When I landed, I was in my own backyard and it was dark. There were no lights on in the house. I pushed the car behind the tool shed and went to the back door. I turned on a few lights, but I seemed to be alone in the house. Everything looked familiar, just like it had before Pam ever came to visit me as a time-traveler. I opened the refrigerator and checked its contents and yes, I was out of milk, just like I had been on that fateful night. I put my baggie into the refrigerator and went into my bedroom.

I pulled off my t-shirt and jeans and ran a bath. Once I was all clean and cried out, I put on a nightgown and climbed into bed. I stared at the ceiling, listening for Eric's car and soon enough, I heard the motor. This time there were no headlights in my room though and soon I heard the back door open and close. So, did that mean that future Eric listened to my plea and abandoned his plans for time travel? I was relieved that Pam had not come to retrieve me, but I'd be lying if I said a part of me wasn't also disappointed. That meant that that brief and frantic encounter in the kitchen was Eric's only moment with me after I died. I cursed myself for running away in an emotional panic. I should have stayed and spent as much time with him as I could—didn't he say I could stay as long as twenty-four hours? I wasted what little precious time we had and ran away, leaving him in endless grief without me. Plus, I took away his hope for a future together when I made him promise not to try and bring me to him through time.

Eric stripped in the dark and got under the covers with me. I wordlessly removed my gown and pulled him to me. I wondered if this would be the last time we'd make love and he probably sensed my intensity. I told him I loved him over and over and before I fell asleep, I heard him whisper, "Are you okay?"

I nodded into his chest and squeezed him a little tighter. The selfish part of me wanted nothing more than to tell him to turn me—right then and there. It would be over quickly and we could be together, but facing what? I felt so overwhelmed by the emotional rollercoaster I'd been on, and couldn't bear the thought of being the cause of the people I loved the most dying. As badly as I wanted to ask Eric to turn me, I knew that the only way that I could be certain that he wouldn't die saving me was if I was simply never turned, but died a natural human death. I tried to stay awake and hang onto the feeling of Eric in my arms, relish his presence and bask in his love, but eventually sleep overtook me.

When I woke up, I ate breakfast and dressed for a normal day. I took my jeans and t-shirt from the night before, and grabbed the baggie from the refrigerator as well as my purse. I put the clothes in the car on top of the black travel bag that held Pam's ashes and emptied a condom into the console. I switched the time travel button to the off position and backed the car down to the driveway.

I had a place in mind as I drove. Once I was off the main road, I found a path through the woods until I came to the swamp. I took my purse from the passenger floor and got out. I retrieved the baggie and the final lone condom from my pocket and placed them on the driver's seat before saying a final good-bye to Pam's ashes. I only had to give one good push, and gravity did the rest. The car rolled down the little slope and slowly splashed into the swamp. I watched until the last bubbles popped up from my secret burial ground and then turned and started walking out of the woods.

When I got to the main road, I took my phone out of my purse and called Jason. I was sitting by the road when he pulled up in his truck. I jumped into the passenger seat and thanked him for picking me up.

"Where's your car?"

"It's at home. It's a long story."

"Well, I don't have time for a long story. I have to get over to Hot Shot right away. Right after you called, I got a call from Calvin and there's some serious shit going on over there—some kind of turf war."

I nodded. "I know."

Jason rambled excitedly the whole way to Hot Shot about the big were war that was about to go down. I discreetly took my phone out and sent a text to Eric: I will always love you. Keep that in your heart.

As we pulled up in front of Calvin's house, Jason told me to wait in the truck. He pulled a shotgun from his gun rack and showed me the hunting knife in the glove compartment. "Don't open the door. Use this if you have to. Don't follow me—there won't be many humans and you won't be safe."

"Okay."

I waited for a moment, watching Jason run around the side of Calvin's house and disappear. Then, I followed in his footsteps.

I heard the battle, of course, but the view when I saw the field behind the houses took my breath away. There were dozens of animals fighting—mostly panthers, but also some other big cats and wolves. Even raccoons and foxes were attacking the panthers in small packs and I watched a few birds of prey swooping down onto the panthers' backs. I watched Jason aim his shotgun and shoot a bobcat. Then he turned to aim at another when I saw the bear lumbering to him and knocking him to the ground. The gun flew from Jason's hands as he hit the ground and the bear was on his back, biting into his neck. I pulled my knife from its sheath and ran up and jumped onto the bear's back, sinking the knife between its shoulder blades. I stabbed it a second time and was poised for a third when it reared up, throwing me off onto the ground. I glanced over at Jason and heard his thoughts of fear and pain, so I knew he was still alive. I was on my back when the bear came at me, so I gripped the knife and pointed it straight up.

As the bear fell onto me, I felt the knife penetrate its chest and heard a groan of pain. The weight of its body was crushing me and I felt my ribs crack and couldn't breathe. I wondered if this was the end, but then the bear raised up a little on its legs and stumbled forward. I tried to push the giant bleeding weight off of me, but it was too much. As it crawled forward, my legs were freed and I began to kick with all my might. Even knowing my fate, my body didn't want to surrender and I continued to fight for breath. But the bear finally collapsed and the weight of its hind quarters was on my upper torso and head. My arms were pinned to the ground and I opened my mouth for air, but only tasted blood and fur.

I stopped kicking and tried to still my mind. The panic ceased as I focused on thoughts of Eric. I pictured him holding my face and kissing me, telling me he loved me with joy in his eyes. I kissed him back and told him I loved him over and over in my mind until finally there was nothing. I had given him my last thought, my last wish, and all my love to hold onto. And finally, I gave him my last hope that this would be enough and he could go on without me, but always keep me in his heart.