Five Minutes

Disclaimer: The characters and other things from The Chronicles of Narnia don't belong to me (sadly). Credit goes to those who do own them.

Five minutes.

He had five minutes to catch a glimpse of that other world before retreating into an eternity trying to figure out what else he was missing. His dead heart seemed alive once more and felt intent on beating out of his chest in anticipation. He wondered if what lay ahead matched the constructed reality in his mind.

The barrier was broken and he was startled by the darkness, the muted colors of this land driving his attention away from his companions. His eyes adjusted as he searched the scene before him for any sign of something he could not yet identify. He took in the details as rapidly as he could—carriages that moved without horses, lights atop metal rods, tall structures, and trees lined orderly as if ordered by man not nature.

Four minutes.

He looked left and right, still seeking the one thing that drew him to this place. He could not even afford to blink for fear of missing even a second. He scanned the faces that went past him, each one ignored him. He wished to read their thoughts to understand their indifference but he had not the luxury to even try guessing.

Three minutes.

It was impossible and yet he forced himself to look farther, push his vision to its limits. He took in the sea of black roads that stretched endless before him and the buildings that loomed over the miniscule bit of nature left in this place. He grew desperate and in his mind he pleaded, bargained and raged for a miracle that refused to come. He was poised to scream even if he knew no sound would be heard but then his prayer was answered.

Two minutes.

He stopped breathing. His eyes remained transfixed as he stood in disbelief and awe. He willed her to turn around, silently hoping his luck would hold. As if by design, someone slammed into her, forcing her back to the wall next to her. He gasped as he saw her hardened face, lined with bitterness and regret. He clenched his fists, angry with this world he sought out for it destroyed the spirit of only woman he ever truly loved.

One minute.

Her crystal blue eyes stared straight into his own, shocking him to his very core. If he didn't know any better, it was as if she could see him. He wanted to run to her but he already felt he was slipping away. He wanted to call out her name if only to let her hear his voice.

He owned the five minutes save for the last second, when she gathered the will to do what he could not.

"Caspian, I miss you."

He closed his eyes and allowed Aslan to lead him to his country. His death was complete and he would spend the rest of his immortal life waiting for the gentle queen.