Versus: Chapter 4

Jake Reed stepped out of his house and into the street. He felt quite nervous at the prospect that he might very well die at 7:00. The sun was out, and birds chirped in the distance, but it did nothing to ease his horror at the fact that all of this was fictional. Nothing that was happening to him was real. Across the street, he noticed someone, the first person, aside from Ryan, that he had seen all day. He crossed the street to get a closer look. There, in the front yard of a yellow house, was Rebecca Via, his neighbor. “So…her name is Rebecca…” he muttered to himself as the new information suddenly entered his head. “Rebecca!” he shouted, running towards her.1

“Hello, Jake,” she said softly, “how are you this morning?” Rebecca was rather tall, with long brown hair and light blue eyes. She was fifteen, the same age as Jake, and as she looked at him, something familiar registered in his mind.2

She was his girlfriend.3

Not only that, she had been for two years. Jake frowned.4

“What’s the matter, Jake?” Rebecca asked, concerned.5

“I’m supposed to be your boyfriend,” he said slowly.6

“Of course you are!” Rebecca said, laughing, “what’s wrong with that?”7

“I hardly know you!” Jake said.8

“What do you mean?” Rebecca said, her face becoming concerned. Jake sighed.9

“You and I…” he said, “we’re characters. Fictional characters in a book written by some strange person.” At that instant, an ice cream truck zoomed around the corner at an impossible speed. It’s eerie music was blaring loudly as it caromed off of curbs, smashed mailboxes…and headed straight for Jake! Jake’s eyes widened and he leapt out of the way, diving for his life. The ice cream truck missed him by a fraction of an inch and continued on its way.10

“Did I mention,” Jake said, gasping for breath, “that the author is trying to kill me?”11

“Are you okay?” Rebecca asked, tremendously shocked. She got to her knees to help him up.12

“How could this happen?” she asked, staring in the direction the truck had gone.13

“I told you,” Jake sighed, “we’re only characters in a work of fiction.”14

“Jake,” she said, “I think maybe you should go home, and rest for awhile.” He stared into her eyes. “When is your birthday?” he asked. She almost answered, then stopped.15

“I…don’t know…” she whispered to herself.16

“Who are your parents?” Jake asked, “What did you do yesterday?” She could only look at him and shake her head, eyes wide.17

He looked into Rebecca’s eyes, and, although he truly didn’t know her, he felt a wave of compassion towards her.18

He sighed.19

“I…I don’t even know if I love you because I want to, or because it was written that way,” he whispered. She stared into the distance, then turned to face him.20

“How do you want it to be?” she asked.21

“I think…” he said, considering it, “I think I really do love you.”22

*23

Kayla Midian and her brother, Ryan, sat at their computer.24

“Another character,” said Ryan gleefully, “Now we’re going to have twice as much fun!” Kayla turned to face him.25

“I want to try it,” she said eagerly, “I want to enter that world.” Ryan considered it.26

“Alright,” he said, “I suppose it’s your turn, now.” With that, he grabbed the ancient book lying on his bed, and began to read an ancient incantation printed within it. In moments, Kayla had become a shimmering beam of light, and in several more moments, she was gone.27