On The Other Side (✔️)

CHAPTER 2

After school, Thomas jumped on his bed, exhausted from the long day. He glanced at his watch. It read,

17:28

Thomas lay down, relaxing.

You don't know what lays ahead for you.

Thomas yelped, and jumped so high his head almost hit the roof.

Don't worry about it. There's nothing you can do to change it.

Thomas yelped again.

"Who's speaking? Mum, is that you?"

No, it isn't. Nobody said anything. I'm speaking in your mind, Thomas.

"How do you know my name?"

Thomas felt weird, talking to an invisible creepy woman who whispered notes of doom. Thank goodness his mother couldn't hear him.

I know everything.

"Who's speaking?" Thomas repeated.

Oh, that you will know shortly.

It was driving Thomas crazy. He just couldn't bear it anymore.

"WHO ARE YOU?" Thomas yelled.

"Thomas! What's going on? Who are you talking to?" he heard his mother shout from downstairs.

"Uh, nobody, Mum!" Thomas didn't want her to think that he was going bonkers.

"Then keep quiet! I'm on the phone!"

Thomas, Thomas, Thomas. Always so impatient.

There it was again. The Voice.

Do you want to know your future?

"No, I don't."

The Voice continued, ignoring him.

Your future is full of choices and sacrifices. You can do nothing to change it. Because...

"Why?" Thomas enquired, curious.

Because you will die.

Thomas froze. Die? He thought.

"Wait, uh, Mrs. Weird Creepy Lady! What do you mean, because I will die?"

But there was no reply. The Voice had gone.

***

The next morning, Thomas went to school late. He had woken after schedule because his night had been horrible. He'd had at least twenty nightmares, each one more horrible than the other. He literally sleepwalked to school, and when he arrived, he was at least twenty minutes late.

"It was nice of you to finally join us, Mr. Wood."

A few kids sniggered.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Hailer."

Mr. Hailer was his English teacher.

"I didn't sleep much last night, sir."

"Humph. I'll let it go just this once. Take a seat."

Thomas sat down in his seat. His mind wasn't really paying any attention to Mr. Hailer's explanation on Shakespeare's life. He kept thinking about last night. The Voice that gave Thomas a prophecy of his death, the nightmares that followed. He was so tired he almost fell asleep during the lesson, and eventually did.

"FELL ASLEEP, HAVE YOU?"

Thomas was woken with the unpleasant sight of Mrs. Aemeeila's (I might as well die of horror right now) foul face. He'd slept through the whole of

Mr. Hailer's English class, and now his Health teacher had caught him asleep.

"Huh?" Thomas stupidly said, still half-sleeping.

"What do you mean, Huh? You know very well that sleeping in class can result in fatigue for the rest of the day therefore having-

"Yes, I know, Mrs. Aemeeila. I won't do it again." Thomas cut her off.

Mrs. Aemeeila grunted, turned around, and slowly walked back to her seat, which took an eternity, since she walked about as fast as a snail who needed a potty break every five seconds.

After school, Thomas went home with Ed and Nick- They had looked forward to spending the whole afternoon together at Thomas's house. Nick had been getting better from his fever, and was healthy enough to join them.

Unlike Ed, Nick was more of an indoor person. He liked video games and he played the guitar, whereas Ed liked outdoor games and was in the under-16 rugby team. He an inch shorter than Thomas, with ginger hair and countless freckles. As he was short, he was the right pick for bullies and was often persecuted. Luckily, Ed was often there to defend him. Unfortunately, the rare days he was sick, Nick was without protection.

They went inside. Thomas, Nick and Ed rushed straight up to Thomas's room. Thomas threw himself onto his bed.

"What do you wanna do?" Ed exclaimed.

"Well, I don't know. You choose."

They ended up playing video games all afternoon, and when it was time to go, their eyes were the shape of the computer.

"See you tomorrow!" shouted Thomas as they walked away.

Yes, you'll see them tomorrow. If you ever see them again.

"RAAAAAH!!!!"

Thomas was surprised by the Voice's sudden presence. It had spoken into his mind again!

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

No reply. The Voice had disappeared again.

What's happening to me? He thought. Am I really going mad? He definitely felt like it.

The next morning at school, he was marching off to his morning lessons when Gret made her appearance again. He felt a strong punch, not on the shoulder this time but on his back. He didn't fall to the floor this time. He stayed on his feet, tired of the bully. He turned around, and ducked just when Gret's fist almost punched him on the nose. The kids gathered round again. They were probably thinking, Wow, surprise! The loser's staying on his feet longer than usual! He pictured them passing money on bets.

"I bet he's not going to last ten seconds!"

"Oh, really? I bet he won't last five!"

Surprisingly, that angered him even more. The anger bubbled inside him, like every time he had an encounter with Gret. But this time, he didn't cool it down. Instead, he willed it to burn on, he let the flames of fury dance higher.

"Oh, little Tommy Baby's angry! Is he going to wet his nappy?"

The crowd sniggered. Gret's familiar voice only made the flames burn stronger. Finally, when the flames reached the sky, he let them loose into his fist, and he punched Gret as hard as he could.

The crowd gasped as Gret fell to the floor. She looked up at Thomas, shocked. Her nose was bleeding. For a few moments, everything was quiet. Then Thomas broke the silence.

"Don't you ever touch me again."

Then he elbowed his way out of the crowd and marched away.