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MAGGIE'S POV

Laudon is gone before I can open my mouth to ask him to stay.

I raise my trembling hands to my face and touch my cheeks, finding that they're still on fire. My mind and body continue to buzz from my almost-kiss with Laudon.

While using my powers on Johnny, I felt confident and powerful. I felt utterly euphoric. With Laudon's sweet encouragements, I felt that anything was possible at that moment. I felt like I could do whatever I wanted if only I put my mind to it. And what I wanted after successfully healing my friend was a kiss from Laudon.

It felt like something that needed to be done, so I did it, or at least I tried to do it. Though, much to my surprise, Laudon wanted the kiss just as badly as I did. He wanted me as badly as I wanted him, and that means something. It means everything.

It changes everything.

"I'm coming in!" Krista calls out. "And I want an explanation for what I just fucking heard."

I look around the room and, I'm not sure how this is possible, I can feel that Laudon is no longer here. He returned to Hell and left me behind to deal with Krista and her loud mouth.

"A-An explanation for what?" I ask apprehensively after hearing the door to the room open and close. Krista turns the corner looking extremely pissed off.

"You know what, Mags."

"I actually don't, so please tell me what you thought you heard."

"Don't you dare try to paint me out as being crazy," Krista snaps. I swallow the nervous lump in my throat as she closes in on me. "I got here a while ago, by the way. I didn't come in because I heard voices in here that I didn't recognize, so I was about to call Katie to ask if Johnny had any new visitors until I eventually heard your voice, and then that's when all the weird shit started happening."

I grip the bed rail for support to keep from collapsing onto the floor. "I-I don't understand what you're trying to get at. What weird shit?"

"I heard his name. Whatever you and this Laudon person did in here, it affected the entire hospital," Krista says. "I don't get how you didn't hear all the chaos out in the hall. It was like I blinked and got transported into a horror movie. The lights were flickering, the nurses couldn't get their computer screens to unfreeze... But after a few minutes, it all stopped, and everything returned back to normal."

"None of that stuff happened in here," I slip up and confess. "Everything went according to plan."

"So you admit that I'm not crazy and everything that I just said literally happened?"

"Damn it, Krista. Can we not do this here?"

She cuts me off and begins to search the room for Laudon. When she's doesn't find him, she comes to stand directly in front of me—way too close for comfort—and I can't help but brace myself for a slap or a punch. Her eyes hold anger and sadness, both clearly directed at me. I'm not sure what expression is on my face because it's hard for me to feel anything other than sheer panic. This is so not how I wanted to break the truth to her about everything.

"We're for sure gonna do this here," Krista replies. "So start talking."

"What's going on?" Johnny mumbles, blinking awake. "And why do I feel... not like shit when I definitely remember getting tossed in the air last night?"

"Okay, fine! I guess we're doing this." I sigh, flashing them both apologetic looks. "Krista, I get why you're upset and you have every right to be. You and Johnny are my best friends and we promised to never keep secrets from each other. But, for a while, there have been many that I haven't had the courage to tell you guys. And just so you have the full backstory, this all started because of that stupid dare from Andrew..."

I assume Johnny's parent's either climbed into bed and took a long power nap or they got stuck in traffic on the way back to the hospital because it takes me close to an hour to get Krista and Johnny caught up to speed on my 'I Owe Hell A Soul' quandary, and they've yet to return. In any case, I'm grateful for their absence because it gave Krista and Johnny the opportunity to ask me all the questions they wanted.

Better that I kill their curiosity now instead of having it come back around later to bite me in the ass.   

"When I saw the tire on my bike explode, I literally thought that I was going to die," Johnny says, holding my hand and staring at me with watery eyes. "But now, because of you, I'm no longer in pain. I can get out of this stupid cast and leave this hospital and my parents can finally relax. I can't not pay you back for what you've done for me, Mags."

"It's fine, Johnny. You don't have to give me anything for helping out. That's what friends are for, remember?"

"I know, but I still can't stand by and do nothing as your entire life falls apart... so, I want you to take me to Laudon. He seems chill and I never saw myself making it to Heaven anyway."

"Me either. Hell is probably much more fun," Krista casually adds. "You're not alone in this anymore, Mags. We'll help you out in any way that we can."

Johnny's selflessness makes the gem on my bracelet glow bright. Even though he now knows about it, he and Krista still can't see it. I say nothing and instead shake my head, wiping angry tears away.

"This isn't a fucking joke, you guys. I will literally sacrifice myself before ever turning either of you over to Hell." I look them both in the eyes so that they know how serious I am. "We have to think of something else. There has to be another way."

"Well, since you don't want to snatch a rando from off the street... Why not show mercy to someone older?" Krista suggests. "Like, have you forgotten where we are right now? A fucking hospital! Your options are endless. Half of the old people here are probably close to death or are already on their deathbeds, so you'd literally be doing them a favor."

I sigh, feeling another migraine coming on. "Krista. Seriously?"

"She has a point," Johnny adds, giving his support to Krista's twisted idea. "Though they'll definitely be pissed as fuck when they wake up surrounded by flames... Hold on. What is Hell actually like?"

"Lackluster," I answer quickly, not wanting to get into it. "Fuck it. I eventually have to make a choice whether I like it or not, so maybe you guys are right. I don't have much time left anyway, and by choosing someone older who has already lived a full life..."

"See? It makes total sense, right?" Krista smiles. I reluctantly nod. "Great! Problem solved. We can browse for candidates whenever you're ready."

"The problem is only half solved because how the hell am I going to get them out of here?" I ask. "They have to be in Brinton Forest in order to start the ritual, and that in itself is another struggle."

"Laudon is obviously in love with you, so maybe he'll cut you a break and allow the ritual to be done here at the hospital, if you ask him nicely?" Krista wiggles her eyebrows, making me blush and roll my eyes.

"I'd join you guys with your search, but I'm supposed to be injured..." Johnny jokes. "Speaking of which, my folks are gonna have a shit ton of questions about my supernatural recovery and I have no clue what I'm supposed to say about how I got better."

While Krista and Johnny talk, I quietly contemplate the decision I just made. 

My future seems even more unclear now that I've chosen what path to walk down. After I hand some poor old soul over to Hell, there's absolutely no way that God would ever allow me into Heaven. And, if I'm being honest, knowing what I know, I'm not sure if I even want to go. But Hell is definitely not at the top of my list, so what the fuck do I have to look forward to when I die? Not only that, but with there being so much stacked against us, how can Laudon and I ever have a future together?

This sucks. I fucking solve one problem and then a hundred more appear from out of nowhere.

. . .