The final sunset has passed, and the last night nears its end. Raindrops fall upon broken stone and ashes, and thunder resounds throughout empty halls and cathedrals. Once a metropolis, the city of Arneer now lies in ruins, almost devoid of life. Two children are all that’s left in this world, one boy, and one girl. There was a time when these children lived with hope, but after the plague arrived, they witnessed their world collapse into ruin. Together, they rest in one of the many vacant homes in the vast city. Preparing to breathe their last, they cling onto the other. Rain continues to produce its therapeutic sound, while the thunder reminds the children they’re still alive.
The boy asks in a small tired voice. “Ella?”
“Yeah?” She answers.
“Is it going to happen soon?”
Ella is momentarily interrupted by thunder. For a moment they both remain silent, and listen to the rain and echoing thunder. “I think so.” She answers.
“Is it going to hurt?”
Ella does her best to console her dying friend, but struggles to speak any louder than the rain outside. “No Frederick, it won’t.”
A moment of silence transpires between them as they struggle to breathe.
Once he’s built up enough strength to speak, Frederick asks Ella another question. “What’s your favorite memory?”
Ella takes a moment to think and gather her strength before answering, “My favorite memory?” With a smile she looks into Frederick’s tired eyes and says, “When I first met you. That is my favorite.”
A tear runs down Frederick’s pale face, and then he says, “Mine too.”
In a beautiful display of sorrow and tragedy, Ella and Frederick breathe their last as they embrace one another. Once they have passed from this world the storm outside stops, and the clouds give way to a starry night sky. Then, one by one, the stars fade. As the final star dims, the soft green light of the pool that represents this world, darkens forever. As it does, a boy and a girl, both wearing yellow rings, pass by the pool. Never shall they know of Ella and Frederick, and neither anyone else who finds themselves in the wood between worlds. However, somewhere else, somewhere strange, these ring bearing children find themselves at the dawn of a new world, a world that brightens, as a lion—sings its song.