บท 19: 19. Time to move forward
Sam suddenly looked up at James, a thought crossing his mind. "Wait," he said, rubbing his temple. "Are you sure you're ready to leave the hospital right now? I mean, you're still recovering from your injuries. You don't want to push yourself too hard."
James let out a small, dry chuckle, the sound bitter in the quiet room. He could feel Sam's concern, but he also understood the urgency Sam felt. "I'm not in the best shape, but I can manage. Besides, you're not the only one who needs answers."
Sam frowned, looking worried, but also determined. He wasn't fooling anyone—he cared about James' well-being.
"We could wait a few days," Sam said gently, glancing at the door. "Give you some time to heal. It's not like we have to rush."
James took a deep breath, sitting up straighter and pushing through the pain. He looked at Sam, seeing the need for closure in his eyes over Jessica's death. Sam's grief was still fresh and raw. James understood that, but he wasn't going to let Sam face this alone.
"No," James said firmly but gently. "We can't wait. We'll go now." His gaze softened. "I know you want to find out what happened, Sam. You need this. And honestly... so do I."
Sam hesitated, clearly torn between his worry for James and his need for answers. After a long pause, Sam sighed quietly. "Alright. But we're doing this carefully. We sneak out tonight, no one knows we're gone. We don't need another disaster."
With that Sam left the hospital, leaving James to rest for the day.
Hours passed, the sun slowly setting. James didn't train his abilities, making sure he was ready for what they would face. His Essence Sovereignty was growing stronger, but his body wasn't fully recovered.
When the sky had darkened and it was an hour till midnight, Sam entered his room after a gentle knock on his door.
"We should go," James said, looking at the clock. It was time.
Sam nodded, still hesitant. "I'll be careful. I won't push you too hard."
Together, they left the hospital, staying hidden in the shadows. James could feel the pain in his muscles, but he ignored it. He couldn't stop now. They reached the emergency exit and slipped out into the cold night. The city lights cast long shadows.
"Stay close," Sam muttered, as they quickly walked toward Jessica's house. Every step made James's wounds ache, but he pushed through. He couldn't let Sam down.
When they arrived at Jessica's house, it was silent. Sam stood at the door for a moment, his face tight with emotion. He turned to James.
"I don't know if I'm ready for this," Sam admitted softly. "I want to see her, but I don't know if I can handle it."
James placed a hand on Sam's shoulder. "You don't have to do this alone. I'll be right here with you."
Sam nodded, taking a deep breath before reaching for the doorknob. As he opened the door, the emptiness of the house swallowed them. Everything was just as it had been the last time Sam visited, except for the absence of Jessica.
Sam stepped inside, followed by James. The house was quiet, the air thick with grief. They went to the living room, where Jessica's things still sat, untouched. Sam sat down on the couch, looking around.
James took a deep breath and closed his eyes, focusing inward. He reached into his Essence Sovereignty, drawing on the energy inside him to sense the supernatural. He extended his senses, trying to feel any trace of Jessica's spirit.
At first, there was nothing. The house felt empty, without any lingering presence. But then, just as James started to doubt, a faint, flickering sensation brushed against his mind.
"Sam," James whispered, his voice trembling. "I think she's here."
Sam's head snapped up. "What do you mean? You can really feel her?"
James nodded. "She's here. But it's faint. She hasn't moved on yet."
"Jessica," Sam whispered, standing up and moving to the spot where her presence seemed strongest. "Jessica, if you can hear me… I need to know you're okay. I love you, and I'm sorry. I couldn't save you. But I'll always love you."
For a long moment, there was silence. James could feel the air growing heavier, the presence of Jessica's spirit becoming stronger.
The air in the room felt different, colder, and James felt a shift. A faint light flickered in the corner of his eye. His heart skipped a beat. What he had sensed earlier became clearer—a figure began to take shape. It was Jessica.
She stood there, her form faint but recognizable. She looked like she hadn't changed, but her eyes were full of sadness. James thought she would only appear to him, but then he heard Sam's voice.
"Jessica?" Sam whispered, his voice full of disbelief. He stared at her, his face full of shock.
"You... you can see her too?" James was surprised.
Jessica took a step closer, her face softening as she looked at Sam. "Sam…" Her voice was so quiet, like a soft breeze.
Sam stepped forward, his voice shaky. "Jessica, I—" He stopped, overwhelmed with emotion, unsure of what to say.
James, understanding the moment, quietly stepped back. "I'll give you two some time," he said softly. "I'll wait outside."
Sam didn't seem to hear him, his attention completely on Jessica. James quietly left the room, giving them the space they needed. He could still hear their voices faintly through the door, but he knew this was something Sam had to do alone.
After what felt like a long time, Sam came out into the hallway. His face was still filled with sadness, but there was something lighter in his expression.
He looked at James, his eyes red from tears. "She's at peace now," Sam said quietly. "I told her everything. I couldn't save her, but I told her I loved her, and I'll always love her."
James nodded. "You did the best you could, Sam. That's what matters."
..
...
A few days later, James was released from the hospital. After being released from the hospital, James held a funeral for his father, just like he had wanted. He didn't care what people thought about this weird theme funeral, he just hoped that his Dad who was watching over him would be satisfied with it.
After that, James attended Jessica's funeral. There were many people there, friends, parents whereas Sam stood far behind watching over the funeral, still in pain but a little bit relieved.
As the funeral ended and people began to leave, James thought about everything that had happened. Even though they had lost so much, he and Sam still had each other. It wasn't a perfect solution, but it was enough to help them move forward. The chapter ended with no clear conclusion, but there was a sense that, despite their pain, they were beginning to heal in their own ways.
As the funeral came to an end and people began to leave, James stood quietly beside Sam, watching the crowd disperse. The weight of everything that had happened over the past few days still felt heavy, but James knew it was time to move forward. He had allowed himself the time to grieve and recover, but now, he couldn't afford to wait any longer.
The demon that had caused so much pain, the one who had taken his mother from him, was still out there. And James knew he couldn't wait any longer to make it pay for everything it had done to him and his family.
The thought of tracking down that demon filled him with a burning need for revenge. The grief would always be there, but right now, it wasn't his focus. It was time to find the demon, make it suffer, and make it pay for all the destruction it had caused.
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