#kcbm

like she had a chance to play with hewitt again. he came back and she could see them again. and then the vault snatches him — and some think that might be a fate worse than death. and maybe, just maybe if they get the feedback right, hew could swap back onto the rising stars if there’s enough time.

but there’s not enough time. the sun explodes, and the game is over. it’s dark, it’s loud, and everyone’s confused. and winnie stumbles her way back to kansas city, her ears ringing, and her teammates break the news to her: everyone on the rising stars came back. even the dead players.

and she’s inconsolable. because he was right there, and they could have fucking come back, and they slipped right through her fingers. and the reason she always tries so hard and works herself so much is to protect her team. she can’t control it, of course, but she can’t stop trying, at least.

and now hew is gone and she can’t help but wonder if there was something she could have done. if she’d held onto him in the dugout. if she would have pitched better, longer, maybe the vault would have taken someone else and been satisfied with it, as selfish as that sounds.

because they were so close. so close to getting him back. and now he’s gone even farther than before.