Selena's eyes fluttered open, and she shook in fear. But it was not just fear that had changed her. Her eyes, once a deep brown, had transformed into a piercing gold. Her hair changed rapidly to a golden color. Her skin rapidly rejuvenated as her body healed.
The scars from the cuts from their wedding day disappeared. Next, she gasped as the gunshot wound scar tract healed. Her rejuvenation stopped. She looked like a college student again and not the 34-year-old mother with a couple of gray hairs.
"Daddy?" Ava said. Aya went to her sister and ducked behind her.
The room fell silent, the only sound the beeping of the machines and the heavy breathing of those present. Liam's eyes locked onto Selena's, and he felt relief that she was awake, but her eyes were profound. She seemed spaced out. She had a million-yard stare.
What had just happened? What had Dônn done? And what did it mean for Selena, for their family, and for their future?
Liam went to check on Amelia to rouse her. He helped her up. This was the first time he had seen her cry. He quickly checked her.
Selena's voice was barely audible, but it was laced with horror. "She has helped me see it; it was between the children and me. They won't suffer this fate," she said, her eyes scanning her family with an eerie intensity.
As she looked at each of them, Selena could see more than just their faces. She could see the lifespan and vitality of each person, like a thread of fate that was slowly unraveling.Her gaze fell upon her grandmother, Amelia, and Selena's frown deepened. Amelia's natural span was coming to an end, and Selena could see the weight of mortality bearing down upon her.
But it was what Selena saw next that made her heart sink. Ava, Liam, and Jonah all had the same death date, a thread of fate that was inextricably linked unless she found some way to stop it, or they resurrected the Loop and stayed in that pocket of quantum space. Tears welled up in Selena's eyes as she realized that she was powerless to change their fate.
"It has to be me." Selena felt a wave of depression wash over her, threatening to consume her. She had always known that her family was special, but she had never realized just how fragile their existence was. "It can't be one of them. I am sorry, I could not condemn one of the lives I am responsible for to this fate."
As she looked at her loved ones, Selena felt a sense of desperation creeping in. She had to find a way to change their fate, to cheat death and give them more time. But as she looked into their faces, Selena knew that it was a daunting task, one that might be impossible to achieve. She started to sob.
Selena's sobs racked her body as she gazed at her grandmother, her eyes pleading for answers. "Grandma, why didn't you tell me you were dying?" she asked, her voice cracking with emotion.
Amelia had been unsettled by the interaction, and before her eyes now lay what she learned from their fables as a child. The golden hair and eyes. Amelia's face was etched with a deep sadness, her eyes filled with a mix of love and regret. "She makes you pay a toll for delaying the natural order," she said. "I assure you that I am not willing for you to take another karmic hit."
Selena's face contorted in anguish as she shook her head. "It's my choice," she said, her voice firm and resolute, for you to try to change it.
Amelia's eyes widened in alarm as she reached out to grasp Selena's hands. "No, Selena, you don't understand. The cost is too high. You can't afford to pay for it. Every being has its damned end. Death is death. Even someday, you will return to the gold."
But Selena's mind was made up. She was willing to sacrifice herself if it meant saving her loved ones. She looked at Amelia, her eyes burning with determination. "I'll do whatever the fuck it takes to protect those I love, grandma."
Amelia laughed, tears in her eyes. Her granddaughter looked ethereal.
Selena's transformation was nothing short of miraculous. Her hair and eyes shone and shimmered with a beautiful gold, her skin seeming to glow with a youthful vigor. It was as if she had been revitalized, restored to a state of perfect health.
The machines surrounding her bed fell silent as Selena pulled off the leads and turned off the monitors. She looked down at her body, and her eyes widened in surprise. Her scars and stretch marks were gone, erased from her skin as if they had never existed.
Ava's voice was filled with dismay as she stared at her mother in awe. "Mom? You look so young."
Liam's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on Selena's transformed body. He looked like he had been punched in the gut, his face pale and shocked. The room fell silent, the only sound the quiet beeping of machines in the background. Selena's gaze met Liam's, and she smiled weakly. But her eyes betrayed a hint of something else - a hunger, a craving that seemed to burn within her.
"What's going on, Selena?" Liam asked, his voice laced with worry.
"I am so hungry." Selena's smile faltered, and she looked away, her eyes scanning the room as if searching for something. Selena's eyes gleamed with an otherworldly hunger as she ripped the Intravenous Line from her skin. The site healed instantly, leaving no mark or scar.
"I will get you food," Liam said as he looked at her perturbed. Just because it would heal, did not mean it did not hurt. He remembered the pain of the reversal all too well.
"I am so starved," Selena said, her voice low and urgent. Not seeming to hear him, no care about the looks of her family she took off. She dashed outside, still wearing the hospital gown, which left little to the imagination. Ava's face turned bright red with mortification as she watched her mother's backside bounce with each step.
As Selena emerged into the bright Australian sunlight, she fell weakly to her knees in the dirt. But instead of remaining still, the ground beneath her began to transform. The dry, cracked earth gave way to lush, green grass, and native flowers bloomed in an instant.
Liam rushed to help Selena up, but she panicked, her eyes wide with fear. "No!" she cried, holding up a hand to ward him off. "I don't know if I'll hurt you."
As Selena moved, the process continued, with plants and trees sprouting up around her. A large Australian tree began to grow, its trunk thickening and its branches reaching for the sky. Selena was horrified. Would she never even be able to hold her own kids again?
Selena's hunger didn't seem to be sated, despite the transformation of the landscape around her. She looked up at Liam, her eyes filled with a deep sadness. "Remember the Loop," she said. "Maybe the Loop is this energy?"
Liam watched in awe, unsure of what to do next. He looked at Ava, who was staring at her mother in shock and confusion. What was happening to Selena? And how could they help her?
Amelia's eyes shone with a mix of shock and awe as she gazed at Selena. Her granddaughter was like the seers of old, the ones from the fables and legends. The earth itself seemed to heal at her touch, as if she were a conduit for the very life force of the planet.
As Selena crawled, her hospital gown slipped off, leaving her exposed. But before anyone could react, Jonah rushed forward, a sheet in hand, and gently wrapped it around her shoulders. His face was a picture of bewilderment, but his instincts to protect Selena took over.
Despite the chaos and uncertainty of the situation, Jonah's eyes shone with a quiet confidence. He knew that Selena would be fine, somehow. He couldn't explain it, but he felt it deep in his bones as her protector.
As he looked at Selena, wrapped in the sheet, he felt a surge of love and protectiveness. He would do anything to keep her safe, to help her through this strange and unpredictable journey. Selena kept moving in the very desert, changing.
Amelia's eyes met Jonah's, and she nodded slightly. She knew that Selena was in good hands, that her family would do everything in their power to support and protect her. Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, and they would emerge stronger and more resilient because of it.
Eun Ho's eyes filled with sympathy as she gazed at her daughter, Selena. She couldn't help but wonder why the goddess had chosen to burden Selena with such an immense responsibility. Eun Ho had felt the goddess's puzzlement earlier, when Amelia had unleashed her rage. It was clear that the goddess was just as perplexed by the situation as they were.
Eun Ho pulled out her smartphone and dialed her husband's number. When Jonathan answered, she said, "Jonathan, you will need to come after all. Bring any Pillar family scientists who can help us understand what's happening to Selena."
Jonathan's voice was laced with confusion on the other end of the line. "What's going on, Eun Ho? What's happening to Selena?"
Eun Ho turned the camera to show Jonathan the scene unfolding before her. Selena, wrapped in the sheet, was walking slowly, her golden locks bouncing behind her. As she moved, the landscape around her was transforming, with plants and trees sprouting up from the ground.
Jonathan's voice was stunned. "What in the world...? Eun Ho, what's happening to her?"
Eun Ho's expression was grim. "I don't know, Jonathan. But we need to figure it out, and fast. Get here as soon as you can, and bring anyone who can help us understand what's going on."
Eun Ho's eyes filled with concern as she watched Selena's transformation. "It doesn't seem like it's hurting her," she said, "but what if she can't touch anything without rejuvenating it as well? That would be too cruel."
Just as Eun Ho finished speaking, Amelia suddenly walked up to Selena and hugged her tightly. Selena, still wrapped in the sheet, looked surprised for a moment, but then she wrapped her arms around Amelia, holding her close.
As they hugged, the plants and trees around them continued to grow and thrive, but Amelia herself remained unchanged. She held Selena tightly, tears of joy streaming down her face.
Eun Ho's eyes watched the scene, her expression softening. "It seems that Selena's power is not harming those she cares about. In the very least, we can still embrace her. What a relief," she said, her voice filled with relief.
Selena's brows furrowed as she gazed at Amelia, her voice tinged with worry and upset. "Why would you take the chance, Grandma?" she asked, her eyes searching Amelia's face.
Amelia's expression was soft and reassuring. "I had to know that you're okay, sweetie. I had to know that this...this power of yours isn't hurting you."
As Selena's emotions intensified, the air around her began to transform. A macadamia nut tree sprouted up behind her, its branches stretching up towards the sky. The sound of rustling leaves and blooming flowers filled the air as other Australian tropical plants began to emerge.
Bird of Paradise flowers burst forth from the soil, their bright orange and purple blooms swaying gently in the breeze. Frangipani trees bloomed nearby, their sweet-scented flowers filling the air with a heady fragrance. Hibiscus plants, Bougainvillea vines, and Pandanus plants all added to the vibrant tapestry of colors and scents that surrounded Selena.
Despite the beauty of the scene, Selena's upset was clear. She didn't want to hurt anyone, and she was worried that her powers might get out of control. Amelia's eyes never left Selena's face, her expression a testament to the deep love and concern she felt for her granddaughter.
Amelia's eyes shone with wonder as she gazed at Selena, her face radiant with pride and awe. "You are literally drawing sustenance from the ground," she said in awe, her voice filled with reverence. "Like in the legends. You are eating all the blight and evils of the world. Restoring it. Restoration is your sustenance."
Selena's eyes watered, her gaze cast downward as if humbled by her grandmother's words. But as she stood there, her skin seemed to sparkle with a soft, ethereal light, as if the very essence of the earth was radiating from within her. Her hair flowed behind her like a golden river, and her features seemed chiseled from marble, goddess-like in their beauty.
Amelia's hands trembled as she cupped Selena's face, her eyes brimming with happy tears. "You have suffered enough, my sweet grandchild," she whimpered, her voice cracking with emotion. "Not even two powerful heirs could drop the veil over your power. I should have known."
As Amelia's tears rolled down her face, Selena looked up, her eyes meeting her grandmother's. For a moment, they just gazed at each other, the air thick with emotion.
Selena's voice was full of resentment as she asked, "If I was so special to her, why?" Her eyes cast downward again, her hair flowing around her like a golden cloak.
The crowd around them watched in awe, the vassal guard bowing deeply on the ground. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the earth seemed to hum with new life, all centered around Selena, the goddess-like figure standing before them. More of her family's people started kneeling, especially her mother's guard. Their bows were so heavy that their foreheads touched the dirt.
Amelia's voice trembled as she spoke, her words filled with a deep wisdom and understanding. "With light, there is darkness," she said, her eyes locked on Selena's. "With life comes death. With blessings comes bad luck. It is the balance of the universe, the harmony that governs all things."
Selena listened intently, her eyes wide with wonder. Amelia's words were like a key, unlocking a deeper understanding of the world and her place in it.
"Darkness is needed," Amelia continued. "It is the space between stars, the quiet moments that give us pause. And when we give ourselves a break, death gives new life a chance. Bad luck is another's chance. What was and has been given to you, the universe demands balance."
Amelia's gaze seemed to expand, taking in the world beyond their small circle. "We are not the only lifeforms basking in the goddess's suns," she said. "Millions of planets exist in harmony, but this one does not. The goddess is using you, Selena, to protect this world's lives. You are the key to restoring balance, to bringing harmony to this planet."