The Ice Warrior

Chapter 39

Silv was not ready to say goodbye to her grandmother. She didn't care how long of a life she had and how many things she experienced. Silv didn't believe that it was Rose's time to die. It couldn't be.

Silv refused to just sit idle and watch the life drain out of Rose's eyes. It felt like if she allowed herself to do that, she would finally break from all the bad things that had happened to her.

Wasn't it enough that she lost her friend, her place in the world for which she worked so hard? Did she have to lose the one person who always stood by her?

"Viper, I mean, Rose. What happened?" Joe said, coming to kneel beside Rose while Silv tried to keep the pressure on the wound.

"For once, I wasn't fast enough, my dear friend," Rose said with a smile to her old friend.

"Are you..." Justin started to say but was unable to finish his sentence.

"Yes, my dear boy, I am dying. There is nothing that can be done for me now, but I do wish I can see the rest of the boys one last time. Unless you think it would be too much of a shock for them. To see me die?" Rose asked Joe.

"No, not at all. Justin, go get them!" Joe said as Justin ran off to find his brothers.

"There must be something we can do!" Silv yelled desperately.

"My dear girl, it's already too late for me. What you can do is bring these people to safety," Rose said.

"You know I'll do that, but there must be something we can do for you! We are on an alien ship, for crying out loud!" Silv screamed.

"Viper!" Jack said, running towards her.

Seeing Rose's condition, tears started streaming down Jack's face while he did his best to keep them inside. Still, while he gently hugged Rose, careful of the wound, a few of his tears fell on her face.

"I am sorry, I shouldn't have let you see this, but I was selfish enough to want to see you one last time," Rose said.

"You'll be okay. Won't she?" Jack asked Jamie, who came to hug Rose as well.

Jamie stood there, unable to utter the truth they all knew. His words were caught in his throat as he didn't want to lie to his little brother but telling the truth was impossible.

"Evanescence, there must be something you can do for her," Silv said to the ship out loud as she tried to convey the same idea with her thoughts.

Seconds later, they were surrounded by lush green fields, the sun warming their skins for the first time in Silv's life. The scent of flowers in the air was both overwhelming and utterly beautiful.

"What's happening?" Silv asked, seeing as Rose's wounds were not healing.

"All Evanescence can do," Wir Eis said, appearing next to them on the beautiful sunny meadow.

"What is she doing? She is not curing Rose, then what's the point of all this?" Silv asked, frustrated.

"She is...giving me what I need the most. My dream," Rose said.

As she said that, a rose appeared in her hand, and Rose had just enough strength left to lift it to her face and inhale the beautiful fragrance.

"Thank you, Evanescence, you have given me what I need the most. To see the world once more as it was when I was young. I can die in peace," Rose said, smiling brightly.

"Arthur?" Rose said.

"Yes, my mistress," Arthur said.

"Transfer primary command to Silv," Rose said.