Soul Chains

Happy Endings Aren't Real

So many questions in my head

And so many blank answers

They follow me everywhere

Threatening to escape

I worry about my questions

Or, rather their answers

What if I find out that

Happy endings don't exist?

I come in peace

I mean you no harm

Life is just a lie

It's time you knew

~Sammy's Diary

"So," I said fearlessly, "You just want to ask some questions? Then ask away, but I don't want you to move a single muscle. Is that clear?"

She shrank further into the corner and nodded vigorously, her lights-for-eyes glowing.

"Good. So, like I said, ask away."

"I only have a few questions. The most important one is this: What do you know about my memories?"

"Not much," I replied, uncrossing my arms, "I visited your history on accident earlier, though. Larry and I thought it was stuck in some sort of time loop, just waiting for you to jump back in. I saw you, a girl, and a boy. You were running around, having the time of your lives. Then, suddenly, as soon as the sun set on the beach, it all started over, exactly the same. It was very strange..."

"Iggy and Jaimie," she said quietly, almost reverently, "I remember them. Not very clearly, but I remember their names. That's it. Okay, I have just one more question."

"Okay," I said in a tone that was equally as quiet as hers.

"Just this: I need to go back to that place you saw. Can you take me?"

"Yes," I said in reply, "Of course."

Without moving a muscle, she evaporated. Suddenly, I couldn't move. I couldn't wake up, and this time, I knew I couldn't do anything about it. I knew exactly what she had done, and I had no idea how I was going to get myself out of it. She had asked to take control, and I had agreed. I had given over my body to Coraline.