I have decided to do one more chapter after this. Thanks for all your great reviews! They're what keep me up at un-godly hours of the night working on the next chapter.

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Chapter 9. Bittersweet Graduation

As Warren and Layla pulled up with the police and firefighters they saw the whole building come crashing down into a pile of rusty scrap. The firefighters immediately ran over and started pulling metal away trying to find the two superheros inside. Will only had a few broken bones, but he arrested ans put in superhuman jail. He also was not allowed to graduate.

Chris, on the other hand, was not so lucky. She survived but had been knocked uncontious in the collapse. She was immediately rushed to a superhuman hospital and put on life support.

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"The doctors say it'll be a miracle if she wakes up. She was already pretty beat up before the building came down." Warren explained as he walked back in the room. It was the day before graduation and Chris still hadn't woken up.

Warren sat back down beside Layla who was already on the verge of tears. After what seemed like forever Warren mumbled something about getting something to eat and left. Layla knew he must be hurting over his only sister.

"Hey, Chris." Layla said after a while. "Thanks for what you did. You truly are a hero." Then Layla had a strange idea.

Slowly Layla brought the whistle to her mouth and gave it a small blow. Just then Warren walked back in and saw the most remarkable thing. Chris's eyes began to slowly open. Then when they were open enough so she could see she gave a weak smile.

"I wondered when you would figure that out." Chris said weakly.

"Chris!" they both shouted at the same time as they rushed over to her.

"I'll go get the doctors." Warren said smiling.

"No, wait." Chris said. "Just bring me a piece of paper and a pen."

After Layla got the requested items from her purse Chris began to scribble some stuff down. When she was done she handed the paper to Warren.

"It's names of the kids at school and their to-be superhero names." Warren said softly.

"Take a look at yours." Chris said grinning.

When Warren found his name he got a huge smile on his face.

"Comet Racer." he said still smiling.

"Dad wanted me to give you that name. He said that no matter what you want to be, hero or villain, he knows you'll be the best." Chris said closing her eyes.

"Thanks. But why are you giving me this now? You'll be there to tell me." Warren asked nervously.

"I'm not so sure about that." Chris said with a weak voice.

"Don't talk like that. Everything will be ok." Layla said on the verge of tears.

"It's ok. You can get the doctors now." Chris said to Layla. When she was gone Chris turned to Warren.

"If you don't make it out of this, Will is gonna pay." Warren threatened.

"Don't bring him into it. I chose to make the building fall."

"You made it fall?" Warren asked.

"It was the only way. I had to. Do me one last favor will ya?" Chris said opening her eyes.

"Anything."

"Don't tell Layla what I just told you. She doesn't deserve the stress of knowing what I did. But she does deserve you. Take care of her for me." Chris said even weaker. Then she took out a small paper and shoved it into Warren's pocket as Layla walked in.

"The doctors are on their way." Layla said walking into the room. Then she noticed how shallow Chris's breathing had got. "Chris, just hang in there. The doctors are about here." Layla said sitting down beside Chris. Then Chris took Layla's hand in her own and took a deep breath.

"I see a child laying on her bosom who bears my name, and a man winning his way up in a path of life which was once mine. I see him winning it so well that my name is made illustrious there by the light of his. I see the blots I threw upon it, faded away. I see him, foremost of just judges and honored men, bringing a boy of my name with a forehead I know and golden hair. He brings him to this place, then fair to look upon, with not a trace of this day's disfigurement. And I hear him telling the child my story with a tender, faltering voice."

After she had caught her breath, she took Warren's hand as well and placed it together with Layla's. Then she took one last breath.

"This is a far ,far better thing that I do, than I have ever done. This a far ,far better rest that I go to ,than I have ever known."

And with that, she died.

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After the funeral Warren and Layla went back to his apartment for dinner. Then as they walked in Warren remembered the paper Chris had given him.

"Layla, I just remembered! Chris gave me something in the hospital!" Warren shouted as he ran to his room and dug through a pile of his clothes. When he finally came back out he was holding the folded piece of paper. As he and Layla unfolded it and saw the familiar handwriting they read,

Dear Warren and Layla,

By now I'm gone in the physical. But remember, I'll still be with you always. When ever you need me, I'll be there. I had a feeling that it would come to this so I've gotten someone to take care of you for me. Next chance you get go down to the animal shelter. Tell them I sent you and they'll know what to do.There is a german shepard puppy waiting for you named Hulk. I know he won't be me, but he'll keep you company when your alone and be there for you whenever you need him. Try not to miss me to much!

-Chris

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After graduation Warren and Layla walked out to the front steps of the school to sit on them for the last time. Layla noticed that Warren was especially quiet today.

"Still thinking about Chris?" Layla asked.

"Yeah. I'm just thinking about what she said. About a baby and us telling it her story." Warren said looking at the sky.

"I wonder what she meant by that?" Layla asked.

"I think I know." Warren said smiling as he stood up and knelt down in front of Layla. "Layla, will you marry me?" Warren asked pulling out a small ring.

"Yes! Yes! I will!" Layla gasped as she jumped at Warren and gave him a hug.

"You don't know how happy you just made me." Warren said leaning down and giving Layla a romantic kiss.

As they turned to go back home, Layla looked behind her and mouthed the words 'Thank You'. For there infront of the school was a statue of Chris with wings spread out wide, ready to take flight again.

I know, I know. Now everyone is gonna yell at me for killing off Chris. But trust me, I spent a good deal of time trying to decide which way I should go with this. And this seemed the most tear jerking.

Oh, by the way. That little speech by Chris at the end was an adaption of the last paragraph in Charles Dickens "A Tale of Two Cities". I don't own it. If I did I would be very, very rich.