Epilogue

“It’s all over,” Delia said. “He’s finished. Dead. Gone for good. No longer can he harm anyone else ever again. You’re free at last…”

“Free at last…”

Alex and Delia stood before a pond at the center of a clearing of a dense green forest. Up above the sky was a clear blue with several puffy clouds moving across it.

Silence.

Delia placed a hand on Alex’s shoulder, and turned him around to face her as she caressed his cheek, smiling.

“You no longer have to continue fighting, Alex. You’re free. You’re safe. Everyone is safe because of you, because of Dawson and Elizabeth, and the efforts of everyone who has fought and given their lives to stop your father. We are all free now. Now all we have to fear, no, to look forward to is the future, and whatever that may bring,” Delia said.

Alex swallowed, his dark, cobalt blue eyes meeting his mother’s deep, emerald green eyes.

“I can’t stay with you, Alex. As much as I wish that I could, I cannot and will not become like your father. Everyone dies eventually. There is no preventing the inevitable. I died a long time ago. The only reason I’ve survived as I am now is to watch, help, and guide you whenever needed. But now that you have overcome your father and put an end to his inane schemes… it is time for me to go.”

Alex lowered his head, closing his eyes as tears formed. He clenched his fists, and fought back the urge to cry.

“Alex.”

He opened his eyes, and looked up at his mother, who cupped his chin in her hand, lifting his head up as she ran her thumb over his lips, his cheek, and smiled.

“I love you. And I will continue to love you, forever and always. Remember that,” she said.

Alex nodded, and embraced his mother one last time, holding her tightly as he continued to fight the urge to cry. Delia kissed her son on the head, and rubbed his back gently.

“It’s time to go, Alex.”

Alex hesitated a moment before letting go of his mother. He took a step back, and swallowed hard. The scent, albeit a sensation brought on by his mother’s conscious mind, lingered in his nostrils even after backing away from her, the warmth of her touch on his face. He took one last long look at his mother, and cracked a smile.

“Good-bye… my son…”

Alex gave a nod, closed his eyes, and backed up to the edge of the pond where he took a deep breath, and plunged himself back into it. As he sank, deeper and deeper, everything turned a dark blue, and grew progressively darker the deeper he went. Looking up at the surface of the pond, the image of his mother lingered in his vision, until the light at the surface faded and he was surrounded in darkness.

“Farewell… Alex…”

--

His eyes flickered open slowly, light flooding into his vision. His pupils dilated. Everything was a blur, a smudge. He was in a room, painted and decorated in light cream and tan colors. There was a large window with a view overlooking the town with tan curtains to match the colors of the room. There were heart monitors and IVs, among other devices all attached to his arm, all of them with their own individual noises and functions. He looked down at his hands, realizing that he was alive. Somehow, despite everything, he had managed to survive.

But something was different. Something wasn’t right. He felt different. He had never felt as he did now before. He closed his eyes, concentrating, trying to sense someone, anyone. But he realized he couldn’t do anything. He couldn’t sense anyone’s energy, he couldn’t communicate with anyone telepathically, he couldn’t move things with his mind or generate psychic energy or set up a dimensional field… nothing.

His mother’s last gift… a chance for a normal, happy life, free of burden and pain; he was free, completely free.

The door to his room opened, and his head lifted up to see who it was. Alex’s eyes lit up. There, standing in front of him was Dawson, and he could sense him… at least, a little. Dawson stood, surprised to find that Alex was awake. Their eyes met, and in an instant, Dawson was at Alex’s side, leaned over the side of his bed holding him in his arms, smothering him with love and affection Alex could have never imagined. After several moments, Dawson suddenly back up, raising an eyebrow as he gave Alex a once over, and blinked.

“Alex… w-what happened?” Dawson asked, confused. “I can’t… I can’t feel you… I mean, I can’t sense you… why can’t I sense your energy?”

Alex smiled, chuckling.

“She knew what I had always wanted,” he replied. “She’s given me a chance at a normal, happy life like any average person should appreciate.”

Dawson paused for a moment, giving Alex a long, thoughtful look as something began to dawn on him.

“So that’s what…” he muttered to himself.

Alex raised an eyebrow, waiting for some sort of explanation from Dawson.

“What are you talking about?” Alex asked.

Dawson smiled, and shook his head, sitting down on the edge of Alex’s bed as he ran his hand through his hair.

“Nothing,” he said, kissing Alex on the forehead. “It’s nothing.”

Alex smirked slyly, and pressed his forehead against Dawson’s.

“So…” Alex said, trailing off. “How long have I been out?”

“A couple days,” Dawson replied, swallowing hard as he put his hands on Alex’s. “They lost you a couple times on the table… almost didn’t revive you the last time. You had lost a lot of blood.”

“I can imagine,” Alex replied.

“I thought I had lost you…” Dawson said.

“I thought I had died myself,” Alex said, smirking. There was a short pause, and finally, “How is everyone else? Are they safe? How’s Elizabeth?”

Dawson hesitated for a moment before he answered, and swallowed.

“Elizabeth… sacrificed herself… to save Mariah, Sophia, and Caleb from Hawke. Your mom helped her take out Hawke, but Elizabeth…”

Alex’s vocal chords constricted as he put a hand on top of Dawson’s.

“I’m… sorry…”

Dawson smiled, shaking his head.

“Don’t be,” he said. “If it weren’t for Elizabeth, and your mom, I wouldn’t have woken up when I did… and then you would have been killed for sure, and everyone would be up shit creek then.”

Alex chuckled, licking his lips.

“So… everyone else is… safe?” he asked.

“Yeah. Antonio took some nasty injuries, but he’s fine. Caleb’s been staying with Mariah the past several days but… I was thinking once you got out of here… he could stay with us. That is… if you weren’t still planning on leaving town anytime soon,” Dawson said.

Alex contemplated for a moment, trying to make Dawson feel uncomfortable, but when he looked up, Dawson seemed unaffected.

“I know you weren’t really considering leaving. I can still read minds, remember?” Dawson asked, winking slyly.

Alex grinned, and rubbed a hand up Dawson’s arm.

“I would love to stay with you,” he said.

Dawson grinned from ear to ear, and he put a hand on Alex’s face as they locked eyes, and gazed into one another’s for a long while until Dawson finally brought himself closer to Alex, and locked his lips over his. Alex put his arms around Dawson’s head, running his fingers through his hair as they kissed long and hard. Once it had ended, they remained close, admiring each other close-up for a long while.

“I love you,” Dawson whispered.

Alex swallowed, smiled, and pulled Dawson into the bed with him, settling him down beside him as he rested his head on his chest and closed his eyes.

“I love you, too,” he replied. “More than you could ever imagine…”

The End