The Day Before

Chapter 1:

HELLO, JASON WOLFE

Music blasted through the speakers, its cheerful rhythm reverberating through the giant room which was packed to the brim with proud parents and relatives alike. Ceremonial hats soared through the air and then plummeted back down onto the former students who wore them with such pride. This was a new chapter for all of us. But for none more than myself.

Part 1: Born Again

They say after graduation it only goes uphill. I can’t ever imagine how that could possibly
be. For me, it hardly took an hour for my life to spiral after graduating. 
“It’s finally over!” Joshua Anderson exclaimed as he pulled me into a bear hug. And often times it felt as such – that he was indeed a bear – since he was big and burly. A little close to being overweight but that was part of his charm. “The nightmare is over!” He added, giving me a squeeze that for him was probably light, but for anyone else lethal.
“Indeed,” I chuckled a breathless chuckle as my chest compressed against his. “We finally have the chance to start over. Be the people we want to be.” For all our lives, the 14 years we had known one another, him and I were always different from everyone else. We never felt as if we belonged. Meeting each other was pure luck and it certainly made the years easier in retrospect. Josh answered back, “That much is true, brother,” as he finally let go of me. “Hey, have you gotten the chance to say goodbye to everyone? I know a certain someone would love to see you one last time.” he waggled his eyebrows mischievously, referring to my friend Sophia Rivers. 
I let out a sigh which came out sounding more like a groan but couldn’t help the smirk
that quirked at the corner of my lips. “Mikey and Dorian are the priority right now, buddy.” I patted his arm and walked past him.

And they were. They, along with Josh, were my best friends for as long as I can remember. 
Mikey was chatting with Dorian, both clad in their graduation gown and cap. They saw me approach and a smile stretched across their faces. 
“If it isn’t the mighty Jason Wolfe.” Dorian mocked in an exaggerated flair.
Mikey spoke, “Look at us all grown up.” He took a moment to look around and smiled contently.
“We really have come a long way.” His tanned skin gave a pleasant contrast with the black gown and his hazel eyes as he looked at Dorian, who was smaller but his heart was bigger than anyone else’s.
I responded by punching Mike’s arm playfully. We really did grow up together. “Okay boys, I’ll come back to you after I’ve done my rounds.” I joked, patting their arms before walking away.

Only two people were left for me to say my goodbyes to. I sighed as I walked towards her. I was never really good with goodbyes. I was never really good with hellos either. Man, was I good with anything? 
“Hey,” I greeted Sophia, my voice coming out almost in a whisper. Sophia turned around and smiled softly, greeting me back in the same tone,
“Hey yourself, Jason.”
I smiled awkwardly, unsure of how to continue. My tall, slightly skinny frame seemed to fold into itself as I fidgeted with the hem of my gown, feeling both exposed and comforted by Sophia's soft smile. It certainly did not help that I am bespectacled.
“This is it, huh? School is no more.” I spoke, a pathetic attempt at stretching the conversation.
“Seems so.” She answered with an awkward smile. 
Why was I so bad with girls? Why was I so bad with people in general? People I didn’t grow up with, that is.
“It’s been a nice few years since I’ve known you, Sophia.” I managed to finally spit out a sentence that didn’t make me feel bad for myself.
She smiled at this and nodded. “Likewise, Jason.” 
God, I hate this. She seemed so uninterested. Or was I imagining it? Maybe she liked me and was just nervous. I don’t like her though. Do I?
I finished off saying, “I should go. Got a few people I gotta say goodbye to.” 
She nodded and I walked away.

Phew, I thought. That was horrible. As are all of my conversations with her. Why did
even bother? She seemed so disconnected and we weren’t even a good pair! I’m pathetic.
I was pulled out of my thoughts by a hand on my shoulder. I turned around to see the piercing green eyes of Angelica Bosko, a Polish friend of mine. Her pale skin was a perfect contrast to her black hair. Her full lips curved into a soft smile as our eyes met. 
“Hey, Jay.”
“Hey yourself…” I whispered back before smiling, returning her soft expression. 
“You look great.” She complimented me, her eyes never for a second leaving mine. 
I do? Focus.
“And you look…” I took a moment to gather my thoughts before the word finally came out, “divine.”
She giggled softly and squeezed my shoulder before letting go. “So this is it, huh?” That seemed to be textbook for awkward conversations 101. 
“It is,” I nodded. “It doesn’t have to be, though.” I quickly interrupted myself.
“You’re right. School is over but our friendship isn’t.” Her Polish accent made even the most mundane sentence sound incredible. 
“Yeah. Count on seeing me again very soon, missy!” I joked. 
She laughed heartily before leaning in and planting a soft kiss on my cheek. “See you around, love.” And with that, she walked away.

I could still feel the kiss on my cheek. Her lips left a soft heat in its wake. And apparently a smidgen of lip-gloss.
“Got lucky already, Jas?” Josh chuckled, standing right in front of me. I must have zoned out for a solid two or three minutes right there. I don’t blame myself.
“Ha ha.” I mocked. “Let’s get outta here, man. This place stinks.”
Josh nodded. “Okay, I’ll give my parents a call and let them know I’ll leave with you. You just wait outside for me, buddy.”
I gave him a nod of my own before heading outside.

Ah, fresh air. Something I definitely needed after spending hours in a small enclosed space with friends and acquaintances. Things like this always drained me. I was never really a social person. But that had to change moving forward into college, right? I sighed and stepped into the alley fully, facing the street in the distance which was illuminated by the streetlights that towered over the parked cars. Things weren’t so bad. I was finally done with school. Sure, I’d have to endure a few more years of college but it definitely can’t be worse than this, can it? I felt a strong arm wrap around me from behind, pinning my slender frame. Before I could even register what was going on, a wet rag covered my mouth and I could feel the world around me turn black.

Chapter 2:

DOORWAY TO HELL

Part 1: Living Dead Boy

life and death is often one which is blurry. No one can truly explain death, for dead men tell no tales. However no one can truly explain life either. Not even those who experience it. But maybe coming so close to death could explain both. Or maybe it could strip both of their meaning. 

wakes up feeling cold metal on his now bare back. He dares not open his eyes as he hears metallic shuffling to his right as well as the faint hum of someone. He maintains his stillness for a few minutes before he hears a pair of feet grow distant and exit the room. He takes a deep breath as he is greeted to the room around him when he opens his brown eyes. The boy is bare. As bare as the day he was born, but nowhere near as pure as we will see. The room around him is a cold metallic looking chamber where nothing nice ever happened. On his right – where the humming was coming from – was a small table where a metal tray full of surgical tools lay on top of the surface. A lot of them looked unclean. This was starting to make more sense with every second Jason’s mind freed itself from the effects of the chloroform. He was about to be a victim of organ harvesting.

Knowing what this meant, the boy swallowed hard before grabbing one of the rusty scalpels and hiding it in his palm. Perfect timing, too since he heard the same footsteps approach from beyond the walls. Jason laid back down on the metallic patient bed and made sure his palms were facing downward so the scalpel was hidden from the man’s vision. That same man sat back down and started to rummage through his tools in that tray before settling for one. “Ahh…” His voice was that of a cliche mad scientist. He reached out, trailing a gloved hand down Jason’s naked chest. That nearly caused Jason to jerk or cringe but he hardly held it in. “What a fine, young, virile specimen you are, little boy…” The perverted doctor whispered as he felt Jason’s naked body up.

Jason’s hand involuntarily shot up and he suddenly felt a warm liquid run down his fingers, then hand, then his arm. He opened his eyes to see the scalpel in the doctor’s throat, a strained gurgle of blood coming from the pervert. Jason let out a whimper as he got up and pulled the scalpel out, only to stab the man again in the side of the neck. Then again… And again. Blood sprayed everywhere as Jason pierced the doctor’s carotid artery several times before stopping. Standing there, Jason was naked and his right arm was crimson with blood. It was unsightly. The boy dropped the scalpel and stumbled before throwing up on the floor. He had just killed a man. Jason Wolfe, the shy, harmless bookworm had taken another human being’s life and he was disgusted with himself. He had to, of course, but it didn’t change the fact. After a minute of trying to calm himself, Jason walked over to the doctor and began to undress him, donning his light bluish green uniform which read: 

City of Angels Hospital

Jason picked up his glasses from the table, the rectangular frame fitting just fine on the bridge of his nose. He wore a white undershirt underneath the uniform, one he also nabbed from the good doctor. Though he couldn’t imagine the white would stay that way for long. He knelt down and picked the scalpel back up and marched onward towards the metal door. It creaked softly as he pulled it open, praying to find an escape from this madness. But it is never that easy.