Second Chance

Chapter 2

Death and Its Ruler

Jesse wandered across the endless white expanse, unsure of where he was going – or if he was doing the right thing. Leslie had told him to "remember and imagine", but he didn't know what to remember or imagine. He could try imagine her being alive, but that probably wouldn't work. That would merely make an illusion of her.

"Damn it! What do I have to do?" he shouted angrily.

"Patience, Jesse," a mocking voice came from behind him. He spun sharply.

"Who are you?"

"I am the Ruler of that which you seek to undo. And I'm afraid it's my duty to keep you from reviving the Burke girl," the figure said. "Oh, and one more thing. This is Death, this void you're in, and, if you stay too long, you too will die. Tick-tock, Mr. Aarons. Tick-tock."

Jesse snarled angrily, punching with the same amount of force he had once punched Scott Hoager. But the Ruler simply vanished, an echo the only trace of his presence.

"Temper, Mr. Aarons. Temper."

Taking a few breaths, Jesse continued his walk, hoping to find someone who could help him. This was new to him. Then again, so was Terabithia.

It wasn't long before he'd been walking for hours, and, though his watch said it was time to eat, he felt no hunger.

"Guess what the Ruler said is true. I have to hurry, or Leslie will stay dead forever... And so will I. Unless Ma and Pa are given a second chance – can't count on that. I need to save Leslie and get out of here before I die."

Suddenly, a large, black figure appeared in front of him, looking strangely like one of the monsters he and Leslie had once fought off in Terabithia. But was this Terabithia, or did the place feed off his and Leslie's imaginations?

No matter. He could now see that it was a troll, one that seemed angry. Last time, Prince Terrian had saved them; this time, his and Leslie's faithful dog, the jester of Terabithia, was nowhere to be found – rather, it was with Bill, Leslie's father.

Remembering and imagining, Leslie had said, were the keys to saving her. Maybe he had to imagine himself able to beat the troll.

Just close your eyes and keep your mind wide open, Jesse thought, remembering what Leslie had told him would show him Terabithia. This time, he would use it to defeat the troll.

Just as soon as the thought hit him, a gauntlet appeared on both his hands, and he felt as though he could run faster than ever. Just as soon as the troll attacked, Jesse jumped onto its hand and ran up its arm. As he ran, he began to send his arm forward. A hit. The troll fell onto its back and disappeared.

Meanwhile, the Aarons family sat around Jesse's hospital bed, grim-faced and worried. May Belle sat there, crying, as did Joyce Ann, while Ellie and Brenda tried awkwardly to comfort the younger girls. Nancy and Jesse's father sat there, stone-faced, looking at Jesse's heart monitor with worry.

The door opened gently, and a doctor stepped in. Nancy stood and walked over.

"What do you think?" she asked.

"It's strange. There's no sign of trauma, and no disease – yet his body's steadily shutting down," the doctor said. "I'm sorry, but if nothing changes, he's not gonna make it."

"Can – can you leave us alone for a few minutes?"

"Certainly, Miz Aarons."

The doctor left, and Nancy broke down – as did everyone but Jesse's father, who struggled almost futilely to avoid crying.

Soon, the only sounds in the room were crying and the steady beep of the heart monitors.

Jesse glanced around carefully, trying to find his next clue. But, in the endless void of Death, finding anything is impossible. Imagination had helped him with the troll – but, though he'd tried, he hadn't succeeded.

"It was your fault, you know," a voice, which sounded oddly like his, addressed him. Jesse turned around to see... Jesse, just as he was three years ago. But it wasn't. The eyes glared into his coldly, furiously, as though their owner would have liked nothing more than to tear him in half.

"You're wrong. Leslie doesn't think so."

"How do you know? Did she ever tell you?"

"She doesn't think so. I know."

"Besides, it doesn't matter. She's dead and there's no way you can bring her back. Just drop it."

"I promised."

"A promise to a dead girl?"

"A promise to a friend. One I intend to keep!" At this, Jesse tackled his clone angrily, but, once again, the clone vanished.

"What does it take to get you to give up, Jesse Aarons?" The Ruler.

"I told you. Nothing crushes us."

"Yet you don't know how to free Leslie, or the consequences thereof."

"It doesn't matter."

"Okay. Just don't go crying to me when you learn the price, but it's too late – assuming you find the Burke girl, of course. Farewell, and goodbye – forever."

And the Ruler vanished.

Jesse sat down, thinking. "I know the Ruler said something important... 'find the Burke girl'... Of course! I just need to find – no, that's not gonna work," he mumbled. "But paint – of course! 'Find the Burke girl'... 'Remembering and imagining'... I just need to imagine paints, and remember Leslie well enough to... Err..."

And he lost his train of thought. But, just to make sure, Jesse imagined a set of paints into existence.

"No! He's getting closer to discovering what to do. If he finished the painting... He'll just need to do one more thing. It's time to attack for real!" The Ruler said. He stood far away from Jesse, his robes glimmering. But his face was contorted in an expression of rage.
A/N: Sorry for the shorter chapter, but I am posting it so close to chapter one that the only reason they're separate is stylistic in nature. I hope referring to Jesse in the real world and Jesse in Death isn't getting too confusing.