Twenty Four

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

The next year was a blur.

Gerard graduated with his class, laughing and enjoying the bliss of the end of their school days. The group of friends remained in contact and stuck relatively close together.

Brendon and Dallon had taken a break. At the moment, and through much of the time after graduation, Brendon had decided to roommate with Ryan to help look after him.

Ryan had never fully recovered from what happened. He had new nervous ticks and eye twitches. He had also been prescribed different medications that he refused to go into detail about. Some days, he was fine. Other days, he wouldn't leave his room, no matter who tried to coax him out.

Frank had proposed to Jamia. He had chosen a date after graduation and popped the question. Of course, she said yes.

Gerard was asked to be the best man.

The others had gone on to college or jobs. Some tackled both. Gerard had found himself in that boat. He was going to school for art while working nights at a local café.

Today, however, was the weekend where he had no work or school. He walked across the empty campus with his hands in his pockets. Linked with his arm was Lyn-z's. The two had started growing closer over the time since that last party at Brendon's. Now they hardly left each other's side.

"Might rain." Gerard commented as he looked up at the dark sky above them.

Lyn-z hummed with a nod.

"Should we head home or keep going?" He asked, turning to smile at her.

She shrugged. "Whatever will make you happy." She replied.

"Maybe we could go visit Ryan and Brendon." Gerard suggested, "It's been awhile since his last bad day, maybe he's improving."

Lyn-z nodded. "Sounds good." They walked in silence for awhile, going towards Brendon and Ryan's apartment. "Are you happy, Gerard?" She asked, what felt like, out of nowhere.

"Happy?"

She nodded.

Gerard shrugged, turning to look at her, "Why wouldn't I be?"

She looked ahead, "Because he hasn't been feeding well." She replied simply as they walked forward.

Gerard's brow furrowed. He wanted to question further, but he was distracted by someone bumping into his other side. Gerard stumbled, losing his arm link with Lyn-z and barely keeping his full balance.

"I'm sorry!" He turned to face who he had run into and froze. Blue eyes and wicked grin looked back at him.

"That's right you are." The Game Master laughed, "I told you that you had no idea what you were doing." His expression became dark before everything around Gerard was swept into nothingness. Gerard cried out as the Game Master grabbed hold of his shirt.

"I killed you!" Gerard exclaimed as he tried to struggle, "It was over!"

"You don't know the first thing about killing a djinn." He barked, making Gerard flinch, "Nothing after that scene was real. I've just been feeding from your imagination of what life could have been."

"No..." Gerard shook his head, "No, no..." He suddenly felt exhausted. He stopped his struggle feeling his head drop. His energy felt drained in an instant, as if there was nothing left.

It couldn't all be fake through. There was still so much pain between Ryan and Gerard having to remember his friends dying...

"After finally dwindling down your entire group, you were all that was left." The Man smirked, "Looks like I finally won."

"No..." Gerard hardly had the strength to say the word.

Gerard felt his chin get lifted, but he didn't have the strength to open his eyes. "All these years, but it's finally Game over..."

There was a pause. "Yet you still have some life left in you... I'd hate to be wasteful."

Gerard felt himself drop. The Game Master has released his grip. Gerard could feel his energy building back inside of him. He pushed himself up, , looking at the man who smiled the most unfriendly smile down at him. "I think there's still enough to restart the game."

Gerard felt wind wrap around him. After so long to escape, he hadn't even managed that. He had just been trapped on a new level. How could he have been so stupid to think he could escape?..

Gerard shook his head, but the man only laughed. "I'd enjoy this one, Gerard Way." Gerard shut his eyes. It was happening again. He couldn't stop it from happening again... "It's the last play through you have left..."


"Party? I think he's finally waking up!"

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net