Page 64 of Jacob Michaels is Dead

“Go!” Lucas screamed as a green light started shining through the front windows of the house.

Gasping at the sight of the light and Lucas’ form bathed in it, I pulled away from Ernst and ran over to my boyfriend. Quickly, I shoved my mouth over his. His lips accepted mine, and I felt the trail of tears on my cheek meld with the river of tears on his cheek. When I pulled back, Lucas looked more determined. I felt more determined.

“Even in death.” He nodded.

“Even then.” I nodded back.

“Go.” He stated simply.

Pushing away from Lucas so that I couldn’t second guess myself, I turned and ran towards the cellar door, grabbing Ernst’s arm on the way. Together, we ran hand and hand through the living room into the kitchen, and I threw open the cellar door. The two of us dashed down the steps as more pounding sounded from above, and everything around us seemed to be glowing in a green light. Running directly to the edge of the well, I let go of Ernst’s hand and climbed up on the wall of the well.

“Rob!” Ernst gasped. “Wha’ are you doin’?”

I looked down at my friend.

“Stopping all of this,” I said, simply.

“Don’!” He bellowed to be heard over the sounds upstairs. “Please, Rob!”

“I have to, Ernst.” I felt tears flowing freely over my cheeks. “It’s why I’m here. You know that.”

Tears were flowing from Ernst’s cheeks, too. I could see in his face that he wanted to say something, that he was trying to force himself to say something…but then his face turned into a steely mask like Lucas’ had. He simply nodded at me.

“Thank you for making sure I wasn’t alone,” I said. “I love you, Ernst.”

“I love you, too, Rob.” He responded, his back straightening, bringing him to his full height—which wasn’t that great. “An’ I am proud to ‘ave been yer friend.’”

“No prouder than I am to have been yours.” I smiled as warmly as I could.

Then, before we could say anything else that would delay or stop me, I turned and gazed down at the well. The green light wasn’t just coming from the windows upstairs…it was emanating out from the bottom of the well, too. I gazed down into its blinding depths and braced myself.

I wish…

I wish I could forget everything. I wish Bloody Bones was gone. I wish that Lucas, Ernst, and everyone I love could be safe again.

And then I was falling.

The world’s largest lucky penny.

It was dark when my eyes opened once again. I was in my room, lying on my bed. I wasn’t in my pajamas or under the covers. I was merely laying on top of the bed, fully clothed. The room was dark, and the moon and stars were twinkling in the sky outside of my window. A quick glance over to my bedside table let me know that it was well after midnight.

A flash of a memory—Oma’s hand on my forehead.

Whispered words.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

Why was I in bed like this? How did I get in bed? I didn’t remember ever walking up to my room and going to sleep. I had gone to have nachos at The Red Rooster Tavern and…then…I didn’t know.

Sitting up in my bed, I could sense that the house was deadly quiet. Oma must have already gone to bed. A shadow in the corner of my room moved. My head jerked to the side.

Was that…

I thought I saw a…little person?

A smile formed on my face at the thought. That was the most ridiculous thing ever. I was too old to be creeping myself out.

It’s time to go.

The thought entered my head like a bullet.

So…I slid off of the bed.

Next to where my feet landed was a suitcase on wheels, the handle extended, ready to be wheeled away.

And that’s what I did. I crept down the stairs, carrying the suitcase carefully the whole way, even stopping at Oma’s closed bedroom door to make sure she truly was asleep. Then I went out the front door, locking it behind myself, walked across the porch, and down into the yard. Turning to give the house one last look, I gave a sigh. Point Worth just wasn’t for me. I was meant for bigger things.

Hollywood.

California.

Not Podunk, Ohio.

Did you see that?

I turned, let the suitcase fall to the ground, and wheeled it behind me as I walked towards the main road.