Darkness is all that could be found in the Black Forest. Had it been her first time, she would have been frightened. This time it wasn't too bad, the blackness still shocking, but less so because she wasn't alone. Will was beside her and she grasped him to get her footing.
"You alright?" he questioned.
"yes," she mumbled, "which way first? lead the way."
He took her hand and went right. She could barely see in all the darkness. Uncertain of how Will found his way around, there was soon a bright spot and she knew they were approaching Boro Grove. She could still smell the faint odor, the want to stay and be happy. She had known better this time, and clenched Will's hand tighter as they bypassed it. Soon the light was behind us and the darkness engulfed them again. They seemed to walk for hours. Will's hand had gotten balmy, and she sensed his nervousness.
"Will, do you know exactly where it is located or are we just wandering about like two blind people?"
Will halted. She instantly regretted her words because of Will's state.
"Almost. I know it as if it were yesterday-"
Alice tripped over a stray vine and scraped her knee.
"Blast... how could I be so daft?" She said as she stood up.
The gash was pretty deep, and left her a little light headed.
She wobbled a little and tried to find a place to sit.
As she sat, Will held her upright.
"It's going to need to be bandaged, Alice."
He ripped off a piece of his shirt and cleaned her wound with some of the water they had brought along.
"I'm sorry" She replied, for more than just falling, but for being insensitive earlier.
"No... don't be." He understood and hugged her.
They sat in darkness for a while so Alice could regain her strength.
"I never thought I would be doing this, I promised myself I would never. Yet, here I am with you," Will finally said breaking the silence.
"Will, you will be alright. I promise. I will be here for you when you finally decide to put it back in and I won't let Anastasia get to you. It will hurt at first, but in time you will be able to move past her- To love again and it will be worth it."
"That's what I'm afraid of," he said under his breath, "you feeling a bit better? We are nearly there" he asked, quickly changing the subject.
When they had reached the V shaped tree. Will wasted no time and started digging, and Alice helped him. A few feet down they felt a hard top, which had to have been the box.
Will tugged it out from underneath the loose earth and stared at it.
They both sat next to each other and Will held the box in his hands.
"Are you going to open it?" Alice asked.
Will stared at the box. He could hear the thump of the heart. All of his pain and troubles were all too close. This was I bad idea. This would cripple him.
"Would you do it?" He asked.
Alice gingerly took the box from Knave and sat across from him.
Either their eyes were adjusting to the darkness, or it seemed to get brighter where they were. She could make out Will's face. He looked tormented.
She held his hand, and opened the box.
For an instant, there was a flicker of red glowing light that emanated from the heart itself, but soon faded into a pinkish glow.
They stared at the organ. It was odd, seeing it there in the box, where it didn't belong.
"Can I?" she asked.
He nodded.
Alice lifted the heart out of the box.
"Keep it safe, Alice. I'm trusting it with you. I may not want it in my chest, but without it, I am dead."
"You're not going to put it back in?"
"Bloody hell, Alice! not tonight!"
"but why not? this is what we came for. What difference will it make now from a few days?"
Will knew. He wanted only to put the pain away for another day to deal with. He liked knowing it was safe with Alice. She had gotten his heart back for him before and he never put it back... he couldn't. He was terrified.
"It's time to stop putting off the past Will. This is what we came for. I will keep your heart, if that is what you desire, but we both know it belongs in here" she touched his chest.
She was right.
He looked at her and saw her for everything that she was: a brave, confident, unstoppable creature.
and with that he nodded and said, "do it."