Temptation

Charlene stood by the pool of water, formed by the wrath of the tsunami, staring at her reflection.

"You’d think after all I’ve done," she muttered, "I’d care about all of you."

Her gaze lifted. Bodies floated in the marshy water—soldiers and the unfortunate Sect, all dragged downriver by the torrent’s fury.

"Nope." She stepped over the corpses, gliding weightlessly as if walking on air. Their deaths meant nothing now.

What a waste of life, she thought.

"It all seemed so important just a moment ago... ha!" Her laugh echoed, light and hollow. "Now? I could care less."

Suddenly, movement.

What’s that I hear?

Guards stumbled through the woods—survivors of the tsunami, broken and bleeding, crawling their way back toward the Grand Hall. Charlene perched high in a tree, hidden among the branches. Her eyes tracked them like a cat watches prey.

"I could pick them off one by one..." she mused. A grin curved her lips as she touched her mark, summoning a sleek black smoke bow. She licked her fingers, pulled back the string—

—and sighed.

"Too much effort." She rolled her eyes. "Boring."

She opened a portal midair, yawning. “Let’s go somewhere a little more… me.”

A memory surfaced—Mike. The beach. Surfing waves beneath the burning sky.

She stepped into the portal, and it bloomed open directly inside a crashing wave.

"Now this is more like it!" she laughed, letting the water carry her. The waves tossed her toward the shore like a lazy goddess, arms wide, soaking in the sunlight.

She floated in the surf, closed her eyes, and let the breeze tangle her hair. The salt kissed her skin. She smiled.

"What I need now is..." she blinked.

"A cabana... with cabana boys, drinks, and chairs. Just for me!"

In a flash, a full beachside resort bloomed into existence. A lounge chair formed beneath her. A sunhat perched atop her head. In one hand, an apple martini. Two muscular cabana boys stood at the ready—one offering chilled towels, the other fanning her gently.

She wore a tiny polka dot bikini—something Dad would never have let her wear.

Yet even in this paradise, something felt... off.

"I know," she snapped her fingers.

Another cabana boy materialized and began rubbing lotion on her feet. Another appeared behind her, working her shoulders.

"That’s it. That’s what I needed."

The comfort lulled her into a gentle doze.

---

Elsewhere, Idris and Professor E finally caught up with the eastern-bound caravan. Thousands of Fates marched with purpose.

“Seth! Gilead!” Idris called out, waving.

Seth raised a hand to signal a stop.

“Let’s take a break!” the call echoed back.

The two ran forward, helping carry ReNew.

“We came as quickly as we could,” Idris said breathlessly. “Where’s Charlene?”

“She was with you last we checked!”

“We haven’t seen her for hours. Last time, she was fighting the Captain of the Guard.”

“We went back, searched everywhere. He said she walked off alone.”

Seth’s expression darkened. “Idris, take over. Keep heading east—I’ll find her.”

Before anyone could protest, Seth opened a portal and vanished.

---

Professor E and Idris gently laid ReNew on the ground. Her body was still, unconscious.

“Can you help wake her?” E asked Gilead. “She’s been out since we found her.”

“I’ll try,” Gilead said, kneeling beside her. He checked her for injuries—nothing visible. He took out a vial of smelling salts and waved it under her nose.

ReNew groaned. “Ugh... What happened?”

“I feel like I got hit by a boulder.”

“Not even close,” Idris chuckled. “It was a branch. A very large branch. Knocked you clean out of the air.”

“Pop!” Professor E smacked the back of his head. “Shut up, clown!”

“Can you sense Charlene, ReNew?” E asked.

“A little... not far, I think.”

“Relax,” Gilead said, tucking a blanket under her head. “Seth went to find her. Just rest.”

---

The three orbits drifted high overhead. The Fates pitched tents and settled for dinner. ReNew slept on, her breath shallow.

---

Meanwhile, Charlene lay beneath the sun, unsettled.

She shifted on the lounge chair, annoyed. Why can’t I relax? she wondered.

“What are you doing?” a stern voice asked.

Charlene sat up. Sunglasses slid down her nose. “Who said that?”

The air shimmered.

Mike appeared, standing barefoot on the sand.

“You were meant for better things than this,” he said quietly. “Why are you wasting time?”

Her heart leapt. “Mike!” She jumped to embrace him.

“I don’t know why... I just—weren’t you—did you leave Heaven to come here?”

He smiled. “A little birdie told me you needed help.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “I miss you, Mike.”

“I miss you too, Charlene.”

He took her hand. “One more race?”

“To where?”

“Back to ReNew. She won’t make it till morning without you.” He paused. “Can’t you feel her?”

Charlene closed her eyes.

Yes. Pain. Weakness. A silent scream beneath the waves of her own selfishness. Her eyes snapped open.

She changed her clothes in a blink and launched into the sky.

“How’s Heaven, Mike?” she called as they flew.

“It’s wonderful,” he beamed. He looped through the clouds.

“Like a dream.”

They flew fast over the forest. A light flickered below. Her father. Charlene smiled and shot a trail of sparkles ahead. He looked up. She pointed east.

“I’ll meet you there!” she shouted.

He understood. What he didn’t understand... was who the man flying with her was.

---

They spotted the caravan. Mike slowed. “You beat me again,” he grinned. “Till next time.” He faded like stardust.

Charlene blew him a kiss. The orb in the sky was almost full. Time was running out.

She dove. THUD—she hit the ground hard, rolled, scrambled to her feet, and ran.

She reached out and touched ReNew’s mark.

“We are one,” she whispered......