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Eden POV
The feel of him on top of me, grinding his hips into mine, caused me to scream out in panic….they came out muffled under the heavy hand he used to cover my mouth. He was looking down at me with those dark eyes, laughing at me. When I felt his hardened length against my thigh, I tried to scream again, tears flowing freely down my face.
I won't let this happen. I'd rather die than let him touch me.
I stopped screaming when his other hand suddenly came into view, holding the large knife to my face…trailing the cold metal down my cheek lightly.
"Scream like that again and I will slice your throat. Nod if you understand me?" he said, letting the knife trail over my jaw and down to throat.
I nodded slowly, trying not to cut myself on the edge of the knife.
He smiled down at me, "Good girl…now stand up"
His weight suddenly disappeared and he was standing above me, reaching down to adjust himself with a wicked look in his eye. My hand went to my neck and I felt a stinging pain. When I pulled my fingers away I could see a small amount of blood…apparently my nod of submission had caused the knife to nick me. I pulled myself up slowly from the couch and stood up to face him; trying not to cower down before him…I knew it would only excite him more to see my fear.
He saw the defiance in my eye and the next words from his mouth made me sick to my stomach, "It's time for us to have a little fun. Strip! All of it off…now!" He grinned at me and picked up my phone off the coffee table holding it out to where I could see it.
He knows Bucky is on the line! He's going to make him listen! NO!
"No" I stuttered. I silently cursed myself for how full of fear my voice sounded. I would not let Bucky hear me go out without a fight. I swallowed hard and gathered my courage and said, "No, I will not!"
He used the hand that held the phone to backhand me hard and I flew back, sliding over the side table next to the couch, knocking the lamp to the ground. My head hit the wooden floor with a crack and the pain was immediate and fierce, causing me to moan out in pain.
And then there was nothing.
No pain.
No noise.
I don't know how much time passed…seconds, minutes, hours. I was yelling in my head, screaming at myself to open my eyes.
Open your eyes Eden. Open them!
I did not expect what lie before me when I finally opened them…..Sunlight…green grass…bright blue skies.
What the hell? Where am I?
I looked down at myself and smoothed my hands over the white fabric of the dress I was wearing. My hands went to my throat to touch the spot where the knife had cut me…there was no pain, no blood on my fingers. I could feel the panic start to rise in me. I was sitting on a bench and when I looked to my right, there sat Beth, smiling over at me. The moment her hand touched mine, I felt an intense feeling of peace sweep over me…a calmness I never knew existed.
"Hello Eden" she said softly, her voice echoing.
"Beth! Where are we? How did I get here?" I asked her.
She only smiled at me sweetly. I thought hard about what happened before I opened my eyes and the sudden realization hit me.
"I died" I whispered.
She didn't say anything…just patted my hand gently, "You're going to be okay Eden….look!" she said, pointing to something behind me.
I turned my head to where she pointed and saw a group of people gathered around something…I looked around and realized where we were, the cemetery.
"Is this my funeral?" I asked her when I turned back around.
She didn't answer my question, just took my hand and helped me up from the bench, "Follow me" she said softly.
I held her hand as we walked over to the group…smiling as I felt the grass on my bare feet….my long white dress flowing behind me. I looked over at Beth and noticed she was wearing an identical dress…she had her face raised to sky, smiling. When we finally reached the group, she led me to where my parents sat and let go of my hand.
I hadn't seen my parents in nearly a year and I suddenly realized I hadn't talked to them in nearly a month. I had been planning to fly out and see them for Christmas…I had even thought about asking Bucky to come with me. I wanted my parents to meet the man who had changed my life so much in such a short amount of time. My mom and dad were sitting next to each other…my dad had his arm wrapped tightly around my mother, comforting her as she sobbed into her hands. My dad has always been a very happy man so it hurt to see the deep set frown on his face and the tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Daddy" I whispered, feeling a deep sting of sadness in the pit of my stomach. Beth grabbed my hand again and the sadness suddenly vanished, wiped away by her calming touch.
I looked over at her, "Are they going to be alright?" I asked.
She nodded her head, "You are such an important part of their life Eden but they still have each other…eventually, they will find peace"
I looked back at my parents and smiled, happy to know that my death wouldn't be the end of them…happy to know that they would move on.
She pulled me away from my parents until we stood in front of Steve and Brooke. Their actions mimicked my parents…Brooke's face in her hands, sobbing quietly. Steve's arm was wrapped around her waist, rubbing her back slowly, leaning down in her ear to whisper comforting words to her.
I looked to Beth, "What's going to happen to them?" I asked.
Beth shook her head, her smile suddenly disappearing as she released my hand once again. She turned around and pointed a headstone several feet away. I gasped when I saw the name: Brooke Lynn Donovan
"No" I whispered, shaking my head in disbelief…I turned to Beth, "How?"
"She won't be able to handle it when you die…she will push Steve away and sink into a deep depression. She will feel guilty for not being there and eventually she will turn to alcohol to numb the pain. She gets drunk one night and loses control of her Mustang, wrapping her car around a tree" Beth said, shaking her head sadly.
I felt the sadness coming again but Beth didn't take my hand this time…she didn't take away the pain. "What about Steve?" I asked, looking over at him.
"Steve is strong…he will be sad over losing you. He thinks you are one of the most special people he has ever met. You helped his best friend find peace. Losing Brooke will be hard on him and a small piece of him will die with her that night…things will only get worse for him…he will continue to fight the good fight, but he will never be the same" she said.
I felt the tears sliding down my face and I lowered my head….the pain suddenly disappeared when Beth laid her hand on my shoulder and I looked up at her, grateful for her calming touch.
"What would have happened if I didn't die Beth? Would they have ended up together?" I asked.
She smiled and lowered her voice, looking around before she replied, "Would you like to see?"
I nodded my head, smiling at the mischievous look in her eye, "Close your eyes" she asked.
I closed my eyes.
"Open them" she whispered.
I opened them and looked around. We were no longer in the cemetery…we were sitting on a pew in the back of a church. I looked over at Beth in confusion and she only smiled and pointed to the front. My heart soared when I saw Steve and Brooke at the front, facing each other as they recited their vows. I almost laughed at the long sleeved white gown she wore…knowing she only chose long sleeves to hide her tattoos. I glanced to her right and saw myself dressed in an emerald green dress; my curly hair swept up…a bright smile on my face as I stared to the man on Steve's left…Bucky! He looked handsome in his black suit with his hands behind his back as he stared right back at me.
I smiled and looked over at Beth as she began to talk again, "They make a beautiful couple. I like Steve. He makes Brooke happy"
"Isn't there some way to make this still happen?" I ask.
She keeps staring at the couple in front of the church but replies, "Anything is possible…..close your eyes"
I close my eyes and then open them again…we are back at the cemetery.
"There's just one last person you need to see Eden" she says, leading me away from Brooke and Steve.
To Steve's right sat Bucky. I clung to Beth's hand, not wanting her to let go, not wanting to lose the peaceful feeling it provided. She pulled her hand away and I sank to my knees in front of him…overcome with the sadness radiating from him. He's dressed in a black suit and he has his head down, looking at something in his hands. I leaned in for a closer look and realized that it was the ring he had given me…his promise to never leave me again. In the end, it wasn't Bucky who left, it was me.
"Please tell me he will be okay Beth" I said, tearing my eyes away from Bucky to look at her.
She shook her head, "I'm so sorry Eden"
"Show me" I ask.
"Eden…you don't want to see it, trust me" she replied.
"Show me" I repeat.
With a sigh she says, "Close your eyes"
I close them and then open them a second later. We're in my apartment and Bucky is sitting on my couch, staring at a photo of me. He's still wearing the same suit from the funeral and my ring is still clutched tightly in his hand. He lays the photo of me down on the coffee table and reaches for something to his right.
"No" I whisper, looking over at Beth.
The 9 millimeter is shaking in his hand as he raises it to his temple.
I reach frantically for Beth's hand and close my eyes, "Take me away from here Beth" I only hear an echo of a gunshot and then open my eyes, back safely at the cemetery.
I'm still kneeling down in front of Bucky, desperately wanting to reach out and touch him. I glance over at Beth who is kneeling beside me, "What if I hadn't died Beth?" I whisper.
She shakes her head, "I'm sorry Eden. It's not allowed. The rules are in place for a reason. I can't show you what might have been"
I pull my hand away from her, "Please Beth. I have to know. Can't you break this rule just once?"
With a sigh, she looks around again and then smiles at me, "I think Brooke is rubbing off on you Eden. You were never this much of a trouble maker before. Luckily for you, the Donovan women never cared much for rules. Close your eyes"
I smile and close my eyes for a moment before opening them slowly.
I'm in a bedroom I don't recognize and I can see two people lying on a bed across the room. I look at Beth and she motions me forward with a smile. As I get closer, I realize it's me and Bucky in the bed together, facing each other as we sleep. I turn around to look at Beth and she mouths, "Keep going" I keep walking until I'm standing at the edge of the bed, right next to my own sleeping body. I gasp in surprise when I see what's lying between me and Bucky…a beautiful baby boy with curly brown hair is snuggled under the covers, his hand clasped tightly around one of Bucky's fingers.
I feel the tears on my cheeks and even Beth taking my hand doesn't make the pain go away this time. I close my eyes and when I open them, we are back on the bench, sitting next to each other.
"I told you there is a reason for that rule…that's why it's not allowed. I can't take the pain away this time Eden. You were never supposed to see that" she said softly.
We sit in silence for a long time, staring up at the sky and feeling the sun beating down on us.
She finally breaks the silence "Thank you for singing at my funeral. I know you saw me there that day"
I don't say anything, I'm still thinking about that baby boy with those brown curls.
"What happens now?" I ask her finally.
She smiles at me, that mischievous look in her eyes once again…the same look Brooke always has when she's debating something.
"That depends on you" she says.
I look over at her confused, "What?"
"It's not too late Eden…you just have to fight" she says, standing up from the bench to look down at me.
"What?"
"Fight Eden….get up and fight" she demands loudly.
I close my eyes and when I open them, I'm on the floor of my living room, the lamp shattered into bits and pieces next to me. I can still hear Beth's voice echoing in my head, "Get up and fight"
I looked up and see the man above me, standing over at me grinning. I try to sit up but my head is still spinning.
Get up Eden, focus!
"Eden!" I hear a voice yell…not Beth's voice…it was Brooke!
"Brooke! Run!" I yell out as I see the man turn to face her. She's standing in the doorway of the living room with a shocked look on her face. I scramble to my feet, willing the nausea I feel to go away. He's stalking towards her and she's standing her ground, a fearless look in her eye. She lands one good punch across his face before he grabs her by the hair and slams her head into the wall.
"Brooke" I call out as I watch her slide to the floor, unconscious. He stands over her with the knife raised in his hand and I feel the rage build up inside of me.
No!
He grunts in surprise when he feels me jump on his back, my arm wrapping tightly around his neck. He drops the knife and in the struggle it gets kicked away. He backs up quickly and slams me into the wall, knocking me off and causing me to hit my head again. He doesn't let me lie there for long; I feel his hands in my hair jerking me back up to a standing position. He drags me with him as he bends down to pick up his knife before throwing me back onto the couch and covering me with his body.
Fight Eden! Fight for that life he is trying to destroy!
I start kicking when I feel him reaching underneath my skirt and I raise my knee to make contact with his crotch. He grunts in pain and my act of defense is met with a swift punch to the stomach. It takes my breath away and allows him the opportunity he needs to clamp both my wrists down above my head with one of his hands. He uses his knees to spread my legs apart and I unwillingly let out a whimper when I feel the cold metal lifting my skirt up. I flinch in pain when I feel him dragging the knife up my left thigh, but will myself not to struggle so he doesn't cut too deep. I nearly come unhinged when I feel the tip of the knife slide down the top of my panties. He laughs at my whimper and pulls the knife away suddenly.
His laughter infuriates me and I do the only thing I can do, I spit in his face.
He looks down at me with a smile and wipes his face with the back of his hand, "I usually don't kill my women until after I've had my fun….it's more exciting to hear them scream…feeling a warm body underneath, fighting for her life. But like I said, your special, I think I can make an exception this time" He leans in closer to whisper in my ear, "Just know, when I'm done with you, I'm going to have a go at the red head" He leans up and smiles at me and the only thing I can do is pray that Bucky arrives in time to at least save Brooke from the same fate I was about to endure.
I close my eyes when I see him raise the knife, preparing myself for what I know is about to happen.
I love you Bucky!
I suddenly feel his weight lifted from me and hear a crash from across the room. I open my eyes and sit up quickly, wincing at the pain between my legs from where he cut my thigh.
I look up to see Bucky leaning over me, a dangerous look in his eye that only softens slightly when I whisper his name, "Bucky"
A noise across the room draws his eyes away from me and he turns to where the monster is lifting himself off the floor, knife held tightly in his hands.
"Oh, the boyfriend has come to save the day…I'm sorry, I just can't let that happen. You see, she belongs with me….she's mine" he grins wickedly before launching himself at Bucky. I watch as Bucky knocks the knife from his hands with his metal arm and then quickly punches him with his right. The guy bends over, grabbing his stomach, looking up to glare at Bucky. With a roar, he launches himself at Bucky again, a look of determination on his face. He never stood a chance. Bucky's metal arm shot out, gripping tightly around his neck to squeeze…raising him off the ground. I didn't call out for Bucky to stop… I let Bucky squeeze until I heard his neck crack and saw his body go limp. Bucky let go and the guy's body dropped to the floor.
I saw him look over and I followed his gaze. Steve was there, leaning over Brooke, making sure she was okay. I heard him whispering her name and I let out the breath I was holding when I saw her raise her hand to his cheek and smile, "Steve" He pulled her to him and held her against his chest. "It's okay Brooke…you're okay….Eden's okay"
Bucky was suddenly next to me, "Did he hurt you? Are you okay?" He tilted my face up to see the cut on my neck and the mark where I had been backhanded.
I just stared at him…he had promised to keep me safe and here he was, doing just that. I loved him. My thoughts drifted to Beth and what she had shown me…the memory was fading fast and I struggled to remember everything I had seen. I closed my eyes in frustration, shaking my head.
"Eden, look at me" I heard him say and I opened my eyes and threw myself into his chest.
"I love you Bucky" I murmured.
I smiled into his chest when I heard him whisper back, "I love you" I finally pulled away to look at him in the eye.
He looked at me in shock when he saw the blood running down my leg from underneath my skirt. "Eden, you're bleeding" he gasped, reaching for my skirt and raising it up carefully. His eyes darkened when he saw the cut running up the inside of my thigh.
He looked over where the dead man lay and I reached my hand to his face and turned it back to me, "He's already dead Bucky, you can't kill him again"
A look of guilt flashed across his face and I saw him going into that bad place again, I grabbed his hand and squeezed it.
"I had to do it Eden…. I couldn't let him hurt you…I couldn't risk it…he had to die" he stammered, looking down at me.
"I know Bucky" I said, leaning up to kiss him "It's okay"