forum V O T E / Psychological Thriller / Closed

Started June 26, 2018 by @WriteOutofTime

tune

Paige couldn't think clearly. She just knew John, and she knew the TV screen that would be announcing the next victim. She shivered and pressed closer to him.

(Paige is 16… 17 I think.)

John cried against her, then asked that horrible question, “D-Did you not v-vote?” John sobbed out the last part. He wasn’t sure he had cried some much at once before. He’d never fallen in love with someone who might die. John watched Paige for a nod or a shake. He prayed she would say she voted. He prayed that her name wouldn’t be on the screen by default.

Paige looked down. She couldn't allow herself to make eye contact, much less, move her head a tiny bit.

“No. No. Nonononononono,” John said under his breath. He tried to wipe at his eyes but his vision only became blurrier. He turned and kicked the wall behind him, earning him a strike of pain down his leg, “No!” He shouted at the system as he sunk to his knees before Paige, “I-“ John buried his face in his hands and just cried an arms length away from Paige. She was going to… John sobbed harder.

Paige stood, her arms limply by her sides, her chin to her chest, her eyes closed. "John… I'm… I'm sorry." Her heart ached. The word came out hollow. Sorry.

“I- don’t-“ The words came out choppy as he spoke, “What- I don’t know what to do,” He finally spit out as he looked up at her and managed to get out, “I don’t know what I will do without you.”

That was it. She broke. Her heart shattered, and she knew what love really felt like. She sank to her knees.

John just tried to breathe. He shouldn’t be crying. It probably only made Paige feel worse, since she said she hadn’t wanted to get attached. But he needed to at least ask Paige… He took a shaky breath in, “What do you need me to do? When you’re…” When you’re gone. If Paige wanted to go… He could at least try to fulfill her last wishes, deliver some message to her remaining family or friends. John tried to swallow a perpetual lump in his throat.

Paige fingered her pocket. She looked him in the eyes. "I'm sorry," she repeated, her soul howling in misery.

John looked at her with empty eyes. It was all over. Like a shooting star fallen to the earth. Like a dreamer stuck in a nightmare. So John slowly got up. He couldn’t look at Paige or else he would never be able to stop crying. His heart ached as he tried, and failed, to walk away. Instead, he held out a hand to help her up. Because he would not walk away from her when she was dying, no matter how much the fact hurt him.

Paige needed his touch, if it was the last thing she felt. But her heart was empty. The look in his eyes had drained her. She barely had enough energy to move. Her fingers flexed by her sides. Chants of I hate myself and I'm sorry drifted through her head. She looked up enough to meet John's gaze. Her mouth opened, but the words dried out.

(I am sobbing)
“I’ll see you-“ John almost choked on a sob, “I’ll see you again,” He told her. Because he would. Because if she was going now, John would go too. All he needed was to…

"John, no!" Paige shoved herself off the ground and grabbed John's shoulders instinctively.

“I will,” He told her. He vowed, “I will see you again,” John tried and failed to bring a small smile on his face.

Paige didn't think that she could affect him this much. She knew the true meaning of the words, and she couldn't bear it. A part of her wanted to run back into the booth and change her mind. She only grasped him tighter.

John managed to make a small smile, “It’s going to be okay. Because it’s going to end soon. I only need something sharp and I can be with you,” John told her, holding her. Because he would. If she was dying, he would go with her, “Because I know what love feels like now. And I’m not going to give it up.”

Paige couldn't speak. The results weren't even in yet, and he was already prepared to die with her. "I… I can't let you do that," she whispered. Her voice was wobbly - one wrong word and she would come crashing down with no support.