The Lost

Casey:

I watch the boy fall like a stone in the river. My mouth hangs open. I pray for Garret not to walk in. My head moves slightly on an angle. The boy. His black hair. The sudden image of him running. I reach off the sofa and stroke his face on the TV. Tears roll down my cheeks. My heart pounds. I rub the bruise around my eyes absentmindedly. But something else confuses me. The man saving Tom. I've seen him. Only a few times. When I was little. My dad's face stares back at me. He disappears after the images of Tom are shown. He's seen as a hero, but I back away. I turn the TV off quickly. Tears slide down my cheeks more rapidly. Tears run down. He saved Tom. I huddle in a ball. I shake my head. My Dad died. When I was four. I shake un-controllably. I went to the funeral. I saw him being cremated. I cover my eyes. He was my nightmare. The one person who loved me dieing. Garret storms in the room. I look up into his eyes. He turns the TV on. I quickly reach out to stop him. He bats my hand away. He stares at Tom for what seems like hours. He kicks the screen. I jump backwards. He opens the front door. I reach out and grab his ankle but he kicks me off. I rattle the doorknob. It doesn't open. I shake and cry. I keep knocking on the door. Its all to much I slide down the door. I weep banging my head on the wood. Tom can see my farther. My dead farther. Or rather my father can see Tom. I chuckle quietly as I mutter under my breath "I see dead people". I sigh slowly. I think about the forest and the beach. I nod slowly with my eyes tight shut. Its all true. I stand up slowly and pick up a knife from the kitchen. I slip it into the bag I saw in the 'dream'. Then I remember Garret. Tom. He knows…

Tom:

I sit on the edge of her street. I shake and cry. A hand lies on my shoulder. I look up slowly. The man who saved me. Only he is fainter. He shouts pointing at Casey's house. I start to back away. My heart starts to increase. He fades. I reach out to the spot he was in. Suddenly pain shoots down through my head. I double over clutching my face. I fall onto the ground. My eyelids become heavy….

I look around at the pictures on the wall. Casey's perfect face stares at me. I reach out and stroke her features. So perfect and beautiful. I walk down the wall with her face plastered on. She grows younger and younger in each photo. Suddenly I see the man. He has his arm looped over her shoulder. Kissing her mother. Her mother and Casey crying over a tomb. I back away slowly. Her farther. My Casey. He died. A hand is laid on my shoulder. I jump and spin round. He looks deep into my eyes. He points at the pictures. I spin in the room. I feel so at peace. With the pictures. Forming a perfect story. So neat and clean and clear. Nothing confusing. I hug my shoulders. Tears fall down my cheeks. He saved me… so I could save her. I feel something dragging me out of the room. I shout out. I don't want to leave. I see flashing images of her Dad being stabbed. Suddenly the world collapses…

 I shoot upwards. My breathing is heavy. The ghost lies in the back of my head.  Tears pour down my face. I need to save her. Suddenly I look up. A shadow stands above me. I shake my head. I blink quickly, clearing my vision. Garret. I crawl backwards. He stamps on my stomach. I cry out. I cough up some blood. He crouches down and snarls at me. I kick up at him. It doesn't seem to have much of an affect. But I run. My heart pounds as my feet fall onto the floor. My heart beat is clear and steady. But the world swirls and fades. I clutch my head in my hands. Arms loop around my neck. Garret tugs my head backwards. He exposes my neck. A blade is laid on the skin. I smile and laugh. There could be nothing better in my mind to die here. I close my eyes. I just want to forget. But he lets go of me. I spin around and look at Garret unconscious. James smiles at me. I reach out and yell. But he fades. I collapse onto the floor. Tears stream down my cheeks.

Casey:

I hit tirelessly on the door. I feel all the hope drain out of my body. I breathe slowly. I feel my heart beat and touch my forehead. A fresh cut runs along the top. I walk over to the sofa. I sit down. Place my hands neatly between my knees. I breathe slowly. I collapse, crying into my hands bent over. I fall onto the floor. The cold wood under my palms wakes me up. I stare around. Run to the phone. I dial quickly. Answer message. I slam the phone down. Anger for my mother chills even my blood. I run to the window. I throw a whole chair at the glass. It shatters. I back away when I see the shards spray towards me. One slashes across my arm. I reach up. I rub the cut. Looking up I feel the night breeze on my face. I scramble onto the ledge. Swinging my legs over I start to run. I feel the hope in every beat on the pavement. I slow down my pace as I look ahead. Garret lies on the floor. I reach down. He's breathing. Knocked out.  I back away slowly. As soon as I'm a few meters apart I run. I run faster than I ever have before. My whole body is numb with worry and excitement. A hand grabs my shoulder. For a brief second I think its my dads ghost or Tom. I spin around smiling. Garrets stands behind me. I try to twist away. He pulls me close.

"I love you Casey… do you love me?" I look into his blue eyes. Full of hope. And anger. I want to punch him. I look down at the pavement. He starts to pull me into a kiss. I shove him off. His eyes cloud over. He starts to shake. I babble quickly. I space myself as far as I can with Garret. The sky darkens with every given second.

"I guess that’s a no" He says. He starts to shake violently. His voice is so soft. Shy and like the Garret I knew. My then he looks up. His eyes are cold and dark. There is only a shell of kindness. His core goes deeper. He lifts his fist. I close my eyes. I feel the curled fingers slam into my face. I fall….