on her lower ribs. He placed two shockers saying, "Ready? Clear!"
Then electricity shot through her body, causing her to bend upward slightly.
(Y/N)'s POV
Before darkness could overcome, I felt a bolt of electricity run through me. I then felt the weight of Ryder off me, the grip around my throat gone. I gasped for breath coughing and sputtering.
After a while, I was able to regain full vision. I stood up, keeping most of my weight on one leg. I then look across to see Ryder sprawled out on the ground, electricity sparking off of him.
I limped over to pick up my sword, then limped over towards him. He then tries to sit up, but I balled up a fist and strike him across the face knocking him back to the ground.
I then point my sword at him once more. He glares up at me saying, "You can't get rid of me that easily." He then smirks, "I'll always come back."
"You may be right ... but one thing is for certain." I then dig my sword through his heart. "I don't fear you anymore." I growled, as he disappeared into mist.
I then turn to see my father, Hunter, and my younger self smiling at me. I smiled back giving them a nod of thanks.
They then fade away, then I see a bright light ahead, the sound of beeping and what sounds like breathing coming from it. The smell of sanitize and cleanest reach my nose.
I let out a sigh, smiling happily. I began to limp towards the light. The old (Y/N) is now gone and a new one has arisen.

     Hello guys! See told you I would make up for the previous chapter. If there are a lot of mistakes I am terribly sorry, I was writing all of this is one sitting, I reread most and skimmed the rest, hopefully I fixed most of the mistakes ... hopefully.
      Also I'll try to publish again before hurricane Dorian hits but don't know if I can but I will try.
     See you next time fellow readers!