All right: wow, long time no see. You know when you just don't have the flare for something anymore? That's how I'm feeling. I'm not the same person I was when I began this story. So my writing may sound different. I want to finish this because it's something I need to do; and I feel kind of guilty about ignoring this story. I'm really sorry if there are spelling/grammar mistakes, I can't get myself to focus on proofreading today: not having the greatest day. So here we are, continuing on.
Chapter 11I was dead.
Well, after thinking about it, I wasn't sure what death felt like, so whether I was dead or not stood unclear. In all of those movies there's that infamous blinding light and the big golden gates and all of that. But I wasn't thinking about those movies moments: I was focusing on the pressure swelling in my head.
I saw nothing but darkness. It wasn't a scary darkness, to be exact. It was a cool, quiet black feeling surrounding my hot skin. Wasn't death was supposed to happen fast, I thought to myself. This seemed more like a weird dream sequence.
I could feel the pressure on my body increase, the pain beginning. So I categorized myself as... undead. Kinda zombie like. Sweet.
The pain suddenly became sharp and stinging. I let out a hiss of pain as I felt my body heat up. Sweat trickled down my face. I tried to move but something was holding me tightly; an unbreakable bond. I opened my mouth to scream but no words came out.
The pain was terrible. It was so intense I felt my body collapsing beneath its grasp. I could feel my heart slowing, my head becoming heavy, my fingers becoming numb. It was so strong, so real, there are only a few words on this earth that could be used to describe it. It was torture, immense torture, and unbearable and chill inducing.
I heard noises. Sharp cries, beeps, screeches, sobs, clicking and stomping. I heard a loud, high pitched squeaking noise. A rush of sharp, yellow light jolted through my body. I gasped. It stopped, and then began again. I heard the voices becoming louder. The pain was still sharp and burning. Hot tears streamed down my face. I couldn't believe this was happening to me. I never knew such horrible feelings. The noise became louder, the jolts became stronger; I could hear my heart beating in my ears. I was lying in a pool of sweat and blood, too frightened and shocked to move.
Oh god, oh god, Jesus Christ, please, oh god…
"ENOUGH!" I screamed, finally able to open my mouth.
And with that, the pain subsided.
I realized my eyes had been squeezed shut. I tried to get my muscles working, but it seemed hopeless. Then, with a rush of energy surging through my veins, one last jolt of hot energy, I finally opened my eyes. And from that moment, I knew something was wrong, wrong, wrong.
After a second or two, I recognized where I was: in the school gym. The smell of Pine Sol, sweat, basketballs and cologne were what gave it away. I knew that smell more than anything. This was far from the heaven I pictured. The only memories I had in the school gym were the many times I was hit in the head with a volleyball here and there, falling off the bleachers, and tripping over my untied shoes.
It was dark in the gym. The only light was coming from the opened windows, where moonlight was seeping through.
I felt a little chilly. I clutched my elbows and felt goose bumps rise on my arms. I saw that I was wearing my normal attire: beat up sneaks, jeans, and a black sweater. I felt the sudden urge to explore the empty gym. I took a single step forward.
Just then, the doors behind me swung open. The sudden noise startled me. I jumped and spun around to see someone standing in the doorway. It was a man. He was looking straight at me, a sad smile across his face.
"Hi?" I heard myself squeak. The man began to walk towards me. I felt like backing away, or running, or something, but my feet were frozen to the floor.
He was standing right in front of me now. He had dark hair, dark eyes, and a soft smile. He was wearing a simple white tee shirt and dark jeans. He seemed somewhat familiar. I thought back to remember where I'd seen his face. I place him: he looked a lot like the guy I bought milk from on the street corner. I shook my head and laughed a little.
"Erm…"
"You don't have to say anything. I know who you are. I'm here to help you, okay?" the man said. His voice was deep and soft. I met his eyes and shook my head.
"Yeah…Where am I?" I asked stupidly.
The man placed a hand on my shoulder and began to gently pull me along. We walked across the shiny woods floors in silence until I heard him take in a deep breath.
"Mimi, a few hours ago, you were in a car crash." The man began to explain.
"I know." I said quickly. I didn't want to sound rude, but at this point I was too anxious for manners.
"You were hurt badly." The man said slowly.
"How bad?" I asked carefully.
"Skull damage, which could lead to brain damage, a couple broken ribs here and there, broken right leg, swollen throat from swallowing some glass, missing teeth, and your missing the tip of your pointer finger on your left hand." The man explained. He watched me drink this in. I glanced down at my hand and saw my misshapen finger. Damn.
"Heh. So, I'm…"
" No, you're not dead, if that's what you're wondering. But I'm afraid to say you're very close to being dead." The man said, putting his hands in his pockets.
"You gave up." The man said flatly.
"Excuse me?" I asked, cocking my left eyebrow.
"Just a few seconds ago, you gave up. The pain was too strong, so you just gave up." The man said as he gave me a weird form of the evil eye you get when you're in an argument with someone who thinks they're superior to you.
"I didn't give up. If you felt it you would have wanted it to stop to!" I retorted crossing my arms over my chest. The man didn't reply, but simply looked around the dark gym.
"So…why am I in my gym?" I asked, glancing around. Another breeze blew through the windows.
"I'm here to show you something. I'm here to show you what's going to happen, since you have given up. You'll be given the choice to try again, to go back to the world you love, but only after you come to understand what you have lost." The man explained solemnly.
"So you're here to show me life…if I died?" I said slowly. He nodded. I let out a little laugh.
"So this is a dream."
"No; well, in a way, yes. But this is very much real, Mimi. You must take this seriously, alright?" The man asked. I nodded.
This was weird. But what choice did I have?
The man began to walk away.
"Hey, wait up!" I cried, running after him. When I caught up, we were in front of the gym doors that lead into the hallways.
"Ready for this?" he asked me. I nodded. He put his hand on the door handle.
"What's your name?" I asked him. He stopped to look down at me.
"Stephen."
There was a funny look on his face that shut me up.
Stephen opened the doors.