What Should Have Been

So I just felt so bad for Mao, and thought that C.C.'s abandonment of him was pretty cruel. There really was no excuse for what she did to him. So this is my take on how she should have handled the situation. I should warn you, though: it's incredibly mushy. I OWN NOTHING!

"Mao," said C.C., "The time has come for you to fulfill your contract."

"Oh, okay," said Mao, now somewhere around seventeen years old. "What do you want me to do?"

C.C. pulled out the gun she had taken from town and held it out in front of her. "I want you to kill me."

Mao's eyes widened in shock, and he stared at her. "I... no! I-I can't kill you! I need you!"

"Mao," said C.C., "My one wish is to die. You must kill me and take my place as an immortal."

"But C.C., I can't live without you!" Mao said, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Mao...," said C.C., "Once you're immortal, you won't have to worry about your mind-reading powers anymore. You can talk to anyone you want."

"No!" said Mao, "They're all horrible people! I've heard what they think! You're the only one. I could never live without you." He paused: "You promised me you would stay with me forever! I thought we would get married and have sex and kids and all that...!"

"Mao, once you're immortal that won't matter anymore. And you can still listen to my voice." She indicated the headphones.

"Your voice isn't you!" Mao protested.

"Mao, please," C.C. pleaded.

"No!" Mao shouted, "I won't! I can't!" He burst into tears.

"Mao...," said C.C., searching him. "Is there any way?" she asked.

"I won't kill you!" Mao said again, "I refuse! I need you!"

This was what C.C. had been afraid of all this time. She hadn't wanted to believe it, but here was the answer: there was no way to pry Mao away from her. He was too dependent on her to take over her immortality. "You promised!" Mao said again.

C.C. stared at Mao, lying on the ground sobbing, and her face softened. She picked up the gun shakily, and turned to him. "Mao," she said, her voice soft and soothing, "You poor thing. Come to me." When Mao didn't budge, she went on: "I'm so sorry. It wasn't fair of me to ask so much of you. You don't have to kill me, if you don't want to." She opened her arms, slowly, as though acting out a routine she considered abominably stupid. "Can I have a hug?"

This time, Mao came to her, placing his arms around her shoulders and sobbing into the crook of her neck. C.C. pulled him in closer. "Listen, Mao," she said, "Instead of killing me... I have a better idea. I think it's time for you to go to that C's world, you know, the one we spoke of before? Remember that, Mao? That was so long ago."

"No," Mao shook his head. That was better. He didn't know he was about to die.

"It's a very nice place," C.C. went on, "It's full of beauty, peace, and love. You won't be able to read anyone's mind there. You won't be isolated from them anymore, and you'll see how gentle and kind people really are. You can make friends there. You won't have to be lonely while you wait for me." C.C.'s hands were shaking as she slowly raised the gun to the back of Mao's neck, just below his head. For a moment, a gunshot rang out. The next instant, C.C. was cradling Mao's pitiful body in her arms. "I'm so sorry," she whispered as she kissed his face one final time, remembering that sweet little boy who had cuddled and played with her so happily. "At least now you can always be happy and free."

The End