Bookview Valley 2

Chapter Twenty-Six: Remember

Saturday, February 2nd

Heading back into the cinema, I ignore the protests of cops. I step inside and hear a click. Turning back to the door, I know it's locked. Cops tug at the door, but I just give them a shrug. Turning back around I head back to the twisted hallway. Nick is somewhere in there with a killer, and I have to find him before it's too late. Not to mention my other friends who are also stuck in here. I know Brianna and Flynn are safe, but Nick, Luci, and Harper are somewhere in here. A sick feeling settles in my stomach. I hope I don't know who the killer is whenever they reveal themselves. If it's someone I know...

I head up the stairs, my body shaking with anticipation. I arrive at the hallway with many doors. Do I try them or do I get to the end. Walking on, I pass each door, waiting for some feeling. A pause at a door, one that looks like all the others, and I open it. Stepping inside, everything is dark. I feel around for a light switch until the light flickers on by itself. I'm heading the right way.

As my vision clears I realize I'm not in the cinema anymore. Instead, I'm in Brewed, but it's empty. Part of me just knows that this isn't the real Brewed. The echo of sirens seem to pass by as a ghost-like figure climbs down the stairs. My heart drops when I realize who it is.

Mark gazes at me with empty eyes as he continues down the stairs. I rush over to him as he reaches the bottom. He continues to walk the path to the doors.

"Mark!" I exclaim, I move my hand to touch him, but it just goes through him, "Mark?"

"He's not real," The voice seems to bounce off of every wall.

"What is this?" I ask, as I follow Mark on his path.

"A memory," The voice replies, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once.

"Mark..." I trail off as he reaches the doors. His hand pauses on the door handle and he turns back. Even semi-translucent his freckles pop out. I feel a tear slip out of my eye. He turns away and leaves out the front door. The sirens leave with him.

"Come on," The voice says as I hear a creak behind me. I turn to see the counter entrance has swung open.

"Where are we going?" I ask, but I'm already walking towards it.

"Down memory lane," The voice says.

"Why? So you have time to kill Nick?" I glare around me.

"Just come on, if you want to save him," The voice growls. I roll my eyes and move into the back of Brewed, but as I do it changes around me. I walk out into the church once again, but it's not the same as before. It doesn't feel like it did when I was fighting Jamie. It's like an echo of the church. I make my way down to the basement where we partied.

"Why are we going here?" I ask, but then I see him.

Jake walks past me, his eyes dead just as Mark's were. I follow him to the room we had been stuck in; the one with the trapdoor. We get to the room and look up, the trapdoor is shut, "This is where Jake died."

"Yes, it is."

"Did you kill him, or did Jamie?" I ask.

"Jamie."

"Oh," I stare at Jake, his wavy hair messy from partying. He begins to climb the ladder up to the trapdoor as it swings open, "Don't do it..."

"He can't hear you."

"I know," I snap as I watch Jake fall from the ladder, landing with a thud on the ground. His ghost body lays there, not moving, "Where now?"

"Up."

I climb the ladder and past the trapdoor. Standing, I take in the new scene around me. The lights flash red, on and off. I know where I am. I move down the hall, getting closer to the final door that is slightly ajar.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask as I continue to walk to the door.

"You'll understand sooner or later," The voice responds.

"Are you going to reveal yourself?" I get closer to the door.

"One of us won't make it out of here," The voice replies and pauses, "By that, I mean you."

"Yeah, I figured," Rolling my eyes I put the door open. She stands before her body, red light reflecting off of her ghost form, "Sierra."

She turns, her dead eyes looking through me, her clothes torn. Behind her is the bloody mess she used to be. The walls are still painted red. I can feel the nausea rising in my throat. She walks towards me, I stay very still, until she walks through me.

"Now what?" I ask.

"Follow her." I turn around and follow Sierra back the way I came. We walk silently down the red hallway and back into the school. The echo of chatter rings out through the school as we make our way to the front long. I glance over to the picnic table and stop. Six ghost figures sit at the table, laughing and joking. I stride over to them, Sierra's torn ghost waiting for me. Approaching the table, I take in everyone. Luci sits with his arm around Sierra, both of them laughing. Jake sits next to him probably making a dumb comment. Mark is on my left staring at me as I laugh with Jamie. My heart throbs as I rip myself away from the scene. It will never be like that again.

With a deep breath I walk back to torn Sierra. She continues to walk to the road, and I follow her. As soon as we step on the pavement the scene around me changes. Headstones loom around me like the dead reaching for light. Sierra comes to a stop in front of one. I stand beside her as we look down.

Sierra Lewis. It's hers. She gives me on last look before she floats down to her grave. I stare at the headstone as footsteps approach from behind me. The time has come.