Chapter 25
I'm back guys. I know, I know it's been so long and I'm sorry. Stuff happens, let's just leave it at that. So, to start things off, this short chapter connects to the next chapter that I'm almost done with, so it's not the end yet. I'm thinking maybe another two chapters will wrap up the story, I'm not sure. But anywho, I've got some news, if you want to call it that. I decided to rewrite this story and fix up some errors. The first chapter is already done and posted, so go check it out. Some chapters may be completely rewritten, some not. Again, it's up to you guys if you want to read it. I hope you do and maybe see a difference in the writing. I'm hoping that difference is good and that you'll let me know if so. To finish, I hope you enjoy this short chapter and render up some more patience. Lemme know your thoughts.
"Deborah…" Her voice was soft and tired. She stared at the girl before her, taking in her pale complexion, her hazel eyes, her pink lips, her brown wavered locks cascading down to her neck. She scrutinized every detail, programming her memory to remember her this way; beautiful and pure, looking so much like her old self and not the thing she had become that would forever haunt her dreams and her memory. She wanted to remember her with her almost angelic aura.
"Hi Helena" Deborah smiled warmly, her voice a whimsical chime to Helena's ears. She gazed upon her sister, really looking at her. Helena's bruised and battered face, the exhaustion in her eyes, the blood coating her broken skin. She grimaced. Her poor sibling looked the part of having traveled through hell and back.
"Am I dead?" Helena queried with a small dose of hope in her voice. Deborah chuckled softly, smile still pulling at her lips. Same old Helena, so melodramatic and as cynical as ever. "No" she replied. Her smile dimmed in sadness. "You're just looking through the veil."
"W-what veil?" Shaking her head slightly, Helena's brows knitted together as she grew confused. "What do you mean?" The small hand on her cheek was soft and warm. "It doesn't matter. Now's not the time to worry about it" Deborah said. "This was the best place to talk to you."
Sudden tears of grief streamed down Helena's cheeks. "I miss you" she whispered. Her lips pulled into a broken frown. "God, do I miss you. There isn't a moment in a day where I don't think about you, about what happened." She sniffed, more tears falling. "I know I've said this before but I'm so sorry. I failed you. I tried so hard, I really did."
She gasped as she was pulled into a hug. "I miss you too" Deborah said softly into her ear. "And it wasn't your fault." Helena held on to the smaller form for dear life. The scent of coconut filled her nostrils and the lamented sister greedily inhaled it.
It was really her. It was really Deborah. She inhaled with a sniff as tears streamed. "How can you not blame me?" she queried, longing for her sister's touch as she pulled back to end the embrace. "It wasn't your fault" Deborah stated.
"Yes it was!" Helena exclaimed. "Because I was overprotective, Simmons saw his window! It was because of me he took you! It was because of me he used you against me! It was because of me you were infected! It was because of me you died!"
A deep rumble had the sister's looking back. Deborah exhaled as a look of sadness crossed her features. "There's not much time left." Helena sniffed as she yet again grew confused. "What?" She was pulled once more into a tight embrace. "We're proud of you Helena, mom, dad and me," Deborah began, "But you can't come home yet. You have to save the world again." Helena shook her head, "No. Deborah-''
"Listen to me" the young woman interjected, "Your best quality has always been your stubbornness. You were always so rebellious, so headstrong." Why was Deborah saying this? Why couldn't she be with her family? Couldn't she see? Helena didn't want to save the world. She wanted to go home. She wanted to be with the ones she held so dear to her heart. She wanted to be with her family.
She inhaled sharply as a massive jolt of pain shot through her, her body jerking violently. Deborah kept her grip around her. "What's happening?" she groaned. "You're infected Helena" Deborah began, sadness in her eyes. "You're changing."
Helena shook her head rapidly, shutting her eyes. "No" she huffed. The pain came in waves. "As long as you remember who you are, as long as you recognize yourself, you'll be able to keep your sound of mind" Deborah said, holding on as Helena jerked once more in her arms, her body positioning itself in a very inhuman way. Helena groaned and pushed her sister away, grunting as she held her head. "Deborah…" she panted, "Is there any way to stop the conversion? What if I can't keep my mind? What will I become? What will Paxton make me do?"
The young woman watched with a solemn expression. It pained her to see her sister, her blood suffer so. "You'll be okay Helena. You aren't weak like I was. Just hold on to yourself." "No" Helena choked out, eyes shut tight. "I don't… want to… go back…" she whimpered, squirming. "I'm so tired… of fighting… of being alone…"
"But you're not alone" a sinister voice echoed. It was followed by a dark deep laugh. With a short gasp Helena's eyes shot open. Paxton stood before her, an eerie smile pulling at his lips. Helena found herself writhing on the ground with Deborah nowhere to be seen. "I'm here with you" Paxton concluded, laughing once more. "It's time."
Helena's body lifted in a high arch. Her blood was on fire. Her thoughts were jumbling. Nothing was coming together. She couldn't speak or scream. The voice in her head, her mind's voice, was beginning to change. It was dark and evil.
"No…" she struggled, "No…" The pain suddenly became unbearable. Her bones cracked and popped sickeningly as if rearranging. Her tendons reattached, her muscles expanded and hardened. Paxton's laugh echoed, filling her ears. She glared up at him and with a strained cry Helena lunged for him, wrapping her hands around his throat.
So what did you guys think? Don't forget to read the revised version and tell me your thoughts on it!