this bOy

Luke

-We told you we'll never be in your band.-Screams Reggie.

In that moment, Caleb gets closer to Reggie and tries to grab his arm...

...but he passes right trough him.

Caleb. Passes. Right. Trough. Reggie.

What does that mean?

Reggie, susprised and scared, looks at his arm.

-No...NO, NO, NO!!!-Caleb shouts. He's running his hands trough his head, going from side to side, mad.- You've ruined It!! Ignorant children! You have destroyed the legacy of eternity!

As he screams, one of the columns that holds the second floor of the club falls apart. Then another one. And another. The walls start cracking, and dust starts falling from the ceilining.

The place's collapsing.

We all look at eachother, thinking the same thing.

-We gotta get out of here-Willie says.

Is the place falling down? That means we've broken the spell.

But what about us?

Questions later, bud. Now, run!

You're right, overseeker...

'Overseer', man. Not 'overseeker" And i'm always right.

Whatever. We've got to run.

I take Reggies hand. He takes Alex's, who was already taking Willie's. The last one thakes Julie's hand, as a chain, to get out lf this place.

We take advantage of Caleb looking around, and we start running.

We dodge columns, piles of cement, crushed chairs, tables on the floor. We cover our heads, just in case.

There are also paintings, glasses, and feathers on the ground, and I almost slip on them.

We hear the desperate screams of the ghost/wizard in the main hall, cursing the fact that we just wrecked his whole setup.

Heh.

Julie and the Phantoms: 1, Caleb: 0.

And that's when I see it:the exit.

I rush forward, trying not to fall. Not to trip. We need to get out of this nightmare as fast as possible.

There's no time to talk, no way to hear each other over the sound of the walls collapsing like dominoes.

But for one brief second, I do hear something.

And I feel a tug on my hand.

And I see Caleb.Reaching us.

Taking Julie's hand.And pulling her away.

No... That doesn't make sense. If he can't touch Reggie, then why Julie?

But honestly? I don't care why. I don't care about any of it, because I'm never gonna understand anyway.

The guys realize it seconds after I do.

And then I hear him shout:

-In exchange for your freedom as spirits, your friend stays with me!

Oh, hell no.

Not Julie.

Julie

I feel his nails digging into me, just like when he talked to me back in high school, except it was Nick then, not Caleb.

I can't help but cough. The dust and the flaking paint are drying out my throat.

He's strong, somehow, but he's keeping me locked in place.

Caleb spins me around to face the guys, holding my hands behind my back and gripping my neck with his free hand.He pulls me close, and right against my ear, he whispers:

-Look at them one last time, girl. There won't be another 'afterlife' for you.

"Afterlife"?

I hadn't thought about it. Never considered it. Dying this young? No way.

Especially not when I had just gotten my spark back. These past few months, I hadn't wanted anything more than to see my mom again. To go to her. But now? Nuh-uh.

Not anymore.

But there's nothing I can do. The metal railing screeches against the floor, Caleb's hands tighten around my throat.I can't even feel how hard he's holding me.

I don't want to think about it. I'm not scared of dying. I'm scared of dying now.

Don't think about it, Julie. It's gonna be okay. It's all gonna be okay. We'll be fine. You'll see. We'll be fine.Dad, Carlos, Tía, Flynn, and the guys, they'll be fine. Just like you were fine.

I have to accept it.

Maybe I'll come back... just like the guys, right? They came back. They had unfinished business, and so do I.

I'll come back.

Caleb pulls me even closer and turns us around, my back now facing the guys. But not before he shouts:

-Say goodbye, because this will be the last time you see her breathing.

Then, he whispers:

-You could've let them go, Julie. You could've. But you didn't. And because of you, all of this is happening. Look at the wall, because it'll be the last thing you-

He doesn't get to finish.

Caleb suddenly lets go of my wrists and my neck, shoving me forward just enough for me to regain my balance.

I don't feel him behind me anymore.

And then, right next to me:a loud thud.

Luke

I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm doing it. I run, dodging all the debris. He's not looking in this direction. Now's my chance.

I gather all the strength I can.And launch myself at him.

He's not taking Julie.

I can stay here. I can keep going after this. The rubble will pass through me. I'm a ghost, I can't die again.

Julie, though? She can.

And not even in my worst nightmares could I let that happen.

I pin him to the ground, and Caleb lets out a pained grunt (pathetic, honestly)

Julie stares at me, confused and panicked. She doesn't know what to do.

-GO!-I shout at her.

Does she think she has to choose?

No, there's no way she'd ever be willing to die for me. I can't let that happen.

-What about you?!- she yells back.

-I'LL BE FINE, JULES! NOW RUN!!

In the distance, I hear the guys calling her, telling her to come with them.

Caleb starts to push himself up.

I take a second to look at them.

Reggie meets my eyes. He's asking me, without saying a word: what are you gonna do?

-GET OUT OF HERE! RUN!- I yell at them.

I watch all four of them take off. Julie looks back. She still hesitates. But Alex pulls her along, and she follows.

And then, through the rubble, i see only Julies hair. They're gone.

I turn back.

Is Caleb gonna get up and beat the crap out of me? He can't touch me, right? He'd go right through me. As It happened with Reggie.

But he doesn't get up. He doesn't have the strength to.

And then, suddenly...

Purple light.

He looks down at himself, fully aware of what's happening.

He's fading. He's ceasing to exist.

He stares at his hands. Then, at me.

With tears in his eyes, he says:

-You have no idea how hard I worked to build this place. And with one little song, you destroyed it all. I was supposed to be ruling Heaven, not wandering the Earth. You'll regret this.

He doesn't move. And neither do I.

And then, I hear something.

Or, actually, I hear nothing.

It's just noise.

And the weight of the falling concrete slamming onto my back.

And then, only darkness.

And my hands hurt.

And I hear Caleb let out one last, strangled gasp.

My muscles go limp.

My body loses all sense of direction.

My lips taste like metal.

And i think about Julie. About her. I have to be strong for her. For my parents. For the guys. The band. The music.

i have to be strong.

Luke, be strong.

Luke, keep your eyes open, okay? we've got to go back to them. To her. We've got to go home.

I'll just... close them for a little bit. I'm tired.

Just a little nap.

And i'll go see Julie and the boys. Just a bit. Ugh, my legs hurt so bad.

I'll just sleep a bit, to have more energy to go back. Just a few minutes...

Julie

-No!! I'm not leaving him in there, Alex!!

-If we don't move you're gonna die!! He'll be fine, Julie!

I'm not so sure of that.

After we exit the building, we keep running. We get lost in the woods.

We stop to breathe a little bit, all tired. I rest in a tree, thinking of what just happened. And then, not that far away, we hear the building collapse and fall. That means...?

We...made It.

We destroyed the Club.We defeated Caleb.

But...at what cost?

It's was Luke. Luke was the cost.

I... can't believe it. Is he really gone? He can't be. Can he?

-We should go back, and...and find Luke.-i say, standing up.

-No, Julie, wait- Willie stops me.-We can't go back. The club might not be entirely destroyed. Besides, is late.

Is he kidding me?

-I don't care if it's 9 a.m or 12 p.m, Willie, I am looking for him!! We've got to find him!!

-Julie, he's fine. He's a ghost. He can't die again. -Says Alex, anxious

-I don't care, he's alone in there with that...monster. And he's... he's under all that rubble!!! We need to-

-Julie- Reggie stops me- We all want to find Luke and make sure he's fine, i'm with you, but...not today. -i try to talk again, but he talks before i can say anything again- And i know you don't care but...we are tired and we need resting. What if you go to Flynn's, sleep, and tomorrow we come back? And we'll look for him. He might even leave this place before we find him.

i'm not so sure. I want to look for him. I want to know he's fine. I need to-

-He's Luke, Julie. -Alex starts, interrupting my thoughts- He doesn't give up that easy. And...-he thinks a few seconds of what he's going to say- He can't be that much time away from you.

Ugh, i desperately need a shower and a good talk with Flynn. And a big sleep.

We don't need words: they know i agree.

I start walking, not really knowing where i'm going, but Willie starts laughing.

-It has come to my ears you don't enjoy puffing, but i don't think you hate It that much to go walking.

Of course, Julie forgetting they can puff.

-Let's go to my house. I need to get something.

I take Willies hand, and we puff out in my room. The four of us. This is weird.

I look at them, uncomfortable. They quickly understand.

-Oh, right, sorry: "boundaries" -Reggie quotes me, and makes me laugh. He's the comedy in person.

-When you want to go to Flynn's, go back to the studio. We'll be there to take you. If you enjoyed the ride.- says Alex.

-Actually-i start- Alex, can you stay? For a bit, only. I won't take that much time away from you two- i say this last thing to Willie, too.

Alex nods and looks at the guys, who disappear.

He comes closer to me- I know you're sad...but first, i have to tell you i'm not the best person at handling emotions

-i know-i giggle.- But you're the only one who can 100% understand me.

Alex once had with Luke what i have with him now. That connects us.

-Right. Luke is something we have in total common, right?

-Yeah. We both love or have loved a stubborn 17 year old brunette boy. -i giggle

Alex stares at me, surprised.

Oh, maybe it's the mascara. I might look like "La Llorona" now. Literally.

-Julie?

-Uhm?

-Did you just say you love Luke?

Wait, did i?

I feel the blood rushing to my cheeks as Alex starts smiling. I'm getting nervous.

-What? No. I like him. That's all. We've known eachother for 2 months, and less than a week ago i admitted to like him. None of this can happen this quickly, Alex- i rise the speed of my talking

He takes a deep breath- Alright, whatever you say but...if you do love him, it's totally fine. Feelings are just feelings and you can't control them. And loving someone isn't bad. Better if you already like them. It's just taking a few steps forward in the same path.

Wow, Luke was right when he talked about methapors.

-Well, can i do anything else for you?

Oh, i forgot about the actuall matter of why we where here.

-Just...wait.

I stand up, and walk to my bookshelf. Once there, i pick my dream box. While holding It in my hands, i turn around and look at Alex, who is just standing there. He takes both of his hands to his lips.

-Are you showing me your dream box?- i nod at him, in agreement- Julie! It's like...reading your diary.- i giggle.

We both sit in front of eachother, in my bed. I unlock the box, and put my hands in order to open It.

-Before we do this- i start- i have to tell you why am i doing this, right?

-Yeah, yeah...

-Tonight, before going on stage...Luke told me he had left me a song in the dream box. Just inncase you didn't...get back. - i say, lowering my voice. Almost hearing sadness in It.

-But, Julie...he is coming back.

-I know, i know.- but i don't really mean It- It's just...i'm curious. And i want to read It, so i can talk to him when he...comes back.

Alex doesn't say anything, he limits himself to look at me, and lets me know we have to do this. That it's the moment, then.

I open the box, and the first thing i see, is a white, thick, folded paper. It has my name, in a really weird handwriting written at the top. I look at Alex, letting him know there is something.

-And...well? What is It? -he asks as i unfold the paper.

But there are four sheets.

Four sheets for a song? I start looking at them, and, at the top of one of the sheets...

"Jules:..."

-Its a letter-i whisper loudly- Alex, it's not only the song. There's a letter too!

-Really?- i give It to him so he can see?- Do you want to read It in private or...?

I take his free hand, the one not holding the papers.-i wouldn't want to share It with anyone else. Well, with Flynn, later, bur right now, i want you to be here with me.

He smiles at me, and takes my hand too. Then, he gives me the sheets.- I'm reading the song first, ok?

-OK-he answers.

I'm nervous. What has this boy written?

_____________________________

Hehe, i love leaving yall like this.

Next chapter will come sooner than you expect, i promise.

Thank you so much for your support!!

I would LOVE for you to leave here what you think it's gonna happen!(if you can wait, maybe you have patiente issues and you just wanna scroll and keep reading. If that's It, sorry x)

xo❤️❤️❤️❤️