Inside

Party

Link rose from the ground, not knowing where he was. All he saw was darkness and very little light peering through... trees? He was in a forest, the forest that Rhett and himself were in a while ago. Link was scared, his heart beat racing, his head spinning. Something started rustling in the leaves. Link's eyes widened and this gave him only one impulse: to run. He started running toward the road, trying find the way back home. His vision was hazy, but he didn't care. Link heard a familiar voice behind him. "Link..." it whispered. Link turned back and fell. He scraped his elbows and his cheek, blood beading, making a streak down his cheek. He got up and stared down the road, looking where he heard the voice. The realization of who was the voice was slowly coming to Link. His vision blurred, and he could barely see lights. A truck was coming, speeding. The horn was honked, warning Link it was coming. Link knew who the voice was. Link barely getting up, kept looking straight at the truck coming at full speed. "Link..." Link looked to his left. "Don't leave me." "Rhett?" Link mumbled looking back down the road, seeing the truck right about to hit him till a large dark figure jumped at him, pushing him out the way.
Link instantly woke up breathing heavily and quick. It was a dream. He rubbed his eyes and realized he was naked, with the torn dress on the ground. His glasses weren't on his face, they were on the bed with some of Link's clothes neatly folded. He got up and examined it. Link smiled, knowing Rhett was still at least a little human. He put on his glasses and looked at the time, 10:34pm. Oh no. The party. He quickly put on his clothes, grabbed the keys to Ryan's van. He rushed to the party, knowing Rhett would be there. Rhett. Stay with me. Please... don't leave me.
-
The party was already filled with people, loud music filling in the empty spaces. It was dark, yet there were flashing lights everywhere. Rhett walked into the party; looking down with his black hood on. "Hey, Rhett! Wow! Awesome costume!" Gabriel yelled, another college friend of Rhett and Link's. Rhett pulled down his hoodie and was completely transformed. His wavy hair and beard now completely sliver white, his teeth razor sharp, his eyes blood red, his tear ducts stretched out completely towards his nose, his eyebrows invisible, yet still furrowed. Rhett walked forward, taking someone's full beer. He instantly finished it, putting it down somewhere nearby. "Where's Ryan?" Rhett fumed. He stopped walking. In the hallways. He went out, the hallways silent, except for one of the classrooms. He must be in there. He opened the door to see Ryan fixing up some things like decorations and snacks. "Hey." Rhett said, making Ryan turn around. "Oh hey, Rhett. Do you need anything?" Ryan said. "Yeah actually." Rhett said, closing the door. "What is it?" Rhett started unzipping his hoodie. "You."
-
Link was speeding down and finally arrived at the party. He instantly got down and pushed into the gym. He was greeted by people, but all Link could do was wave and raise his eyebrows. He looked around everywhere, but couldn't find him. "Hey, Link!" Gabriel said, going up to Link. "Oh, hey Gab. Do you know where Rhett is? It's urgent." Link said. "Oh yeah! He went down that hallway." Gabriel said. He pointed towards the left hallway. "Thanks, man." Link said, running towards the left hallway. He went out the double doors and looked left and right down the hallways. Link noticed noise coming from one of the classrooms. He peered in through the doorknob to see Rhett throwing Ryan down to the floor. Link barged in looking at Rhett topless, his veins throbbing. Ryan was loosely getting up, with his arm hurting. "You fucker!" Link yelled, pushing Rhett down, making Link top Rhett. "Stop! Just stop!" Link grabbed Rhett by his shoulders and shook him with every word. "Stop hurting everyone and hurt me instead! Hurt me! Take me! Kill me!" Link cried, hitting Rhett's chest. "I don't want you!" Rhett bellowed, pushing Link off of him. "I don't even know you anymore!" Rhett yelled. Link looked around and found a knife from which Ryan was cutting boxes with. He took the knife and slit the middle of his hand.
As kids, we had this sense that we were gonna do something together. It didn't matter what that would be.
Link knelt down and grabbed Rhett's hand.
We didn't bring a knife, so we found the sharpest rock we could find and we scraped our palms a few times.
Link slit the middle of Rhett's hand as well, followed by Rhett flinching. Link intertwined the two bloody hands together.
We drew blood, shook hands and then stuck our hands on a sheet of notebook paper that said, "We will do something together one day."
"I have known you for more than thirty years." Link said, tears forming in his eyes. "You think I don't know anything about you... Now... I am you." Link said, the tears finally falling down his cheek. Rhett looked down to their hands. "But what am I..?" Rhett muttered, his deep red eyes looking into Link's bright blue ones. Link held him close. "Hey... I know what's going on... I understand... I believe." Ryan said. Link looked over to Ryan. "You do?" "Yes... Link... You need to hurry. It's about to be 2017." Ryan said. Link looked at his watch. 11:48pm. Shit. "We gotta go." Link pulled Rhett up. "I'll cover you guys." Ryan said. "Thanks a bunch." Link said, holding up Rhett. They left the classroom and Ryan bent down picking up Rhett's hoodie. "I'll cover you guys." Ryan whispered again. "Please be safe. Please... be cured.