The end of Forever

by Melody Ichigami

sign. The fort looked like it had taken months to make! It was amazing. There was a snack bar, a sleep bag inside, a TV, computer, books, I was shocked. The fort was painted blue, my favorite color. I ran inside.

  I looked from left to right. When something stopped me. A picture of Courtney and I. On the bottom of the framed picture, there was a sticker that said BFFZ! I teared up. This place was too good to put in words. There was even a neon blue beanbag chair!

  “Can I, can I live here?” I asked, serious, but in a joking tone.

  “It's yours! Can I sleepover sometimes?”

  “ALL THE TIME!” I said, reaching over to hug her.

  “And look, I this whole wall is white board, because I know how much you love to draw!”

  I picked up the marker Courtney handed me. I hadn't draw in forever, and my hand ached to draw.

  I felt my hand, gracefully moving the black marker. I closed my eyes. When I opened them, Courtney was crying. I looked at what I had drawn. I never know what I draw, I just close my eyes, and let my hand do the work. Then I felt a tear slide down my face.

  I had drawn us. Hand in hand with the motel man. But behind us, the motel is burning. The fire looks so real, I feel like I can reach out and touch it. I can smell it. But us in the picture can't. We stay there, smiling our heads off.

  I began to reach for the picture. I wanted to smash it. Get rid of it. I lifted my fist up. Somebody grabbed my wrist, just before it hit the picture. Courtney.

  “Wait.” she said.

  She walked closer to the picture. Scanning each line, each detail.

  “Look here.” She said pointing out tiny words on her shirt.

  Help us! The shirt read.

  “I draw with my heart, not my head.” I said.

  “I know. Somebody needs our help. It's still not over, Mel.” She said, falling to the ground. We'd both had enough. We both couldn't take it anymore. But we had too.

  I knew whatever was going to happen, was happening soon. I knew, but I wish I didn't. I know a lot of things I wish I didn't know. Some things I hadn't even told Courtney. I didn't trust myself with them.

  “I'm going to bed early, OK?” I said, suddenly feelings a need to sleep.

  “OK.” She said.

  I smiled at my bed. It was so perfect. I lied down. I closed my eyes. I twitched.

  “Help me, help us. We need you. We need you.” A voice cried out, in a horrified voice, but only as loud as a whisper.

  “Why me.” I asked, frozen. My eyes wouldn't close. My blood turned to ice. I felt myself turning pale.

  “We need you...” The voice got softer and softer.

  “WHY!” I screamed, able to blink.

  No answer followed.

  “Mel?” Courtney asked, coming in, with a worried look on her face.

  I didn't tell her what happened. I told myself it was all my imagination. But it wasn't.

  “Huh?” I asked, rubbing my eyes, acting as if I had only had a bad dream.

  She ran down and hugged me, “It's OK.”

  Suddenly I felt mad, “I know it is! I don't need you to go all its OK! I'm not stupid! Leave me ALONE!” I hissed.

  She looked shocked, “I-I-I'm sorry.” She stammered, before racing out.

  Courtney hates fights. She wants to be as far away from them as possible.

  I ran after her, “Courtney, wait.”

  She stopped. I was shocked. Shocked. Blood trickled down her face.

  “Wha-” I started.

  Courtney cried, “I. Was. Shot!” She said, pointing toward the forest.

  I raced over to her. “I'm so sorry.” I repeated over and over.

  “It's OK.” She repeated, too, before closing her eyes, as her head launched back, like she had lost all muscle.

  I picked her up,and raced her back to the huge fort. Just as she had done for me, going to the hospital. I lied her down, crying. I was nothing without her. Then I did something I hadn't done in years. I prayed. I prayed for over 10 minutes saying the same thing.

  “Dear God, please let Courtney live.” I said over and over.

  I closed my eyes, and rested my head on my folded hands. I rocked back and forth, and kept repeating the prayer.

  I was just giving up, when slowly, her eyes opened. But she looked at me, like I was a stranger.

  “Who are you?” She asked weakly.

  “MEL! IM MELODY! REMEMBER? COURTNEY your ALIVE!” I cried, hugging her.

  She pushed me away, “Why am I here? I'm gonna just go...”

  I cried, but I didn't stop her. That girl wasn't Courtney. The real Courtney was somewhere else. And she needed my help. Now.

  I felt my feet running beneath me. I had to find Courtney, fast. I ran into the motel man, knocking him down.

  “Are you OK?” I asked, happy to see him.

  “Fine, fine.” He said, as I helped him get back in his wheel chair.

  “OH my gosh, Courtney-” I started.

  “I know, we have to hurry.” He checked his watch. “She'll be lost forever if we don't save her in 2 days. Her soul was sent somewhere else. Somebody else was put in her body. Or should I say something else. No time to explain the rest, we better hurry!” He said, out of breath, even though it had been me running, not him.

  I followed him. He seemed to know where to go. Hours went by, and my legs where tired.

  “We'll camp here for the night, but be ready to wake up early.” He said.

  I was tired, and I needed sleep. I didn't want to wake up early, but for Courtney, i'll do anything. So I nodded. I wrapped my arms around my body because I was cold. I was scared. I was tired. But my eyes wouldn't shut. I lye there, shuddering.

  She was walking toward me.

  “Help me, Mel Help me, only you can help me Mel. Save me.” I heard Courtney say.

  I cried out. Realizing it was a dream, I sighed. I felt sweat trickle down my face.

  “What's wrong?” I heard the motel man ask. He was already dressed, and ready to go.

  I rubbed my eyes, “What time is it?” I asked.

  He checked his watch, “4:30am.” He said.

  I twitched, “Why are you all ready then?”

  “I told you we where leaving early.” He said., leaving.

  I followed him, tripping over my own feet because I was tired. He eyed me a few times, but I gave him thumbs up, to show I was OK. Then I felt myself stumble over something that wasn't my feet. I looked down, and cried out in terror.

  I saw that I had tripped over a raccoon with Courtney's face. It looked up at me with big sad eyes. I reached down to pet it. But then I saw it's eyes weren't sad. They where scared. I jumped back.

  “Courtney! The evil witch gave you that body?!” I screamed.

  The motel man turned around, “What can we do to help?” He asked, calmly.

  The raccoon ran away. At first I thought it was running, because it wasn't Courtney. But the motel man chased after it. He motioned for me to follow. I did.

  I felt something grab me. I felt my mouth being taped with duct tape. I struggles to get away from the persons grip. I managed to swing my fist at their face, but they obviously where expecting that, and turned away just in time. I cried out in fear. Fear. Something I haven't had in a while. I tried to wipe my tears away, but my hands where tied. I never felt them tie my hands. They were quick.

  I bit at the duct tape. YUCK! I tried to spit, but it only got my my face wet. The raccoon jumped out of nowhere. My eyes widened.

  “HYW CWLDT OU? WIH DU OI LIIK SO MISH LK CWRTNI?!” I yelled, trying to say,

  “HOW COULD YOU? WHY DO YOU LOOK SO MUCH LIKE COURTNEY?!”

  It looked up at me with those big sad eyes. I immediately felt a pang of guilt. How could I be so mean so such a sad animal. But where the animal went...the motel man followed! I knew I was going to be rescued by him.

  I was waiting, when a song rung in my head. Before
I could stop it, I was singing, “All my life I've been good, but now! I-I-I”m Thinking what the hell?”

  Then it struck me. I'm always nice, and good. I've been that way all my life! What the hell? Why am I like this? I let everyone control me! Why can't I just be myself? Am I going to be a follower all my life? Am I?!

  I must've said that out loud, because there stood the motel man, “Is that what you think?” He said, actually having tears in his eyes.

  I nodded, I was still thinking what the hell.

  He put his hands on my shoulders, “We are made to follow. Leaving the herd, can get you eaten by a wolf, or lost. You should follow, but also be yourself. Maybe skip while your following.” He said.

  I smirked, “What are we? Sheep?!”

  “Yes.”He said, totally serious.

  “Oh yeah, and God is our Shepard, right?” I asked rolling my eyes. I didn't believe in any of that nonsense.

  To my surprise he said, “Yes, we need a leader.”

  I was shocked, “So your saying...anyone could've been the leader? He just claimed it first?!” My eyes widened.

  “No... It takes someone with a pure heart. And he was here before the beginning. He is our one and only. He sent his son down here to die for us. He loves us more than anyone. He's the person that will always be there, the person you can trust!” He said, crying once more.

  “So you mean... he'll save me?” I asked, sort of getting it.

  “He'll save you from sin.” He said.

  “So he's the guy that always forgives us, huh?” I asked, clearly not getting it anymore.

  “Precisely.” He said, scratching his hair.

  I nodded, and then he started walking away.

  I knew he left me there for a reason. And I would have to figure that out before I was let free.

  “Don't open the door!” I hollered.

  He whirred around, “What door?!”