Cold

Chapter Twenty-One

I was asleep. I had a dream that I was back at home, with my dad and her, or I guess, me. I couldn't believe I was this evil antagonistic person who loves torture all this time. Whatever this Cold is, it's messing with the world. It's a curse. The only way to end it was to break it apart from the inside. But how would we do that? At this point I wasn't sure I'd see my friends again, or get back to how things used to be. Whether that was me being her, or everyone being sent back, out of the Cold.

"Summer.........help"

I woke up to someone calling my name.

"Summer......"

Who was this? Where was this voice coming from?!?

"Summer..........go to the mountain. Bring the stone that ends all life and crack the surface. Doing it in this dream world will ensure she doesn't figure out what you're doing. Go quickly"

I looked around. Lyla was nowhere to be found, and somehow I was lying at the base of the mountain. I felt something hard in my hand. A stone.

"Use it to break the curse"

I didn't have time to worry if this voice was telling the truth, or worry about why I had this stone and who gave it to me. I needed to end this. Once and for all. No turning back. I started climbing up the mountain when I heard it.

Summer, turn back. This is a mistake. Do not trust the voice at any cost.

Too late. I am going to free all of us.

You are repeating history. She did the exact same thing. This is how the loop started. You will just make things worse by breaking my surface with the stone.

Stop talking. I need to do this.

If you do, you'll reset everything. All your friends will be gone, you will be gone. The world will start over. Do you really want to risk the lives of millions just to watch yourself do it all over again?!?

You're wrong. I won't restart the world, I'll fix it. Just watch.

No. I can't let you do this. Summer stop walking and just think.

How can I think when you're in my head trying to tell me what to do?!? I have so many questions about my life, and who I am. I can answer them if you just let me do this.

If you do this, you'll never find the answers you're looking for. If you let me, I can help you. Please, Summer.

No. I have to do this.

Can't you see? She doesn't want you to live. She doesn't want you to be happy. But you can be happy. Just stop walking.

I'm sorry. I have to.

I got to the top of the mountain. I took the rock and smashed it on the ground. A huge crack, a loud bang, and a flash of light later and -

***

I once read somewhere that a person has seven seconds to react before they die. In those seven seconds, a human can sense what's happening, think of ways around it, and choose whether to give up. My seven seconds, however, lasted an eternity.

In my seven seconds, I did a number of things. I woke up from the flash of light and saw everything slowly fading away. I ran down the mountain to find my body lying in the grass next to Justin, Ariel, Von, and Seth. We all looked like we got beat up. I sat next to Seth. Why would you kiss me? Something on his neck caught my eye. It was my family heirloom necklace. How.....? Why.......? Eeeewwww!!!