Thank you for all the kind words! Here's the newest chapter, and don't worry there is still more to come!
Owen had watched the entire scene play out in some mix of anxiety, fear, and confusion. When Jamie first jumped in, he thought for sure she would come back up alone and scream out in grief. She came back up with Dani, alive, and the two were laughing to themselves a few short minutes later. They talked amongst themselves for a while and then went back into the lake. He wasn't really sure what they were doing– perhaps a light swim?– until they finally hoisted a trunk out of the water.
Something about the trunk scared him. Or maybe it was the way Jamie looked so hopeful she missed the shift in Dani, but Owen caught on right away. The second the first key turned in the lock, Dani's posture was different. There was just an air about her that sent a chill through his spine. He watched Jamie finally put the pieces together and he readied himself to jump back into the car. Except, Jamie didn't move. She sat there, entirely aware of what was about to happen, and didn't move.
Dani's hand grabbed hold of Jamie's neck and Jamie began to claw at her throat.
"Holy shit, Jamie," Owen yelled. He didn't want to leave her, but he knew the kids had been left in his charge. The keys fumbled in his hand as he turned to unlock the car. A thumping on the window caught his attention.
Miles and Flora were in the backseat still, their face pressed up against the glass. It was Miles who was pounding his palm on the glass. "Don't leave her," he said loud enough for Owen to hear. He pleaded again, "Don't leave her."
Owen turned back around, but he had no clue what to do. He ran toward his friends and tried to pry Jamie out of the Lady's hands. Jamie's eyes, full of panic, watched him get nowhere. The Lady in the Lake's grip was iron-clad. He regained his footing and sent his fist into Dani's jaw. Her head jerked off to one side and then slowly craned back around until her brown eyes made contact with his. Her free hand began to raise up to Owen's neck and he swallowed, unsure whether to run or fight back.
"Stop it!" Flora screamed from behind. "Let them go. It's me you want, just like last time."
Dani's hand hovered in the air as she listened to Flora's voice. Finally, it dropped to her side and she began to walk across the lawn toward the girl. Each step was long and labored as she pulled Jamie, red in the face, along beside her. Halfway across the lawn, Jamie went limp against Dani's hand. Once Dani reached Flora's side, she loosened her hold on Jamie and the woman crashed to the ground.
Flora slid her hand into Dani's. "Where do you want to go?"
Dani turned around and guided Flora back across the lawn. Owen returned to Jamie's side. He went between trying to wake Jamie to watching Dani take Flora closer and closer to the lake. He didn't know what to do.
Once the two reached the trunk, Dani sat down on her knees in front of it and waited for Flora to do the same. The young girl looked up at the face of the woman who had cared for her for so long, knowing that was not the person behind it anymore. As the two held eye contact, Flora came to understand what the Lady in the Lake wanted. She reached into the trunk and pulled out the first dress on the top. As she held it up, a few petals floated off of it. The dress was a deep red, complemented by pieces of white fabric and bright gold threading.
"What do you think about this one?" Flora asked. Dani shook her head and pointed at a different dress in the trunk. Flora gently returned the red dress to its place and picked up the green one instead. "You're right, this one will go with my eyes more. Shall I put it on?" Dani nodded.
Flora stood up and pulled the dress over her head. It was probably two times her size. The sleeves stretched far past her hands and almost a foot of fabric was collapsed onto the ground around her feet. Dani picked up a gold necklace with a large blue gem hanging from the center. She stood and, one long step at a time, walked around Flora. She draped the necklace around Flora's neck and pulled it tight against her skin. The young girl began to breathe deep out of fear and her hand flew to her neck to grab at the chain.
A small click sounded as the clasp came together and the chain dropped down into place. Flora slowed her breathing and steadied herself then turned to face Dani. Dani's brown eyes swept up and down the girl. Satisfied, she nodded once. Then, her eyes rolled to the back of her head and Dani collapsed onto the ground.
"Flora?" Miles called across the lawn the second Dani fell.
"I'm okay," she yelled back. She dropped to her knees again and began to shake Dani's shoulder. "Wake up, wake up." When that didn't work, Flora slapped Dani's cheek and the older woman jolted awake.
Dani sat up, probably too fast, and took a disoriented look around. "What's going on? What are you wearing?"
If Dani had stopped to think about it, she would have noticed how peaceful she felt. She would have noticed that the only feelings inside of her were her own. Viola no longer existed in Dani and Dani no longer existed in Viola. The Lady in the Lake, who had spent an eternity protecting her dresses for her daughter, was finally at peace knowing they had made it to someone deserving of them. Viola Willoughby could finally rest. Dani could think about none of these things, though, because something caught her attention from the corner of her eye. Jamie was on the ground and Owen was desperately giving her CPR. Dani let out a blood curdling scream. She pushed to her feet and stumbled her way across the lawn.
"Jamie," Dani wailed. She held her girlfriend's head and stared into the lifeless eyes. Thick bruises had already formed around Jamie's neck. "It wasn't supposed to happen like this. Why did you follow me?! It wasn't supposed to happen like this."
Owen's dips stopped and he leaned back. "I'm so sorry," he whispered and shook his head. "I think it's been too long."
"No," Dani yelled. She repositioned herself and took over. "Just a little more time. We have to give it a little more time."
Miles and Flora joined them. Flora had gotten the dress off of herself and Miles had helped her back into her winter jacket. They huddled together to stay warm as they watched. Flora's face, though sad, was strong and bore no sign of tears. Miles didn't even bother to fight off his, though, and he watched through the heavy tears pouring down his cheeks. After another minute, Flora walked up to Dani and put her hand on her shoulder.
"Maybe it's time to say goodbye," Flora said.
Dani shook her head again. Her tears were hot against the cold of her face and snot shamelessly ran down her lips and chin. "She never gave up on me. I can't give up on her."
Flora stepped back and Owen moved in behind Dani. He wrapped his arms around her and tried to pull her back away from Jamie's body. "You have to stop." She squirmed out of his hands and returned.
"Give me a second," she snapped. Dani kept going. "Please, Jamie. Please."
Acceptance settled in Dani that there was nothing she could do. The Lady in the Lake was gone, but so was Jamie and she wondered if any of this had been worth it. She laid herself across Jamie's chest and wove her fingers into Jamie's hair.
"I love you," Dani whispered.
A cold hand started to push Dani over. She sat up expecting to find Owen there, trying to pull her away again. He was off loading the kids into the car, though, so Dani tried to find another explanation. A small cough below her made her look down at Jamie. Her hand was feeling the bruises on her neck while she took staggered, labored breaths.
"Hi," Dani sputtered, between tears and a light laugh. She set a hand on the top of Jamie's head. Jamie tried to say something, but just ended up coughing and running her hand over her neck again. "You're okay. Owen!"
Owen came jogging around the car. "What is it?"
"She's back. Help me get her up." Dani slid an arm underneath Jamie's upper back. Owen did the same and, once Jamie was propped up, she looped an arm around Dani's shoulders to support herself.
Jamie searched Dani's face and smiled. "Blue eyes," she croaked out. "It's you."
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