This is a songfic set during TLC. HOlly's POV when Abbot stabs her. I know it's longer than it would take her to die in the book, but work with me. I'm working on the assumption that the mind slows everything down in order to prolong the moment of life. Warning: this is sad, and contains character death. Just in case you were wondering.
Skullduck: She's getting more morbid by the second. Liris, do a disclaimer.
Me: I own nothing. The characters and plot are Eoin Colfer's, and the song is 'Forget me not' by Lucie Silvas.
Forget Me Not
I feel the cold steel enter my chest, and all I can feel is pain. My vision flickers, and I hear more than feel the blade leave me. I'm too cold to feel more pain. Strange, seeing as we're in a volcano. I've heard this talked about before, and I know what's happening. Death comes to welcome me.
Forget me not I ask of you
Wherever your life takes you to
And if we never meet again
Think of me every now and then
I fall to the dust and dirt, coughing. It feels like it's splitting me in half. I always thought that death was supposed to be painless at the end. I guess that's just another one of those myths. My magic isn't working; I can see shades of red, but no blue. No sparks, just a lot of harsh red light. And even that is spiralling into blackness. I manage to form actual words, though the effort drains even more out of me. "Magic." I feel more than hear myself gasp it. There is a rumble from Abbot, but it's just noise, not words. I think I understand though. No help is coming.
We had just one day to recall
Now all I want is something more
Than just a fading memory
Left wondering what could have been
I can't die, they need me. If I die, so will everyone else. Number One, Quan, all the demons. Artemis. Artemis! If anyone can help, it's him. I manage to turn my head, ignoring the pain that flares up my spine like fire. I manage to say his name; at least I think I do. "Help me" I mutter. It's the loudest sound I can manage. He doesn't come. Is it because he won't, or because he can't? I shake the first option from my head. I won't believe it; if he could help me he would. He's like that now. I hope he stays like that, even if he can't help me. Maybe they'll be able to lift the island without me – Number One is very powerful according to Quan. Maybe they can still save the others, even if they can't save me.
Isn't it a shame that when timing's all wrong
You're doing what you never meant to
There's always something that prevents you
The pain is dissipating, but so is everything else. Sound is just a muted blur, though I know it must be roaring past my ears. There is a volcano, hundreds of demons, not to mention the warlocks chanting behind me somewhere, but I can't make any of it out. I can't help any more. All I can do is live my own life, for these last few seconds, at any rate. I dwell on those closest to me – Foaly, Mulch, Trouble and Artemis. Especially Artemis. I never allowed myself to think about the boy properly before, because it made me feel confused. Most of the time I'm not sure whether to stun him or hug him. Now I can think, because what can it hurt? What conclusions can I come to in the milliseconds I have left that will harm the situation? Or maybe it's not about conclusions – maybe it's about acknowledgement. My feelings for the boy are more than just friendly, aren't they? At least I can admit that much to myself before I go.
Well I believe in fate, it had to happen this way
But it always leaves me wondering whether
In another life we'd be together
We should feel lucky we can say
We've always got yesterday
I can't tell him, but I think maybe he already knows. I focus the little willpower I have left on my eyes, and for a brief second the world comes in to focus. I can see Artemis, kneeling in front of the bomb, wiping at his eyes. He is crying for me – he knows there is nothing he can do. I don't mind, which surprises me. If he could have helped me, he would have.
And as I leave it all behind
You're still emblazoned in my mind
And for that very special day
Nobody loved me in that way
Again, my vision goes dark, but this time I let it. My thoughts float around now, out of my control. Foaly, Mulch, Trouble, Root, my parents, they all float across my consciousness. Then Artemis again. I feel my heart thump, trying desperately to keep the blood circulating. There is not enough left in me now to circulate, it lies pooled on the ground around me. Red blood on red earth and red dust. Invisible. As in life, so in death.
Forget me not I ask of you
Wherever your life takes you to
And if we never meet again
Think of me every now and then
I know that Artemis will get off the island, out of limbo and back to his family. I don't know how I know this, but I trust in it. It gives me the strength to reach out to the darkness, to allow it to embrace me and carry me away. Perhaps I will see my parents again, and the Commander. I would like that. I hope that Artemis will be happy. It was not his fault that this happened, for once. I feel my heart beat once more, then give up the battle. I have to go now. Goodbye, Artemis. Please, don't forget me.
Forget me not I ask
I ask of you
The song has a very haunting melody, which I think fits the tempo of the fic quite well. There WILL be more to this, but I'm not certain what just yet. How about I put it to a vote: either more songfics from differnt character's POV throughout the books, or a continuation of this storylone where Holly stays dead.
Please, let me know what you think/want. Your opinions mean a lot to us.
Love Liris and Skullduck
xxx