"Rowin!" Cassius screamed.

     I kept running, cold air stabbing my lungs. How could I not remember the compass or Seth? Why hadn't I recognized him or the object as something familiar?

    I knew Seth and I had disrespected him terribly. How was I that inconsiderate? Even if he didn't know who he was, I had to apologize before--

    "Stop!" Cassius shouted desperately.

    I didn't obey, too driven to care. I didn't want him to have this power over me. His hand landed on my shoulder and I spun around to face him.

    "Let me at least apologize before he dies," I said in a low voice. "If you won't help us, at least let me try."

    His eyes grew hard as they searched my expression.

    "He will live," he said, "if you promise to give me the compass."

    "Why is it so important to you?" I raised my eyebrows, infuriated. "You practically promised his death to me!"

    "If you want him to live, let me keep it," he repeated, a dark expression crossing his face.

    I nodded. Cassius swallowed, then began running again, with me following.

» Day 61 «

    By the time we reached his house, I was trembling from exhaustion and the cold. It took all of my energy not to fall behind on our sprint to my side of the neighborhood.

    We stood in front of the house, me out of breath, Cassius simply content with gazing.

    "Remember, I get the compass, Rowin," he said quietly.

    My heart thudded in my chest. A shiver went down my spine and I merely glanced at him.

    I ran up the steps, flung open the door, and immediately proceeded to the second floor.

    "Seth!" I gasped when I reached the top. "Seth..."

    The door was still ajar, like I had left it. No sound or movement came from inside. I paused, looking behind to see Cassius patiently making his way up the staircase.

    I pushed my way in to see Seth laying on the bed in the dawn of day. His chest rose and fell sporadically, hands twitching by his sides. The paper still laid on the floor, sheets of it littering random spots.

    I climbed up onto the bed beside him and looked down at his face. His eyes were closed, skin pale, bones prominent. Cautiously, I placed my hand on his heart to feel it's slow beat, taking me back to the moment when I used the compass for the first time.

    Closing my eyes, I took a few deep breaths. Seth -- Stefen -- was a good person, even if I wasn't. Somehow, he managed to put up with me.

    A cold, but comforting, touch came to my fingers. I almost pulled away, but when I looked down I saw it was his hand.

    "You... Rejected me? So I really am a nobody to you?" he said slowly.

    My eyes went wide. We had witnessed the same memory.

    I opened my mouth to speak, but words failed me.

    His eyes searched mine and I felt all the more guilty, the feeling filling my chest with despair. Slowly, he smiled, wincing a bit as he did.

    "Not anymore," I whispered, leaning close to him. "You are somebody-- you always were. I was just too foolish to see it."

    "Where's the compass?"

    The question was so innocent, so simple. I knew I couldn't hold it back from him any longer. Standing beside the bed, I took it from my neck and held it up for Seth to see.

    "I... I don't understand," Seth breathed, staring into my eyes.

    I glanced between the two, him and Cassius, feeling my hands begin to sweat. I wiped my palms on my jeans.

    "I found that compass in the room across from yours and didn't tell you," I blurted. "It can stop time, and I can do whatever I want. When it did that, your memories came back."

    For a moment, my confession hung in the air.

    "Why didn't you tell me?"

    I looked up to Seth, seeing hurt weighing heavily in his face. Shaking my head, I lowered my eyes to the floor.

    "I loved you for who you were becoming, I didn't care what your past was like."

    "You love me?"

    I looked into his eyes, emotion overtaking them. The answer left my mind blank. Did I love him?

    "I care about you deeply, Rowin," Seth whispered shakily. "Please just tell me what's going on..."

    "I was the owner of the compass first," Cassius started. Surprised, I gave him my attention. "When the compass is overused, the consequences are a bit... extreme. People are sent to another reality, usually without all of the pain involved."

    "What?!" I exclaimed in shock. "You can't be serious."

    Cassius's face turned grim. That means my family--

    "I am. Seth -- Stefen -- your pain is because you didn't remember anything. The memories are too much for your mind to take, so your physical condition deteriorates."

    "So I'm going to be sent to the other reality?" Seth said doubtfully.

    "Yes, eventually."

    "Will Rowin go with me?" His voice trembled and it took everything in me not to look at him.

    Cassius didn't respond. He just stared at me, as if sizing me up. He slowly shook his head.

    I turned to Seth and his face revealed that his greatest fear was going to become a reality, as well as mine. If I didn't go, we'd be separated. We'd be alone.

    I stood up straighter. "Does this mean my family could be alive?"

    "That is nearly impossible to know," Cassius answered vaguely.

    "Wait, this is insane," I scoffed, taking a step back. "There's another reality and the entire human population has vanished there? How is that even possible?"

    "Not everyone went there. Stefen is still here--"

    "Then where is everyone?!" I shouted in my frustration. "Why aren't they here?"

    "Eventually, they'll come looking for survivors of what they believe to be a nuclear war."

    I sat there in shock. How could he be so calm about this? Seth was practically dying, I was alone again, and the compass was still in play. What was I expected to do?

    "Is my family there? The people from my memories?" I looked to Seth as he asked the question to see his glassy eyes transfixed on Cassius.

    Cassius didn't seem to know how to respond.

    In a surge of energy, Seth grabbed my hand and pulled me close to him. Pressed between our hands felt was what felt like paper. We were face to face, so close that our breaths were clashing.

    "You can't give let him have it," he breathed. His eyes searched mine. I couldn't look away. "I remember why I had it in the first place. I was supposed to protect it for my parents."

    "Where were they?" I asked softly, the compass dangling from my neck onto his chest.

    "Saving people," he replied. His expression was content, but sad.

    I let out a shaky breath.

    "Turn it, and save yourself from him," he said, barely audible.

    "How could I do that to you? Who even knows if the place exists," I whispered.

    "Rowin, I promise to find your family," Seth stated firmly. "Mine may not be alive, but you deserve to know."

    "I'll never see you again!" I cried. He either died in my presence or went to "another reality". Neither was better than the other. I wish I had never touched the thing.

    "Just forget it," he whispered, a small smile on his lips. "Forget all about me and everything that happened."

    He looked up into my eyes. His hand covered mine easily as he pulled me down to him, kissing me gently. My lips met his more urgently, wanting something to hold on to. I trembled as we pulled away. He stared up at me with a content yet sorrowful expression. He squeezed my hand.

    My eyes were wide as a flash of panic crossed his face.

    "Now!" Seth yelled, bringing my head down to his chest.

    A gun shot went off right over our heads as I squeezed my eyes shut, well aware both of us were still breathing.

    I felt my heart slamming against my rib cage as Seth's fingers intertwined in my hair. His own pounding heart was echoing in my ears as I looked up into his terrified eyes one last time.

    Cassius was suddenly at Seth's side, gun pointed to his temple. Seth shook, trying to control his emotions. Cassius was enraged, looking almost insane.

    "Give me the compass and he lives!" he shouted, causing me to jump.

    I swallowed hard, Seth's hands tensing as he covered the back of my head, as if telling me to separate our worlds.

    "Rowin..," Seth whimpered.

    The gun was jabbed into his head, Cassius' nostrils flaring. I gripped the compass.

    My hands began to turn it.

    His finger tightened on the trigger.

<<<<<<<<<

(a/n) 

*slowly backs away with hands in the air*

ONE MORE CHAPTER LEFT I'M GOING TO GO CRAZY.

If you didn't notice, the phrase "Forget it." or "Just forget it." was used numerous times throughout the story for the purpose to make this scene significant. BUT GOODNESS WRITING THIS SCENE:*breaks into a sweat* *smiles nervously*

Thanks to God for allowing me to write this story with His words! I could not have gotten to this point without Him, and will always be thankful and joyful that He has indeed given me life.

Thank you all so much for going on this journey with me! I hope it continues, I love talking with you all. Please vote and comment and all that good stuff. You have been so great about doing that, I couldn't ask for better readers. (: 

Stay cool with Jesus!

- Abigail Rayne

{5.22.16}

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