Alternate Ending: Running Up That Hill

The sirens wailed and the lights flashed in front of me. I stared out the passenger window in a daze, clinging onto the last shred of hope I still had; that somehow Ricky had managed to survive. I was emotionally and physically drained. I don't even know how I managed to retell the story to the police without breaking down. I guess the possibility of Ricky being alive gave me the strength to recite everything to the police semi-calmly.

The car pulled to a stop next to Grant's cabin. Grant was the man who was staying at the cabin I had stumbled upon. Two police officers emerged from their car in front of us, looking back at us as we pulled to a stop. I took a deep breath, my hand on the door handle, before pulling the handle towards me, letting myself out. The officers looked at me expectantly.

"Ms. Juergens, we need you to show us the way. Can you do that for us?" Officer Dunn asked. I nodded my head a little hesitant. I wasn't one hundred percent sure I could lead them in the right direction, I mean it's not like I left a trail of bread crumbs, but I would do my damned best.

I looked back at Grant and said a quick thank you before heading into the direction I came.

I folded my arms across my chest as I walked, starting to fill cold, even though it was ninety-five degree's out. My limbs ached but I pushed through the pain and walked quicker, more determined than ever to find Ricky. I felt semi-safe knowing the officers both had guns and stun guns on them, but if that psycho was still alive there was still a chance he could attack the police when they weren't looking and then come after me.

We were walking for a good five minutes and I was starting to feel helpless. I had no clue what direction I ran from when I left, and I wasn't aware if it was a straight shot to Grant's cabin from where we separated. My walking gradually slowed as my eyes frantically searched for something familiar.

"Ms. Juergens?" The older gentleman; Sheriff Mills asked. "Is something wrong?" He tried again, when I didn't answer him.

Hope burned through my every bone as I saw a familiar tree. The only reason I remembered it was because it was shaped so weirdly. I started running now, and I could hear the officers running behind me, yelling at me to slow down as they tried to keep up.

I reached the tree and spun around my eyes searching for any sign of Ricky. I started running again, calling out Ricky's name. I stopped suddenly when I noticed my surroundings. It was the exact spot I had ran away from Ricky, regrettably. I looked around, but didn't see him anywhere. I started walking forward and saw an axe laying on the ground. I gasped and screamed for Ricky louder.

The officers finally caught up to me and I pointed to the axe. The men exchanged glances, and I had a strange feeling that they hadn't believed me until now. I heard the men exchange words, but I wasn't listening, my mind was focused on finding Ricky.

One of the officers tapped on my shoulder, making me momentarily turn around. Officer Dunn pointed to the right of me and I saw a body on the ground, but I couldn't tell who it was from this far back. I went to walk in front of the officer but he grabbed my arm and told me to stay behind him. We slowly walked closer to the body, my mind racing a mile a minute. I was praying and making deals with God. I know that making deals with God sounds silly but I would do anything to make sure Ricky was alive.

We took a couple more steps forward and I could finally tell who the body on the ground belonged to. I could see the red and black flannel jacket, and the long dirty hair. I blinked back the tears of joy/relief, and put my hand on the officers shoulder. "That's him. That's the guy who killed my friends." Officer Dunn nodded and looked back at the corpse. There was a puddle of his own blood underneath him. The smell was sicking and I had to swallow the bile that crept up my throat, but I could feel the relief wash over me. I heard rustling coming a few yards to the right of me and my heart sped up. Officer Dunn noticed the movement, too, and we began walking in the direction the noise came from.

"Who's there?" Officer Dunn asked loudly, his gun still raised. I wanted him to desperately put the gun down. I didn't need him accidentally shooting Ricky, if he was still alive.

More rustling and I started running. I heard Officer Dunn yell at me to stop but I didn't listen. "Ricky?" I called out desperately.

I started getting closer to the noise but I tripped over something and landed face first into the ground. My headache became ten times worse. I picked up my head and spit out little pieces of dirt that managed to make their way into my mouth. I looked around to see what the heck I tripped on when I noticed a foot sticking out of some long weeds. I picked myself off the ground and quickly made my way over. As I got closer I could make out the clothes and I sighed in momentary relief.

As I got closer a sickening smell washed over me, making me want to gag. No more than two steps later I saw the pool of blood, which seemed to have escaped Ricky's neck. Tears blurred my vision as I saw the deep gash over his jugular.

I ran over to him and fell down beside him. I carefully lifted his head and laid it on my lap gently, before quickly checking his pulse. Just by looking at him I could tell he was dead but I didn't want to believe it.

Officer Dunn emerged from behind some tree's in front of me a couple of seconds later. I didn't look at him and he thankfully didn't say anything. I sat there holding onto Ricky delicately, crying. A while later I felt someone gently tugging on my shoulder. My head snapped up to see who was disturbing me, only to see a very sympathetic Officer Dunn.

"Amy, sweetie, I'm very sorry for your loss but right now you need to get up and come with me. I promise you can see him again later if you want." He spoke softly. I shook my head and yelled out no. I wasn't leaving Ricky, if I did then I'd have to face reality. The reality that Ricky was dead and so were all my friends, and I was the only one to escape the killings. The reality that Ricky had died to save me. Ricky was dead because of me.

Officer Dunn gently starting pulling me up, making Ricky's head fell from my lap, hitting the ground with a sickening thud. I struggled against the officer, trying to break free from his grasp. I let out an ear piercing scream when I couldn't escape his grasp. He wrapped his arms around my torso and pulled me back. I screamed again and flailed my arms around, not wanting to be torn away from Ricky. I watched helplessly as men in coroner jackets closed in on Ricky, making me kick and flail harder against the officer.

Nothing I did worked and I was running out of time, so i did the last thing possible, I bit him. And to my surprise it worked and I ran back to Ricky's body.

"Miss, you have to go." One man said to me, but I didn't listen. I didn't get very much extra time with Ricky as Officer Dunn grabbed a hold of me again and picked me up, throwing me over his shoulder. I kicked, screamed, cursed, punched, cried, kneed, but it was no use. Before I knew it I was being placed inside the police car, Officer Dunn still holding on to me as he stood outside.

"Amy, I'm going to need you to stay here. Can you do that for me?" He asked gently. I shook my head because if he left I was going to make a break for it, even if Ricky was already loaded into the back of the coroner's van. He sighed, somewhat expecting the response.

"Alright, I'm going to drive you to the police station so we can call your parent's. Okay?" He asked. I nodded my head, not really listening.

Before I knew it I was on my way home. I had pretty much been on autopilot the past couple of days, or was it weeks? I wasn't sure. The only thing I could remember was the look of Ricky's lifeless body, the sickening thud his head made when it rolled off my lap onto the ground, and the sickening smell of his blood.

I couldn't eat or sleep. I made no attempt to talk to my family, which more than likely scared them. I wasn't to sure, I didn't pay attention to anyone or anything around me. I was partially aware about them wanting me to see a therapist and grief counselor, but there really was no need for them. I didn't plan on mourning much longer. But, as of right now I couldn't find the time I needed. Someone was always watching over my every move.

If I only could make a deal with God, and get him to swap our places. Ricky would be more equipped to deal with this that I was. I wanted to be rid of this pain, the images, the memories. I wasn't strong enough to make it through this.

I knew suicide was a very selfish act but I honestly didn't see any other way out, there was no other option for me now. I couldn't live with the memories. I couldn't live with out them... Him.

I stood in the bathroom, two months after the killings. Everyone in the house was asleep. I looked at myself in the mirror, all I saw was a shell of my former self, an imitation. I set the note somewhere safe, somewhere they'd see it. I turned around and walked to the stereo, hitting replay on the song that was playing. It was a song I had been listening to non-stop for the past two months. Before walking back to the sink picking up the orange prescription bottle, full of sleep medication, that I had yet to use. I turned the faucet on and filled the glass with water. I opened the pill bottle, pouring the pills into my hands, some scattering onto the cold tile floor.

It doesn't hurt me.
You wanna feel how it feels?
You wanna know, know that it doesn't hurt me?
You wanna hear about the deal I'm making?
You *be running up that hill*
You and me *be running up that hill*

I took a steady breath and smiled. My mind brought their faces front and center, even then I still felt strangely at ease.

And if I only could,
Make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building.
If I only could, oh...

I steadily brought the handful of pills to my mouth, putting as many in as I could, before chugging the glass of water.

You don't want to hurt me,
But see how deep the bullet lies.
Unaware that I'm tearing you asunder.
There is thunder in our hearts, baby.
So much hate for the ones we love?
Tell me, we both matter, don't we?

I took a deep breath before repeating the process easily. I was already in less pain knowing the end was near.

You, *be running up that hill*
You and me, *be running up that hill*
You and me won't be unhappy.

I closed my eyes as I laid my head against the cool porcelain bathtub. I took the small picture out of the pocket of my pajama bottoms and smiled-the first real smile in a while- as I waited for the blackness to engulf me.

And if I only could,
Make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building,
If I only could, oh...

It was a picture of Ricky, leaning against his brand new jeep, with the biggest grin on his face. He was full of life. Life that he had given up to protect me, to save me.

'C'mon, baby, c'mon, c'mon, darling,
Let me steal this moment from you now.
C'mon, angel, c'mon, c'mon, darling,
Let's exchange the experience, oh...'

I was aware that by doing this Ricky would die in vain. But, I couldn't live in a world where he didn't exist, it just wasn't possible for me. That wasn't an option. It was never an option.

And if I only could,
Make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
With no problems.

I gripped the picture in my hand tightly as I was suddenly being pulled into the darkness. Their faces blended together, making an image that didn't make sense.

And if I only could,
Make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
With no problems.

The pain washed away, and I was finally rid of their nagging images. Death was peaceful. Blissful even.

If I only could, be running up that hill.

Dear family,

I'm sorry for any pain I'm causing, but I want you to be happy. I'm finally free. Free from the pain, the memories, the nightmares, the guilt, the suffering. I want you to know that it is not your fault, so don't blame yourselves. I love all of you very much but this was the only way. I didn't suffer, my death was very peaceful. There is no regret for what I did, for this was the only way. If I didn't do it now I'd just suffer more. And I'd die slowly and painfully. So, as you can see this was my only option. Go on without me and remember we will be reunited shortly. I love you all.

Love Always,

Amy

If I only could, be running up that hill.


O.M.G you guys! This is it, the last chapter. I'm so sad now! The beginning is the same as chapter 12 so I hope you guys didn't get confused lol. Now you see why the epilogue wouldn't have been needed if I went with this ending. Now it's time to answer questions!

irishheart111-I left that up for you guys to decide, if you want them to make it out then they did, if not then they died . Amy and Ricky don't know what happened to them either because they never found them.

Ashlyn13-I was thinking about doing that kind of ending, but I knew if I ended it like that I would always be tempted to add more. Plus, I wanted to give you guys closure. I am defintley considering writing another horror story, so keep an eye out!

sammy55-I am definitely considering it! I came up with the idea because I wanted to do something different. There really wasn't any horror stories for the secret life so I made a challenge out of it. I think I did pretty well. I got the cabin and scenery from the movie Cabin Fever, but I came up with everything else. Yep, I love twilight! Are you watching Vampire Diaries? Damon is totally hot, and I'm totally rooting for him and Elena to get together! They have amazing chemistry! I'm actually contemplating writing a story for them.

Cuppiecak12- Aw, thanks! I really appreciate it!

I really hope you guys weren't disappointed by this alternate ending. The song I listened to while writing this song is "Running Up That Hill" by Placebo. It is such an amazing song and it was just perfect for this ending! Give it a listen if you haven't yet.

I want to thank everyone for their reviews, they always made my day! And I'm incredibly sad to see this story end, it feels like just yesterday I posted the first chapter! Good luck in everything you guys do! You guys can follow me at my new twitter account and I'll post when I'm writing new chapters, and new stories. My twitter page is .com/RebeccaH18

Much love,

Becca !