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T h e   H o l l o w s O f
H    I    R    A    E T H
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T h e  E n d:
Denouement
Part Six/Seven

And so fall away from happiness is what I did. But it turned out this bitter way: that was never the reality. This is the reality. This is my God forsaken life. All of this danger, this bloodshed, this pain—this is the reality.

And, in this reality, I can't escape my routes—what people before me have had to deal with. Just because of a stupid tale. These are the times where you realise, there is nothing humane about some of us humans. I resent them for what they've done to me. I resent them for what they've done to my life.

My blood denies me the reality I thought I had. I don't belong where I thought I did. With a reality worse than a nightmare, I wonder when I'll wake up. I can't breathe. All these uncovered lies are suffocating.

But the worst of all are all the problems built up in my life over the past five months. All the natural teenage drama, all those bumps in the road that made all the drops seem that much scarier. Carter was my best friend. He loved me. And I couldn't return that. I knew I couldn't. And now, I'm just as bad as those other monsters, creating downfalls after hazardous bumps in the road. What have I done?

I've hurt more people than I've helped. Every time I've been saved, someone else has suffered the damage. I'll warn you, please keep your distance. I am an explosive. I am a ticking time bomb. And the next time I explode, it won't just be one or two people falling, it'll be the whole city.

So I'm sorry. I'm sorry I hurt you, and your friends and your family. I swear I didn't mean to. I'll repay you however I can, just, please, let me heal.

—Sky Forest, twenty-four hours post reality.

We arrived at the academy an hour later and I spent a few moments sitting on a park bench looking out at the academy's grounds whilst I waited for news. Moments turned into two hours once I started to think about Carter. I didn't even notice when someone sat next to me.

"Looks nice." The person commented and I glanced to my side to see Cassie sitting cross legged on the bench next to me. I felt like hugging the living daylights out of her, but even she looked tainted from the days events.

"I never pinned you as a nature person." I remarked and Cassie smiled.

"Yeah, I was kidding." She responded and I found myself letting out a half-hearted laugh, playfully punching her arm.

She grabbed my hand, entwining our fingers, "It's going to get better, you know," She assured me and I smiled at her, "You're going to feel strong again one day." Cassie's words spoke more volumes of truth than I think she intended.

Only four months ago she was made more vulnerable than I have ever felt before. Months later she had to relive the moment as she revealed the events to us. Cassie had to feel strong again too. And I had a feeling that she was growing stronger, everyday.

"We make quite the pair, don't we?" I'm not sure how I managed to make a joke, but, nonetheless, it crawled up my throat and fell from my lips.

"Group, actually." She corrected and I frowned, following her gaze over to the rest of the girls. Avery held a bouquet of white carnations, Saph held nothing but herself up as they both stood in yesterday's clothing, like me.

They joined us by the bench as Cassie and I stood up, "Hey," Avery greeted me softly, holding out her arms. My legs moved before I even made the decision. Then I was in her arms. I felt Saph and Cassie join us but I was too busy trying not to cry to take notice of them. We all pulled away and I peered at the flowers.

"We thought we could have a memorial, at the lake," Avery told me as she spotted me glancing at the flowers. I raised my eyebrow, "We heard the news." She responded to my unspoken question.

"News spreads fast." I retorted, playing with the hem of my t-shirt.

"Well, it's big news. They all think you're a hero in there." Saph spoke up, pointing over her shoulder to the academy.

I did a double-take, "A 'hero'?" It sounded preposterous to someone who knew exactly what I had caused. "How did they come to that conclusion?" I added and Cassie smiled.

"You were the only special one in that house, and you came out alive," She informed me and I nodded.

"Well, there was one other." Avery put in quietly and I frowned. What? No, there wasn't. Not that I knew of.

"Zac Espan."

"Zac?" My surprise pushed all other matters to the side momentarily. "What was he doing there?"

"Doing drugs with his friends around the area, apparently," Saph told me.

"That's what they'd like us to think, we're not sure on the real story, though." Cassie shook her head, staring out at the fields in thought.

"So where is he then? Aren't they laying palms down by his feet or something by now?" I questioned, but was greeted by blank stares at the joke.

"What?"

Avery blew out a breath. "They didn't find him."

I froze. "Then how did they know he was there?"

"They found his wallet—and his blood." Saph told me.

"They're assuming he's dead." Cassie pitched in but I had already came to that conclusion already. Dead? But–

"Toby," I felt deflated. "He must be feeling horrible," I pressed my palm to my head; I know how he's feeling. "I have to talk to him–"

"And you can, but let's get this memorial done, yeah?" Avery smiled, holding the bouquet of flowers up.

"Yeah, before Carter gets bored of waiting." Cassie joked and both Saph and Avery just stared at her; they were both surprised when I let out a laugh.

I placed my hand in Cassie's, "He's quite patient with me." I shot a joke back, though it had been very true.

"I'll race you?" I proposed, slipping my hand out of hers. Cassie shot off and I laughed, sprinting after her. I ran for the adrenaline. I ran because I had nothing else to give. I ran because I hoped it would take me off the edge of the world, where I'd disappear into a horizon coloured in blood red and death black.

We reached the lake and had turns at throwing carnations into the lake. It was pointless really—I'd give Carter a proper funeral, somehow. Send his body back home, disguise myself and attend his funeral. I'd risk it for him.

Someone nudged me, "You can cry, you know." Avery told me and I looked down.

"I've cried already." I whispered, feeling my eyes well up.

"At least give us a speech." Saph quipped insensitively.

I smiled, "I could jump into this lake and drown if you'd like too." I responded.

"That's dark." Cassie muttered the same time as Avery shook her head disapprovingly.

"I'm not sure Jameson would approve." She told me, arms crossed over her chest. The thought of Jameson had my insides in flames, yet I was unsure of what the feeling meant. He'd killed Carter; did I still love him?

"Speaking of." Saph muttered and I followed her gaze to see Jameson looking as polished as ever in casual wear—he had changed. Probably got Carter's blood on him, my subconscious added bitterly.

Jameson finally got his guilty arse over to us and I frowned at something in his hand, but Jameson was busy apologising to the girls to pick up on my confusion.

The girls left shortly, and soon it was just us.

"I'm sorry." Jameson told me.

"I know." I responded.

When nothing was said, Jameson held out a hammer and a wooden plaque.

"I got you this, to put where ever you want to." He offered it out to me. I took it and ran my finger over the engraved letters. 'Carter Hays' it read, then underneath was carved his birth date, with his death date.

'14/05/2001–23/08/2016'.

It was sad, really; we shared a date, but it wasn't the right kind to share.

"You thought a plaque would make it up to me?" I shot at Jameson, who appeared to recoil backwards. I scanned the academy grounds, but I couldn't find a suitable enough spot for the plaque. I couldn't find one.

With a sigh, I took the hammer from Jameson's awaiting palm and crossed the river bank, bashing it into the mud beneath a once blossom tree, now a bright green leafed tree, next month it'll be adorned by burgundy or maroon leaves, then those leaves will fall.

I stood upright and admired my work. Then I swivelled round to see Jameson staring at me.

"Is there any news?" I asked him, taking a few steps forward so that I was away from the damp mud.

Jameson straightened, "Yes."

I raised an eyebrow, "So..?" I hinted but Jameson only sighed, averting eye contact. I was about to pester him about it, when he finally came out with it.

"Five of the most elite guardians have discussed it, mulled it over. They've combed it through for any surprise failures, and apparently found none." Jameson told me first and I waited for him to tell me the rest.

"They want to take you back home, Sky."

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Alabama, Arkansas

(You know if you know)

It's a funny joke if you know

So is Sky going home ????

I'm confused and I'm the author

Why you still reading ?¿?¿?¿?¿

That looks amazing

-looks

-amazing

-me

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Next update: Wednesday
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CHAPTER ONE-HUNDRED PART TWO SPOILER:

In the last ever chapter of 'The Hollows Of Hiraeth', anything is still possible.

Is the 'plan' for Sky to go 'back home' real?

Or is it just another way to cause havoc right before the final line of the book?

Lies and secrets will be uncovered before you read the final line of the book.

But who told the lies?

And who kept the secrets?

And what were they about?

I promise you, you'll need a tissue.

Because a relationship isn't proven good enough until it's been tested.

Anything and everything is still possible in the last ever chapter of 'The Hollows Of Hiraeth'