Later at night, Mike and Kadyn spent some time taking a bath together. Since the bathtub was custom-designed for the two, who are both 6 feet and 6'2 respectively, they had enough space to extend their legs and cuddle side by side while enjoying the warmth of the water. With her head leaning against Mike's chest, Kadyn had not stopped sporting her smile ever since their reunion earlier. Looking at Kadyn, Mike grimaced with guilt and shame, not knowing how to express what he wished to tell her. For this moment, for the first time in Kadyn's entire life, she was the happiest girl on earth. However, the tragedy of the situation was a painful one. She was the happiest she's ever been, only within a dream.
[Kadyn] - "Say, Mike, how old is Mikealyn? "
[Mike] - "Oh! You mean our little girl? Well... I don't really know. "
Said Mike while trying to conceal his panic.
[Kadyn] - "Hmm... You don't seem like the type to forget this type of detail. Oh well, whatever her age is, don't you think it's time for us to make another one? It doesn't seem like there's anything preventing us from having another baby. "
Said Kadyn while sensually rubbing her palm against Mike's chest.
[Mike] - "Oh... How do I even... "
Whispered Mike while rubbing his mouth with his hand nervously.
[Kadyn] - "Shhh! Just let it happen. You have nothing to worry about, dear. You just need to be a good knight and serve your princess what she wants. "
There was a look of pure dread in Mike's eyes as Kadyn pressed her chest against him and leaned in for a kiss. After engaging in some steamy action, the couple lay exhausted, with Kadyn once again resuming her position beside Mike for a cuddle.
[Kadyn] - "You must be quite tired from work or something today, Mikey. Though you still gave me a good fuck, I just feel like it's missing something. Like... passion. "
Uttered Kadyn before turning around to look at Mike.
For as long as they are together, one couldn't usually hide any secret from the other without being found out immediately. Though Mike tried his best to conceal his dread, it was clear from the slight droop in Kadyn's smile that she was able to tell something was wrong. As Kadyn looked away from Mike, the smile on her face slowly faded before she suddenly slapped Mike on the chest with a renewed sense of vigour.
[Kadyn] - "You're probably tired, so let's get out of this stupid bath and get some sleep. I'm quite tired too after this bloody day. "
Said Kadyn enthusiastically before faking a yawn.
Later, as the two snuggled in bed, they both tried to fall asleep, only to find themselves unable to do so. It was clear they both were worried about something by the way their hearts beat so feverishly in their chest. Though Kadyn knew there was something Mike was hiding from her, she didn't dare ask him, as if she instinctively knew she won't like what he would say. However, Mike knew he couldn't hide the truth any longer, so he decided to break the silence of their tense night.
[Mike] - "I'm sorry. "
The words echoed across the room like a bad verdict, causing Kadyn to shake slightly in fear against Mike.
[Kadyn] - "Sorry for what? You... You didn't do anything wrong. "
Said Kadyn as her heartbeat increased.
[Mike] - "I'm sorry I failed you. "
Said Mike with guilt in his voice.
There was a part of Kadyn that was starting to suspect what he was implying. However, Kadyn took a few deep breaths and tried to calm herself down, while convincing herself that it was probably something trivial, as Mike would usually apologize for things that didn't need an apology.
[Kadyn] - "You didn't fail me, Mikey. You offered me everything I ever wanted, so where did you ever fail me? "
Said Kadyn dryly, while trying to keep her composure.
[Mike] - "Was this what you truly wanted? This illusion... "
Kadyn suddenly found herself choking as if her lungs refused to obey her will. It was preposterous to Kadyn to even think all this could be an illusion. All this is too real and too perfect to be false.
[Kadyn] - "Illusion? What the hell are you talking about? "
Interjected Kadyn as she slowly curled up into a ball on the bed.
[Mike] - "Sigh... I can't let this go on, you know. We both know what the truth is, and we can't keep pretending this is reality. "
Said Mike with gritted teeth.
[Kadyn] - "This is reality! I don't know what you are talking about, Mike! "
Said Kadyn as panic slowly gripped her face.
[Mike] - "We both know what's going on here. I'm bound to your crystal, which means I understand the situation just as well as you do. "
As Mike uttered those words, the dream within Kadyn's mind flickered like a dying light, showing her the ugly truth outside of her sanctuary.
[Kadyn] - "Shut up! Shut up! "
Said Kadyn as she pressed her hands against her ears.
As much as it hurt Mike to continue and hit his wife's mind with the truth, he knew that it was a necessary evil that he must commit. Since Mike possessed a consciousness within Kadyn's crystal ability, he knew from the moment Kadyn started this dream that it was all but a figment of her imagination as she tried to cope with the trauma she lived through.
However, due to her crystal's exfoliation, her mind was partially fused to her crystal, meaning this was a dream built with her ability. All the sensations and words were as real as they could be, but they are not the truth. This world is not real, but a mental prison Kadyn created for herself. As long as she doesn't decide to wake up, her consciousness could be forever lost in fantasy, leaving her real body in a permanent vegetative state. Knowing how Kadyn needed to be awake to escape with Dane's help, he needed her to be lucid by the time the Doctor met her.
[Mike] - "Listen to me! Someone's coming to save you, so I need you awake and ready. If you won't leave this place behind, then all could be lost! "
Said Mike firmly.
[Kadyn] - "SHUT THE FUCK UP, YA BLOODY PRICK! "
Yelled Kadyn before abruptly turning toward Mike and slapping him across the face.
The sound of the slap echoed across the room like thunder, as Kadyn immediately withdrew her hand in dread while Mike stared at her with a shocked expression. For the first time in their relationship, one of them attacked the other. With the weight of what she had done soon hitting her like a truck, Kadyn began to tremble with regret and sorrow. Not once in her life did she ever think she would raise her hand at Mike, but there she did, the red mark of her assault undeniable on her lover's face.
[Kadyn] - "Mike... "
Said Kadyn as tears flowed freely down her cheeks.
Memories of Mike's last moment in her arms flashed inside her mind. This was the man who had given up everything just so she could have a chance. How could she ever dare to slap the same face that looked at her with hope, even as he died? How could she ignore all the sacrifices made for her in exchange for a fantasy? However, as the pain of everything she endured also followed the memory, she finally relented to her innermost desire.
[Kadyn] - "...I don't want to leave. I want to stay because I'm Kadyn. I'm not a warrior, nor am I a martyr like you. I'm just a girl who wants a home with the one she cares about. "
Said Kadyn as the pain hidden beneath her facade forced itself through.
Gripping her fists, Kadyn whimpered in a voice filled with agony before pressing her head against Mike's chest. Instinctively, Mike embraced her with his arms, ignoring completely the slap she dealt him.
[Kadyn] - "I'm tired of fighting, I'm tired of living in a world where I don't belong, and where I'm devoid of a purpose. I'd rather live here and die in here than go back out there to that wasteland. I want to stay in this place where I truly belong, savouring the sweetness of a lie that will end me. "
Said Kadyn calmly, with the tone of someone who had accepted her fate.
[Mike] - "It's not the first time you've spoken to me like this. Yet, in the end, you will always come up on top. Please, Lemon, just listen to me and let go of this dream. "
Said Mike as he caressed his wife's hair.
[Kadyn] - "No, I won't. This is my final decision. I have decided that I want to be here forever. You can scream at me, attack me, or try to convince me, but I will stand by this choice until the end. For once, I'll be happy. "
Said Kadyn in a peaceful voice.
Gently, Kadyn pulled Mike down onto the bed before flipping the blanket over both of them.
[Mike] - "Lemon, please, don't do this. "
Said Mike with dread in his eyes.
Kadyn gently shook her head before moving in to cuddle with Mike, her body warmly pressed against his. There was peace and happiness in her soul as she smiled joyfully at the sensation of her husband's skin against hers.
[Kadyn] - "What better way to go than this? We'll both pass on in each other's company, while living out the fantasy we both dreamed of. Good night, my dear. "
Said Kadyn as she closed her eyes peacefully.
However, despite how heart-warming the moment felt, Mike could only be unnerved by the situation. To him, this moment felt like the final spark of warmth that preceded the end, a healing reassurance before being enveloped by the icy grip of death. No, Mike will never accept this as the end of everything, not after all the sacrifices made and the hope still lingering in that dying world outside. Kadyn might want to give up, but Mike will not go easy into that good night.
The next morning, Kadyn woke up to see Mike absent from her side. With worry in her heart, Kadyn quickly went downstairs and found the children having a meal in the kitchen. Though Mike was nowhere to be found, she immediately recognized the dish he had prepared, with even a special portion left for her on the counter.
[Gioacchino] - "Mornin' Mom. "
[Mikealyn] - "It's already past noon, dude. As per usual, Mom, late again to dinner? "
Silently, Kadyn grabbed a chair to sit by the kitchen counter and peeled the wrapper off the plate, revealing a steaming dish of fettuccine alfredo. With bated breath, Kadyn grabbed the fork beside the plate and brought a few strands of the noodle to her mouth. Instantly, as the aroma invaded her senses, Kadyn felt nostalgia course through her mind, which was enough to bring her to tears. This was the first ever dish Mike made for her when they were still teenagers.
Without hesitation, Kadyn quickly began to relentlessly stuff her mouth with food. Each bite was infused with a type of love only she shared with Mike. The taste in her mouth was delicate, caring and fulfilling, causing her soul to spark with happiness. Finally satiated, Kadyn could only wipe the tears from her eyes while smiling with joy. Even the aftertaste caused Kadyn to curl up and hug herself in a frenzy of bliss.
[Kadyn] - "Mikealyn, honey, where is Daddy so I can give him my appreciation? "
Said Kadyn in a lovestricken voice.
[Mikealyn] - "Dad left for work. He'll come back at night as usual. "
Said Mikealyn casually as she continued to read her novel.
With a mischievous smile, Kadyn immediately rushed upstairs and began to prepare the rooms for a night of passion. With a bag of fake rose petals, Kadyn began to spray them in the pattern of a pathway from the door of the master bedroom to her bed. Then, in the bathroom, Kadyn poured down a bag of bubble bath solution into the tub before placing a few candles around the place. Finally, after sorting through her wardrobe, Kadyn put herself in the most sensual set of clothes she owned.
As night approached, Kadyn went downstairs in a robe which hid her inappropriate clothes. After firing up the kitchen and cooking up a decently sized meal, Kadyn clasped her hands together and admired her hard work. With the clock approaching eight, Kadyn urgently called down the children and had them settle down in the dining room in preparation for the upcoming family dinner.
[Gioacchino] - "Geez, I've never seen Mom in such a good mood. What happened to her? "
Said the young boy as he helped place down the utensils.
[Michele] - "I mean, you can see the robe. She's probably planning to smutter Dad again. "
Said Michele as he climbed up a small ladder to reach the cupboard.
[Mikealyn] - "You two should be asking how the hell she managed to cook up all those dishes. I thought she couldn't cook. "
Said Mikealyn in a shocked expression as she glanced at the table full of food.
Meanwhile, Kadyn excitedly waited until the clock hit eight exactly before pulling the door open with her hands thrown in the air, welcomingly. However, instead of seeing Mike at the door, she was met with the void of the night. Stepping outside, Kadyn searched for any trace of Mike without avail. Confused, Kadyn slowly sat down on one of the steps leading to the main entrance and patiently waited for Mike. At first, she only thought he was late, but as time passed without a trace of him, she began to grow worried.
By 9 PM, even the children joined Kadyn on the stairs to wait for their father.
[Mikealyn] - "Where is Dad? I had never seen him be this late. "
Said Mikealyn worryingly.
[Kadyn] - "I don't know, my dear. But don't worry, Dad is the most powerful man on earth, so I'm sure nothing will happen to him. "
Said Kadyn confidently while hiding her worry.
To ease her children's worry, Kadyn lovingly pulled them toward her and hugged them against her. However, as time passed, Mike still didn't show up. By midnight, even the children fell asleep against their mother, but Kadyn remained wide awake, her heart beating with fear and panic. Reluctantly, she briefly left her post to tuck the children in bed before coming back to wait for Mike at the same spot.
As she waited, Kadyn noticed how there were no insects or any sound from her surroundings, despite the mansion being in the midst of a dense forest. Even as she looked up at the light illuminating the entrance, she saw not a single moth or mosquito flying. The world was dead quiet in a way that was unnatural in every way. Getting up, Kadyn moved down the path that split the garden, leading to the mansion before reaching the main gates. However, instead of a path behind the gates, she only saw darkness.
Confused, Kadyn pushed the gates open and tried to feel the ground where there was none. As she pushed one of her feet down, she only felt the unmistakable sensation of a void. To test her doubts, Kadyn took off one of her slippers and threw it down the void. To her absolute horror, the slipper disappeared into the darkness as abruptly as she threw it in. In a panic, Kadyn immediately slammed the gates shut and backed off in fear.
This was the final proof she needed to believe that her current life was not reality. The place was devoid of life and only showed her a sanctuary with the things she wanted to see.
[Kadyn] - "Mike! Mike, do you hear me? "
Yelled Kadyn at the void, fearing the worst for him.
[Mike] - "Stop looking down there. I did not fall down and die. "
Turning around, Kadyn saw Mike standing arms-crossed behind her. Filled with excitement, Kadyn rushed in to hug him, only to fall through his body and fall against the hard ground.
[Kadyn] - "What the bloody hell? How are you doing that? "
Said Kadyn, confused.
[Mike] - "I'm not doing anything. This is simply my true form, as a dead man. "
[Kadyn] - "Haha... Good one. You were there and cuddling with me yesterday. This must be just a trick of yours. "
Said Kadyn nervously as she tried to touch Mike.
However, no matter how she swung her hand, it simply passed through Mike's spectral body without any resistance.
[Mike] - "There is no trick. I simply chose to stop playing into this illusion. If you want to keep pretending, then go ahead. However, I'm done with this. "
[Kadyn] - "Done with this? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY MIKE? "
Yelled Kadyn in a sudden outburst that even shocked Mike.
With rage and tears in her eyes, Kadyn tried to grab Mike's ghost by the collar, only for her hands to phase through his neck.
[Kadyn] - "I don't need you to come tell me what is real or not! I want the Mike that embraced me yesterday, the real him and not the cruel bastard you are! "
Cursed Kadyn with a poisonous tone reserved only for her enemy.
Shocked by her attitude, even stoic expression on Mike's face broke apart.
[Kadyn] - "You promised me a future, children and a family! You filled my head with all those dreams and left me in this fucked up world to rot! You are a piece of shit, you truly are. I should've never met you. You should've just killed me. "
Yelled Kadyn with anger before her voice fell into sorrow.
Suddenly, Kadyn fell to her knees as her tears dripped onto the ground. As if through synchronization with her emotions, the sky also began to darken with clouds before the first drops of rain fell down around the two.
[Kadyn] - "I hate you, I hate you! I wanted to have a baby with you ever since we first became a couple, yet you told me to wait and wait, until it was too late. If only you had just allowed me to bear a single child, all this mess would've been avoided. Instead, you left me alone in a world I built around you. Even now, as I have finally gotten what I wanted, you want to tear all this away from me, so I could go back to my suffering and ruins. "
Cried Kadyn before getting up to her feet.
All the pain accumulated throughout her years exploded in her words as she sandwiched her grief, her self-loathing, her regrets and her anger in every single word she spoke to Mike.
[Kadyn] - "I hate you! "
Yelled Kadyn as she swiped her hand through Mike's ghost to slap him.
[Kadyn] - "I fucking hate you! "
Screamed Kadyn as she swung around for another empty slap.
[Kadyn] - "I bloody hate your fucking guts! "
Cried Kadyn as she struggled to stand after her third slap.
Meanwhile, Mike could only stand in shame with his head lowered as Kadyn's hand passed through his face a fourth time.
[Kadyn] - "Give me back my Mike, you bloody monster! Give me back my husband! "
Yelled Kadyn, lost in her tears, before her fifth slap suddenly landed against actual skin.
Looking up, Kadyn noticed a red mark alongside some blood on Mike's cheek. As a jolt of rage shot through her veins, Kadyn grabbed Mike and extended her wrist blade before digging the tip into his neck.
[Kadyn] - "Give me back my Mike, or I'll fucking kill you! "
Said Kadyn with a lunatic look in her eyes.
However, Mike simply placed his hand on her wrist and drove the blade deeper into his flesh. Despite her blind bloodlust, Kadyn still instinctively resisted Mike's pull on her wrist as if her subconscious knew she needed to abstain.
[Mike] - "Then who am I? I'd like to know this Mike you speak so dearingly of. "
Said Mike in a defeated voice.
Mike's words suddenly snapped Kadyn out of her rage, as she slowly became lucid to what she said and what she was doing. Before her, in ghost form or in human form, is the same Mike who cared for her, loved her and accompanied her. In a sudden jolt, Kadyn pulled her arm free before recoiling backward and falling onto the ground.
[Kadyn] - "Aaaah! AAAAAAHHH! "
Yelled Kadyn in primal horror as she watched Mike's bloodstain on her blade.
In her madness, she drew Mike's blood intentionally for the first time like a brute. The pure shock of what she had said and done broke Kadyn's spirit as she struggled to believe it was her conscious doing. As Mike knelt down and stared at Kadyn with a compassionate look in his eyes, Kadyn could only whimper as she pushed against the asphalt to get away.
[Kadyn] - "Don't approach me! I'm an unruly beast. "
As Mike tried to grab Kadyn, she instinctively recoiled to avoid hurting him. However, with a single leap, Mike grabbed Kadyn and pulled her closer toward him. Despite all she had said and done, Mike refused to blame her for even a second, as his embrace absolved all the mistakes Kadyn had made.
[Kadyn] - "What the hell have I become? How dare I say those things? How dare I attack you so violently after all you had done for me? KD-554 was right, I'm nothing but a violent beast that needed to be put down. "
Said Kadyn in a voice full of regret.
[Mike] - "Enough! I will never blame you for releasing your pent-up emotions, but please, Kadyn, be brave. Are you going to simply let KD-554 win and die silently within a dead dream? This is not how you are! This fate is not your end of the path! So please, be brave and leave this world behind. "
Said Mike with determination.
Mike's tone was both commanding and soothing as the regret in Kadyn's heart slowly vanished. Closing her eyes, Kadyn swallowed the reluctance in her heart. As she reopened her eyes, she gently nodded against Mike's shoulder in agreement.
Going through the house, Kadyn and Mike visited each of the children in their rooms for the last time, while their hearts ached with regret. For Mikealyn especially, Kadyn took the time to give her daughter a kiss on the forehead before leaving. As they strolled through the hallway, Mike noticed the flower petals in the master bedroom. Then, as they passed by the kitchen, they could only watch with a sense of sadness as the feast Kadyn had made remained untouched and cold.
At the entrance, Kadyn stopped as she turned to face Mike.
[Kadyn] - "I'm sorry for everything I said. If you can't forgive me, then I understand. Just know that I love you, Mike, with all my heart for eternity. "
Said Kadyn as she looked down in shame.
Tenderly, Mike raised Kadyn's chin with his hand and made her gaze meet his. There was no grudge or disappointment in Mike's eyes as he gently smiled at her.
[Mike] - "I'll be right beside you no matter when and where you are. Simple words can't destroy what we have built, so rest assured, we are still the same couple we used to be. "
Said Mike in a comforting voice.
Kadyn smiled back at Mike before the two shared one last look at the home of their dream. Once outside, Kadyn and Mike reached for each other's hands before walking off toward the gate together. As Kadyn consciously denied the existence of her dream, the mansion and everything faded away, leaving the couple in total darkness. Soon, a familiar place appeared afar, with a campfire surrounded by logs as seats and a glass window in the sky showing the real world.
To be continued...