his shoulder, and he cried as well while the rain continued to beat down on us.
The raining world began to change, and before I knew it, I was on the mountain, standing at the place where my father's blood still remained on the icy snow.
No one else was around. Not Brianne, Connor, or any of the others. It was just me and the chilly snow that reflected the pools of red that soaked into the reflective white surface.
"Was it true?" I whispered as if someone would hear me. "That the pain began to fade away. The regrets fiddled through the cracks. The sadness suddenly vanished."
Droplets of my tears dropped down to the ground, as I remembered the words of my father. "Are you happy now? Full of joy now that you get to see the sky full of color?"
I noticed the golden necklace around my neck, the soft glow of its magic running down the chain and lighting up the crystal that it held against my chest.
It was green like jade yet flickering with hints of gold and black. The power it released reminded me of when I faced the dark Brianne who tested whether I'd give in to the darkness or not.
Reliving that moment in my mind told me that she was indeed testing me.
But for what? Why was I tested at the prime moment of desolation?
A hand rested on my shoulder. One that gripped with a level of softness that brought years of comfort and memories. The firm support I missed from my older brother and then my father.
Turning my head, I expected to see a stranger or even Kaito, but my eyes locked on my older brother. If my eyes could grow any larger, they would, as I took in his tall appearance.
He was a little taller than me, his hair nice and long and tied in a ponytail with a few strands to the left side of his face. The green color reminded me of the very crystal I carried. The tips shifted to black and the entire flow of strands had gold tinsels that lit up.
His hair levitated on its own, while his slightly tanned skin was clear of any imperfection. His eyes were as blue as the ocean, hints of green and gold taking their moments to shine like those orbs were special jewels all on their own.
Jewels of sight.
He wore an outfit that I'd never seen before. One that gave him a powerful presence, while accenting his masculine beauty that was much softer than the average male. He had a bow attached to his back, one of gold even down to the single string.
It was like seeing my brother as a superhero who was here to save the day, but seeing him brought great shock as I fought long and hard to keep it together.
To not burst into tears at seeing him in this form of great health...a form of life.
"Flynn," I whispered.
"Long time, brother," he whispered. "You've grown tremendously."
I didn't know what more to say. So many questions swarmed through me, fighting to reach my throat and escape the gates of my lips. Here was my brother at adulthood. What he may have looked like if given the chance to live after all the torment he must have endured before it all came to an end.
"Flynn…" I struggled for words. "You're here."
"Well, I'm not supposed to be." His playful smile reminded me of the mischief he used to cause when I was younger. "I'm bending the rules just a little."
"Bending the rules?" I wasn't sure what those rules could possibly be.
"Dad is supposed to be here," he admitted, staring down at the bloody snow before us. "This is his role after all, but I picked it up since he had a lot to do still."
"I don't understand, Flynn." My shoulders sank but he gripped them firmly to get my attention once more.
"You don't need to understand now." His voice was soft but his smile grew. "You'll discover the truth soon enough, but for now, I get to show you a glimpse."
"A glimpse of what?"
He looked away to stare in front of him, and I did the same, only to be shocked at the change of scenery. The mountain was no longer present.
We stood in midair, as if we had wings that kept us afloat within the vast plane of colors. The sight of the sun's rays gave a sense of hope while the white clouds slowly made their way.