Dead

"Max!"

I heard Fang screaming my name, but that was all I could hear. What was going on? I couldn't hear or see anything around me but I knew something was going on.

Something bad.

I got up, looking around for Fang – at least, in my mind I did. None of my muscles seemed to be working; I couldn't even open my eyes, or twitch a finger. I could see nothing, I heard nothing.

Except Fang shouting at me.

And it was really getting annoying, too. Couldn't he tell I was trying to get a grip and actually be able to get a grip and actually be able to movie and see what was going on around me?

Couldn't he tell I needed to concentrate?

And if he could, how come he wasn't helping me, or slapping me or something? But it's not like I could feel anything, so maybe he could.

I shuddered (mentally of course).

Suddenly, there was all this light around me. I mean, I could see it.

Finally.

But with that light came a sudden darkness. It was utterly silent. No sound. So voice. No Fang.

The light became brighter, and– closer somehow. I don't know how that's possible, but suddenly, I was moving toward it. Fast.

Huh, look at the irony there. I was heading into the light.

I started laughing then. You'd think it'd be mentally, since I couldn't seem to move my body, but it felt like I was laughing. And it felt like my whole body was going into the light (Haha. I'm sorry, it just sounds so funny. Usually you only hear that in movies and stuff.

When someone's dying.

Or about to…

Oh no.

That is not a good thing to be thinking about right now Max…

Too late. I was thinking about it. And I was thinking about the light, and the not-being-able-to-move - my-body thing. And Fang yelling at me like…

Oh.

I get it now.

I think.

Do I? Or am I just going crazy? Mad? Insane? Is this a dream?

Nope. I know firsthand that when you think it's a dream (subconsciously hoping it would be) it usually isn't.

Usually.

So there was still hope.

But Fang had sounded so… scared. Which is something he doesn't get a lot. At least, he never shows it.

Could I be?

Was I…

No it isn't possible. I get hurt sometime, but I'm always fine. Always.

Except – this was different. There was the light, the penalization, the weird absence of sound.

And Fang.

He was there by my side.

No. He was here by my side. I'm still here. Not there, not anywhere. Here. With Fang.

Then suddenly, there was a streetlamp above my head. It was blaring down at me.

Then I saw Fang next to me. Here I was here and he was here. I was fine. What is the matter with me? Thinking I'm done for just because of a little light?

But then I saw Fang's face, and knew I had been. At least for a little while.

Dead.