35. SELF-LESS

Promise? Promise.

From afar, Sanchez and his team were going through the entire forest, trying to find the two teenagers that were being searched.

He decided to call Dave first.

"Have you found her?" Dave asked.

"No, but we've found a lead that someone saw her and Ashton going into the woods," Sanchez said.

"I'm gonna arrive at maybe 1 am or something so please just find her before then," he said.

"We're trying our best, Dave. We'll find her," he hung up and continued searching, calling her name.

But then, gunshots were heard. The detective froze.

"Find where the gunshot came from. NOW!" he yelled and the entire crew began going through every single part of the forest.

~~~

Ashton stayed there silent, with nothing but keeping himself together as he wanted to scream and sob.

Jayce Brooks and Amber Brooks were dead.

"Jayce," he breathed out, "Jayce..."

It took time until he heard the yells of people searching for him, shouting his and her name.

He felt darkness going over him, knowing that he was bleeding heavily, had a head trauma and the bullet was close to his heart, it was very unlikely he'd survive.

"Just please let me die," he muttered before closing his eyes, both in sorrow and pain.

~~~

"They're both dead, Dave, stop!" Sanchez was on the verge of tears as he held Dave back from going to the lake where his two daughters were being pulled out.

"No, they're not!" Dave yelled, "They're not-!"

The divers dragged out two girls from the lake, sank and were bleeding. Dead twins.

Dave dropped down to his knees as his tears were clogged by some sort of regret, "It's my fault. If only I investigated more-" he sucked his breath inside, "It's my-"

"I'm sorry for your loss, Dave," Sanchez patted his back, "Amber did it all. There's much proof. You need to let it go,"

"Where's Ashton?" he hitched a breath.

"He didn't do anything wrong,"

"That's why I owe him an apology,"

"He's shot, and stabbed. He's critical right now," Sanchez pursed his lips.

Dave clenched his jaw, still holding back his tears, "Make sure he pulls through. Jayce wouldn't want him to die."

"Yes,"

Dave wiped his tears away and walked over to his two daughters. The knife was still in Amber's abdomen and they both looked messy.

He stroked their hair and muttered, "Forgive me for my reckless decisions. I hope you both are better there. I was a horrible father. I hope you learn from your mistakes, Amber, and I hope you're safer there now, Jayce," he choked on his cries and his nose felt electrocuted.

"Detective Brooks," an officer called.

"Yes?" he sighed.

"This phone was found recording near where Ashton was found," he said.

"Give it to me," Dave stood up and checked the phone, finding the video of Amber and the escaped prisoners fighting against Jayce and Ashton both, hoping it would bring them justice. "Have this as evidence. Once Ashton wakes up, we'll get his statements and close the case. Nothing else would have to be said,"

~~~

He didn't dream. Ashton didn't dream.

He was in floating darkness, and he didn't dream.

He didn't feel, he didn't think, he didn't see. He was nothing in that state but in a forever black night.

He wanted to cry, but he was frozen in that pitch black. He wanted to yell her name, he wanted her to come back. He missed her like hell. He wanted her back.

~~~

Ashton pulled through. He hoped he didn't. He wanted to die so much at the point he just needed to.

But the black smoke he saw behind Jayce, his sixth sense was back.

He thought about it, why it didn't come back sooner. Maybe he could have prevented this, but death couldn't be cheated.

Harrison sat beside his bed, sleeping and holding his hand, hoping he would wake up anytime soon.

It had been 5 days since the finale.

Could we have been forever if we backed away?

Ashton's wounds were still there. The bullet nearly hit his heart, the stab nearly hit his stomach, and he nearly died. But he stayed, for no reason, of all.

The boy moved his fingers at early dawn, with his father sleeping by his side.

He opened his eyes, and saw the ceiling above. He felt energized but at the same time lost.

"Please tell me I'm in heaven," he said, hoping that someone would answer that he was.

"Unfortunately no, Ashton," Harrison replied, taking his hand, "Do you feel okay?"

"Where's Jayce?" he asked, his heart felt like it was crashing.

Harrison clenched his jaw, and gulped, "I'm sorry, Ashton...she's gone."

He wanted his heart to stop so badly. He wanted to. He wanted to cry, he wanted to yell, he wanted to do all those things. But then he remembered: the promise.

The promise he had made at the end, where he had promised her that the plants in the garden would be taken care of, and that he would live on and on and on until death picked him up.

He wanted to break it, but it was her last request. He wanted to curse himself for promising, but the promise he did was something Jayce needed him to do.

And he would do anything for it.

"At least she's no longer in pain," he said, the only thing he could have said, "We didn't even- We just confessed that evening, that day, a few hours before. We didn't get a chance yet." his voice broke into some sob, "And now she's gone, dad,"

Harrison took his son and put him in a warm embrace as Ashton sobbed into his clothes. He wanted her back, he wanted to go back to her, but that promise, that promise broke it all.

He rarely cried. He rarely did. The last time he remembered that he cried so much was when Eric died. That was it, and now he lost someone else.

He would never find someone else like Jayce. Never.

"I want her back," he sobbed into his father's clothes, "I just want her back."

The yells and the cries felt so heart-piercing that Jayce, who watched from outside, just saw and cried with her tears. Dead.

~~~

That day was the twins' funeral, along with Georgia Rodriguez, Jaxon Spencer and the Walkers' funerals as well.

Harrison had brought Ashton his suit, and he walked pretty much slowly, knowing that his wounds were not fully healed. He survived, but he wasn't healed.

On the way to the graveyard, they both met Dave, who was equally as stunned.

"Ashton," he breathed out.

He played a part in all of this, he knew. The guilt he had, he didn't sleep or eat for days. And Izzie had arrived at Syville as well.

"Detective Brooks," Ashton said. It seemed more of a warning.

"We're going to close the case," he started, "I was a terrible father and detective. I panicked, I didn't check the evidence quickly and just went with my wrong thoughts about my two daughters, and I've paid the price. I lost them both, but I hope that you don't lose yourself."

The boy didn't reply. He couldn't exactly blame anyone, but he just wanted her back. That was all.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Ashton said.

"I'm not hoping for you to forgive me but..." he said, taking out something from his jacket. Her pen. "She would definitely want you to have it,"

He slowly took the golden pen from his hand and held it.

"I'm sorry for your loss too," Dave said and walked away.

Ashton squeezed the pen and closed his eyes. He prayed, if someone could kill him, please do.

He put the pen in his jacket and proceeded to walk with Harrison.

Many, many people were crying, and sobbing. Dave was with Izzie, and Jasmine was with her father, still choking in tears. Ella and Oliver were together in Georgia's graveyard.

Deaths.

Ashton had been to many funerals. And now, he has been to a total of 12 funerals.

Mikael Walker

Nadia Brooks

Eric Rodriguez

Georgia Rodriguez

Jaxon Spencer

Anita Walker

Milton Walker

Leo Walker

Howard Walker

Kiara Walker

Jayce Brooks

Amber Brooks

He sat near a tree, on the bench he and Jayce sat last time.

The funeral went on, sadly, slowly, and full of a lot of prayers and blessings. Many people were being put into the grounds that day, it felt something of a horrible sting.

"Ashton?" a woman called out.

Ashton looked up, seeing a woman of long black hair and bangs, with red lipstick, and stylish wear on her. Izzie.

"Yes?" he stood up and greeted the woman, "You must be Izzie Brooks,"

"I am," she sadly smiled. She loved the girls, and it felt so unbelievable they were both gone.

At a loss.

"I've heard a lot of things about what Jayce has done, but I've also heard that she dated you, for some sort of information and stuff," she remarked.

"Ah yes," he nervously said.

"The thing is, I know Jayce. I know her a lot, I know her so much. I know her actions are crazy but reasonable, and I also know for a fact, that she loved you so much. She has never been so selfless for a person, and that person is you,"

Ashton clenched his jaw, "She's made me realize things. She's shown me that being selfish sometimes isn't wrong. I have never been so selfish for a person, except her,"

"We all want her back," Izzie said, "As for Amber, she was not in love with Eric. She was obsessed. She needed to be lectured, and she needed to be taught that he thoughts weren't right, but it seems she never learned,"

He nodded back, "I wanna thank her for everything. I hope she knows that I am thankful,"

"She knows,"

~~~

After the funeral, only two people stayed: Jasmine and Ashton.

Now that the crowd was gone, and the sun was dimly shining, the boy sat in front of her grave, with a bouquet of sunflowers in his hand as he placed it on top.

Jayce Brooks

a loving daughter, friend, student and sister

He took the pen from his jacket and wrote on the parchment paper of the bouquet of flowers.

'my dear president, a loving girlfriend and partner. from: the boy who doesn't erase hyperlinks.'

He put the flowers on her grave, and sat there. His cheeks reddened as he put his head on his knees, starting to cry once more.

Dave brought the scarf that Frankie's grandmother had knitted for her, which he found in her dorm. It was placed there on her grave.

"What did you not get to tell her?" a voice broke in from behind. Jasmine.

He looked up and wiped away his tears and gave a small breath, "Even if I didn't get to tell her everything, she knows. She always knows and she's always correct."

Jasmine gave a small scoff and sat beside him, "I didn't get to tell her that I have actually been kicked out of my house,"

"You got kicked out of your house?" he asked.

"Yeah, from the city. My mom kicked me out after finding out I was still in contact with Jaxon, then I came here. I dropped school 'cause of it, and went here to find my dad and brother," she said, smiling at Jayce's grave.

"Why didn't you tell Jayce you got kicked out?"

"I didn't want her to worry. I'm happy in Syville, until my brother was set off as a murderer," she said, "My mother didn't care. She hated everyone in the family. Sometimes, she wanted me to just leave to my father, and that's exactly what I did,"

"Jayce had amazing people around her," Ashton remarked.

"And her story ended surrounded by amazing people as well," Jasmine continued. "Like I said, Jayce loves you a lot, and now that even she's gone, she's still in your heart, loving you,"

He gave a small smile as Jasmine stood up.

"Thank you for taking care of her, Ashton. I'm really grateful," she smiled and walked away, out of the graveyard.

Ashton looked back at the grave, "I promised, and I'm willing to keep that promise I made,"

Suddenly, his eyes opened up to a lot of people surrounding the graveyard. Ghosts and spirits. From the past to the present.

He saw Georgia, he saw Nadia. All the souls that have lived their life to its fullest.

Jaxon, the Walkers and Amber went into the Light, or maybe not. Maybe they were lurking in the shadows of humiliation.

In the graveyard of dead souls.

He shed a tear. The beginning of an ending with his sixth sense back. He loved and hated it. The knowledge it gave him, some he wished he didn't know, some he wished he knew sooner.

He stroked her grave stone, "You've done great, Jayce,"

"And you too," a voice spoke from behind. A familiar one.

He flinched and turned around, seeing the girl he once knew. He once could hold. With her short hair, and her favorite brown blouse and jacket and skirt. She was there.

"Jayce," he breathed out, desperately hoping this was real.

She gave a small laugh, "You look really ugly when you cry," she put up her hand to stroke his hair away but it just passed through.

He clenched his jaw, "How have you been doing?"

"I've been staring at you for the past five days in the hospital and hoping you would wake up and then I saw you as a crying machine when you did," she replied casually.

"Was I supposed to laugh at your death?" he furrowed.

"I realized you could see ghosts again when you said black smoke," she frowned.

He frowned too, "I'm sorry,"

"If you say sorry one more time, I'll make sure I won't be the pretty ghost but I'll haunt you in your dreams like the Nun,"

"If you haunt me as IT, I won't be scared. 'Cause Bill Skarsgård is hot," he continued.

Jayce laughed, "I won't leave into the what-so-ever Light until you've been picked up as well, but remember that you need to water the flowers and take care of my beloved ones and also, not hurt yourself at all,"

"I made the promise, president," he smiled, "I promise."

"Ashton!" a young boy's voice came from afar.

He narrowed his eyes to see who it was, and a smile formed on Jayce's face. Frankie.

"Frankie!" he exclaimed back.

The boy went into his embrace and they both hugged. Jayce stood there with her hands on her hips and chuckled lowly.

"My grandmother said that you and Jayce want to see me here," he said, "What is this place?"

Ashton swallowed into a thin smile, "Jayce is there," he pointed his fingers to the sky, although she was right beside him, only for him to see.

Frankie pouted, "Where?"

"Jayce is in a place surrounded with joy now, just like your dad," he assured.

"Oh,"

"Tell him that I miss him and the future awaits him. Stay safe and healthy always for you and your grandmother," Jayce whispered in his ear.

"Jayce says that she misses you and that the future awaits you. She wants you and your grandmother to stay safe and healthy," he told the boy.

Frankie nodded, "You too, Ashton. My grandmother says that she sends condol- cond- condlonices, I think, to you,"

Ashton gave a chuckle, "It's condolences, and thank you Frankie, so much,"

"I don't know what you're thanking me for, but welcome," he smiled and exclaimed, "Have a nice day!"

The boy ran back to the van with his grandmother, and Jayce stood beside Ashton.

"And you say you're not good with kids," she teased.

~~~

Ashton sold away his mother's house and cars and got an extra amount of cash as he moved into the house in the woods.

He was still student council vice president, as Jayce was the only president to be done for that academic year.

The Christmas Ball kept on going, but Ashton just stayed as an organizer, but he did imagine having the dances with Jayce in his head.

Izzie decided to stay in Syville to keep Dave in accompany. He was devastated for days and weeks, he never thought he would get over it.

On the other hand, Jasmine decided to open her own business, of hand-made accessories jewelry that was helped by Izzie herself.

Ashton lived a quiet life at the lonely dorm of the former trio. But he stayed at the wooden house and watered the plants in the yard that was now growing, and continuously kept on eating steak burgers, with the company of Jayce.

He wasn't happy, but his little gift of his sixth sense made him be with her.

Everything seemed back on track, and Jayce had helped Ashton in his exams, to a point where he achieved a 100 in his average.

He was called crazy because he was seen by many people talking to himself. People say he's gone mad. But no, he was mad in love.

The case was closed with the murder of 5 prisoners as self-defense and the town was now back to its usual work.

But Ashton still had to face his past: his mother.

~~~

"You know if your mother does threaten or say useless crap, I can literally give her a heart attack by showing up in her dreams," Jayce offered.

"Thank you, president, but my mother's in prison already. That's tortured her enough," Ashton replied.

She glared at him from top to bottom, "You have like 3 layers of clothing,"

"It's winter," he whined.

"Did you get a new lighter?" she asked.

"Of course, it's a necessity," he said, "Why? Are you mad 'cause you can't smoke?"

"No, I just asked that to make sure you don't freeze to death and I can't do anything about it," she replied.

He snorted, "We're here,"

Ashton stepped down the jeep and went to the prison, asking to meet his mother.

It's been months since he's seen her, and she's definitely got all wrinkly.

He sat in front of the glass, and Jayce stood against the wall, glaring at the mother.

"I've heard many things have happened ever since I've gotten into prison," she scowled.

"We're not here to talk about that," he said.

"How have your scores been?" she asked immediately.

Jayce raised a brow, "This little-"

Ashton gave her a look to back away as he slouched on the chair, "You ask about my scores more than you ask how I've been,"

Kimberly clenched her jaw, "Can you please get me out? Please?"

"You've done many crimes, mom," he said, "I have no reason to get you out,"

"I just need my rich life back. My money, my cars, my house,"

"I sold it all. Including the Walkers' companies and stuff,"

"ARE YOU CRAZY?!" Kimberly yelled, banging the table.

"I wanna drag her to hell," Jayce remarked.

Ashton scoffed at his mom and laughed at Jayce's words, "I think you're the one who's crazy, mom. I'm here to ask about how you've been doing,"

"YOU THINK?" she yelled again, "If it wasn't for that know-it-all, arrogant scholar Jayce Brooks," she gritted her teeth.

He furrowed in return, seeing Jayce just give her an unbelievable glare. She hasn't realized her mistakes at all.

"She's dead, mom," Ashton said, "Which means she can hear whatever you're saying right now. And you must know that she does hold grudges,"

"D-Dead?" Kimberly was staggered.

"Yes, dead," he smiled, "But she's still with me,"

"What?"

"I fell in love with Jayce Brooks, and I don't think I'll fall in love with anyone ever again,"

"Excuse me?" she was about to yell, "You dare fall in love with her?!"

"The reason I'm here was to check if you're doing fine," he stood up, "And you seem crazy so I think you're fine. Thanks, mother, I will go now," he smiled and walked out, with Jayce following behind him, giving a face to Kimberly.

"ASHTON! YOU COME BACK HERE YOU DARN BOY!" her yells were muffled as they walked farther.

~~~

"You know, putting two rings on my grave is probably going to be stolen by someone," Jayce remarked.

Ashton had bought two diamond rings, one for him and one for her, and put it on her grave.

"I'm 17 now, and I'm going to university," he replied.

"You need to thank me for helping you get first place in these two consecutive years," she scowled.

"I always thank you everyday, president," he said.

He couldn't hold her hand, he couldn't kiss her, but her presence was enough for him.

"You're going to MIT," she remarked, "So you're leaving Syville,"

"I'll go back here every month, and I asked your father to water the plants. Syville is still my home," he said, "And plus, once I become a data scientist, I can work from home,"

"That's also true,"

"You also are coming with me, you can go anywhere,"

"That's also true," she smiled.

"Once I've done all the tasks you've told me to do in this life, be successful and live my life to my fullest, and death will pick me up, then we'll get married in the house. That's another promise I want to keep,"

"And you owe me a dance,"

"Yes, the dance," he smiled, "We'll also dance to Strawberries and Cigarettes,"

"Is that even possible to be danced to?" she laughed.

"It doesn't matter if it's possible or not. I just wanna dance with you on your favorite song,"

~~~

Years passed and everyone had moved on.

Ashton was 30 now, working as a data scientist in the wooden house as he planted more and more plants to fill the yard.

Jasmine was also 30 now, still working with Izzie in their new company Sparks. Successful and happy.

Brenda moved outside the city, becoming a biotechnician in a big company, as she moved on from her high school crush.

Ella was 26 now, and still on the wheelchair, but she had continued her father's job as an interior designer. She's grown strong and well, despite losing two of her beloved ones at a young age. She and Ashton were close, and they usually visited Eric's grave together.

Ten years later, Dave passed away due to old age, and Victor as well. A year after, Harrison passed away too. Sanchez was promoted to the head detective, and he lived a great life with his husband.

Frankie's grandmother died a few years back, and he is now completing his studies in university before going to work in NASA with his dreams of being an astronaut.

Everyone had a beginning and a closing.

~~~

Ashton had white hair, and spectacles, and was sitting on the chair in front of the wooden house, with Jayce sitting next to him.

A month before, he saw in the mirror that black smoke trailed behind him.

He should know that he should've been excited. He was going to meet Jayce.

He sat on the bench, with the memories gushing through him before he closed his eyes and Jayce stroked his old hair.

She smiled in her youth form, "See you soon, captain,"

~~~

The boy woke up, and the skies were dark and blue, with stars and the moon that lit it.

He looked at his hands. There were no more wrinkles, just his skin when he was 16. The best year of his life.

In front of his eyes, he saw the wooden house, with the plants in front of it, blooming.

On the porch, he saw a girl, with the black jumpsuit she used on the day of the show. And he saw he was wearing a suit as well.

"You're here now after 68 years," Jayce said as Ashton went up the steps.

"And you've been there from the beginning until now. We're both in the Light now, in our Light," he replied.

They entered the wooden house like how it was the past years. She took his hand as they both went to the rooftop, and got the night view of forever.

Jayce walked over and took a phone, which was surprisingly there, and played Strawberries and Cigarettes out loud.

"Like you promised," she said.

He smiled and lent his hand out as she took it. From his jacket, he took out the two diamond rings that he had bought.

"Like I promised," he replied.

He took the smaller ring and slid it on her finger, and she took the larger ring and slid it on his finger.

"Am I finally Ashton Brooks now?" he chuckled.

Jayce laughed back, smiling as she put her hands on his neck, "Ashton Brooks or not, my last name or not, you're still my vice president, captain and the boy who doesn't erase hyperlinks,"

Ashton chuckled lowly, "And you're always my dear president, player and the God damn insane Jayce Brooks,"

Their noses touched and now they could finally touch each other, ghostly, she brushed her lips against his, and they enjoyed the kiss of love. True love. Genuinely.

As the music still kept on going on loop, Ashton put his hand on her waist and she put her hand in his hand as they stepped to the rhythm. It wasn't really a waltz, it was just spending time together in a dance.

"I love you with no exceptions and with no limits, Jayce," Ashton said.

"I love you with no exceptions and with no limits too, Ashton," Jayce replied.

Because now they were together. In the wooden house at night, with the song, and the dance, and married, filled with love.

Forever.