"Goddamit!" Alannah said she found herself in the place where she started. Alannah had explored every area, tried every door and bloody mirror, but she could not find an exit. Alannah had tried to walk along the coastline, but after about a mile, she ended up where she started.
"Still no luck?" Emily asked.
"No, I just don't get it! " Alannah snapped.
"Maybe you are overthinking it. Maybe the answer is right in front of you, "Emma suggested.
"If you know the answer, why not just tell me?" Alannah shouted.
"I told you, it does not work like that. If you want to live, you are going to have to figure it out! " Emily gently explained.
"If I want to live," Alannah said, thinking. Life and death are different sides of the same coin.
"What are you thinking?" Emily said
"That I have only one choice left. I have to end this existence. If it works, I go back. If it does not work, I will move on, " Alannah said logically as she Agot up and started to walk towards the sea.
"Alannah! " Emily shouted, and Alannah turned. She was engulfed by her mother's arms. "Well done, I knew you would work it out. I am so proud of you and love you with all my heart. We will meet again when the time is right." Emily said and Alannah nodded.
"I love you too, and I miss you so much!" Alannah said, crying.
"I know, Sweetheart, now go and get that young man of yours. He is waiting for you," Emily said with a wink.
Alannah smiled and continued to walk towards the sea. She did not swim but instead kept walking until the sea was above her shoulders and eventually her head. She fought the urge to stay afloat as she felt the water enter her lungs. Alannah closed her eyes and her last thoughts were of Kurt before she slipped into darkness.
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"Mum, when will sleeping beauty wake up?" Edward said
Does she need a kiss from Uncle Kurt? Chynna said
"I am not sure, sweethearts, she is very sick and needs to sleep," Grace said, looking down at Alannah. She promised Kurt she would watch over Alannah whilst he was at Akihiko's trial in Mexico. Like almost everyone else she knew, Kurt did not want to go, but he needed to be there in person to testify.
"No fair, we want to meet Aunty!" Edward said with a pout, and Chynna nodded. Grace sighed. How could she explain to her 4-year-old twins that Alannah might never wake up? Thankfully, Grace's phone rang, and it was Xan. He had promised to ring her with any updates.
"I just need to take this call. I will be right outside, so don't touch anything!" Grace instructed as she quickly walked to the other side of the door. She kept checking through the glass window.
"You need to kiss her!" Chynna said.
"Owww no! You do it!" Edward said firmly. The thought of kissing a girl simply appalled him!
"Fine!" Chynna said, and she reached up and kissed the sleeping woman on the cheek. Chynna and Edward were disappointed that nothing seemed to be happening.
"It didn't work. We will never meet Aunty!" Edward said sadly. Just then, they heard a groan and saw the woman's eyes flutter open. "She has green eyes like us!" Chynna said, jumping up and down excitedly.
"Hello..." Alannah croaked, confused.
"You are awake!" Edward exclaimed.
"Mummy said she didn't know when you would wake up. Because of you, Uncle Kurt has been so sad and grumpy!" Chynna scolded.
Alannah opened her eyes, and it took a few moments to focus. The light was so bright! When she managed to focus, she saw two black-haired, green-eyed children staring at her. They looked familiar somehow.
"Our Mummy is a Doctor!" Edward blurted it out proudly.
"You are Grace and Xan's children!" Alannah said as she moved into a sitting position. It was a monumental effort.
"Of course!" Edward said.
"Here, drink," Chynna ordered passing Alannah a pink water bottle with a unicorn on it. Alannah sipped a few sips, and it soothed her sore throat.
"Thanks, Where I am? " Alannah said.
"Hospital," Edward said, and Alannah smiled.
"Where is the hospital?" Alannah asked.
Chynna said proudly, "London, which is the capital of the UK."
"And Uncle Kurt? Where is he? " Alannah asked.
"Mexico!" Edward said he was not going to be outdone.
"Yes, she is fine. Sadly, there has been no change. The longer it is, the less likely it is that she will wake up, " Alannah heard Grace say. "Love you too, Xan. Keep an eye on Kurt." Grace said as she hung up the phone and turned around.
"Hi Grace," Alannah said with a weak smile.
"Oh my God, Alannah, you're awake!" Grace said, running towards her, dropping her phone.
"Surprise! " Alannah mumbled.
"You don't know.. don't know how worried we have all been... it has been so hard!" Grace said with tears in her eyes.
"Mummy, I kissed her and she woke up!" Chynna and Grace laughed.
"Grace? I brought a coffee. " Chris he said as he walked in. He saw Alannah was awake and almost dropped his coffee. "You are awake! I'll get the doctors! " He went back outside and shouted for the doctors and nurses. Alannah could see them running in.
"Grace, please don't leave me... I am unsure." Alannah said she was feeling confused and overwhelmed.
"Great Granddad, would you mind taking these two down to the coffee shop for lunch?" Grace said, and Chris nodded.
"Don't tell Kurt, I don't want him to worry," Alannah said, and Chris nodded again.
"Come on you two, there are those finger sandwiches you like," Chris said as he led the two kids out.
Alannah was then prodded, poked, and tested to within an inch of her life. "Well, all the test results are coming back normal. You do have some muscle wastage, but that is to be expected with the length of time you were under." The doctor said
"How long was I under?" Alannah quickly asked.
" Six months," the doctor informed her.
"What? No way! That can't be, right? " Alannah said, worried. Suddenly, memories came flooding back to her.
"Trying to hasten your death?" Hakaru Said
"No, hastening yours," Alannah said, and with a final effort, she slashed Hakaru's neck with her Assassin's ring. Blood spurted from Haraku as he let go of his sword and dropped to his knees.
"You will never hurt my family, you Son of a Bitch," Alannah said as Hakaru drew his last breath.
"He dipped his blade and then stabbed me," Alannah whispered as she quickly looked at her stomach. She expected to see a large wound but instead saw a large pink scar.
"Doctors, could you please give us a moment?" Grace said, and the doctors left.
"Alannah, you drugged Kurt and fought Hakaru. You got seriously injured and have been in a coma for six months," Grace said.
"Is he mad? He was going to die and I had to protect him! " Alannah said, trying to collect her thoughts into some sort of order.
"Alannah, he has not been doing well. He partitioned the council to have you moved to England and they agreed, " Grace said.
"Has... has he moved on?" Alannah asked. She dreaded the question, but six months was a long time.
Grace laughed and drew back a curtain that was on the other side of the room. There was a complete set up of a desk, a fold-away bed, and even a small wardrobe and a chest of drawers.
"He rarely leaves this room. He kept saying home is where Alannah is. So no, he has not moved on and he never will, " Grace said. Alannah looked at the set-up and started to cry.
"Oh Alannah, what is wrong? I thought you would be happy!" Grace said, Confused.
"He must have been so lonely and... I left him for so long! He must really hate me! " Alannah cried.
"No, no, Alannah! Look, you are all over the place at the moment. But let me put your mind at ease. Kurt loves you so much. He is going to be so, so happy when he sees you! " Grace said. But Alannah was not so sure.
Three days later, Kurt was very tired but happy. Akihiko was going to finally pay for what he did to Alannah, and Kurt could not wait to see her again. James had come to the hospital with him to have a full debrief. They got out of the hospital escalator and walked straight into Alannah's room.
"Where is she?" Kurt asked, fear gripping his heart as he saw the empty bed before him.
"They might have moved her mate or.." James started to say.
"Do not say it! Do not say she is dead!" Kurt roared as he proceeded to start smashing the room up. He flung a chair at the wall, and it broke into bits.
"Kurt!" James shouted, but he knew Kurt had gone into one of his rages.
"She is not dead; come here! Now, find her before I kill everyone in this hospital! " Kurt shouted,
"A bit dramatic, don't you think? I only went to the loo! " A voice he dreamed of hearing again said He turned and saw Alannah in a wheelchair being pushed by Grace.
"Is this a dream again? Alannah, if it is, please stay with me a little longer. I beg you. I miss you so much, Sweetheart. " Kurt said quietly, his voice thick with so much longing that it made Alannah's heartache.
If this was a dream, don't you think I would say something a bit more romantic than saying I had just been to the loo? Alannah said simply.
Kurt stared at her for a few seconds, trying to work out Alannah's practical logic. He suddenly realised his little fox had outsmarted him again.
"Alannah, you are awake!" Kurt said, suddenly realising the truth.
"And you made a mess!" Alannah said standing up, she was still a little unsteady, but she was getting there. Kurt rushed over and pulled her into a hug. He buried his head in her hair and proceeded to sob. Grace motioned for James to leave so they could have some privacy.
"It is OK, Kurt," Alannah said soothingly as Kurt clung to her.
"I missed you so much! Why did you do it, Alannah? I almost died that day when I saw you so injured...I had to say goodbye...I wanted to die with you. But you promised never to leave me... so I kept going. " Kurt mumbled
Alannah held him for a few minutes and then put her forehead on his. I am sorry, Kurt, that it took so long for me to get back to you. I won't leave you again, I swear, "Alannah whispered." Kurt smiled and kissed her lips tenderly.
Alannah's legs gave way, and Kurt caught her. Alannah! " Kurt said, worried as he caught her.
"Sorry love, my muscles are a little weak," Alannah said as Kurt picked her up.
Kurt said as he gently laid her on the hospital bed. "We will get you strong again. I will make sure you receive the best of everything."
I will be fine. I just need to take it easy for a few days. Come lie with me on the bed. I want to feel your arms around me, "Alannah said as she turned on her side and made room. Kurt took off his shoes and suit jacket before getting into the bed by her side. He put his arms around her and pulled her close.
"I am sorry I was not here when you woke up," Kurt said.
Don't be silly, you were needed elsewhere. Besides, it was not like I was going anywhere! " Alannah said sleepily.
"Definitely not!" Kurt growled and kissed her forehead. Alannah?
But there was no reply. Instead, he heard the soft snoring of a sleeping Alannah. which, to him, was the best sound in the entire world.