Stolen From Superman-The Sequel To Waiting for Superman

Chapter 35- Paradise

*Ali's POV*

When I surface again, everything is black. I can feel a blindfold tightly wrapped around my head, intensifying the throbbing in my temple. Whatever they gave me must have been strong. My head aches and pounds and I try to reach up to take off the blindfold, but find my hands tied behind me, the ropes cutting into my skin the more I struggle. I sigh, accepting my current state. I can't see a thing, or hear a sound, other than the faint dripping of water in a distant corner. A wooden chair presses into my back, causing uncomfortable pressure points. I have no idea where I am. I don't where I'm facing. I could be hanging upside down, for all I know. My tangled hair brushes against my cheek, however, so I don't think that's the case. I don't feel any wind, letting me conclude that I'm probably inside. A slightly sour mildew smell drifts into my nose. The air is humid, sort of stuffy. Like a basement. A hot one, at that. A slight sweat breaks out on my forehead, added to my desire to be able to touch my face. I settle for the basement explanation, since it makes the most sense in this situation. But I'm unable to tell anything else. I could be just down the street. Or I might be in another state. It was a good trick, that chloroform.

The time passes with no restraint, regardless of my cluelessness. It may have been minutes. It may have been days. The time just ticks on, marching forward like a soldier. But my stomach growl angrily, giving me some indication. One that's it's been a few hours at most. But I know nothing more. It's agonizing, the ignorance. We don't realize how much it really means to be able to identify our setting. If only I could see the room. Even if I could only have a watch, it would be better. Anything would be better than this empty silence. I'd expected torture. Pain. But this is pain of a different sort. A pain meant to break me down. To weaken me. The real pain will come later, I'm sure. Or, I might just waste away, forgotten down here, alone in the dark. I already hurt, in more places than one. My muscles ache from the forced stillness. Blisters rub on my wrists, and my stomach pangs in hunger. My throat grows ever dry, and my head still pounds. But worst of all, the empty pain in my heart threatens to engulf it all. The pain gives me something to hold on to. Something like reality. The loneliness lets me know I'm still alive. However awful it may be, I still exist. And there is only one goal in my mind- to get back to him.

I drift in and out of sleep for what seems like an eternity. The pain in my stomach subsides to a dull ache, beyond the point of hunger. My mouth is as dry as a barren desert, burning every time I take in a breath, stinging my lungs and throat. I stopped sweating about what must have been a day ago. The stiffness in my muscles has set in, ebbing away the soreness from the hard chair. I cannot move my shoulders for the knots that have formed in them. But that seems like the least of my problems. Maybe I am starving and dehydrated and stiff and in pain. I'm losing consciousness already. It's been about 2 and a half days, by my count. I know I'll die soon, if they don't do something. Maybe this is their plan. To wear me down until there's almost nothing left. Then bring me back and do it again. It's awful, it truly is. But I know I must keep going. I have to endure this. For him. But I know nothing but the pain. I can see no future but this. So I cling to the past, letting myself drift in and out of my memories. Anything would be better than this. I can feel myself losing hold of reality. As the delirium sets in, my last thought is of Jordan. And I let myself fall.

Suddenly I'm in a different place. One that I'd assume I've created for myself, or that has been created for me, wherever I am. I can sense the real world hovering just out of reach, floating above me. But I have no desire to return there. All that remains is pain. Here, I feel no pain. Only the warm sun that gently heats my skin, and shines through the windows into my eyes. It seems like so long since I've seen the sun. The palm trees rustle gently in the breeze out on the balcony, in front of the room I sit in now, lit by the sun and scented with flowers. It's beautiful. I can hear the waves crashing softly in the distance, and laughter. Human voices seem strange and distant as well. I decide that this is a good place, and that I want to stay for a while. I don't know where I am. I hear gentle footsteps behind me, and my heart leaps, expecting who it might be, and anticipating it with every breath I take. I turn quickly, my actually clean hair falling around my shoulders. He stands there, almost more radiant than the sun. My chest fills with elation, pure happiness that I never thought I'd feel again. I have no idea why he's here. "Jordan?" I whisper, truly not believing that he's here. He looks slightly puzzled. "Of course it's me." He says with a slight chuckle. I resist the urge to tackle him and laugh, smiling widely. He walks closer to me, pulling me into a gentle embrace. I lean my head on his chest, heart fluttering in my joy. It's so easy to forget this isn't real. It isn't of course. But I wish it was. He feels so real. But who cares if it's real? I'm here now. And it's the best thing I could have asked for. If this is death, and I don't think it is just yet, then maybe this isn't so bad. It's certainly better than reality at the moment. I inhale deeply, his warm scent and the flowers in the room filling my nose lightly. I close my eyes, enjoying my brief paradise. "I love you." I whisper. And then it's over.

A/N: Well, that was sadly tragic, wasn't it? I know what some of you are thinking- Is she dead? Well, I don't know! You're going to have to wait for the next chapter! Since you all liked the last one so much in its depressing awesomeness, I figured we'd have a brief break, however tragic it may still be. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed, slap dat vote button, and leave a comment! The more you leave, the faster the next chapter will come!

-Argo