Chapter 62

Return from Darkness

David stared at the woman in front of him, his mind rejecting everything about this scenario. It was impossible, it couldn't be possible. For a few seconds, silence reigned high before David tried to speak. Instead of a word a small sound emitted from David's throat. Trying again, David couldn't manage to form any words. Instead he felt his legs give and didn't do anything as he fell back, landing in a seated position on the bed.

"…h-how…?" David choked, rapidly blinking as if to get rid of this impossible fragment of his imagination.

Dorothy faced David with a sorrowful expression, her faded eyes staring ahead at David, looking but not seeing.

"You were dead…" David whispered, unable to raise his voice any more. "I saw you…" Tracing a finger across his throat, as if relieving the memory in the morgue, David shook his head in denial. "This is some kind of dream… it has to be… The fact that you are here just proves that…"

"I am not a dream, David. I am real. More real than I have ever felt before." Dorothy sat down next to the shocked David, hands crossed over her lap.

"No… you are not real." David still shook his head, refusing to look at Dorothy again. "I just… I just gotta wake up…"

Frowning slightly, Dorothy placed her own hand on David's. "I am real. Do you feel my skin?" Dorothy picked David's hand up and placed it on her cheek. "See? The same as always."

Finally, David turned, feeling Dorothy's cheek. Bringing his hand back down, Dorothy's still clasped in it, David took a breath. "If you are real then… then how is it you are here?"

"It is… somewhat simple, despite sounding impossible." Dorothy admitted, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. "I was brought back by Miles, Joshua's brother."

"Brought back?" David managed a weak chuckle. "That doesn't sound simple."

"It seems that if you are one of these Chosen that you are given special privileges." Dorothy started. "Joshua, Lisa, Miles, Gregory Fisk and… and Gerald Myers." Not one to ever hold anger, even Dorothy's pure features turned slightly angry for a second before merging back to their usual calm placement. "As we know, they are perfect humans. Living to an old age and not affected by injuries or diseases, other than the extremes." Dorothy looked up to make sure David was following her words. He was concentrating intently, his jaw set as he concentrated on her words. "Those are not the only benefits those five have. They can make an… offer. Joshua said it was more of a trade, which I guess is more accurate. You can trade your life for another."

"Trade your life?" David blinked slowly. "You mean, you'll lose your live to save somebody else?"

"Exactly." Dorothy noticed David's expression. "However, it only works with people who did not die as a result of Death. People that were unfairly… murdered. Like all of Gerald Myers victims…" The expression of anger briefly flitted across Dorothy's features one more time. "Jake, Dylan… and me. Our deaths were not… scheduled, as it were."

"So… are you saying that… someone traded their life to save you? Who would be so selfless to do that? Was it… was it Joshua?"

"No. It was Miles."

David tried to hide his confusion but couldn't manage it. "Why would a young boy do something like that? A boy with his whole life ahead of him?"

Dorothy took a breath. "He was trapped along with his mother, Lisa. Gerald Myers gave Joshua an impossible choice. A choice between his mother and his brother. Only one person was allowed to survive."

"Oh man…" David's eyes widened. "And that was… he chose Miles to… to die?"

"It was not like that, David. Joshua is having a very hard time with this situation. He was keen to explain when he met me in the morgue earlier that he could not make the choice as a family member. The only way he could do it so both of them would not die was by choosing the person who would be most helpful in defeating Gerald Myers."

"That's not something I would ever want to experience… where is Joshua now?"

"He is… sorting things out for now." Dorothy grew silent for a moment. "So… you understand why I am here right now. It was because Miles knew what the choice would have to be, and in his last moments made the trade with Death. I am… somewhat humbled that I have been given a second chance at this world. Not only that, but I am not on this list anymore. I am the equivalent of a chosen. An almost guaranteed survival."

David smiled. "That's brilliant, Dorothy. I'm glad you were given that. If anyone deserves it, it had to be you."

"Joshua didn't mention anything about what happened since I… I went away, other than that choice. Has anything bad happened… did anyone…" Dorothy trailed off.

Taking a breath, David nodded. "Far too many people have… have died. Tyrone, Joshua, Riley and Becca."

"Oh…" Dorothy looked crestfallen, and rightfully so.

"But Fisk is getting close. We'll be able to get to Myers soon. I'm certain." David growled.

"You sound… far too angry than you usually get. He did something personal to you, yes?"

David's free hand clenched in response to the question. "Very much personal. He murdered you, for one thing. The person I loved…" David started getting fuelled up, not catching Dorothy's expression. "Not only that, but he caused all of this. If it wasn't for him, there would be no list and no-one would have died. Lucy wouldn't have… she…" David resolve since listening to Dorothy starting to break down.

"Lucy… that's your…"

"Yes. My ex-wife. I was going to be hit by a car, but Nick here," David motioned to Nick, who was standing silently in the corner, allowing Dorothy and David to talk. "Pulled me out of the way. But Lucy was there as well. I went back and I put my life on the line to save her. But she still died. I was just starting to fix everything and then she went and died…" David stood up again, anger fuelling the muscles in his legs. "This is painful for me, Dorothy. This is… really, really painful. I mean, I find out you died, the woman I loved… and I… in a desperate scenario went to Lucy. I practically begged for forgiveness. And you know what? She accepted. We were started to fix everything and then she disappears… I was so certain I was going to break, Dorothy. You were gone, Lucy was gone, I had no-one I could rely on, no-one to keep me strong. I was ready to end it. End it quickly and join you and her again. Then you come back and all I can think is that the fates are taunting me." David took a deep breath, finding his throat tightening. "And now I cannot even bring her back since she died in an accident… You are back and I feel like… I know this is selfish but I feel like I'm betraying her."

"I understand." Dorothy said softly, standing up and facing David. "A strong man would have fallen apart, David. You managed to hang on just long enough."

"Yeah. And now I'm fuelled to rip Myer's face from his skull." David snarled before his face softened. "But I gotta… I got a lot of stuff to do. I need to inform Max… oh Christ, he's gonna hate me." David shook his head with gritted teeth. "I'll arrange the funeral though." He turned back to Dorothy. "It is amazing you are back but I'll have to ask you not to come with me to Max or the funeral."

"Do not worry, I understand. This is about you and Lucy. I would just be intruding."

"Thank you." David felt his eyes grow hot again and turned around towards the door. "Thank you. Nick, tell the nurse I'm leaving. I gotta go to Max soon."

"Wait, David, before you go… You said two times now… You said that you loved me." Dorothy blinked slowly.

"I did." David simply confirmed, before exiting the room leaving Dorothy with her thoughts.

A/N:- First off, vomiting + plus infection in the ear = unable to update well. Hopefully you understand the delay XD I can't write anything when throwing up everywhere.

Thanks to Bookreader2010 and PrincezzShell101 (That's weird writing that since using Gabe's-Girl-Forever since the beginning lol).

So, we are building up to perhaps the main reason for the title of this story, and that isn't even the end! All I say, is birthday preparations are in order for Chloe.

Finally, the next chapter based on Miles of the Chosen Five is out. Have a look!

'Till next time!