Ann looked down at Jon. He was unconscious now; his breathing shallow, his blood drying on the concrete floor. She had to watch the end of this. Not because she was sick or morbid, but because she had to bear the full weight of her actions. She needed to know that she had been right.
The stone had told Jon that she was right. But can that bring solace to a murderer? He coughed, and blood splattered on his lips. Ann realized that she wasn't a murderer yet.
Before he slipped into unconsciousness, Jon had asked her to spare him, and in return he would help him to find Karyn. Of course, that was a silly request; Anna had the stone and all the power in the world. She didn't need him.
At least, she didn't need him to help Karyn. But Anna did need Jon to help herself. She needed him not to die. But she needed someone else's help first. Anna set the rock down and knelt in front of Jon. She bowed her head and grasped her cross.
Anna prayed for forgiveness, prayed for the ability to trust Jon, prayed for Karyn's safety, and she prayed for Jon. She prayed for him to have greater control over his instincts, and prayed for him to do only good. Above all, she prayed for him to do only good.
And when she finished praying, Anna picked up the stone and wished Jon to health. He coughed as he came back to the world, and this time he didn't cough blood.
"I thought," he said, looking up, "that you were going to let me die."
"I was, but . . . I . . ." Anna shook her head. "I read a book just recently, Jon; a book about three people who gain limitless power. Power more than even this stone. A power nearly kills them. And so they let this power go, because they realize that they are not ready for it.
"Do you know what the irony in that is, Jon?" He shook his head. "The irony is that they were ready for the power, because they COULD give it up." Anna looked at the orange rock in her hand. "I wish that I can no longer wish on this or any other stone."
Jon was confused at this point, and was shocked when Anna held the stone out and let him take it.
She helped Jon up. "I believe you were going to help me save Karyn."
"Yes." Jon replied, unsure how to proceed.
"It may help me if I knew better what happened to her these past few days . . ."
