Chapter 434
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Writer's note: This is the final chapter. Hope you've enjoyed it, feel free to post a review.
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There had been news footage, in the week after 2/4, of an elderly man. He was over 100 years old, survived World War II, polio, the Korean war, many tragedies. But he sufferred a heart attack after Mason's big announcement. He was strong, but couldn't survive everything. Eve knew she'd survived much, but eventually she would die. Eve remembered what Benson said. If it's not your time, a million ways won't be enough to kill you. If it is your time, it only takes one. Eve looked at her smart-phone, it was now December 1st 2036. She didn't think she'd even survive until impact, but she was still alive. Then, Eve saw the lights, the phone said it was the Ark. The more she walked towards it the more clearly she could see the mountain. The oxygen tank registered as empty, it was going on fumes at this point, Eve knew she had to hurry. She made it to the cave, she could clearly see the steel doors, just like the ones from the Ark she helped build. Eve could even see the security cameras, she begged to be let inside. The lights were still on, the cameras were still functioning. But the doors never opened. Eve realized, their policy of not letting anyone else inside was still in effect. Or perhaps, it was simply too late for her. Eve started to walk away. But she knew, she had nowhere to go. She could never make it to another Ark. She had no food, little or no oxygen, and her skin was already turning blue from frost-bite. She could barely stand. Eve knew, it was finally over.
Eve was laying in the snow. She wasn't exactly sure how she'd gotten here. She'd left the Ark in rejection, that part was clear. After that she might've desperately tried to walk to another Ark, then collapsed. Eve had also considered jumping off the mountain, finally ending it all and joining Adam, wherever he might be. At any rate, she was here. Eve tried getting up, she couldn't. She'd soon be dead. Eve felt a wolf or wild dog licking her face. They weren't even waiting until she was dead to begin eating her. At least she'd be useful to some creature. Odd that a wolf could survive out here. She'd seen to sign of life in this wasteland, and all oxygen was gone. The dog barked at Eve, it sounded oddly familiar. Then Eve realized, it couldn't really be him. Even if Karen hadn't euthanized him, he couldn't have survived this long out here. Eve opened her eyes, it was Cujo. Amazing how he'd not only survived, but come here to give Eve some final moments of comfort that she didn't deserve. Eve told Cujo to go away, try to find some shelter. A man came to Cujo's side, his new master perhaps.
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Man: Hello Eve. I've come to take you home.
Eve: It's too late for me.
Man: You've been through much, but your fight is over.
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Eve wasn't sure what he was talking about. Then she saw that his face was clean of snow, even here, and how Cujo was still here. This "Man" was God, Allah, the great spirit. But why would God come for her?
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Eve: Why are you here?
God: To take you home, away from this painful world.
Eve: I don't understand. I've done so many bad things.
God: And you've done many good things as well. But that time is over. Take my hand.
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Eve took God's hand. The weight of the last four years was lifted. God and Cujo led Eve to the others. Eve saw them all, her parents, Adam, Karen holding her baby, Nadia and her twin brother Mohammed, Amy, Claire, Jessie, Miguel with his wife, son, even Selena, Benson, general Gardner, Murphy, Julia, RJ, colonel Sadler, Greer, dr Smythe, the morlock girl, Jamal with his son, Wilkins with his children and grand-children, captain Bowen, Tara, Teri, reverand Jenkins, Anne, Lee, Ranger Burkle, Keeler, Jacob, Bianca, Gaines, the Picards, the loyalist boy from Texas, his mother was indeed here to comfort him, Marissa, Kyle, Balto, Omar, Elliot, Lucy, Lily, Ernie, Erica, president Mason, Sharon, Mimi, Rebecca, Jed, Zoey, her baby Mary, Gary, Anton, Zeena, vice-president Allen, the Molochite children, all were here. This place looked like a beach, the way the world must've looked before humans got it into their heads to start killing each other. Everyone looked happier than Eve remembered. Somehow, in this place, all the pain they brought to each other was forgotten. All they remembered were the moments of trying to help each other or other people. Eve was sad to leave Hope behind, but he knew that she and the others would come here when it was their time. As Eve felt the happiness was over her, she knew that she was in Heaven.
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The end.