Warmth surrounds me. My eyes squint against the bright light. I cover my eyes with my hand but sit up.
All around me are flowers as tall as a foot. Roses. Lillies. A Jade Vine. Orchids. A stream of colour travels for miles. I know this place. I've been here before.
I stand up with caution aware of the injuries I sustained. Once Im upright I stretch as if awoken from a long sleep and notice absent mindedly my injuries are gone. How peculiar.
Am I dead? Or under Varian's power again? Who knows.
My eyes analyse the fields before me but find no one. No sign of life other than me.
I weave my way through the flowers and caress the petals of each flower. Its warm here.
No noise. No wind. No war.
Where ever I am I feel safe.
I breath deeply and shut my eyes. I fall back and the flowers embrace me as their own.
Chuckling I pluck the Gladiolus closest. I press it against my nose and inhale. Ha there is no scent how odd.
What is a flower with no essence? Just a pretty exterior with no substance.
Thats how I felt in the world. A pleasing exterior but empty inside yet here I am home at one with nature the way one should be.
Time doesnt move here it just hovers allowing moments to go on forever.
'Go through the wind. Float on the sea. Look at the stars. And think of me.' A melodic voice travels with the wind. The voice unnerves me and I sit up scouring the horizon for any sign of where the voice travelled from.
'Whether its rain. Nothing has changed. Follow the breeze. And come to me.' The voice sounds again and I stand.
I step forward and swivel round but nothing. Not one note.
'Listen to souls. The young and old. Search for the keys. Then join me.'
I run towards the words. The fields stretch for an eternity and I keep running but no sign.
'The path twists. Despite our wishes. Fall on your knees. Then seek me.'
Before the voice fades I sprint towards, burrowing my way through the fields. The flowers tangle around me and try to clasp me in their vines. I push through, I have to find that voice.
In the distance under a large oak tree there sits a figure. As I slow my sprint into a jog the figure looks to be a woman.
As I advance closer the figure becomes recognisable. She sits at the base with her arms wrapped around her knees. Its Lin.
But how can she be here she died? Does this mean I'm dead? Should I feel something?
I come before the tree and duck under the low hanging branches.
Lin does not turn to face me but merely recites the same words I heard from before.
I reach out to touch her shoulder.
'Erza you finally made it.' Lin murmurs.
Im taken back by her knowledge of my presence.
'I am but where exactly is here?' I lower myself to the ground opposite Lin.
Lin's golden hair flutters as a warm breeze passes between us. Her bright blue eyes are guarded and full of exhaustion.
'The in between I guess. I waited for you to come.' Lin's mouth upturns with a movement as if forcing a smile but not quite making it.
'But Lin you died. How can you be here?' My throat thickens as emotions swell within me, the image of her death pushes to the front of my brain.
Lin meets my eyes which are downcast and she hangs her head resigned.
'I never wanted to die Erza. But I couldnt let Katie have a future like that.' Guilt grips me, crushing my chest and forcing any breath from within me out.
Lin looks the same as guilt paints each feature on her face. Her skin pales and her hands pick at her arms as if one pinch could change the truth.
'Good god Im sorry Katie. Im sorry Laith. Im sorry Erza.' Lin's voice cracks and she shakes with sobs.
The view of this strong woman crying over the guilt of her own death causing pain to others pushes me over the edge.
Tears trip from my eyes and I rush forward hugging her.
'Im sorry Lin. I could of saved you. Now Katie has lost her mum and what am I going to say to her? You didnt deserve this.'
Lin shakily grips my arms and pulls me close. Im nose to nose with her. The close proximity causes me to jerk back on instinct but Lin grips me hard stopping me from moving.
'Dont you apologise. You did nothing wrong Erza. Now you promise me something. You live to the end of this. You leave this damned place and live. You fight. You fix things with your friends. You make sure I died for something worthy.' Lin's tears slither down her face as she utters forcefully.
Unable to respond I merely nod and press my teeth down on my lips to draw the pain away from my chest before I implode.
'Thank you Erza.' Lin fades until transparent she floats above me leaving me clambering up desperate to stop her.
Lin beams at me. 'I hate to add more stress to the promise I asked of you but if you could watch over Katie when you can. One day she will know what I died for and why i left her. If she ever needs help falling asleep sing those words. She will know my love is there.'
A final close of Lin's eyes causes her to fade away leaving me once again alone.
My cries continue long after Lin's farewell and now the flowers bring me no comfort. I have to go back and finish what I started but fear pulses in me. Now I have more to fight for than ever and even more people I could lose. Katie will never see her mum again and my stomach clenches at the thought. I should of done more.
The breeze slows and the flower colours dim. My body feels winded and I fall back against the mud.I find myself looking up into the leaves as they slowly fade from green to black.
This place is loses life and it seems so am I.
My body doesnt respond when I will it. My feet do not move. My hands do not twitch. My neck doesnt feel part of my head. I feel as if I'm floating.
A bright light sparks, leaving me squinting and warm.
My surroundings fade away and I find myself enraptured by the light. The light draws me, captivates me and even cultivates me to follow it.
So I do.
'She is coming round. Give her room!'