Epilogue Abel

Unlike when we had first travelled to Gairidan, the trip home was much less uncomfortable.

Before it took me I turned around and looked at everyone.

Carter was holding Adaeze. He had a satisfied expression, as if he had completed a grand undertaking. Adaeze looked like a weight was off her shoulders. I saw her squeeze his arm.

Sofiya was an absolute mess. She was like the little sister of the group, and she made me think Rosalie would grow up to be like her, though maybe more sporty like Yuliya.

Yuliya was crying into Skylar's chest. She wouldn't look at me, but that was ok. I knew it was because she didn't want to see the moment when I disappeared. Skylar had a bittersweet smile on her face, her eyes misted. I was sure she wanted to say something but she couldn't find the right words.

Ogun was looking away when I turned to him. Before I looked away he rubbed his eyes and looked at me. He tilted his head to the side and smiled. It was like a brother saying see you later. I always knew in my heart he'd find his path again and open his heart to us again.

I was surprised most by Taiyo. He hadn't seemed too emotional the whole time I had known him. Even during this whole journey, I had seen him get upset, or excited about things. But not to this level. He was crying so hard, my heart ached. I thought of him like a little brother the same as I thought of Sofiya as a sister. He looked at me through his tears though. Refusing to look away.

Esther was rubbing his back. She gave me the most energetic smile out of everyone, but even she had tears in her eyes. I was so happy that he met her. He had felt so isolated and alone growing up he said. I could tell there was at least one layer he kept away from us, they he guarded like a child trying to hold onto one last shred of hope. She pealed it right off in a way that none of us could ever have.

I wanted to do one last memorable thing for them. I clutched their letters in my left hand. Then I looked down at my right. I raised it into the air and blasted fire above me.

Without missing a beat, Taiyo raised his fist and shot a water spout.

Ogun sent Peak towards me, joining with my shadow, his own fist in the air.

Through her sputtering Sofiya raised a fist and a torrent of wind picked up near the ceiling of the temple.

Skylar tapped Yuliya and pointed at her sister. Seeing her raised fist and hearing the gusting wind, she put her fist in the air and a spire shot of of the ground behind them.

There it was. One last moment of solidarity. Right at the end of our journey, we ended it with a toast to our friendship.

With a blue flash, I blinded for a moment, then I was standing in a small clearing with a flat rock in front of me. Just like we had left it, all of our supplies for the experiment were here. I looked to my left and there was Adaeze's car. I took her keys out of my pocket and unlocked it as I approached. I threw the letters into the passenger's seat and took a deep breath.

First I went home and saw my parents. Apparently it had been a couple days here, and they had been worried sick. When I first saw Rosalie she looked lifeless, but the moment we made eye contact she sprung to life, hopping off of the couch and jumping straight into my arms.

"Bubby!" She cried into my chest.

"Abel where have you been?" My father demanded, concern painted in his eyes.

"And what are you wearing?" Mom asked.

"It's a long story. Please sit."

I told them everything. Every single detail. When I told them the moment I had killed my first person, and how I felt, I covered Rosalie's ears. It felt relieving to be able to describe it to someone who hadn't lived it like I had.

My mom placed her hand on mine. Rosalie was hanging on my back, while my dad made a sandwich for me. "So, your friends are still in that other world?"

I nodded. "Only one of us could come home, and they all agreed it should be me."

She began to sniffle. "I will forever be indebted to them for letting my baby come home to me. I wish there was something I could do."

I pulled the letters out of  a pouch on my belt. "Actually, I'll be doing that. Everyone wrote a letter that I'll be delivering to those they care about." I grabbed the sandwich my dad offered me and went to stand. Rosalie was still hanging on to me.

"No." She muttered.

"Rosie I'll be back. I just have to-"

"No!" She squeezed tighter. It was a little tight for my neck. "You said you would be back last time and you were gone for four days!"

I looked at my mom for help but she just threw up her hands.

I crouched back down so her feet would be on the seat and then turned around. "I tell you what. Do you want to deliver these letters with me?"

Her eyes lit up. "Can I?"

I patted her on the head. "Of course you can." I pulled the keys from my pocket. "Oh, and one more thing. We have a new car, but we need to hire a lawyer to validate the writing."

With that strange note I led my sister outside and we hopped in the car. I took a bite of the sandwich and began to tear up.

"What's wrong bubby?" Rosalie asked.

I wiped the tears away. "It's nothing. The food here just tastes way better."

First we visited Adaeze's friend. I gave her the letter, and the house key from the keychain. We waited around to try to answer any questions, but whatever Adaeze wrote summed everything up for her. I guess she didn't mention the other world or anything.

Next on the stop was Yuliya's and Sofiya's father. It took a second to convince him to see us, but eventually he relented. Without spending time for small talk he took the letter. He whispered things to himself as he read like "Oh Sofiya, Zajushka." or "Solnyshko! You could have told papa, Yuliya." When he was finished he looked me in the eyes, a sharp look.

"My girls. They are happy?"

I nodded.

"This woman, Skylar. What kind of person is she?"

I thought for a moment. "I guess if I was going to summarize her, I'd say strong."

He looked at me for a moment. With wide exhausted eyes he sat back, sighing heavily. "You would have to be strong to handle my daughter." He laughed heartily. "I am lawyer. I thank you for bringing their words to me. If you need help, I will be there."

I thanked him and left. How lucky, he's a lawyer and I'm going to need one for the car soon.

The last stop was the Montford residence. When I pulled up there was a boy about a year or two older than me sitting on the porch, looking at his phone.

"Hello." I said as I walked up to the house. "Are Mr. and Mrs. Montford here?"

He looked up from the screen to me and arched his eyebrow. "Yeah? Who are you?"

"A friend of Taiyo's."

He stood up so fast and went inside that I thought he got scared away. A moment later a woman stepped out onto the porch. "You know where Taiyo is?" She looked so scared. Like I was going to tell her he's dead somewhere.

I took out the last letter, leaving Adaeze's will in the pouch folded nicely. "He wrote this for you."

Rosalie yawned, obviously tired from driving everywhere. We sat down with Mrs. Montford on the porch, her son hanging around awkwardly.

"Have you read this?" She asked.

I shook my head. "I haven't read any of the letters."

"Well I'm going to read this out loud, because it says to do so." She said.

Dear Joseph and Mary,

I want you to know that I am safe, and that I am happy.  Disappearing wasn't supposed to happen, and I don't know how much time will have passed since my disappearance, but it's been over a year for me. I was meeting up with my friends to do an experiment will all kinds of magic, but we just basically kind of mashed it all together, and it took us to another world. We've had to do a lot here. Most of that is fighting monsters, or working odd jobs. Some of it was killing, I'm afraid. But it was always bandits or other bad people, so I didn't hurt anyone for no reason. I've learned quite a bit about life while here. Thinking is the one thing I did most. I thought about my time with your family. I will always be grateful for taking me in. You really didn't have to, but you did. I'm sorry for all the piping issues. I've met a woman here that I can see myself devoting everything to. She makes me feel things that I never knew I could feel, and I'm confident in saying that I am in love with her.

Mark and Spencer,

I'm sorry I couldn't be a brother you deserved. I don't blame you for not knowing how to include me. I caused a lot of problems and was a nuisance.

Abel,

I wanted her to read this all allowed because I have some words to say to you that I don't think I'll be able to say when we part. During this year, and even during the two back on Earth, you have been a brother to me. You have such a big heart, that you can accept anyone and make them feel loved. I don't think it mattered to you at all where I came from, what I had going for me. You met me as I am and treated me with dignity and respect. Your sister Rosalie is so lucky to have you back. Now that you are over there I can say this; I didn't want you to go. I wanted you to stay. But I couldn't be that selfish and keep you from your parents and sister. Especially after that story you told us. I would have been a villain and I couldn't live with that. So please, for all of us here, live your life to the fullest.

I love you brother.

When she was finished, I tuned out for a moment. I was crying so hard, Rosalie stopped dozing off.

"Bubby, you're crying again?"

I rubbed at my face, and they didn't stop this time. "Yeah, I am."

She grabbed my hand. "Why?"

I smiled wide at her. "Because bubby lost a little brother."