Chapter 3

 

"Morning, Alex. It's Jennifer. How are you feeling today? Ok, then, don't answer me. Be a stubern bastard," Jennifer chuckled. "Ok, Ok, Ok. So you can't answer me right now. Being in a coma has a tendency to keep a person from talking, doesn't it?
  

"You know, you're missing a lot out here in the real world. I'm sure whatever friends and family you have are worried sick about you right now. I know if I were in their possition I would be worried about you myself.
  

"So, what do you plan on doing today? Laying in bed all day? Sounds like fun to me. If I had that option, I'd probably take it myself! Unfortately, I have things I have to do. Like taking care of your sorry ass. You know, my job would be a whole lot easier if you could help me out here. But you're not willing to do that, now are you?"
  

As she talked, Jennifer fluttered about, ming AJ a comfortble as possible. With tears in her eyes, she watched him lay there, still as death. He looked so peaceful, and yet...
  

Shaking her head, Jennifer at down and started to read aloud. No matter what happened, she wasn't going to fall for this young gentalman. He had family somewhere, and probably a wife judging the eligant, yet almost plain ring on his finger. She wasn't going to do this to herself again.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

 

"Hello? Anyone there? Where am I?" AJ's voice echoed back to him. Running water ran in the distance, and the trees around him had an almost hazed look to them. As he turned in a complete curcle, he noticed that he was in a small clearing, yet it felt like it was full of...something.
  

"Can anyone hear me? Please, help me," he called out in desperation. Sitting down on a large bolder, AJ dropped his head into his hands and started to sob. "Oh, Sarah, forgive me. I didn't mean to...Please don't leave me, I need you so incredably bad...Sarah, I love you. Please don't leave me."
  

"AJ?" A soft voice called to him from the mist gathered at the edge of the clearing.
  

"Over here! Please help," he yelled out, jumping to his feet.
  

Out of the mist a tall, black haired, green eyed young woman stepped out. Her eye's filled with compation and tears as she watched AJ.
  

Stepping forward until he could see her, she smiled softly, "Welcome."
  

"Welcome? What are you talking about?"
  

"Not many show up here. I'm surpised you of all people did," she said as she bent down and picked a wild orchid.
  

"What are you talking about?"
  

"It's lonely here when you have to live here alone. It's nice to get visitors once in a while."
 

"Huh? What's going on here?!"
  

"I hope you'll be able to stay."
  

Walking over to her, AJ grabbed the young woman by the shoulders and swung her around until she was looking him in the eyes. "Tell me what the hell is going on here!"
  

"Welcome to...well, I guess you'd call it limbo before limbo. This is where people come before they live or die," she said bluntly, hiding the pain that seeped in her soul and heart from her eyes.
  

"WHAT?!?"
  

Sighing, the young woman sat on the bolder AJ had been sitting earlier. "You might as well make yourself comfortable, Alex. You may be here for a while. You may be here for all eternity for all I know."
  

"Who are you, and how do you know who I am?" he asked confused.
  

"You can call me Anya. I'm the one who...well, I guess you could say that I reside here. Sometimes I'm aloud to visit Etheria, but I've never been able to stay there permenantly. I'm praying someday I will. At least it's not as lonely there as it is here."
  

"What am I doing here."
  

"You're here until you deside in your heart if you want to live or die.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

 

"Kev, have you seen Nick?" Brian asked, worry filling his eyes and voice.
  

"Yea, he was going to check all the clubs and bars we haven't already covered. He tod me that he though AJ might be in one of them looking for a little fun before..."
  

"God Damn It!! Kevin, do you relise what that boy's doing?" Brian asked, almost screaming at his cousin.
  

"Looking for his other best friend?" Kevin asked calmly. He was surprised Brian was acting this way. Normally he was the one that had to hold Kevin back when Nick started acting like this.
  

"He's out geting drunker then AJ ever had been, and doing God only knows what! How could you let him? He's only..."
  

"Twenty-three. Give your cousin a rest, Brian. Aren't you the one that keeps jumping on Kevins ack when he treats Nick like a little kid?" Elizabeth asked as she walked over and handed Kevin a cup of strong coffee.
  

"And who do you think you are, making assumptions about someone you don't even know?! Who are you anyway?" Brian sputtered, not wanting to admit that his cousin was right.
  

"This is Elizabeth. In fact, Bri, you should remember her," Kevin said, chuckling.
  

"And why's that?"
  

"She's the only one who's ever been successful at scaring you to death."
  

 "What are you talking about? The only one who's been able to do that was..."
  

"Our inocent angel from camp."
  

"God, no, please don't tell me what I think you're trying to tell me. Please?" Brian begged, his eyes filled with fearful memories.
  

Elizabeth leaned over and gave his a big hug. "Sorry, Rok, but I'm back. Maybe I'll put Naomi's replacement where I put her."
  

"Oh God! Why me?" Brian moaned into his hands.
  

Before she could respond the telephone started rining.
  

"Hello?" Kevin answered, hope filling his eyes.
  

"Mr. Richardson?" a strange voice asked.
  

"This is him, how may I help you."
  

"By any chance do you know a young man about 5 feet 10, brown eyes, bright hair that's obviously a dye job..."
  

"So many tattoos it takes a while just to count them all, esspesually on his arms? Yea, I know him. HIs name's AJ McLean. Why do you ask?"
  

"I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news. My name's Dr. Charles McKenzie. I work at Florida Medical Center. There was a young man brought in a week ago fitting the discription you just gave me. I'm sorry to have to be the one to tell you, but Mr. McLean's in a coma. From the extent of his ingeries, I don't expect him to survive a month."