AUTUMN

Ashley used whatever resources she could use to find Autumn but nothing. She spends days on the road driving to whatever location she found that potentially be a place he could be at. Ashey phoned their father, who was not worried about his disappearance at all and more concerned about her. She instead asked for some money and hanged up after he told her he'd transfer her some. Ashely got back into the car, control her feelings and started the engine. "You always an angry driver." Ashley went cold. She slowly turned her face and saw him sitting there. Next to her. "Oh, my God." She grabbed Autumn and cried. She cried because she got him back. "How did you get here? How did you know to find me? Where were you?" Ashley's questions just kept coming and coming. "Slow down. I need a chance to answer you."

Autumn laughed. Ashley stopped herself but hugged him one last time. "You know that I love you, right." Autumn rubbed his fingers against her cheek. "Autumn." She whispered to afraid to ask what is going on. "I know I'm scaring you now, but I also need you to know that no matter what happens, you will always have me. You will always have Dad and also Elaine, she's not that bad." Ashley wanted to know what is going on and why he's saying all of that. "Ashley, I want you to be safe. I want you not to make the same mistakes I did, and I know you blame yourself for so much of what happened, but I need you to forgive yourself because I never blamed you in the first place." Autumn smiled as she couldn't keep her tears in anymore.

"Be with dad until the day he's not there anymore. You make him so happy and you the closes he has to mom so be with him. Also, I want you to promise me that you will always remember me no matter what. No matter if I'm not there anymore or you're in another country, I need you to remember me." Ashley sobbed as Autumn kept her hands in his. "You can't leave. You can't leave me. I need you so badly. I need you, Autumn." Autumn shook his head, meaning he can't give her what she wants. "Promise me you'll remember me. Promise me."

Autumn cried. Ashley couldn't speak; she couldn't gather any words. She nodded yes and hugged him. They cried in each other arms for a whole minute or two. "Look after yourself. I'll always love you." He whispered and vanished out of her arms. Ashley wept not being able to stop. She got out of the car and threw up. Everything went numb inside of her. She fell on to the ground leaning against the car, she kept her mouth trying to stop the crying but she couldn't. It was too painful. Everything was too painful. Ashley pulled up her legs and stayed there sobbing, wishing she could just wake up.

Zia took her clothes out of her closet and shoved it into a bag when Autumn arrived knocking on her bedroom door. "I'm busy." She shouted. "When are you not busy packing a bag?" Autumn joked walking into her room. Zia threw the clothes she had in her hands on her bed. "You not going to change my mind Autumn. I'm going to find you even if I have to team up with your wacko sister." Zia said zipping up the bag she packed. Autumn walked over to her bed and laid on it. "Seriously, this is what you want to do?" She asked as he calls her to put next to him. Zia rolled as always and got unto the bed lying next to him. "Can you at least tell me where you are?" Zia asked, but he didn't answer her. "Fine." She said and mumbled something underneath her breath. "Do you remember the first time I came out to you?" Autumn asked making small conversation. "Yes. I knew you were so I came onto you as hard as I could. We were in your room, your mom and Dad were out, and I knew it was the perfect time to get you to tell me." Autumn laughed just of picturing it. "You pushed me against the wall, and you told me to grab your titties. You even pulled out one of your boobs and waved it all in my face. I had to get away from you, so I pushed you. You didn't give up, so you started chasing me all around the room until I finally told you I'm not into girls and you said-" "And I said 'Was that so hard? Don't ever hide who you are. Be proud.'" Autumn grinned staring at her, "Don't ever hide who you are Zia. Be proud. The world will be so dull without you in it." Zia turned her face away from Autumn. She couldn't let him see her being emotional. "I don't want this to be goodbye, Autumn." She said, and grabbed his hand. They both laid next to each other, staring up at the ceiling. "Promise me you won't forget me." Autumn squeezed her hand tighter. "I promise I won't." Zia faced Autumn again, feeling him slip away. "Promise me this is not goodbye." Autumn didn't answer her and turned his head back to the ceiling, and so did she. "Just remember me." Zia felt her hand being empty. He was gone. He was completely gone.

Xavier walked downstairs, coming from his bedroom when he heard movements coming from the kitchen. "Sorry if I woke you or anything," Autumn said, pouring him some juice. "Autumn," Xavier said stunned. "Not the real me." He said and sat down. "I know," Xavier replied, sitting down next to him. "So why are you doing this? What deal did you make with Atreus?" Autumn jugged down his juice and placed down the glass. "I made a deal with him that would end all our suffering," Autumn said, moving the glass away from him. "And what about you? What about you're suffering?" Xavier moved closer to Autumn. "This is not about me Xavier. For once, it's not about me." Autumn sighed and stared out of the kitchen window. "You were never the way you were now. You always walked around like you owned the world, and that could stop you. That is one of the reasons I had a major crush on you. I always ran away when you were a few feet from you. I didn't know until after I was claimed that you weren't just that guy. You were so much more than that. You can sing and beautifully. You have a big heart so you would love whoever loves you the same way back. The times I had with you was real, and I want you to know that." Autumn smiled and lowered his head a bit. "But honestly, you are a way better friend than a boyfriend." Autumn teased as Xavier laughed slightly pushing him. Autumn placed his head against Xavier's. "Promise me you'll remember me," Autumn whispered. "I promise," Xavier whispered back. He opened his eyes and Autumn was nowhere to be seen. He grabbed the glass Autumn drank from and head back upstairs.

Walter and Evan sat in the living room, watching whatever was on television. "They hate me so much." Walter went on after ranting about everyone that hates him. "They will come around. They hated me and we all kind of looked past that." Evan switched over the TV channel not paying attention to Walter. "That's because Autumn was there. He made it okay for them not to hate him. I fucked up everything, and I didn't evens do much." Walter stormed up and paced up and down. "Now he's most probably gone or dead because of me. Because he wanted to save me, I should have just died." Walter stressed. A loud knock came from the door. "Stop saying that," Evan said to Walter and opened the door. "Hi." Autumn greeted. Evan was confused and stunned at the same time.

Autumn walked inside and saw Walter. "Thank you for telling them not to come after me, and also I know they might hate you now, but they will come around. You're an amazing person Walter, and I wish I could have protected you better, but I guess everything happens for a reason." Walter rushed over to Autumn, embraced and thanked him. "You don't need to thank me. Also, can I just talk to Evan for a moment if you don't mind?" Autumn asked. Walter said it's no problem and Autumn left with Evan. They took Walter's car and drove off to Evan's old house. "Why we here?" Evan asked, getting out.

"Follow me," Autumn said and led them to the backyard, to Evan's garden. Autumn saw how happy Evan got, happier than what he has been in a long while. "I can't believe they still alive and still so beautiful." Evan gently touched his flowers feeling if they are real. "I remember the day I came over to you, ready to ask about who you are and what do you want. You took me out here, and we laid in between the flowers, surrounded by the beauty. When we kissed, I saw everything. I saw all our memories. I saw us." Evan knew it wasn't Autumn that was there with him, just a messenger. "I lied when I said that I just used you for the curse. I didn't want to use you for the curse at all. I loved you. I loved you more than I loved anyone else. I never stopped loving you. It was just better hiding it away. Better for you and me." Autumn moved closer to Evan until he could see his chest moving of how he was breathing.

"I'm sorry for all the pain I caused you. I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry." Evan gazed into Autumn's soft brown eyes. "Remember me," Autumn whispered and kissed Evan. Evan felt his lips against Autumn's. He could feel the passion behind it, the memories floating through his mind of them. The times they spend together. Every happy moment was burning bright inside of his head. Evan felt Autumn's lips move away from his. He kept his eyes shut because he knew Autumn was gone. "I'll always love you too." He whispered, opening his eyes to the wind blowing through his garden.

"You ready?" Atreus asked Autumn, who was still chained up to the walls. "I'm ready," Autumn confirmed. Atreus stood behind Autumn, laid his hands on his neck, and within a second snapped it.

"I know you all might wonder why I did what I did. I did what needed to be done. To take away the curse I placed upon you. I might sound selfish, but there wasn't another way. I convinced Atreus to take my life and use my body as an eternal vessel for when he would ever die. I convinced him to take away the curse and undo the damage I made. I might be gone, and you might hate me. I did it all for you. At least promise me that no matter what, you'll remember me." – Autumn.