Lukas P.O.V.

Two beds. Two bodies. Two blood-stained sheets.

One dead. One alive.

Both drowned in a pool of bitter regret.

With the nurse's words Petra and I force our way into their room, the stench of blood and hospital materials reeking in the air. I feel my breath hitch and stop. There's a bed on the left and the towards the right, both poised in a vertical position.

On the right, is Aiden. There are bandages covering a majority of his body, some tubes attached to give him the proper chemicals, and some other tools on the table a little ways off from him.

On the left, is Jesse. Oh Notch.

She's in the same state as Aiden, except she has less tubes and more of her body is covered in bandages. Her tossed hair is spread abroad on the pillow, eyes closed and arms rested partially away from her body.

I just can't tell who's breathing, and who isn't.

Shock overwhelming me to the max, Petra rushes over and grabs my wrist.

"Check Jesse." She demands hoarsely, before going to Aiden's bed and checking on him.

I come back to reality and rush to her bed, bending down on my knees and grabbing her hand. It's cold. Lord-it's so very cold. Has it been that long?

I grip her hand tightly and breathe slowly, trying to calm the nerves jumping all over me. My body is literally shaking right now, trying to hold back the rush of tears attempting to overcome me.

"Jesse?" I whisper, her face pale and calm. Her lips are curved into a faint, small smile, but she isn't moving. Her eyes are still shut, and I suddenly can't feel myself anymore. "Please..."

I lean my head on her stomach near her chest, hand still in mine, hoping to feel something-anything at this point.

"Lukas." Petra's voice is distant in my head.

I weave my fingers through hers, slowly, staring at her in hopes of waking up. She's Jesse, she won't die from this. She'll open her eyes and then say "gotcha!" with a cheerful laugh before jumping up from the hospital bed and demanding we go on another adventure.

No movement makes my head bob up and down. Not a sliver. Not a breath.

I grip her hand tighter, shutting my eyes shut and hugging her, the memories racing through my head like a storm. A sob forces through my lips and gets caught in my throat, and then another, and then another. The bandage on her stomach is stained with tears. I can't feel her heartbeat. Her heart, her breath, her warmth. I can't feel anything.

"Come on Jesse," I choke out, pleading, "I don't like worrying about you."

I feel Petra trying to comfort me, along with many other nurses, but the only thing I'm waiting for is her response.

Seconds pass, a moment.

But I get nothing in return.

Jesse P.O.V.

I'm out of breath, if I still have any that is, the images still vigorously trying to make their way into my head. In the first scene, I had swapped places with Reuben. Instead of him dying, it was me, and the Witherstorm continued its rage on the world. In the second scene I had rejected the Blaze Rods when they asked for a second chance, and Aiden had ended up killing Maya and Gil, and then himself.

What was the purpose of showing me this?

Was I really just...dead? Is this all just one big punishment?

This isn't a punishment Jesse.

The voice comes out of hiding, and Reuben appears again, at my side. He tilts his head at me and whines, frustratedly .

This is a lesson.

"What's this 'lesson' then?! What do I have to learn? Am I dead? What's happening?!" I can't help but blurt out desperately. "I don't even know what's going on."

You need to accept.

"Accept what?!" I shout, trying to get an answer.

Of course, it's never that easy.

Think, Jesse. Think.

I fight the urge to scream, groaning as I clutch both sides of my head and trying to get myself to think. I set myself on the ground, sitting crossed-legged and staring downwards.

Reuben.

Aiden.

Gil.

Maya.

Me.

You need to hurry, you're running out of time.

"Well, you're not exactly helping, are you?!" I retort back harshly and shaky, fear coming up as another wave, just as Reuben nuzzles himself under my hand for encouragement.

Words.

Choices.

What did I say? What did I do?

And then a question strikes me: is this what would happen if I haven't done what I did?

"I've got it!" I cry out, getting to my feet, Reuben startled and jumping backwards. "I know what has to be done."

I realize what is happening, finally and fully. I'm running out of time. I'm not dead, but I will be soon enough. This whole thing has been a test, a lesson as the voice said. I'm in some sort of dream space, in my own mind between consciousness and unconsciousness.

Do you accept?

I look at Reuben, throwing a soft smile on my face.

"I do."

Death is the easy way out. I hope you make the right decision.

I feel myself getting overcome by a great wave of dizziness, and I fall down to the ground, laying on my side, Reuben snorting around me. I stroke him gently, my eyelids threatening to shut soon. I scratch him lightly behind the ear.

"Don't worry boy..." I say hoarsely, "I'll see you soon. I know it."

He nuzzles himself in the crook of my neck, and that's the last bit of comfort before once again, I am thrown into the unknown.

Sooo I'm back, here's a chapter

Yeah I know, the feels are real

Interesting and exciting enough? Or should I say, suspenseful? ;)

I tried to make it more clear???Jesse was in a "dream space" if you don't get it.

I won't make this too long lol, thanks for waiting. Cya!