Serena's P.O.V.

Darkness. All I could see was darkness. My head was pounding, and I could feel something run down my face. I touched my forehead and looked back at my hand. Dark red blood had spread across my palm. "Hello? Anyone there?" I asked, calling out into the darkness. No reply. I had no idea where I was. Where was Aidan? Where were Mom and Dad? Suddenly, I could see a white light coming from a distance.

Thinking it was my only way out, I walked towards it, hoping to see Aidan again. I walked through the bright white was soon replaced with the image of what appeared to be a church. I looked down, seeing that my concert outfit was replaced with a black knee-length dress. What is going on? Slowly, I climbed up the steps and walked inside, seeing a funeral procession, and people were lining up down the aisle to look at the dark oak casket.

I didn't know at first who had died. But out of the corner of my eye, I saw a large piece of white cardboard. My picture was plastered across it along with the words.

Serena Margaret Waterbury, Gone Too Soon

January 19th, 2003 -  March 28th, 2020

What? No! I can't be dead! I'm right here. Sounds of crying came from all over the church. Some were louder than others. The line continued moving, and I saw some of the Umbrella Academy cast in the front pews staring at the coffin. Emmy was holding onto Robert, who was crying, Elliot was comforting David, who was also crying. And some of the younger cast was shedding tears as well. 

Finally, it was my turn to stare at the coffin. My body was ghost white and smelled of embalming fluid. And I couldn't help but notice I was wearing the same blue dress I had worn for my seventeenth birthday.

"I'm not dead! I'm right here!" I shouted, hoping everyone would realize that I was alive. But, it was like nobody heard me. I tried to walk up to the cast and shake them, telling them to snap out of it and that I was there. But I could barely get my feet to move. The scene changed, and I saw Aidan, Lauren, and Rob were staring at a tombstone, my name carved onto the stone block. "I miss her so much," Aidan choked up as he clutched tightly onto Lauren's hand.

"Me too, Aidan. Me too," She sniffled before place a red rose on top of the grave. Aidan bent down in front of the grave, planting a kiss on the tips of his fingers and placing them on the hedge. "I'll miss you forever, my love. We'll be together again one day," He whispered. before standing and walking off with his parents. "Guys! Guys! I'm not dead! Please!" I called out, feeling my heart sink in my chest the further they got away. 

I felt a hand gently touch my shoulder, and when I turned around, I saw my birth parents smiling at me. My father's head was bleeding, and I saw my mother had shards of glass embedded in her face. "Mom? Dad? Where am I?" I asked, feeling the tears begin to flow. "You're home, Serena. Now we can be a family again. We missed you so much," Mom smiled, pulling me into her arms.

Part of me was happy to see my parents again, but at what cost? I lost Aidan. I lost T.J. I lost Vanessa, Ethan, and everybody I've ever met who loved me. "Let's go home. You can tell us everything when we get to heaven," Dad said, gently patting my back. Without thinking, I removed his hand from my shoulder and let go of Mom's hand. They turned around, confused by what I just did.

"Sweetie? Let's go home. You're safe now," Mom said. "No, I can't go with you guys. I want to stay here with Aidan. I want to have a future with him. I've missed you both so much. But, it's not my time to die. I don't want Aidan to be heartbroken for the rest of his life without me. I need him," I pleaded. Mom and Dad looked at each other with uncertain looks before meeting my eyes again.

"Serena, you can't go back. You're dead. There's no going back. You have to come with us," Mom said, holding her hand out for me to take. Even if that was true, I would still fight and put up a fuss about wanting to go back and see Aidan smile again, to write music and kiss him day and night. I was going back, and nobody could change my mind. "I love you guys, and I miss you every moment of every day. But, you have to let me go back. I'll see you when my time truly comes," I whispered, softly kissing their cheeks before they nodded and started to walk off.

I could see the darkness again. My eyes were closed but started to flutter open and closed. I heard crying from somewhere in the room, and I looked down to see Aidan sobbing into my stomach, begging me to wake up. I felt every part of my body ache, but I didn't give up. As Aidan continued to cry, I reached over to him, my fingers gently running through his dark hair. He quickly removed himself from my stomach and stared at me in shock.

"Serena? You're awake!" he smiled, standing up and throwing his arms around my bruised torso. "Ow, careful," I groaned, feeling my ribs begin to ache. "Sorry, I'm just so happy. I thought I lost you forever," He smiled, tears of happiness now falling down his face. "I thought I did too," I whispered, continuing to run my fingers through his hair and wiping away his tears. Aidan carefully took off the oxygen mask, telling me not to move so much, and it felt nice to breathe normally again.

"I love you," I whispered to him. Aidan smiled brighter and leaned in to kiss my soft lips. "Please. Don't. Leave. Me. Again," He mumbled against my lips, punctuating every word with another kiss before pulling away to catch his breath. "I told you once before, and I'll say it twice. I'm never going to leave you," I promised before kissing him once more.

A/n: This is not the final chapter! The epilogue is coming up next, so stay tuned!

With love,

Duskprincess89 💖☔