"Don't try and open your eyes too quickly, you'll rip open the scabs on your eyelids."
I know that voice, I… I feel cool. My thoughts were clouded and my body was stiff. I followed what the familiar voice said and slowly opened my eyes. It was difficult, and even slowly it felt like I was being pricked by a thousand thorns. I moved my eyes around to find myself back where I always was.
Johns room.
"You really scared everyone back there Jade." I flashed my eyeballs in the direction of the voice, but the person was out of sight. Breeze tickled my hair and the back of my neck which helped. It smells so fresh in here, like John… JOHN! I quickly sat up, which was a horrible decision. My entire abdominal region was set on fire and even gasping for breath hurt. I tried to muster out his name but it sounded scratched and my throat burned. I felt hands as cold as Jack frost's touch my shoulders and gently push me back into a laying position. I looked above to see him looking down at me.
John with his dorky glasses aloof on his face to match his big ol' smile. John with his sharp black hair the same as always. John with his bluer than the sky eyes. Just John, and he was here.
"Y..ou arrr sill aliv?" I mustered out, hoping I was audible.
"Alive might be a bad way to put it." He chuckled. Watching him be so… John brought tears to my eyes. The saltiness burned my skin as they rolled down; my face twitching painfully in response. John picked up a clean white rag and gently dabbed at my eyes. I watched him trying so hard to be careful, which didn't help because it only made me tear up more. Just for a second his image blurred and the rag fell heavily on my face. I shrieked in agony at the raggedy cloths sudden collision with my skin, which in return left an immense pain in my throat. John cursed under his breath when his image solidified, quickly picking up the rag and trying to apply ointment.
"I'm so sorry Jade I… I have a lot to explain with very little time. I'm sorry." John looked petrified with sorrow, which broke my heart. "Like I said previously, I'm not very alive, I mean I am but not… I think that should make sense." I cracked my lips into a small smile, which didn't hurt as much. "I have been transporting to and fro since our arrival in the alpha universe. I have seen some things that I…" He shuddered. "But I can't seem to control when I transport, and my entire being seems to be losing its ties to the ground here."
"So,…. thatssss. Where you've been." My voice still scratched but it was improving.
"Yup! Everywhere and nowhere!" He smiled his large geeky smile. "I was able to see you a couple times… since the end." He looked to the side at the ointment and dabbed the tip of the rag in it. "Every time I watched you come out of grimbark here, so sad and so alone. I just internally punch myself for not being able to help you. I couldn't even at least materialize. I know that it's getting harder for you and I wish I could stay to help you through it all, but I have to go soon, and I'm not even sure if I'll see you again." John stood and moved out of sight. I could hear him move around outside the room and down the stairs. What does he mean? Never see him again? When he returned he had the blanket that used to be on his bed.
"Out of all the appliances, I'm surprised the refrigerator still worked. I chilled this blanket and it might work a little at cooling you down!" He gently laid it on top of me. I winced expecting pain but it didn't hurt at all.
"Never see you again?" I mustered.
"Well, materialized I mean. I couldn't accept never seeing you again!" He scratched the back of his head.
"I miss you john." I couldn't think of anything else to say. He looked over at me with the same sad look as before.
"How about I make a promise to you!" He smiled trying to lighten me up. "I will definitely see you again! The whole me, not just ghost me!" He beamed. I painfully lifted my hand up, extending my pinky. He looked at it saddened before grasping it with his own pinky. We smiled at each other. John got up and left for a second and when he returned I noticed a tiny jar no larger than the tip of my finger.
"So we both always remember my promise!" He shook his hand a bit and before I could identify what he was doing, his pinky deteriorated into small blue wisps that flew neatly into the small jar. "Grotesque I know and I'll miss my pinky, but not as much as how I'll miss you." We starred at each other for a second before his image began to fade again.
"Looks like this is it. I'll have to make this quick, Since I've seen a few things, I know there is an important choice for you coming up. I can't say much for the sake of wibbly wobbly time, but it involves a second chance. By the time you reawaken you should be completely regenerated." He tucked the small jar into my hand. "Remember Jade, even with your grimbark, I belevie…" John completely deteriorated into an arrange of large to small blue wisps.
"John!" I screamed out! My vision already growing weary. "Don't go." My vision went black.
…
I awoke in a sweat. I sat up and felt my head, quickly wiping the droplets away. What just… oh… John was gone. I opened my hand and saw that the small jar was still there. I slid it into a small pocket and slowly stood up off the bed. My skin wasn't hot anymore and there wasn't any visible scars. To my surprise, my whole god tier outfit was replaced with a new one. I guess it was only logical; my whole entire body was burnt to a crisp. I felt my ear, surprised to see that there was no longer the familiar bumps of stitches, but a smooth surface. The only thing that hadn't changed was the short hair that tickled the back of my neck.
I wasn't going to waste time going throughout the house. John was gone and Dave and the rest are probably worried sick on LOHAC. Teleporting takes up too much energy, but flying would take a while. I rubbed dead skin off of my face. Getting there as fast as possible is probably the best; so teleporting was probably going to be the only option. I heaved a large breathe preparing the energy when there was a rumble from outside. I shuffled toward the door and looked around outside. There was mumbling downstairs… mumbling downstairs?
I paced down the stairs and around into the kitchen, immediately greeted by the familiar faves of Dave and Mayor.
"Princess is awake?" Dave looked at me. I looked at them dumbfounded, unsure of why or how they got here. He could probably read my expression. "John used his blue wisp things to teleport us here."
"So… what happened?"
"I'm sure john told you. You fell into the lava, I freaked out, john appeared and grabbed you as you were regenerating and left for a bit. Returned, grabbed us, and then we were here." We stood for a moment, not sure what to do until Dave layed his hand on my shoulder. "Im glad you are okay." When I looked up it was when I realized he still didn't have his glasses. His red eyes were so sad, yet so relieved.
"Jade, john told me something, and I think I should discuss with you…" Dave didn't finish his sentence, entranced by whatever stood behind me. I turned my head to face Karkat.
"OH YOU ARE AWAKE…" he looked to the side.
"Umm yea…"
"WELL THAT IS GOOD…" he wouldn't meet my eye before walking out of the room. I turned back to Dave and huffed a breath, trying to fight the anxiety pooling in my stomach.
"So what were you going to tell me…"
"I think it might be best to tell you after you figure that." He nodded toward where Karkat left. "out." Dave patted my shoulder then too left. I stared after him, confused and then frustrated.
"Im not even sure what that is Dave." I mumbled.
So school has started. For the time being I am putting this story on indefinite hiatus due to a case of the writer's block. I have what I want planned out, it's just getting there I'm having problems with, and because of school I'm not sure when the next chapter will be. However if you are reading my recent fanfic Streetstuck I will continue to update that. I apologize for those who are really into the story, I'm sad about this, but luckily writers block doesn't last forever! I hope you all will continue to read after the hiatus! Thank you so much!