Emma grabbed the Cosmic Judge by his glowing robes and shook him hard.
"What do you mean everyone I love will be dead in sixty seconds?" she screamed.
The Judge's fake smile got wider. "I never said the cosmic balance was fair, Emma. You used your resurrection on yourself instead of accepting death. Now the universe will take everyone you care about to make things even."
"No!" Emma looked back at her family in the kitchen. Luna was helping Alex stand up. Maya was holding Tommy's hand. Kael was walking toward the door to check on Emma.
"Fifty seconds," the Judge said cheerfully.
Emma felt her heart breaking. "Take me instead! Kill me and save them!"
"Too late. You already made your choice."
But then Emma heard a voice she hadn't heard in thirty years.
"Actually, he's lying again."
Emma spun around. Standing behind her was her father - the same father who had died when she was a child. He looked exactly like she remembered, but his eyes were glowing with silver light.
