Chapter seven
There will be no happy ending. Eventually, everyone dies. Eventually, everyones happy ending is soiled. But I never had a chance. I never got even a sniff of a happy ending.
It's a reality that over time I have come to accept. Death isn't that different than life, but it is still a missed opportunity. I try not to be bitter about it. After all, you can't turn back time, can you?
Will told me I woke up screaming. I don't remember any of it but the cold weight of knowledge. Knowledge that I would be seeing my brother soon, walking beside Will or Gideon.
"Will, where is he?" I hiccuped, trying to hold back tears, certain I had cried enough already. I pressed my hands into my face, as if it would soften the news.
Will pulled my hands away, smiling at me reassuringly. "Max, Jace is okay. He lived."
"Really?" I glanced at Will skeptically.
"Really." Will said, offering me his hand. I took it and stood up wondering what was happening.
We walked in silence back to the campsite. Everyone seemed to be waiting for us. Cecily jumped up and wrapped me in a choking hug, like Izzy did. "Poor baby. We heard about what you saw." She squeezed me tighter and I shot Will a SOS look.
"Cecily, I think you're about to kill Max. Well, kill him again." Will pointed out. Cecily reluctantly dropped me and I took a deep breath.
"Will, something happened down below while you were gone," Charlotte steps forward. "Something bad."