11:57 (A Short Stack story)

Chapter 21- Alternate Ending

Chapter 21

Bradie’s P.O.V 

“Bradie, Ruby left a suicide note.” 

I tried to talk, but I couldn’t. My chest suddenly felt constricted and I almost dropped the phone. I coughed for a good minute before I could even manage to squeak out a word. 

“W-what?” my voice was barely audible, I heard Leola sob from the phone. 

“Where do you th-think she’ll be?” she’s asked, I could almost hear her hyperventilating. 

I tried to scramble through my mind as too where she’d go and it hit me “Didn’t she say her favourite place to visit is those cliffs at the beach?” I rushed out, I felt dizzy and my ears felt like they were blocked for some reason. 

“Pr-probably, the cliffs are really dangerous.” She hiccupped and hung up on me before I could reply. I had to get to the cliffs before it was too late, I had to save Ruby. I stuffed my phone into my pocket trying to ignore the dizziness and the sob trying to escape my throat and I grabbed my car keys, Shaun stopped me in my tracks. 

“Move.” I grunted trying to shove past him but he remained firm. 

“What are you doing?” he asked me, 

“I need to go somewhere for Ruby.” Shaun raised an eyebrow. 

“Really?” he asked, 

I didn’t have time for this “Move goddammit!” I hissed “Ruby’s in danger.” 

Shaun stepped out of my way and started following me, as did Andy. I couldn’t be bothered to say anything. 

I got into the driver’s seat and Andy sat in the passenger seat with Shaun in the back, neither of them said anything. I didn’t care if I was speeding, the cliffs were a good half hour away and who knows how long it’s been since Ruby left for it. I was trying my hardest not to break down into tears as my knuckles gripped the steering wheel until they were white and stung. I just couldn’t let her go, no way. 

Ruby’s P.O.V 

It had started raining, chilling me to the bone. The soft green grass felt nice between my toes and the wind whipped my hair and licked my face with pounding rain. I looked out over the expanding horizon, calm grey water out to the distance, violent raging white water below me. 

I stood at the edge of the cliff, staring down at the dark ever-hungry abyss below me. It was hungry for a victim, as soon as it had its grasp on you it would never let go, it would just suck you down deep and claim another meal. I shivered in thought of that. 

I slipped my jacket off and dropped it by my feet; the sudden burst of cold had sent goose bumps up my arms. This was it, after all these years. It didn’t feel as big as I thought it would, I didn’t feel like I was actually going to jump off and never come back. But that’s what I wanted, to leave and never return. It was the only way to escape these demons and thoughts that silently festered in my mind. 

I counted down until I jumped. 

           Five minutes and I will be dead.

                 Four years of abuse. 

                       Three boys who changed my life.

                                Two people I will miss.

                                       One chance to escape. 

Just as I was about to plummet I felt a hand grab my forearm and yank me back away from the waves, I shrieked as I landed on the muddy ground. Without even looking at who had pulled me back I started sobbing, hard. I was really about to kill myself, about to hurt the people who I loved. I was so stupid to ever think that was the right thing to do.

"Hey Ruby calm down." Someone kneeled next to me before wrapping their arms around me, I shook at the touch. Bradie's face came into view "Don't ever scare me like that again okay?" he tried to joke but his voice wavered as his tears mixed with the rain. I nodded as I tried to control my sobbing. Bradie took my hand as he helped me stand up, my legs were shaking from the cold and i nearly fell back over. He bent over to pick up my discarded jacket that sat beside us and he slid it over my shoulders. By now i had stopped sobbing, I sniffed and rubbed my salty eyes. 

"I'm sorry." I managed to choke out without collapsing back into sobs, Bradie simply pulled me into his chest and hugged me tightly. I dug my face into the crook of his neck, smelling aftershave and feeling warmth. I clung to him as he did to me and we remained like that for what seemed ages. I felt horrible for nearly leaving Bradie all by himself. 

Bradie slowly combed his fingers through my mess of hair and mumbled "I love you so much Ruby Red. I know I can't fix everything for you and I know that I can't change your past but I swear to god that I will never leave you because you are the best fucking thing that's ever happened to me. Do you understand Ruby Red? I will love you until we're old and wrinkly and there's nothing anyone can do to change the way I feel about you. This world is a dark place but you are so beautiful to me." This time it was bradie who had started sobbing, he clutched me even tighter and buried his face into my hair. I was breathless, did I really mean that much to him? My lips trumbled as sobs try to climb their way up my throat and out of my mouth. "If you can't love yourself then I'll help you learn to, you just need to see how amazing you are." he whispered.

And in that moment sparks and harps play out 

A sweeping melody through fog and fantasy 

And in that moment there's an honesty instinctive and pure but 

It departs like it came, rapid and bearing no more 

Than fleeting ecstasy of natural harmony.