Epilogue

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(Warning:Rambling ahead.)  This is crazy! I had no idea it would end up turning out like this. I am so, so grateful for those of you that have been patient and stayed with me on this journey and I'm happy I got a chance to share these characters with you.
You guys are so amazing and I can tell you now, I would not have kept uploading if it weren't for the encouraging comments, votes and critisim (I'm still a novice.) I can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciate it, and I am so glad I've accomplished this. I mean, I guess not many sixteen year olds write their own junior mini-novels right? I don't know if this is how you wanted it to end, but this is how I've imagined it to be, and I really do hope it doesn't disappoint. I won't leave it like this-I intend on a sequel but whether or not I upload it to wattpad depends on what you guys think. It'll take time though, because I want it to be perfect, bigger and better, and right now I can't give you that just yet, due to all the distractions and stress from school and such. I can't stress enough how important your feedback is to me! Once you read the last part, go back to the prologue. You might find some similarities ;) t's the end of this one, but hopefully you'll come along for the next. Okay, no more rambling, sorry. Thank you for reading. Love you all, Tash. *tearful hugs and cupcakes*

One month later.

Last night had been the first night in a month Cedric had slept soundly. Nightmares had not plagued his dreams, and he had woken up almost forgetting he was completely alone. Almost. With Will's help, he'd managed to build a small one-man shack on the edges of town. He'd moved in the day after Charlotte's funeral.

He remembered every detail, as clear as day. Will had said she had never wanted to be buried in the ground-she wanted to be in the small family crypt instead, wrapped. And so she had been. She was unable to be by her real mother-all of the infected bodies then had been burned. The crypt was close to the church but not on the church grounds-there were still qualms about Charlotte the mutant, and even in death, being buried under the church was something the people couldn't do. No one said anything to Cedric-he was blissfully ignored.Yvette had stood by her covered form, her head bowed, her eyes red.

Surprisingly, a few people had showed up. Little Laura Paisy and her sister, the blacksmith Mr Devonshire, even Henrietta Plume and her own grieving mother. So many had been lost that a large memorial service had been held-but Yvette had wanted a separate one for her Lottie as well. Cedric had been hardly able to look at her in that carved box, but he'd held it up with Will and Mr Devonshire, walked it into the crypt, watched it disappear into darkness.

He'd dreamt about that darkness, dreamt about her stepping out, alive and well. He'd also had terrible nightmares about it, ones where he was swallowed up by the blackness, never to be seen again. He pulled on his trousers, still lost in his own thoughts.

"She was the most beautiful soul I have ever known. We will never forget you, Lottie." Yvette's voice had cracked as she'd placed Charlotte's folded cloak in with her. Arwen had stood by, refusing to leave the outside of the crypt until eventually, Will had managed to bring it away after the night.

Ella Sewell had been standing at the back, Cedric remembered. She had been following him everywhere, apparently nowhere else to go. He'd never lost the guilt of burning her, but he'd seen on her face, the healing miracle Charlotte had made. Ella was now a walking memory of her, too painful to look at. He was just pulling his boots on when there was a feverish knock at the door. Frowning, he walked towards it, the knocking becoming desperate. He opened it to reveal- 

"Ella?" The girl had been summoned by his thoughts. Her hood was down, her face pinched. She barged right in, huffing.  

"It is clear you have been avoiding me, Cedric. But I must tell you something." Her eyes were wild. Cedric rose a brow.  

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