Texas Shadows

Chapter 23

LUCAS' POV

Everyone always talks about that "white light" and the "tunnel" before you die.
Who knew those fuckers were right.

I woke up in my truck. Except my truck was in a box, a big white box. The side of the car was smashed and I had to crawl out the shattered window. The black paint had chipped showing the compacted metal underneath. I looked around for Farkle, remembering he was in the car too. No sign of him.

I ran my hands along the walls, they were glowing somehow but felt completely smooth. I spotted a thin black line on the opposite side of the room. I ran over expecting a door, no luck. Suddenly a voice emerged from overhead.

"Ah Lucas Friar." I looked around confused, seeing no speaker. "Don't be alarmed I'm in your head. Well technically we both are." A figure appeared and I recognized it as Pappy Joe.

I was about to say something when he cut me off. "I know your confused. Right now you, my son, are in elsewhere." He moved his arm gesturing around the room. "Elsewhere is the place where you decide life or death." The wall we were closest too formed into a hallway with two doors. I followed him in.

He pointed at the individual doors. "These doors open into a room that shows what would happen when you choose." He pointed specifically to the door that read 'Death' "In there is a chair and a TV screen. You say a name and it will show you how you dying would effect that person."
I thought about Maya.

Now this door, he took a few steps backward and spun on his heels. "Same thing, but the monitor tells you-" He cut himself off. "Lets just show you." He pushed me into the room, watching my awe-struck expression. The walls were also made of the glowing plastic material.

"Say a name." He rested his hand on my shoulder. "Maya Hart?" The monitor flashed to life showing the pale blonde girl. Maya was walking down the hospital hallways. Almost as if she knew where she was going. I watched her take a big breath and enter the room. My eyes lingered at all the things in the room, mostly myself. There were all sorts of machines I was hooked up to.

"What am I gonna do with you?" She laughed, sitting down and resting her hand in mine. It was at this moment I was completely speechless. There were small black drops falling onto our intertwined hands. "You think by now I would know not to wear mascara." She sniffled and wiped at her cheeks.

"Maya?" I watched as Zay followed in. "Hey, uh, you can talk to him. I will be back later." Before he could say anything Maya took off. "So? Hows almost being dead feel like? I guess I shouldn't joke. You're gonna be awake soon anyway. I'm just here to talk about Maya." He sat down and put his feet up on the bed. "Shes a wreck. She spent the last two weeks here, sleeping by your side, getting angry and yelling. She ends up crying anyway." He paused and so did the monitor.

Pappy Joe re-appeared, I hadn't noticed he was gone to begin with. "There are more than one screens just say a name." He handed me a small remote. "If I say Maya again will it show me two Zays?" I ask. "No" And with that he vanishes again. "Um, Maya Hart." A second screen folds out beneath the first one. I decide to sit down. I decipher the remote and play both screens, muting Maya.

I listen to Zay but watch Maya, she was running. She quickly darted into a small and dark janitors closet. She slid her back against an empty wall. I had never seen her like this before. She collapsed into a corner, forming a ball. She let out cries that I was glad I couldn't hear.

"Its been a month." I gaped at the sound of how long I had been here. "You put her through hell, just wake up and tell her everything is going to be okay. Also if you get around to tell her shes not broken. She told me 'don't believe, don't get hurt.' am I supposed to believe that? Apparently your the one that fixes her." He looked around, I guess trying to find the right words. "I should go." He gets up and walks out. But he dosen't head toward the exit. The screens flick off.

"Pappy Joe!" I call off, not knowing how this whole things works. Quickly he fades into existence. "A month?" He nods. "Have you seen what she has been going through? I needed to be awake to help her. But instead I'm here." I swing my arms out, motioning to this place. "I was monitoring you."

"You were what now?" I was more confused now. "You were too close to death for me to help you out of here. Only yesterday did you show signs of mental awareness." I was angry and I'm sure it showed. "Oh so you're some kind of doctor now!"

"Lucas you can go back now." Pappy Joe didn't answer my question. "I... I can?" Instantly calming me. "You're mentally healthy at this point." I smiled. "Wheres the door?" He called out my name showing signs of concern.

"Lucas, you will feel immense pain if you wake now. Your body is not ready." I went up close to him. "I rather have pain out there than watch the girl I love be in pain, because of me! Now, the door." I take deeps breaths trying to calm myself.

(a/n) Sorry I haven't updated, but from the lack of comments and views none of you really cared.