• The following links are prior chapters to this story:
    Death is no joke: http://gaiaonline.com/arena/writing/fiction/vote/?entry_id=100410509
    Death is no joke-part 2: http://gaiaonline.com/arena/writing/fiction/vote/?entry_id=100411039
    Death is no joke-part 3: http://gaiaonline.com/arena/writing/fiction/vote/?entry_id=100447527
    Death is no joke-part 4:
    http://www.gaiaonline.com/arena/writing/fiction/vote/?entry_id=100507329
    Death is no joke-part 5: http://www.gaiaonline.com/arena/writing/fiction/vote/?entry_id=100652857
    Death is no joke-part 6:
    http://gaiaonline.com/arena/writing/fiction/vote/?entry_id=100657349









    It was quiet.

    Now THAT'S an odd little comment right there, considering I was at an allnighter. I suppose it wasn't LITERALLY quiet. It's just...everything FELT quiet, and everything seemed to move in slow motion...

    I was glad Jerred's parent's weren't here as I wrapped my arm around Linda's shoulder's. We were upstairs watching a movie. At least, SOME of us were watching a movie. Most of the kids at the allnighter were laughing, talking. There was no end. But still, it felt quiet. I looked at Linda. I had told myself I would do it. But, when people say it's easier to say you'll do something than to actually do it, it's not a lie. I looked at her, and bit my lip.

    "I..." I was gonna say something like "I love you", but I couldn't make myself do it. Linda smiled. She leaned in a towards me a little bit...and whispered,

    "Me too." And, before I could do anything about it, she grabbed my head, and gave me a quick kiss on the lip. Then quickly leaned away, blushing.

    I didn't know how to react. After all the trauma, after everything that happened to me, my wish came true. I kissed my dream girl, or more of, my dream girl kissed me.

    I could see the surprised faces around the room, as everything got quiet. Literally, this time. Then everyone started clappine, wooting, even. I smiled, the biggest smile I had ever smiled. Ever. Never had I felt so happy. Never had I felt so content. And for a moment, I forgot about what happened to my parents. I forgot about avenging them. I forgot about the murderer. I forgot about everything, everything except the girl sitting next to me, the girl of my dreams.

    But that moment didn't last long.

    I left the party, happy and content. More than that. Maybe "an unrelenting joy that's indescribable" would be more of a reasonable description. Or maybe even more.

    I walked home, given the fact my grand parents REFUSED to get up at 3:00 to pick me up.

    It was pitch black out. I was still smiling as I pranced down the park to my place. But my smile was quickly wiped away when I heard that familiar sound.

    *Click*

    There was no need to turn around. I knew what was going on, and so did my heart, because it was beating twice as fast as normal.

    "What do you want?" I asked, barely. "You already took away my parents." I heard a snicker.

    "You're a witness. You know what I do to witnesses?" I bit my lip. Please, don't ask questions you know I know.

    "I already told the police it was you," I said. "If you kill me, it won't matter." Another snicker from behind.

    "I didn't say I was gonna kill ya. Don't you jump to conclusions. I don't get money out of killing ya." I could hear footsteps coming closer. His footsteps, of course. Suddenly, I could feel a shower of pain go through my body, starting with my head. It was the worst physical pain I had ever gone through, and I fell face flat to the floor with a cry. I twisted my head, facing the murderer. He had bashed me with his gun. He had cut off his beard, probably to make sure he didn't look the same as he did before. But everything else was the same, except for this time, he had a huge grin on his face.

    "Say hello to your Uncle Frank," he said, still grinning. And he hit me again, sending me out cold.