A/N-Sadly, we've reached the end of the movie retelling. I've truly enjoyed writing this and hope you've enjoyed reading it. We reached 100 reviews, which makes me ridiculously happy-though I wouldn't object to more, of course! I do have an idea for a separate short story or two, and will eventually get back to this world.

Update-The short sequel to this story is called Firmament, and is posted here on FFN as well. :)

Thanks so much for reading, for reviewing, for your wonderful PMs and notes! I hope to see more fan fiction from this book and movie soon! Drop me a note if you publish something-I'll happily come read it!

The Shape of Loneliness

Chapter 10 Epilogue

Riene, 2017, 2018

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The acrid smell of blood was strong in his nostrils, his and another's. He forced open his eyes. ELISA lay beside him, her fingers cool on his own, the scent of her blood overwhelming. He moaned softly.

Shuddering, he rose to his feet, dispassionately studying the wounds on his chest, sluggishly bleeding. With one swipe of his hand they healed, two metallic pings striking the hard concrete dock, his iridescent markings glowing brightly.

He turned, staring contemptuously at the man. He reeked of fever and infection, and now of fear. Drawing himself up to his full height, he stalked the man, raising a hand, swatting the gun away. Light from the street lamp spilled through his nearly transparent gills, making a nimbus around his head. His bioluminescent markings glowed blue-white in the rain.

Strickland staggered back. "Fuck….you are a god."

Glowing, impassive, he flicked his hand and the cruel Land Dweller fell, his throat severed by razor-sharp claws.

He turned to GILES. The man held ELISA, tears pouring down his cheeks. Gently, so gently, the man lowered ELISA to the ground, relinquishing her. Sirens grew louder, and cars began to pull up in the distance. He knelt and tenderly raised ELISA's limp body from the cold ground, cradling her close. Her eyelids fluttered but did not open. With her last strength, ELISA touched his face, and her hand fell away. Holding her in one arm, he caressed her cheek.

He stared hard at GILES, memorizing the Land Dweller's features, aware of the growing crowd behind him, of the tears streaming down the man's face, and of ZELDA crying. With ELISA in his arms he had no way to thank them or tell them.

He cradled her close, the metallic scent of her blood sharp. Her body was growing heavier, limp, and he knew there was not much time. With one last look, he turned and leapt from their world.

Slowly Giles walked to the edge of the pier, staring into the dark and swirling water. Beside him, Zelda clutched his arm, sobbing. The wind pulled at her hair, the rain mixing with her tears.

"They're together, aren't they?"

"Yes. I believe they are."

She was falling, one shoe lost, the clothing pulling her downward. He circled around her once, a rapid swirl, relishing the feel of swimming once more, than caught her up in his arms, stripping the heavy coat and discarding it. She would have no need of it. His claw sliced through the flimsy material of her dress, revealing the ugly gaping holes in her soft skin. She must breathe first; he turned her head gently then held both palms over the lines on her throat, focusing, concentrating, the water about them lighting up with an intense golden light so bright it was nearly white, then he released her, passing his hand over the ugly, bleeding hole.

She had saved him; now he would save her.

He held her through the initial terror as her eyes flew open and she struggled, not understanding that she could breathe underwater, that she was now like him. His eyes locked on hers and he pressed his mouth to hers. She opened to him, and he forced the bubble of water into her mouth, pushing it into her lungs, and she fought him before suddenly shuddering, flinging her head up, and staring at him with huge eyes. He cocked his head, waiting for her judgment, and she flung her arms around his neck.

The red coat would turn up later, "proof" that Elisa Esposito was dead, drowned in the storm surge of the canal, likely washed out to sea. Zelda didn't believe it, nor did Giles. They had both seem the flash of light from the water, a color Giles remembered from the creature's healing of himself, and from when he had knelt and touched Giles' head and arm. "He's saved her," Zelda said, awestruck, and Giles could only nod, too wrought by the rapid sequence of events to speak.

Though he came to the docks, and to the shore they'd discussed, hoping, watching, he never saw either again. Deep in his heart he prayed they were both somewhere together, loving, and safe.

Zelda visited often, and the two would meet for coffee sometimes. Brewster had moved back in with his mother, and no loss, she said. His own mother had gotten fed up with his laziness and given him the 'what-for' after a few days. She hadn't raised her boys, she said, to be taken care of by a woman. He was living now with a friend and looking for a job. She thought she might take him back if he could keep one.

Zelda took a different cleaning job in a hospital, and swore that she thought she'd seen Dr. Hofstetler—Dmitri—in the secured wing but could not be certain. Not long after that winter, Giles accepted a job with Amazing Comics as an illustrator. If the creatures he drew occasionally had golden eyes, well, it was his private style.

As for them, neither was ever alone again. They slept in each other's arms, safe and content, in a world without violence, without need of voice. As the years passed, her body changed, growing more and more like his, and he taught her the ways of the water, of the currents, and the waves. Their memories of the world above grew dim in time, until there was only themselves and their love.

Giles stacked the drawings and neatly typewritten pages together, preparing to place them into a heavy manila envelope and tie the cotton strings around it securely. Perhaps someday the world would be ready for their story. He stared at the final sheet with blurry eyes, closed the flap and set the packet aside.

If I told you about it-What would I say? That they lived happily ever after? I believe they did... That they were in love- that they remained in love? I'm sure that is true... But when I think of her, of Elisa, all that comes to mind is a poem. made of just a few truthful words... Whispered by someone in love, hundreds of years ago...

"Unable to perceive the shape of You, I find You all around me. Your presence fills my eyes with Your love, It humbles my heart, For You are everywhere."

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Again, thank you so much for reading, and please review.

~R