Chapter 139: James City: Epilogue (1)
The moment the Gray Reaper touched the tree, the sky filled with light—a brilliant, overwhelming radiance that marked the Reaper’s victory over the Object that had slowly devoured America.
As shattered time and space began to realign, I knew I would soon be torn apart, scattered to the winds. Yet, a deep sense of relief washed over me. At least I could close my eyes knowing that the crisis in James City had been averted.
The deputy mayor, his movements stiff and broken, managed to lift his head and gaze skyward. His failing eyes, dim and blurry, could still make out the celestial bodies above.
The moonlight, pure and beautiful, bathed the deputy mayor’s shattered form. Though his body lay in ruins, his heart swelled with a quiet pride.
It may have only been six hours, but in that brief span, I had protected James City.
With that thought, the deputy mayor released the last vestiges of will holding his form and mind together. His hands, once gripping the control panel with determination, loosened as he surrendered to his fate.
The mayor’s body grew colder, but the smile on his face remained.
As the endless cycle of time finally released its grip on him, a flood of emotions surged within. He had fulfilled his duty, safeguarded the city he loved, and now, he could leave James City behind—free from the terror of fractured time.
In the periphery of his fading vision, a golden light flickered. The mayor gazed at it, thinking it resembled the flame of an angel, come to guide him home.
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