The Lost World
The Protector's Husband
Chapter 3: A Choiceless Choice
A/N: Sorry for the long wait, I had a bit of writer's block and a lot of school work. Geez, I though Senior year was suppose to be easy!
[Watch out for changes.]
Veronica leaped from her chair to find her husband peering at her lovingly with his light eyes fixed in a state of worry. "Have you seen Abby?" he said out of breath.
"No, I put her down for a nap an hour ago." said Veronica standing up searching the nursery herself. "We just finished reading one of those bedtime stories you wrote for Thomas and Abby."
Malone signed in frustration. "She must have managed to leave the tree house. I'm going to go look for her." the young father stated already leaving the room.
"No, I'll get the others to help, you stay with Thomas." Veronica stated quickly touching Malone's shoulder and dashing in front of him.
"Honey, I can find her on my own. I'll be back within the hour."
"Ned, it's not safe."
"Veronica-"
"Please. I don't want the vision to come true." she whispered gently as she called for the others, leaving Malone with no other option but to agree.
*~*
"I guess its just you and me" Malone stated smiling at his son laying happily in his basinet that stood several feet away from Ned as he began to chop wood for the fire. "Your mother doesn't think that I can handle myself. No one does in fact, even though I spent a year and a half alone in the jungle…" He continued babbling to no one really but himself. Finally finishing, he blonde breathed heavily as he attempted to pick up the small child and the rather large piles of wood he had collected.
Suddenly began to shake uncontrollably in raging fits of pain. Hurt, but not frightened Malone as he still shook figured it was just the usual spells that he got ever so often. Still, even minutes longer then normal Ned still convulsed on the ground, until finally it stopped. But, Malone was frozen unable to move anything but his face and unable to comfort his crying son.
*~*
Meanwhile, Challenger, Roxton, Marguerite and Veronica begin to search the darkening jungle for Abby. Frantic with worry, Veronica pushed the explorers to search every part of the forest. Finally, they come upon the bottom of a small cliff, that overlooked a small pound- a favorite of Abby's.
"Dear God." Challenger mumbled quietly to himself as he saw the shape of a young child, laying inches from the bottom of the cliff.
Still, as Roxton saw the image as well he reached the body before Veronica could even comprehend what was going on. Gently, Roxton picked what he now saw was a small girl. His face turned in sadness as he realized that it was his young niece. "It's Abby." he called, breaking Veronica's heart. Immediately, Roxton tried to bring oxygen into her lungs but it was to no avail. "She's gone." he devastated voice spoke.
Challenger finally let go of Veronica whom he had been shielding from the horrific images of her child. Stunned, Marguerite now crying, reached out to hug Veronica as she stood for a minute and then rushed to Abby cradling the lifeless body in her arms.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I thought I was helping but I did more damage then good." Abigail Layton walked quietly over to her daughter and granddaughter touching the blonde locks of the child and leaning down to whisper. "Hurry home."
Before Veronica could ask any questions Abigail was gone. Confused and shocked Veronica now realized the truth. "Malone!" she yelled letting more tears fall onto the head of the cold girl.
*~*
"There's no need to cry Thomas Edward." Malone said calmly trying to smile. "Papa's fine." Though he could not feel his body he could feel every ounce of his life draining away, wishing his son did not have to see his father die.
It only to moments for the explorers to return to the tree house, but by then there was nothing to be done. In vain, Challenger tried, to stop this unknown killer from spreading. Until finally, like Roxton, he realized there was nothing he could do.
"I thought I saved you." His wife clasped his hand as Malone's eyes began to close. "I love you, Ned." she finally states while Malone sheds his last breath. Devastated and angry the young widow screamed with all the fiery that lay in her body.
Crying, Abigail Layton appeared once more. "I'm sorry, Veronica. I thought I could change fate. It's time for you to come with me to Avalon."
Veronica looked numb still looking at her husband, as the rest of the explorers look on in grief. "I won't leave Thomas." the mother responds now holding on to her son tightly.
"You have to. It's your time. Then when he is old enough he will join us as protectors." Abigail continues as she reached out her hand to her daughter. "It is our destiny."
Obediently, wanting desperately to question the Elders that took her daughter and husband Veronica turned giving the small boy with a kiss to his forehead to Marguerite gave in and took her mother's hand.
* ~*
"Veronica. Veronica." She stirred, awaken. Sleep didn't matter any longer to Veronica, even her mother's presence with her in Avalon couldn't save her from her grief. "What?" she called having no intention of leaving her bed until the Elders brought her family back.
"It's time to wake up, honey." a distinct and cheerful voice called to her, mocking her.
"Ned?" she whispered hopefully, turning over.
"Who else would it be?" he kissed her, smiling "I'll go wake up Thomas and Abby."
Veronica shook her head in disbelieve, but it was true, she was back in the treehouse, and in front of her stood her husband, eager as ever to go to their children; and has she had before Veronica's mother stood before her, undetectable to Malone.
"You have seen what will happen. I was allowed to intervene as you saw before, but I made the timeline worse. The elders have allowed me to fix my mistake and send you back. I pray you can fix all of it. You only have one chance, Veronica. I hope you succeed." Abigail Layton, spoke with all the hope that she had.
*~*
A/N: This is the end, I hope you liked it!
The Protector's Husband
Chapter 3: A Choiceless Choice
A/N: Sorry for the long wait, I had a bit of writer's block and a lot of school work. Geez, I though Senior year was suppose to be easy!
[Watch out for changes.]
Veronica leaped from her chair to find her husband peering at her lovingly with his light eyes fixed in a state of worry. "Have you seen Abby?" he said out of breath.
"No, I put her down for a nap an hour ago." said Veronica standing up searching the nursery herself. "We just finished reading one of those bedtime stories you wrote for Thomas and Abby."
Malone signed in frustration. "She must have managed to leave the tree house. I'm going to go look for her." the young father stated already leaving the room.
"No, I'll get the others to help, you stay with Thomas." Veronica stated quickly touching Malone's shoulder and dashing in front of him.
"Honey, I can find her on my own. I'll be back within the hour."
"Ned, it's not safe."
"Veronica-"
"Please. I don't want the vision to come true." she whispered gently as she called for the others, leaving Malone with no other option but to agree.
*~*
"I guess its just you and me" Malone stated smiling at his son laying happily in his basinet that stood several feet away from Ned as he began to chop wood for the fire. "Your mother doesn't think that I can handle myself. No one does in fact, even though I spent a year and a half alone in the jungle…" He continued babbling to no one really but himself. Finally finishing, he blonde breathed heavily as he attempted to pick up the small child and the rather large piles of wood he had collected.
Suddenly began to shake uncontrollably in raging fits of pain. Hurt, but not frightened Malone as he still shook figured it was just the usual spells that he got ever so often. Still, even minutes longer then normal Ned still convulsed on the ground, until finally it stopped. But, Malone was frozen unable to move anything but his face and unable to comfort his crying son.
*~*
Meanwhile, Challenger, Roxton, Marguerite and Veronica begin to search the darkening jungle for Abby. Frantic with worry, Veronica pushed the explorers to search every part of the forest. Finally, they come upon the bottom of a small cliff, that overlooked a small pound- a favorite of Abby's.
"Dear God." Challenger mumbled quietly to himself as he saw the shape of a young child, laying inches from the bottom of the cliff.
Still, as Roxton saw the image as well he reached the body before Veronica could even comprehend what was going on. Gently, Roxton picked what he now saw was a small girl. His face turned in sadness as he realized that it was his young niece. "It's Abby." he called, breaking Veronica's heart. Immediately, Roxton tried to bring oxygen into her lungs but it was to no avail. "She's gone." he devastated voice spoke.
Challenger finally let go of Veronica whom he had been shielding from the horrific images of her child. Stunned, Marguerite now crying, reached out to hug Veronica as she stood for a minute and then rushed to Abby cradling the lifeless body in her arms.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I thought I was helping but I did more damage then good." Abigail Layton walked quietly over to her daughter and granddaughter touching the blonde locks of the child and leaning down to whisper. "Hurry home."
Before Veronica could ask any questions Abigail was gone. Confused and shocked Veronica now realized the truth. "Malone!" she yelled letting more tears fall onto the head of the cold girl.
*~*
"There's no need to cry Thomas Edward." Malone said calmly trying to smile. "Papa's fine." Though he could not feel his body he could feel every ounce of his life draining away, wishing his son did not have to see his father die.
It only to moments for the explorers to return to the tree house, but by then there was nothing to be done. In vain, Challenger tried, to stop this unknown killer from spreading. Until finally, like Roxton, he realized there was nothing he could do.
"I thought I saved you." His wife clasped his hand as Malone's eyes began to close. "I love you, Ned." she finally states while Malone sheds his last breath. Devastated and angry the young widow screamed with all the fiery that lay in her body.
Crying, Abigail Layton appeared once more. "I'm sorry, Veronica. I thought I could change fate. It's time for you to come with me to Avalon."
Veronica looked numb still looking at her husband, as the rest of the explorers look on in grief. "I won't leave Thomas." the mother responds now holding on to her son tightly.
"You have to. It's your time. Then when he is old enough he will join us as protectors." Abigail continues as she reached out her hand to her daughter. "It is our destiny."
Obediently, wanting desperately to question the Elders that took her daughter and husband Veronica turned giving the small boy with a kiss to his forehead to Marguerite gave in and took her mother's hand.
* ~*
"Veronica. Veronica." She stirred, awaken. Sleep didn't matter any longer to Veronica, even her mother's presence with her in Avalon couldn't save her from her grief. "What?" she called having no intention of leaving her bed until the Elders brought her family back.
"It's time to wake up, honey." a distinct and cheerful voice called to her, mocking her.
"Ned?" she whispered hopefully, turning over.
"Who else would it be?" he kissed her, smiling "I'll go wake up Thomas and Abby."
Veronica shook her head in disbelieve, but it was true, she was back in the treehouse, and in front of her stood her husband, eager as ever to go to their children; and has she had before Veronica's mother stood before her, undetectable to Malone.
"You have seen what will happen. I was allowed to intervene as you saw before, but I made the timeline worse. The elders have allowed me to fix my mistake and send you back. I pray you can fix all of it. You only have one chance, Veronica. I hope you succeed." Abigail Layton, spoke with all the hope that she had.
*~*
A/N: This is the end, I hope you liked it!