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((Time skip! As much as I hate it, I'll skip some months or years ahead. crying ))



The cemetery looked the same as it always did, pretty much abandoned. Even months later, Jake still came here, like he was waiting for something o happen. The crisp fall wind bit at him, and he pulled his warm jacket closer to himself. He stood for a few more minutes, then sighed and headed back to his home. Stephanie heard the door close softly, and she coughed into a tissue. She was in bed, with old quilts piled on her to keep her warm. An empty bowl sat on the table beside her, the hot soup already gone. Her brother came in and picked it up, going to wash it in the sink. Jake brought back another blanket when he was done, putting it around her shoulders and over her inu ears. She'd gotten sick a while ago, when the cold air came with the fall season. Now he took care of her, until she got better.

((Yup. Man, you're mean. Letting Stephie die like that. crying Well...I'm the one who made her sick...))

Jake went over to the old radiator,which was making a rattling noise again. He flicked the knob a few times until it hummed back to life. Glancing back behind him, his ears stood up when he saw his sister just laying there. Stephanie opened her eyes as Jake shook her roughly. "Calm down...I was just resting my eyes..." She watched as he looked away ashamedly. "But--You--" He started to say. "Maybe--" Stephanie coughed before going on. "Maybe, it's time?" Jake shook his head back and forth, refusing to believe it. "It can't be. You can still get better!" He said, hoping. "Jake, no. That was only one time. Besides, you don't even know how you did it." "I-I can learn. I haven't read all of the books yet, and--" "Jake." Her brother looked up sadly. She smiled at him then. "Let's go back to the cemetery."

Jake supported his sister as they walked slowly down the stony path to the gate. Stephanie wore a shawl around her shoulders along with a heavy blanket. Jake had only agreed that they go if she covered herself to keep warm, but she still shivered when the wind blew. Her brother cast a concerned look down at her, he'd grown a few inches since they'd been reunited. She gave him another smile, showing that she was fine. They both stopped at the cemetery's gate, looking up at the lonely church in the middle. There was a padlock on the gate, the iron cold when Jake went to touch it. He felt Stephanie nudging him and glanced over at her. She gestured towards the top of the fence and grinned. He sighed and clasped his hands together so she'd be able to climb up. When she was safe on the other side, this time not getting stuck, he jumped and grabbed the part below the spikes, pulling himself up and over the pointy tops. They both walked on side by side, looking at how much the cemetery hadn't changed.

Jake and Stephanie stepped off the path, deciding to go in between the tombstones. Leaves crackled underneath their feet when they moved, but they didn't mind. Stephanie bent down at one, brushing aside leaves and moss. The inscription had already been faded through time, so the only thing she could make out was "May he rest in eternal peace." She rubbed her eyes sadly and went to stand up, coughing lightly and pulling the blanket closer to her. A sharp pain started in her stomach and she bent over painfully, coughing harder now. "St-Stephanie!" Jake cried out, coming over to her side. He put his hands on either side of her so she wouldn't fall over, and he leaned over to help her stand up. He heard her gasp when she straightened, and he muttered a quick "Sorry". His sister's face was pale and she had her eyes shut tightly. "What's wrong?" He asked, scared. She shook her head, keeping her hand pressed against her mouth. Then her legs felt weak, and now her younger brother held her up against him.

Jake looked back at Strider, holding onto Stephanie tighter. "No! It can't be, not yet!" He looked back at his sister, still coughing into her hand and shaking. Stephanie shook her head again, opening her eyes and clutching his jacket with her other hand, Sinking down to her knees, her and Jake were sitting on the ground now, huddling together. "Th-there's still..." He trailed off, shutting his eyes to keep back tears that threatened to spill over.

"Jake..." Stephanie was coughing less now, and she looked up at her younger brother. Jake's eyes popped open and he moved his hand to hold hers. He felt her skin getting colder, losing it's warmth. "Ste-Stephanie..." "I-I have to go now." She gripped his hand holding hers with her other hand. Smiling at him, she laid her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "But...don't worry, okay? We'll see each other...again." She gave a sigh and a peaceful expression came on her face, never to smile again except for this last time. Her hands slipped down to her sides, no longer having strength. Jake's breath caught in his throat, and he gently shook his sister's still form. He no longer felt the movement of breathing, but a weight settled around his neck. A purple heart-shaped locket hung by a golden chain now swung slowly, moving in the wind. Jake felt tears come to his eyes and run down his cheeks, his vision of Stephanie's body becoming blurry even as he held her close. He didn't shout, he didn't yell any clichéd line like "Why?" or "No!", or run away to sulk. He just bent his head down and started to sob into Stephanie's shoulder, his hunched form shaking all the while, already remembering how he used to comfort her when she cried.

Jake sat like that for a while before raised his head, sniffing a little. He looked at his sister's calm face and slipped his arm under her legs, then started to stand up. Leaving her body in a cemetery was not an option for him. The gravestone felt cold through his pants leg as he braced his knee against it, standing up straight. Leaves crunched as he shuffled through them to the path, and he stopped in front of Strider. He was silent for a few moments before clearing his throat, but his voice sounded hoarse. "I'm ready."