"Liz?"

Liz looked up from the ledger she was reviewing and smiled. "What's going on, Number Nine?"

His cheeks warming, Luis scratched the back of his head and smiled at her. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I think I left something in Diana's room."

Liz raised her brows. "You did?"

"Yeah," Luis laughed, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I'm sorry to cause so much trouble, but it's a picture of me and my fiancée, and I was really hoping I could get it back."

"Of course." Liz put down the pen she was holding and walked out from behind the counter. "Diana's at dinner right now, so why don't I just scoot in there and get it for you? She'll never even know it was there."

"Thank you so much," Luis said, following Liz back toward the guest rooms. "You don't know how much this means to me."

"It's no trouble." Liz stopped in front of room number six and pulled out her set of keys. "I'm sorry that your fiancée couldn't join you on this trip," she said, finding the correct key and slipping it into the lock. "It must be hard to be here without her."

Luis dug his hands into his pockets. "Yeah, well, I kind of have to get used to that."

Her fingers still wrapped around the key she was using, Liz turned around. "What do you mean?"

His heart constricting, Luis averted his eyes. "My fiancée—she died not too long ago."

"Oh," Liz gasped. "I'm so sorry to hear that."

Luis looked back at her. "Thanks—I appreciate it."

"I wish there were something more I could do," Liz said.

"Thanks." Luis nudged the floor with his toe. "I wish I could have done something else, too."

"Why don't I go get that picture and you can tell me all about her?" Liz suggested. "Maybe over a warm meal or hot drink?"

"Thanks," Luis said, a heaviness seeping through his chest, "but I'm not really up for company right now. I think I'm just going to turn in."

"Of course," Liz said. "Do what you need to do."

Luis nodded, his eyes following Liz as she slipped into Diana's room.

"You said it was on the nightstand?" Liz asked, the words dying on her lips.

"Yeah." Luis straightened his back as Liz came out of the room, picture in hand—an unreadable expression on her face.

"This is your fiancée?" Liz asked, her eyes fixed on the photograph.

"Yes. At least she was my fiancée." Luis inhaled. "Part of me still can't accept the fact that she's gone."

Liz's eyes flew up to his. "I imagine that must feel impossible."

Luis's throat tightened. "Sometimes, it really does."

Liz's eyes remained focused on his. "I know this might sound odd—but would you mind waiting here for a few minutes? I have something I want to show you."

"Sure," Luis said, "—as long as it won't take too long. I really want to turn in."

"Of course." Liz handed him the picture. "I'll be right back. Please—just wait right here."


"Are you sure this won't take long?" Diana asked, following Liz across the lobby. "I really need to get back to my room."

"That's where we're headed." Stopping a few feet from the entrance to the guest room area, Liz turned to look at Diana. "But, first—please tell me one more time: why do you think the man you love is dead?"

Diana stopped in her tracks. "Why do you ask?"

Liz smiled. "Please, just humor me."

"I . . . I have an image in my mind of me holding his lifeless body." Diana winced. "I might not remember much, but I do remember that."

Liz tilted her head. "But do you remember burying him?"

"No, I guess not," Diana admitted. "But if he didn't die, why don't I remember him waking up?"

"I don't know." Liz's lips inched up in a smile. "But I bet he could answer that question."

Diana's heart stopped. "He could . . . what? Liz—what's going on? What are you talking about?"


Luis tapped his fingers on the side of the frame.

What was taking Liz so long?

And what did she want to show him?

Glancing down at the picture, Luis looked back up and out into the hall.

She had probably just recognized Sheridan and wanted to show him some story she'd seen about the boat explosion. That had to be it. After all, it had to have been big news down here—especially with Sheridan being a Crane.

If only she had already been a Lopez-Fitzgerald.

If only they hadn't gone out on the boat that day.

If only they had stayed in bed, like she had wanted. . . .

Closing his eyes, Luis inhaled.

He had to stop doing this.

He had to stop torturing himself with what-ifs and reminders of everything that had gone wrong. He had to get away from this island . . . from all the reminders of her.

And whatever Liz had to show him—it could wait until morning.

"I don't understand. What's going on?"

Luis's eyes flew open.

That was her voice.

Sheridan's voice.

Or, maybe now, he was starting to hear things, too.

Maybe he really needed to go to bed—get a good night's rest.

Maybe then his mind would stop conjuring up the scent of her body, the sound of her voice, the sight of Liz tugging her around the corner . . .

Wait—what?

Luis dropped the frame in his hand.

Sheridan stopped in her tracks.


Was that him?

Was it really him?

Was that really the man she spent every waking second thinking about—and every night dreaming about—right there in front of her?

Speaking to her with so much love. Whispering the name "Sheridan."

Was that her name?

Or was she imagining all of this—letting what Liz had just said get into her head?

Her knees weakening beneath her, Diana grasped around at the air behind her—searching for something, anything, solid to grab onto.

The man rushed to her side. "Sheridan?" he whispered, steadying her—the mere touch of his hands on her skin stirring something within her—sparking fresh memories.

Memories of dancing with this man. Memories of fighting with him. Memories of eating ice cream, of falling on top of him, of swinging off a hotel ledge.

Memories of loving him.

"Sheridan?" he repeated, his eyes searching hers. "Is it really you? Am I imagining this, or are you really here with me?"

Tears sprang to her eyes.

It was him.

It was really him.

"Luis," she gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as the name that had eluded her for so long burst forth from her soul. "Luis . . . I remember. . . ."

~Fin~

Congratulations! You've broken Tabitha's spell!

No matter what other obstacles this lifetime throws Luis and Sheridan's way,
they will face and overcome them together!


If you'd like to explore other routes you can take to break Tabitha's spell, restart your adventure and play again!

Or go to Chapter 17 to end this journey and read the author's closing note.