Crying: A Dystopian Novel

CRYING: CHAPTER 10

  "Anna."

"Drew?"

"He's safe now. He's with me. It's okay. You didn't fail me." I awake with a massive headache, whether from crying or sleeping the past 2 nights in the tree house I can't tell. There is a cold breeze coming in, and I shiver.

"You cold?" John climbs the ladder and sits next to me, holding my sweatshirt. I slip it on and lay my head on his shoulder. This was the same position we'd been in when he kissed me. I wish it would work again. I wish it would reverse everything.

"Heard you've been sleeping out here. You forgive me?"

"Yeah. I get it now." He kisses my cheek.

"I love you, Anna Elle Versi. I really do."

"I love you too, John."

"Anna! John!" It's Laelynn. She's only been coming out to give me food, but this time she seems more urgent.

"They just got a video and a radio message. You guys need to come." She smiles giddily and continues with, "It's him. It's Michael."

I dash down the ladder and run to the radio room. Dad is there, the serum has apparently disengaged. I run into the projection room followed by Dad and John.

"Is it really him?" I ask Dad.

"Watch."

The video flickers on. It shows a smilingMichael waving at the camera. "I'm alive. I have an ally who slipped me a heavysleeping serum, and while I was under its influence, the man got rid of what hethought was just my body. This ally has since promised to help me get back. Inow have a radio with its own private frequency that the man can't access. Theinfo should be written on the note with the cd. I should be back by the end of the week. Love you." The video flickers off.

"What about the radio message?"

"We set a radio on that frequency and he keeps asking to speak to you." Dad gets up and leads me to the radio and puts the headset on me.

"Hello? Michael?" I say. What else can I say?

"Anna! Dad said you wouldn't leave the tree house."

"Well, I wasn't, but I guess the undead deserves a little leniency."

He laughs. "I guess so. Sorry if I scared you the other day. I had a splitting headache and couldn't do anything but scream."

"I can't even believe this. It's just so unreal. You were dead yesterday. How's your head?"

"Better. Its half has deep as it was. How're Eleise and Laelynn?"

"Good, as far as I know."

"What do you mean?"

"Um... long story. Let's just say Eleise hates everyone at the moment."

I turn around to see that everyone has left except John. I cover the microphone on the headset and whisper, "Do you want to talk?"

"If you're through, sure." He answers.

"Hey Michael, John wants to talk to you."

"Okay." John and I trade places and he slips on the headset.

"Do you remember when I told you about that?" He says. "Ha-ha. Its... good. Great, actually." John smiles. "Yeah, if Eleise would leave her alone." He turns around and smiles at me. They must be talking about me. "Well, yeah. She's behind me." "Michael? Wait!" He stands up and puts down the headset.