Chapter 43
Blackness.
All around; blackness.
It seemed to be all there was. It was endless. Was there really anything there? Was this even real? Was anything real?
The void was all he knew, though he did not know himself.
Slowly, he opened his eyes, squinting as a dim turquoise hue flooded his vision. His forehead hurt. He carefully reached up, feeling with his fingers, startled to find a third eye sitting dead centre of his brow. Something pricked his skin as he felt. Gracefully dragging his hands along, he felt twin rows of sharp prickles running over his head and down his spine.
Who was he?
…what was he?
Gradually, his eyes adjusted to the warm glow. He looked down at his hands, examining the tiny details layered across his flesh.
Human, He thought, now I remember…I'm human. What happened to me?
He then noticed lying to his right, a long necklace with a malachite cross chained to the end.
He slowly reached out, grabbing for it, I remember this…
The moment he touched the cross, it was like a light switch. Memories flooded back like an overflowing dam, filling every crevice, every space in his mind. He rubbed his forehead, shocked at the overload of information. He remembered everything… Dark Samus coming aboard his ship, hiding her from those around him, her discovery… He remembered the battles with that enormous beast-like creature…so much power. He remembered discovering the existence of a Leviathan seed on Neptune, and the battle that ensued…and then? There was a blank space. All he could recall was…the crash. Crash? How had they crashed?
He suddenly sat up, looking about frantically. Where were the others? Where was he? It almost looked like space, but…there was so much blue. He breathed deeply. Oxygen. What was this place?
He then spotted something in his peripheral vision…no, not something…someone. He turned around, setting his gaze on none other than the dark hunter herself. He felt as though he couldn't look away. There was something about her… She was so…so beautiful. Her figure seemed to be glowing, her pristine eyelashes fluttering over closed eyes. Her long hair drifted about gracefully, dancing lightly in the turquoise radiance. Slowly, she opened her eyes, smiling as she set sights on the young man in front of her.
She took a step forward, placing both hands on his cheeks, "You know…I think I like that third eye on you. It's pretty."
The captain looked deep into her crimson eyes, running his hands down her arms, "What happened?"
"We did it." The dark angel replied, "It's over."
"What's over?"
"The seed…it's gone. The planet has returned to what it once was. Phazon no longer exists in this system."
The young man took another gander at their surroundings, "What is this place? How did we get here?"
Dark Samus looked away, "We crashed."
"And then what?"
"I saved you."
Kelly blinked.
"I saved you…and your friend." The dark hunter continued, looking back into his eyes.
"…how?"
"On our way out…the cave collapsed. Your fighter was completely destroyed. I used everything I had to heal you and create this field around us, shielding us from the explosion."
The captain looked about, scanning the area around them, "So what happens when it fades? Where will we be, exactly?"
"Just beyond Neptune…" the dark angel looked down. Her voice seemed shaky, "At least you will be…"
Kelly turned his gaze back to her, "What do you mean?"
A moment of silence passed.
"I'm not going to be there."
The captain felt his heart sink. The blood in his veins ran cold as ice, "What? Why?"
"Whatever was left of me, I used to get us away from the collapse. As the field around us slowly fades…so will I."
"No…no, please don't say that. There's gotta be another way that we can all go; I know there is…there's always another way."
Dark Samus gently rested her forehead against his, "Kelly…there is no way."
The young man shut his eyes, feeling tears welling up, "I can't just let you go...I can't."
"Yes, you can. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for. I've seen it shine in you more times than I can count."
The captain felt his chest tense up. His heart began to feel heavy. He tried wrestling his emotions to the ground, feeling a single phazon tear snake down the side of his face.
"I'm so sorry…" he whispered.
"There is no need to apologize." The dark angel soothed, stroking his cheek.
"I've been so terrible to you…I've hurt you, I've neglected you, I even tried to forget you were there sometimes… I was just so scared, angry and confused…I didn't know how to react. I call myself a follower of God, but I don't deserve that title. I'm far too sickly, too sinful…too volatile. I know you were truly trying to change and…I wish I could have done more to help you…make you happy. But I didn't. I was selfish. I'm sorry for everything I've done to you."
The dark hunter lifted his chin, smiling faintly as he opened his eyes once more, "I forgive you."
She held him close, whispering softly, "Do not be angry at yourself…you showed me a new world…one that I was able to find peace in. You helped me realize that there is so much more to life than I ever thought to exist. You showed me the way to the light. You led me to the stream of life…and I drank."
She pulled away, taking one last good look into Kelly's crimson and hazel eyes, "You saved me… For that, I thank you."
She leaned in, pressing her lips against his. She wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders, feeling the thickness and warmth of his heartbeat for the last time. A moment later, she parted for breath,
"I love you."
Kelly held on tight as he felt her body begin to fade, "…I love you."
The air went thick, the young man's heartbeat nearly audible in the tranquility.
Dark Samus gently pulled away, smiling sweetly as she held onto his hands, "Your God…he smiles upon you today."
She reached up, feeling her hand along his collar, hitting the switch and engaging the rebreather mask, "Goodbye."
The dark angel took a few slow steps back, spreading her arms as her body thinned out. Gradually, her pristine features faded into nothingness, leaving Kelly as he stood alone in the fading field.
"…Goodbye." He echoed, watching the blue walls dissipate.
