With her arms tight around his shoulders, and his around her waist, Audrey felt at home. She couldn't believe how easily she had fit into her life in Haven over the past year, and consequently into Nathan's. He was her partner, her best friend, and so much more. The thought of leaving Haven, leaving him, was nearly unbearable. An ache settled into her midsection and she placed a hand lightly to her side. She felt like had to physically hold herself together. After what she was about to do, Nathan wouldn't be around anymore to pick up the pieces like he was so good at.
Well, actually, her pieces wouldn't be around anymore to pick up.
Nathan's eyebrow furrowed, reading the pain on her face. "Are you okay?" He pulled back slightly and grabbed her hand. His fingertips brushed her stomach and Audrey's mind flashed to an image of herself with skin glowing, her stomach large and round, and Nathan cooing to their future child.
Audrey found herself unable to speak and her eyes fluttered shut. She couldn't tell him of the life they had created. She was sure that if she went into the barn, he (or she, although Audrey was sure it was James coming back to her) would not survive. It had happened too late, too close to the Hunter. She couldn't stand for Nathan to grieve twice as much. He was having a hard enough time letting her go as is.
"Parker?"
Audrey cupped her lover's chin in her free hand and, ignoring the concerned faces of their friends around them, pulled his mouth to hers. This was nothing like their first timid kiss. This kiss was like fireworks—beautiful, sparkling, and burning all at once. It took everything left in her to pull away.
"Goodbye, Nathan." She whispered, sliding from his grasp.
Fear flashed across his face. "Audrey!"
She hurried to the barn door, yanked it open, and forced herself inside before she could change her mind. She could hear the worried shouts of her friends behind her but once the door slammed shut, it all disappeared.
"Well Ms. Parker," a deep voice spoke, "Are you ready to go?"
Audrey looked up at the tall, dark figure. The man she once knew at Agent Howard, although she no longer knew what to call him. He was her guide throughout her various lives; her warden in this barn. With one last glance around the empty white space, she walked up to him. "Yes, I am."
"Are you ready to sacrifice yourself for Haven, for your friends?"
Audrey felt as if she had heard this before. And perhaps she had—Agent Howard, or whoever he was, had asked her this every time. The magic of the barn only worked if she went willingly. As her mind opened to the barn, she began to remember. Figures appeared all around her. Her past selves, her previous lives, were becoming one with her and the barn.
"Yes." She stated firmly. The word echoed throughout the room as the memories of all of the women before her chimed in as well.
"For the Troubles, for Haven, I sacrifice my time as Audrey Parker, I sacrifice my love, and I sacrifice my unborn child."
For a moment, Agent Howard's eyes went wide and his form shimmered. "Child?"
Whatever he meant to say next fell away as he disappeared from existence, no longer needed. The forms around Audrey remained for another few seconds, and then blinked away one by one, until one was left standing.
The woman had brown wavy hair and was wearing a black corset and a maroon cloak. Somehow, Audrey knew that her name was Mara and that she had been the first of them all. Mara pursed her lips angrily as she glared at Audrey.
"What have you done?" She sneered before disappearing.
Audrey wrapped her arms around herself and looked around. Large cracks ran up the walls of the once pristine room. A bright light began shining through them. The ancient Mi'kmaq magic exploded, pulsing outwards. Audrey's mind went blank.
The force spread like an earthquake, rocking the whole town. Those nearest the barn were thrown to the ground. Moments later Nathan sat up and looked around the clearing, seeing nothing but the grass that he could feel prickling beneath him.
Will this be a one-shot? Will it be a multi-chapter story? Only time (and your reviews) will tell!