Suspensions.

Khoa Võ

Wild laughter filled the air as everyone laughed at the humorous jokes I cracked. They doubled over laughing so hard that tears were brimming at their eye lids and I smiled to myself.

"Here I am again, faking smiles and forcing laughter."

I muttered to myself only for me to feel the intense gaze of Jace on me. He starred like I was a puzzle he needed to crack or solve. I knew he heard what I had said even if it was barely audible.

I averted my gaze and turned to look at Avery holding Densel's hand so strongly. I chuckled internally.

Wait a minute, did I mention a night filled with fake laughter? Sorry I meant a night with another heart yet to be broken.

I stared in amazement as I watched the group of six walking down the lonely part. Densel was like the basic player of the group but I guess Avery was yet to find out since she still stared at him with dreamy eyes filled with so much admiration. I wouldn't blame her though, Densel's charm was one which no one could resist and it's so unfortunate I learnt that the hard way when I got my heart broken by him and I cried my little black heart out.

Avery was just a little bundle of butterflies who for some unknown reason seemed to hate me and could I say the feeling was mutual?. Well, there was Tina who was best friends with Avery but like she obviously likes Densel too so I'm pretty sure her friendship with Avery was obviously fake and she's in it for what she can get

Jace was the dark and lonely one with a constant glare on his face but he looked quite handsome with his shaggy brown hair and hazel coloured eyes if you looked past the murderous look he always carried. Then there's me. I have nothing to say about myself because there's really nothing to say. I'm yet to even discover myself and know who I actually am so let's leave it at that.

"I'd choose you

In a million years to come, in a million different worlds, With different opinions and choices, I'd choose you no matter what."

I couldn't hold it in any longer and so I doubled over and laughed so hard at the cheesy lines Densel had to offer his candy for the night. I might have sounded like a dying hyena as I laughed into the silent night but I didn't really care at the moment. Avery glared at me with so much hatred in her eyes that I had to sober up very quickly.

You might be wondering why five teenagers who have nothing in common were in a lonely street in the middle of the night. Well Tina called us all and talked about adventure of some sort and since I have nothing better to do, I guess adventure it is.

We walked down the lonely part and everyone was lost in their own world until we got to the muddy part of the street and Avery started shrieking at every opportunity because she got her precious shoes dirty.

"I can't believe I'm walking in dirt all because of a foolish adventure trip"

She continued complaining and it was getting so annoying but she suddenly kept quiet when we all heard whispers. I was so quick to turn around because it was surprising to hear whispers so loud by this time of the night. The whispers came again and I guess we were all too scared to utter a word and just decided to follow the whispers.

The weather suddenly changed and the breeze picked up. It looked as if it wanted to rain but at the same time, there were no clouds in the sky but the atmosphere just looked so gloomy and held a certain elegance to it. I had watched several movies where teenagers get missing in this type of setting but I guess we were too curious to turn back. We walked some more until we came to a clearing and a vast land was visible.The land was so bare but within seconds, sunflowers started emerging from the ground. It looked so odd and scary since the atmosphere was filled with tension and sad emotions. We were just too intrigued to turn back, call us stupid or anything.

The ground started shaking and a blinding light shone from the distance. We ran over to the source of light and saw three old women with capes chanting in a language we couldn't understand.

"I-I thin-k we need to head back. This is becoming more creepy." I stammered out. But it seemed as though I was the only one that got my sense of reasoning back. Suddenly the breeze picked up and it was as if a mini tornado was formed and was swallowing everything in sight. The sunflowers were replaced with gravestones lined into rows and the wind started dragging us in.

"Ha, what is going on"

Avery screamed so loudly. I realized I was holding on to Jace to prevent me from being dragged into the tornado. More screams made me look back and I saw Avery being dragged into the tornado.

"Densel, help me! Please HELP!"

she cried with so much urgency in her voice. But I doubted Densel would be helping her soon with the kind of fear that was evident in his eyes. Instead, he held Tina's hands and ran away. Different emotions were flashing through Avery's eyes, betrayal, pain, sadness, anger and even defeat.

"We have to go Alma" Jace shouted but I knew I couldn't just leave our friend out there. Despite the fact that she hates me, I couldn't just bring myself to leave her out there. I ran towards her and put in all the efforts I could in dragging her. Jace helped to and I don't even know how we did it but we managed to pull her and run.

When we finally got to a safe space, Avery collapsed on the floor and immediately, tears started flowing. I didn't know if she was crying because of the mystery that just happened or if she was crying because her knight in shining armor wasn't there for her.

"Well, I guess he looked so perfect but underneath that perfection were lies yet to leave another victim broken"

I chuckled and walked away.