What Happened

I wake up from feeling something moving on me. I open my eyes and I see Everett looking around confused as he sits up. I immediately sit up and hug him close. He is alive and well but his arm is still wrapped so I know that wasn't a dream. Hope is laying down on my legs now and Lukus is passed out next to me. 

"Wow Mallvack, this isn't normal for you."

"I thought you were going to die."

"Well I almost did or well I thought I did for a second."

I let go of him as I look up at him. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I was hearing the god again, which made me question a few things but after a few minutes something felt off so I asked you something that would seem weird to you so you could help me. Now I will admit, I don't remember much. Things went black as I heard the voice talking to me but then it screamed and it was gone. There was a light. I was with the death god. I didn't have anything but there were the bodies of the other gods. I saw that some of my arrows were in the gods so I took one and I attacked him. When I finally got a good hit on him, I fell asleep and then I woke up here."

I take a second to process what he said. "When the god screamed, did you feel any pain?"

"No, I didn't. I couldn't feel anything. When it started that's when I asked you how us doing this would affect everything else so that way I knew that you were paying attention to me at least a little bit more."

"That's good."

"Why? Did something happen? Other than everyone using you as a pillow."

"Well, I used one of your bent arrows and stabbed you in the arm." I speak slightly quieter, ashamed of my actions.

"What? So that's why my arm hurts now?"

"Listen, I was freaking out and so were the kids so I just thought that maybe that would work and it seemed to. Just don't be mad."

Everett pauses for a moment. "Well, then I can't be mad at you then. Just next time, don't stab me in the arm. Next time? I hope there is never a "next time". For any of this."

"I hope there isn't a next time."

"That's reasonable. This is a lot to do."

"Wait, so if we have killed those two then just the big door is left."

"Oh, ya. Looks like we just have one more door then but let's wait for the kids to wake up and then eat something."

"That sounds good."

I pull Everett onto my lap. I know this is out of character for me as I normally can control myself but I almost lost him. I need to keep him safe. I will keep him safe, no matter what. I promise you Everett, I swear on my life that I will keep you safe.

"Mallvack. You put me on your lap."

"I know. Please let me hold you. I almost lost you. I just need to know that you are here."

Everett chuckles slightly. "I never thought I would see you being this soft with me."

"Well you are my best friend." But I wish you were more.

Everett lets me hold him as we wait for the kids to wake up. 

When the kids wake up, Hope immediately hugs Everett. I let go of him so they both can speak. They start eating as they talk. When Lukus wakes up, both of us get food. When we all finished eating, we sit and talk for a bit longer. Soon, the kids go back to playing in the pool. Everett and I go to the big door to see how to open the last door so we can go home. 

The door is bigger than the other doors in the room with all the other door markings on it. There are no handprints like the Conscious door. I try getting god blood on the door but it doesn't work but that could be because all the blood is dried and some did wash off. I go to the left side as Everett goes to the right side to see how to open the door. After a few minutes, Everett tries to just open the door and it opens. I feel stupid now. I didn't think that the door would open so easily, nonetheless be unlocked as well. I look over at Everett. He has a small smile on his face.

"That was easy."

"Why was that so easy?"

"I don't know."

"None of the other doors were that easy."

"I know but we should head inside."

"You're right. We should."

We both enter the room. It looks like we just entered a forest. I look behind me and the door is gone. This causes me to panic. I look over to where Everett was. "Where is the door?" Wait, Everett isn't here either. Didn't he come in with me? Where did he go? No. No. No. No. No. I promise to protect him. Where did he go? Where is he?

"There is no need to panic. I just want to know if you were telling the truth." I hear a voice behind me and I look to see where it came from.