Swap

The Storm

Jax
The moment my eyes open, before I hear my phone re-buzz with a new message, before I start to move or look around, I know that I've changed back and am once more, Lexi.
My breath hisses between my teeth angrily.
She probably slept all night, never woke, and never read my text message. Well that's dandy. Just dandy. All my effort going into a message for nothing.
She hasn't read my message but, my feelings haven't changed on it and I don't regret sending it.
I consider resending it, but, seeing as that has failed once, I guess I'll try to talk to her in person.
Gathering my resolve, I leap out of bed, into the day.
......
She's avoiding me. Whenever I come close to her, she comes up with an excuse to leave or walk away. Some of the people she's with cast angry or disappointed glances my way. Did she tell them?
No. That's not something Lexi would do.
Ah right. I forgot. I'm dressing like an average human being today. A bunch of guys are quite disappointed about that, I guess. They're all avoiding me.
......
I finally, finally catch up to her as she leaves, alone, to get food on lunch break.
"Lexi!" I call. "Lexi, stop! I have to talk to you! I'm sorry! So, so sorry!"
She turns towards me and thunder booms overhead. It's gonna rain.
"Sorry for what, exactly?" she asks. We're standing ten feet apart, in the middle of a field, so it's more of a yelling sorta ask.
The first few drops of rain fly downward. It's hot rain. Hot? Yes. I'd better make this relatively quick. It's probably some sort of acid rain.
I take my eyes off the sky and look back at her, to find her pale as a sheet and staring wide eyed at me.
I need to finish this.
"I'm sorry, Lexi, for wrecking your life. I'm sorry for assuming that you just hated Cheyenne. I'm sorry for not finding out the truth. 'Cause last night I did. I went out for a walk and found Cheyenne and her boyfriend. You were right! I was wrong. And I'm sorry for causing you pain- it was completely uncalled for. I didn't understand. And I do care-"
"We need to run!" Her scream startles me. Wind begins to whistle and howl all around.
"What are you talking about, Lexi?! I'm trying to apologize to you!"
"No, Jax, no," Lexi moans.
"Can I not apologize!?" I shout.
"Look," she whispers.
Fearing the worst, I turn around. A wall of purple fog is racing across the field towards us. It's the purple I've dreamed of each night since the swap. And now it's finally come.
"Run! Run! Run!" I yell.
We've hardly taken out first step when the fog descends on us.
I stumble and fall to my knees. Lexi is coughing somewhere to my right. I can't see anything other than purple. I try to get up, but somehow find myself rolling on the ground twitching. A huge amount of dread fills every part of me.
Whispering is all around.
"Save us. Save us. Save us."
Lexi is whimpering.
A hissing laugh fills the air, "See you in a week, Jax Jax Jax Jax Jax Jax Jax."
"Save us! Save us!"
I'm starting to think that this is just some weird dream like all the others, when I hear Lexi begin to scream.
"Lexi!" I shout, "I'm coming!"
I crawl towards her, slogging through the hot rain collected on the ground.
And then the pain hits me too.
I fall to the ground yelling and swearing. Heat seems to be spreading through me. Weight presses on my eyes, heart and lungs. It feels as if my skin is being pulled apart.
But, through the wind, rain, pain and thunder, I continue to crawl towards the sound of Lexi's screams.
Then, in one instant, everything goes silent and I'm laying on warm, but damp, rocks, listening to the sound of Lexi gasping a few feet away.