Broken Visions

Chapter 31

When I land, it’s soft and I’m breathless. I’m on a hill with my back to the Keeper’s castle, and in front of me, the lake and the trees, crisp with ice and frost, the water frozen, the sky cloudy and grey. And Death Walkers are everywhere.

My dad comes walking down the hill toward the lake. He’s still around twenty but he’s wearing the same silver robe he was wearing in the Room of Forbidden. His face is solemn, his violet eyes fixed on the lake with worry shadowing them. He doesn’t seem to notice me as he passes by, so I follow after him, figuring I’m in vision form.

“Where is it?” he mutters as he halts at the icy shore of the lake.

Death Walkers creep out from the trees, their black cloaks dragging across the snow, their yellow eyes reflecting against the ice. I shiver as the ground quivers with the beat of their march and when Stephan emerges from the forest, not too far off from where we stand. He has on a black cloak with the hood over his head and his eyes seem to light up in delight as he takes in the winter wonderland. He motions at someone behind him and out steps a man, much shorter than Stephan, wearing a cloak.

“Demetrius." My breath fogs out in front of my face as it laces with the arctic air.

“There it is,” my dad mumbles, staring at something near the shoreline just in front of his feet, a blur of colors and shapes.

I focus like I’ve been taught to do and the colors and shapes alter into two figures that rise up from the ground, clutching onto each other for dear life.

“Oh my God.” My heart stops at the sight I’ve seen before. Many times. In fact, pretty much every time I pass out.

I throw my hand over my mouth and start to back away. This is what my father erased to create a new path for the world. This is what was going to happen? Alex and I were going to die to save the world. I painfully understand now, what this means and what it means if I choose the right path.

I watch in torment as Alex brushes the vision form of me’s hair from my face. “It’ll be okay,” he whispers softly.

“How do you know?” she says, tears streaming from her eyes.

“Because I do.” Then he kisses her with so much passion that it electrifies the air. He keeps kissing her, his hands traveling all over her body as she grips onto his shoulders, fully welcoming the kiss, yet she’s scared. The electricity intensifies and then finally Alex pulls back and hugs her against him tightly, whispering something in her ear that makes her skin drain of color. But then she says something else that looks like it means everything to her. And as she buries her face into his chest, a light brightening around the two of them, she appears content.

I shield my eyes, trying to see what’s happening. I’ve never gotten past this part in my dreams, but deep down I know why. It’s the same reason why when Alex looked in the future mirror, he only saw light.

Because it’s the end for both of us.

“This is what happens right before the portal is about to open… the two of them stop it from happening, by sacrificing their own lives?” my father whispers under his breath as the light dims away. The sun shines brightly from the sky and the snow is melted, the land soaked with the afterglow. The Death Walkers, Stephan, and Demetrius are gone and ash is scattered across the ground and floating through the air. Everything is burned except for Alex and the vision form of me sprawled on the grass, our fingers intertwined as we lay side by side, dead.

My father shakes his head, tears rolling down his cheek. “I’m so sorry for letting this happen to you.” He steps toward our bodies, crouches down, and reaches for us, preparing to erase us like I did to myself on the shore.

I start to sob uncontrollably. “This is what I have to put back,” I choke. “I have to let this happen. Let Alex and me die, so that the world doesn’t freeze over and everyone dies.”

It’s the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make. Either I can walk away and let the world head to its frozen death or sacrifice Alex and mine’s life so everyone can live. How can I do it? How can I kill Alex and myself?

“I can’t do this,” I whisper through my tears.

But as my father’s hand hovers above Alex, I realize what kind of person I am, a life changing moment that will define me forever.

My hand trembles as I reach for my father. “I’m so sorry,” I whisper then place my hand on his shoulder. He vanishes with a flicker and I collapse to the grass and cry until all the energy drains out of me. Then I curl up into a ball and for once, wish I was still emotionally numb.