Chapter 60

All I heard was gunfire as my Grandmother was shooting repeatedly at what I now knew as Shadowlurker. He was fast, way too fast. Maribel nearly emptied her bullet cartridge when he smacked it out of her hands and made a low, distorted growl. He was almost about to attack her but I stepped in and lunged. I manifest my bracers and stabbed him but it seemed like it didn't work. It only made him angry. I frown out of confusion and released my spear heads but he dodged them with little effort. I thought quickly, trying to figure out how I will defeat him. Before I could come up with anything he seemed to laugh and he smacked me aside. I fell into the snow and groaned. I saw Shadowlurker loom over me and he was getting ready to attack when Maribel struck him upside the head with a tire-jack.

He made a hissing noise and struck her across the face. She didn't fall over, barely even moved, and I saw a fire in her eyes that I knew all too well. She was going to kill. Her cheek was bloodied from a claw mark but she paid no attention to it as she brought out a dagger from her belt and swiped at him. What surprised me was that it seemed to actually hurt him. Every stab and graze he gained, a trail of smoke followed. He grew angered by this and snapped at her. She backed away and raised the knife, slashing him across the face. He screeched in pain and held his sizzling face.

I watched his face burn and wondered how it could, when Maribel pulled me up from the ground and I left my thoughts. "We need to go, now," she ordered.

"How did you hurt him?" I asked, still dazed. She dragged me towards the house and said, "Charmed dagger. No more questions?"

"Well-."

"Good, now hurry!"

We were at the door just as Toby was right behind it. "What's going on?" He asked, worry in his voice. Maribel was about to answer when I felt something yank me out of her hold by my hair. I was dragged across the snow, kicking, screaming. I felt like I was about to get scalped when I was pulled up and held by the throat now. I choked and gagged as sharp, bony fingers clamped around my neck, cutting off any oxygen. I clawed at the hand but it never let go. I opened my eyes and saw that damned face of Shadowlurker, still sizzling slightly. Feet dangling, I kicked but it did no good.

Just as I was about to black out, something whizzed right across my line of vision and I dropped to the ground. I looked up to see a clean cut on Shadowlurkers arm that once held a hand. He screeched again and I looked down to see his severed hand sizzling in the snow. I backed away and saw Toby next to me, wielding his hatchets. He severed Shadowlurker's hand...! He helped me up and asked, "Are you okay?" I nodded and said, "Where'd my Grandma go?"

"Inside. She went to get something that might help us," he said. I looked back at Shadowlurker just in time to see him coming for us. Toby stopped him by cutting down on Shadowlurker's shoulder, making the malevolent creature growl. Toby kept chopping down on Shadowlurker, creating more smoke to bellow. He was about to smack Shadowlurker with one of his hatchets but the dark monster grabbed his swinging hatchet and yanked it out of his grip. Then, to my horror, he used the tool against its own wielder. The blade of the hatchet struck Toby's sternum, a bloody crack erupting in my ears. Toby fell back and twitched uncontrollably. By this time Shadowlurker's severed hand regenerated and he was just about to drop the hatchet blade onto Toby's head but I quickly leaped up and stopped it.

I held it back by the hilt, the blade nearly touching the top of my head and I pushed back as I yanked the hatchet away from Shadowlurker. He growled and I ran at him with the hatchet. My weapons didn't seem to work so I'll use one that does. I managed to hurt him but he was still thriving. Shadowlurker smacked the hatchet out of my hand and hit me with such force I flew back and hit a tree trunk, hard. I coughed up blood and slid down the tree trunk, disoriented from the impact. My vision was blurry but I could see Shadowlurker's figure coming towards me, ready to kill me. He screeched and raised up his hand to end me when something jumped in the way and blocked his attack.

"T...Toby...?" I slurred. He covered me as Shadowlurker grew frustrated and clawed at his back like he was a scratching post. Toby took every hit, never flinching or even wincing. Blood splattered everywhere and I was almost sure he was about to pass out. Shadowlurker had had enough and backed away. Toby stood up straight and turned around, letting me be able to see the damage he took. It was terrible. So many gashes and bruises, back a bloody mess of broken skin. It wouldn't even heal within a week. How could he not have at least cringed from all of that?

Toby didn't seem to care that he was bleeding out as he retrieved his fallen hatchet and wielded both of them. He charged after Shadowlurker, striking with his hatchets one by one. Shadowlurker kept growling and blocked the attacks. I managed to regain my strength and I got up to join Toby. I ran in, double teaming the fight. Toby sent Shadowlurker one way, I struck and sent him back. After a while, Shadowlurker screeched and fell to the ground, sizzling smoke and he suddenly disappeared into the snow. Toby and I just stared in confusion as he didn't appear again. I slowly smiled, relieved that we defeated him. "Did we kill him...?" I asked quietly. Toby reluctantly nodded and I huffed. "Thank god it's over," I sighed. Toby nodded and I almost cheered in victory when I felt something pierce my side. I screamed and turned around to see two dark shadows on the snow. One of them isn't mine...!

The other shadow was pierced too, and I saw blood seep up onto the ground from where it was hit. My own blood dripped and I panicked. The second shadow moved, seeming to turn to me and eyes were visible. Shadowlurker...! I should've known it wasn't over! I heard a raspy, cackle and he yanked his hand out of my shadow's side. I felt the force on me too and wailed from the pain. I doubled over and held my bleeding wound. Toby came up and helped me but he was dragged away just like his shadow was dragged. He flailed around, panicking, and he was smacked up against a tree. He fell and was barely moving. He moved stiffly but in the end he couldn't get back up.

I shook my head and got up, not paying anymore attention to my new, fatal wound. My shadow mimicked and I tracked down Shadowlurker. I saw his shadow and attacked the air. My shadow followed but it attacked Shadowlurker instead of nothing. This seemed to be very effective and I kept going. I could hear his hisses and growls echo around me. I stabbed him one last time when he sprang up back into his 3D form and tackled me down. He screeched right in my face and was about to attack when I heard a loud gun shot and he was sent flying off of me. I looked up to see Maribel wielding a shotgun. She scowled, pumping the fore-end of the weapon and she said, "Get up, Elizabeth. I got this."

I have to say that my Grandma...is the fucking coolest alive...! I got up and noticed that Jeff was outside, helping Toby out. Maribel was fending off Shadowlurker but I knew she wouldn't last long without help. So I tried somethings that really help out. I looked up at a tree right behind Shadowlurker and point to it. I focused intently, making my thoughts come to life and do my bidding, commencing what is known as the destruction spell. Then, there was a crackling noise and I looked up to the see the tree being covered in scarlet glowing marks, the bark breaking apart at the lines. I smirked and finally put all my energy into this one simple move. The tree broke, falling down and I called out, "TIMBER!!!" Maribel looked up and jumped out of the way, just in time to dodge the tree as it landed on top of Shadowlurker. I still got, baby! He flailed and struggled under the tree's massive weight. I walked up to him and focused the destruction spell on him, nothing else but him. I built up all of my mental energy to make this one burst of magic last but at the last second he dissolved into shadow, leaving the spell to direct to the ground that was under him, leaving a small crater.

I growled in frustration and I was suddenly uppercutted by him as he popped up from his shadow. I fell back and felt pain around my jaw and chin. Shadowlurker was about to attack me when I focused on another spell and he froze. Time-freeze spell is back! I smiled and took some breathers to regain my energy. I got up and pulled off a tree branch from the fallen tree. I didn't exactly know how long the spell would work so I waited until he became animated. Once he moved in his original motion I smacked the tree branch against his grotesque face and he fell back. He growled like an animal and leaped up. He clawed my face in the process and I grunted.

I scowled and stabbed him, it didn't affect him but it still gave me this chance to use the destruction spell to wreck a part of him. Shadowlurker grew angrier and smacked me aside. I flew to the other side of the open area and groaned. Maribel ran up to me and asked, "Are you okay?!"

I nodded, though my bones ached terribly. She frowned and turned towards Shadowlurker, who was striding towards us. She raised up the shotgun and fired off a couple rounds. He screeched every time a bullet went into him. Though she nearly emptied her whole stash of bullets, it wasn't putting him down. "H-How did you defeat him the first time?" I asked hurriedly. She pumped the fore-end and said, "I didn't."

"What?!?!" I exclaimed. She raised up the shotgun and said, "We fought and then he just disappeared. Not sure if he was weakened or he had something else to do. Either way, neither of us won. But he doesn't go away without taking someone with him." She fired and I screamed over the shots, "What do you mean?!"

Maribel stopped firing and replied with, "Why do you think I stayed away from family and friends? He took one of my best friends and she never came back. That's when I decided to leave everyone behind so something like that would never happen again. I don't exactly know where he takes his victims, but I've heard that its a fate worse than death. Try spending an eternity in your worst fears, never dying yet getting killed over and over again by something different each time. You won't even be a fragment in the universe anymore yet you still live. That's what it's like. And I'm not letting that happen AGAIN!!!" She fired more bullets, the tempo of the shots growing faster and aggressive. I was almost scared. Her movements swift as she reloaded, pumped and fired. It was like a violent dance that I could never master so eloquently.

Shadowlurker was nearly five feet away from us so I decided to take a go at him. I broke the ground under him and he fell into the hole I made. I pinned him down with both sets of spearheads and held him for a while. He thrashed and clawed and I thought about how he could dissolve to shadows at any second. So, I summoned mine and it made sure he didn't escape the hole. Anytime he was close to escaping, Shadow Ellie would beat him around, which worked greatly. Maribel came over and watched the torture, taking entertainment in it. "Do you mind?" she asked and raised up the shotgun. I shook my head and she shot more rounds into him. He thrashed around and I almost felt sorry for him, if not for what happened next. He suddenly breathed out black smoke and it traveled up to my own shadow. She suddenly shuddered and had what might've been a seizure. I heard things crack yet I knew she had no bones. Then she abruptly stopped and snapped her neck to look at me.

I tensed up but didn't falter. She raised up her darkened hand and sent out her own spearheads at me. I screamed and ducked just in time. What's going on with her?! What did Shadowlurker do?! She jumped out of the hole and tackled me down, making me retract the spearheads and letting Shadowlurker go. She pinned me down and started punching me across the face repeatedly. Blood spurted from my mouth and nose and I felt the bruises forming. I finally threw her off and kicked her down. She dissolved into the ground and returned to being my shadow but, to my dismay, she took control. Whatever she did, I mimicked. It's like I'm the shadow now. Some black haze surrounded my limbs and made me do whatever she wanted me to do. She made me point an arm at Maribel and I knew what would happen. No, no, no, no! "Maribel, dodge-!" I screamed but my mouth closed shut on its own. No! My spearheads shot out and caught my Grandmother by her shoulder. She screamed and gave me a bewildered look. I wanted to apologize but my mouth wouldn't budge. They retracted, making her scream in pure agony as they ripped through her flesh. NO, NO, NO! She fell forward, clutching her bleeding shoulder tightly.

Shadowlurker finally got a break from my Grandma's shotgun and he came over, reaching out to me. I was paralyzed as my own shadow let him grab me and drag me away. Before I was taken away any further, I felt someone grab my hand and I looked to see Jeff. He had a look of rage and determination in his black eyes and he pulled me back. Shadowlurker pulled me forward but it was like a game of Tug-of-War, and I was the damn rope. "I'm not letting you take her away!" Jeff yelled. He growled and threw his knife at Shadowlurker, impaling the blade into one of his sunken eyes. Shadowlurker growled and pulled it out and threw it back, landing Jeff square in the chest. He yelled but didn't let go of me.

Just when I thought Jeff was finally getting the upper hand, my shadow came out and stabbed him back with enough force to push him away. He fell back and pulled out his own knife that was still lodged in his chest. He got up and charged after Shadowlurker but I saw something dark pop up behind him and he was dragged by his feet. Jeff landed face first into the snow and was being taken away by none other than his own animated shadow. He freaked out and tried swinging his knife at it but nothing worked. My own shadow returned to its original task and kept control of me once again, while Shadowlurker dragged me away.

I was frozen with denial, denial over the fact that I'm going to lose. I won't! But...I'm helpless. Paralyzed, beaten, broken and disoriented. Even if I did get control over my body again, I don't have enough energy to fight. I wasted most of it on the spells. I'm out. This can't be it. Just when I was about to be prepared for the worst, there was a gun shot and Shadowlurker jerked forward, letting me go in the process. My shadow stopped controlling me as I saw black smoke leave from its mouth and dissipate. I felt it and retched from having shared the same sensation. I looked back and saw my Grandmother holding up the shotgun perfectly, despite her injured shoulder. I smiled and nearly thanked her but Shadowlurker recovered quickly and smacked me. I was sent up and I landed on the roof of the house, getting a hard impact. My shoulder felt numb from having hit the roof first.

I managed to sit up and I was just in time to see Shadowlurker crawling up from the edge of the roof. He snarled at me and sprinted at me with inhuman speed. I scooted back but it was no good as he grabbed me by the throat and held me up again. I felt a gust of strong wind occur and I managed to crane my neck around to see a dark mass of smoke. Is that....a portal...? Oh, crap...

He raised me higher and I watched as black tendrils of shadows emerged from the mass and reached for me. I tried keeping my body away from them but they kept coming. I knew they were going to drag me into that black mass of a portal. This was what Maribel was talking about. This is how her friend was taken away to suffer in eternal torture and sorrow. And now I'll be given the same fate.

I was going to suffer and there was no way out of it. The tendrils were almost near me, ready to drag me in their domain. I was almost about to lose hope when I heard footsteps on the roof. Suddenly I was tackled aside and the tendrils grabbed for the thing that pushed me out of the way. I looked up and dismay swept over me. "Grandma!" I shouted. Shadowlurker growled but didn't attack anymore.

He doesn't go away without taking someone with him.

He took one of my best friends and she never came back.

It's a fate worse than death.

No....

"MARIBEL WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!?!?" I screamed at the top of my lungs. She huffed from resisting the pull of the tendrils and said, "I'm saving your ass!"

"B-But what about-?!"

"Don't worry about it," she said and wailed from the pain of resistance. She planted her feet against the roof to get her footing but she was slowly sliding towards the portal of no return. I shot up and grabbed hold of her hand. She held on too and I pulled her the other away. It wasn't working but I still tried. "Come on...!" I grunted as I put my effort into it. Several moments passed until Maribel had enough and said, "It's no good."

"But I can do it! I'll get you out!"

"Elizabeth, stop!"

"I got this! I can do it! You'll be okay!"

"Stop!"

"I can-!"

"STOP!!!! IT'S NO USE!!!! YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET ME OUT!!! FUCKING STOP!!!"

I obeyed her harsh words, tears stinging my eyes. I didn't let her go but I stopped pulling. Maribel hung her head in defeat, looking saddened by this turn out. The tendrils kept pulling and I could feel their force. How could she stand opposing them? I heard her sniff and I looked to see some tears in her eyes, though her face was stone cold. I had already started crying so this only made the tears fall faster and harder.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled. I sniffled and said, "F-For what?"

"I....I won't be able to go home with you...to see the family my son raised so well. I won't be going anywhere....And I know you were so excited about it so I didn't want to give up on it. But now here I am, about to get sucked into a damn portal to spend the rest of my soon-to-be non existent life in a place worse than Hell. I.....I'm sorry...."

I realized something right then. She's not crying because she's about to be taken away, she's crying because she failed. And she did it for me.

I shook my head in anger and said, "Why did you take the hit?! Why couldn't you let me get dragged in instead?! You wouldn't be in this position right now if you had just stayed out of the way!"

"Are you hearing yourself right now?!" she growled, "you're the proxy now and this is not your fate! You are supposed to save humanity and you can't save it from some other realm! What use am I? I'm old, I was bound to go soon anyway. I've done my part in this God forsaken world....and now I need to sacrifice myself so you can do yours."

My lip quivered and I cried some more. "We both knew that someone would be taken," she said, "And I knew it definitely wouldn't have been you. It wouldn't have been Jeff because...he's your true love and such a fate wouldn't be fair for either of you. And it wouldn't be Toby. I love the kid and it would've destroyed me to see him go. He has a lot more to live for than I do."

"So..all of this time you knew you'd be the one taken away...?!" I cried, growing angered by this. Maribel nodded and mumbled, "I'm sorry. But this is how it has to be."

If I knew anything about being with her, it was to never doubt what she says. And, unfortunately, this was one of those moments where I couldn't doubt. She would be taken. My grandmother that I haven't seen through the majority of my life will be stolen from my arms. All my effort to find her, all my effort to get through to her, and my excitement to have her reunite with my dad....all of that determination I built up only for it all to end like this.

Why...? Why? Why?! WHY?! "It can't end this way," I cried, trembling yet never faltering my hold on Maribel. "I don't want to lose you!" I started, "I can't lose you! I've been through so much just to see you! We did so many things together that made all of this stuff not exist to us, only for that brief time! You helped me, you gave me advice and inspired me to be just as strong as you when I grow old. You're family and I can't lose a part of my family! I don't want to lose you...!" I started bawling my eyes out, tears stained my cheeks and my voice shaked with fear and sadness. Maribel squeezed my hand and gave me a look like she disappointed me. She hung her head and said, "Elizabeth....I need you to do something for me...before I go."

I sniffled and nodded. "I'll do anything. What is it?"

She shuddered as if she was afraid to tell me what she wanted. She groaned as the tendrils kept pulling but she still spoke. "My magnum is in my coat pocket....g-grab it." I did as she told me and fished for her gun. I got it and asked, "Now what...?"

A tear fell from her eye and she said, "Listen, Ellie. Whatever I tell you to do, you have to do it. No matter what."

I nodded quickly and said, "Just tell me. We don't have much time...!" She nodded and with a great deep breath she looked me in the eyes with that stone hard look like she always did and said, "Shoot me."

My grip on the gun handle faltered and my eyes widened. "Wh....what?"

"Shoot me," she repeated, still keeping the hard tone. How can she be so calm about this?! She's telling me to kill her! Wait. It's a fate worse than death. She...would rather die than endure whatever nightmare is behind that portal. There's no way out of this. The only other option she has is to die. But....why me...?!

"I-I can't shoot you! No way! Never!" I refused. She frowned and said, "You have to! I can't suffer through that wretched place like many others have! You need to do this!"

"NO!"

"YES Elizabeth!" She snapped. I froze up and stared at her like she was a monster. She sighed and said, "Please...just do it. Don't let me suffer. I'm begging you. Please...!"

Never in my life has my body trembled so intensely. I can't do this. But I know I have to. She stared at me, pleading for me to do what she wants. She's so determined. She's calm. I could never be like her. And if I do this, then I will never be able to see such boldness ever again. My father will never see her. She'll never be seen again. I'm saving her...yet I'll be killing her. Why do I have to do this...?!

"Elizabeth," Maribel caught my attention and I looked up, barely able to see her face through the blur of tears. They fell and I felt like a little kid. She squeezed my hand gently, calming me only a little. I sniffled and looked her in those golden brown eyes of hers. They looked so sad. But, probably not as bad as mine. "Ellie...please," she mumbled, "Do this for me. You can live on without me. You'll be fine. You're strong, beautiful, determined and stubborn as hell! I knew that, at some point, my son would have a child. And you're exactly how I always thought you'd be. I'm proud of who you've become. So I know...I know that you'll make it through this. You're an Umber after all. You can make it through anything." She flashed me a smile, one that was care-free, one that was at peace, the smile that made her look even more elegant. It was the smile of preparation. She was fine, she had no worries, she was sure. She...was ready.

I tightened my grip on the gun and raised it with a trembling hand. I clutched Maribel's hand with the one in hers and cried in shaky, quiet breaths. I put the barrel of the gun to her head and she sighed. I felt so weak, so little. I felt low. But I knew I had to do this. I would never let her suffer in a place worse than Hell. I looked her in the eyes and she had no ounce of fear in those golden brown orbs. I can't falter. I gulped audibly and sobbed some more, closing my damp eyes.

"Ellie," she called out softly and I opened my eyes to see her smile again. "I love you," she said, "Tell your father I love him too....and that I'm sorry for everything." I nodded and brushed my finger against the trigger. "And tell Jeff to watch his back. Make sure he doesn't screw himself over." She chuckled and I managed a small smile. She closed her eyes and sighed in content. "F-Forgive me...," I stammered through sobs. She opened her eyes so they shined brighter than ever and she said, "Always." Maribel squeezed my hand one last time until I finally did what she wanted. I pulled the trigger.

The sound of the shot echoed throughout the air around us, cutting though the forest and whatever stood in its way. It was louder than any other shot I've heard today. As soon as I fired, her grip on my hand went limp and she got dragged in. I lunged out to grab for her again but I was too late, and the mass of black smoke disappeared, along with Shadowlurker. I just stood there...blank. After what seemed like forever, I regained my senses and gradually cried. I sobbed, wheezed, whined like a little kid. I fell to my knees and pulled at my hair. I wiped away tears and noticed the blood splatter on my face, my Grandmother's blood. I trembled and for a second I thought I'd have a seizure.

I felt heat build up in my chest and I lashed out. I jumped off the roof and used the destruction spell on the trees around me. I snapped them in half, stripped them of their bark and twisted them in impossible ways. Snow melted, leaves burned to ash, trees impaled trees and all I could feel was shame. I murdered an actual human being for the first time and, they were family. I'm a disgrace, a killer, a wreck. I'm nothing but a monster. And all monsters do is destroy. That's all they do. That's all they ever do...

Jeff's POV

Toby wasn't out cold, surprisingly. He still clung to consciousness as I treated his wounds. "How the hell did you endure this?" I had asked.

"I can't feel pain," he had replied and that was that. He was tired so I could understand his short talk. Tired. He's tired. Never thought I'd see him this way...

Now I was still treating him and was nearly done when we heard a single gunshot. I stopped abruptly and listened for anything else. It was deathly silent after the shot so I wondered what had happened. Then, a loud, blood curdling scream erupted and I froze. It didn't freak me out because it was shrilled or that whoever it is was in danger. No, I know a scream when I hear one. That's the scream of agony, sorrow and rage. It was Ellie's scream.

Right after the scream sounded, I could hear trees snapping, crunching, the ground shook slightly. The smell of burning traveled through the air and I wondered what was going on right now.

A couple minutes later, I finished helping Toby and all the noise died down. I got up and helped Toby to his feet too. I started walking around the house and gaped at what I saw. A wide circle of burning trees or stumps stood and the ground was seared, nearly black. And Elizabeth sat in the middle, sobbing quietly. I ran forward, despite my own wounds, to see her. I jumped over a charred stump and stopped a few feet from her. She hung her head, black hair covering her crying face. She trembled and held a gun in her right hand, clutching it aggressively. "Ellie...," I called out softly.

She didn't respond or flinch from the sudden noise. I took this as a chance to inch closer towards her. "Ellie...what happened...?" She didn't talk and I grew worried. I was finally right in front of her and I crouched down to see her more clearly. I gently grabbed the gun and slowly slid it out of her hand. I put the gun in my pocket and grabbed for her hand. It was cold and damp from sweat, blood and tears. I finally realized the intensity of her shaking and I was afraid that she'd shatter into pieces at any second. I stared down at her and looked around. Something was wrong.

"Wh...where's Maribel...?" I asked. She stopped trembling and I could hear her cry more audibly. I was about to ask what was wrong, when she said, "I killed her..."

"You what...?!" I said, shock lining my tone. She looked up and I saw her eyes filled with tears. It broke my heart to see that and I nearly choked. "Sh-She was going to be taken away...and we'd never see her again," she explained shakily, "She told me to.... She told me to shoot her b-because she'd rather die than spend eternity in endless torture...and I couldn't let her endure that kind of fate."

I stared at her, bewildered by what happened. Maribel is dead...

"She sacrificed herself for me," Ellie mumbled, "But...." -she let out a sob- "I-I should've been the one to die...not her! I was the one who was supposed to be taken away! And now my Grandmother is dead and it's all my fault!!!"

She cried and I couldn't help but feel useless. I picked her head up and brushed away falling tears with my thumbs. "It's not your fault. Maribel....Maribel did what she knew was right....even if she risked her life in the process. You can't die. Not when you have so much to fight for."

"But I could've saved her...!" she cried.

"You did what you could," I said, "your Grandma did what she had to for all of us. Don't blame yourself."

She shook her head and said, "It is...! I held the gun. I pulled the trigger. I watched her die! I murdered my own flesh and blood! How am I not to blame...?"

"You just aren't," I said and she closed her eyes. "If I can't protect my own Grandma from evil," she started, "then how will I be able to protect all of humanity? I'm not strong, I'm not brave, I'm not capable of anything! I'm just me and I'll end up getting everyone killed! I do nothing but screw up. I destroy. I-I can't protect anyone. Why am I the proxy if all I'm going to do is fail in the end?! Why me?! I'm worthless! I can't do anything right! I can't do this! I-I can't!"

She covered her face and broke down in more tears, trembling once again. I frowned and spoke with hardness in my tone. "So what if you're weak? So what if you screw up? So what if you're worthless? There's nothing wrong with being a wimp."

She stopped crying and looked up at me, almost revolted by my reply. I went on, "No one is strong. No one is brave. No one can be a success without being a failure. There's no such thing as being courageous, but being able to risk anything for what you believe in. And strength doesn't mean to have muscle or to be super smart or to be tough as stone and not give a shit about anything. It's to be able to admit that you fucked up and still try again and again. And sure, maybe you can't save everyone in the world, but you still have to fight for the ones who have the hope of surviving. No one is perfect because there's no such thing as perfect, only balanced in good and bad. And to go so far as to call yourself worthless right in front of me? You're worth everything to me that diamonds and gold will never be. And don't forget that me and everyone back at the mansion is here to help too. They'll fight for you and so will I. You're not alone. So don't think for second that you are. You're a wimp. I am too. Everybody is and maybe if everyone accepted that then society would be easier to handle. And I know this contradicts everything I just said but, admitting to yourself and everyone you care about that you're a fucking wimp, makes you strong. Life isn't fair. Everybody's a loser, a freak. Everybody is a wimp. So you're not alone. You'll never be."

Her tears stopped flowing and she just stared at me in shock. I brushed her hair back and her gaze softened. The tears started welling up in her eyes and I was going to wipe them away when she lunged forward and hugged me tightly. She cried, sounding like a little kid, wheezing and gripping my jacket like one too. "I-I'm scared," she wailed, "I'm terrified! I don't wanna lose anyone anymore!"

I wrapped my arms around her trembling, fragile body and leaned my head against hers. I cradled her as she cried and I felt bad for not doing the same. I was sad, devastated even, but I just couldn't cry. But I would if I could right now and I wouldn't try hiding it. After several minutes of holding her, Ellie's crying died down until she was only sniffling every now and then. As I held her, I looked up to see Toby sitting on one of the charred stumps. He had a glum look on his pale face and I knew he heard what had happened. I felt bad for the guy. The one person who cared for him and took him in had just died. He surely saw Maribel as a motherly figure. Now she was gone and he wasn't sure what to do anymore.

He sat there for a while until he suddenly got up and went around the house. Toby came back with some wood and tools and...went to work...

He cut through the pieces of woods with a hacksaw and threw the ones he didn't need aside. When he was done he ran inside the house and came back out with a blanket and some of Maribel's things like her clothes, jewelry that I'm sure she had rarely used and a single paper that must've been a photo of her. He put them all neatly in the blanket and started digging a hole with a shovel. I just watched with a curious expression. He finished digging the hole and placed the blanket in the hole then covered it with dirt again.

By this time, Ellie started watching him too. He got a hammer and nails and started hammering two pieces of wood together, one on top of the other. He would miss the nail sometimes and would hit his own hand, but he never flinched once. The two pieces of wood were stuck together now and he got a nail and started carving into the top one. I wondered what he was doing and once he was done he picked up his work and started hammering it into the ground next to the lump of dirt that held Maribel's things under it. It went into the ground, one inch, two inches, three and then he stopped once it was firmly in place. He dropped the hammer and stepped back to look at what he made. Toby's hands were bleeding, bruised and possibly broken yet he didn't care for them.

I finally caught a glimpse at what he created and my breath hitched. It was a cross...with 'Maribel Janus Umber' carved across the horizontal piece of wood. I felt Elizabeth stiffen and she got up to walk towards Toby. I followed after her and she stood next to Toby. "I'm so sorry," she mumbled and let a few years fall. He didn't say anything and I was almost worried that he didn't like her for what she had done. She had no choice. Before I could think of talking to him, he pulled Elizabeth in for a hug and, he started to cry. The poor guy looked completely broken. He shook like never before. I couldn't do anything but stare at the cross. Despite everything, he had managed to make the cross perfectly with steady hands.

I don't usually pray. I haven't prayed at all ever since my accident. I had thought there was no use to it if I'd still be damned. But I did and it wasn't traditional but I still wished Maribel to be at peace. I'm sure that this was the first time in a long time that she was ever at peace. And it relaxes me to know that she's happy somewhere. I hope Elizabeth sees that too.

After several minutes, Toby and Elizabeth calmed down and we went back inside the house. Toby retreated to his room and so did Elizabeth. I sighed, knowing that they wouldn't be coming out until morning. So I took this time to go back outside and work on the car again, despite my minimal knowledge on vehicles. I used the rust remover Ellie bought earlier today on the engine like Maribel said. I finished fixing the tires and gave the car a good thorough wash even though it was freezing outside. I made sure there was fuel in the tank and then decided that I was finished. I walked back into the house and plopped onto the couch.

Today was excruciating. I felt useless. And I know that all of us felt like we could've done something to save Maribel. I sighed sadly and brushed my hair out of my face. Ellie and I have to go home tomorrow, at the very least. I just hope she's got enough energy to endure the long trip back. I know she intended for Maribel and Toby to come with us but...I guess Toby will be the only one coming. I hope they're both okay. It looks like I'll be the one holding everyone up now. Clearly right now, they can't do it themselves. I sighed and laid across the couch, resting my aching body. Sleep won't be coming easily but I should still try. So, I drifted off, making sure worries don't get to me. At least for tonight.

Elizabeth's POV

The next morning, Jeff said that we had to leave. I didn't complain about it. We were going to leave today, anyway. So I started getting all of my things together and putting them in my bag. I remembered I left my regular shoes in the living room so I went to get them. I walked and in and grabbed them but when I turned around I stopped in my tracks. My eyes laid upon my Grandmother's gun that was on the new coffee table. My face darkened and I walked over towards it. I leaned down and grabbed it gently. I looked at it and frowned. It still had tiny drops of blood on the barrel. I gripped the handle tightly and grit my teeth. I still feel like a murderer. But I can't keep putting myself down like this. I still have Zalgo to deal with too. And his fucking henchman, Shadowlurker. I'll make sure that that motherfucker pays for what he has done...! He will die and I WILL defeat Zalgo. For my Grandma, and for everyone else who could possibly die during the fight. They will not go unavenged.

I put the gun in the back of my pants and walked back into my room. I finally finished packing and I brought my bag into the living room. Jeff was putting his jacket on and he asked, "You're ready?" I nodded and he zipped up his jacket. Toby came out of the hall with only a plain T-shirt and sweatpants. His hands were bandaged now so his wounds were covered. "How come you're not dressed?" I asked him. He twitched and answered, "I'm not going."

Jeff and I gave him puzzled looks and he asked, "Why aren't you coming with us?" Toby rubbed the back of his neck and said, "I...I feel like I should stay here. Now that Maribel is gone....I feel like I have a duty to take care of the house. I'm sure it's what she would've wanted."

"But...you'll be so lonely," I stated sadly. He shrugged and flashed us a big smile. "I'll be okay guys. Don't worry. I probably wouldn't even know what to do if I did come along. But I will manage." Jeff nodded and sighed, "It's been fun, buddy."

Toby nodded and opened his arms as an invite for a hug. "It's not gay, bro," Toby persuaded and Jeff rolled his eyes as he walked up to the twitching man and hugged him. I smiled at the moment and Toby beckoned me over once they stopped. I stood in front of him and I felt nervous. Toby pulled me in for a hug and said, "I don't hate you for what you did so don't be so nervous around me, okay?"

I nodded and gently hugged him back, still reluctant. He chuckled and ruffled my a hair. "You're like a sister to me. And I'm glad to have met you." - he leaned in- "And Jeff's very lucky to have you. Make sure to remind him of that. Maribel always rambled about how men are so forgetful and oblivious-."

"Ahem!" Jeff interrupted, frowning. Toby laughed nervously and continued, "Anyways...be safe and good luck."

"I will," I replied and hugged him one more time before Jeff and I started leaving. We walked out to the car and got in. I waved good-bye to Toby as he waved to us at the front door. I started the car and made way for the road, leaving behind a place that changed me in ways I couldn't imagine. My determination has strengthened and I'm better prepared than before. I still won't be able to cope with my Grandmother's death nor will I be able to cope with myself for having done what I did but I have Jeff and my parents and friends and the others at the mansion. And I have a feeling that I'll be dealing with more of this when Zalgo comes around. As if this wasn't harsh enough as it was...

"Are you okay?" Jeff interrupted my thoughts. I looked over briefly and nodded. "Yeah, so far," I said and managed a smile. He gave me a concerned look but left me alone for now. I reapplied my grip on the steering wheel and shuddered as my Grandmother's gun dug into my hip. Please...be happy, I thought and kept on driving back home.