The Fault in Our Stars: Augustus' Return

Chapter 4

The hole begins to widen, making a loud cracking sound in the ground, Gus is across the other side, urging me to just jump for it. But I am frozen now, and I can't seem to hear him anymore.

"Jump! Hazel, Jump!" He suddenly screams, I think I zoned back in. The hole is around a 7ft jump... I could never do this. But that's when I realise... This is a dream, right? I can do anything. I stand back a few steps, and then run and jump over the pit.

*

7 hours earlier

*

"What about my tank, though? How do we get there? I'm not going to be able to run or walk without my tank." I say

"The air there is healing air, they call it a serum. Every year they spray it into the ventilation system and it heals most people." He explains to me

"How do people know it's not an illusion serum, that the gas only creates an illusion in their mind that they are healed and in actuality they aren't."

"You're smart, you know that Hazel." He kisses me, on my cheek, but he still kisses me. His lips are cold and piercing, but relaxing at the same time. He stops.

"We'd better go." He mutters.

*

We climb to the top of the gymnasium on fifth street, I don't know why, but when we get there, there's two beds set up. He walks over and pushes one bed so it's touching the second.

"Lay down" He says with a slight smile, as tender smile. One to say he loves me. I return it.

We lay down facing the stars and it reminds me of when I first found out he had died. I lay down on my lawn and told him the only two words Id never be able to tell him; I Do.

"I don't want this moment to end, Gus."

"Close your eyes, Hazel-Grace, just let this happen."

My eyes close and suddenly I feel as if im falling, I don't open my eyes though, because I don't want this dream to end. Even though we have to go on some sort of mission to save his sister, I've enjoyed being with him in the past few hours that I have.

*

I feel a rough, hard material beneath me, my eyes flutter open, forcefully, and I get up.

"Gus?"

He isn't here...

"Hazel?" I hear it, as if he is standing right next to me, I spin around hurriedly, "Gus?"

"Hazel!" Now it is more desperate, like he needs me to hear him. I turn back around and see him, but his left arm is completely gone.

"Gus? Your arm..."

"Time is running out, Hazel. It's time for us to leave. Before the inevitable happens. The people that I love are slowly beginning to forget about me. They are stopping loving me, stopping caring. My parents don't remember me, because I asked the Seeker to wipe their minds. I couldn't bare to see them cry so much. Isaac just thinks I was an imaginary friend that he made up so he felt more comfortable about the blindness. And Tris, well I don't know about her. But you, you doubt me. You doubt my existence and you still prefer to believe this is a fantasy. Well It's not, this is real and if you want to never see me again I understand. But I love you, Hazel Grace. Okay?"

"Okay." I mumble, I do. I do love him.