CHAPTER 24
Hey guys, this is my first fanfic so be nice :)
The question stirred the audience, yet still no reply came.
"I will ask one final time," said the chief elder as she addressed the concerned and puzzled faces sitting before her. "Has anyone seen Jonas?"
Lily sat pale-faced within the crowd, only one thing on her mind: where was Jonas? Questions buzzed through her conscience; was it her fault? Had something terrible happened? Had she done something wrong? Even though her mind was on the verge of confusion, she could still see his face strong and clear within it. Those pale eyes, that ruffled hair, and that bemused yet intelligent look on his face. As she closed her eyes to calm herself, a strangely familiar image invaded her mind. Jonas and Gabe are on a sled she thought, perplexed, as she processed the flickering image. They are slowly, gliding down a slope of soft… fluffy… "SNOW!" she suddenly yelled, even though she was very much aware of the 'no-interrupting' rule that she would never dare to break. She'd thought before was chaotic, but it was only after that seemingly innocent word had left her lips that the real chaos started.
"We made it Gabe" Jonas whispered as they finished their last slide down the snow seasoned slope. "Look, we're at elsewhere!" Jonas nudged Gabe's little body but he didn't stir. He looked deep into Gabe's pale eyes, and suddenly understood why Gabe was motionless. He was staring at a spectrum of stunning gold's and crimson red's of the horizon that denoted the new world, known as elsewhere. Immense structures of all shapes and colours shone in the early morning sun. Jonas couldn't believe what he was seeing. He had only ever glimpsed memories of places like this, but they were nothing in comparison to seeing them in real life. He was so overwhelmed by the almost dream-like fantasy he gave in to the tiredness that was plaguing his weary limbs and fainted from the exhaustion of their arduous journey.
Chaos erupted as cries and outbursts filled the usually restrained hall with a cacophony of sound. The Giver reacted immediately and said in a stern voice, "Everyone remain calm, and please return to your seats" but it was too late for that now. Already the newborns were crying, and the old ones chanting for release. None could withstand the pain and anguish that was suddenly present in their confused and overwhelmed minds. Not one could understand what was happening to them. It was almost as if they were seeing an entire new world that was the exact opposite of sameness, a world where everything was vibrant and dynamic and where pain and suffering were felt like never before.
The Giver swiftly made his way around the room attempting to dull the painful memories of war, and hunger, until he spied the chief elder sitting in the corner, swaying slightly as if she were dancing in her seat. It was only when he saw the smile on her face that he understood. The chief elder was hearing music. He knew only too well the intoxicating sensation that engulfed the listener when they heard their first symphony. He knew that sameness would never be the way of life again because music could never be forgotten; it was just too emotional and stole a piece of your soul that could never be replaced.
Now he knew beyond any doubt that his and Jonas's plan was going to succeed! Finally, after all these years of grieving for his daughter, having fulfilled his destiny of bringing life back to the community, he could now return to her. And with that, he passed all his memories of music, of colour, of sunshine, of love, of happiness, of pain, of delight, and of family, to everyone in the community. The last thing that he saw before the burden of his old age spirited him away were Rosemary's loving eyes, calling him home.