Chapter 26 of The Other Side

CHAPTER 26: BLACK WINGS, WHITE SKIN

I watched Julietta sprint past me, no longer with black hair or a black dress. Simply jeans and a tee. She threw herself into the arms of the Redan, who was now... not a ghost.
   "I'm so confused," I sighed to Jared. "Wasn't he a ghost?"
   Jared laughed once, and swept me up into his arms, not bothering to answer. He pressed his lips to mine, and I wound my arms around his neck.
   "That was easy," Jared laughed again, relieved. "We don't die today."
   "Wait, can you please explain the whole ghost thing? 'Cause he was a ghost - I saw."
   "When you die, you have a choice from Jyagarenth," he told me. "You can pass right on to the other side, or you can stay here. The deal is, though, if you pass through, you can never come back. If you stay here, though, you are allowed one moment to be alive again, but then you must remain in the Redan for the rest of your... existance."
   "Oh..." I looked toward Julietta and Alex.
   "I love you," I heard Julietta whimper.
   "I miss you," Alex whispered as a tear rolled down his cheek.
   Julietta was still crying into Alex's shirt, and he kissed her head.
   "Jay-Tee," he said quietly. "I have always watched over you, and always will. I won't ever leave until the day you are with me. I can't explain how much I want you back."
   Tears welled in my eyes as I realised this wasn't were they would be together forever again. This was their one time to ge with each other again until Julietta... died.
   They didn't speak again for a long time, just sobbed and held each other, whispering now and then.
   "Jared," I whispered, realising I wouldn't be getting out of here since I came through the globe. "How do you get back to the White Tower?"
   "Well, we'll have to-"
   "No, I said you," I closed my eyes as I said this. "I came through the Mist - I can't get back."
   I opened my eyes to watch his reaction. He glared at me, but his eyes began to water. He shook his head, and closed his eyes to force the tears away.
   "Somehow, we will both get home, Alice. I won't leave you here," he whispered. "I am not going without you."
   "You can't stay here," I growled, suddenly angry. "You have to go - no one cares about me. Jared, you need to be at the Tower, and not stuck here. I-I-"
   "Alice-"
   But I didn't hear anything anymore. Everything took on a reddish tinge, and I started to rise into the air. I clutched for Jared, but he didn't even try to hold onto me.
   "J-Jared!"
   Abruptly, there were stabbing pains in my back, and I held out my hands as they paled completely. Music began to blast from everywhere, and I thought it was by Muse.
   "You lucky brother," Sadie laughed from somewhere below.
   I watched as the intricate engravings on the far wall became clearer, and I could make out every line. I hadn't seen before, but it was a picture of a girl. She had long hair and wings. She was just standing there, staring.
   But what made me gasp was the fact that the girl was me. My head started to swirl, and I closed my eyes as I slipped from the air.