I grumble airily, burrowing myself deeper into a muscular form. I squint my eyes as I allow them to crack open slightly, there is hardly any light but yet it feels like this is the brightest place I've ever been. I breathe in extendedly, savouring every particle of oxygen that slips into my nose. I'm back. I can't believe I'm back. Marko and Paul had brought me back to life! They carried me back to the living. When that globe of light showered down on us, it wasn't to transfer me to heaven. It was a light that was reviving my soul. My eyes open fully; my first view is Michael, Lucy and Sam. The closely knit family reassure each other. Sam and Lucy condole him with pacifying words; Michael raises his head from his mothers shoulder and inspects me, collecting in the fact that I have returned back to him. He gapes his mouth, the sentences and feelings he wants to express can't sprint out. When I was in that dimension of doom, Michael said those three words to me that would have touched my heart with all the love it was possible to have capacity of. It's my turn now; I've wanted to say those words for so long. Now, it's time.
"I love you too" without delay, Michael's soft lips collide with mine, caressing them with his loving tenderness. There is a bundle of gasps to welcome me back to the world and suddenly, what seems like millions of arms encircle around me in a huge, caring embrace.
"Sierra! Jesus Christ! You scared me to death!" Edgar admits, planting treasured kisses on my cheek. I separate my lips from Michael's and greet him with a cordial smooch on his forehead.
"Hey! What about me?" Alan chuckles, nudging his way under Edgar's arm. I giggle happily and kiss his forehead as well. Only a few days ago, I wouldn't even dare to glance at my brothers, now we're sharing a bond that I thought would never fuse.
"Sierra you're ok!" Lucy sighs, hugging me warmly to her; that motherly love I've never felt before is pouring down over me. I feel a light touch of lips placed on my left cheek, I look over to see Sam's stunning blue eyes gleaming at me with a smile fixed on his mouth. I do the same; I can't believe I'm alive. How did it even happen? It doesn't matter how nature intended for me to breathe once more, I'm where I belong with those who care for me.
My eyes wander to Star who stands with those tears of heartbreak replaced by tears of joy and the two corners of her mouth turned up into an arch. My lips immediately escalate.
"Never do that to me again Sierra Frog" she cautions with affection tinting her words.
"That's a promise I'm willing to keep!" I laugh, opening one of my free arms where she accepts my invitation for a hug. Laddie welcomes himself in, snuggling up to me.
"You beat my record! I'm gonna set a new record though!" Laddie sniggers, he shall never know how I managed to beat that record. It's better if he doesn't, I don't want to tease with his fragile and innocent mind. I won't reveal the story to him, at least not for now, when he's older perhaps I'll tell him how I opposed death for the second time; and it's because of Marko and Paul. When I go back into that light, I'll remember to tell them how grateful I am to them. We'll meet again one day, but today is not my day to die. That day won't come again for a long time.
There are increasing footsteps up the stairs advancing towards us, everyone's field of vision transfers to the top of the staircase. David. He didn't die. He leans down over the huddle of humans and smirks, ridiculing the moment of love. I glare in wonder at his chilling frame; the battle hasn't finished. How could he be alive?
"You won't win this Sierra, and when I win – I will have all of you" David sneers showing off his sinful fangs. He begins to cackle in a loathsome manner, shivers are sent down my spine at those laughs of pure evil. There is a sudden cry of determination; David with his devious smirk still intact, disposes himself into a puff of silver smoke. He's gone. Now we have to hunt him down. If we find him, there will hopefully be a chance that Delilah will be at his side. At the same time I wish that I won't discover her with that drop of poison; it could mean she is a half vampire. Or worse – a full one. Mr Emerson charges into where David once stood, ripping the cloud of smoke into shreds, tripping over slightly. The wooden stake in his hand tells me that he was going to kill David. If only he did. All that admiration I had for David has dissolved into nothing but memories.
Mr Emerson mutters curses to himself, angry that he didn't run faster; within a matter of seconds, that murmuring ceases and his tired eyes peer up at me.
"I suppose we better get you to a hospital Sierra, you don't look too healthy" he informs us, everyone's eyes follow him as he takes one step down the stairs before abruptly stopping. Mr Emerson slowly revolves his body to face us; he sighs deeply as if something terrible is troubling him"One thing about this town I could never stand; all those damn vampires" Mr Emerson knew about the vampires all along, that would explain all the weird objects in his house. He embarks down the stairs back into his hideaway of luminous red. I twist my head around to Michael; he seems just as bewildered as me with his mouth partly open and his view is still on the stairs.
Michael picks me up and cradles me in his arms; we go down the stairs together with many footsteps behind us. The first thing that captures my attention is the grisly, blood-soaked body impaled on the fireplace by a colossal log like he was ready for roasting. It is Max who has been branded with that enormous stake. The Head Vampire is dead. Thank God, we are finally back to ourselves. We are no longer monsters of the night. We can live again now we are free come those chains. We have our lives back. Michael hastily quickens his pace as we reach the door. He opens it with a blustery torrent of wind breezing over us; the freezing gush makes the colourless hairs on my arms stand to attention. That nothingness from the portal to official death has been overthrown.
As Michael carries me over to the wine coloured car that is situated in the garage, I can't help but to gaze at the enriching stars that cover the beauty of the velvet night sky. Marko and Paul are living in that sky, hooting wildly as they travel around the sensational diamonds that encrusts it at high speed on their motorbikes. Dwayne could be up there as well, watching over me like a chaperoning hawk. I hope I see Dwayne at some point in my life, just to be relieved that he's safe. Michael carefully places me on the backseat of the car, my thick hair creates a trail of dark brown curls as all the strands drape over the rough black fabric; Michael climbs in next, once he sits down I relax my head on his robust lap. Calming tingles are being cast throughout my whole body as Michael massages the roots of my hair with the tips of his fingers. He brings his lips to my ear; I can feel his gentle breath channelling me into a solace world.
"I love you" he expresses in a compassionate voice. I manoeuvre my lips to his pierced ear where the symbol of our loyalty to David still hangs.
"I love you too, and I always will"
The bland hospital walls of the dull colour pale turquoise feel like their closing in on me. The smell of cleaning products with their many chemicals fills the air and the plastic cup of cool water in my hands creates a wet texture in my palms. There is the nauseous sound of people hacking their lungs out in the background that makes my stomach churn. I bring the cup to my lips, allowing some ice-cold liquid to glide down my dry throat. Mr Emerson hadn't told the whole truth to the nurse, he said I had been involved in a fight where I was attempting to help someone but we hadn't mentioned David or the others. Who would believe the truth without thinking we were insane? The answer is nobody, apart from those who have survived the tale. I glance over to Michael who is outside the room, keeping a cautious eye on me through the transparent glass that separates us as a doctor examines his face. I smile gingerly at him only for a radiant smile to be returned.
Thankfully, the nurse informed me that I wasn't severely hurt and considering I died for some time, the only drastic injuries I had gained from the battle were a broken wrist and quite a few bruises mostly along my back. We had gotten rid of Max once and for all; however, David still stalks the earth's surface, and God only knows where he is resting his head tonight. I don't care where he is though, as long as he doesn't harm anyone I love then as far as I'm concerned he is dead to me. I definitely know one thing from this night. Sierra Frog who was once a slave to the daytime has now been released to relish the joys to come into her life and the presents that she has already. The turning of The Lost Girl – from a helpless little child who was clueless to half of the world's secrets to a strong woman who no one can break down again. That Lost Girl has now been discovered. Now there is only one more thing to find out, Delilah. I will find Delilah and nothing is going to get in my way. Throughout any pain or sorrow, no matter how hard I have to try, in the end Delilah and I will be reunited – and that's a promise.
Well, that's the last chapter guys! May I just say, thank you so much for all of the reviews, the followings, favouriting etc... it makes me so happy to see that people like what I do. Also, this is the first story I've ever completed which I'm quite proud about :'D
I'm also sorry for making you guys cry on the last chapter, don't worry I cried for at least an hour after completing it! :') And for those who asked if this is the end, it definitely isn't! I have some good news! I'm already writing a sequel to this story, so keep an eye out for it because Sierra and the others will be back again soon! :D Once again, thank you for reading this story and I hope you enjoyed it :)