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Johnny was sitting in a beach, this was different of every beach he had seen before, the white sand was so soft that it felt like cotton and it sparkled with the dim light of what seemed to be the moon, he wasn't sure because it didn't have the spots where craters should be, on the contrary it looked like a perfect pearl placed in a dark blue sky made of velvet. Stars where golden and much brighter than he remembered, in front of him the sea shone with light on it's own, filled with blues, purples and silver shades that danced harmoniously, he focused his sight on them and realized they were beautiful medusas and rare, almost transparent fishes who created light on their own, there was such peace in this place, he didn't remember much of what happened but he didn't care, in spite of being alone in this paradise he felt loved. A soft breeze caressed his face, he inhaled the fresh smell of the ocean and smelled perfume, it was familiar but he couldn't place it, then it dawned on him, the soft haze that clouded his memory disappeared, he turned around and saw her, he had waited this moment for years
Mom! - He said happily while running to her arms.
Hi Johnny, I'm so glad to see you- She hugged him tight while speaking. –Sorry I wasn't here to welcome you but I was busy saving your life and your friend's as well-.
I think you failed; we're in heaven- he said softly.
No I didn't ,we are now standing in bado, a borderline between the dead and the living, this landscape is an image of what you think paradise should be like.-
So, I'm not dead?
No, you are in what could be called a coma, but soon you'll wake up. This is just a place where you can rest of all you've been trough.
Dark memories flashed in his mind, he tried to push them away but he couldn't
-Everything will be fine Johnny, don't be scared-
-I hope so- He saw his mother, she was pale and her kind blue eyes showed nothing but pain and sadness.
-Are you OK?-
She sighed and spoke in a tired voice:
-You and your father never got over my death, in order to help each other to "move on" you hid your pain and never spoke about it. Instead of mourning properly you turned me into a dark secret hidden inside of you, and because of that I'm tied to the world of the living. I can't cross to the other side until I know you'll be fine, that won't happen until you accept my death.-
-Mom I'm sorry, I didn't know we were hurting you but it's hard to move on, it was so painful that…-
-It's okay Johnny, it was never your fault, but you need to move on and open your hart to your father, if you accept my death eventually he will-
-I'll do my best- he said softly.
-That's all I ask, now there's something you need to know, after what happened Benton will be broken emotionally, guilt is already consuming him, he really needs you.-
-He shouldn't feel guilty, Kant was the one that…-
-I know- she interrupted him -But he doesn't see it that way. Goodbye Johnny, I love you both-
Suddenly his mother was gone and the wonderful landscape turned into a grey, thick fog. He walked his way towards the light back into consciousness.
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Benton sat beside his son's bed, his stare was blank looking like someone who stood in the edge of madness. All the memories of the previous day replayed in his mind, the children's illness, a black haze and waking up to realize he had done the unthinkable. He used all his medical skills combined with Melissa's in order to keep his son and Jesse alive, the damage was extent but a few hours later the hurricane passed and Race used a helicopter (the Quest's latest acquisition) to take the kids to the nearest hospital, several test were made and some specialist were called both Benton and Race called for favors. Twelve hours later, the children were stable, Race was talking to his boss, probably doing his best to explain the situation, there wasn't much of a chance that anyone believed them but they didn't care.
As soon as possible he would call Doug so he could take Johnny away, he couldn't live with what he had done and he knew his son would be safer with his grandfather. Besides, Hadji was in India with his mother, if Doug wasn't able to take care of him he could always live with his brother. Race must had thought the same for he heard him trying to contact Stella, unfortunately the hurricane destroyed most communication lines and altered the signal of several satellites.
By his side Johnny stirred, his pale skin seemed to fade in the white sheets, Benton held his hand and noticed the ugly scratches in his arm. "I did this" he thought, tears swelled in his eyes, he cried softly for a moment, but by the time he wiped his face the lesions had disappeared. Benton sighed in disbelief and begun to examine his son's injuries, he found that most of them hadn't just healed, they had faded away without leaving any trace or scar.
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Philip Corbin managed to erase the social worker's visit from the register book of the hospital, apparently Race called social services himself, claiming he had hurt his own daughter and Johnny Quest. Nonetheless the doctors and several other specialist's reports said there was absolutely no sign of abuse, only a high fever that was now receding. He didn't know what to think about the sudden lapse in Dr.Quest and his bodyguard's sanity, but he didn't want any of this in Race's records, Corbin knew how hard his friend had fought to gain custody of Jesse. A claim like this, no matter how absurd, could put years of legal battle in jeopardy.
-"I know what I saw, Race, the kids are going to be fine and they don't have a single scratch on their bodies. Look, maybe you had that fever yourself and you hallucinated or maybe you just need a long vacation, you've been through a lot lately, maybe it had a toll on you."
-"You weren't there Corbin, I know what happened and I know it's hard to believe but.."-
-"Hard? No it's impossible, ghost, possession and all that might happen. I have seen my share of strange phenomenon's but I will never believe you could be able to hurt those kids Race, you love them too much"-
-"Yeah, but that didn't stop me from…"- Race blanched as the rush of memories flooded his mind.
-"Jesse's fine"- Corbin said soothingly. –"Why don't you check on her yourself? She's still asleep but as soon as she wakes up you can take her home.-
-"I can't!!, Look why don't you talk to Melissa? She's probably still at the compound and saw everything, I know she'll verify our stories"-
-"Right… Melissa Hodges, Is this the girl you're talking about?"-
Corbin sighed and handed Race a photograph
-"Yes, have you talked to her already?"-
-"No, no one can. Now I need you to listen to me carefully"- Corbin spoke in a calm, controlled voice. –"This girl died two years ago, she killed herself in the library's basement. I have no idea of why you imagined her as well, but if anything she proves my point, whatever happened was nothing but a bad nightmare, the sooner you and Dr. Quest understand that the better"-
Five days later the entire Quest team was packing their belongings, they were leaving the compound in Maine and this time it was for good, they were moving to the mansion located on the keys. The main reason Dr. Quest brought his family there was to give them a normal life, but now he knew that was pointless, normality would never be a part of them. There was no evidence of the previous chaos, there were no broken doors or walls and nothing was out of place, making it easier for Benton and Race to believe everything had been a nightmare. After all, the physical evidence (or lack there of) surrounding them corroborated that theory and both kids went out of their ways to convince their parents that none of this was their fault.
As days went by they realized that if a lie repeats itself over and over you end up believing it, yet at night violent flashbacks clouded their dreams making impossible for them to sleep.
A month came and went, things were back to normal or at least what the Quest team considered it to be. The beautiful sunset shone over the island on the Florida Keys Johnny enjoyed the calming sound of the ocean, beside him stood Jesse, her eyes also lost in the sight. He turned his head and saw her, the fair peachy skin, flaming red hair flowing in the wind. His heart skipped a beat at the vision before his eyes and realized that history was repeating itself, a blond boy and a red haired girl falling in love just to be swept over by tragedy and death. Part of him wanted to run away, love was scary enough without a curse hanging on their heads, but another part of him knew better. He had no idea of what destiny had planned for them by he knew that whatever came his way he would face it, all of them would.
The end