Hannah POV:
Winter is finally here, I say finally as tomorrow morning I'm about to go to the skull cavern, the assignment I have been preparing for, for the last two months. My heart felt heavy, but nothing could distract me from the guy sitting in front of my fireplace right now.
Sebastian wanted to spend the night with me before I left early in the morning.
"How are you feeling?" He asked me looking over at me as we sat inches apart. I took in the glow of the fireplace. I feel scared. Anxious. Never wanting to leave this moment, but I will never admit that to him.
"I'm ready to get this over with." I say not taking my eyes off the fire. "I'm ready for Abigail to feel safe, not jumping every time we hear a weird noise that we cant explain, not having a spirit barrier behind her home, not being able to get to know her actual father."
Sebastian nodded his head. "I just wish it didn't have to be you. I feel like her mom should go since she cheated on her husband."
I let out a laugh, "She wouldn't stand a chance."
"That is true." Sebastian smirked.
"As much as this is about Abbi, it isn't just about her, it's about the whole town. My grandpa loved this town, and this farm was his whole life. I have to get the wizard what he needs to completely eliminate the threat."
"I know." He said flatly. "For now," He moved towards me grabbing both of my hips to move me into his lap, "Let's not talk about that stuff."
My stomach fluttered like there was a butterfly farm inside of it as I sat firmly against him. My cheeks got hot. I don't know what is making me more nervous, the skull cavern or this moment right here.
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The first light of dawn cracked through the window, the quiet hum of a new day just beginning. I woke up, as always, before the world had stirred. It was four in the morning, and the weight of what was about to happen pressed down on my chest like a boulder. My bag was packed—bombs, food, rope, my Katana by my side, all the tools I'd need for the nightmare ahead.
I pulled my hair into a messy bun, barely glancing at myself in the mirror, and turned. Standing there, leaning against my front door, was Sebastian. His presence was as familiar to me as my own breath, but today it felt different—tense, like the air before a storm. We hadn't slept much, not because of anything... inappropriate. No, we both knew the gravity of the moment. This was a goodbye wrapped in a mission, a weight we'd both been carrying, knowing it would all come to a head eventually.
The junimos had already fixed the bus stop, but their eyes were full of greed, their desire for money never-ending. As for me, I'd repaired the Vault in the community center. Only three rooms left, and then... it would be complete. If I made it back alive.
I looked back at the Stardew Valley sign as the bus took off, the letters fading into the distance. The town seemed so far away now, like a distant memory, and for a moment, I was back to when I first arrived here—innocent, unaware, and full of hope. But now? Now, there was only the weight of everything I was carrying—this town, my grandfather's legacy, the lives of my friends... and my heart.
Sebastian and I stepped off the bus in Calico Desert, the air thick and muggy, sand swirling around our feet. In the distance, a giant skeleton of some long-forgotten beast loomed like a relic of another age. It felt oddly comforting, the desolation of it.
"I'll be here when you get out," Sebastian said, his voice steady, but his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that felt like a silent promise.
A tear threatened to escape, but I quickly blinked it away, a hollow laugh escaping my throat. "I'm glad you're so optimistic," I said, my voice sharp, masking the ache inside. The sarcasm lingered in the air, but the moment was heavier than either of us let on.
Sebastian's lips twitched, a faint smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. "Well, someone has to be."
His words were meant to lighten the mood, but they fell flat. There was an unspoken understanding between us—this wasn't easy, none of it was. And yet, he was here. He was here when I thought I would be alone.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, the warmth of his body grounding me. I had always pictured this moment alone, but somehow, the thought of facing it with him made everything seem... more bearable.
I pulled away and turned toward the Skull Cavern, my fingers brushing the key in my pocket. I inhaled sharply, the cold desert air filling my lungs. My heart pounded in my chest as I looked back at Sebastian, his dark eyes studying me like he was trying to memorize every detail of me. I didn't want to make him hurt. I didn't want to make anyone hurt.
But this was my choice.
Before I could take another step, I heard the distant rumble of the bus engine. Too soon. It was too early for it to be back.
I turned, and there he was—Alex. Standing there, his face a mixture of confusion, concern, and something darker.
"Hannah!" He shouted, his voice raw with emotion.
My brows furrowed in confusion, frozen in place. Sebastian, sensing the shift, moved instantly in front of me, creating a barrier between me and Alex. His posture was rigid, alert, his every muscle tensed as if preparing for a confrontation.
"Calm down," Sebastian's voice was low, controlled, but there was an edge to it, a warning.
Alex didn't listen. He pushed forward, his gaze locked on me with an intensity I hadn't seen before. "How could you let her do this? What is wrong with you, Sebastian? I get that you want to die, but don't drag her down with you."
Alex's voice cracked, desperation coating every syllable. Sebastian's eyes narrowed, and he stood there, unmoving, waiting, watching. His gaze never left me, reading my every reaction, ready to step in if needed.
"Hannah, I don't care about the fight, about anything else. I care about you," Alex continued, his voice trembling now. "Please, don't risk your life. I can't lose you."
The words hit me like a physical blow, a wrenching, painful twist in my gut. I knew he was speaking from a place of fear, but fear of what? I wasn't the one who had chosen this path—this was my responsibility, my choice. But still, the ache in his voice was undeniable. He didn't understand, and maybe, he never would.
"Alex, I don't know how to make you understand—"
"I don't want to understand!" Alex cut me off, his face flushed with anger. "You're risking your life for some stupid rock! There's always another way, there has to be—"
"If you're not going to listen, then leave," Sebastian's voice was cold, a flat edge of finality. "Stop making this harder than it already is."
Alex's temper flared, veins bulging in his neck as he turned on Sebastian. "It's easy for you, isn't it? Just standing there, watching her walk into this death trap like it's some kind of game!" His words were sharp, full of venom, but Sebastian remained as still and unyielding as stone.
"Your yelling is nauseating," Sebastian said, his voice dripping with exhaustion. He didn't need to shout to make his point—his presence alone was enough to make Alex shrink back.
I shook my head, the weight of everything crashing down on me. This wasn't going anywhere.
"Please," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Just stop."
Alex's voice softened, desperation creeping in. "I love you, Hannah. And I don't care if you don't feel the same. I don't care about the things I said when I was drunk, but if you were mine, I'd stop at nothing to protect you." His words hung in the air, raw and vulnerable, and for a moment, I almost wanted to believe him.
I could see it then—the way Sebastian's jaw clenched, his eyes hardening as Alex spoke. His gaze didn't waver, but I could feel the tension building between them, the silent challenge in the air.
"I'm sorry, Sebastian, but it's true," Alex continued, his voice cracking. "I loved her first, and I don't care if you won. You can have her, fine. But I can't just stand here and watch you both walk into this... without you knowing that."
His words were a blade to the heart. I didn't have the words to explain, to make him understand how wrong this all felt, but Sebastian's eyes never left mine, and when our gazes met, the tension in his body finally seemed to ease, just slightly.
"I have to go," I said, my voice barely more than a whisper, as I pulled myself away from the painful moment. The space between us felt vast, filled with things we couldn't say, things we couldn't undo.
And with that, I turned, walking toward the Skull Cavern, leaving Alex and Sebastian behind, where they stood frozen—two men I cared for, but only one trusted me with the decision I had to make.
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