Don't Leave Me
Was this it? Was this all there was now? I'd done it... I'd freed them... Just like... Just like you wanted... But was it enough? Was burning their defiled remains enough to set them free? What about you? Are you free? Am I... Am I even alive anymore?
"Matt... Thank you."
My vision blurred into focus. A cemetery... But, how? Where was... Jonah? He stood far off near a grave, staring blankly in my direction. He looked like he had in the pictures before everything had gone terribly wrong. His expression looked some how content.
"Jonah... I"
The world spun and voices began shouting my name all around me. It was to much, they were so loud...
"Matt, you can't stay here, you have to go back... They need you there."
I stared hard at the dirt beneath my knees, my hands covering my ears. I looked up, and there Jonah stood, a hand stretched out to me. "You have to get up and fight. Your family needs you. And you need them. Go, live on, Matt."
I reached out, then hesitated. "I'll never be able to see you again, will I?"
His cold blue eyes saddened. "No. After this night I will not exist in this world anymore. With my soul's desire finished with, I have nothing to keep me here."
My heart lurched. How could he so easily accept what was coming for him? Just the mere thought that I could wake up only to painfully experience my own demise was horrifying. "I'm not ready to die..." I murmured aloud.
"You aren't going to die, Matt. I will not allow it."
I could see my shocked expression reflecting his eyes. "I don't understand... How can... No, why would you?"
Jonah looked around the cemetery, the light from above us dimming. He knelt down beside me. "I'm afraid we don't have much time left. I'm losing my grasp on this world, and so are you." He held out his hand to me again. "Take my hand, Matt, and live the life you deserve."
I stared at it, the voices I'd heard before growing loud once more. "Matt, baby, come back, you can't die! Please baby..."
"I don't want to leave you here... I can't..." I placed , my hands against the sides of my head as it began to ache. "Everything you've been through... How can I just leave you in this place, alone... You don't..."
He chuckled slightly, catching my gaze again. "There is no place for me in that world anymore. I'm dead, Matt. Nothing can change that, and I've waited so long to be at peace. Please, Matt, don't get dragged down with me. You belong with those still living. Now come on, and fight for your life!"
I could feel a strong swell in my chest, and something deep inside ordered me to take is soft cold hand in mine. "I'll never forget you, Jonah."
I watched a content smile slide across his place face as he pulled me to my feet, the voices getting deafeningly loud as I-
The sirens of the ambulance were blaring painfully loud, people were running, yelling, every noise was like a nail being drove into my head. My gaze was hazy and images were swivelling blurs. My mother was clinging to me, shouting things I couldn't comprehend, my eyes rolled up towards the sky, a black abyss with tiny lights.
"Don't die before your time, Matt."
My eyes rolled forwards, to where I saw the Reverend, and someone else... "Jonah..." I whispered, completely inaudible by anyone. Anyone but him.
Jonah stood beside the Reverend, his face serious. "Don't forget me, Matt... I know I won't forget you." He tilted his head then, and a smile crept across his lips, as his image became smokey, and turned to light ash, blown away by the wind.
Jonah... I could never forget you...
