Above clouds (Short stories)

Beware the roses

Do what you are doing ~ Dexter Britain

He was sprinting through the path surrounded by tall bushes that seemed to stretch up and up to the sky. Red flowers were blooming here and there and Thomas would have found this scenario mesmerizing if his insides didn't intend to leave his body. His joints felt weak and to be honest it would have been easier to just fall to his knees and give up everything. But he couldn't physically do that. No stopping. Not even for a second. He was extremely out of breath trying to get as much oxygen down his lungs as he could to keep his racing heart in place. The panic that was slowly but steadily growing inside of him didn't help either. All he wanted to do was just give up. He could feel his eyes prickling and the tears were pushing, wanting to fall freely down his chin onto the cold ground. But no. They needed him. HE needed him.

He ran into a monstrous wall face forward. Stumbling back he glanced around dreading the thought of being locked. To his fortune this time the roses gave him a chance.

Maybe after-all they weren't so heartless.

He took off trying to recall the route but his mind kept on jumping from one outcome to the other neither of them being ideal to anyone. 

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

'It's gonna be okay' he lied to himself trying to find comfort in these words.

Fearing he would be too late he clenched his fists with such force, his nails cut into the palm of his hands leaving red marks that hurt a great deal but this was the only thing that made him believe all of this was real. Otherwise he would have thought he went insane and would have immediately returned to where he came from.

He had no idea where he was heading but kept on following his gut-feeling. Like HE always told him to.

But when he turned in the last corner he froze in his tracks. A small dark figure was being slowly sucked in by the bush. It's branches firmly rapped around the frail body cutting into the flesh. Dark drops of blood stained the pathway all the way to where his friend was laying on the ground, weak. He rushed to the silhouette and tried to free it from the cruel flowers. The thorns were scratching the body so pale that Thomas earnestly considered that he was late . He got out his knife and tried to loose the roses' grip on his friend. The thought of accidently cutting him instead made him shudder. The bush finally let go of the him but he was in an awful state. It was challenging to stay put and not run from everyone and everything. Blood was all over his hands. He felt nauseous. But right now he didn't care. All he cared about was his best friend.

'Don't you dare leave me now' his voice cracked and he shook the limp body of the boy but there was no response. His touch was freezing and he had no color to his skin.

'C'mon Brody. Please' he raised his trembling hands breathing deeply and softly pushed Ambrose's blond hair out of his face.

Wait.

He was breathing.

Thomas sighed out in hope and pulled the boy on his lap protecting him from the branches that were slowly inching up his bare feet ready to take him.

'Brody. I'm here. It's gonna be okay. Here me buddy? You are going to be fine' but he knew he was wrong. Even though Ambrose did breathe it was like someone grasping for the last chance to have oxygen flowing through their blood.

'Please wake up. Please' he begged the boy.

But it was no use.

Thomas cried out in pain. The inability to help his friend broke his heart.

And with a final gasp his heart stopped beating.

Thomas' tears broke through the wall he built. He softly lifted Ambrose's head placing their foreheads together. It was the only bond between alive and dead.

And at that moment Thomas decided to give up.

The branches slowly crept up their legs pulling them in until they were one.

And finally Thomas truly felt at peace. He was with Ambrose.