Beautiful Apparation (Tony Perry FF)

seven

I have to be hallucinating. This isn't happening to me. Although it's hard to pause on the guys' face because of the head banging, it becomes clear. That's Tony. The hair, tattoos, piercing, it's him.

My heart beat increases and I feel a chill go down my spine. Daryl suddenly wakes from his slumber and begins to bark like crazy.

I couldn't be in this spot anymore. I tried to get up from the couch, but feel as if there's some type of weight on me. I close my eyes before taking a deep breath. I tried getting up again and successfully did so.

Quickly, I go into my room, Daryl following behind me. I don't know why I didn't run outside, would it make much of a difference? I just wanted to be away from that laptop. Once we're both inside, I notice a polaroid on my bed. Did I leave one out?

I grab it and examine. What the? It's of me and Daryl, but I put this picture on my dresser. Taking a closer look, I see something I can't describe. For a second I thought my film was messed up, then the shadow figure became clear. Halfway into my gasp a hand covers my mouth. With nothing else left to do, I let tears fall.

"Shhh," the voice coos. "You're safe. I'm going to remove my hand from your mouth, but don't scream."

Slowly, I nod my head and he did so. I didn't scream like he ordered. I'm too weak to. My lips are quivering of fear. I turn around to Tony. This can't be. It doesn't make any sense. It's not physically possible... or are one of my worst fears coming true?

He sits me down on the bed and Daryl hops on next to me, completely calm. This doesn't make any sense. I don't care how many times I say it, because it truly doesn't. There can't be an absolute explanation for this.

"Audrey, do you believe in afterlife?"

I'm scared to speak. This all feels so surreal. Tony couldn't be here right now. This has to be some crazy dream, but it's real. It's very real. I would reach out to touch him myself but like I said, I'm scared. I have no idea what he's capable of. I don't want to find out either.

"You don't have to talk. Just nod your head yes or no. So do you believe?"

Yes.

"Well that's exactly what my case is. Why am I here and not in either heaven or hell? I'm still trying to figure that out too. Are you scared?"

Yes.

"Don't be." He pulls me into a side hug, it's not cold like I expect it to be. I barely return it though. "I've always thought I was put here to help people. Audrey you're broken." He stopped the hug and looks at me.

I feel as if his stare is burning my eyes. They seem to take me to a whole different world, a destroyed one. Like he's seen it all, the depths of life, but also the rewarding ones.

"I can see it in your eyes when you looked at that picture of you and your brother. He's passed on, correct?"

Yes.

"Tell me how it happened. I can go look for him."

No.

"Audrey," he sighs. "I want to help you."

"Bringing him to me won't help anything," I snap.

He's just as shocked as I am. Me, Audrey, am talking back to something that can potentially kill me.

"How do you know that?"

"Tony, just stop. You're not here right now. This is all some twisted nightmare. I'm going to wake up and you'll be gone."

He smirks, "That's what they all say."

"I still don't believe this is actually happening right now," I pace the room.