Swan Song

Shattered

I creep out slowly in the middle of the night. I had to go check on Linh.

This was all my fault. If I had just thought it through more carefully. If I had been smarter. None of this would have happened.

Linh's life wouldn't be in jeopardy.

I wouldn't have to endure the pressure of literally everything.

Fitz wouldn't be gone.

It's all my fault. All mine.

I felt the guilt layering up on my like thousands of bricks being placed on my shoulders.

I felt all my memories of Linh flickering then shattering. The time I first met her and Tam. The missions we went on together.

I felt all my memories of Fitz shattering. No! I couldn't let go of Fitz. I needed him to exist.

I clung on to my memories of Fitz as hard as I could, piecing them together as they fell apart, over and over again.

I felt all my thoughts breaking and shattering, turning into shards that pierced my mind.

No, Sophie, don't do this to yourself. Please. Sophie, it's not your fault. Sophie, you are not guilty. Please, Sophie, please. I can't lose you. I love you.

I hear Fitz's voice, filled with panic and desperation, whispering in my mind.

"What's the point? It's all my fault. You're gone. All of it is my fault." I screamed back, letting my tears spill out uncontrollably.

No, Sophie. No. Don't do this. Please. Sophie. I love you. I love you. I love you, Sophie.

"No. No! Don't love me. I don't deserve you. I'm guilty."

Sophie, please listen to me. It's not your fault. Everyone needs you. I need you.

"No one needs me. They all can defeat DarkCode without me. I was only holding them back." My tears spill out like hard rain.

No, Sophie. Please. You can't let the guilt shatter you. Everyone needs you. Listen to-

"No, Fitz. Please. Go find someone else to help. Love someone else. Tell the Black Swan to get the book, so you can come back. Tell them it was all my fault. Tell them to banish me to exile." I say while sobbing, tears flowing out of my eyes like a storm.

NO! SOPHIE! NO! Please, Sophie, believe me. It wasn't your fault, none of this is. It's all the DarkCode. Please, Sophie. You are the only person I will ever love. I love you, Sophie. I love you. Fitz's voice on the edge of a sob.

"I hope you can forgive me. I love you." My last thought, my most prized one, shattered and I was gone. 

P.S. Sorry this chapter is so short. We thought this cliffhanger would be perfect, plus we haven't updated in forever so we thought we should get it out ASAP.