Well, everybody, here it is! The second to last chapter. I know you can't wait for the end, but you'll have to. I hope everyone likes it, though it's rather short.
He was drifting.
Drifting through an ocean of white light, being burned and frozen, dropped and suspended, all at the same time.
His eyes were closed.
He was alone.
And then he wasn't. There was someone there, standing above him. It was a young woman, perched perfectly between maturity and youth. Even through his closed eyelids, he could see her gentle smile, her soft eyes, the pink ribbon in her chestnut brown hair.
"Hello, Reno." She said melodiously. "Remember me?"
Of course he remembered her. How could he forget?
"Aeris?"
"Oh, good! You do remember!" she laughed.
He tried to turn his head, but couldn't. "Am I dead?"
"No." she said. "But almost. They're going to pull the plug on you if you don't wake up soon."
"I wish they'd get a move on." He muttered wryly.
Aeris frowned. "Listen. Then tell me you want to die."
He listened. "I don't hear anything."
"Listen harder."
He did, straining his ears.
And then he heard it. A faint, delicate voice.
"Reno, please don't go away. If you left, I don't think I could live with myself.
"I love you. I see that now. I have always loved you, and I always will. If you die, so will I.
"Please come back, Reno. Please…"
The voice faded away.
Reno bolted upright, only to be held down by invisible chains.
"That was Elena!" He strained at his manacles, trying to break free.
Aeris grinned confidently. "Do you want to die now?"
"Hell, no! How do I go back???"
"Just open your eyes."