|GONER|

I had no words. There was nothing that I could say. My thoughts ran wild through my brain, I almost couldn't figure out if their screams were audible or not.

The blood slowly drained from my face. I knew he could see that. I knew he could see the paleness of it; how ghostly I've become.

I've never felt more dead than I do now. My heart exploded. It's nothing but ash now. I can't feel it beat anymore.

I'm a goner.

"Say something, Harley." Larson whispered. His eyes were those of a puppy dog, begging for my attention. I could tell he needed me to tell him that it's okay, that he's better now, but I can't.

I can't say anything. I haven't decided how his words make me feel.

I'm not surprised about it, just hurt I think. All the signs were there, I just missed them because I was only worried about myself.

I love Larson though. I'm attached to him; he's become a part of me. He's where I go for comfort. I need him with me.

"I'm sorry." My voice managed to crackle out. "I'm sorry I missed it."

He peeked up at me through long eyelashes, and allowed his bangs to shadow his face. The corners of his lips were down. He looked a shade lighter too.
"I didn't want you to know."

His words stung. I've been pretty honest with him, but he kept something this big from me the entire time. "Why not?" I asked.

"You were so upset about getting murdered, or just being dead in general. I didn't want to tell you that I'm here because I killed myself on purpose. I figured it would upset you."

"I am upset Larson." I dug my hands through my hair, and looked up to the sky for a second. "How...how could you do that to yourself?" I hated being so forward with him, but I just can't understand his actions.

He looked away towards the woods. "I wasn't happy. You know that."

"That doesn't mean you should just take yourself out. Things could have gotten better..." I said.

His blue eyes looked into mine. "You don't know that." He said.

"Now you don't either."

He took in a deep breath, and turned his face away from me. I think he was crying.

"Are you happy here, Larson? Are things better for you now?" My words were louder; I'm not really sure why, maybe the frustration.

He didn't answer my question, so I kept talking. I stared up at the bright, full moon. "Because I'm not. I'm not happy here. In fact, I hate it here. I'm tired of feeling alone, and wondering what happened to me. I'm sick of being invisible to everyone. I'm ready to leave." My words gradually grew quiet until they were just a whisper to myself. "I want to be alive again."

I glanced over to Larson's chair; he was gone.

"Larson?!" I yelled. "You come back here! We aren't done talking abou-"

A growl from above cut me off before I could finish my rant. I didn't want to look up. I couldn't bare to look into those red eyes again.

I jumped up to run. I only took a few long strides before the earth shook with its feet hitting the ground behind me. Was it on the roof the whole time we were talking?

I ran towards the lake, but first I had to get through the small forest.

The ground beneath me literally pounded. The beast was apparently much bigger than I previously thought.

The sound it made wasn't anything close to a bark. It was more like an infinite, tortured scream. It was the door slamming behind the person you love for the last time. It was the ring of a mother's phone telling her that her child was in an accident. It was the doctor's voice giving fatal news. It was the last beat of a heart... I finally pinpointed the exact feeling that the sound gave me; hopelessness.

I didn't have to look behind me to know that he was gaining on me. He has always been gaining on me. He's always been watching, and waiting for that perfect moment. Waiting for me to slip up; to let my guard down; to give him an opportunity to get through. And now, he got it.

I'm done for; I'm a goner.

I stumbled every time he took a heavy step. I could sense that he was closer with every single one. His breath sent prickles down my spine. I could almost imagine his claws around my heart, crushing it until it was truly ashen.

We had both made it into the woods, but it wasn't by a miracle, he allowed me to make it that far. I should give up; let him have me. At least it would be over quick. But, I don't want to go out like that, giving up. I'll take my chances with the lake, and if that doesn't work; at least I went out fighting for my ''life''.

I heard a rush of wind to my right, then a searing pain ran down the back of my shoulder to my elbow. The tattered threads of my sweater hung loose where he shredded the sleeve from the rest of my shirt.

My arm was on fire. It felt like I was trying to outrun the flame, but it was my own flesh burning. It's impossible to outrun your own flesh, but I continued to try.

The woods ended. I made it through! How? I couldn't tell you...

Larson's figure was just visible on the dock. I couldn't believe he was waiting on me. Why doesn't he run? It's not after him, not now anyway.

"Larson, run!" I screamed.

He wasn't paying attention. He was sitting Indian style on the end of the dock with his head in his hands. He was looking down into the water.

"Larson!"

Nothing from him. How can he not hear me? Is he ignoring me?

"Larson, please get up!"

I was nearly half way to the dock, yet he still didn't respond to me.

I risked a glance backward. The beast wasn't close to me anymore, in fact, it waited at the tree line.

How strange.

My arm hurt now more than ever. It felt like the burn was spreading down my arm and across my back. It wasn't actually on fire though, I checked.

I thought of a serpent and it's venom. How it bites you then waits for you to be too weak to fight back. Is that what the beast has planned for me? Is he going to sit around waiting for his venom to kill my spirit, taunting me of my pending "death"?

The dock's wood was under my feet, and I slowed myself to a quick stop right where the balled up Larson sat. His back was to the hill and the beast, but his gaze was out in the water. I followed its path to a horrific scene. Apocalyptic even. Fish. Dead fish everywhere. They floated slowly with the current. It was already well into the night, and my vision wasn't at one hundred percent, but I could see that the water was red. Blood red. Was it really blood? I have no idea. I can't smell it, and I'm sure as heck not sticking my hand in it to find out.

I imagined my own dead body surfacing next to the dead fish, floating in that sickening blood water. 

I sat down next to Larson facing the opposite direction, but still holding on to his arm. He didn't acknowledge my presence.

My eyes slowly retraced my frantic steps up the hill. The beast was still there. Watching us with flaming eyes. It snarled at me, showing me his vicious teeth. It didn't come towards us though.

I looked down to examine my arm. The skin on the back was black, and the skin towards the front was slowly graying. It had made it all the way to my bony hands.

I hadn't noticed how unhealthy I looked until now. Did the venom cause it, or was I already decaying and didn't notice? Each finger was flesh hanging around bone. I was shocked I could still move them without muscle tissue.

The adrenaline had faded, leaving room for the agonizing pain to surface.

I suddenly was struggling to breathe. My lungs just couldn't pull in air. My heart could no longer beat. I'm not even sure it ever was beating; it now felt like a giant hole in my chest.

I decided that I wouldn't show signs of struggle. Maybe because of my pride, or maybe to buy myself a few extra minutes. I clenched my teeth together to keep from screaming out. My face rested against my bare knees.

I felt Larson's body move, and then him stand up. He was alive after all.

"Come on!" He suddenly screamed out. I jumped up.

"Larson, what are you doing?!"

"Come on, come get us!" He yelled again, ignoring me.

"Please stop!" I squeezed his arm, but he didn't look at me.

The beast paced the edge of the woods. He could hear us, but he still didn't come at us.

"Harley, it's time for you to leave." Larson said, to only me now.

"No. I don't want to leave, not that way." My gaze again fell on the fierce animal on the hill.

"It's too late. You have to go. You're officially dying." He motioned out toward the water. "This world is dying. It's time for you to move on to your final destination." Larson said. He didn't look at me. I don't think he could.

"I want to stay with you..." I whispered.

"You're here because of me, Harley."

I gasped. What did he mean?

I didn't have time to ponder yet another question. I didn't have time for another thought in general, or another word. Not even another breath. The beast was running full speed down the hill now. His gaze burned my skin further. He was coming to claim my soul, and I have no where to go except for the lake of death. I have no chance on my own.

I'm a goner...