Natasha

Blood. I stood in front of my blurry enemy, refusing to move. I knew what would happen. I knew they’d kill me without a moment of hesitation.

But I just stood there. I stood as the knife entered me and I saw the smallest glimpse of a smile. I collapsed onto the dry ground beneath me.

Movement stirred around me. Yelling, metal clashing. I was suddenly being shaken, but I knew this was the end. I wasn’t going to survive this battle. Maybe if I moved I would continue to live. No. I’d endanger the bright future that was possibly ahead.

For the first time, I couldn’t see the sure path. I knew I died, but what happened next was almost entirely unseeable. But Estelle was there. She made it, and the rest relied on her. The pictures faded to black.

***

Dax was still holding my hand, his body tense. He watched me with wide and concerned eyes.

“What’d you see?”

I shook my head. I couldn’t risk relaying too much, but I also couldn’t deny the inevitable. I chose the easiest but most heartbreaking truth.

“I die.”