Double Crossed

Chapter 28~Aria

I don't remember much. Only a stabbing pain before I began drifting back and forth through a serene darkness and a fiery pain. The last thing I did remember was someone trying to kill Drake. I panicked when I could no longer see him. All I could was his voice but even that faded away. Then all I had for company was the darkness and pain.

I felt like I was drowning. I would come up for air only to be dragged back under. Then through the haze, Drake's voice reached me. It sounded so sad. I didn't know why. I didn't know why it was sad like he was carrying the world's pains on his shoulders. I just wanted to hug him and make him feel better, but I couldn't move. Everything felt so heavy.

Eventually I stopped trying because it was making me tired. Even blindly searching was exhausting me. So I just lay there drifting in the darkness as I listened to Drake's voice. It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard. The gentle quality it held lulled me into peace.

But then suddenly I couldn't hear his voice anymore. I called out his name, but my voice just echoed back eerily. I started to feel pain all over. I was on fire again. Then I saw a dot of light in the distance. I squinted but couldn't see anything. I ran towards it thinking it would bring me back to Drake and away from this pain.

I chased the light and it grew bigger with every step. The pain subsided and for once I felt content. The darkness was gone. It was bright again. I searched eagerly. I should've been able to see Drake clearly here but he was nowhere to be seen.

I could see the darkness diminishing in the distance. I watched it for a while. I didn't mind seeing it go. All I felt there was lost, alone, and a dull aching. It was so much better here in the white light. I was happy here and wondered why I didn't come here earlier.

Then I heard my name being called out. It was faint and only sounded like the echo of the wind. But it called again and I couldn't mistake it. It was Drake's voice calling me back. I began running towards it again but stopped suddenly.

I was on the edge between the light and the dark. I couldn't go back there.
I looked into the never ending black hole. Drake's voice kept echoing inside, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to go after it. Doing so would mean I had to reenter the darkness and leave the blissful happiness I just found.

I stayed there teetering on the edge until I could no longer hear Drake's voice again. It was sucked in by that greedy darkness. I couldn't let it take him. So I took a deep breath and launched myself back. A cold feeling washed through me and I glanced behind me long enough to see the light disappear forever.

I sat there in the dark again. Everything I hated about this place was back but I sat there patiently. I knew Drake would come back. He always did.

I don't know how much time has passed. I don't have any way of telling but it feels like lifetimes had come and gone and there was still no sign of Drake. I stand up and am just about to search for the light again when I hear it again. Soft at first but growing louder. His voice.

I see a faint outline of a person and I begin running towards it, convinced it's Drake. As I get closer the darkness begins to fade. The black transforms into colors and shapes of the city. Then I see him. It is Drake.

It's Drake with his loose fitted jeans and the crisp jacket I love so much. I call his name but he doesn't hear me. He looks so lost. He keeps looking around like he's searching for something.

"Drake!"

I go closer and call his name out louder. But every time I take a step towards him he takes one back. No matter what I do the distance remains between us. Too great for me to breach. I keep trying and get more and more frustrated at my futile attempts.