Chapter 3
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Note: This chapter will involve the actual merge, but it is not the end of the story. The rest will deal with the consequences of the merge, on the victor and their loved ones.
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Lizzie and Josie arrived a few minutes before the eclipse was scheduled to begin. Both knew this had to be done, but neither was particularly eager to do this. Their parents, Alaric and Caroline, were also here. Neither was happy about this situation, either way they were about to lose a daughter. Hope and MG were also here, MG was hoping Lizzie would win, Hope was hoping Josie would win. Each was just hoping that their respective girlfriend would live, even at such a terrible cost. Neither one blamed the other for hoping for this, it was just a terrible situation that they were all in. Noone else from the Salvatore School was allowed to be here, they would only be feeding their own perversions by watching this. Josie and Lizzie hugged, and each one said "I love you." This was the last time they would ever embrace as sisters. The ritual began, everyone watched anxiously. Hope and MG each silently hoped that their respective girlfriend would survive. Caroline and Alaric had no preferences, they merely held hands and braced themselves for the inevitable. The twins fell, only one would ever open her eyes again. The wait was only a few minutes, but felt far longer. Noone was exactly certain how long this was supposed to take, they all feared something had gone wrong, and that both girls were dead. But then, one opened her eyes. It was Lizzie. Caroline and Alaric cried as they hugged their daughter, and mourned her sister. MG allowed himself a small smile, and then quickly stopped. He was glad that Lizzie had survived, but he too mourned for Josie. Hope just cried and walked away. Her girlfriend was dead, and she feared that if she stayed she would do something she couldn't take back.