Chapter 19. SAYING OUR GOODBYES

Alexa's pov

We ran as fast as our legs could carry us. According to Kelly, we only had like two minutes before the maze closed again.

"Come on! Guys! They are right behind you," Jona warned. He was talking to Kyra and me because we were dragging behind. I turned back and could not believe what my eyes were looking at. Behind us were like ten ghost devils running after us.

"I thought they were only three ghost devils," I spoke.

"Yeah, me too, and it seems Kelly thought so, too," Jona said.

"We need to increase our paces. We cannot let them get us again." He added. We increased our running speed. Kyra was doing pretty well and was a fast runner in that she left Jona and me behind.

We finally reached what looked like an exit from the maze. There was some sort of a black rip that was closing up. It was closing quickly, and only a small part remained, for it was fully closed.

"I guess we have one minute to go through this thing before it closes," Billy said. We were standing before the rip.

"What the hell is this?" Kyra asked.

"I don't know, K..but I know that we have to go through it before they catch us," Billy responded. The ghost devils were now just a few meters from where we were standing.

"I am going first," Robby said and walked through. He disappeared in the rip scaring us.

"Where did he just go?" I asked.

"Robby? Robby?" I called, but there was no response.

" I think he's disappeared. We can't go through what if we disappear too?" Kyra spoke shakily.

"No. We can't stay here either. No, we can't get trapped here. I cannot get trapped here with the ghost devils." Malachi said.

"I am going too." He added and walked through.

"I can't get trapped either. I am going, and you all should." Billy said.

"But we don't know what is on the other side," I said softly.

"We are going to be safe. The rip opens to the cemetery on the land of trapped souls." Billy said.

"And how do you know that?" Jona asked

"I can see it. " Billy responded.

"Can you see them? Robby and Malachi?" I asked

"Yes. They are lying on the other side unconsciously but they are fine. Pretty alive."Billy responded. "I am going." He added and walked through.

"Come on, K. Go," I said. The rip was almost closing.

"Hurry up, K," I yelled at her, and she nodded and then walked through.

"Jona, go," I said.

"No. You go first, Alexa." He protested. I didn't have time to argue, so I walked through and fell on the other side.

****

I opened my eyes to everyone standing behind the rip. Billy was right about being unconscious after walking through the rip. It took me about two seconds to wake up.

"Guys?" I said and stood on my feet.

"What is wrong?" I asked because they all looked worried.

"It's Jona," Billy said, and I just realized that Jona was missing.

"Where is he? Where is Jona?" I asked.

"They got him before he crossed over," Robby said

"What? No. No." I spoke rapidly.

"He was halfway to....but one of those ghost devils chained his legs and dragged him back," Billy said.

"I am sorry. He's gone, Alexa." He added.

"Shit! It should be me. I agreed to walk through before him. It's my fault." I said.

"Hey, come on, Alexa. It's not your fault. Those stupid ghost devils are to blame." Kyra said.

"Ooh! God! Jona! Jona!" I said. I was so worried that I was even crying. I was already tired of losing people. I had already lost Chase and poor Kelly, and now Jona.

"Why are we losing people just like that? It was Kelly, then Chase, and now Jona. It's not fair." I said.

"Hey. It's going to be okay." Billy said and hugged me tightly.

"It's not your fault. It's no one's fault." He added.

****

We sat down around the cemetery in a circle allowing ourselves to relax before heading to side B. There was not much talking among us as losing Jona and me losing my mind for a few minutes had kind of caused us a shock.

"Guys," Malachi spoke and cleared his throat before saying anything else.

"I think we could have a moment for our friends we lost during the crossover." He said, and we all gazed at him with questioning eyes.

"I mean like say a few things about them and.....goodbyes." He added

"Like they kinda died?" Robby asked, and Malachi nodded.

"Ridiculous!" Billy exclaimed.

"It's not like they died again," he added.

"But we lost them. We should just have a moment for them. They were our friends." Malachi said.

"I am with Malachi. I would love to have a moment for Kelly. " Kyra spoke.

"We lost her to the trapped souls, and she still came and saved us." She added.

"Yeah. She deserves it. They all do. Jona was by our side all the time and Chase...." I paused

"He was good for nothing. He didn't do anything noteworthy, and he remained behind. He bailed on us." Billy spoke.

"But he's also our friend. He was not that bad, Billy." Kyra said.

"He still bailed, no?" Billy asked

"He was dumb, but he was one of us. He deserves the moment." Robby spoke.

"Okay, whatever," Billy said.

"So, we are gonna say a few words, and then we are gonna scribble their names on one of these gravestones and....that's all," Malachi said and chuckled lightly.

"Who wanna go first?" Malachi asked, and Billy nodded.

"Okay. Kelly, thank you for saving our asses today, and sorry for losing you to the trapped souls and then to the ghost devils. " He paused, then continued.

"Jona, oooh, buddy. I am going to miss you. Sorry, Mate, and I hope you will be okay."

"For Chaser, I...don't know. I have nothing to tell you." Billy said.

"I am done. The next one can go ahead." He added

"Okay," Kyra spoke.

"Jona, you were the calmest guy I know, and you did not deserve to remain behind with those devils. I am sorry for that. I'll miss you."

"Ooh, Chase! Yeah, since I talked to you at the clubhouse, I always felt like there was a spark you left in me. You are a nice guy, Chase. I will miss you a lot. I hope you are going to be okay." Kyra said.

"Kelly. Kelly, I miss you, twin sister. I will always miss you. I'm sorry I lost you twice, while you have always been there for me in life and death. Forgive me for not being there for you when you needed me most. Thank you for saving us today, and I love you, Kelly. Goodbye."

"Hey, Robby guess you up next," Malachi said, and Robby nodded.

"Gotta be brief," Robby spoke, then cleared his throat.

"Kelly and Jona, we are sorry for losing you. Hope you find your way out."

"Mmh, Chase boy. Damn! I know you hate me, and I hate you too. You are dumb, but you know I kind of enjoyed your dumbness. You better crossover your ass back here. I guess I'm going to miss you."

"Done," Robby spoke.

"I'll go next." Malachi volunteered.

"For Jona, dude, you were the best roommate. I'm going to miss you. Sorry and please don't stop fighting. We are going to be waiting for you at home. All of us, buddy."

" And Chase. You will always be my mate. It's like we are twins in the world of death. We were the newbies. You better come back because I don't know who I will be nagging about how side B sucks. How the meals suck," Malachi said, and we all laughed softly.

"You did understand me. Thanks for that hug back when I told you about my parents. It worked wonders. I miss you, Mate. Don't be so dumb and let your body disintegrate in the living world, or I'll also start calling you a dumbass." He added and chucked lightly.

"Kelly. You were the first person to show that you liked me on side B. I remember how you smiled at me at the clubhouse. Yeah, your pretty smile will be my memory for you. I liked you too, Kelly." He paused, then continued.

"Sorry for losing you. I should have been there for you. I miss you, Kelly." He added.

"Guess I am done." He said after a short silence.

"Okay. I guess it's now you, Alexa." Billy spoke.

"K, I know we should have protected you, but we failed. We lost you, and we lost you again. I feel terrible for losing a kind-hearted person like you. Forgive me. Forgive us all. ".

"Jona. Huh, buddy! I still blame myself for going through the rip before you. I feel bad about that. You were the best, dude, and I will miss your stupid jokes. You better defeat those ugly devils and come back to us." I said, then paused. Billy had his eyes on me. It was like he was weighing my words.

"And Chase... You are stupid and dumb sometimes....but you are also a nice guy. You better come back coz I wanna see you choke again with weed smoke....yeah, that's a dumb thing to say." I said and chuckled lightly.

"I am going to miss you all, guys. Hope you fight and come back to us." I added.

"Over," I said.

"Okay. We now scribble their names over here, and that's all." Malachi spoke.

"Do we have to do that?" Billy asked.

"Yeah. I guess it's a good idea." Kyra responded.

We all agreed to scribble their names on one of the gravestones.

Billy scribbled Jona's name, Malachi and Kyra scribbled Kelly's, and Robby and I worked on Chase's."

Once we were done, we circled them together in a big scribbled heart.

"Yeah. That's it? We did our goodbyes, and maybe they will know we loved them if they ever come back here." Malachi spoke.

"Yeah. Totally." I said.

"Can we now go back to Side B?" Billy asked.