Alpha Asher By Jane Doe

Chapter 233

One moment I’d been swallowed by the darkness, and the next it was nowhere to be seen.

Light assaulted my eyes, carrying with it colors so vibrant they practically glowed.

Sprawling hills of emerald grass wove in and out of the land in all directions, topped with lush trees whose branches dipped and bowed, providing soothing patches of shade to escape in when the sun became too unbearable.

Rays of glittering gold shone over everything. Over the birds as they flew, over the butterflies that darted from wildflower to wildflower. They even shone over the structures in the distance, the ones that rose up out of the grown at odd angles, with pieces that swung in the gentle breeze.

Wait a second. Was this a park?

I broke into a jog, racing down the hill I stood atop of. Silky threads of grass caressed my legs, gentle against my bare skin. The air was cool in my lungs and surprisingly sweet on my tongue. As it filled my body, my head became clearer.

Drawing near, the figures that had once been blurry in the distance were now sharp and vibrant with color.

A jungle gym sat to my left, one with spiral towers and a network of little wooden bridges that made it look like a child’s dream castle. To the left was another tower with a slide curling around it’s base. A swing set sat next to it, the four seats swaying in the breeze.

In between the structures was a network of paths, dotted with benches and water fountains.

A pang of recognition struck me right in my chest, but it was nothing in comparison to the surprise that rendered me speechless when I heard his voice.

“Lola? It’s about time. I was beginning to think you were standing me up.”

I spun around so fast the world blurred, colors mixing and the air sparkling with hints of what I swore were actual magic.

None of that mattered though, because the man standing before me with a wistful smile on his face, was none other than Sean.

My big brother.

Looking back, I wouldn’t remember sprinting to him or how the scenery seemed to change, the distance between us shrinking as though the earth itself couldn’t wait to see us embrace. What I’d remember was throwing myself into his arms, taking in his scent and the way his skin glowed with life and warmth.

The wall I’d constructed in my heart, the one holding back every ounce of grief and pain, was obliterated the moment I stared into his eyes. I couldn’t stop crying, just as I couldn’t stop staring at him, clinging to his shirt and skin because who knew when this dream would end, and I’d spiral back into the real world? The shards of my shattered, broken heart slipped through my fingers, slicing my skin as they fell to the ground.

My brother was gone, dead. The boy I grew up with, who was there for every single moment, was lost.

Sean took my face in his hands, smoothing away my tears and continuing to do so even when the action caused more to fall. The entire time, his wistful smile remained in place.

“Now, sis. This isn’t the place for tears. Can’t you feel it? Here, take some deep breaths. Let it wash over you. You remember this park, don’t you?”

I had no clue what he was talking about but did as he said regardless. Swallowing a ragged sob, I inhaled deeply. The crisp air swirled in my lungs, sweet from the wildflowers sprouting in thick clusters. Some of the pain subsided, and with it came a feeling of peace.

Sean was right, I did remember this place. This was the park mom would take us too as kids. It was where I’d go with Sean after school. As children, we’d race to the swings and try to get as high as we could. Mom would always scold us, saying it was too dangerous, but we did it anyway.

With each breath I sucked in, the feeling grew. It settled in my bones, bringing on a weightless sensation that had me looking down at my hands.

My unblemished hands. I had felt the dark magic crawling up my arms, slithering over my shoulders and down my back, but there wasn’t so much as a speck as I looked down. I flipped them over to inspect them further and found nothing, absolutely nothing.

Sean shrugged, a knowing smile on his face.

“Evil can’t exist here.”

his face. Only Sean would give me a half-assed explanation like that. Part of me wondered if they’d return when I woke up. It

it had tainted every thought that passed through my brain, coating

that mean I’m dead too?” I

all that happened, tricking my family and

betray me, to turn me over to her mother. It was all too perfect, the way I unknowingly threw Holly into her mother’s arms. I’d been the one to set things up between them, thinking it

the one who thought she should talk

she have with Holly under the guise of therapy sessions? How many did it take for her to coax Holly into her arms and

dead. This couldn’t be how things ended. There was too much to

stare. “Don’t think too

tear slipped free as I

back a second time…only to stay. I don’t know what

and anything can happen but…” He trailed off, eyes sparkling with mischief. “… but I have it on good authority to let you know if you win this

head around what he was saying, but the thought of living a long life with Asher by my side no longer felt like a certainty. It felt like

that?” I demanded,

looking out for you. Someone important.” He winked, and

got some things to talk about and not nearly enough time

his death, the tears continued to

doesn’t blame Asher, Lola. It’ll eat him alive if he does, and he’s not meant to come here

moisture off my cheeks. “It shocked all of us. He hugged him, Sean…and—and they cried

mom is too. And even though it wasn’t his fault, tell

seen mom?!”

to the forests edge. “Yeah, I have. She misses you, Lola,

than your average forest, though the colors were much more vibrant. The longer I looked, the more I noticed the subtle differences that

one spot, weaving in and out of the trees, only to emerge and circle the park. The sunlight streaming down on the treetops sparkled like it had been imbued with

the air itself shimmered with magic; a kind that felt

I asked, unable to tear my eyes away. “Can-Can I go in

me to turn my head. When we locked eyes, there was a gentleness in them that I’d never seen before. It wrapped around my heart

point of no return, sis. Like I said, it’s not your time yet. Someday, you will, and when you do, I’ll

closed my eyes, fighting the wave of tears.” I don’t want to

Lola.” He demanded, though not unkindly. Reluctantly, I did as he said. ” I’m right where

into his arms, wishing more than anything that I could will my magic to stretch these seconds into hours- into an eternity. It would never

sobbed into his chest, not wanting to let go, something rustled within the

“Look up…” Sean whispered.

towards the patch of magical trees, and when I saw whatSean was looking at, my heart split in my chest.It was Kanyon, my

waved. When I turned back to Sean, his eyes were brimming with joy and love, so much that I now realized what a horrible mistake it had been to

time, Sean had reunited with his

but the words came out as a whisper. “You’re meant to

look down at me. “I am, Lola. I

pain. Rather than shoving it down, I let it consume me. Then,

you go now.”

held on for dear life, committing every detail about my big brother

do this, you hear me? You’re going to change everything, and I’ll be