My Nightmare Just Became Real

Chapter 24 - Lewis, Hope and a Riddle

Author’s Note: Well, here’s the next chapter – thank you everyone who has been commenting and reading and, most importantly, enjoying. :)

My skin was turning blue and my breath was coming short and sharp. I didn’t know what was going to happen to me. I didn’t know if I was going to die...or become one of the Lost. I couldn’t scream anymore, I didn’t have any breath left. My throat began to close up and then...I fell. I wobbled on unsteady legs and fell backwards, all the pressure from around me was released and the bodies...they were gone. Before I could hit the ground someone caught me and, to my relief, their hands were warm, not cold. They were alive.  You have no idea what a relief it was to realise this after...after all those dead.

“Are you alright?” Lewis. Him again. I stood up on my own two feet and turned to look at him. There was real concern in his eyes and, for once, I didn’t think he was faking it. He probably was concerned it’s just when the other side of him came through that the trouble started.

“I’m...fine. I guess.” Was I really fine? Was I even ok? I’d just been pushed and pulled by a crowd of dead. Dead with cold skin and cold blood. Glassy eyes and thin voices.

“Listen, we don’t have much time. I don’t know when...when he’s going to be back. When I’ll...” Lewis shook himself.

“Why...why do you do this?” I wanted answers. I needed them. And now, I might be able to get them.

“He gets people to do his dirty work. People like me. Yes, there are more people like me. People who can’t help but go and steal souls...can’t help it. But, listen. You can stop this. You are the only one who can stop this because if he gets your soul...it’s all over. He’s lying about wanting to help. He doesn’t want to. He just wants souls so he can one day have a special one...because his is evil. Dark and evil. But he’ll have so much power with so many souls.”

“How...what do I do?”

“I can’t say but...remember, things are not always what they appear to be. Remember your friends...remember Charlie. Open your eyes, Lily. Look at what has been in front of you this whole time. Remember, you can always change...there’s always a chance to change. You can have what you want if you try hard enough.” Then the most unexpected thing happened. Lewis wrapped his arms around me in an embrace. I felt a surge of energy rush through me and flashing lights dance before my eyes. After a moment, he pulled away but I was dizzy and I could feel something...something strange. I blinked and when I looked at Lewis I saw a shimmering light around him. I frowned and then gasped, feeling his emotions.

Hurt. Distress. Pain. Anger. Sadness. All of them flooding at me at once. I took a step back, horrified at what sort of things were going through Lewis’s mind. But then, amongst all of those things there was a smidgen of hope. Hope. That golden word that had kept me going for all this time. “You can see it now, can’t you?” Said Lewis. I nodded. “You can see souls like Charlie now. You can feel things. Maybe this will help you realise.”

“Is it...is it permanent?”

“No. Just while you’re here...in the place of the Lost. You’ll have a part of it in you forever but it won’t be as strong as it is now.” I looked closely at Lewis’s soul. It was bright in places but then I saw the strange black swirling mist in it. It felt evil.

“What’s that...in your soul?” I asked, confused.

“Oh...it’s Him.” Lewis looked at me sadly “that’s the reason for my split personality. He’s got part of his bad soul tangled up in mine now...I don’t think I’ll ever be rid of it.”

“But...how?”

“In your dream you saw me lying on the ground, cut and bleeding from the Knife of Souls. He...He has to do that so his soul...so He...so I...” Lewis shook himself again “it’s so He has control over me. That’s why He does it.”

“But I don’t know what to do!” I said, frustrated. I wanted to help now. I wanted to help Lewis and let him be rid of the thing that tormented him. But...what was I supposed to do? What was I supposed to do if he spoke in riddles?

“You will. I know you will.” Lewis’s eyes flickered red in the darkness and he said “I’m sorry, I’ve got to go. He’s coming.”

“What? Wait!”

“I know you’ll figure it out. I know it. You have to.” Then, just before his irises were completely overcome by red he whispered “I’m sorry.” In a flash of light and with a heart wrenching scream, Lewis was gone. In his place, darkness remained.

Then, once again, I was left alone. Alone in the darkness and alone in my heart. I was confused at the riddle Lewis had left me with. Confused as to what was going on. Confused and upset and angry and scared...I was just about every negative emotion possible. But I remembered hope. That golden glimmer of hope, shining somewhere in the back of my mind like a star. Like a small star that I was forcing to grow, to grow bigger and bigger until it was shining so bright it could have blinded me. I needed hope. I had to have it. I couldn’t let my little star burn itself out. I just couldn’t.

Author’s Note: Well, things are beginning to unfold now. I just hope I don’t miss something out when I come to the end xD Feel free to shout at me if I leave any mysteries untouched at the end, I can imagine doing that haha :) Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this and I’d love to know what you think. Thanks for reading :)