Chapter 8: From You
The rain fell, splashing on the sidewalk, lightning flashing for just an instant before the tremendous roar of the thunder followed. The gloominess seemed to flow everywhere – it seeped through the buildings, around the cars, everywhere; its presence could not be escaped by anyone.
But for one particular man, the tremendous weight of the dreariness fell on his shoulders in greater amounts than any one had known throughout the history of time.
Once upon a time, not so long ago, Rick O'Connell had sworn that he had felt the worse pain imaginable – in his heart of hearts, he truly believed that nothing worse could possibly be endured.
But then he had come back...back to his life, back to everything he knew...and the anguish inside of him had increased so greatly that it was a constant struggle to remain alive.
She didn't love him anymore. He had come back to her, but that didn't seem to matter – another pang of anguish had been added to his long string of pain.
He kept walking, through the rain, brushing past people he didn't even see as they passed by. Tiny splashes crept out as his boots hit puddles of standing water.
It was hard enough that he had to go through wave after wave of emotion with every passing second – but...what made it harder to bear was...
…everywhere he looked, he saw love...and it seemed that he was no longer allowed to be a part of it...
He saw it on the rain-drenched sidewalks as men held their women up in the air, the sound of thunder penetrated by laughing and unblocked happiness.
He saw it in restaurants that he passed. He saw it in the eyes of lovers as they gazed across at each other, in their hands that clasped at one another.
Tears began to fall from his eyes, mixing with the rain in one combined outpour. It wasn't fair...at all...
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He began to understand what Ra had meant when he had said that the way would not be easy to find.
Shuffling forward, occasionally mumbling apologies for collisions with other pedestrians, Rick O'Connell knew that he had NOT found the way; indeed, the way had completely escaped him.
And, in the end, he didn't know if he had to will to find it again.
He didn't even know if the way existed any longer.
~{:*:}~
She had started running, hoping to close the distance with her target, but now, she had slowed to a walk, exhaustion and despair taking over her mind.
Evelyn O'Connell was not a woman of weak will – if there was something that she desired, it would not remain outside her grasp for long.
But now, her iron will was beginning to crack. She felt it, deep down insider her – he control was starting to falter.
She continued to walk along the slick concrete, peering in every direction, hoping to catch some glimpse of him...anything of him...
But after nearly half an hour, she fell backwards on to a bench, breathing ragged and tears forming in her eyes.
Hopeless – it was all hopeless...
Maybe this is what she deserved...Maybe, just maybe...she had been so foolish in turning away from her returned love...
...maybe this was exactly what she deserved.
Maybe her folly had doomed her chances to be with him again…maybe she didn't truly deserve to be with him, after being so stupid as to not recognize him when he had returned.
The pain overtook her as she huddled closer to herself, paying no attention to the rain beating down upon her face.
She was alone, so alone, with no one there to comfort away the anguish that ebbed through her heart. Until...
"Evie?"
She turned and saw a man standing there, next to the dripping bench. She leaned forward, trying to discover who he was, and then...
...she saw. It was Jonathan. He brother had followed her here.
He quickly sat down and held his sister closer to him, trying to bring some warmth into the darkness of her pained soul.
"Evie, dear, what...did you...?"
She cried harder, balancing her head against his shoulder as the wracking sobs were choked out.
"Oh God, Jonathan...what...what have I done??"
She cried, tears flowing, falling into puddles of rain, no longer able to be distinguished.
Once upon a time, not so long ago, Evelyn O'Connell had sworn that she had felt the worse pain imaginable – in her heart of hearts, she truly believed that nothing worse could possibly be endured.
But then...he had come back into her life. It was her greatest wish, finally granted. And she, being the fool she was, had believed it to be something else, something with sinister intentions.
And now, life had taken a new meaning, one that she didn't know if she could handle.
Gently, Jonathan helped to raise her up, doing his best to cover the rain that fell on her with his jacket.
"Come on old mum, let's get you home."
She held on to him, letting him guide her back. She didn't want to – she didn't want to believe that she had completely failed in her quest.
But, at that very moment, it appeared as though she had.
~{:*:}~
They walked silently – or rather, it should be said that he walked and had to steer her along. He saw her pain, not the same as before, but a completely new kind.
He believed, however, that through it all, there was hope this time. It had blossomed where there had once been none, and, for all of his being, it was all Jonathan could do to believe that this time, the story would end happily.
He wanted to believe it, believe it with all of his will.
~{:*:}~
Evie vaguely felt her brother's tug on her arm, but she couldn't comprehend much of anything else.
She had promised herself, when she had learned that Rick had really come back, that the time for sadness was over. But now, she realized that she had just been fooling herself.
There was no possible way to describe the sadness that now raced through her. It was beyond anything that she had ever felt.
She lifted her head briefly to see where they were. She recognized the drive leading towards their manor...and to her left was the little knoll, a perfect spot near the lake – perfect, indeed, because that had been where Rick had asked her to marry him.
That night had been so perfect – she could still see it vividly in her mind's eye.
And now, he was gone...Not truly gone, but gone enough to bring her to tears.
She started to cry again when she noticed it. There was something different about the little knoll...something about it had changed, as if its shape had been transformed.
And then she realized what was different. Through her tear-welled eyes, she hadn't been able to discern it, but now she could...
...Someone was standing there, shoulders hunched forward, large frame shaking slightly...
She let out a small gasp, causing her brother to look down at her with concern.
"Evie...?"
She didn't answer him, but instead loosened herself from his grasp. She started to walk towards the knoll, but quickly broke into a run, leaving a bewildered Jonathan in her wake.
She came up behind the figure, feeling, knowing who it was. She reached forward, gently touched a shoulder.
"Rick..." she said softly, desperation literally pouring from her voice.
The frame stiffened and, with horrible slowness, turned around.
It was him. It was her darling. Here, again.
She felt more tears come from her eyes – she couldn't believe that he was here again, back from whatever afterlife he had experienced. Moreover, she couldn't possibly comprehend the fact that he was here, and that she had a chance to bring him back.
His soft blue eyes seemed to glow, boring straight into her hazel ones. For a moment, nothing was said – not even emotion transcended their gazes. They stood there, until...
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She reached up, softly touched his face. Yes...he was real...this was no ghost, no demon come back to prey upon her tortured soul...
He brought up his own hand, brought it to hold hers against his face. With his other hand, he gently caressed her soft cheek.
Without any words being spoken, they threw themselves into each other's arms, both Rick and Evie clinging to the other desperately. In that moment, the love they had once shared, the love they both knew so well, came flooding back.
Tears flowed freely from both sets of eyes. Neither one was able to soothe the other – they both clung to each other as if the world would end if they let go.
"Rick...I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..." she whispered into his chest.
He brought her closer to him, holding her, letting his love flow through her.
"Shh...sweetheart, I'm sorry, too..."
She looked up, tears running down her face, a mixture of extreme happiness and sadness for a lost past showing clearly on her face. She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him. It was gentle, and he returned it – their intense love for each other ran through them, coursing in waves so powerful that they held each other even more tightly.
Finally, they broke the kiss, both gasping for air.
Smiles crept back into their faces as they hugged each other again, fiercely. More tears of happiness fell from their eyes as continual mumblings of "I love you" were murmured.
To both Evie and Rick, time stood still on that spot where, once again, they were united together.
~{:*:}~
Jonathan stood off in the distance, watching the two figures embracing on the knoll. He smiled as a single tear fell to the ground.
Everything was once again as it should be. Happiness had returned, it seemed, and life had appeared to be complete once again.
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A/N: Little rushed at the end, but not bad. All of you who wanted happy things got your wish!!
This isn't the end, I've got a little bit more planned – I won't keep you guys waiting long.
Cheers!!
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