Russian It? Chapter 17
#26 of Road Rovers
just some melting faces and mild language
"Mom? Dad?" I ask.
"Yes, son," Mom answers.
"We've missed you so much," Dad adds.
They step out from the mist and I finally see their true form. Mom wore a smooth dress with various shades of pink. She had smooth, brown hair that went down to her shoulders. Dad wore a black suit and tie and had a fairly thick mustache. His hair was smoothed over. I couldn't believe that I was actually seeing them, now, for the first time.
"I missed you guys, too," I murmured. "But you've got to let me go back. My friends need me."
"We understand fully," Dad replied. "But...the thing is, we can't let you go."
"What do you mean?" I questioned. "Of course you can!"
"We don't want you to go back," Mom seethed, stepping forward.
"You mean the world to us," Dad joined in. Closer, closer they closed in.
Suddenly, I realized something: they weren't my parents. At least, not their souls. They were something else. Their faces became distorted and inhuman. Their eyes fell out of their sockets, their skin melted off their skulls. Their clothes quickly became torn and rotted. Who the hell were they? Was I in Hell this whole time? I didn't really know, nor did I really care at the moment. I just wanted to get the hell out of here.
I plucked up some courage and ran past the rotting corpses. I continued running until I was towards the puddle of water, and plunged in.
All that I remembered next was the feeling of falling. Falling, falling, like I was going to fall into eternity. I saw clouds flying past me in a blur. How will this last? I hoped it was soon.
As if something had read my thoughts, yet again, I suddenly fell into nothing but darkness.
I open my eyes slowly. Everything's a blur. I let my eyes readjust. Where am I? I look around. Everything seems unfamiliar.
As my eyes finished fully adjusting, I soon realized where I was. I was somehow in my room. I quickly realized that the Road Rovers must have brought my body back as they finished their business with Parvo. I sit up straight, my body a little dizzy from falling back to earth.
"I can't believe that actually happened," I whispered to myself. "It's like it was just a horrible dream. All of it."
I make my right leg move off my bed. Same went for my left. Before I knew it, I was walking down the hall. It took a little bit of extra effort, but I did it. I looked at the pictures that were displayed on the walls. They were still in the same place as I had remembered from before.
I looked in the kitchen. Nothing. I walk in, taking in all that's around me. I couldn't believe that I had actually missed this. I couldn't believe that I was actually back on earth; that I was now alive once again!
I speed-walk out of the kitchen and into the hallway, going into everyone's rooms and inspecting them. I can't believe I'm back!
"Hunter? Colleen? Blitz? Exile?" I shout, calling out each name as I stare into their proper room. Nothing. Oh, duh; the living room! How could've I been so stupid?
I walk in and see nothing. Not a single soul was within my puerperal vision. Where the hell are they?
I gasp as Hunter walks in and catches a glimpse at me. He stares towards my direction for what feels like forever. I was stunned, embarrassed even. Why? I had no idea. If anything, I was supposed to be happy.
"J-Jay? Is that you?" he stammered.
"Y-yes, Hunter," I reply.
"Are you a ghost?" he asks.
"No, Hunter. I'm all flesh and blood." I smile. "I'm really here!"
He charges at me and grabs hold of me tight. His embrace stuns me for a second. Then it soothes me. "We missed you so much! We thought that you were really gone!"
"I know, Hunter," I murmur. "I thought I was a goner for sure."
He holds me up, like I was his baby boy, and smiles at me. It was kinda embarrassing, but it was also sweet. I smile back. I needed to be here. This is where I belonged, and there was no changing that.
Tears started to welt in Hunter's eyes. "I'm so glad you're here." He was barely able to make the words out before he sobbed uncontrollably. He embraced me in a hug once more and sobbed onto my left shoulder. I never knew he had missed me this much. It made me even more upset that I had left him and the others.
After a few minutes of non-stop sobbing, Hunter was finally able to regain his self-control. "I'm sorry," he apologized, "I just missed you so much!"
"I know exactly how you feel," I agreed.
"Please, never leave us again. Ever," he pleaded.
"I'll try," I promised.
"Hunter? What're you doing in there?" I heard Exile call. He walked in and saw me in Hunter's arms. His jaw nearly dropped to the floor. "Jay!"
"Exile!" I called back. Hunter let go of me and I ran towards Exile with arms outstretched to greet him.
He mirrored the same procedure and we embraced each other in a warm, tight, bear hug. I was glad to see his face again. I never want to leave your sight again, I said to myself. Ever. Tears started to welt in my eyes.
I noticed that everyone else behind Exile stared at us, at first, in shock, then in awe. "I love you, Exile," I whispered.
"I love you, too, Comrade," he whispered back.