A/N: Wow. Can we just take a moment? This story is now officially twenty chapters plus a prologue long. I never thought that this story would end up this long. I figured it would be done after five, ten at the most. I mean, when I created my measly little account on LiveJournal back on April 9th and started writing a story I didn't really like, I sort of figured that I wasn't ever going to finish a single story. Then, April 30th, I joined FFN, and everything was different. I was writing something I enjoyed, and everything about FFN was just so great, so I terminated my LiveJournal account and decided to explore FFN more. And so here I am, telling you all of this more than four months later. I know that you probably don't care. You're probably going, "What's the significance of four months?" Well, these four months have changed my life. I'd just like to say thank you all for everything. Thank you so, so much. I have enjoyed writing this a ton, and even though not many people have actually read this, it brings me so much joy that even just a few people enjoy my work.

Chapter Twenty: Goodbye

The sun was rising. It was the final day.

Caroline didn't want to lose Ellinor. The woman had been so kind to her. Over the last few days, Ellinor had let her follow her around all night and the two of them had had an absolute blast. Ellinor really was a mother to Lin, and Caroline didn't want to let that go. But she knew she had to.

She hadn't gone home since she'd left Alice. It had been painful to do so, but she knew that if she went back, she'd never be able to leave. Plus, she couldn't do that to Alice—not again.

She looked towards Ellinor. "I'm sorry, Ellinor, for not being able to save you," she whispered.

"Oh, dear, it's okay. I didn't expect you to be able to do anything to vast. Just know that I love you, and I always have."

Lin looked surprised. "Really?"

"Well, yes. I somehow ended up in your mother's body when she was born. You don't remember me well because that body died when you were seven, but I remember you. I wasn't able to tell you before—it would give me an unfair advantage over the curse. But now that the sun is rising, I guess that it shouldn't change much. We've only got a few seconds left."

Lin launched herself into the awaiting arms of Ellinor. "But it does change things! It changes everything! I know it's been eleven years, but I do love you. You're my mother, and you still seem just like you were back then."

The sun was halfway above the horizon. "I love you and I don't want you to leave! I don't want to have to leave either! I want you to meet Alice…. Oh, Alice. I love her too. I can't let go of her. I was supposed to live with her for the rest of my life."

Ellinor looked sadly on at Lin. "Maybe you will. If your love for me is enough and her love for you is enough. If not, I'm afraid we'll both vanish back to that prison and you'll become one of us. You'll get to be with me forever, but you won't be you. All of your good thoughts and feelings will be gone. You won't care about anyone or anything."

"Is that what happened to all of the other Chosen Ones?" Lin asked. She didn't want any of this. She never asked for this. Why had she been so willing to give herself over again?

"Yes, I'm afraid so."

Just then, they heard footsteps. Alice dashed up behind them. "Caroline," her voice broke. "I had to find you."

Lin covered her mouth. How long had Alice been looking?

"I love you." Lin said. "I love both of you."

Alice rushed over, and the three women grasped each other's hands as the sun passed above the horizon. There was a brilliant flash of light, and everything seemed to slow down.

Alice was calling Lin's name. Lin was in excruciating agony. Ellinor was shrieking.

The sun beat down on the three. For a moment, the Shadows seemed to be losing. The rays of the sun were shining straight through them, and they appeared to be burning.

Alice wrapped her arms protectively around Lin, who gripped Ellinor's hand tighter.

Then the Shadows were winning. They were turning into people again. They all slowly turned towards Lin.

"I think I speak for all of us when I say thank you for breaking our curse and allowing us to no longer live the way that we did for nearly five hundred years." Ellinor kissed Lin on the forehead before turning to Alice. "Treat her well," was the last thing she said. Her hair began to turn white; her youthful face began to wrinkle. She wasn't the only one having this happen to her, though. It was all of the Shadows.

"W-why is this happening?" Lin asked, her eyes wide. "I broke their curse! They should be free!"

"That's the point," Alice whispered to Lin. "They are free. They no longer have to live as beaten down memories of what they once were. In their last moments on Earth, they are loved and are themselves. Now it is time for them to go."

"No! She's my mother! She can't go," Lin sobbed.

Ellinor smiled softly at Lin, her eyes saying all that needed to be said. Then she collapsed to her knees and let out her final breath before turning to dust. The Shadows were no more.

Lin buried her face in Alice's chest, crying. Her mournful sobbing was the only thing that could be heard as the sun slowly began to pass through the sky. Even the birds were silent.

Chapter Release Date: September 3, 2017

Sorry for the late update, by the way.