The rain had stopped, leaving the forest shrouded in a heavy mist. Giselle sat slumped against the cave wall, her mind a storm of regret and guilt. Mike's blood was still on her hands, metaphorically and literally. She looked down at the dried stains, feeling the venom's grip loosening but the pain in her chest tightening. It wasn't just the physical exhaustion, it was the realization of what she had done.
"What have I done?" she whispered, voice cracking. She clutched her head, fingers digging into her scalp as fragments of the past flooded back. The memories of her old friend, the bandit leader who sacrificed himself, and the words she had spat at Mike in her rage all swirled together in a chaotic mess. It was like poison coursing through her veins, but it wasn't the kind that could be cured with a magical herb. This was guilt, raw and unforgiving.
Without thinking, Giselle activated her time magic. The air around her shimmered as she rewound the events that unfolded while she lay unconscious. She watched in horror as Mike fought his way through the forest, his body battered and broken, yet he never stopped. He had risked everything, his own life....for her. He had faced a dragon, outsmarted it, lost an arm and an eye, and still brought back the plant that saved her.
Tears welled up in her eyes as the scene replayed in her head. He had looked so determined, even as his body fell apart piece by piece. Then she saw him leaving the cave, his body dragging itself deeper into the forest, away from her. He hadn't wanted her to see him like that. He'd wanted to die alone, away from any witness to his suffering.
"No," Giselle sobbed, the reality of it crashing down on her. "Mike…... no."
She scrambled to her feet, ignoring the sharp pain that shot through her body. She summoned her magic again, feeling the threads of time and space bend to her will as she searched for him. It took only a few seconds before she found his fading energy deep in the forest. Without hesitation, she teleported to his location.
The scene that greeted her was like something out of a nightmare. Mike lay sprawled on the forest floor, his once bright eyes dull and glassy, staring up at the cloudy sky. Blood pooled beneath him, staining the moss and dirt. Foxes and crows circled him, sensing his nearing death, their eyes gleaming with hunger.
"Get away!" Giselle screamed, unleashing a burst of magic that sent the animals scattering into the shadows. She dropped to her knees beside him, her hands hovering over his chest, unsure where to even start. He looked like he had given everything—more than he could afford.
"Mike," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Please, wake up."
But he didn't respond. His head lolled to the side, a small, peaceful smile on his lips. He was already drifting away, lost in the memories of a happier time. Images of his friends: Lyrics, Nyss, Astrid, flashed before his eyes. He remembered their laughter, the shared meals, the adventures they'd had together. It all seemed like a lifetime ago.
It was a good life, he thought, his smile widening just a fraction. He could see a figure approaching him, dressed in black. He assumed it was Death, finally here to take him. It didn't scare him; instead, he welcomed it. At least in death, there would be no more pain.
He closed his eyes, surrendering to the darkness.
When he opened them again, he wasn't on the forest floor. He was back in the cave, lying on something soft. He blinked, disoriented, the haze of pain and exhaustion still clouding his mind. He tried to sit up but found his body wrapped in bandages, his left arm replaced by a stump, and his eye covered with gauze.
"What the...?" he began, panic flooding him as he realized he was naked, lying under a thin blanket.
"Mike!" Giselle's voice broke through his confusion. She knelt beside him, her face a mask of worry and relief. Her eyes were red-rimmed, swollen from crying. She reached out, her hands trembling as she touched his cheek. "You're awake. Thank god, you're awake."
Mike's face turned crimson, realizing she must have been the one to clean and dress his wounds. He tried to cover himself with the blanket, averting his gaze. "G....Giselle, what the hell? Why am I naked?"
"You almost died, you idiot!" she snapped, her voice cracking. She clenched her fists, hitting his chest lightly as tears spilled down her cheeks again. "You left the cave to die alone! Do you have any idea how that made me feel? How could you do that to me?"
Mike's embarrassment faded as he looked at her, really looked at her. She was a mess—her hair tangled, her clothes disheveled, her face streaked with tears. He had never seen her like this before, so raw, so vulnerable.
"I thought....…" he began, his voice hoarse. "I thought it would be easier if you didn't see me like that. I didn't want you to feel guilty."
"Guilty?" Giselle nearly screamed the word. "Of course, I feel guilty, you idiot! I said terrible things to you. I hurt you when you were only trying to help me. I…..... I didn't mean any of it. I was just…... I was scared, and angry, and.....…"
She broke off, burying her face in her hands as sobs wracked her body. "I thought I lost you, Mike. And it would have been my fault."
Mike's heart twisted in his chest. He reached up, ignoring the sharp pain that shot through his arm, and cupped her face in his hand. "Hey," he said softly, forcing her to look at him. "I'm still here. You saved me, didn't you?"
Giselle nodded, tears spilling onto his fingers. "I found you just in time. You were so close to.....… to leaving me."
He smiled, though it was weak and lopsided. "Guess you'll have to try harder if you want to get rid of me."
"Don't joke about this!" she snapped, but there was no heat in her voice. She leaned down, resting her forehead against his, her tears dripping onto his face. "I'm sorry, Mike. I'm so, so sorry. You didn't deserve any of it."
Mike wrapped his good arm around her, pulling her closer. "It's okay," he murmured, stroking her hair. "I know you didn't mean it. You were hurting. I get it."
"You shouldn't be this kind to me," she whispered, her voice filled with self-loathing. "I don't deserve it."
"Maybe not," he agreed, a soft laugh escaping him. "But I love you anyway."
Giselle's breath hitched, and she pulled back to look at him, her eyes wide and searching. "Mike…...."
He gave her a small, tired smile. "Yeah, you are my teach Giselle. I'd give up a hundred lives just to see you smile again."
She stared at him for a moment, then let out a broken sob before leaning down and pressing her lips to his. The kiss was soft at first, filled with all the unsaid apologies and regret, but it quickly deepened. It was desperate, raw, and real, a promise that neither of them would ever leave the other again.