I relaxed against the tree. The trees castef lace-like shadows on the ground. Everything was good. We all keep our lives. Hopefully. I close my eyes, and without knowing it, drift off.
~~
I wake up to the sound of crunching leaves. At first, I thought it was Torrance and everyone returning. But when I opened my eyes, my heart plummeted as I saw the mayor staring at me, smirking, a long sword stretched out from his hand. I didn't have to look down to know it was resting bellow my collar bone, I could already feel a something warm dripping from the point.
"Nice try," he spat. "But we still have a deal to make, if you want your friends safe." My heart was racing, although I know that would only make it worse. But I had to fight- I had to try.
I turned and tried to scramble to my feet, but he grabbed the back of my shirt and yanked me up to his face. He was strong for such a chubby man. "You are heavy, child. Eat too many cookies?" I did my best to give him a death stare and spat, "I wouldn't be talking." He dropped me on the ground, hard, and cursed, "You disrespectful little brat." I tried to get up and run again, but something connected with my head, very hard, and I felt a horrible stinging sensation in my leg, as if someone had branded me like a cow, and I screamed at the top of my lungs. Not in pain, more for help. I clutched my leg tightly; blood escaping through my fingers. The Mayor stood over me, but I saw two of him swirling around me. I couldn't move. I couldn't do anything. Again, he pointed his sword under my collar bone, but this time a bit further down, so it was just above my heart. I wanted to scream and run away, but I was frozen, frozen and dizzy.
"Last words, Jeremy?"
I couldn't bring myself to say the words I forgot to say to everyone I ever knew. I just sat there in silence. He lifted the sword over me. "Please!" I cried helplessly. "Please, don't do this.." He just smiled, and I was in complete shock. I couldn't believe he was doing this.
But he did. He struck me, deep, and ran like a coward. When he did, I suddenly couldn't feel anything except for warmth spreading across my chest. It was as if he had ripped out my nerves. I stared out onto the trees. My mouth went dry.
As if from a distance, I heard someone gasp, and scream, "JEM!!" I coughed into my arm, and saw a bright red stain on my sleeve. I could feel the warm in my chest spread deeper, and I realized then I could no longer breathe. I coughed again, and then people were surrounding me. I could barely hear or see them, as if I was underwater.
"Jem," I heard Edelweiss sob. I took all my effort and turned my head to her. "Hold on, please, Jem, hold on.." I felt pressure on my leg and winced. A muffled voice asked, "Who did this?" I had a quick coughing fit and replied. Someone small who I didn't recognize murmured something to Edelwiess, who broke down sobbing. I knew what she said even though I couldn't hear her. I am going to die.
The warmth spread to my back. Curious, I lifted my hand to my chest, and then held it up to my face. It was blood, of course. What else did I expect? I dropped my hand.
I used up the rest of my effort to take in a deep breath and say, "I'm sorry." Against my will, I closed my eyes. I felt my head being moved, and when I opened them again, Edelweiss was stroking my face. But I had run out of energy, and as much as I wanted to, I just couldn't send her one last smile.
"You saved us. You had nothing to be sorry for."
Then, it was as if someone had shut everything off. I was plunged into darkness. I couldn't see, feel, do, or smell anything. Just the rapidly slowing, beating of my heart.
ČTEŠ
Sunset Valley
Sci-fiOver 300 years have passed, and the world has been broken apart and rejoined into two peices, possibly three. Edelweiss and Jem have planned their entire lives to visiting the other end of the earth, and have been punished for it. But sometimes you...