Author's Note: Enjoy!
Chapter Thirty-Five
"False Reassurance"
Starfire left the warmth of the hut with only one thing on her mind: to help Anders. She loved him terribly and she couldn't stand the thought that he had lost the one thing that made him happy, his bride.
This whole experience, losing Daddy, Blackfire running away, Anders falling apart, Renee's death, it had all left me thinking how valuable life really was. It was all so terrible, I never knew I could be so sad and depressed. If Daddy was still with us, I bet none of this would've happened. Oh well, it's been a long time since then. I can't just keep wishing for him to come back.
She had reached the edge of the forest. She ran through the bushes and the tall trees. She let branches smack her as she sprinted by. She couldn't wait, she felt as though it was already too late to help him. She could smell the water of the small lake ahead. Suddenly she slowed her pace to a fast walk to catch her breath.
She started to jog. The lush forest stopped suddenly and the eye-piercingly clear blue lake rose before her. She looked frantically for Anders, but he wasn't in sight. Then suddenly she saw him.
He was standing on a cliff about 20 feet above the water. He was looking something. She couldn't make it out. He was now looking at the water, he was so sad.
He twirled whatever he was holding in his hand. The morning sun caught it and it gave off a white glare. Suddenly it hit Starfire. It was the wedding ring he was going to give to Renee. And then Starfire knew what he was going to do. But she couldn't do anything about it, he couldn't hear her from up there.
He looked at the ring one last time before tossing it into the lake. Down and down it fell until it plunged into the lake. It made no splash, no noise, just a mark on Anders' heart.
Anders gazed into the deep, blue waters of the lake and he could only remember her. It was horrible having to go on like this. It was too painful. He had coped with all his sorrows. He collected them together and shoved them away. But now they reminded them. The taunted him, tortured him.
This agony is too much, it will never end. I just wanted to be there for her, but I couldn't even do that. I deserve to die.
Starfire breathed a huge sigh of relief hen she saw her brother starting to head back down the rock. He was coming home. But then, suddenly, no, it can't be. He started walking towards her, but then turned around and sprinted towards the edge.
"Anders, NO!" she screamed. Anders leaped off the edge and fell limp. He let himself fall. He curled up into a ball just before he hit the water. He sunk deeper and deeper into the cool water, his pain still mocking him. He allowed himself to reach the bottom, which was as clear as the top.
He thought he saw Renee swim up to him. No, please! I don't want to remember! He closed his eyes so tightly that he started to get a headache. She was still there. He opened his eyes again. She was stroking his cheek now. She went to kiss him. He prayed for her to go away. He begged and pleaded for her to go away. She was so close to him now.
No, no, please don't… But she did. The Renee that swam before him kissed him. You're not the Renee I know, she died. I must be going crazy with grief. This isn't her, she died…No it isn't…
But she did. The Renee that swam before him kissed him."NO!" he screamed. "You're dead!" Of course no one could hear him, and his shouts went up in dozens of air bubbles.
Starfire sprinted to the top of the cliff and dived in about twenty seconds after Anders did. She shot through the air and into the water. She started to kick through the water, but she kept her arms in the diving formation. She spotted Anders sitting at the bottom of the lake. It looked as if he were pushing someone away. She didn't care, all she cared about was saving him.
Anders saw Starfire coming towards him. He shoved this demon who was impersonating his lost love and grabbed Starfire's hand. But the demon grabbed his leg and pulled him back towards her. No, not her. Take me and leave her you demon! Anders telekinetically shouted at the demon. Not a chance… it hissed back at him.
Starfire felt herself being pulled down to the bottom again. She looked down and saw Anders being pulled down too. What the…!
Anders kicked the invisible culprit and pointed towards the surface. Go, save yourself. It's too late for me. He was weak and didn't have much air left. She kicked rapidly towards the surface.
They finally reached the surface and took a gasping breath of air. Or at least Starfire did. Anders wasn't moving. Starfire swam to shore and flopped him on the soft grass. She pumped his chest to get the water out. Nothing. I can't give him mouth to mouth, I'm his sister. But I might have to. Oh Miyu, isn't there another way? She was sobbed, trying to think of what to do.
Anders woke up in a glorious room. Or at least what was going to happen next would make it glorious to him. There was only one piece of furniture in this strange room: a chair. Anders went and sat down on it, waiting for something to happen.
And something did happen. Renee walked in. But this wasn't the demon, it was his Renee. She was an angel now. He went to stand up but she motioned him to sit back down. He sat back down and she walked over to him. About now he was starting to remember. He was drowning Starfire saved him. It must have been to late. Renee took both of his hands in hers.
"Anders" she said, "its not your time yet. Be at peace, its what I want. Tell my parents I love them and to move on. Take care of your mom and sister, you never know what you've got until you've lost it."
They hugged each other for the longest time. They kissed each other in one pure, passionate embrace. And she was gone. All of this had been a dream for Anders, but it was a dream they both had shared. The whole ordeal had only lasted about thirty seconds, and just as Starfire was about to perform mouth to mouth, Renee descended from heaven and brought Anders back.
Anders coughed and spit out a mouth full of water before Starfire gripped him in a light hug. He smiled at Renee over Starfire's shoulder and weakly said "I love you." Starfire misinterpreted this and hugged him tighter and said "I love you too." Anders simply hugged her back. He shakily sat up and faced his baby sister.
It was silent for a long time, or so it seemed for the two siblings. "Don't you ever do that again Anders! That was stupid and reckless! I know your sad, I am too, but taking it out on yourself does nothing. Promise me you'll never try something like that again!" She wasn't yelling at him, but there was no doubt she was scolding him.
"I promise." he whispered.
They hugged each other and walked home. But alas, it was only false reassurance.
Authors Note: Sorry once again for the late update. Hope this was good. Read and Review please!