An eternity of lightning

The ending.

Although there is a huge gap from where I left off, and where this comes in, I decided that I should let people at least know how it ends, because I'm not going to finish the story, lol. I'm an awful person. 

Astrild closed her eyes, but only for a moment, and suddenly she felt Bernard beside her. Her eyes fluttered open, staring to the right of her, alarmed. When her eyes rested there, she was relieved to only see Crystal standing there, alone . . . and unprotected. 

Astrild stared into the child’s eyes, and saw something flicker; perhaps a light of recognition, or simply hatred for a monster like Astrid. But it’s not my fault I am a monster, she thinks. throwing all of her blame to the child before her. 

“Astrild, you don’t have to do this.” the girl spoke, but the voice was not hers. Her eyes glowed with a familiar flame, and Astrild stumbled back, grasping for something to steady herself, but when that fails, she hits the ground. 

“I meant to destroy you the first time.” the eyes of the crystal child are wild now, burning with the intensity that Bernard obtained the night he’d left her for dead. “But failed. I didn’t want this life for you, Astrild.” Crystal moves forward, touching Astrild’s leg comfortingly, until she pulls away in fear. 

“I didn’t know that when I tried to save you, I would doom you as well.” Crystals eyes-no, Bernard’s eyes are watering. 

“You could’ve let me go . . .Everything would’ve been better. I watched my baby die, and be born again, and die again. I watched you die, and waited for you to come back, thinking maybe . . .” 

“Revenge is not the way to save your soul, Astrild.” Crystal shakes her head, as Astrild stifles a sob. 

“Astrild.” Crystal says, Bernard’s voice ringing in her ears. “I’m sorry, but you can’t take this life away because of your past pain. I know of your murders, and that can be forgiven, you just have to let these . . .Kids help you let go of the past.” 

Crystal helps Astrild from the ground, as she is a lot stronger than a six-year old should be. “I’m going to save you from another eternity of lightning.” 

Astrild approaches the fire where Chocolate and Miles wait, Crystal’s in the lead, slowly transforming back into herself. “I’m ready.” Astrild says, bowing her head in a position of respect as she’d been so used to in her first life. 

As the ceremony begins, Miles grasps his little sister in his arms, praying that this experience wouldn’t scar her for life. 

Chocolate stands over Astrild’s still body, sprinkling herbs and minerals over her, softly changing something in an ancient language. 

Astrild’s eyes flutter open vigorously, and it appears like she’s gasping for air; for life. 

Chocolate leans to her, whispering in a sweet tone, “Relax, love. It will be over soon.” As Astrild continued to thrash, Chocolate continues to chant almost in a careless manner. Crystal begins to cry, begging her to stop as Astrild begins to scream, and Chocolate continues. 

Suddenly; everything stops. Crystal is quiet, waiting for something to happen; for a cue to start crying again. Chocolate is quiet, standing next to Astrild’s body. And Astrild is quiet; deathly quiet and still. 

Slowly, she begins gasping. She chokes and coughs, she inhales and looks around her. “Am I . . .?” 

“Not yet.” replies Chocolate, her voice slippery, her words like turpentine. 

“You are mortal now, but you are not safe yet.” And she begins whispering again, and the wind picks up as Astrild closes her eyes and sits up with a content look on her face. Soon, she is glowing with a radiance so gorgeous, that Miles cannot look away. 

When she opens her eyes, he sees her happiness; contentment. She lays against the grass, closing her eyes again, and breathing in the smell of nature. The sun is rising, and she opens her eyes again, her eyes glowing green, and a smile spreading across her face. 

“Thank you.” she says to Chocolate eyes wide and grateful, as she takes a dagger from the interior of her boot, and walks out of viewing distance. Moments later, they all heard the final scream of Astrild, and bow their heads in respect. 

One hundred and thirty four years later. 

“Mrs. Jackson, congratulations. It’s a baby girl.” the nurse says, smiling as she hands the new mother her child. 

“Thank you.” She say, smiling into the face of her baby, removing the blanket wrapped around the infant’s head to reveal ebony hair, and smiles as the girl’s green eyes stare up into her mothers face. 

And the girl named Astrild is given a second chance.