The Unwanted

Chapter 11- Apologies

Chapter 11- Apologies

As I slowly approached Anthony, I could feel the sweat drench my shirt, my fingers trembling with fear, the throbbing of my own eyes and the thumping of my heart against my chest. I knelt down beside him, cradling him in my arms as his blood runs down my fingers, as the echo of the gunshot still rang in my ears. My legs twitched, fighting the impulse to whirl around and sprint down that damp, shadowed road. I remained to kneel in the darkness of nightfall, amongst the trees, against the cold wet wood. I placed my warm hand softly on his cold skin. I placed my hand over his chest that did not rise or fall, that contained no beating heart.

The shadow of the short man began walking towards us. I began to hyperventilate. Each second seemed to play on forever, as I knelt perfectly still listening to the footsteps of my likely murderer.

"Why'd you kill him!" The taller man exclaimed as he grabbed his partner, "That wasn't part of the deal!"

"It's fine as long as we get the girl," The short man said in a scared, whimpering voice.

The taller man grabbed the short man by the throat.

"Die," he whispered, as he punched his partner him the chest causing him to spit out blood. Then immediately punching him with enough force to instantly break his jaw.

A tear began to slowly roll down my cheek. I couldn't believe what was happening. I didn't want to believe.

"You're okay, right Anthony?" I asked as I tried putting his blood back.

Get up! Get up!! Get up, Anthony!!!

Please.

A silhouette suddenly appeared in front of me. It was Emma with tears running down her cheeks. She knelt down beside me, pulling me in, as she gave me a hug and whispered.

"Reset."

Blue lightning began to crackle around us. As the whole world disappeared and was replaced by a light blue void.

............................................................................................................................

The teardrop had completed its journey across my face and fell through onto the paper below me, smudging my black ink.

"Time's up!" The teacher yelled with a slight Irish accent, "Pens down"

What is going on? Where am I?

"Wow, Alex, it's just a mock exam," the teacher said, "Calm down. You don't need to cry over it."

I looked out the window with confusion. Shiny snowflakes filled the intense cold air.

"Winter is here," Anthony whispered directly into my ear, in his best Ned Stark impression.

"Anthony?" I said surprised, "You're Alive!"

I quickly sat up and hugged Anthony. He was warm.

"Wow, buddy," Anthony replied, "The test wasn't that hard. You must really be worried about your race today."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, "I've already done the race"

"That's not possible," He replied, "It's later today."

The bell rang, throughout the school, signifying the start of the next lesson.

"We'd better go," He said, "We've got Chemistry with Mr Ramsay now."

Was the whole day I experienced just a dream? Nah it felt too real to be a dream. The blood, the tears. It was all too real. There is only one way to confirm it.

As I followed Anthony into Mr Ramsay's class, I kept looking at Anthony to be sure he was real.

Right now, I can only think of one way to confirm if what happened was a dream. I'm going to have to repeat what I did to Mr Ramsay. I feel bad for purposely ignoring him, but I have to do this. I need to know. If he gives me the same question, then I have to assume the rest of the day will repeat itself as I remember. And I'm not going to let that happen.

"Today," Mr Ramsay said as he started his lesson, "We'll be talking about electronegativity. Does anyone know the word used to describe a molecule that has a dipole? Alex, why don't you tell us?"

Sorry, Mr Ramsay, I need to know whether what happened was real. So, I can't reply to you.

"Alex?" Mr Ramsay said in a louder voice.

Sorry!

"Alex!" He started shouting.

Mr Ramsay continued to shout my name, but I didn't reply until Anthony began to call out to me as it happened from what I remember.

"Sorry, Mr Ramsay," I lied, "I didn't hear you. My mind wandered off"

Now all I have to do is hear your response. If it's different from what I remember then, what I remember must have been a dream. But, if he asks the same question, then I have to assume Anthony's life is in danger. Please, Mr Ramsay. Don't ask the same question.

"So how about a funny, little riddle to test your Chemistry knowledge," he said as he slowly walked away for a dramatic reveal.

Please don't be the same question!

'Question: Two bears of the same weight and buoyancy fell into a pool of water. One of the bears easily swam out of the pool but the other began to panic and yell. Why did only one of bears panic when in the water?'

No. I didn't want to believe it. But it is true. That day really did happen. That means Anthony is in danger. I need to do save him!

"I don't want your mind to wander off again, so I'll put a time limit on this," Mr Ramsay replied, "you have two minutes and thirty seconds to give me an answer. You will remain standing until the time is done. If you can't give me an answer before time runs out. You fail. Simple."

"The answer is 'He was a Polar Bear'," I exclaimed as I wiped a tear from my eyes, "May I please be excused, I'm not feeling well"

"That's right..." He said shocked.

The rest of the class began to stare at me again. It was clear what they were thinking. "How did he get the answer so fast?" "Did he cheat?" "Why is he crying?"

"Yeah of course. You may go to the nurse's office," Mr Ramsay said still a bit confused.

"I'm not sure how to get there," I lied, "Can Anthony come with me?"

"Sure," Mr Ramsay said, still a bit confused, "Anthony, accompany Alex to the nurse's office"

Thank you, Mr Ramsay. Sorry, I had to use you like that, but now that I know, I can change Anthony's fate. Please forgive me.