You walk up to the cabin as the sun begins to set on your last day of vacation. Tomorrow morning, you're scheduled to head back to the city you came from. It's certainly been a hectic run of days. You met a ghost, or two, and got into a fight for your life. You researched the surrounding area and got to see so many new things.

All because of a pamphlet.

You reach for the door, and when you open it, Luke is waiting there for you. He sits on the bottom rung of the stairs, gazing towards the front windows of the cabin longingly. His eyes are pure white.

You step forward and kneel in front of him, holding the locket tight to your chest. "Luke? I found her."

He doesn't show any sign that he's heard you at all.

"Luke?" You make your voice stronger, more insistent. "Luke, I found Annabelle."

His head turns abruptly to face you, his eyes becoming pale brown. "Annabelle?"

You nod. "I found her, Luke. She gave me this." You hold out your hand and open it. Despite the fact that he doesn't breathe, and probably hasn't for a long time, you hear him gasp softly. He reaches out with trembling fingers, and slowly curls his hand around the locket.

His touch is warm. His eyes are dark. He takes the locket and opens it up, looking inside of it to something you can't see. Then he looks back up to you, tears in his eyes. "Annabelle..." Luke smiles. "Thank you."

His voice echoes in the air for a few moments after he has faded from your sight.

That warm summer night was the last night Lucas Schultz ever walked the earth. Now, he rests peacefully beside his sister.

'Lucas Schultz ~ Remember Me'

When you get back home, you promise to yourself that you won't die with any regrets. Life is too short, and the afterlife is too uncertain.

Time waits for no one.

*********

[END]

Ending Achieved: Rest in Peace