Well, ok, I did get yelled at a tiny bit, and it seems I made a few people cry. I am very and truly sorry, and I hope this chapter will make it up to you. People, one other thing. This story isn't even half over! I'd say it has surpassed the original. Alrighty then, next chapter. This chapter is in the POV of Riley from the time she died to the present. And its short, but I think you'll be pleased.
Chapter 16- Reawakening.
The feeling of floating finally stopped, much to Riley's relief. She was in a place where nothing really had shape or mass. It wasn't dark, but it wasn't light either. She looked around and saw nobody. So she snuck a peek at her hands, and wasn't surprised to see they were transparent.
"Because I'm a ghost. Duh." She said to herself, jumping slightly when her voice echoed in the emptiness.
"I think of you more as a spirit." A clear, childish voice said behind her, a voice she had heard in her dreams a thousand times. She turned around slowly, trying to calm her breathing.
"Parker…but how? I died in the past, and you're still alive." She said, her breath coming out in gasps. She had never in a million years dreamed of talking to him again. Seeing him had hurt a lot, but he hadn't the memory of what was to come. But this Parker did. This was the brother she had watched die.
"Actually, in order to keep balance in the world, your soul came back to the future, where I'm dead." He told her. She fell to her knees in front of him.
"I'm so sorry Parker, I should have done more to help you. I shouldn't have been so annoying." She said, feeling the tears roll down her cheeks as the old pain resurfaced.
"Don't cry Riles. It was meant to be. Now, I'm here because you have a choice. Because you saved an Elder's power, thus saving the Elders' they are willing to give you a reward. A chance to become a Whitelighter. You wouldn't have your powers, but you'd be alive again. Or you can go into the light, and live the afterlife." He said. She looked at him.
"And you?" She asked. He bowed his head.
"This is my job. I help souls find their way. Either way, you wouldn't be able to see me again." He told her.
"That's great. They let me see you, knowing what it'll do to me, just to tear me away again?" She asked, her voice betraying the tears she was holding back.
"It's my job Riles. Remember what I told you." He was referring to a dream he'd sent her the night he died.
Flashback
Riley was sitting on her knees in a dark room, crying. She had let Parker die, and she would never forgive herself.
"Riles." A voice whispered and she looked up.
"Parker." She sobbed out, throwing herself into her brother's arms. He held her for a minute, letting her cry. Then he took her hand and led her through a maze of dark hallways.
"Hurry Riles, before they find us." He said, casting a look behind him. Riley struggled to keep up.
"Who Parker?" She asked.
"The Elders. I'm breaking the rules by coming here." He said as he got to a middle room and stopped.
"Parker, I miss you, please come back to me. I'll do better, I'll leave you alone when you ask me too, just please Parker." Tears were streaming down both their faces by now.
"Riles, don't make this any harder than it has to be. I have to tell you this now. Before they find me. You have to be strong Riles. No matter what happens, I need you to be strong for me, and never let anything get you down. I don't care what anyone says, this wasn't your fault." He told his crying younger sister. She looked at him, her eyes flooded in tears.
"I don't know how to be strong Parker, please don't leave me alone! Parker!" she screamed as he started to fade.
"They found me. Be strong!" He called and disappeared.
"PARKER!" She screamed and then woke up.
End Flashback
"You told me I had to be strong, and I've tried. But it's been so hard without you. I'm sorry. I'll do better, if you just stay with me." Parker shook his head.
"I can't stay, its my punishment for going to you. Telling you that saved your life when you were supposed to die. But, I'm ok with this. But I know what you did. You died on purpose Riles. If you don't find a way to fix this, this will have been in vain, because I will have failed." He told his sister.
"The Elders can't just play with people's lives!" She said as he turned sadly away.
"I have to go now Riles. Take care, I love you, and be strong." And he was gone. Riley stared after him, feeling the pain of loss again.
"Are you ready to decide?" A man in golden robes asked her. Instinct told her this was one of those despised Elders.
"Why do I have to decide?" She asked.
"Because we honestly have no idea what to do with you. You saved an Elder and deserve a reward. But we can't force you." He said. She glared.
"Then give me my brother." She said.
"We can't do that. We knew you'd fight us, so when we got another option, we automatically agreed in case you couldn't decide." The Elder said certain she would be happy. At that moment she dematerialized in white swirls.
Manor
The sisters and Chris waited in the living room. After getting the Elders to agree to their plan, although it had taken the Elders the threat of losing the power of three, they had cast their spell. About 5 minutes later, Riley appeared on their couch, living and breathing. She looked around, disoriented.
"Am I in hell?" She asked groggily.