Second Chance
Chapter 5
Starting Over
A/N: The last chapter will become clearer as the Ruler's test is explained more. For now, just understand that there are two alternate realities, and Jesse died in one and was transferred to the other. While this in itself will not be important, there may be further complications, especially as the Ruler has taken an interest in Jesse.
The weeks following Jesse's revival were blessedly peaceful to their participants. He was released from the hospital with an order to stay home for several days to recover. While his parents said going to see Leslie was out of the question, she visited him often, and they would talk to each other, catching up – or, at least, Jesse was. He didn't tell her about the Old Reality, as he had taken to calling it, and his battle against the Ruler. He didn't want their reunion to be marred by the uncomfortable topic of her "death" and "rebirth" (at least in his eyes).
"So, Leslie, how's Janice doing? Still picking on little kids?" he asked, remembering how she had punched Gary Fulcher and Scott Hoager after they knocked him down. That had been a few days after Leslie's death.
"Nah, she's actually quite nice now," Leslie replied. "She protected me while you were in the coma."
"Did she, now?" he said, pretending to be surprised. "Why'd she do that?"
"Well, I did help her out, remember?"
"Yeah. Anyway, how's school coming?"
"It's alright. The Squoger and Fulcher have been off my back; mostly 'cause of Janice."
"Never expected to hear that!"
He and Leslie laughed merrily.
Knock. Knock. Knock. Someone was at the door of the farmhouse. Glancing questioningly at her husband, Nancy walked over to the door. She opened it. Bill and Judy stood there, wet from the recent rainfall.
"Judy, Bill! What are you doing here?" she asked, smiling.
"Just wanted to check on Jesse, see how he's recovering." Judy answered.
"He's doing well; surprisingly well."
"We're glad to hear that," Bill said. "Leslie's been much happier, too, ever since he woke up."
"Well, come in, come in. I'll put some coffee."
"That'd be nice."
Nancy led her two guests to the kitchen, putting a teapot on the stove and turning the heat on. "So how are you two doing?"
"Good."
Jesse sighed. He had been forced to lay in bed for several days, not understanding why. The doctors said he was healthy – something about needing rest, yet he had felt perfectly fine even the day he was released.
About the only time he could do anything interesting was when Leslie came over; when she did, they talked about many things. She would bring him the work he was missing, so that he wouldn't fall behind.
Leslie was shocked that he was up to par with what they were covering in class, despite apparently being in a coma for three years. In fact, he had learned all the material he needed in the "other reality", as he had taken to calling it.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Come in!" he called, sitting up in bed.
The door creaked open slowly. His mother stood in the doorway.
"Leslie's here," she said.
"Can I get up?"
His mother laughed a bit before nodding. "Sure. I don't see why not."
She led Jesse to the kitchen, where Leslie stood, waiting.
"Hey, Jess," she said.
"Hey, Leslie."
"I'll leave you two alone," his mother said, walking out of the room.
Jesse moved a chair over for Leslie to sit down at, which she did, smiling gratefully, before sitting down himself opposite her.
"Thank you, my King," she said.
"No problem," he said.
The Ruler stood in a desolate wasteland, cowering fearfully. Around him stood shapes of varying sizes, with red eyes glaring down at him. He knew the power of his masters – for, just like all others, he was a pawn himself. If he displeased them, he was at their mercy. And letting a mortal slip through his game was a sure way to displease his masters.
"So," their voices boomed in unison. "You have permitted the chain of death to be broken."
"Masters, you don't understand," he said. "The one who beat me was clever; his bond too strong to the soul we were playing for. The years following her death have not damaged their connection at all."
"Be that as it may, you must still face the consequences of failure. Though we will be lenient and permit you to stay at your post. You will merely be stripped of your right to call the game."
"But the game is an integral part of the design!"
"And you have failed it. We cannot allow more anomalies to occur."
"I understand. I shall redesign the game."
A few days later, Jesse was allowed to go to school again. Though he was shunned by most of the kids in his class, he didn't care; he had Leslie with him, and Janice was being nice. Everything seemed to be going well.
"Hey, Jess," Leslie said one day before school. "How about we go there after school?"
"Yeah," he said. "We haven't gone there since I got out of the hospital!"
The day went by slowly for Jesse, listening to his teacher drone on about variables and manipulating equations. He couldn't wait to go back to Terabithia, yet he knew he had to.
A/N: Sorry about the delay; I had slight writers' block and a lot to do over the past few days. Next chapter'll be longer, but I gave a bit of food for thought about the Ruler in the mean time.
Due to confusion about this story, I'll have a companion site up in a few days, so check my profile for updates.