After a brief explanation of who I was and what I could do I pulled everyone into my pocket dimension before the world we were in completely collapsed. I paid little attention to the lone crow that flew in through the portal I made.
The survivors were in awe as they looked around the lush forest surrounding the house I had created. After some time to recuperate I gave everyone the choice to return to their own worlds.
Yui, the Japanese woman thanked me and gave me her pink bandana. She told me that if I ever visited Japan in her world, that she would be honored to show me around.
The old man, who's name was Bill. Turned out to be a Vietnam veteran who came from a desolate world filled with mutated zombies. Needless to say he chose to stay in my pocket dimension as a sort of 'groundskeeper'.
I think he was looking for peace after fighting to live for so long. Meg, who had finally been healed of her wounds also chose to return home to care for her sick mother. Mikaela, after apologizing profusely for 'troubling' me also chose to return home.
She said something about writing a book about her experiences and promised to leave my name out of it. After I had sent everyone on their way I turned to Bill who pulled out another cigarette from somewhere and lit it with a match.
"You sure you want to stay here?"
"Ain't much left for me out there. Here I think I can finally retire."
"Fair enough, I've got a few guest rooms in the house, just pick one out."
"Sure, but I'll camp out for a few days. It'll be nice seeing the sky again without having to run for my life."
"You do know it's not a real sky right?"
"Close enough to the real deal. I'll manage."
"Alright, I'll be back to check up on you once in a while. If you need anything just ask."
He waved me away and wandered off into the forest. I wondered if I should have warned him about the various creatures that roamed the trees.
Seeing that the old man had somehow survived both a zombie apocalypse and a murderous entity I figured he'd be fine. I turned to Selene and Lena who were speaking with one another.
"You two ready to go home?"
They both nodded and I took their hands before pulling us back to the outside world. Hardly any time had passed as expected. Lena bid Selene and I goodnight before walking off to her room. Selene and I shared a look as we walked back into ours.
The twins were still asleep, Alruna was passed out on the couch across from the bed lightly snoring. She woke with a start as I stepped through the door and wiped a bit of drool from the corner of her mouth.
"You're back, that was fast."
"It was a hell of an adventure though, thanks for watching the kids."
"They're park of the pack my Lord."
"Either way, thank you Alruna. You can return home if you wish."
Alruna nodded before disappearing in a flash of light. The wolf tattoo reappeared on my chest. Selene and I took a quick shower before putting on some comfortable loungewear and laying side by side sandwiching the twins between us.
"You just can't resist helping people." She whispered.
"I'm not that benevolent to be honest. I've slaughtered countless people for being on the wrong side of things. I'm greedy, a tiny bit bloodthirsty, but that doesn't mean that I won't step in to help people that can't help themselves."
"In some cases that makes you a hero." Selene replied with a grin.
"Hero? I don't think so, maybe an 'Anti-Hero'. Heros don't kill or torture people."
Selene hummed, "Yet you still save people when you can."
"I guess, I'm just worried that all this power will get to me one day and I'll end up like Viktor."
"Oh hush, you'll never become a tyrant like Viktor. I'll kick your arse if you start going down that path."
"Please do, the girls don't need a father like that."
Selene sighed, she reached over the sleeping twins and put a hand on my cheek. I leaned into her touch enjoying the warmth from her hand.
"Let's take the girls out tomorrow, I want to show everyone the neighborhood I grew up in. I never got the chance to do that when we first got here."
"Aren't you worried about running into your past self?"
"Not anymore… I, or I guess past me, died a few days ago. Just a few weeks shy of my birthday."
"That's a bit-"
"Grim? A little bit I suppose but it takes one problem off the board."
"What about family?"
"None close by, except maybe my mother. I haven't spoken to her in years though."
"Are you going to speak to her?"
"And say what? 'Hey I'm your son, even though I look different I was actually sent to another world and have come back here days after I died to say goodbye.' She'd think I'm an escaped mental patient."
"Still, a bit of closure never hurt anybody."
I thought about what Selene had said, in a way it would be nice to give my own mother a proper goodbye.
I could pose as a close friend with a few glamors on my face. I sighed, it would be difficult but I felt like my mom deserved that much.
"You're right… I'll think about it. Tomorrow though, let's get some sleep. It's going to be a long day with all our plans."
Selene gave me a peck on the lips before laying back in her spot. Our hands clasped together holding our daughters safely between us. I closed my eyes and let myself drift off into a dreamless slumber.