CASEY'S POV:

As the sky returns to normal, I look around the clearing. Templars and Assassins alike riddle the clearing. "Where's Emma?" I call out, hoping that someone knows where she ran off to.

Erik makes his way over to me. A thin stream of blood is running down his cheek from a cut just below his left eye. "Derek went up the hill to find her. He said that he saw Emma run off towards Brother Richards when the fight started."

I smile, but it's quickly erased when I see Erik pales considerably and his eyes widen in shock and disbelief. "Erik?" I ask.

"Turn around," he chokes out.

"Erik what's—NO!" I scream as I see Derek return to the clearing with Emma in his arms; her head resting on his chest.

"Emma!" I cry out as I run over to them.

Derek removes Emma's hood as he gently places her on the ground. I quickly check from a pulse on her wrist and neck—completely ignoring the wound on her arm. "No!" I shakily sob.

Derek cradles his sister in his arms and hums a lullaby, tears streaming down his face. I collapse into Erik and he wraps me in a hug as I begin to sob uncontrollably. Joel makes his way over, obviously unaware of what he is about to see. When he sees Derek he collapses to the ground, sobbing. Heather and Ryan walk over and Ryan lowers his head and Heather covers her mouth as she looks at Emma's pale body; tears flowing down her cheeks.

Derek takes a shaky breath. "I-I'll t-take her to the t-tent."

We nod as the remaining Assassins make a pathway for us. As we walk past them, they bow their heads, place their fist over their hearts, and chant. "Laa shay'a waqi'un moutlaq bale kouloun moumkine."

Derek enters the tent and the rest of us remain outside. "Please…" I pray.

Erik holds me closer to him. "I'm sorry."

I cry harder into his chest. "Why her? She didn't deserve this!"

Derek walks back out of the tent; his face red and withdrawn. "I tried."

He tried to use the Piece of Eden. Our last hope…failed. "What happened?" Erik asks.

Derek wipes his eyes. "It glowed for about five seconds…then it just died in my hands."

"What do we tell Sarah?" I whisper.

"The truth," Heather answers.

I look down. Ten minutes pass and I hear a rather loud eagle cry. I turn my head just in time to see a magnificent bald eagle flying towards us. We all duck as the eagle flies into Emma's tent.

I know that we all saw that. "What does it mean?" Heather asks.

I swallow as I wipe my eyes. "It means Emma is going home."

We all sit in front of the tent, Derek doesn't allow anyone to enter—not even to check on the eagle, which most of us are curious about.

"Casey," Derek whispers to me. "Why don't you go say your goodbye?"

I nod and get up and walk into the tent. The first thing I see is Emma's lifeless, still form. I shudder involuntarily and I feel another presence. I look up to see the same eagle from before looking down at me from its perch above the tent entrance. "Don't you get it?!" I scream at the bird. "She's gone! Dead! Leave her alone!"

The eagle cocks its head at me and swoops down from its perch,—I'm amazed at how it can still fly in the tent and not hurt itself—flies around the tent, and one of its sharp talons hooks onto my hood and forces it off of my head. "Hey!" I growl as I turn to face the eagle. The eagle's dark brown eyes look into mine, as if it's reading my very soul before it flies down and perches on my shoulder, rubbing its feathered head against my cheek. It's trying to…comfort me. I gently rub its feathered head. "Thank you," I smile.

The eagle looks at me again and I can't help but gasp. Before, the eagle had dark brown eyes; but now, it has deep gold eyes…like Emma! The eagle playfully nips my finger. "Hey!" I hiss as I clench my hand. I look at the eagle again and I can see the… playfulness and mischief in its eyes. It eerily reminds me of Emma. Then it hits me. I stare at the eagle for a moment. "Impossible," I whisper as I gently stroke the eagle's head.

I extend my arm out and the eagle perches on my arm, its sharp talon's not even slicing through my jacket. This is definitely one strange eagle. We both stare at each other. A smile forms on my face as a tear falls. "Emma?" I whisper.

Suddenly, the eagle caws and begins to glow gold. It flies in a circle and seconds later, it's a golden silhouette, but every feather, every detail is still visible and still magnificent. It circles around Emma's body and as quick as lightning, it dives down and enters Emma's body. Emma's body glows golden for a second, and her back arches as she gasps for air. My jaw drops.

"Emma?" I whisper as I place a hand on her shoulder.

Emma doesn't move and I begin to fear the worst, until Emma opens her eyes and lunges at me. Wrapping me in a tight—and I mean tight—hug. "Thank you," she whispers into my shoulder.

TA DA! I LOVE MY CHARACTERS TOO MUCH TO MAKE THEM SUFFER. REVIEW! THERE WILL BE A ONE-SHOT BASED OFF OF THIS CHAPTER. IT'S GOING TO BE IN EMMA'S POV THOUGH.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE CASEY HAD A CHAPTER TO HERSELF. THIS FANFIC HAS MOSTLY BEEN IN EMMA'S POV THIS TIME.