Chapter 2
There was a crack in the universe. A big, black hole, and it was pulling me into it. There was no escaping the dark void. Just accept defeat.
I screamed, while swirling into the hole of blackness. But no one was there to hear me.
And then, my heartbeat quickened when I heard another voice, echoing my own scream. I knew who it was.
"HELGA!" I yelled, trying to get to her, so that I wouldn't be alone. So that neither of us would be sucked in, and if we were, we'd go together.
Her head snapped up, and her eyes looked into mine. I did not see the Helga I knew, the bully, but instead I saw a poor, tormented, heartbroken child, about to sink to her most ultimate doom.
I reached out my hand for hers, but she didn't even attempt to take it. So, alone, both of us were pulled into the darkness…
"HEY ARNOLD! HEY ARNOLD! HEY ARNOLD!"
My alarm clock. I swatted at it, annoyed. My dream had been so intense, so…real.
I got up, rubbed my head. For some reason I felt like I'd just been run over by a truck.
I quickly got dressed, took to the bathroom to get ready for school, and went downstairs for breakfast. Silent all the while.
At the table, I kept my eyes on my bowl of cereal, pretending to be preoccupied. My grandparents noticed this and just stared, waiting for the opportunity to jump in with a conversation. Wanting to "discuss" it.
When I was done eating, I put my bowl in the sink and walked away. Not a word was said.
That was odd. I'd been expecting them to say something. For Grandpa to give me one of his lectures, or to recall a childhood story, or just to ask me what was bothering me. But neither of them said anything.
When I got back to my room, I was surprised to find a bright light. I shut the door slowly, leaning against it as I gaped at this dome-shaped light. Hard to make out, a woman stood within the light, staring back at me. A slight smile crept upon her face, a mocking smile, laughing at my ignorance.
"Hello, Arnold," the woman said, her voice that of an angel's. Was she an angel? Well, there was light, and she had a beautiful voice, so one could conclude that that were the case.
"Who are you? What do you want?" I demanded. Always the first questions a person asks.
She shook her head, ashamed at me. "It's not what I want. It's what you want. I'm going to give you what you want. I'm going to show you what you're asking for."
I blinked. From the light? From confusion? Astonishment? Probably all.
I gulped. What was she saying?
She smiled once more, much more gently this time, as she swept a light upon me, forcing me to cover my eyes from the sudden burst of light that thrust itself upon me.
When I opened my eyes, the light was gone. And so was she.
There was a crack in the universe. A big, black hole, and it was pulling me into it. There was no escaping the dark void. Just accept defeat.
I screamed, while swirling into the hole of blackness. But no one was there to hear me.
And then, my heartbeat quickened when I heard another voice, echoing my own scream. I knew who it was.
"HELGA!" I yelled, trying to get to her, so that I wouldn't be alone. So that neither of us would be sucked in, and if we were, we'd go together.
Her head snapped up, and her eyes looked into mine. I did not see the Helga I knew, the bully, but instead I saw a poor, tormented, heartbroken child, about to sink to her most ultimate doom.
I reached out my hand for hers, but she didn't even attempt to take it. So, alone, both of us were pulled into the darkness…
"HEY ARNOLD! HEY ARNOLD! HEY ARNOLD!"
My alarm clock. I swatted at it, annoyed. My dream had been so intense, so…real.
I got up, rubbed my head. For some reason I felt like I'd just been run over by a truck.
I quickly got dressed, took to the bathroom to get ready for school, and went downstairs for breakfast. Silent all the while.
At the table, I kept my eyes on my bowl of cereal, pretending to be preoccupied. My grandparents noticed this and just stared, waiting for the opportunity to jump in with a conversation. Wanting to "discuss" it.
When I was done eating, I put my bowl in the sink and walked away. Not a word was said.
That was odd. I'd been expecting them to say something. For Grandpa to give me one of his lectures, or to recall a childhood story, or just to ask me what was bothering me. But neither of them said anything.
When I got back to my room, I was surprised to find a bright light. I shut the door slowly, leaning against it as I gaped at this dome-shaped light. Hard to make out, a woman stood within the light, staring back at me. A slight smile crept upon her face, a mocking smile, laughing at my ignorance.
"Hello, Arnold," the woman said, her voice that of an angel's. Was she an angel? Well, there was light, and she had a beautiful voice, so one could conclude that that were the case.
"Who are you? What do you want?" I demanded. Always the first questions a person asks.
She shook her head, ashamed at me. "It's not what I want. It's what you want. I'm going to give you what you want. I'm going to show you what you're asking for."
I blinked. From the light? From confusion? Astonishment? Probably all.
I gulped. What was she saying?
She smiled once more, much more gently this time, as she swept a light upon me, forcing me to cover my eyes from the sudden burst of light that thrust itself upon me.
When I opened my eyes, the light was gone. And so was she.