Guardian Angel from Hell

    I woke up in my college dorm room bed. As I lay here staring at the cold grey ceiling, I think about what Tyler-James was telling me. “I have a surprise for you! You have to wait till, first period before I give you your surprise.” Tyler-James had told me before he disappeared a week ago. I wonder if he managed to get the coronavirus early on. Now all of our schools are shutting down and a bunch of businesses are being forced to shut down due to world wide panic shopping. Stores are out of stock of everything, toilet paper was the first to go. I don’t understand it. The Coronavirus is pretty much just a really bad cold. Why is the world panicking over this?

    As I get up and throw my ruby red hair into a bun I think about Tyler-James. “A week is more than enough time to get over the Coronavirus, right?” I decided to walk over to his dorm room to check on him and visit with him.

    After knocking on his room door, his roommate answers. “Alaska.” He said surprised. “What are you doing?”

    “I wanted to check on Tyler-James. I haven’t seen him in a week. He told me he had a surprise he was going to give me in class a week ago, but he never showed back up for class. I figured maybe he was sick or something. A week should be enough time to get better. So, here I am.” I explained to Ryker as I walked into their dorm room. I noticed all of Tyler-James stuff is packed up. “Is TJ moving out or something?” I asked looking around the dorm room expecting Tyler-James to pop out and yell “Here I am!” with a big goofy grin, that never happened though.

    “Tj hasn’t been home in over a week, Alaska.” Ryker stared at me with his big brown eyes. “I thought you helped him run away or something. If I’d have known that you didn’t know about him missing I would have come to you for help.” Ryker told me.

    “I’m going to the police.” I told Ryker as soon as he told me TJ had disappeared. “Well, let me know what they say please?” Ryker asked me looking guilty. He wants to help find TJ, but Ryker is a clean freak. He’s afraid of germs.

    “Of course, Ryker.” I said while walking out the door. Once Ryker closed the door I felt a cold chill, like someone was breathing on the back of my neck. I turned around to make sure Ryker had stayed in his dorm room, but no one was there. “Alaska!” I heard TJ yell and then an earthquake shook the entire building to rubble.

    I woke up three days later in a hospital bed. “Good to see you alive and breathing.” I looked over to see Ryker laying in a hospital bed next to mine. He looked horrible both his legs were in casts as if they were broken. I looked around some more.

    “Where’s Tyler-James?” I asked with tears in my eyes thinking the worst of the worst. “He’s been missing for a week and four days. Don’t you remember, Alaska?” Ryker asked, looking considered. “Yes, I remember, but right before the building fell I heard him yell my name.” I looked down and fidgeted with my ring TJ gave me.  “He was there.” I said in a weak quivering voice that was so small I’m surprised Ryker could hear me. “No, Red. He wasn’t there. I’m sorry.” Ryker said in a voice just as small as mine. After that everything went black.

    I woke back up in my own bed, back in my own room at my parents house. I was alone in my old teenage bedroom. Pan!c at the Disco poster up on my wall a little torn from me trying to find the perfect placement for it two years ago. my Betty Boop lava lamp sitting my dresser awake and alive next to my Nightmare Before Christmas glass set. I get out of bed and see that I am wearing a white tank top with my Nightmare Before Christmas sweatpants and my fuzzy Nightmare Before Christmas socks on. I wondered who changed my clothes while feeling a little disturbed.

    While walking downstairs to the living room I hear him again “Alaska.” I stop and feel that same chill I felt when we had the EarthQuake. “Tyler-James.” My heart started to race. “Where are you?” I asked while looking around. “I’m here. I’m your guardian angel in hiding. Whatever you do, do not go down stairs.” He warned me. “Why not? And why are you in hiding?” I asked looking in every room upstairs. “You won’t like what you will see.” TJ answered my first question. “I died, Alaska.” I gasped in shock. “No, no you didn’t. If you’re dead we wouldn’t be able to talk.” I said with tears in my eyes. “Yes, I am dead, Alaska. I’ve accepted it now you have to accept it. It doesn’t matter how we are able to talk. The point is that we can. Satan is looking for my soul. He wanted you dead, not me. I saved you, but I got myself killed in the process. Satan isn’t done though. He is still trying to kill you. Punish you.” TJ explained. “The EarthQuake. Was that Satan’s doing?” I asked. After it was quiet for a few minutes I spoke again. “Tyler-James?” I never got an answer.

    “Alaska!” I heard Ryker yell out. “You’re okay!” He said with excitement. “Yes I'm okay.” I said confused. “How did we get here? Who changed my clothes? Are my parents here?” I had so many questions that just weren't as important as “Where's Tyler-James?”  

     “Alaska, TJ is dead.” Ryker told me with tears welling up in his big brown eyes. “They found his body two days ago.” We had a moment of silence. “That's not all actually. After we got discharged from the hospital. Well, I brought you home. My parents kicked me out while I was still in high school and I thought your parents might take me in. When we got here, though. Well, just take a look. I tried to clean up the mess the best that I could.” Ryker had me follow him down stairs. We turned around the corner to walk into the living room and I saw the one thing I thought I'd never see. My parents were murdered. Their bodies are still laying on the couch. “Alaska, stay calm.” Ryker told me. “I know this is bad. And staying calm isn't what you want to hear right now, but we have to figure out who did this. Whoever did this to your parents, I'm pretty sure killed TJ too. The police don't believe anything I tell them.” Ryker told me. I could hear the fear in his voice. “I just need to take a walk to process all of this.” I told him. “Don't worry. I'll be fine. I just need a few minutes to myself.” I said trying to get the look of guilt off of his face. “Okay, just a few minutes.” Ryker said.

     I walk out the house and start down the street. My walk quickly turns into a run. Next thing I know I'm running as fast as I can and screaming all my pain away. As I come to a stop I fall to my knees crying and sweaty. I crawl over to a tree to lean on. As I sit in the grass against an old tree I start thinking. ‘Satan wanted you dead, but I saved you. Killing myself in the process.’ that's what TJ had told me. I stand up and slowly walk towards the road. “Well, if he wants me so bad.” I smirked a little. “He can have me.” I walk out to the middle of the road and lay down. I lay here waiting for a vehicle to come and hit me. That has to be a quick death right? “Alaska, what are you doing?” I hear TJ again. He sounds mad. “Alaska, I didn't die just for you to kill yourself!” TJ is now yelling at me. “No, you didn't. But my parents are also dead. Satan won't stop until he has everyone I love.” I tell TJ. “Satan already has my soul. He found me. The only reason I'm able to talk to you now is because he lets me. He wants a meeting with you.” TJ said. “You have to be alive for this meeting. Now get your ass moving!” TJ said. I don't believe him, so, I just keep laying in the middle of the road. Next thing I know I feel the road shaking and getting it hot. Then I'm once again falling into a black out. When I wake up I see the love of my life is ruling Hell.