Chapter Text
19 - 1965 - Modesto
Madeleine made her choice." Said Louis.
"We set the date. And yet...."
Louis looked pained.
"You felt like you were loosing her." Said Daniel. He knew that feeling. He lost his daughters over the years. He had hoped.... one of them would have his gift. His father was gifted at birth.
"Yes. With every night approaches, it was like a count down to saying goodbye to Claudia." Said Louis.
Claudia looked guilty.
'I love Louis. But I need to be set free.' Said Claudia. 'I was stuck Daniel.'
"In a cage." Muttered Daniel. Louis thought as Claudia nodded.
"I suppose I was caging her. We did turn her out of guilt." Said Louis. "I would do so again if I had the chance."
He looked in Daniel's eyes. "I won't be here if it wasn't for Claudia."
"Can't change the past." Said Daniel, wondering if it'll end like last time.
"The night was the night. Madeleine was ready. She accepted my fangs like it was a gift." Said Louis.
"It is in a way." Said Daniel. Younger Daniel gave a loud 'obviously!' beside Louis.
"You changed your mind?" Said Louis while Younger Daniel looked hopeful.
"No." Said Daniel. Young Daniel defeated.
Louis describes how Madeleine saw the lights.
'I told her to look at the lights to see if she starts seeing different colors.' Said Claudia.
He wondered how the table felt on Madeleine's back. How it felt for her heart slowing down and know it's almost over. The time going slowly down to zero.
Hell he felt time is running out for him as well. Sometimes time goes by quick other time is slow.
'Her death was peaceful Daniel.' Said Claudia. He was glad she accepted the gift.
He thought back. Way back. To the start of all his troubles.
1965 - Modesto
He said he was going out to swim. The waves were huge to him. He doesn't remember dieing. He was there one second drowning hurting badly then the next he woke up to the pain of cracked ribs and lungs feel someone jump on them.
The air hurt. Breathing in the air hurt. He died but came back. His mum sobbing hysterically hugging him to her chest sobbing 'you ok you ok'.
It was this moment when in the hospital with a needle in his rib to get the extra water out so he won't dry drown that he hallucinate a boy standing in the door way. He didn't give much thought then few days later he sees others outside when he was safe to play outside in Modesto apartment.
It was August 1965 and he realize he may have not come back normal.
Eli was his first ghost he talked to. It was bad he couldn't understand what was happening but it's bad. Eli holds off of him helping him out. Eli looked older than him. Why he not sure. A year later He had to steal a dime to make a call at the payphone. He was 14 when he help Eli moved on. He wondered why Eli disappeared. He waited for him to return.
One day became a week then a month, then another kid like Eli appeared wanted help. Allison, she's older than him. She waits year later before she let's him help her. Why he not sure. Then he calls the payphone.
It slowly dawn on him Why the ghost wanted to wait. Allison was perhaps 15. Eli was 14. Perhaps they didn't want anyone younger get into the mess they made?
2022 - Dubai
"Daniel?"
"Yes I'm here." he says.
Louis looked hard at him. He read his thoughts - he knows.
"You died?" Asked Louis.
"Yes. When I was 13 but I'm still here." Said Daniel.
"I'm glad I had a chance to meet you." said Louis.
"And if you didn't?"
"I'm afraid we both won't know that answer thankfully." Said Louis with a slight smile.