Writers Note: some of the ideas in this story came from a writer called El Ohkin, so I'm thanking you right now, man. I hope everyone likes!
The shot had been loud and quick, it took only a second for Melina to fall to the ground in shock. "What? No, NO! I can't lose you again!" Once-ler dropped to the ground and cradled Melina in his arms. Everything hurt so bad to her, "You won't lose me Once. I'll always be here." Her weak hand came to his chest. "This is un-fair." His voice sounded shattered. "No it's not. Because I get to be near you. Forever." She wanted to hug him until she blacked out, but all she managed to do was grab at his suit. She smiled, "I thought you said you were gonna get rid of that." She could feel his sadness as she turned to dust and flowed into Once-ler's heart. They could feel each other and spoke together. "Forever and For Always." Knowing she was truly gone, Once-ler shed tears.
When the cool night fell, Melina's body was buried next to Cruiso's in 'Unless'. She was buried with roses and newly bloomed flowers the animals had made into a type of tiara. Her face looked so frail and innocent, but it was dead. Truly dead, and nothing but it. Once-ler felt eternally alone now, because he was made immortal by Melina and would go on living...without her. For the following weeks he cried himself to sleep. He thought it was awful spending every night by himself thinking she was dead, now Knowing she was dead was much much worse. The Lorax tried comforting him, but it never worked. Once-ler felt, not that she was in his heart, but when she died his heart went with her.
One night around midnight, Once-ler was asleep. "Once. Once." The voice was echoey and distant, but the more it spoke the more louder it got. Until it was right near his ear. "Once." He bolted up and looked around. Nothing. He came to the conclusion that it must be grieving and nerves and went back to sleep. All he could think about and dream about was Her. She was always there. And he would give up his life for her to live. The next morning he felt cold shivers in some places and found a few things to be moved. But it didn't matter anymore. "Once." "Hello?" He walked into the lounge room. Nothing, but he felt another cold shiver and turned around. There on the dinning table written in syrup was, 'Melina' He felt scared, when The Lorax walked in he shivered. "Why was it so cold?" Once still starred at the table. He was Very frightened.
In town, Ted's mum and Grammy had returned from their trip. First question asked by Norma was 'how was the girl?' The answer: she left. Aside from that, Ted and Audrey had actually started hanging out more. A relationship was clearly in view. But like any other relationship, this one wasn't perfect. It had its ups and downs. They would argue about little things like where to go or what to do, but the arguments didn't last long. They were practically the perfect couple. Audrey's paintings were becoming more frequent and she was nearly making a career out of it. She would paint things and some people would buy them. That's where she and Ted met someone. Audrey had gotten a letter.
'Dear Ms Audrey,
I am new in town, but I have seen some of your paintings and I admire them. Especially the ones with Truffula Trees. I am interested in purchasing one. My address is 24 Lanebird Drive.
Yours Sincerely C. Merrywood'
Excited to have a new customer, they happily delivered a painting the next day. The door was opened by a girl with dark brown eyes, raven hair, Palish skin, no shoes, jeans and a dark blue t-shirt on. They handed her the painting and she lit up by it. "Oh thank you. This will look So Good on my bedroom wall." She turned back to them. "Oh I'm so sorry, I haven't introduced myself." Her voice sounded young, lovely and sweet like honey. It sounded exceptional since she was 13. She extended her hand, "My name is Cadence Merrywood. I just moved here." Audrey shook it, "My name's Audrey, and this is Ted." She shook Teds hand, "Pleased to meet you." She said, "Uh, would you guys like to come in? Have some juice or something?" Audrey shook her head, "No thanks, we should get going." Cadence smiled, "Oh well, it was nice to meet you and feel free to drop by any time."
As the door closed, both minds were reeling. Audrey's about how sweet and kind that girl was, Ted's about something similar but different. The whole time they walked back Audrey noticed that Ted seemed to be thinking about something although he hid it relatively well. "Where do you think she moved from?" He wondered out loud, "Maybe from across the sea or somewhere." Answered Audrey. She seemed slightly worried, but managed to tell herself that it wasn't going to matter. Everything was fine.
That night, Once-ler woke once again to someone calling his name. He looked to the side of his bed to see a slightly transparent person, giving off a pale blueish glow, kneeling by the bed staring at him. He froze. She floated up, her long pale hair slowly flying around in the air. She leaned, more like slowly flew, in closer to him her left arm outstretched. It came up to his chin but before it could touch him, he back off to the wall and pulled the sheets up. She looked hurt and disappeared. So frightened with what he saw, Once-ler failed to recognised who was right near him.
The girl traveled down to 24 Lanebird Drive. The house was empty, all except for the young girl who lived there. "Cadence. Cadence sweetie, wake up." Cadence opened her eyes and looked at the woman, she turned to her right beside table and looked at a photo. The transparent girl smiled at it and looked at Cadence. "Is that you?" The ghostly girl nodded. Cadence smiled, "I always wondered what you'd look like." The transparent girl floated down to her and sat on the bed, she smiled at Cadence. "You look very sweet, I wished I could've been there when you were little just to know you." Cadence adjusted and sat cross-legged, "Yeah, I wish that too. But I don't think you'd be missing out on much, cause I don't have a family. I live by myself." The ghost girl put a hand on Cadences hand that was resting on her feet. "You do have a family Cadence, you just don't know it yet." Cadence hugged the girl, "I've seen you in my dreams. Can I know your name? I know what you mean and who you are to me, and I've been seeing this other guy in my dreams. I've drawn a picture." She let go and pulled a piece of paper from under her bed.
It showed a boy and girl hugging under a start sky and full moon. "Do you know him?" The ghost nodded, "Yeah, I knew him." "Will you tell me about him?" The ghost girl shook her head, "No...not tonight. Another time, maybe. But I can tell you one thing." She floated up. "You have the same fashion sense." Cadence looked at what she was wearing and looked back at the ghost who smiled and disappeared. Cadence hid the drawing back under her bed and went to sleep. She thought about last naming herself when she was old enough. She thought to herself the one name that had always been at the back of her head that she had always loved. Dustarn. It was a beautiful name that she thought represented strength and mortality. Saying that nothing could change who she was.
Later it rained, a stormy rain. And she bolted straight up and found herself unusually calling, 'Mommy' The word felt unused and strange in her mouth. She had never once said it, but secretly deep down inside she wanted to. The rain had always been a favourite of hers. She slipped down the stairs and out into the backyard next to the pool. She stepped out of the roof covering and danced in the rain. Outside Ted was powering through the rain when he heard laughter. He peered over the tall fence and saw Cadence twirling in the rain laughing. "Wow." He accidentally slipped off the fence and caused Cadence to stop dancing and inspect the noise. She looked over to see Ted rubbing his head on the ground. "Oh gosh, Ted, stay right there." She ran through the house and out the door to help him up. "Are you alright? What are you doing out here?" Ted got to his feet, "I was leaving Audrey's house after helping her with some things when I heard something from your backyard." She laughed and guided him into the house.
She set him on a towel on the lounge and wrapped a towel around him. "It's a cold rain tonight." She said, "What about you? Why haven't you got a towel?" She wrapped a small towel around her hair. "I don't need one, except for this of course. I've uh, I've never gotten sick. I guess I'm just lucky. And you don't have to worry about waking anybody we're the only two in the house, since I live alone." Ted looked confused, "How? What happened?" She sighed and sat down next to him. "I don't know where I was born, but I was raised by street families who cared for me until I was ten. Then they couldn't support me so I went off on my own and learnt about the world through books. I grow my own fruit and veg and live off them. And it is mandatory for people to get free water delivered to them so that's how I get my water." She looked down at her feet smiling, "But I know that my real parents are out there...somewhere." She looked back at him, "I can't send you home through a storm, so you can sleep here tonight."
Early morning, Once-ler wakes. To kind face looking at him. A dead face. He staggered back but a hand came up. "Don't be scared. It's O.K." "Who are you? What do you want?!" "What do you mean?" The face softened, "You don't recognise me?" He looked at it. The features became softer, the face became feminine, the hair became white, the dress became deathly pale, and the hand he tried to hold went right through him. "Melina?" She smiled and started to cry. Her tears sparkled. "What are you doing here? I thought you were dead." She looked at her hands. "I am. I'm just bound to here. To you." She waved a hand through his face. "But I can't feel anything." He wanted to hug her, but he WOULD go right through her. "Oh Once!" She was happy and crying. "I'm just so glad to be near you right now! And later when everything so straightened out, maybe when we find a remedy for this, I want to tell you something." "What is it?" "It can wait, go to sleep. I'll see you in the morning."
There you have it! Say-What-You-Think! Please!