by KT Webb
“Kerr!”
He smiled at the sound of his father’s voice. Cole Mason clapped a hand on Kerr’s shoulder and smiled through his tears.
“You did it, son. You have fulfilled your purpose. You have no idea what this means for the world.”
Kerr’s chest swelled with pride and relief. This battle had been waging since the beginning of time, and they were finally able to put an end to it. He had no idea what that would mean for the world, but it opened so many possibilities for his own life that he knew the world would have a bright future.
Kerr felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to find his mom and step dad. He knew they would be here somewhere, he just didn’t know if they would be alive or joining the many who would remain in Eternity. He sighed with relief when he recognized them as living souls.
“Melanie!” Cole cried with happiness.
His parents held each other and wept tears of joy at their reunion. Andrew stood by awkwardly until Cole broke away from Kerr’s mom and reached out a hand for him to shake. The two men regarded each other briefly, but Cole broke the silence by thanking Andrew for taking care of his family and asking him to continue to do so. Kerr’s stepfather nodded solemnly. It was still very strange for him to be in this place and accept all the incredible things he’d seen and experienced in the last few months.
While observing his impossible family reunion, something caught Kerr’s eye. A tall, beautiful woman stood on her tippy toes as though she was searching for someone. He didn’t need memories and flashes of the past he’d gotten from Romulus to know who he was looking at.
Anu. The first young woman to bear the child of an Old Immortal. She had died giving birth to Keiran, the son she shared with Romulus. Kerr excused himself from his parents and weaved his way over to the lost young woman.
“Can I help you find someone, Anu?”
At first, she was startled. She furrowed her brow as she examined Kerr. Her eyes grew wide and she put a hand to her chest. Kerr let her give him a tight squeeze, patting her back as he held the woman who unwittingly started the line that would be partially responsible for saving the world.
“I’m Kerr. Have you seen Romulus?”
“No, that’s who I’m looking for. I would give anything to hold him again.”
Kerr felt the truth in her words and took her hand. “Let’s find him together.”
He led her through the crowd still holding her hand. They came upon the circular desk Thatcher had told them about. Kerr climbed on top of it, pulling Anu up behind him. Romulus had died for him. The only way he could repay him would be to reunite him with the love he had dreamed of for centuries. He scanned the room, but still didn’t catch sight of the large man who normally stood out in a crowd. He decided to try one last thing.
“ATTENTION, EVERYONE!”
The quiet fell on the room like waves retreating from the shore.
“I’M LOOKING FOR ROMULUS.”
“No need to shout, son. I’m right over here.” Romulus laughed as he squeezed his way over.
When he was standing before Kerr, he smiled broadly.
“Romulus, I can never repay you for what you did.”
“You are repaying me by standing here, whole and alive. Your family needs you. The world is going to need you.”
“I love you, Romulus. You’ve become like a father to me. I’ve already had to say goodbye to my father once. I’m struggling to say goodbye to you too.”
“It’s not goodbye, Kerr. It will never really be goodbye.”
Kerr couldn’t help the sadness that filled him as he thought about a future without Romulus. His sadness was replaced with joy when he saw the look of recognition take over Romulus’ face.
“Anu.”
“Romulus.”
Witnessing true love reunite after centuries of being separated made Kerr understand the giddy feeling girls get when they watch chick-flicks. He had to consciously keep himself from clapping his hands and squealing like a girl when the delicate young woman launched herself into the oversized muscular arms of the man she loved.
Kerr quietly slipped away in search of his own wife.
Chapter Thirty-Seven:
Thatcher
He greeted his parents and so many other people he had come to know over the course of their preparation for the final battle. He accepted thanks and congratulations from faces he couldn’t place. But the one person he wanted to talk to you was nowhere to be found.
He knew only Malcolm would understand the mixed feelings swirling around inside his chest. Thatcher was relieved that Absalom was finally gone, but he couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt that filled him when he thought about all the times he had faced Absalom and never sensed his true intentions.
He was a child of the biggest bad the world had ever known. Malcolm was actually Absalom’s son. He knew that talking to him about what happened was the only way he would find peace.
Thatcher decided to look for Malcolm in his room. He climbed the stairs that led further into Eternity. He paused briefly on the level that now held all the sparkling lights of the new souls. He continued up to the next level, which had been Malcolm’s room the last time he’d come to Eternity.
It looked just as he remembered it. He found Malcolm sitting on the couch and staring at the wall.
“Hey, I’ve been looking for you.”
“Here I am.”
Thatcher flopped down on the couch next to the boy he had thought of as a brother since he met him.
“What’s up?”
“Nothing. I was waiting for you.” Malcolm grinned as he tossed Thatcher a PS4 controller.
Thatcher selected his character for Mortal Kombat and waited for the game to begin. When they started fighting, they fell into the banter that came easily to them.
“BOOM! Kicked your butt!”
Thatcher laughed. “I was just warming up.”
They played a few more rounds before Malcolm shut off the game and turned to face Thatcher on the couch.
“Look, I know why you’re here. I don’t have the answers you’re looking for, but I can offer some advice.”
Thatcher waited for him to continue.
“Let it go. You can’t let yourself focus on what could have happened or what you should have done. It doesn’t work that way. I was raised by Absalom, and I had no idea this was his endgame.”
“But we were all just playing the parts he chose for us. It’s like this whole thing was scripted from the beginning. He made us hate him so we would fight him. If he hadn’t killed you, it would have been me and our roles would be reversed right now.”
“You forget that he wasn’t the only one with a plan. We may have been doing exactly what he wanted, but look at how it all turned out. None of those people downstairs were following a script when they agreed to follow you guys and fight for their futures.”
Thatcher sat back. He hadn’t thought about it that way. Absalom may have had his plans, but there were so many other pieces in play. Absalom was convinced of his victory. It genuinely surprised him when the Creator overcame him.
“We better get back down to the party. It’ll be over soon. You’ll all be heading home in no time.”
“How long have we been here?” Thatcher tried to remember how long ago the actual battle began.
“When you return home, you will find that those who were left behind have aged one year. When the Creator defeated Absalom, the world was restored to its normal temperature.”
“Shawna and the others are going to kill us for leaving them with all those kids for a year.”
“It was a genius idea to bring the soldiers into the street. It kept Absalom from bringing the children and their caretakers here to die. Those children are going to be instrumental in rebuilding the world in the New Era.”
Thatcher stopped on the stairs. “I’d almost forgotten. What exactly is the New Era going to be like? We’ve been talking about it for what feels like forever, and now we’re just suppos
ed to go back and make it happen?”
“That will be a conversation for the Creator to have with you. I don’t know much, but it’s gonna be great.”
Thatcher followed Malcolm down the stairs and back into the cave at the base. People were eating and talking, just as they had been when he left. He saw his family completely reunited in the corner. Thatcher grabbed Malcolm’s arm and dragged him over to join them at a large table. Malcolm had felt like an outsider since the day Absalom had thrust him into their home as a spy. He wasn’t an outsider anymore. Malcolm had become part of the family before he died, and he would remain so for eternity.
Chapter Thirty-Eight:
Hadley
They finished eating and the general consensus was that everyone was ready to go home. As Keira was getting ready to open a door and usher everyone through, a great light appeared in the center of the room.
The now-familiar arrival of the Creator had subtle differences now that he had accepted some of humanity’s darkness. Hadley smelled pumpkin pie baking, followed by the disappointing odor that indicated the pie had been left in the oven too long.
When the smoke disappeared and the light dimmed to a tolerable level, the Creator stood in front of them with a broad smile. Hadley noticed that no one was moving, save for the Evolved, Joe, Whitley, Naomi, and Malcolm.
“My children, you have done well.”
He made his way over to the table they were still sitting at. He sat with them and beamed around the large, circular table.
“You have accomplished what only you could. The world will be very different when you return. There are now fewer than one billion people living. You are going to guide them. You are going to help them adjust to their new lives.”
“What is the New Era going to be like?” Hadley asked.
“It’s going to be much like I had intended the world to be from the very beginning. The last of my Old Immortals has taken up residence in Eternity. My angels have either returned or been destroyed for their wicked ways. I can finally participate in the world when I’m needed. You are to become my new helpers.”
Hadley exchanged a look with the others around the table. She had no idea what he was saying, but she had a sneaking suspicion their story wasn’t over yet.
“Everyone at this table will now have the option to either continue on in their mortal life or become the New Immortals.”
Hadley’s hand instantly flew to her belly. The twins growing inside her were so powerful. We they powerful because of who she and Thatcher were as members of the Evolved? Or did their power come from a deeper place?
For that matter, could they still have children? Some of the teens Keira had brought to help them hadn’t been conceived yet, let alone born. The Old Immortals couldn’t have children, could they?
“Great questions, Hadley. Yes. You will still have children. Should you accept my offer, you will stop aging, but you will still be able to have children, and your children will be able to have children. You will have a full life.”
Thatcher squeezed her hand. He was staring intently at Malcolm. “But what about Malcolm?”
The Creator grinned. “Oh, Malcolm, I am giving you what you were robbed of. A chance to be a member of the Evolved. There were technically to be five, and since Hadley and Whitley were one divided in two, you would have become the fifth had you not been killed by Absalom.”
Hadley felt her jaw drop. The Creator was going to give him back his life. She could feel her husband’s heart beating through the tightness of his grip.
“I accept,” Malcolm said without hesitation.
“And us? We were never members of the Evolved,” Naomi pointed out quietly.
“Naomi and Josiah. You took a path I did not have planned for you. But I will not condemn you. You have both changed your lives again and fought to right the wrongs you helped create. You too may take your place as New Immortals.”
Joe looked at Whitley with a furrowed brow. Hadley knew there was no way he would accept if it meant he would watch his new bride age and die beside him. Hadley too knew she wouldn’t accept if it meant she would stay as she was while Whitley withered away.
“I am going to have to decline,” Hadley said.
“What? Are you nuts?” Whitley stammered.
“No. If everyone is going to be superheroes, and you’re going to be an old lady knitting us sweaters, I’d rather be in a rocking chair next to you.”
The Creator chuckled. “No, Hadley, this offer is for Whitley too.”
Hadley looked at Thatcher. The answer was clear. They would continue to help the Creator. They would fight to maintain the peace the world would soon experience. She saw the same expressions reflected on Nora, Kerr, Whitley, Joe, and Naomi.
“We’ll do it.” Nora spoke for all of them.
No one disagreed. No one seemed reluctant. Hadley felt her boys squirming in her belly and grinned. The world was going to change, and they would be around to make it happen.
Chapter Thirty-Nine:
Nora
When they returned to Las Vegas, they found Shawna and the other caretakers swimming in the pool with the children. They were momentarily surprised to witness the return of the army that left them a year ago, but once the shock wore off they were elated.
“We didn’t know if we would see you again!” Shawna said as she hugged Nora.
“I know. We didn’t realize how long we were gone. Time works differently in Eternity.” Nora and the others sat down to explain where they had been and what happened.
They shed tears for the fallen and shared what they’d been doing without them. The children were doing well. There were enough adults and older children left behind to give them proper care and start doing some schooling.
Nora appreciated the strength of the young woman in front of her. She was the perfect example of someone who didn’t ask to be a hero but did what they needed to when they needed to do it.
After a few months, the New Immortals began to recognize the new gifts that came along with their new mission. They were filled with knowledge and memories from many lifetimes. They had the ability to speak any language. It was exhilarating and made the process of helping the world rebuild much easier.
Most people wanted to return to the country they had lived in before the freeze took over the world. Before anyone left, they wanted to rest and spend some more time together as one community. Nora knew they had a lot of work ahead of them, so she had no problem continuing to squat in Las Vegas until it was time to rebuild.
A major development started a week before they were to begin returning everyone to their homes. Nora was surprised when Imaan came to her one night with a few other leaders from various religions.
“Nora, we have all come to understand that none of us were actually right. Our beliefs were so different, and they weren’t necessarily wrong, but they weren’t necessarily right either.”
Nora thought for a moment. “I see what you mean, but when it truly mattered you all put your differences aside and fought for each other.”
“And we would do it again in a heartbeat,” a portly man who was once a Catholic priest added.
“But what will happen when we are no longer here? Will our ancestors know what we have accomplished? Will they understand how much more there is to our story? Will we go back to what we were before, or will we move forward together?” Imaan asked.
“I know what I’ll be doing. It’s never been a question for me. So I think you need to make that decision together, and most importantly, you need to make that decision with the input of the people who fought alongside you.”
“I don’t think we should throw away our history, but I think we need to have a universal future. We must keep telling the story of where we came from while teaching future generations to follow a new path and accept the truth.” The heavy accent of a former Tibetan Monk shared his viewpoint.
“I think that sounds like a fantastic idea. We can’t pretend that it didn’t tak
e us a lot to get here. It’s crazy to think that everyone should ignore the things that have made them who they are. Part of what makes this world worth rebuilding is the sheer number of unique cultures we have.” Nora smiled.
In the end, a vote was taken and everyone agreed; future generations needed to know the truth about what happened in Eternity. There may come a time when that truth is regarded as legend or myth, but they had to keep it alive as long as they could.
The Creator made regular appearances and often called the New Immortals to Eternity for Council meetings. The world they were rebuilding would not exactly be Utopia, but it would be the closest thing possible while still allowing everyone to be individuals.
In the midst of moving everyone to their new homes, Nora discovered she was expecting her second daughter. She wondered if this would be Elise or Mila. She never thought to ask which was older. It made her head hurt as she tried to wrap her head around what would happen if she gave the wrong name to this baby. She kept her concerns to herself and decided it would work out the way it was supposed to.
Hadley and Thatcher welcomed their sons into the world the same day Nora found out she was pregnant. Lincoln and Sullivan were the first children to be born into the New Era. Tahlia and Eric were over the moon about their new grandparent status. They were a major help to Hadley while the other New Immortals were gone.
By the time 2018 was halfway over, the world had fallen into a regular routine. Nora and the others made daily trips to the newly established communities until they were certain they would call upon them when they needed them.
The day finally came when all that was left in Las Vegas were empty rooms and their family. Nora looked around at the other New Immortals, her in-laws, Shawna, Tahlia, Eric, the kids, and the remaining residents of Benton, South Dakota. She took a second to let the moment sink in. They had lost so much, but they had gained more than they could have imagined.