I literally haven't posted this story in two months. How did this even happen?
Probably because I decided to start writing another story for some stupid reason, well, anyway, I hope you enjoy this new chapter!
Quick summary of what happened last time: The group saved Will after the reapers kidnaped him. Lena confronts Nick and the group escapes, though Alex is knocked unconscious. When he wakes up, he learns Jordan has met her spirit animal named Peck, who has something to say.
Now onto the actual story!
I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
A woodpecker was standing on the counter, pecking (hence his name) at a leftover piece of pizza. Apparently, he was Jordan's spirit animal, which meant we broke a law: don't let the living meet their spirit animal.
Another broken rule to add to the list.
"So, your telling me he just appeared out of thin air and said 'hey Jordan, I don't believe we've met yet, I'm Peck and I got some cray cray news for you," I said, repeating what Jordan had told me to make sure I understood. Jordan nodded.
I held my head. "What does cray cray even mean," I whined. It was hard to keep track of all this new slang. While we were eating, Henry said that when Jordan punched Nick in the face (which I wish I hadn't missed) now lived in his head "rent free". What does that mean? How does that even make sense?
Zack, Will, and Henry were working on a catapult thing. “What are you doing,” I asked. Jordan smiled and crossed her arms. “They’re making a special weapon. But they won’t talk about it, because it’s a surprise!” She smiled and shook her head and led me to the magical woodpecker.
Me and Jordan went up to Peck. "Hey, um, birdie," I said. Peck looked at me and dropped the pizza. "Omg! Your Alex! Like the Alex! You know, your practically a celebrity back in the Afterlife." I wanted to be happy about that, it meant people noticed my existence. However, this was not the kind of attention I wanted. And if I was a celebrity, that must mean so were Lena and Zack. Sure, Lena craved attention, and I mean that in the nicest way possible, but not like this. Plus, Zack just died. Even if we were allowed to go and live in the Afterlife after this was all over we would be seen as fugitives. No one would look at us like they used to. Now their looks would become accusing.
“So, um, Peck, you said you had news,” I said, getting straight to the point. Peck’s smile turned grim. “Right. I believe the Reapers have been corrupted. You know how the files show when people die?” I nodded. “Well, the file says Jordan is dying soon. In 2 days to be exact. The file was updated about a month ago. However, there has been a glitch in the system. Apparently, the cameras that protect the files powered off the same time the files were updated. Meaning that there might be a possibility that someone else updated the files, someone who may want Jordan dead.”
I thought about it. Anything was possible. The murderer (or Lee Parker if we were right about that part) must’ve done it. But how could he do so, especially without anyone noticing?
Jordan wasn’t meant to die. We were right. But Nick and the Reapers didn’t know that.
“I need to go back into the dreamscape,” I said as Lena walked in. “Find out if he was the one who did it.” Lena shook her head. “Alex, you know what the Reapers will do if they find out your there. They’ll find you, and us,” Lena said.
The weird part was she was serious. The fact that she was made this feel much more real. Lena was never serious. It was one of the things I liked about her most, how she could turn a terrible situation into a joke. Now, this wasn’t the case.
“Lena, we don’t have much of a choice. Maybe I can find out more about this guy. Really find out what we’re up against,” I said. Lena nodded slowly. “But what if Nick-,” she started.
“Lena,” I interrupted. “I’ll be fine. Nick can’t even go into the dreamscape.” Lena sighed. “Don’t underestimate him, Alex. We can’t make the same mistake twice.”
I sat on the ground criss-cross (or as Will, Zack, and Henry called it, “criss-cross apple sauce”). I closed my eyes and concentrated.
“How long does this usually take,” Will whispered.
“It took me a few minutes. I don’t know if it’ll be the same for him,” Zack answered quietly.
“This is so cool! He’s going into someone’s dream, and he’s acting so cool about it, this is awesome,” Henry gushed, not as quietly.
“Could you guys be quiet? He’s trying to concentrate,” Jordan whispered.
“Do you think he’s in the dreamscape yet,” Lena asked?
I opened my eyes. “Maybe if you all shut up I would be!” They all muttered their apologies except for Lena, who had too much pride in herself to apologize.
I closed my eyes and the next thing I knew I was in the dreamscape. I thought about Lee Parker and the man whose head I went inside when this all began. Suddenly, the area around me shifted and I was back to where this all started. In that killer’s room.
It was just like I remembered except the guy wasn’t there. I looked around and noticed a desk. I went through the papers on them. A script, some notes that were so old they were yellow, and a bunch of blank papers. None of that seemed to help me much.
I kept looking, avoiding eye contact with all the weapons. This man really needed to clean up after himself. Suddenly, I heard a door open. I ducked behind the table and tried not to breathe as the killer came in.
He was wearing black boots and seemed to be angry because he was stomping. “Useless, useless, useless,” he muttered, throwing a jacket on the bed. It was Ann’s blue coat. I guessed he took it from her when she tried to run. He hadn’t caught her though. I don’t know how I knew, but I did.
I honestly forgot about Ann, which made me feel kind of terrible. Who knew what she had been through the past 24 hours?
Suddenly, the murderer stopped. He turned around, facing the table. I held my hand to my mouth.
“I know you’re here, tiny dreamer.”
My eyes widened. He couldn’t know I was in his dreamscape. It was impossible. It had to be. There was no way he saw me.
“Don’t make me get you out of there myself.” I slowly got out of my hiding place.
The man was wearing a mask. I tried to knock it off him (in dreams you can control things as a dreamer) but it didn’t work. He chuckled. “That won’t work on me, tiny dreamer. You can’t find out who I am that easily.” I crossed my arms. “Doesn’t matter.”
“You know, I don’t like you in my head. Kinda cheating, don’t you think,” the killer said. I glared at him. “What are you gonna do about it?” He laughed.
“You really are dumb Alex. It honestly is quite helpful. So, this is what's going to happen. I’m going to send you on a little journey, and by the time you get back, Ann will be dead, and Jordan will be close to it. Okay?”
He flicked my forehead and then suddenly everything was wrong. I wasn’t in his dream anymore.
I was in a dark place. I had never been here before. Nothing was here. Absolutely nothing. I looked around. “Hello,” I yelled. “HELLO! IS ANYBODY HERE!”
No answer.
I was alone.