Chapter one (The Dream)

The Dream1

Walking down a silent hall, my footsteps echo the school. I hear a soft melody so I listen closely. My poetry is being recited throughout the building. I look around to see the dark, teal lockers and the white tiled floor. I look off into the distance to see one open door at the end of the hallway. I could see nothing but darkness through the opening.
I walked near the door. The poetry was starting to crescendo into a loud yell. The voice was a boy’s, but not just any boy. It was him. I listened to him repeat my poetry. “Jake,” I whispered softly to myself. I ran into the dark room and the door quickly slammed shut behind me. I flipped the light-switch on and the light was a bright, blinding pain! I squinted my eyes to see a glimpse of Jake. He was three feet away from me. I was so happy to see him, I was almost frightened by his presence.
“JAKE!” I screamed, calling for him. I reached for him, trying to take his hand, but I hit something hard. It was an invisible shield around him as if there were glass around him. I fought for Jake, screaming in terror. I tried to break the shield with my fists and it felt like I was hitting concrete. My hands were cut up from the shield and I heard Jake screaming for me to stop. The palms of my hands were grasping the shield and I quit screaming. I stared at him and he was whispering something I could not understand. “Jake? What are you saying?” I asked him. He became wide eyed and started screaming:2

“Silent whisper,
Steal my breath,
I love you,
But life’s a mess,
Anger can kill,
But never lies,
I’ll love you,
Even with blood-red skies,
With you be my love,
That loves me back?
Be the puzzle piece,
That I lack?
What are you missing,?
I’ll find the piece,
And put it in your heart,
Because love is never least.
Maybe you’re the piece for me,
Should I find out and see?
Will you be my puzzle!”3

“Yes,” I whispered to him. Tears flooded down my face as I waited for an answer. Jake closed his eyes for five seconds. He opened them quickly and said, “Alyssa, can you hear me?” I nodded ‘yes.’ “You must go. Don’t follow my footsteps,” he told me. “I want to stay with you, Jake! Don’t leave me!” I cried. “Alyssa, you have to go. You MUST. Get out of here!” he ordered firmly.
A loud, floor-shaking noise forced me to fall. “GO!” he screamed. “Get out of here!” I ran out of the door and it slammed shut as it had done before. I ran into the computer room and broke a window with my elbow. I was on the second floor of the school, but the blinding light came near me. I jumped out and for a while, I thought I was flying.
Right as I hit the ground,4

I woke5