A Tearless World (Editing!)

Chapter 19: A New World

I took a minute for me to realise after the spark that neither of them had survived. Instead, laid a pile of ashes on the floor. I gripped Jack tightly and tried to pull free. He helped me and we were soon able to get out. Swiftly followed by Evan who we saw outside.

“We need to go, now!” I can’t bear to be here a minute longer.

“Arrr!” Groaned someone from the bushes. Both me and Evan stopped and stared. Right now I don’t want to know who that is. I need to go, so we turned in the opposite direction. They emerged instantly from their so called hiding place. It took a minute for me to realize that it was J. 

“J? J, but, but how!” No words could explain what I’m feeling right now.

“I’m sor-ry.” He gasped before falling to the ground. What’s happened to him?

“Come on, explain later.” Evan took hold of Jack while I hauled J up and helped him walk away. Suddenly a huge bright flame blew from the building. Someone had set it on fire. We have to go now! “Come on!” I shouted, but not to anyone in particular.

By the time we reached the park, where the gateway to home is, J could barely stand. I let him fall down by the tree. His breaths were long and heavy. Evan gently put Jack down and let him slump against a wall. He needed all his strength if we were to avoid serious questions at home. Home. I never thought I could miss it so much.

“Evan.” I pulled him aside. I still hated J right now, but I still need to know if he will be alright.He did save my life after all. In fact he saved everyone’s. So maybe he still had some good left in him after all. “What’s happened to J? How’s he still alive?” He took a short breath before saying,

“I’m not sure.”

“You do, I can see it.” He stared down, avoiding my eyes. “I need to know.”

“Alright.” He gave in quicker than I thought he would.

“So, what happened?”

“When I was captured and got taken away, and TOUFrang me.”

“TOUF?”

“Yeah, T – O – U – F.” My confused glance must have been enough of an indication as he continued, “Tear, Operation, Unit, Fix.” I gave a slight laugh. “Cheesy I know. But anyway they’re the ones that have been in charge of trying to fix the tear problem.”

“So why did they call you?”

“Well, they said that they have found a way to fix it. And, they said they can fix it straight away.”

“Did they?”

“Yes, that’s why J’s still alive.”

“So, his tear fell first, killing Mr Black. Then before Mr Black’s fell, they fixed it.”

“Yes.” He paused.

“So, why did they ring you?”  There’s was much more to this than he’s letting on.

“Well. For a while now I’ve beenworking as an agent for them.”

“How? What did you have to do?”

“I had to get someone to go to Mr Black so they could get him to kill someone. That way they would have been able to test it.” Suddenly it all made sense. He arranged for Jack to be brought a ring. He was the one that arranged all of this.

“Then, then it was you. It was all you!” I stopped for a short breath.“You arranged for Jack to be brought here! You were the one that made me come back here!” I shouted before storming away.

“No! Well, yes, but not all of it.”

“Then, what bits! What parts did you do?” My temper was breaking. I thought I could trust him! When J went behind my back, I thought he was the one I could rely on. I must have been wrong.

“Ok, listen. Just hear me out.” I stopped pacing and settled in front of him.

“Ok, I’m listening.”

“Um, ok, at first I was just under the order to get close of someone that came into this world.” Naming me. “We knew that Mr Black was looking for someone knew. I was paid to keep an eye on anyone he recruits.” I stared at him intently. Was he really telling me the truth? It fitted so far at least. “Then one day, we saw him bring someone back to his base. We followed them.” I knew at once that he was talking about J.

“You mean J?”

“Yeah.” He replied, confirming my suspicions. “Then when I saw you with him in our world, I thought that if I lured you here J would convince you to go to Mr Back.”

“So why did you get Jack involved?”

“I didn’t. Well, not really. When I hadn’t got you here with J knowing, they sent someone to get Jack to come here so you would to. The whole thing just got, out of hand.”

“Yeah, you’re telling me!” I shouted.

“But, I didn’t…..”

“Look I don’t want to hear it! Just get lost Evan and stay out of my life!” I stormed back towards J and Jack who were both lying under the nearby tree.

 I gently took hold of Jack and put him through into our world. He landed softly and managed to sit up, although not for very long. Then I helped J up and went through the gap. J went to follow, but stopped.

“Come on.” I said.

“Um, I can’t.” I narrowed my eyes and saw that he couldn’t as he tried again. But how? He must be able to.

“What do you mean?” I was talking to Evan again now. He knows, and I have a strong feeling he knew as soon as we got here.

“There’s a slight price for fixing the tear problem.”

“What sort of price?”

“Um, as J had already released a tear before it was fixed, he can’t exactly leave this world.”

“What!” I shouted. My temper suddenly vanished and my anger took over. “What do you mean he can’t leave? Where’s he going to go now?” Panic slowing rising in me, I took a step back. There must be a way out of this. There has to be.

“I’m sorry.” I ignored him and turned back to J.

“What are we going to do?” I asked him.

“Ali, leave me. It’s ok.”

“What? I can’t leave you. Your hurt and you’ll be all alone here.”

“No, I’m not?”

“What do you mean?”

“When I was here alone before, I did a little research.” He paused, taking a long deep breath. “I found out that I’ve got family here.”

“Really.” I asked in disbelief.

“Yeah. Just go Ali, take Jack home. Leave and forget me. Forget this day ever happened. It’s for the best.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes you can.” He gripped me hands soothingly. I could feel tears forming. No, I can’t cry. I can’t. Without another word, I stood up and stepped through the gateway.

“I’ll never forget.” That was the last thing I said to him before I faded away into the real world.  And I meant what I said. I’m never going to forget.