Chapter 1:

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'The world is on fire'

Chapter 1:

(Ella's POV)

It was always me and Dylan. We were inseparable ever since we first met. He was a normal guy and I was a normal girl who wanted a forever. That was always how it was and I never questioned it. Then he left with no mention where he was going. He stopped answering my calls and then I found his apartment was empty, it was as if he had never existed. At one point everyone around me thought he had died, but I knew deep down that wasn't true. And I guess that was the end of that chapter, it went from Ella and Dylan to Ella alone. But that doesn't matter anymore now that I have Joe.

Today was a difficult day. My thoughts drifted to him because it was a year ago today when I last saw him. I know I haven't gotten over him fully, but I knew I needed to move on. After looking around after getting lost in my thoughts, I looked across the table to Joe who was reading his newspaper, it made me realize I do miss him more than I let on.

"Are you alright Ella?" He asked, still focused on his newspaper. I took a sip of my coffee before answering.

"Hmm, are you?" I said looking around.

"I'm good, you looked a little away with the fairies there." He said smiling as he looked up over the paper. I smiled as he started talking about something he was reading. We came to this cafe every Friday on my lunch break hang out but today all I wanted to do was hide away in my office. Joe was a good guy, he was as normal as it comes, very boring, and focused on his work as a lawyer. It worked well as I didn't want an intense relationship after Dylan.

"Ella, did you even hear what I said?" He asked putting his newspaper down on the table and then taking a sip of his coffee.

"Sorry," I replied.

"I was telling you I'll be late for dinner tonight, so don't wait up for me," he said before yet again his voice was fading and I was distracted by something else.

'Of all the boring lawyers you could have chosen, you really chose him? Trust him to swoop in when I'm gone' I heard Dylan's voice say clearly as if all the noise in the room has faded like Joe's voice. I looked around to see if he was near my shoulder whispering into my ear or I could pick up his voice but he was nowhere in sight. I think I had thought of him too much, my imagination was going wild.

"What are you looking for now?" Joe asked getting annoyed by my distractions.

"I'm sorry Joe, I've got to go, I don't think I'm feeling well," I started standing up, picking my coat up from the chair and putting it on as he spoke.

"You sure you don't want me to walk you back," He said not even looking at me but instead infixed in his newspaper.

"I'm good, I'll see you later" I replied going over to him and giving him a quick peck on the cheek, which he lent in to. I quickly walked out of the coffee shop but accidentally bumping into some kid on the way out who seemed just as stunned as I was.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry, here let me help you with that," I said frantically, thinking my mind has run wild with me. I quickly got on my knees, the same as the teenager to pick up his blue and red backpack, the name 'Eric O'Brien' written on the front. O'Brien? That can't be a coincidence. I looked into his eyes and saw a similarity to Dylan. He was gawking as if he had seen a ghost when I helped him with his bag, practically pulling him up off his knees. I now definitely think I'm making this up and going crazy.

"Are you okay? Sorry about that." I commented handing him back the bag and quickly moving past him to get away, just about running to my car. I don't think I can focus on going back to work, I might call in sick for the rest of the day and go crazy at home.

'I get that this is weird but you can't run away from me' Dylan said. I looked around to see nobody around me other than cars.

"This is just my mind," I whispered. 

'We need to talk' He said as I started my journey home.

"This is just in my head, the voice is not real, it is just a figure of my imagination," I said to myself as I drove to get myself home.

'I need to explain to you why I left' His voice spoke. I shrugged his voice off and carried on driving, looking back feeling paranoid.

'You need me more than you know' He said but I snorted a little.

"You left me remember? Why should I need your help you when you hurt me like that?" I asked as I looked at the car next to me when we stopped at a set of traffic lights trying to get this psychotic voices out of my head.

'It wasn't like that, I left to protect you. I didn't want you hurt because of my world' he said sounding like this was a touchy subject for him

"Your world? Just tell me why you left or get out of my head." I asked, exasperated by all this confusing conversation with myself. If someone was in the car with me now,  they would think I'm mad. I couldn't hear any response from him which meant it was all in my mind.

"So I am going crazy?" I said as I turned the corner and approaching my apartment car park. When I stopped the car and pulled the keys out of the car,  his voice felt like it was coming from behind my seat.

'Look over towards the door.' He commented. I turned around to see if he was there but again there was no one in the back seat. I got out of the car and walked my apartment building but as I focused on the entrance, I saw a figure standing in the rain looking in my direction.

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