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This vision feels different, like it's coming from somewhere outside of the darkness. It's not a memory, or a premonition; it's not part of me at all.

"Wow," she says. "Where the hell have you been?"

"Where have I been?" I ask, puzzled. "I've just been right here."

She laughs. "Pregnant? You can't make that up."

"I know. Fuckin' bizarre, right?"

"Youwouldtroll me in my dreams."

"It's not a dream. Not for me, at least."

Rachyl closes her eyes. It's like she's looking at everything I've been through. "Wow. Wild stuff." Then she smiles. "He must be the daddy, then. I should've known you'd be into blondes."

"I don't know what the hell you're talking about."

It feels like she's drifting away from me, like she's on a boat disappearing into a fog.

"Is this your way of telling me everything's okay?" she says. "I hope so..."

"I don't know if I'm okay," I call out. "I think I might be dying, or some shit."

"You're ready to give up, just like that? Come on, dude. Don't bitch out on me again."

Her voice is growing distant and difficult to hear. I can barely see her now.

"Rachyl!" I shout. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I disappeared on you."

"It needed to happen. For the both of us. Jackson... Iknowyou can do it, okay? It's not too late..."

It is too late,the voice growls, forcing itself back into my mind.

Rachyl is gone. I see myself again. A crying, lonely, broken child.

"Why am I sick?" he says. "Why do I have to be sick?"

The darkness curls in, ready to plant the thoughts of self-hatred, guilt, and fear into that little boy's head.

But I step in first.

"Hey," I say, crouching down in front of him. "It's okay. None of this is your fault. You aren't sick. There's nothing wrong with who you are."

He looks at me, eyes puffy with tears. "Then...I can go to him?"

"Of course you can. That's exactly what you need to do."

I wrap my arms around myself, drawing him close.

"Thank you," we say to each other.

When I stand, I feel the darkness around me tremble. It knows that it's lost. It has no influence over me.

I step forward, and it recoils back. The world is crumbling around me, and I can feel Airos's presence calling to me like a beacon in the night.

I take another step. I'm no longer the same Jackson I was when the Shimat overtook me. He's gone.

I'm not afraid to tell the truth. I'm not going to run.