We landed hard.
I hit the ground first.
Athena landed on top of me.
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
Then she lifted her head.
"Are you alive?"
I coughed.
"Unfortunately."
She laughed.
I smiled.
Then I realized something.
The forest was gone.
We were back outside my family's house.
The sun was rising.
Actual sunlight.
Birds were making noise.
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Wind moved through the trees.
Everything felt normal.
Too normal.
I sat up.
Athena looked around.
"Is it over?"
I listened.
Nothing.
No voices.
No whispers.
No Hollow.
Just her heartbeat.
I closed my eyes.
It was still there.
Steady.
Real.
Athena touched my shoulder.
"Axel?"
I opened my eyes.
"I'm here."
She smiled.
Then looked down at our hands.
We were still holding each other.
Neither of us let go.
My mother stepped outside.
She stopped when she saw us.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then:
"You're alive."
"Apparently."
She looked at Athena.
Then at me.
"Is it gone?"
I looked toward the trees.
"I don't know."
Athena answered for me.
"It's gone from us."
My mother studied her.
"What did you do?"
Athena glanced at me.
"We chose."
My mother went quiet.
Then she smiled.
Just barely.
"I see."
She walked toward us.
"What about Seraphine?"
I looked around.
She was gone.
Only a small silver pendant remained in the grass.
I picked it up.
There was a symbol engraved into it.
The Hollow.
But the symbol was broken down the middle.
I looked at Athena.
She smiled.
"Guess that's one mystery solved."
I raised an eyebrow.
"One?"
She shrugged.
"I've learned not to expect fewer."
I laughed.
Then she stepped closer.
Her expression changed.
Softened.
"Axel?"
"Yeah?"
"I meant what I said in there."
I knew exactly what she meant.
"You choose me?"
She nodded.
"Even knowing everything."
I swallowed.
"Athena."
She reached up and touched my cheek.
"I know."
Then she kissed me.
Not because the Hollow was watching.
Not because we were afraid.
Not because we were running.
Just because she wanted to.
And for the first time in a very long time—
I wasn't afraid of what came next.