As she lay in the darkness, Amber could hear someone calling for her to get up. It was peaceful here, and the pain was far away. She floated in the limbo of cool water, waiting for the end. At this point, her heart was going to be taken, and Elysium would be lost. Freya wouldn't be able to hold off Angel for very long, considering how powerful she and her partner had become.
It was the End.
Everything was ending: this world, this galaxy… the entire universe and the billions more connected to it.
Soon Angel would gain access to Yggdrasil, and from there her reign of horror would begin. It grounded the dimensions—all there was and that is and that would be, that otherworldly tree anchored every universe from the beginning of time. If Angel were to turn all of her capabilities for destruction upon that one point…everything would unravel.
And it was entirely Amber's fault.
Countless timelines. Countless chances. She had blown it all. Even though the 'her' from other universes had gone astray, Amber had thought that maybe this time it would be different. What a useless assumption from the beginning. No matter how hard she tried to fight fate in her other lives, this was the inevitable outcome.
Why it all had to culminate on Earth of all places was unusually contrived.
Nevertheless, there was no denying this bleak outcome.
But what was this unfulfilled feeling? This…dissatisfaction?
She had a feeling she was letting someone down.
Whatever. In a few moments it wouldn't matter. Her soul was turning black and rotting, anyway. It would be so nice to just give up, now.
But the feeling remained. No matter how many times within this timeless space that she vowed to give up, to let go, Amber could not figure out why this feeling remained.
Maybe it was…
Could she really find anything to console her?
Was I really meant to find…
She wasn't going crazy was she?
…long…so tired of running…
So many people had died already because of her. So many people in the S-Registry were listed as deceased. There was also Dr. Mihara, who sacrificed himself to protect her. Her mother as well, she had given up herself to protect her. Freya, although she hadn't done the same, was still involved with this Game, due to their entwined fates from their past lives. Mrs. Kokubunji and her son, Mr. Kyousuke and his wife, all of them were suffering because of the bad karma from her past mistakes. Even Dr. Lestat, who had decided to kill herself, yes, Amber felt pity even for her. Her father, as well. She hadn't gotten any sign that he was still alive, so she merely assumed that Angel had already killed him.
But maybe Kotoko was right. Her wallowing in these negative emotions was probably poisonus.
She wanted to cry. But she couldn't. Trapped in the darkness, she could only lie around limply, waiting for her death.
However, a single voice refused to let her drift into oblivion.
« It's alright. What is your heart's deisire? »
Not to die. I don't want to.
« What else do you want? »
I want to see her again.
« Who is she? »
My Very Best Friend.
« Is there anyone else you'd like to see again? »
Yes.
« Who? »
My other friends. My family. And…
« And? »
Ga…
With that tiny little speck of hope glimmering within her heart, Amber opened her eyes. Someone was holding her within their arms.