The Lost

Casey:

I bend down to the parcel. I realise it's a picture of me. I drop it and back away from the brick. My breathing increases. I pick the picture back up with the tips of my fingers. Nothing. I drop it to the floor. I back away. I notice there is one word written on the other side. 'Sorry'. I fall back. I run to the window. No one is there. I hug my shoulders. I kick the brick into the street, not daring to touch it. I fold up the picture and slip it into my pocket. I quickly phone my mum to tell her about the window. I don't mention the picture. I feel tears run down my face. I breathe deeply. I close my eyes and sit slowly down on the stairs. I shake my head. I can't let Garret know. I hear something outside. I creep to the shattered window. Tom opens his door. His face is tear stained. I start to each out. Then I stop myself. I pull my hand back through the gap in the window. I sink to the floor. I pull out the picture in my pocket. I trace the word sorry. I notice it had been torn. I twist my head and look up at his window. I see him with a broom. I stand up and try to look more closely. I see a shattered mirror behind his head. I look back down at the photo in my hand. I shiver. He's been watching me. Taking photos. I feel so lost. I just want Garret. I'm not sure if what I'm doing is pleasing him. I need him to protect me. I grab a dustpan and brush. I sweep the shattered glass.

Tom:

I lie on my bed. I feel tears of anger run down my face. I hold my hands over my eyes. Her face is always watching me. I grab a piece of paper from the side of my table. I start to draw. I draw her face over and over. All I can see is her eyes and her face. I really am sorry. I need to know how to change it. I look over at the scattered pictures of Casey. I smile and cry at the same time. She doesn't love me. I swing my legs over the side of my bed. I grab my lighter. I take a long and deep intake of breath. I look out of my window. I see her talk to her mother. She shouts about the window. No one shouts at my Casey. I breath heavily. I feel everything crumple. I walk out of the house. I walk down the street. Wind blows my hair. I hold onto the lighter in my hand. The image of Casey. Of me dieing. Of her dieing. I reach Garrets friends house. The one who punched me. I grab some of the golden leaves on his path. I stuff them in the letter box. I grab the lighter. I watch the red flames lick the sky. I drop them in. I watch the smoke rise in the house. I hug my shoulders. I just hope it changes the future. Everything screams to go and help Casey. Instead I rest my hand on the metal gate. I push it open. I feel a light sensation run through my body. I feel the heat of the burning leaves. I see Casey and Garret. I dive behind a car. She laughs and all the worry is washed away. My heart starts to pound. I duck out from sight and run down the road. Run away from the fire.

Casey:

I walk with Garret down the road. I'm still shaken but I fake happiness for Garret. I laugh and smile. But his eyes don't look so blue. They're fading. He smiles down at me. I smile up. I quickly look away. I just feel so confused. He pokes me in the back. I shout out and then start to laugh when he looks scared that he actually hurt me. He suddenly freezes. I tug on his jumper.

"What is it Garret? Garret?" I ask peering at him. He points in front of us. I turn. Flames lick his best friends house. They consume the whole building. I scramble for my phone. I quickly dial 999. My fingers keep slipping and when I'm talking to someone on the line I can't speak. I finally tell them the address. Garret has started to run up to the building. Already the frame of the building had started to show. I cover my eyes to the growing flames. I look around for help but no-one is there. Apart from that boy. Right down the far end of the street. I notice he has black hair. I start to walk back. Garret stops me. Tom? He couldn't of done this. I huddle in Garrets arms. I start to shake. Tears of fear run down my face. He walks so slowly. I breath more quickly. I start to hyperventilate. Garret starts to hit my back. I wave him off trying to tell him I'm not choking. I sit down on the corner of the road. He did this. He really did. I feel tears run down my face. Tears of confusion. I don't hate him. I don't think he's a freak. I just want to hold his hand. I start to stand up but Garret keeps a firm hand on my shoulder forcing me down. I continue crying.

Tom:

I breath slowly. Tears run down my cheeks. I form my hands into fists. I feel my legs start to shake. I sink to the ground. I pull my knees up to my chin. I hold my head in my hands. I look down the road towards the flames. I see my Casey crying. I didn't mean to make her cry. I stand up. I start to run. I feel everything power my legs. I run down the street. The fear pushing my forwards. I can't stop. The rhythmic beat of my feet on the floor keeps me running. I burst into my house. I slide down the door. My older brother walks out of the living room. He stares at me then looks away and walks up to his room. I bang my head on the back of the door. I run upstairs. I stroke all my pictures of Casey. Her face and her smile. They make happy tears slide down my cheek. I look for my camera. I find it broken on the floor. I pick it up and cradle it. I breath deeply. I fall into the hundreds of sheets of paper on my floor. Each and every one of Casey. I stare up at my ceiling. I hold my hands over my eyes. I tug on my hair. I shout out. I turn on my side. I pull my knees to my chin. I grab a piece of paper and pencil. I crouch by the window. I wait. Casey walks back. She has a blanket draped around her shoulders. I want to reach out and wipe away the tears. Instead I grab a piece of paper and start to sketch. Her eyes so full of emotion and feeling. I look down at the image. It doesn't do her justice. I scribble out the eyes. I rest my head on the window ledge and cry….

The room of flowers fills my eyes. Rose petals fall from the ceiling. Casey reaches out. We hold onto each other. I don't want to let go. Her face so beautiful. I single tear runs down her cheek. I wipe it away. I rose petal settles on her head. I brush it off. Her face is suddenly so sad. She grips my hand. She's shouting at me. But I can't hear the words she's saying. Suddenly I'm standing in the forest. I turn around franticly calling to Casey. I see her dead body lying on the forest floor. Her beautiful eyes so still. I cry but my tears disappear. I call her name. I stoke her hair out of her eyes. I can't feel her. I'm not here. I start to breath heavily and deeply….

I wake up. I'm shaking. My whole body is cold. Casey is no longer outside. I feel something scrunched in my palm. It’s a single red rode petal. I hold onto it. I place it gently on the windowsill. I hug my knees. I start to cry.