A/n: So to explain just certain aspects of this chapter. The italics are from the final part of Chapter 22 and lead into the events that occur in this on. Also the bold italics in the section from Chapter 22 are Alex's thoughts. This is all from bad future Alex's POV. Also, I would like to appoligize for the random updating which has been occuring for a while but, college and work have pretty much been my life for the past two years and so time has been hard to find (Both for writing and posting). Thank you though.
MAKE A CHANGE
The chains of yesterday surround me.
I yearn for peace and rest.
I don't want to end up where you found me.
And it echoes in my mind . . .
CASTING CROWNS
X
11 years later in the good future . . .
A swirl of white lights appeared before her and slowly formed to become a white lighter. Not just any white lighter but, an Elder. The Elder stretched out her aged hand to Alex, "Well, you could take my hand Alex."
Alex looked up at the Elder shocked that she knew her name. "Um."
"You want answers; we'll give them to you. You want to see the future you helped create; we'll prepare you for it. All you have to do is take my hand."
Alex gulped and stood up out of the old arm chair. "Okay." Chris would want this, right? Alex finished in her mind. Chris would want this.
X
They arrived in the grand meeting room. Alex was surrounded by white whichever way she turned. It provoked a sense of calmness in the area. Serene. Peaceful. Yet, it could not calm down her nerves; it only dulled the pain her heart was feeling. She wanted to let go of the Elder's guiding hand.
"You need to trust us Alex; you're in good hands. No harm will come to you here. Just close your eyes and go to sleep. We'll take care of the rest." The Elder said as she walked Alex to the center of the grand meeting room. All the Elders encompassed the center and kept their gaze concentrated on Alex.
Alex nodded unsure of what exactly laid in store. She saw a white marble alter; she sucked her breath in, "Do I have to lie down on that?"
"Yes Alex, you do." Alex took a step back, questioning if she would become their ceremonial sacrifice instead of a way to send Alex to the good future. The Elder place her hand on Alex's back, an attempt to console her and let Alex know that everything would be all right. "Breathe, Alex. No harm will come to you. I promise.
Alex took a big gulp; could she trust them? Were they even sure that their plan would work? Chris came to her mind once again; he was her guiding light amidst all her fears. She let the Elder help her sit on the marble alter.
Alex took a big gulp once again before she closed her eyes.
Her world becoming black.
Her world slipping away from her.
Sleep came upon her.
X
Alex awoke to find herself in a black room. There were only two sources of light. One came in a circular form and the light from it poured down to form a circumference around the marble table she had fallen asleep on.
The other was a circular light in the distance. Alex could not make out what exactly the light was descending onto.
She sat up and began debating about what she was meant to do. The Elders were nowhere in sight; nowhere so they could guide her. Their promised protection was gone.
"If this is the new future," Alex said swiping a curl from her eyes, "it sucks! Where the hell am I anyways?"
No reply.
"Hello! Anyone here?" She yelled.
No reply.
"This is creepy." She whispered, holding herself.
No reply.
"Great." She sighed. "Now I feel like I'm trapped in a really bad episode of the Twilight Zone. I'm being punished for something, aren't I?"
The lights in the distance flickered. Her own did not.
"What the fuck?!" Alex held herself tighter wondering what exactly the Elders had sent her to and if she would even make it out alive. Her imagination began playing out scenarios in her head about what was under the light in the distance.
They flickered again.
Alex threw her legs off the table and stood up. Her back was turned to the other light. The marble altar was cold against her fingertips. An urge swept over her; she wanted to know what was going on beneath the other light. She would face whatever was over there if it meant she could see Chris again.
Her hands slowly moved off the table and slid into nothing.
She sucked in her breath.
The circular light above her blew out. Sparks flew from the bulb and floated down to where Alex was standing, leaving her surrounded by darkness. Off in the distance the other was light was burning brighter than ever before.
Alex looked up to where the light was originally pouring down from. "Are you trying to tell me something?" She turned toward the other light. The only source of light in all the darkness. "You want me to go over there? Right?"
She took a step in the direction of the light. She held her breath.
She took another step.
Then another.
And another.
Another step. Another step. Another step.
She walked until she was under the circular light. Alex was taken aback by what she saw.
There, under the circular light, was another marble alter. Resting, peacefully, on top of the altar was a girl with fair skin, curly brown hair that fell into her eyes, and foggy green eyes that expressed her inner most thoughts.
Another Alex.
Another Alex resting peacefully as if no harm had touched her during her twenty-one years of life.
"Whoa." Alex could not, and did not want to, believe her eyes. She stretched out her hand toward the other Alex. "This is definitely a bad dream."
Their skin touched. The resting peaceful Alex's eyes sprang open. Her memories flooding into Alex who was more shocked than ever before.
Flashes came to her mind. Images Alex had never seen before.
Flash. She's at her sixth birthday party. The sky is a deep blue and the sun is pouring down on her as she jumps into the Montanas backyard pool. The splash is magnificent.
Flash. Alex is at the Halliwell's house playing with a little girl a year younger than her along with Amy, Chris and Wyatt. They are dressed up as cowboys and running around the house trying to find the robbers.
Flash. She's ten and celebrating Halloween. The October air is brisk as Amy and her run from house to house collecting candy in their pillow cases, and their dad is trailing behind them. Above is a star studded sky with a full moon. No darkness.
Flash. Alex is eleven. Rain is pouring down from the heavens. She is watching as her father is being placed in the soggy ground for good. Amy and Uncle Steve are standing nearby.
Flash. She's at Chris's fourteenth birthday party. There are smiles all around. Piper walks out from the kitchen holding a cake drenched in chocolate icing. An irreplaceable smile appears on Chris's face. He closes his eyes and blows out the candles. Everyone cheers.
Flash. Alex's first kiss. The rain is pouring down from above. Their lips meet and pull apart quickly.
Flash. She embraces Chris in his cap and gown. Behind them Piper and Leo are snapping pictures by the bucket load. They laugh at his parents and wonder what they are going to do with all those pictures. Amy is pushed into the picture and the cameras begin to flash again.
Flash. Alex looks at herself in the mirror. She smiles as she realizes that the long grey dress was the perfect choice; she truly does feel like a princess. Amy walks out of the bathroom in her prom dress. Alex approaches her sister and embraces her. The girls laugh. Uncle Steve calls them down to greet their dates.
Flash. She is standing at an altar wearing an ugly mauve dress but, somehow she is happy. Tears trail down her cheeks was she watches Ricardo take his wedding vows. Behind her Amy is crying too. Alex feels as if she is losing her brother.
Flash. She is staring into his brown eyes that are so full of love. She feels safe and happy. He leans his head down and kisses her. His fingers move through her brown curls. They pull apart and Alex stares into his eyes. She sighs, something is missing that cannot be placed.
Flash. Flash. Flash. Flash.
More memories entered.
Flash. Flash. Flash. Flash.
The memories consume her.
X
Alex's eyes jolt open.
She screams.
Next chapter FEEL THE WARM BREEZE . . .