Seven came around far too early for my liking.  I watched the clock as it ticked ominously closer and finally I could put it off no longer.  I did not want to walk in late and have everyone's eyes on me.

I got up and left my room to go to the office.  Once in the building, I followed the sound of voices to a study and went inside.

Elizabeth was already there, as was the man who I presumed to be the solicitor.  There were two other unfamiliar men there.  One I had never seen before and the other was the droning speaker from the ceremony.  Next to him was Jack.

"Dylan!  How are you holding up?" Jack asked me.  He sounded genuinely concerned.  I sat in the empty chair next to him since at least he was a smiling face.

"I'm fine," I lied.  "You?"

After a pause he said, "I will be, in time."

As seven o'clock moved closer, an elderly man and a woman came into the room and then another pair I recognized, Terrence and Alicia.

My first thought was horror of another embarrassing scene when I saw them, but then I noticed Alicia was not flouncing.  Had she been sedated somehow, or...?

At that moment the solicitor began talking and broke off my train of thoughts.  "For those of you who have not previously met me, I am Eric Iverson, Mister Thompson's solicitor.  I had been in contact with Mister Thompson in the last year and at that time he updated his will."

He paused, as if genuinely sad that Michael was gone and then continued.  "I will now read the last will and testament of Mister Michael Thompson, alternately known to some as Michael Paine."

It seemed sort of odd that Michael had even made and updated a will when he had claimed himself to be a god. 

His own words rang in my head.  "We're immortal, not invulnerable."

Paul could die, Michael could die and so could I.  Impaled by sharp metal, or crushed on rocks from a fall.

What was left in the end?  Hollyhocks on graves, a last will and testament and then nothing more than dust.  I felt suddenly dizzy as if I were standing and looking down into my own grave.

The solicitor began to read and distracted me from my dark thoughts.  I tried to pay attention but mostly I listened passively. 

First he addressed the two men who had been in the study before I had arrived.  They had been granted extremely generous stipends, as had the other people I did not recognize. 

Elizabeth, Terrence and Jack were also granted generous sums from Michael's holdings.

Alicia was given an ample income in the care of Terrence.  Neither of them said anything while the solicitor talked. 

My attention was drawn to her.

The solicitor continued talking, but I was too busy watching the real Alicia.  I had not seen her in a long time and it brought a rush of pleasure to me that was a relief after so much confusion and misery.

"Dylan," Jack whispered.  Apparently he had noticed I had been spacing out.

The solicitor was apparently talking to me now.

"You have been left the rest of Michael's estates, in their entirety."

I just looked at him sort of blankly and asked stupidly, "What?"

"Michael named you his heir."

I felt like I had been punched in the gut.  I really did not want anything from Michael. 

"I don't want that," I managed to stutter.

"You're probably in shock," the solicitor suggested sympathetically.

I was not in shock; if anything, his words had brought me out of it. 

I was angry.  I was angry at the condescendingly sympathetic solicitor and even more furiously angry at Michael.

This was Michael's last will and testament, but I was certain it was not because he had wanted to do me any favors. 

This was because he wanted to tie me down and bind me to his damn island and his damn legacy.  He had no reason to make me his heir, other than his constant desire to mess with me as a replacement for his sister.

I sat there, fists clenched and fuming silently while the solicitor continued on and on.  Every stipulation made me more and more enraged. 

I saw each one clearly as a mounting manipulation, piled upon me by Michael even from beyond the grave.

The solicitor continued to talk and I ran through my list of all the reasons I had to hate Michael. 

He had murdered who knew how many people, uprooted me, infected me, played with my mind, murdered Paul and then died right in front of me. 

Then, as his ultimate grand finale, rather than letting me move on once he was gone, he bound me in his twisted chains.

The solicitor finally said, "I'll deal with the details with each of you in more detail separately.  It has been a trying day for everyone, no doubt." 

Then the solicitor left, along with Elizabeth and the four people I did not know.  Terrence said something to Jack and then he and Alicia slipped away.  I had wanted to talk to her and see if she was once again in control, but it seemed my chance had passed.

Now, what was I going to do?  I knew I should be happy.  Although I did not know much of Michael's life beyond tormenting me, I did know there was a lot of money involved.  Money made people happy, did it not?  At least it could remove one's worries. 

Yet I could almost feel the chains tightening and dragging me further down.

"Are you okay?" Jack asked, reminding me he was still there.

"No," I said bitterly.

"Most people would be happy," he said lightly.

"I suppose they would."

"But you are not?"  It was not a question.

I smiled bitterly, "If this is happiness, then I want nothing to do with it."

He smiled a bit at that.  "Are you going to reject it?"

"Yes."  My words were automatic.

"Then what will you do?"

"I will leave."

"And cut all ties?"

"Yes."

A thoughtful look passed over his attractive features and he asked, "Are you running away?"

I was tired of the accusation that might have bordered on truth.  I was tired of keeping everything inside. 

I answered, "I don't want to be manipulated by him anymore."

"Is that what he was doing?"

"Of course," I growled, shooting him a dirty look.  "All I ever was to him was a game piece to be moved around the board according to his purposes!  He's still doing that, even in death!  I never asked for any of this!"

Jack still looked thoughtful.  "You know, I knew Michael for a lot longer than you.  I am well aware he was often ruthless and cruel to his enemies and carelessly indifferent with those who escaped his notice."

I smiled, it was comforting to hear someone say something beyond how infinitely wonderful Michael had been as if they had not known him at all.

Jack's face darkened.  "And for as long as I have known him he was a man pursued by his own demons.  He never spoke of what he had seen or done or lived through, but whenever he stopped grinning I could see it in his eyes."

I looked at Jack closely.  I had not realized there was such a keen observer beneath his charming smiles.

"But there was more to him than even that, there was another side to him.  Michael took good care of those who were his responsibility, those he took under his protection.  He was brilliant and could be generous and he was undoubtedly adored by many of the people here today."

I was annoyed that Jack had lapsed into a litany of Michael's alleged good traits.  I deepened my scowl to show my displeasure.

Jack grinned at my expression, clearly unfazed.  "I really will miss him."

"I won't," I snapped.

Jack raised an eyebrow.  "Really?  I know you were special to him," he commented.

I did not say anything.  I did not explain that I was little better than a placeholder for a long dead woman.  Jack stood up.

"Well, Dylan, I hope to see you again.  Preferably when you inform me I am to keep my post.  It seems my future is in your hands now, lovely lady.  How fortunate for me." 

He winked and grinned.  He made a comical little bow and left.

I stood up too and walked back to the sanctuary of my room, where I could at least escape my chains in sleep.

The next morning I was awoken by a knock on my door. 

I groaned; I was perfectly prepared to ignore the intrusion, but it continued on with annoying consistency and was punctuated by words I did my best to ignore.  "Miss Dylan!  Missus Eggleston desires your presence!" the voice nearly shouted.

I buried my head under the pillow and wondered why Elizabeth seemed to have an unending need to plague me.  Was she trying to replace Michael in my life?  Why had she not simply let me leave?

"Miss Dylan!  Missus Eggleston told me not to come back without you!  Please, Miss Dylan!" the voice implored.

"Ugh.  Fine!" I said loud enough for the person on the other side of the door to hear.  "I'm taking a shower; you'll just have to wait."

While I showered, I thought about the whole nonsense with the will.  It was just like Eggleston to send a sacrificial lamb to bully me into doing what she wanted. 

Clearly, if I did not come, she would take it out on the poor employee waiting outside my door.

I was irritated by her coercion.  I would go see her and tell her firmly I was not at all interested in being Michael's heir. 

I had only the vaguest idea of what Michael used to do and I intended to cut my new chains before I found out.

I quickly threw on an outfit I got from that store in Paris and realized I still had not given Tara her souvenir.  She must have been really worried about me to forget about it, I thought guiltily. 

When I left the island for good, I should put on a show of being in good spirits for anyone who might worry. 

It sounded exhausting even just imagining it.

I opened the door and found a short, plain man standing there.  He looked like a walking stereotype of sheer normalcy.  I was going to ask him who he was, but I realized I did not care because I was not going to stay.

"All right, all right, I'm coming," I groused as I followed him.

Elizabeth was back to her regularly composed self when I entered her office. 

"You summoned me?" I asked grumpily.

"Ah, yes, Dylan.  The solicitor has asked to see you this afternoon.  Please take a seat.  We have much work to be done, familiarizing you with the workings of Mister Thompson's holdings," she informed me in a crisp voice.

I sat down across from her, even though I was annoyed by her assumptions. 

"I already said I am not interested in Michael's holdings.  I'm leaving the island," I informed her.

She hissed something sounded rather like "irresponsible chit".  Then Elizabeth straightened her spine as if preparing for war and stared at me down her long straight nose. 

She spoke slowly and deliberately.  "Mister Thompson has left you with a great deal of responsibility.  I'll be frank with you.  I do not think you are capable of handling it.  You are a very young woman and you lack the ability and experience that is vital for this sort of endeavor."

"I don't want to have the ability or experience to do it, because I have no intention of taking care of anything."

Elizabeth looked at me with a stern and disapproving glare and I was not going to be cowed by it.  I straightened my back and glared at her. 

"Dylan!  You will allow me to finish.  I can see no recommending traits in you.  Admittedly, I have spent little time with you in the past.  But Mister Thomas clearly thought you were capable of handling everything in time, or he would not have left everything in your care."

"He didn't think that at all.  He's still trying to torture me and I'm not putting up with it!" I snapped, losing my temper at the overbearing woman.

"Selfish child!" Elizabeth said more loudly than I had heard her speak before.  "Legally, this is all yours.  Whether you will it or not, everything has passed to you.  If you behave irresponsibly, everything will unravel around us.  We are talking about people's lives and livelihoods.  Everyone on this island and many, many people beyond it.  This is not about whatever convoluted relationship was between you and Mister Thompson anymore.  Do not take this so lightly!"

"I'm not taking it lightly!  That's why I don't want to do it!" I fairly shouted at her.

Elizabeth made a visible effort to calm herself.  "You've had a difficult time, Dylan.  We are not getting anywhere, so I will give you a couple of days to accustom yourself to what has happened."

I had no intention of changing my mind, but I nodded anyway.  It would give me a little longer to say my goodbyes.

"I will explain the situation to the solicitor and I am sure he can be convinced to remain for a longer amount of time."

"Thanks," I said grudgingly.

"We are all reeling.  Please do think about it, Dylan," she said with what sounded almost like a shred of sympathy.

I walked out without answering.

The sun was shining again so I decided it would be a good day to go to the beach.  Maybe everything would be clearer there.  Maybe the sea would calm me. 

I went to the kitchen and got Pierre to pack me up some food and water.

Then I went back to my room and changed into my bathing suit and shorts.  I tossed in a towel, a blanket and a book I probably would not be able to concentrate on into my bag.

I took my time going to the beach and once I got there I spread the blanket on the sand.  I lay down in the sun.

I closed my eyes and tried to sort out everything in my mind. 

So much had happened and it was all running around in my head, a picture of perfect pandemonium. 

What was I supposed to do next?  I did not want to be responsible for everything.

What would happen if I simply left?  If I decided to go, nothing Elizabeth or anyone else could do would stop me from leaving eventually.  If she tried to I would fake cooperation until I saw my opportunity to escape.  I had time to wait.

But what about everyone else?  Why could I not just simply hand it all over to Elizabeth and disappear?  She would be perfectly capable of taking care of everything.

If I left, I would have to trust her to do what was right.  But what about people like Tara, Pierre and Alicia, all of whose lives were linked to Michael's island?  Did I really want to leave them in Elizabeth's power?

I felt like I had no good choice.  Had this been by Michael's design?

I gritted my teeth.  No matter what, I was not going to quickly cave in to Elizabeth's demands. 

Maybe there was a third option would reveal itself to me, something better than doing what Michael and Elizabeth wanted and also better than running away.

The warmth of the sun and the rhythm of the waves were making me drowsy and I started to doze, while my mind wandered through the past chaotic month. 

I remembered everyone whom had I had grown to know since the day Michael had upended my existence.  It had been purely bad, but there was some good if I cared to look.

I finally slept deeply and then woke up as if from a dream but without memories of one. 

I ran out into the water and swam for a while.  I returned to the beach and ate my lunch.  After I went and sat in the shade and opened my book and began to read.

I lost myself.  I was far from my problems for the first time since I had stood in the hollyhock graveyard. 

It was a good feeling to read the characters' struggles as they dealt with problems that had no real power to touch me.

It was a soft voice that interrupted my sweet escape.  "Hello, Dylan."

"Alicia!" I gasped, dropping my book.  It was clearly the long absent real Alicia.

She smiled and sat down next to me in one fluid and graceful motion.  She smiled.

"I'm glad to see you," I told her quite honestly.  "I can't believe you're still here!"

"My other self is very upset right now," she explained.  "She seems to be hiding.  I seem to get control for longer, when she is really upset.  And from all I hear, there has been a very big upset in her life."

"Very big."

"How are you coping?  Terrence told me you have been acting especially reclusive since you returned.  And I must admit, she seems to hate you much more than she usually does."

"She would.  She got a stipend in Terrence's care.  Michael left pretty much everything else to me.  Her life as she knows it is now in my hands, apparently."

"Yes, I know.  I was at the reading of the will."

"I thought so.  You were very quiet there."

"It was an odd day."

"When did you come back into yourself?" I wondered.

She smiled wryly.  "In front of the assembly at the funeral.  I've never been forced to take over in such a situation before."

"I'm sorry."

She shrugged and even that was a beautiful movement.  "Regardless, I'm happy to be in control again for a while."

"Where's Terrence?"

"He's giving me the illusion of freedom again right now," she chuckled.  "She hates him too, you know?  He ruins her fun.  You're in good company."

"He does get in her way a lot." 

We sat in companionable silence for a while.

Alicia broke the silence a short time later.  "I am curious, so please forgive me if I pry.  What happened the day Michael died?"

I regarded her slowly.  "Does the childish Alicia remember anything I tell you?"

She shook her head.  "She is not that deep, driven largely by emotion.  Everything for her is fulfilling her selfish needs and desires.  There's nothing else.  It's her only goal."

"I'm going to tell you," I began slowly. 

I paused and swallowed past the lump in my throat before continuing, "Everything.  But you must keep it to yourself."

"You're quite safe telling me," Alicia laughed and it rang clear like a bell.

I began at the beginning and told Alicia everything that was running through my chaotic mind.  I began with my parents and of my life alone.  I told her again of Michael coming into my life and changing everything irrevocably.  I spoke of my time on the island and my time in Europe.  I told her the story of Sarah, about Paul's death in the graveyard and about the days leading up to and including Michael's death.  I told her everything that was swarming through my mind.

When I reached the end, I felt better than I had in a long time, perhaps ever.  It was like I had unloaded a great weight from my shoulders.

She smiled sadly and asked, "You've never told anyone this, have you?"

"No."

"That's a lot to carry alone," she commented.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Does anyone else know about Michael's death?" she asked, perhaps a little sadly.

"No, although I think Elizabeth understood.  Maybe Jack guessed."

She smiled, "I can't say if that's wise or not, but it must be a terrible burden for you."

"I didn't want any of this."

She smiled again, rather wistfully.  "We're all given things we don't want, sometimes through no fault of our own, other times as consequences to our choices." 

She shrugged again in her graceful way.  "The important part is what we do with what we are given.  No one can fairly ask more than that of themselves or others."

"Yeah," I agreed, thinking of how Michael had bound me.

"My life, before Michael had changed me had been laughably easy, Dylan.  Forgive me if I sound arrogant, but I had everything a woman could ask for.  I had wealthy loving parents, health, beauty and a quick wit.  I was almost universally adored.  I had been sheltered from the world, never experienced hardship, pain or loss.  I had everything I needed and almost anything I wanted."

She threw her head back and looked up at the sky.  "But I was still greedy and I wanted it all to last forever.  I thought I could make it all mine forever.  I wanted the immortality.  I gambled and I lost."

"I'm sorry," I said.

"No, you shouldn't be, because in my loss I also won.  Who do you think I would have become if my vainglorious fantasies had all come true?  If I had been able to grasp everything tightly to myself, forever?  Would I have become the person who sits beside you?  No, I believe I would be wholly that girl who occupies the other part of my mind.  What is left of me would not be.  I would be self centered and alone in my world."

She shook her head.  "Instead, I learned much needed humility and I now know well the darker side of the world and even my own nature.  But that too is a good thing, for if you cannot see the darkness, how can you appreciate the nature of the light?"

I smiled, both because of Alicia's words and because of Alicia's calming presence.

"I've lived for a long time in this shell," she began. 

"I regret that I have stolen Terrence's freedom from him and it is so easy, because he gives it so readily.  I know you are unsure if you want to take this task that Michael has left for you and that is understandable."

She met my eyes.  "However, I fear you may remain here because of me.  Michael kept this island for his own reasons and I am certain my care is but one, but I do not want you to feel you must take care of me."

"You need care, when you aren't in control," I reminded her.

She smiled.  "Perhaps I have not made myself clear.  I have lived for a long time, always on Michael's charity with the help of my dear Terrence.  I do not want you to feel obligated to keep me in the same way Michael did and perhaps he was right to, because he had a part in creating what I now am."

She paused and met my eyes.  "I do not want to do that to you.  I would rather not exist—"

I did not want to hear the end of that thought.  "No, Alicia, it's a better world in which you exist."

She smiled.  "I thank you for that sentiment."

I shook my head, thinking of Michael and Paul.  "Besides, without you, Terrence probably would have no reason to go on."

"That is true," she agreed, as she lay back in the sand.  "And we need others to go on, don't we?  A person cannot truly exist completely independent, can they?  We all need other people so we are not lost inside ourselves, a give and take."

She chucked darkly.  "I suppose I never really had the opportunity to learn how to give."  Alicia lay back in the sand and closed her eyes, as if lost in thought.

I too thought about the things Alicia had said.  It was true.  I had spent my life yearning to be the most important person to someone, but I wanted what I did not want to give.  It had hurt me too badly when I discovered I was not what my father wanted and I had wanted to avoid that pain ever after

Paul's love for Sarah was truly a selfless love.  At a loss to himself he had done as she had asked and removed her from his world. 

Right or wrong, killing her had certainly been done out of love for her.  He had assumed the guilt that she would have bore killing the innocent again and he had carried his grief with him for the rest of his life.

Michael could never understand it, because his love for Sarah was not the deep love of Paul.  He had loved his sister truly, but he probably would not have given her up to save her from herself.

I faced the truth.  I had cared for Michael.  He had done much that was wrong to me, but still I had cared.  It was not the pure and unassuming love of Paul for Sarah;  my love for Michael was a selfish love, a dysfunctional need. 

I needed him, because he had swept into my lonely life and when he was there I felt less alone.

I was so angry because of everything he had done, but I was even more angry that he had left me alone, isolated in the secrets of his existence.

It was just as clear I needed to forgive Michael, because the only other choice was to spend the rest of my life caught in his dark cycle.

I looked down at Alicia, who seemed to have fallen asleep. 

I had to decide which paths I wanted to forge in the snow.  Resentment and disappointment from my past unhealthy relationships, or I could decide to let go of the past and move towards the things that would bring me satisfaction and happiness.

I still had much to decide, but in the meantime, I would sacrifice a small amount of my freedom to try take care of these people who had become dear to me in their own twisted ways.

I glanced at Alicia and then I looked out at the ocean.  I wondered what the future might bring.  I could not know, but I truly believed I search for a future beyond the chains of the past.