“Alex wait-” Elijah said, but Alex was too far already, as she walked through the cemetery. Her thoughts were too loud for her to hear anything. The Diallos’ were going to be discovered sooner or later. She kept walking, stopping where the gravestones, empty gravestones lay. Alice, and Elijah were alive. Maybe it was a dream, she just hadn’t woken up yet. Or maybe she was already killed, and this is her after life. Who knows, no one will ever know.
“Elijah let her be.. She’s strong, you know that. Just leave her alone… We’ll find a way just calm down please” Alice pleaded, grabbing onto Elijah’s arm.
Alex kept walking, cursing under her breath. None of this was possible, why was this happening? She didn’t know, and she didn’t care.
She turned around, meeting eyes with Elijah, and Alice.
“Please be safe, you’ll be safe… Just please. Don’t get hurt.” Elijah said softly, Alex blinked, and they were gone, just like the first time. No, please they couldn’t be gone. Not again. She broke out in sobs, the old warehouse was nowhere to be seen, now what? Was nothing of it real? Her feet kept guiding her to the gate.As she got to the gate. Her eyes adjusted to her surroundings, the lamp posts blinded her a bit as they lighted the street. But in her eyes now they looked gray, no color. Just gray. Maybe this will be her life from now on. Dark, and full of lies. And she didn’t mind living like this, she would bottle it all up until it took over her. She didn’t care, and it didn’t matter anymore either. Her feet were like machines, never stopping, as she kept walking she finally arrived at her house. And entered, the slam of the door rang inside her ears, even after she entered the kitchen.
Alice and Elijah weren’t real, they were dead; just their ghosts, telling her what to do, how to get where she needed to be in this case. She sighed, not even daring to enter the kitchen.
“Oh there you are, dinner is ready-” Her mom, Elizabeth, called from the kitchen.
“Not hungry mom.” Alex said bluntly, skipping up the stairs, down the hall to her room.She opened the door, dropping her things. And sitting on her desk chair, her eyes traveled to the ceiling, thoughts coming to life in front of her eyes.
“C’mon, Elijah. Give me something, anything.” She pleaded, her hand reaching out to touch the cover of her laptop. She sat up straight, opening it up. As she pressed the spacebar, the same question popped up forever. The password, she sighed, putting in the same combination of numbers, and letters. In her mind she thought maybe she needed a password to find out this whole thing. A key to get into the vault, into the world. If only time travel worked, or teleportation existed. The mouse glided across the screen, a little too slow this time. She hadn’t done an entry in ages, as she clicked on the folder that said ‘Project’, a line of six documents went from top to bottom. She clicked on a blank document, and started typing away, the soft clicking of the keyboard, accompanied by her soft breathing filled the room.
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10/13/10
9:12 PM
Project Entry #7
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I haven’t done an entry in ages… And now I need to do one more than ever, I promised myself to never get so involved in this case, but now I see that I made the right choice in actually diving in deep, Alice, and Elijah aren’t alive. They never will, I don’t know why I keep seeing them, are they the voices in my mind? I don’t know, but I don’t like it. The memorial is in two days. I’m scared of what might happen, the Diallos’ want me dead, my blood in their hands… I will find a way to save myself, and save both Alice, and Elijah. I made a promise for them both, and now I won’t fail them.
If anyone finds this, just know I’m already dead, my story isn’t finished yet; but I will be long gone, there is still a long way to go. Someone will have to die before I do. I will have someones’ blood on my hands, I’ll say I wasn’t guilty, I’ll blame it on someone who wasn’t there… My mind is already clouded, I’m planning this. I was made for this, I will find them, will find who really killed them. Their graves are empty, they never died. At least not in my heart, I know they didn’t. Someone killed them, and took them somewhere I still don’t know. In about two weeks, I’m going camping with Andrew, and Isabel in St. Bernard. Why there? Isn’t it too dangerous? Who knows, it’s fine. I’ll be fine, I’m always fine. Just me, and the ghosts of two dead teens… We’ll all be fine…
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Alex stared at the screen, her mind was racing. She couldn’t believe it, she was actually turning crazy to a point where she could see real human beings that were dead. She sighed, looking out her window. Some kids passed by, laughing and talking as she closed her window shut. She threw herself onto the bed, the only comfort she would get tonight. Should she call Andrew? No he was sleeping-
Oh, speaking of the devil. Alex’s phone turned on with Andrew’s name on it, the soft vibration on her night stand. She answered quickly, placing the phone to her ear.
“Alex, are you awake?” Andrew whispered from his side of the call. Alex sat up slightly, she hadn’t talked to him after the kiss, well anyways.
“Yeah, yeah I’m awake.” She said softly, a pause of silence filled the air for a second. There was moving on Andrew’s line, before he spoke again.
“Sorry, putting on my shoes. Anyway, is it OK if I come over to your house right now?” He asked, as the front door opened and closed. Alex sat up straight in a matter of seconds jumping off her bed, and changing into more comfortable clothes.
“Mhm, I don’t mind” She blurted out while nearly falling as she put on her shorts, and socks.
“Alright be there in ten.” He hung up, Alex sat on the edge of her bed, watching her window closely, until she saw Andrew. Her heart did that flippy thing, and her eyes lit up. She opened her window.
“Andrew-” She called out, he stopped and looked up. A soft smile spread across his face, Alex smiled back. She gestured for him to come through the window. He shook his head, and chuckled softly before walking over, and climbing the tree. One foot in, then the other. Alex closed the window.
“Hey, tater-tot.” He said, placing a kiss on her forehead. She smiled at the nickname. It was cute, in times like these she never thought that Andrew would be the light in the middle of the darkness.
“Tater-tot? Really? And why exactly..” She teased, he smiled pulling her closer.
“Because it fits you, and you look like one. In a good way.” He lowered his tone, wrapping his arms around Alex’s waist. She smiled, rolling her eyes. This was nice, this is what she needed, just a normal simple night, not a broken night with thoughts of her death. Every little thing in her mind had washed away in the presence of Andrew. She truly loved him, more than what she had expected.
But soon that feeling disappeared when there was a loud sound coming from just outside the window. They both looked out the window, Alex narrowed her eyes. A silhouette of some kind, holding a shiny object. Her heart dropped, it was a gun. The silhouette turned its face, it was a man. A glint of something flashed through the man’s eyes. Alex didn’t know what it was, but she knew there was a connection. Her heartbeat raced, why did she feel like she knew him. She put on her sneakers as fast as she could, and ran out of her room.
“Alex- Wait..- Where are you-” It was too late, she hadn’t taken her phone. Andrew stood there in the darkness of the room, not knowing what to do. He ran a hand through his hair, and sat on the edge of the bed. Alex nearly jumped off the stairs in her little race against time. She opened the door, and saw him. The man turned around, his eyes widened. He started running, Alex ran after him, down the street. She couldn’t see his features, but she knew there was something about him she recognized. But she didn’t know from where she recognized it.
“Stop running- Please.” She called out, still running after him. He dropped the gun with a loud clunk. She stepped on it as she ran past it.
“Stop following me, kid. You don’t know what you’re getting into.” He called out, as he stopped. Alex stopped feet away from him. Their eyes met. She blinked, not again. This had to be another one of her hallucinations.
“Dad?” She whispered. He froze, and took a step back.
“Don’t follow me, nor go to St. Bernard.” He said, turning around and walking down the street. She blinked again, she was going to St. Bernard in two weeks. What was happening? She had just seen her father, but at the same time she hadn’t. Her breath quickened, Andrew soon came behind her placing a hand on her shoulder. Alex turned around, and fell into his arms breaking into soft sobs. Andrew wrapped his arms around her, one hand going to her hair stroking it in a comforting manner.
“It’s alright I’m here.” He whispered against her hair, she buried her face into his chest. What the hell was happening? This, none of this was right. Andrew stood up, bringing Alex up with him. He wiped her eyes, cupping her face in his hands, he could see the hurt in her eyes, the shock. His forehead rested on hers, she smiled weakly.
“I love you, Alex. Never forget that.” He said to her, it was all the energy she needed right now. His voice, and words. She never would come to this, to a point where she would be in danger, to where she was broken and scared. She hated that feeling, and she hated every second of this.
“Come on, let’s get you home. I’ll stay with you the whole night, you need it.” Andrew said, pulling her along, she followed behind him. The words of her dad, who wasn’t her dad but looked like her dad repeated in her head. Why did he say not to go to St. Bernard? Is there something that might kill her there? Or maybe it’s a dumb joke on her, or more imagination of hers. As they arrived at her house, and walked in. Going up to her room felt like walking the halls of hell.
“Go on, get comfortable.” Andrew said to Alex. She slowly got in bed, as he followed behind her, enveloping her into a warm, and comforting hug. He pulled the covers over them, bringing Alex closer to him. She breathed in his scent, relaxing herself in his arms. This was it, the moment she needed, all this time. The simplicity of a life she once knew was now replaced by stress.
Alex was too tired though. Her mind started to shut down, as she started to drift off to sleep. Contemplating things that would never come back, that would never exist again.
But soon that peace turned into panic. She was being chased, hunted down. She kept running, street after street. Blood dripped from her clothes.
“Stop, please-” She screamed in her nightmare. But the figure kept chasing her, non-stop.
“No.. You can’t have me, no-” She said now in real life. Breaking out in sobs, and short gasps. Andrew wrapped her in his arms;as she trembled in fear.
“They got me, my blood. Everything.” Her voice cracked more, and more. This was it, her breaking point. Where finally she wouldn’t feel anything, nothing at all. No emotions, just fear. The only emotion that would haunt her forever.
“It wasn’t true, it was a bad dream. You’re fine, no one has you.” He reassured her. But how could Alex be sure? How could she be sure he wasn’t lying to her just to make her feel better? That her fate was soon to be fulfilled.
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Deep breath in, deep breath out…
Just breathe Alex, you’re fine..
You’ll be fine.
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That tiny voice, that small voice that sounded like Elijah was at the back of her mind. Telling her what to do, that she’ll be fine. And she will be, she always is.
Rain poured outside, oh right her mom is going to Baltimore next week for a surgery she needs to do over there. So she won't be here a whole week, she’ll be tired by the time she comes back. Doctors are needed all the time anyways, so maybe there will be more patients. Soft thunder crashed, not scaring her one bit. Andrew had fallen asleep, the rise and fall of his chest soothed Alex. As morning came, Andrew had woken up, but waited for her to wake up.
“Morning, sleepy head. Time for school.” He said softly, standing up. Alex groaned a bit, reluctantly getting out of the bed. Dammit, Andrew didn’t have clothes to wear, so she went and stole some stuff from Max’s room, so Andrew could wear it. She quickly took a shower, and got ready for school. Andrew did the same, and then they headed to school. Hand in hand, tomorrow would be the memorial.
Andrew went to his class, leaving Alex alone in the hallway, she walked around the crowded hallway. Her eyes stayed on the ground, someone watched her from the shadows, she knew it. The voices of every single student were too loud in her ears, her heart was going too fast, too fast for it to be a normal heart beat. What if her killer is here, between the students, the staff, or faculty? Isabel waved at her from a corner in the hallway, Alex smiled, well she didn’t know if it was a smile, but her mouth did a movement that felt like a smile.
Wait, where was she going? She always meets Isabel in that corner for them to go to class which is the other way, but something was telling her to keep walking, Elijah’s or maybe Alice’s ghost telling her where to go. Guiding her, the hallways got emptier, and darker. These were the oldest parts of the school, she didn’t know how but somehow she had walked over the yellow tape they put from wall to wall so no one could pass. Her eyes wandered the walls, abandoned classrooms, old supplies thrown on the floor, a notebook. A backpack? Wait- She walked to it, looking to see if there was no one looking at her, the cameras were broken too. Alex crouched down, a plain black backpack. She tilted her head, why did it look so familiar to her.
“I’ve seen this somewhere.” She said under her breath, her hands shaked as she reached for the zippers, opening the bag. She looked inside, her eyes widened.
“What?” She said to herself again, reaching inside a notebook, some books. And a pencil case. Why was Elijah’s backpack here? In the middle of the abandoned hallway, she sat down grabbing the notebook in hand. Flipping through pages, they were just notes. Chemistry notes, and English notes. Nothing too weird. Books, books she recognized. She had these books at home, except one.
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“The Grown-Ups Guide To Running Away From Home”
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Why would he have- That night, when she ‘encountered’ them. He said they needed time away from everyone, from Westmore. That means, he had been using this book, and the internet to help them run away, she flipped again the pages of the notebook, and found notes. So that night, the night they died. The intersection was so they could leave together. But they ended up dying, or did they? But Elijah disappeared when she turned around. Then- She didn’t get it.
“Ugh, this is so annoying.” She groaned, looking between the book, and the notes. She groaned again, what the hell?
She stuffed everything in her bag, standing up. She looked far off into the hallway, a small beeping sound was heard. She followed it, into a small classroom. A radio? The cord was off, she tried the light on. Good power still worked on this side of school. Her hand grabbed the cord, plugging it in. Pressing a few buttons so it could turn on. Static, then sound. Ah-hah. A chair was strangely propped by the table, but she sat down anyway listening to the radio as voices came to life.
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[10. 8. 2002]
Elijah- How does this thing work?
Alice- It’s on, dumbass.
[Laughter]
Elijah- Anyway… So.. We’re recording this for. Alexandra, Alice doesn’t really know who she is, but I know. She’s an amazing little girl, and one day when she finds this. She’ll know the truth.
Alice- Make sure to share it with Andrew too.
Elijah- Yeah, that too.
[Static…]
Elijah- Well, we’re running away for some time. Uhm, we decided it’s best for us. Westmore is literal hell, everything here is utter hell. Me and Alice need a break, and– And I’ve been taking notes about how to run away.
Alice- You know, we should run away on the 15th or something.
Elijah- And we can meet up at the plaza, I’ll meet you there at about Eleven.
[Inaudible………]
Elijah- I’m sorry for leaving you. But you’ll have Andrew, and Katie. Take care of Katie for me, and of Andrew. But he’ll take more care of you, than you will of him. That little kid loves you more than he loves anything. Don’t tell him I said this, but he calls you tater-tot when he talks about you. I wish I could see all three of you grow up, and become things that will make everyone’s breath go away.
Alice- I might not know you, but the things Elijah has said about you are wonderful, you sound like a sweet angel. We’re sorry again.
Elijah- Love you Alex, and Andrew, and Kaite. Love all of you, and see you in another world….
[Static–Inaudible]
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She couldn’t believe it, their voices forever kept inside this radio. Tears swell up in her eyes, he had recorded this for her to find when she grew up. She was grown now, listening to this. After what had happened.
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See you in another world
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That other world would be her imagination. The idea of them being alive still was the only hope she had left. Katie wasn’t here, but Andrew was. Lucas wasn’t here, but he was in their heart. Jeremy moved to Florida just last month, she was going to die. But before she did, she was going to make everything right. For Elijah, for Alice. And for Westmore…
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“I’ll make both of you proud, I’ll make everyone proud. And I’ll prove Westmore wrong.” She stood up, unplugging the cord. And walking out the classroom, down the hall. Their voices were hanging in the air. She would make everyone proud, she would die in the end, but at least she would know what she did… Her feet walked over the tape, and into the still crowded hallway, damn she thought she would have been late to class by now. But no, she checked the time, what? How was it still seven-twenty four? When she walked in there it was barely seven-twenty. She walked down the hall, and sighed. The one thing she didn’t want to see, the memorial flyer. Always hung up on every corner of the hall, only Alice’s picture on it, no Elijah. Wait she looked wrong, Elijah was on it, the same picture that was in the Cortezes’ house.
“Hey Alex,” Sophia said from behind her.
“Oh uh, hi Sophia…” She smiled awkwardly. Why was Sophia saying hi to her?
“You OK? You seem a bit off.” Sophia said, a hint of skepticism in her voice. Alex shook her head, waving a dismissive hand.
“Nah, I’m fine. Just tired.” She said, lying in every way possible. Sophia narrowed her eyes, as she crossed her arms.
“Hm, alright. You going to the memorial tomorrow?” She asked, Alex gave a small nod. Sophia smiled slightly before nodding and walking away. What the- Nevermind that. Alex kept walking to class, she sighed walking to her desk. Kaite’s desk was now occupied. She shrugged, when a pencil fell. Alex bent down to grab it, when a hand touched hers. She looked up at an amazingly pretty girl. Beautiful brown eyes, perfect hair framing her face, and features that could kill.
“Oh sorry about that-” Her voice was so sweet, it sounded unreal.
“Oh no, you’re fine. Here.” Alex handed the pencil to her. She smiled, the sweetest of smiles Alex had ever seen. She sat down.
“What’s your name?” Alex asked, in an attempt to make small talk before class started. She looked up, and put the pencil aside. Looking at Alex, she paused before she spoke.
“My name? Oh, it’s Lindsey… Lindsey Diallo.” She smiled, Alex’s heart dropped. Her smile is not looking so innocent anymore. Diallo.. Her eyes widened slightly, a Diallo in her school, sitting next to her. Looking so, so innocent. Shit, act cool, act cool.
“You look surprised.” Lindsey laughed. Alex shook her head.
“I- No just uh, never heard of that last name. I’m Alexandra Thomas. You can call me Alex.” She said her voice came out a bit shakier than what she wanted. Lindsey nodded. The day went faster than what she expected. A Diallo in her school, the radio, the notes.. Now it was slowly coming together. Now life was more dangerous than ever, part of the Diallo family was here in Westmore now, tracking her down. And now she would die, it was clear as day. Death was never so bright before, and she could see it.
It almost blinded her how bright death was. And how close she was to learning the truth. There is a purpose for all of this, and she will know it soon enough.
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