Ch: 18 & 19 [Regrets & Happiness]

We stood there in the hallway, wrapped in each other's embrace. The world around us seemed to fade away, leaving only the warmth of our bodies and the steady rhythm of our heartbeats. It was a moment of reunion, a moment that held within it the weight of years of separation and longing.

Sarah finally pulled back slightly, her tear-streaked face looking up at me. "You have no idea how many nights I spent wishing that you were here, wishing that I could see you again... Wishing that I could touch you, hold you, feel your arms around me..."

She paused, reaching up to run her fingers along my cheek. "But this isn't just a dream, is it?"

I shook my head, my expression turning to one of sorrow. "No, Sarah. I'm afraid not."

"So it worked. The wishing card... It worked," Sarah said, her voice trembling with emotion.

I nodded, my fingers gently wiping away the tears that lingered on her cheeks. "Yes, it worked. And I'm here now, with you."

She let out a mixture of a laugh and a sob, her emotions spilling over in a way that was both heartbreaking and beautiful. "You have no idea how much I missed you, how much I wished for this moment."

"Believe me, I do," I whispered, my voice filled with sincerity. "I missed you too, Sarah. More than words can express."

I wanted to tell her the truth that I had no memories of her in my other life, but I just couldn't...

She looked at me with a mix of wonder and disbelief, as if trying to take in the reality of my presence. "You look just like how I last saw you... You haven't changed a bit."

"And you look old. I can probably find a grey hair or two on your head," I teased, trying to lighten the mood a little.

Sarah playfully smacked me on the shoulder, but the smile on her face told me that she didn't mind my playful joke, "I will hit you harder next time. I am just 25, you know? A young and beautiful woman who is very much in love with you."

"A young and beautiful woman who is very much in love with me," I echoed, feeling the same love for her burning in my heart. I leaned down and kissed her lips, the warmth and softness of them making me feel like I was home.

As our kiss lingered, I felt Sarah's body melt into mine, as if she wanted to be as close to me as possible. I pulled her even closer, wanting to feel every inch of her against me. It felt like we were the only two people in the world, and nothing else mattered except the connection between us.

When we finally broke apart, Sarah was breathless, her eyes shining with love and happiness.

"Wow! That felt nice," She said, her voice full of wonder.

"Yes, it did," I said, my fingers tracing her jawline.

After a moment of silence, she grabbed my hand and pulled me to the living room. She sat before me.

"I... Can I ask you something?" She asked.

"Anything," I said.

"Back when I was waiting for you, I wished every day for you to come back. But now that you're here, I can't help but wonder... What happens after death? I... Did I hurt you by bringing you back to me? I know I am a selfish and foolish girl. Please tell me the truth, Travis. Did my wish to see you hurt other people?" Sarah's eyes were filled with curiosity and a hint of concern.

I looked into Sarah's eyes, her curiosity and concern evident in her gaze. Her question was heavy with the weight of ethical and philosophical considerations. I took a deep breath, contemplating how to respond.

"Are you sure you want to know everything?" I asked.

If I want I can hide it from her, but I know that someday I have to go back to my previous world to finish the battle. I... I just... I will tell her everything, except for the fact that I didn't have any memories of her back then.

Sarah nodded, her expression serious. "I want to know, Travis. I want to understand the consequences of my actions."

I took a deep breath, my gaze steady as I began to explain. "When I died, I was reborn in a different world. An alternate version of this world. I started a new life there, with new experiences, new people, and new challenges."

I recounted to Sarah the story of my rebirth into an alternate world where people possessed unique abilities known as Quirks. I explained how I grew up there, facing different challenges and forming new relationships. I talked about my training to become a hero and my involvement in battles against powerful villains.

I also shared with her the complexities of this world, where heroes and villains clashed in a never-ending struggle, and how my abilities had grown beyond my imagination. I told her about the friends I made, the allies I fought alongside, and the enemies I confronted.

As I narrated my journey in this alternate reality, I watched the expressions on Sarah's face shift from curiosity to amazement. She listened intently as I described the battles, the victories, and the losses. I could see a mixture of emotions in her eyes, a blend of fascination, disbelief, and perhaps even a touch of envy for the experiences I had gained.

When I finally finished sharing my story, there was a moment of silence between us. Sarah's gaze was fixed on me, her mind seemingly processing the weight of what I had just revealed.

Finally, she spoke, her voice broken, "I... I am so sorry. I... I didn't know. Just because of my selfish with... Oh, God! What have I done?"

I placed a gentle hand on Sarah's shoulder, offering her comfort as she processed the information I had shared. Her emotions were raw, and I could see the turmoil within her.

"Sarah, don't blame yourself," I said softly, my voice filled with reassurance. "You didn't know what would happen, and your wish was made out of love and longing. None of this is your fault."

"No, you don't understand. They warned me of the consequences. I... I could have wished for your well-being and your happiness, but no. I just... I just wanted to see you again. I was too selfish to even consider the consequences. Because of me so many people... Your parents, friends, and everyone else who cared for you. Because of me, so many people had to experience grief and loss," Sarah's voice trembled, her words heavy with remorse.

She continued, "I brought you back without thinking about the impact on your world, on the people who loved you. I was only thinking about myself, about my own pain."

I could see the guilt and regret in her eyes, and my heart ached for her. She was blaming herself for something that was beyond her control, something that had unforeseen consequences.

"Sarah, you can't blame yourself for not knowing the consequences," I said firmly, my grip on her shoulder gentle but steady. "You wished out of love, out of the deep connection we shared. It's understandable that you wanted to see me again, to have a chance to be together. But life and reality are often more complex than we can anticipate."

She looked up at me, her eyes searching mine for some kind of absolution. "But... I can't ignore the fact that my actions affected your world, that I might have caused pain and suffering there."

I took a deep breath, my gaze unwavering. "Yes, it's true that my return did have an impact on my world. People who cared about me had to go through the pain of my loss all over again. But that's a consequence that no one could have predicted. Life is unpredictable, and our choices sometimes have far-reaching effects."

I leaned in closer, our eyes locked in a moment of shared understanding. "What matters now is that we make the most of the time we have together. We can't change the past, but we can shape the present and the future."

Sarah's shoulders sagged as she absorbed my words. The weight of guilt seemed to lessen slightly, replaced by a mixture of sadness and acceptance.

"If a wish card can grant anything then we have to find those messengers. That way I can ask for a wish to travel forth between two worlds," I explained.

Sarah's eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope at my suggestion. "You're right. If there are beings out there who can grant wishes, then finding them might be the key. We can use that opportunity to ask for something that can benefit both worlds, to balance out the unintended consequences."

I nodded in agreement. "Exactly. We can try to find a way to make things right, to somehow fix the impact of my return on both worlds."

"But where do we start?" Sarah's voice was filled with a mix of determination and uncertainty.

"We start by gathering information," I replied. "We need to learn more about these wish-granting beings, their nature, their motives, and their limitations. Once we have a clearer understanding, we can make a well-informed decision about how to proceed."

I continued, "Those beings... What if they granted others the same card?"

I paused for a moment, considering the implications of her question. The possibility that others might have access to the same wish-granting card added another layer of complexity to the situation. If multiple people were making wishes that had unintended consequences, it could potentially lead to further disruptions in the balance of the worlds.

"Wait! They told me they were after people with pure desires," Sarah continued, her brow furrowing in thought. "They said that they were seeking individuals whose intentions were driven by genuine emotions, by love or longing. Maybe that's why they chose me, why they granted my wish."

"That's an interesting piece of information," I said, my mind racing with the implications of her words. "If they're indeed drawn to pure desires, then what if they gave a card to a lunatic or a serial killer or a rapist?"

Her face grew serious as she considered the implications. "Since they're attracted to pure desires, then they might have a certain criteria for granting wishes. But what if those criteria are subjective? What if someone with good intentions unintentionally causes harm?"

I nodded, my thoughts aligning with hers. "Exactly. The intentions behind a wish might be pure from the perspective of the person making the wish, but the consequences can still be far-reaching and unpredictable. It's a complex ethical dilemma."

Sarah's brow furrowed as she spoke, her concern evident in her voice. "And what about the balance between the two worlds? If they're granting wishes that affect both places, it's possible that they're disturbing the equilibrium. Maybe that's why they're so selective, looking for individuals whose desires align with some unknown cosmic balance."

Wait! If what she says is true then could it be that those fucking wish givers gave a villain a wish card. And that bastard wished for my death or wished to send me away from that reality?

If I take my theory into consideration then those messengers don't have any power over life and death. They just find others with desires and manipulate them to use a wish card, just like how they used Sarah to bring me into this reality. That way they feed on their desires and fulfill both party's wishes together.

Fuck! This is so messed up.

----

[Meanwhile] [Outskirt of Gotham City] [3rd person POV]

LexCorp bought the entire land and the surrounding areas within a few hours.

As he stood on the outskirts of Gotham, Lex gazed at the land he now owned—a barren area of scorched earth where the mysterious ship had landed. There were no visible signs of the vessel now; it had vanished as mysteriously as it had appeared.

Lex's sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for any clues that might hint at the ship's nature or origin. He was well aware that Gotham was a city of secrets and shadows, a breeding ground for the bizarre and the extraordinary.

His scientists arrived within a few hours with bizarre machines.

Lex Luthor watched as his team of scientists and engineers worked diligently to set up the advanced equipment they had brought with them. These machines were specifically designed to analyze and decipher any residual energy signatures or anomalies left behind by the mysterious ship.

The barren landscape around him was marked with scorch marks and anomalies that hinted at the immense energy released during the ship's arrival. Lex knew that whatever had landed here was not of this world, and he intended to uncover its secrets.

"Mr. Luthor, we're ready to begin the scans," one of the scientists reported.

Lex nodded, his eyes focused on the equipment as the scans were initiated. The machines hummed to life, emitting low-frequency pulses and other forms of energy as they began their intricate analysis.

As the scans progressed, Lex's mind raced with possibilities. If this technology could be understood and harnessed, it could provide him with unprecedented power and influence. His intellect and ambition were fueled by the allure of the unknown, and he was determined to unlock the secrets of the ship that had descended from the heavens.

Hours passed as the scientists meticulously gathered data from the scans. The information was relayed to Lex's personal computer systems, where he monitored the progress with unwavering focus. The screens displayed complex energy signatures, quantum fluctuations, and other phenomena that were beyond the comprehension of most individuals.

And then, a breakthrough.

One of the scientists called out, "Mr. Luthor, we've detected a residual energy pattern consistent with highly advanced propulsion systems. It appears that the ship employed a form of energy manipulation that is beyond our current scientific understanding."

Lex's eyes lit up with excitement. This was what he had been waiting for—the confirmation that the ship's technology was truly extraordinary. "Continue the analysis. I want a detailed report on the energy signatures and any potential applications we can derive from them."

He turned toward Mercy, "Try to match the readings with the Kryptonian ship and see if there are any similarities. And transfer those two witnesses to our special cell. I will interrogate them personally."