The End to the Second Chance

Marcus watched Malik fall down from high above his head, crashing to the hard ground but to never get back up again. Malik was once again defeated, but it was still the same. He left the world and was still able to severely harm Cerise. 1

Marcus ran for seemed liked miles, his heart beating in his ears. His eyes searched the dusty ground and at the same time his eyes filled with tears from the hot gusts of wind blowing in his eyes. He finally saw her, laying there motionless on the ground. Marcus dropped on his knees and gathered her in his arms, watching her blood seep into his jacket. This happened before but the first time around. Now the life Cerise was reliving was turning out exactly the same. 2

“Cerise. Cerise?” Marcus asked the girl, lightly shaking her. When the girl opened her eyes the biggest sigh of relief escaped Marcus’ slightly parted lips. His messy, short jet-black hair was sweaty and stuck against his forehead and the back of his neck. He constantly ran his tongue over his lips, from them being dry in the hot weather. His hard grip became unusually soft when handling the fragile frame of the girl in his arms. “Cerise, this is happening again!” Marcus said, his eyes soft and his voice crackling. Cerise weakly smiled up at him. 3

“But it’s different this time. You’re actually here with me. Now we can be together…when I leave.” She said. Marcus tightened his embrace on her, trying to look stronger to her. He shook his head, stuttering and trying to get real words out of his mouth. 4

“N-no! You can’t leave! Not again! I can’t go through this again!” Marcus said, his heart falling and crashing to the floor. Cerise rested her head on his chest and stared up at him. Marcus stared down at her, knowing he wasn’t faking his feeling for her. Not this time. He was going to save her this time. He quickly stood up, carrying the light-weight girl in his arms, and began to run. He jumped down from ridge to ridge, forgetting the danger of taking a wrong step and falling down the cliff. Nothing else mattered to him but saving Cerise. 5

“Marcus. You can’t save me. You can’t always save me.” Cerise said. Marcus tried to block out her protests. He knew he was going to save her life this time. He ran through the forest, knowing that if he didn’t hurry, he would be too late. He needed a new way of transportation, and that’s when he heard the loud sound of flapping wings. He continued to run even when the Phoenix Boy came flying by his side. 6

“Fly me to town!” Marcus commanded from Logan. Logan hesitated, looking down at Cerise with a worried look. Even the second time around, he loved her. This time he knew she didn’t love him back from the start. “Do it now! Do you want her to die?! Again?!” Marcus yelled impatiently, feeling the hot rush of blood seep through his jacket and touching his skin. Logan quickly took Marcus into his rough but strong grip, carrying him high in the air. Marcus didn’t notice how far he was from the ground. He stared down at Cerise, making sure she kept her eyes open. His eyelids already drooped over her eyes. He lightly shook her awake.7

“Don’t go now! It’s too early. I’ll save you, don’t worry. You won’t have to go.” Marcus told her in a hoarse whisper. Cerise shifted her eyes away, having a feeling of dread coming towards Marcus.8

Soon enough, Logan dropped Marcus off in the center of the dull town. Before Logan could say a word, even to Cerise, Marcus ran off with her. His eyes searched for the largest building, his feet hitting the ground with a great force. He often shifted his eyes down to Cerise, seeing her pale face and glassy stare was all it took to motivate his great and constant speed. Finally he saw the large building. He pushed dozens of people away from his path, often making them fall over and curse at him, but he didn’t pay attention. He burst through the doors, knocking some other people over, and ran to the counter.9

“Please, take her.” Marcus asked. The receptionist looked up at him. Marcus didn’t have the time. He found a nearby stretcher with wheels and quickly but gently set Cerise down. Cerise looked up at the ceiling, looking right through Marcus’ worried look. He quickly took the stretcher and pushed it through the hallway, listening to the receptionist call him back. He didn’t listen. If he was too late, Cerise would die and leave him again. He couldn’t let her go, not after what they have been through. A surgeon came out a door and turned to see the young boy with a patient. Marcus saw him and ran to him. “Please take her!’ Marcus said. The surgeon was quiet for a long moment, not knowing what to say. “She’s going to die if you don’t take her now!” Marcus nearly yelled.10

The next thing Marcus knew, he was sitting in the waiting room. He hated how the other people stared at him with strange expressions on their face. Marcus impatiently rested his head in the palms of his hands and sighed, waiting for the surgeon to come out and tell him when he could see Cerise. He knew she was alive this time; it was too obvious she was alive. Marcus knew when Cerise was gone or not, and this time she wasn’t gone. Long hours slowly passed. Marcus couldn’t think about leaving or drinking or eating. Only the thought of having Cerise back flashed in his head and he patiently waited. It wasn’t until ten at night when the surgeon came, his mask still on but the look in his eyes said everything. Marcus stood up.11

“I’m sorry, Mr. Trevor.” The surgeon said. Marcus’ heart dropped. His vision became blurry. He didn’t know why, he thought he was going insane again, but the wet feeling traveling down his cheek told him otherwise. His hand reached to feel his very first tear run down his cheek. Marcus looked up at the surgeon with an angry glare, blaming the loss on the surgeon’s poor work, and ran off down the hall. He searched for the room, pushing more people put of the way, until he found the room where Cerise was. The room was empty, except for her lying in the bed.12

Marcus ran to her side, touching her cheek and feeling nothing but cold. He was stitches at her side. He shook her by her shoulders, waiting for her to wake up. 13

“Wake up, Damnit!” he said to Cerise, hoping his voice could wake her up. It didn’t make a difference. He shook her harder. “You’re awake! I know it! You wouldn’t leave me again! You wouldn’t.” Marcus said. The surgeon came in and quickly stopped Marcus. Marcus quickly stepped away from the surgeon. “You let her die!” Marcus yelled before running off. 14

He ran out the door and through the dark streets, his vision blurry again, but not because of the wind hitting his eyes. This time it was because of hot acid tears, his very first tears. 15

She wouldn’t leave me, not again, Marcus thought to himself as he ran. He could see a flame of fire high in the sky above the town, knowing it was Logan waiting for the news. Marcus ignored the light and continued to run, not knowing where he was running. He past a bright car, not noticing the car began to follow him. Turns. There were lots of them in this town. A turn to the left, one to the right, turns and more turns until there was nothing but the building at the edge of the isolated town. Marcus stopped running, his legs weak and sore. He leaned against the wall of the building, a small shop, and gasped for air. 16

“Hey there, young boy. What are you doing out so late?” the man in a uniform said steeping out of the bright car. Marcus looked up, his face pale and cold. The man gave Marcus a long look before pulling out a black box to speak in it. Marcus gave the man a long look, thinking the man was crazy talking to a box, but he soon saw more bright cars coming. More people in uniforms came out, holding something in their hands. Marcus suddenly remembered who they were. The policemen aimed with weapons at Marcus. “I can’t believe it him. After years of searching for him, we finally got him.” the policeman said under his breath. 17

“Put your hands up if you know what’s good for you.” A policeman said. Marcus didn’t argue one bit. He put his hands up in the air, his heart aching like hell, but the sweet giggling of Cerise echoing in his head. 18

“I thought you were tough.” He could hear Cerise laugh in his head. Marcus shut his eyes tight, trying hard to block her out. “I guess I was wrong.” Cerise continued in his head. Marcus began to tremble. He could feel Cerise's hand on his shoulder, making its way up his neck and to caress his face. “It’s alright. I like you the way you are. I love you, the way you are.” He heard her say. Marcus bowed his head down, trembling from the feel of Cerise's lips on his neck. He forgot all about the policemen and was startled when his hands were suddenly pulled together to be handcuffed. Then in less than half an hour, he was thrown in a lonely and cold cell.19

Days passed by slowly, nothing stole the thought of Cerise from Marcus. He sat on his hard bed all day, not eating much at all. He stared blankly at the wall, only to see nothing but Cerise's face smirking at him. 20

“Sir.” Marcus said when he saw a policeman pass by his cell. Te policeman turned to look at Marcus, who was down on his knees. “I beg you, a favor.” Marcus said. The policeman came nearer, not afraid of the disarmed Marcus. “I want to have a funeral…for my Cerise…I want to do it right this time.” Marcus said. “I know they cost a lot, but I got the money. I’ll tell you where the money is, if I can use some of it for a funeral. And you, or the town, can have the remainder. As long as I have a funeral.” Marcus begged. The policeman would ignore him each day for a week before he gave into Marcus’ pain and decided to talk it out with the others. And the day soon came.21

Marcus stood between Logan and Matthew, looking at the open coffin. He saw the pale and now very thin Cerise, wearing a new black dress. Her hair was fixed and she wore makeup, although she never did when she was alive. 22

“The funeral is over, Marcus. You have to go back.” Logan told Marcus, not being able to take his eyes away from Cerise. Marcus stood still, staring down at Cerise, knowing it might be the last time he would see her. Matthew patted his older brother’s shoulder. Marcus looked over at Matthew, then back at the waiting policeman. “C’mon.” Logan said tugging on Marcus’ sleeve. 23

“Tell the man that I’ll be there in a minute. I need to do something quick.” Marcus said and without waiting for a reply, he walked towards the coffin. He stared down at the girl, the only girl who ever and will ever love him, and he fell to his knees. Marcus weakly smiled at her. He wanted to reach out to stroke her face or run his fingers through her hair, but he was afraid that the slightest touch would break her. He sighed and took a small box from the pocket of his formal suit. It was the first and probably the last time he would wear a suit. “I got you something.” Marcus said to Cerise. “I know I told the police that I would give them the rest of the money, but even you know I wouldn’t do that.” He said. He opened the box and took out a ring. The first time Cerise passed away, he bought her a gold ring. This time it was silver with a small diamond on it. Marcus could imagine the expression on Cerise's face. He smiled, his face flushing a deep pink. 24

“Oh Marcus it’s so beautiful! You could have gotten a bigger diamond, but it’s still beautiful! Gimmie it!” he could hear Cerise say in his head. Marcus took the ring out and very gently took her cold hand. He slipped it onto her finger and gently set her hand down to the position it was before. He sighed and looked at her face. He wished he could stare into her eyes one last time. He swallowed and looked away. 25

“Marry me, Cerise.” He said to her. The policeman came towards Marcus, but Marcus quickly looked back. “A few more minutes! I beg you!” Marcus said. The policeman stood still impatiently. Marcus looked back at Cerise.26

“I know you’re not here anymore. “ Marcus said to Cerise. “But that doesn’t mean we have to move on.” He continued. The policeman impatiently tapped his foot on the ground. Logan and Matthew exchanged looks, wondering what Marcus was saying to the dead girl. “Maybe I’ll see you again.” Marcus said.27

“Time to go!” the policeman yelled at Marcus impatiently. Marcus sighed and gave Cerise a last look.28

“I hope to see you soon, Cerise. And hopefully I don’t see you with another man. If I do, I’ll send him straight to hell, because you’re mine.” Marcus said with a silly grin, standing up.29

“I’m sure hell is that place you’ll meet her.” Logan said walking up to Marcus. Marcus threw Logan an angry look, but soon learned to nod with agreement. He knew the last place he was going was heaven. Not like Marcus wanted to go to heaven, hell was his destined home. Matthew walked up to them, placing his arm around Marcus’ shoulders.30

“I die and come back, discovering you have a heart. What next? A conscious?” he asked jokingly. Marcus ruffled his younger brother’s hair with a smile. His two friends walked him to the black and white car, the lights flashing.31

“I know what you’ll never see Marcus with. A brain.” Logan said. Marcus looked at the ground, still not forgetting about his loss. Logan pat Marcus’ back until it ached. Marcus looked back at his two friends, a weak smile on his face. “You okay?” Logan asked Marcus. Marcus looked up at the gray sky with a sad look.32

“Cerise got a second chance in life, and I let her die again.” Marcus said feeling guilt build up inside of him. Matthew put his arm around his brother’s shoulders, trying to comfort him. 33

“It’s not your fault. It’s all Malik’s fault. But that damn *bunny* is gone, he got what he deserved.” Matthew said with a grin. Marcus looked up to see the policeman snap his fingers, gesturing to get into the car. Marcus looked back at his younger brother, then over to his friend. 34

“Guess I’ll see you after a lifetime of prison.” Marcus said. He nodded at both of them, rushed to the car, and looked up at the sky. “Wish she would get a third chance.” He said to himself.35