Just a quick draft

ok

I had never felt my legs run faster than at that very moment. Every bone in my body ached, and it felt as if I could no longer control my movements. My breathing was both shaky and heavy, and it felt as if my lungs would give way at any second. My head was spinning with dizziness and it was hard to get one though across.

Everything was pitch black as if I had gone blind, but I could still see my small body as I looked down and around. I knew it was a trick, but there was no limit for how far I could run, and I wondered if it'd ever end. I wanted to go home so badly. I wanted to face my father. I wanted to see Alfie again, and play video games with him like we used to whenever he needed to get away from his own janky household.

My heart hurt from that thought, and I stopped abrutly in my tracks, hurling over to release all that had been buliding up inside of me.

It had been mere hours since Alfie had died, so much had happened since then, and still so little. I wanted him back, and the thought of knowing that if i ever made it out alive, I'd be even more alone. I wished for my friends to be able to go back to their own lives. James and Kait, together in Paris, their dream for years. And Jenny home in Korea with her family, not lying at the bottom of a water hole.

It had been so quiet, I had forgotten what it was like to anything but the sound of my breathing, when suddenly a loud sinister laughing could be heard from all around me. I sat up straight, wiping my mouth, and groaned, trying to cover my ears from the horrible sound that had haunted me from day one.

"Leave me alone", I screamed, but all that did was made it louder, closer and stronger. I felt my body shaking.

I grabbed my chest, feeling as if my heart was going to burst. i felt something poking me through my shirt, and reached into the front pocket to find Alfie's necklace. I felt the tears begin to pour from my eyes as I tried to stand up.

My thoughts had begun to fall darker, and I couldn't stop critisizing myself for what had happened. 

I let him die out there. I let them all die...

I squeezed the necklace in my hand as tightly as possible, crying out as it stabbed through my palms skin. Blood ran down my wrist, but I didn't care much, if I was to die soon, I'm sure there will be more blood than this.

"Elliot, you're hurt". A soft voice said behind me, it was almost melodic, and I was afraid to turn around.

I knew exactly who it was without needing to. But still I did it anyway. I turned to face the person I had let down the most, his bright red hair blowing even though there wasn't any wind, his freckles and green eyes more beautiful than ever. I was speechless.

"Here let me help you", he said as he started to walk towards me. I stepped away. I still couldn't figure out how he was here in the first place, and i wondered if i wanted him to be. This was only a reminder of my failures.

"Don't be scared Elliot", he said giving me a stern look.

I stepped away again as he walked towards me." You died Alfie", I said as tears streamed down my face again. I probably looked horrible. I hadn't had a proper wash in days, nor had I eaten much besides what I could scrounge from the villagers when they weren't looking. But eating was hard after what had happened, and it felt like I might throw up again after looking into his beautiful eyes. But still I mustered up the courage to speak to him."Alfie.." I said faintly,"You died."

"What? Elliot are you crazy? I'm right here.", he replied, letting out a small giggleMy heart fluttered, and I almost wanted to believe him.

"We're home now Elliot everythings okay". he held outhis had, but i didn't take it.

Suddenly the darkness had changed into what seemed to be the park we both grew up going to every day after school. We were right next to our favorite tree, and I could see both of our houses while looking in both directions.

It was so quiet, not a car in sight, or any distant sounds of traffic. The sun was shining, but I couldn't feel it's heat as it beamed down on us.

"Wanna go to your place and play that new game you've been talking about? My dad's being a drag and I'm not sure I want to go back right now."

"W-where's everyone else?", I asked quietly, ignoring the words that came out of his mouth. Everything he had said was so realistic, but I knew that I couldn't let reality go.

"Who? It's just us mate. That's how it's always been. Me and you."

"No Alfie. Where's James? Where's Kait and Jenny? Where's the kids that always come here, and the cars in the parking lot with the trashy people who deal drugs?"

"Elliot what are you talking about? Who the hell are those people? And I'm not sure, i guess it's just a slow day. Why is that such a big deal?"

"Do you even remember anything?", I said angrily.

"Remember what?", he said with a voice seemingly unaffected.

"Auditioning for the movie? Crashing? Our kiss...?", I said weakly. I could feel my eyes stinging.

"Elliot you're crazy. None of that happened. We didn't make it remember? We auditioned as extras but they didn't like our performance. And what kiss? I mean if you want me to kiss you I can, but you gotta explain to me why you're acting so crazy, dude."

That last part felt like a bullet through my chest. He couldn't remember anything. I knew that it was wrong but I couldn't help myself as I stepped forward, connecting our lips. He seemed to giggle as it happened, which seemed so Alfie like, but nonetheless he kissed back.

I broke off suddenly, pushing him away softly. Somehow it still didn't feel right.

"Wow you're a good kisser. But what's with the sudden change of heart? I thought you liked that one Jackie girl from Chem class. Did you learn how to kiss from her? Awe dude I'm proud!"

"I think I learned it from you." I said quietly.

"What?" He asked.

I had no idea what to think. I knew that i needed to figure out a way out of this situation, out of this sick trick. But it was all so hard when Alfie is the only person I want to see right now, but the one person i have to get rid of.

I looked him up and down, he was wearing his regular school uniform, along with his old shoes that seemed to always look brand new. I got a glimpse of the golden chain wrapped around his neck, connected to the pendant of his shark tooth necklace. He never took it off.

I looked down and could clearly see the real necklace wrapped around my hand, the blood had stopped, but I knew what I needed to do.

"I-I'm sorry Alfie", I said, looking the imposter straight in the eyes."I'm sorry that I made you be the stong one while I sat in the background and let you fight away our demons. I'm sorry that I never tried hard on anything and I always made you do all the work, especially in school, you're the smartest guy I know. I'm sorry that we sometimes started fights over nothing but I always let you win because deep down I know that...I love you more than anything in this world. And Alfie I'm sorry that I couldn't save you. Maybe if I was stronger or braver or...I could have saved you and everyone else. Instead I ran away like a coward for every offer I had to help anyone, and I let you handle it. But Alfie I don't want to live like that anymore. I have to let you go. I have to take your life and use it to inspire myself and others so I can do for them what I wasn't able to do for you...I'm so sorry. And Alfie I always knew you were gay. I mean why would you have tried to cuddle me in bed every time you stayed over or tried to sneak a new years kiss. I'm just sorry I tried to push you away when you made a move, but just know that i would have kept kissing you if you didn't have a bulge so quickly", I smiled slightly."I love you Alfie. Don't forget that because I sure won't."

I stepped forward to the figure, tears streaming down my face. Kissing its lips as I reached for the necklace. I pulled away, yanking it off. He looked me in the eyes, defeat was clear in his own. He turned to smoke as he dissapeared. The scenery around us had also dissapeared, and the darkness had settled in again.

I felt relief after saying all that, and my heart had begun to slow down to a normal pace again. But i suddenly realized that before I could quit worrying, I had to also help myself out of the darkness first. And then i could help others achieve the same.