I opened my eyes to a strange place. It was dead and windy. I felt the uncomfortable scratchiness of dead grass on my back and the strong breeze against my face. I stood up quickly, hoping to see Jasper, but it was lonely here. There were no trees or animals. There wasn't a single sound besides the wind whistling through the air. Confused, I began to walk across the dry ground.
"Sora," an echo of Jasper's voice called. I froze to look around, but there wasn't a single person in sight.
My throat burned and my stomach was in knots. Fear ran across my entire body as I stood there, silenced. Then a familiar hand touched my shoulder, making me jump out of my skin. I turned around to see Jasper staring at me with worried eyes.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
Relief filled my mind as I heard his voice through my ears.
"I'm not sure."
He looked confused, like he's never seen me before. I couldn't understand what he wanted me to do. He looked as if he saw a ghost.
"Where are we?" I asked, hoping to hear a response.
"You can't be here," He said firmly.
"Damian said you needed me here. I want to help you." I could tell he was angry. He clenched his fists and his eyes showed fury.
"I don't need your help!" He yelled. I took a step back.
I didn't know what to say. There was nothing I could do. I began to wonder why Damian needed me to be here.
"I can help you through this," I told him.
I just wanted out of wherever I was. I wanted both of us out. Jasper stayed quiet, but still furious.
"I don't have the time for help," he mumbled under his breath.
"What do you mean? Are you timed?" My head spun with confusion. Was my help killing him?
"You need to go before he kills you too."
I looked down at Jasper's hands and noticed he was gripping a long piece of broken mirror.
"Jasper, don't," I commanded.
"Goodbye, Sora." He sliced the glass along his neck as blood poured out and he fell to the ground.
I was paralyzed - shocked. I couldn't move. My mouth opened in fear and I dropped to my knees, covering my face with my shaking hands. I was too scared to cry. I was too scared to make a single sound.
I sprung up from Jasper's bed, my heart racing out of my chest. I looked over to Jasper to see Damian with his two fingers on Jasper's neck and Hayden's eyes glazed over with tears.
"He's gone," Damian said, standing straight and hugging Hayden close.
I peeled off the cord from my head and left the room without a word, knowing now that I was completely alone. I didn't have anyone anymore. My head became hollow and silent. Not a single thought passed through. It felt like my heart had stopped beating and I was no longer living.
"Sora," Damian called from the top of the stairs. "It wasn't your fault."
I nodded at him and left through the front door.
I kept my eyes on the ground as I made my way down the long gravel driveway. I stuffed my hands in my pockets and closed my eyes tight to hold back the burning tears. I didn't know what to do next. Maybe it was time to turn myself in back to Jax so he could take me away from this sick place.
I made it to the end of the driveway and looked around the slushy roads, hoping to see Jax right away. There were very few cars and people, probably because it was a Monday.
I walked along the sidewalk, kicking stones with every step. I wasn't even afraid of what would happen when Jax found me. I hoped for death, so I could be with Jasper again. But all I really wanted was to be with Jax.
I continued to stare at my feet as I walked, when I was shoved off to the side and felt a small piece of cloth cover my mouth. I tried to kick and scream, but my body weakened and I felt myself slowly drift away to a deep sleep.
I woke up on the familiar rough feeling of Jax's couch. I sat up to look around, but I couldn't see anyone. I could smell coffee from the kitchen as my heart began to race. Jax came out of the kitchen holding a cup of coffee in his one hand, showing an angered look.
"Jax," I said, happy to see him. I still wasn't sure why, because of all he put me through. But something inside me was telling me everything will be okay.
"Why aren't you with Jasper?" Jax said, his voice deep and frustrated. I looked at him confused and folded my arms to my chest.
"How do you know about him?" I asked. He gave me a glare and slammed him mug to the coffee table.
"Where the hell is Jasper?" He asked again, ignoring what I said. I turned my head away from his eyes and sighed.
"Jasper's gone."
Jax gave a strange look, as if he was mad at Jasper for dying.
"God dammit!" He yelled, pushing the coffee mug off the table as it shattered against the floor. I rolled my eyes, not surprised by Jax's anger issues.
"Why do you care? How do you even know about Jasper?" I said, looking back into his green eyes.
"I'm the one asking the questions." He said in a demanding voice.
"I think you owe me a few answers."
Jax sighed and sat next to me.
"I don't have much time. They'll find me soon and take me away again," He began.
"Explain why you've been lying to me about how much you loved me," I demanded.
"Lying? Sora, I never loved anyone as much as I loved you. You showed me how to be happy again. You taught me to smile."
I teared up and glared at him.
"Then why the hell did you do what you did to me? You tried to kill me," I stated. I stood up ready to leave, but I glanced at a strange stitched cut that went all the way across the back of his neck. "What happened?"
"They're starting to control people. They're implanting trackers into people's necks. I had to cut mine out after I realized what was happening. My chip stopped working and I escaped." He held out a small yellow chip and handed it to me.
"So you were being controlled? You never meant to do that to me?" I looked to him with a small smile.
"I would never do that to you. I still love you, Sora."
I've never been so relieved in my life. Hearing those words coming out of Jax's mouth once again, made me feel like the hole in my chest has been filled. But another part of me didn't want to trust him. This could all be another trick, but I've already fallen for it.
"I love you too, Jax."
