And Then There Was Nothing. {discontinued}

6% (ferris wheel)

Almost five years ago, I loved to go to our Country's Fair. It had the most spectacular Ferris wheel. With all of the vibrant colors, and how the ride up felt like time could stop, it was a place I could lose myself. I could forget about everything, just enjoy my time there. After some 'incidents' at school, I lost all of my 'friends' except for the one that stayed. Ali.

Ali was incredibly nice. I couldn't have asked for a better friend. She never left me no matter what. She would always make sure I was okay and asked if I wanted to spend the night at her house. Life without her would be like cats without whiskers. Stars without their glow. Oceans without waves. Unimaginable. I never wanted to lose her. After all, she stayed with me. She didn't leave my side, even when everyone else did. She proved to me that she was loyal. To prove I was loyal, I brought her to the Country Fair. The one place where I could be me.

I handed the man our tickets, and he opened the gate, allowing us to get on the Ferris wheel. Tonight was a perfect, special night; Ali was with me, the sky was filled with millions of stars, and I could forget about anything- easily.

Ali skipped in front of me- quickly lifting the bar to the seat of our cart, and getting in. I followed behind her, doing the same as she did. The colors of the Ferris wheel blasted orange, yellow, green, purple, and billions more patterns. Ali was very excited; she had never been on a Ferris wheel before.

"So we just go up? And then we stop? Will we get to stop at the very top? Like they do in the movies?" She asked, excitedly, as a man walked around, making sure everyone's bars were down and secure. "Yes, yes, and maybe. Only some do." I replied, grinning. After a moment the cart started to rise, and Ali squealed with delight.

"Oh mygosh oh mygosh look look look we're  going up, we're going up!" She yelled happily. I laughed at her. "I know we are." I smiled. The cart shook slightly as we raised. Other people were in the carts around us, and the view was probably beautiful. But I wouldn't know; I wasn't looking at the view. I was looking at Ali.

Lights reflected off of her brown eyes, and her grin was as big as the sky. Her brown hair was pulled back in a high pony tail. She her looked so incredibly amazed. And I swear, in that moment, that time completely stopped. But, of course it didn't.

I didn't notice as our cart moved around in a giant circle. All I did was focus on Ali.

But then, something weird happened.

We had stopped. We were at the very top. It was a terrifyingly huge height. But it just... stopped. It didn't slow down or anything. Once we got to the top, the Ferris wheel  stopped dead in its tracks. "When I wanted to go to the top, I didn't mean for it to stop so sudden... The height is kinda... Um... When do you think it will keep going?" Ali asked, a shaky smile on her face. "I don't know... Uh, just hang on... It'll probably keep going in a minute." I said, also nervous. Then all the lights in the Ferris wheel went out, and a few people screamed.

"We are having some technical difficulties... Please sit back. We will get you down as soon as possible." A raspy voice said from a speaker. Ali looked over at me, her eyes wide. "Wait? What? We're stuck?" She asked, hurriedly. "Yeah, I guess we are." I sighed.

"You okay Ali?" I asked worried for her. Even though it was dark, I could still tell that all the color had drained from her face. "Yeah I'm gre- no, actually I really am terrified." She lets out quickly. "We are gonna be okay, okay? Just... oh! Look up at the stars!" I said, trying to calm her down. She looks up, and once again, colors reflect off of her eyes. I watch her as she focuses on the stars, then grab her hand and squeeze it. She looks down for a moment at me, smiling gratefully, before turning her attention back to the night sky.

But then, something scary happened.

The metal bar that Ali was leaning on (also the one that kept us from falling to our death, a.k.a. the ground that was 45 feet below us), starting lifting. People from below screamed, and Ali yelped as she automatically slid forward off of the cart.

I tried to grab onto her as quick as possible, but she slipped, and was dangling in mid air, just holding onto my hand. "ALI! HOLD ON!" I screamed.

My fault! This was all my fault! I told her to look up and she got distracted! It's my fault it's my fault it's my fault please hold on Ali, please...

Tears started to rush down her face. She whimpered. I was starting to slip too; I could hardly hang onto the seat I was sitting in. I couldn't let her go... I couldn't...

People screamed from down below;
"Hold on!!"
"Don't let go!"
"Oh my god, get them down!"
"Someone, film this!"
"Why isn't the Ferris wheel working?!"
"Wait, what's happening!?"
"Look up there!"
"Oh my god!"

"Ali..." I mumbled eagerly. My fingers hurt, and I was almost about to fall with her.

"Let me go." I heard her sob.

Shock filled me. How could she possibly ask me to let her go?

"No! Ali no, please, just... is there anything you can grab onto?"

"Please just let me go. You're about to fall."

"Ali, I can't."

"You have to."

"Please, I'll try to pull you up..."

"Let me go."

My fingers gave out. I let go.

And screams were heard everywhere as Ali fell into darkness.