I wake up...? [THE END.]

You wake up on a bumping train. There’s no one inside with you. You feel sore when you lean back, and it takes a moment to recall the events you remember before getting here. You have no memory of getting on the train or sitting down, but you can remember with great detail that you died.

You touch your body and find yourself torn. The bullet wound and blood are still present on your body as you sit on the bench. Despite that, you feel healthy. You swallow, expecting a dry throat, but you’re full of moisture and life...

The train is rolling inside a tunnel. You see passing light but nothing else. You peer inside the others. You see vague outlines of people on the other side and hear them conversing. It’s a low murmuring and makes you feel unsettled.

“Why am I alone?” the train shakes, and a voice comes out on the loudspeakers above, announcing a stop ahead. You look out the window and see a busy platform with hundreds of people. Too many face to study and far too many characters to remark about.

Girls of all ages stand waiting with signs and flowers. Men too. They wear fancy dresses and suits. They stare into your cart but see the others flanking you, and their expressions light up with delight. The doors open, but you do not step out. The other passengers do. It doesn’t look like anyone is looking for you anyway.

The display of joy is one you’re not familiar with. People are screaming and leaping at each other, and so many people are laughing and hugging. So you watch curiously, debating whether to step out and get enveloped by the emotion.

You could have sworn the passengers getting off the train were dressed in dirty clothes, but now as you looked at all the people reunited, they looked as well dressed as the people waiting for them. Dresses. Suits. Hats and ties. Shiny leather shoes and high heels. Jewelry and more sparkling as people slowly left, ascending the stairs locked in arms.

As you consider joining the others, a woman breaks from the crowd and waves at you. You’re about to join her, but her expression turns. “Stay there!” She shouts, her blue eyes flashing you like friendly warning lights.

She pushes you back inside and falls on top of you on the bench just as the doors close. You smell strawberries as you listen to her laughter. “That was close.”

Her face is close to yours. Her blonde hair is tied back in a tail. Her lips are pink, plump, and upturned in a smile. “That wasn’t your stop.”

“Astrid?” You say, becoming self-conscious with the way you are dressed. “What’s happening?”

“You died,” she says matter-a-factly. “Bleed to death. I’m out of a job finally.”

You knew you died, but getting it confirmed is odd. “Christ, I really died…”

Astrid giggles but then stops herself when she sees your reaction. “I suppose that wasn’t appropriate, was it? I’m sorry.”

“How’s Flora?” You clasp your hands together.

“She’s been doing these last few months wonderfully.”

“Months!?”

Astrid puts her hands out. “Yes, it’s been a few months since you’ve passed. She’s fine. She was able to find Glass just before they left town. She had difficulty accepting you died, but she’s well on getting back to keen. Thanks to you.”

“Thank God,” you murmur. “How about Amara and Alexandra?”

“Amara died. You actually missed her departure by a few days.”

“Where did she end up?”

“Where do you think?” She winked. “As far Alexandra…Well, she’s still recovering from the bullet you put into her.”

It takes you a moment for you to process that, but then you shake your head. “She survived?”

“You only put one bullet in her, Warren. A pistol bullet. She could get out on her own power after crawling to the bathroom to patch herself up,” Astrid shrugs. “Amara had her connections in town, so she used them to get worked into health. Don’t worry. She’s not going after Flora.”

“Damn it all,” you say. “I should’ve shot her twice in the head.”

Astrid reaches for you and peers into your eyes. “You can focus on yourself for a moment, can’t you? You got yourself killed for someone else. You can breathe and consider your future for a moment.”

“Aren’t I going to heaven?” You ask, stopping at another platform. This one seems more familiar, and you realize you’re back in Astrid’s city. “Not heaven…”

“You could be,” she starts. “And that would be with me.”

“With you?”

Astrid beams at you with a white smile. You didn’t find her as attractive as usual when you were with her, but the circumstances differ. This is your true self with her for the first time. “We could finally be together like you talked about. We could ice skate, watch movies, have dinner, and…start a family if you wanted to.”

“We could?” You stare at your hands. They’re bloody and imperfect in her pale and perfect ones. “You’re open to marrying me now?”

She gives a toothy smile and nods. “But, there’s another option. One option that might sound better now than you can think with your REAL mind.”

“Flora?” You ask, considering the life you lived before. “I could wait for her here and–”

“Unite like you saw the others.”

“What happens after that?”

She shrugs. “Then you pick up where you left off with each other. But I’m afraid I can’t visit or see you again if that’s what you decide to do. Rules are rules, and I’d be assigned to someone else. I doubt someone as good as you, though,” she laughs, hiding her nervousness.

“That’s a big choice,” you say. “I love you both.”

Astrid glares at you and snaps. “No, you don’t!”

You step back, and she apologizes. “I’ve known you your entire life,” she says. “I want you to be happy, and I’m ashamed to say I don’t know who would make you happier. Me or Flora?”

She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. “Who would make you happier, Warren?”

[Thank you for read until the end of this path in Tiny’s Tavern! My time for this path has ended, and now it’s up to you, the readers of this story, to pick up the slack where you think it should continue. Thank you so much for reading nearly 200 chapters. It means a lot to me. If you want more, I can only suggest you follow me on the other platforms or talk to me personally on the discord server. If neither of those sound appealing, then you can always restart and pick up a new path!]

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