After

Kaia opened her eyes, unable to move and saw the book flying above her.

"Congratulations, you did it. You changed all their destiny. Want to see what happened in your story?"

She nodded to it and all the scenes that happened so far played in front of her. The time she met Caitlyn for the first time. Then when she was introduced to the others. It was such an awkward meeting because she couldn't talk and they couldn't understand her but they would soon become the best people she's ever met.

The little things they did for her, whether she knew it or not. The encouragements they would always give her. They were beside her no matter what happened.

Even meeting Faith and Dorran was magical. She had no plans to get to know them but now they've become so irreplaceable, she can't imagine life without them.

Maybe one day Caitlyn will get together with Dorran too but maybe she won't and that's ok. They're going to move on and go on with their lives, go to colleges, and even get jobs.

They're going to change the world and now they can.

She smiled, she really wouldn't exchange anything for what she had. She would go through everything all over again if she could meet them too.

She just hopes that they don't forget her.

When she got to the part of her falling in the pages, she saw that's where the words ended but there were still so many blank pages left.

"What's this?" She asked.

"You changed destiny. It's blank because you haven't filled them yet."

"But, I'm dead."

"Are you sure about that?"

Kaia gasped and sat up, she touched her body all over. She did have some injuries but they're disappearing.

I'm alive?

"Kaia!" Max, Shia and Caitlyn hugged her, their tears flowing.

Kaia looked around her, she still sat on top of the rubble she fell into; the man's body must be somewhere there.

There was an ambulance and Dorran sat in it as the medical team bandaged his arm up while he talked with them.

Huh? He shouldn't be able to get hurt.

She made eye contact with him and he smiled at her, confirming her question.

No way.

He thanked them and walked out of the ambulance to them as Caitlyn, Shia and Max pulled away.

Kaia pulled up her sleeve and saw the trinket embedded on her arm, sparkling in the sunlight.

"Like Max said, sometimes your very predictable." He teased.

"But. It's yours. It belongs to your family." She protested.

"You deserve it more. I hardly did anything when I had it, anyway." He winked at her.

"Thank you. Thank you for saving Kaia. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." Caitlyn cried holding his hand.

Dorran lifted her head and looked at her face. The left of her face was scraped raw and only her eyes escaped injury.

"You can say it. I look awful." She gave him a small smile, looking down again.

"No. You're still the prettiest girl in the world. Wanna know why? It's because you're you. Anyone who knows you will know that."

Caitlyn hugged him tight when he said that.

"Kaia. I just want to say this. Don't ever do that again." Max scolded her. "Do you even know what could have happened? Do you think we'll feel happy living without you? Please want to live. This is selfish but you give me and others hope. We'll help you find a reason to live. So please give it a chance."

Kaia laughed and patted his hair. "I already found it. You still have to take me to that cake store. Remember? You promised."

Max held her hand and bowed his head. "Yeah, I remember. Let's go soon."

"I'm just so happy everyone's ok. More or less." Shia shouted with happiness, taking everyone in an embrace again. "Let's go celebrate Caitlyn's birthday in the hospital!"

"Call Faith and Aliya to come to the hospital with everything." Ran told Max as they made their way to the hospital in the ambulance.

"What?" Caitlyn asked, looking at everyone around her. "Bring what?"

"Your birthday party, silly." Kaia signed at her.

"Wait, you were serious about the party in the hospital?" She looked at Shia who gave her a nod.

"But, everyone's hurt." Caitlyn protested.

"Don't worry, we won't take any pictures." Dor teased.

"No. I want pictures but a party?"

"I took care of it, Cati. Don't worry. Leave it all to me." Dor reassured her as he leaned against Max, who was sitting beside him and fell asleep.

"How did the live feed go?" Caitlyn asked Max, as Shia laid on her head on her lap.

"Good. The whole world thinks you're dead now. We're preparing a new identity for you. It'll be done soon. New school next year with a new identity." Max smiled up at her from the computer on his lap and Dorran asleep on his shoulders.

"It'll be a new life for you, Caitlyn." Kaia signed at her. "How do you feel?"

Caitlyn felt fresh tears roll from her eyes as Kaia said that. She couldn't stop the tears nor could she stop her smile from spreading across her face.

"Caitlyn? Are you ok?" Shia asked looking up at her.

Caitlyn nodded and turned to Kaia who stared at her with concern. She took her hand in her own and laughed while crying.

"I'm finally free."

♣

"Happy birthday!" Faith and Aliya shouted as the five trudged into the room, covered in dirt and a little bit of blood.

The entire house is decorated with a little too many balloons. They could hardly make it through the door before they were attacked by the enormous amount of balloons.

Battling the balloons, Caitlyn ran and pulled them into a big embrace. "Thank you!" She squealed, trying not to cry again.

Her chest felt lighter as the feeling of liberation filled her entire being. Her mother and father or even their reputation don't matter anymore. They are free of her and she is free of them. She can do whatever she wants now.

It's a little scary but she can't wait to begin. Not just that, all her friends are there with her. No, not friends, family. Her real family are here with her, finally. She could just burst from happiness.

♣

"So, what do you think of your new name?" Dorran asked, sitting on the arm of the sofa beside Caitlyn as she inspected the new identification documents.

Carlotta Acker.

"Is there a reason why you choose this name?" Caitlyn shifted in her seat to face the boy.

"W-well, it's the Italian variant of the name Charlotte. It's a really pretty name so I thought it would match you a lot." He stammered, unable to look her in the eyes without blushing.

"Really? What does it mean?" She asked, looking back at the papers. He did a very good job at this. All her previous achievements were there but under a different name.

"'Free'. Carlotta means 'free'." Dorran mumbled, chewing the inner corner of his mouth. "I-I thought of how you are now able to be who you want to be without the constraints of your parents around you like shackles. How you are finally … free."

Caitlyn looked up at him and smiled, "Thank you."

"N-n-n-n-no p-p-p-p-p-problem." Dorran stammered and quickly turned away from her, rushing to the kitchen. "W-what was that, Max? You need help? I'm coming."

He passed Kaia holding an apple while wearing an apron, who stepped out of the way while he ran like he is being chased by a pack of dogs. Confused, Kaia turned to Caitlyn laughing her lungs out on the sofa.

"Kaia! Come here." Caitlyn called once they made eye contact, still laughing.

Like an obedient puppy, Kaia walked to Caitlyn and sat with her on the sofa as she hugged her from behind.

"I'm so happy, Kaia. So happy that I am feeling a little scared." Caitlyn mumbled, her voice vibrating across Kaia's body. "It feels so much like a dream that I will wake from any minute."

Kaia tried to turn and speak to her but Caitlyn didn't allow her to. "I know what you are going to say, Kaia. Can we just stay like this for a while? Please?"

A smile came across Kaia's face as she stayed in her position, still holding the apple in her hand as Caitlyn breathed in and out. Kaia is entirely satisfied with just listening to her breathe while her body heat spread to her, that is the best sound in the world.

Everyone's alive. Surprisingly, so am I.

She glanced at her arm, the sleeve folded up and the golden trinket glistening on her forearm. Kaia couldn't believe Dorran did this for her. But she can't say she isn't happy to be alive with them.

"What do you think of my new name?" Caitlyn asked, handing the paper to Kaia.

Carlotta Acker.

"It suits you." She signed at her, taking the papers. "Dorran worked so hard to make this for you. It's really well done."

"Right? He's impressive." Caitlyn rested her head on Kaia's shoulder, hand's around Kaia's waist, and looked at the papers with her.

Kaia looked at her from the corner of her eyes and saw a soft blush on her cheeks as she talked of Dorran. A smile spread across her own face.

"I can't wait to see what the future holds for us." Kaia signed, resting her head on Caitlyn's.

"Me neither. Thank you for being born, Kaia. Thank you for saving us." Caitlyn said, still resting her head on Kaia. "I will make sure you live past nineteen."

"Sure." Kaia agreed, deciding against reminding her of what Dorran did for her. She will remember, later on, it's not important now.

Let's fill the pages of our book properly now. All of us.