Chapter Ten

Sora's body was gone. It vanished as if it was never there. A faint ghostly touch remained in Diana's hand from his.

Diana and Marshall laid down by the great tree, in the bed of flowers. They were starting to think of home when the Doll spoke up.

"One of you must stay." It sounded as plain as the Doll's expression.

"Why," Marshall asked. "Isn't that Hunt over?"

"The Hunt will never end. One of you must stay and take Gehrman's place as a guide to young Hunters."

Diana couldn't ask Marshall to save her again. This time, it would be her turn to save-

"I'll stay," Marshall spoke. He looked at Diana, answering her question before she could speak. "He needs you. Sora. Go to him." Diana laid back down and closed her eyes, tears building up in her eyes. "Now, think of home." She could hear the pain in Marshall's voice, but kept her eyes closed and thought of home. Tears spilled over and down her ears.

Then she felt the world disappear. It grew quiet and it felt like hours past. Before she awoke.

The hospital bed was hard and uncomfortable. Diana's eyes opened to the empty room and sunlight beaming through the blinds. Last she remembered, Diana was on a city bus, heading to the library. And then- a semi hit them. That's right.

A nurse prepared in through the doorway and a smile crossed her face. "You're awake!" The nurse spoke louder than she intended to. "I'll get your mother and a glass of water. You must have a thousand questions." Diana nodded a thank you and the nurse scurried away. She peered through the blinds at the city around them. Manhattan. She was at Gracie Square Hospital. The closest to home.

Her parents and her sister came in. Her mother's face was red from dried tears

Her blonde hair was greying and her green eyes were pale. Her father's face was grim, but relieved. His brown hair was matted and hazel eyes were dull. Diana's sister was the spitting image of herself. Long, white-blonde hair, crystal blue eyes, and skin as pale as a ghost. The only difference was their height and age.

"We'll talk about everything when we get home," her father said. "Honey, sign her out. I'll get the car." My mother nodded and left my sister and I in my room. She gave me a weak smile and stood next to my bed.

The dream came flooding back to her memories. Yharnam. The Doll. Gehrman. Marshall... Sora.

"I'll be right back," Diana said to her little sister. She pulled out her IV and other wires attached to her and leaped out of bed, and was out of the room before her sister could protest. There was a woman at the counter outside her room. She was focused on something on the computer screen.

"Excuse me," Diana said horsely. "Can you tell me if there's a patient named Sora here?"

"Last name?" She didn't look at Diana, but she could tell she was looking through the database.

Diana dug through her memories. "Heart," she said at last.

"Room three-seventy-two. Third floor."

"Thank you." Diana ran down the hall turning down the different corridors until she found an elevator. She stepped in and pressed the button for the third floor. When she stepped out, map was printed across the wall. She found Sora's room and walked down the halls, not thinking about how her mother and father would worry.

She finally found herself in front of Sora's room. She stood there for a moment unsure of if this was real. She took a deep breath and opened the door. The room was empty, save for Sora on the bed. He was sitting up, staring out of the window. A male nurse passed by, peaked in and gave a sad sigh.

"What happened to him," Diana asked the man.

"He's forgotten everything. Poor kid doesn't even remember his name. It's sad, really." The man turned and kept walking.

Diana approached Sora and he turned to her. At first, he looked confused, trying to piece her into a life he couldn't remember. She was at his bedside now. "Do you remember?" Diana's voice was little more than a whisper and she stood at the edge of his bed.

Sora inched closer, until their faces he was inches from her. He scanned her face for anything he could remember. His eyes met her and filled with a new emotion. He came closer until their faces we're an inch away. Then centimeters. Then his lips met hers.

Sora's hand raised to her cheek and he deepened the kiss. The he whispered against her lips. "Almost."

Fin