Chapter Eight- Yes, I know its evil

I want to let you know that Chapter Eight is going to be the last full chapter to be posted on this website. I will continue to post information and excerpts of future chapters, but to find out the rest you must buy the book. I will put more info about that later on.

Chapter Eight

*I*

He gathered his items and laid them in his bed. Feeling satisfied he went to brush his teeth and say his good nights. He had everything except the damned note, and he was feeling pretty good about it. He let the cold water splash into his face before he brushed. It awakened him; it sharpened his senses, which was exactly what he needed before his final dream. Sense.
He speedily walked down the stairs and hugged Linda. It had been a week since Mothers Day, and the next day was the last day of school; a Monday. He wasn’t sure why he felt tonight was the right night for the dream, for he had slept with the items for the entire week, and his dreams were nothing but crap. It was just tonight he felt something, something supernatural.
“Peter is upstairs, I think in his room,” Linda said. Ryan just smiled and nodded, for this is where Peter was every night, regardless of the situation. Ryan was 95% sure that he was listening to his I-pod, and it was probably playing the song X Amount of Words. This song was a random list of random things, but Ryan liked it, and it supposedly helped Peter to bed.
When Ryan entered Peter’s door, which was unusually wide opened, he heard Peter singing the lyrics to a song; X Amount of Words- go figure. “Relapse, prevent, trigger, intent, now drown; High-strung, say X amount of words. Your solar bi-polar panic disorder seems harder and harder…” Peter sung.
“Ehem!” Ryan said loudly, which startled Peter. He jumped and seemed to gasp for air. Ryan chuckled and said goodnight, getting the same in return. Ryan was in a strangely good mood; in fact he was in a splendid mood.
He marched to his room, and it took him a moment to realize that he had an ear to ear smile on his face. He almost tripped over Chris, but caught himself at the last second.
He had developed a nickname for Chris; Spot. This was because right in the middle of his belly there was a black spot, the only spot on the dog. It was a very strange thing because the dog was a Golden Retriever. Even thought this was strange, it intrigued Ryan, and made him wonder if this dog was special; meant to be his.
He plopped his body into bed, and said his goodnight prayer, something that Maggie had him hooked on. Once he finished his prayer he leaned over and clicked off his bedside lamp.
Right before he did this he glanced quickly through his room. It was less bare and intimidating now. He had hung up several posters, and Chris (Spot) had really made the room a happier place. He leaned over the edge of his bed to make sure the ashes were still under it- they were.
He laid his head down and shut his eyes. He had become very used to his light hair falling over his eyes. It was hardly noticeable, but ever since the accident his senses had become very strong. He heard Linda walk up the stairs and retreat into her master bedroom.
This made him feel a sorrowful feeling. “Such a large room, a master bedroom, all for one person- Linda. Yes, of course it would be nice, but wouldn’t it get lonely from time to time?”
Finally he let his mind settle the busy thoughts floating around, and he relaxed his entire body, feeling the picture frame in his arms. It was there, solid, whole, and cold. But then and odd sensation came over Ryan. He felt lightheaded, as if he were floating. The picture frame felt as if it were slipping from his arms, pulling harder and harder until it was gone.
Ryan tried to force his eyes open, but they stayed adamant. He could feel his eyes moving frantically in his sockets. He let out a yelp, and his eyes let loose. What he saw sent shivers through his spine. He gasped for air, but his lungs seemed to collapse. There was nothing, nothing at all. It was darkness, a hellish darkness. The bloody room was gone.
He felt his body flying through who knows what. It was pure hell. He felt as if, as if he were traveling. But this traveling was different. Never had a car made him feel like he was separating.
“This is just like in the sci-fi movies, time travel, or at least how they make it look like.” Suddenly Ryan was in great pain and he shouted out, “Holy shit!” He was not sorry for his language; for the pain was so intense he would rather be dead…

*II*

Ryan opened his eyes, and all of his senses were blurred. He thought he heard his name so he turned and looked behind him. It was his mother. “Mom?’ he whispered in disbelief, “Is it really you?”
“Of course honey, now come on, we need to get your bags on the bus, you are going to be late,” she replied, sounding excited and slightly confused at the same time.
“Ok…” Ryan replied. That is when it hit him- what Chris had said. He had told him that he had witnessed his last dream- this was real. The time change, the pain, this was it. He was in the past, and it was his turn to fix things.
He said goodbye, but turned back. “Mom, can you please kiss me right on the lips right now? I have a bad feeling. Just one more hug.”
“Sure, of course,” Julie replied, now sounding completely lost.
“I love you mom,” he whispered as he turned and walked toward the bus. He had just realized that his rolling suitcase was being pulled by his left arm, and his pillow was in his right. “Shit!” he whispered. “The items didn’t come with me! Damn it1”
“What did I say about cursing young man?” Ryan instantly recognized the voice, and it almost brought tears to his eyes. He turned to see Maggie, wonderful Maggie. He touched his hand to her fragile arm, but then realized how foolish he looked, so he said sorry and continued on. Then he saw it, the hand off. He saw as Lindsey set her picture down on the suitcase, except this time he saw it in a picture frame.
The frame resembled the one he bought exactly. “How ironic,” he thought to himself. He ran over and began to speak to Lindsey.
“Hey, wow, what a wonderful picture, and not to mention a nice frame. May I suggest that you take this treasure on the bus with you; we wouldn’t want it to get broken! Oh, and by the way, that is a lovely dress you are wearing in that picture.”
Momentarily Lindsey just stared at Ryan blankly, as if what he had said was forbidden. Finally she spoke. “Why thanks, yes, thank you, I’m really glad you thought of that.” Chris and Lindsey walked off together whispering about something. Ryan assumed it was about him.
“Wow, that is an improvement for you. That was really kind of you to save such a nice picture. Who knows, if you hadn’t mentioned it you might have put your suitcase on it!” Maggie said carelessly. Ryan blanked, not believing what he had just heard. “What, what is it, is it something I said?”
“Actually, yes, it was.”
“What, what did I say?”
“I don’t know, it was just like an, I don’t know, a Déjà vu.” Ryan thought it was a pretty good cover up and decided to change the topic. “Guess what, I have been praying every night.” Ryan was telling the half truth, but at this point who really gave a crap?
“Wow, are you making better choices now?”
“Hell yes, I mean yes ma’am!”
“Much better, much better indeed.” Ryan glanced at the luggage one last time, grateful that this time there was no ruined picture. He helped Maggie get her bags onto the bus, and then he noticed Jen, walking along with Jerry.
“Hey guys,” Ryan shouted. The two looked over at him and smiled. “I don’t know why I’ve just realized this, but lately I have been a real jerk; I want to change and I apologize for any rude comments I have made to you!” The two just stared at each other, and smiled.
“Thank you Ryan, that would be greatly appreciated!” Jen said. Jerry nodded his head suggesting that he agreed. The two walked onto the bus, and Ryan followed, with Maggie right by his side. Ryan approached Ben, and he made sure he gave him a huge smile followed by;
“Why it is so great to see you today! How are you doing? I can’t wait to start the trip!”
“Umm, I’m fine! Wow, you’ve never been so polite before, is everything alright?”
“Of course, I just think God gave me a shout out, warning me of my old attitude. He and I decided there needed to be a change”
“Well that’s wonderful, take a seat on the bus!” Ryan went ahead and saw the “klutz”, but this time she was holding 5 of the folders that Ryan had picked out. Instead of tripping her, he leaned over and took a folder from her, and laid it in her bag on the ground.
“Why thank you, I’m sorry, what is your name?” the Klutz asked.
“Oh, it’s Ryan, pleased to meet chya! And what might your name be?”
“It’s Kimberley, Kimberley Scott! You can call me Kim if you’d like to.”
“Nice to meet you Kim!” Maggie said enthusiastically. They exchanged smiles and began there walk down the aisle. Maggie led Ryan directly to the seat of the “past”. Ryan was thinking about how weird this was, but then he thought that if she hadn’t picked the seat it would have made the situation all the more stranger. Then Ryan remembered the thank you note for Jerry. How was he to remember what the bloody card said? He decided he would wing it, and improvise. After all that is what he had been doing the entire time.
“Hey Jerry,” he called out. He continued, “Hey come over here, I’d like to tell you something.” Jerry walked over without a word and looked at Ryan, as if he were waiting for something.
Finally he said, “Yes, what do you want?”
“I owe you an apology, for not only the bullying, but the fact that you cared when my uncle died the other week. I had hardly known him, so to me it was no big deal. But still, for you, someone I hardly know, to apologize, that is so nice. Thank you for your care, the care that you shared. Even though I didn’t know I needed it, I was wrong. Thank you for your kindness, even through my meanness.”
“Well you’re welcome, but for God’s sake, how long did it take for you to come up with something so cheesy; it’s like it’s out of one of those cheesy cards! Ha, I’m just joking, but thank you for taking your time to thank me!” Ryan watched as Jerry walked back over to Jen.
He then just figured out that he had recited the card exactly- word for word. He realized two more things, both quite interesting. First he realized that Jerry liked Jen, and Jen like Jerry back. He knew this because the way their eyes locked, just like his and Maggie’s. “Hey Jerry, go for it, and don’t pretend like you don’t know what I’m talking about!” Ryan shouted out. He felt like an idiot, but at the same time he felt like what he said was needed. Jerry just nodded and said something to Jen. She smiled and jumped up and hugged him. Ryan felt fantastic for what he had just done.
The other thing he realized was a little more important. He was beginning to wonder if this was really time travel, or just a dream. Chris had told him that he would only witness one more dream, which made him think that this was just a dream in which he was in. But at the same time he could feel the heat of the sun, and the soft touch of Maggie’s arm. He thought this was real, in fact he knew this was real.
Ryan had just noticed that the bus had been moving for several moments, and that everyone was in the exact same seat as he remembered. He had just gone through a sort of surreal moment, or a moment that seemed unreal, almost like he was dreaming. How ironic…