Soul Chains

No Relief

I scanned the sea for distant land

But the twilight had betrayed me

The shore I saw was so far off

Even for an ocean vessel

I told my arms to lift me up

And my legs to propel me on

But my thoughts were disconnected

And I clung on to the rocky bottom

My lungs slowly filled with water

And fog began to cloud my eyes

In a moment of disparity

My burning muscles began to work

~Sammy's Diary

Mortimer got up from the desk, pushing the letter far, far away from him. He had wanted to see his home again, but, after all these years, he wasn't sure if he ever wanted to go back. He loved Samantha far too much to try to leave, even if he could. How would anyone feel if they had lived with someone, completely connected in thought and desire, for thirteen years? Even though it had been done as a bitter punishment, Mortimer had become attached to her, and didn't even want to think about what would happen it he went home.

He handed the reigns back to Samantha, discovering that both of them were feeling bitter and melancholy. In a desperate attempt to add some cheer into the atmosphere, he piped up.

"Well," he said, "It isn't like you have to go. You probably got accepted by every other school in the world! There are plenty of choices!"

"No," I thought to him, "I have no choice. Look at the last line of the letter."

This is what that last line said:

"This acceptance is not a cordial invitation. Within the next 24 hours, an angel will arrive to pick you up for your orientation."

Inside my head, I heard Dr. Mortimer gulp. He was pretty smart, so if he thought this meant trouble, I had better be worried.

Nervous with anticipation, I closed up the letter, heating up the waxy seal. As soon as I closed it, it vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving only a small pile of ashes. Strangely, I wasn't surprised. I had received a letter from Purgatory, from a college a voice inside my head applied to, then the voice inside my head tells me the letter hurts him, and then the letter explodes, and I am not at all surprised. This sudden realisation sends me into fits of hysterical laughter.

To save me from going absolutely insane, Mortimer forcefully takes over until I can get settled. He knew that this sort of thing could drive anyone crazy, especially someone only in eighth grade.

Suddenly, he heard a whirring noise. It filled the whole room, vibrating every molecule.

"The angels," he thought, "The angels are coming."