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For every chapter, as I did with FMO, you will see they are song titles. Each was chosen specific to the chapter! This great song represents Chapter 1 for Enter Eternity. I hope you enjoy as you read!!



Chapter 1 – I’LL BE GONE

Darkness envelops me. Sounds are becoming distant. My vision, fine only moments ago, begins to blur. My mother sits next to me crying out my name. I see her mouth move as she speaks to me… slowly, her face begins to fade. The bright lights grow dim until I can no longer see. I close my eyes: blackness.
 
My mind is still functioning, unlike my other senses. I try to recall the suppressed events that occurred bringing me to this place. Where am I? Why am I here? I remember the beach, feeling the breeze from the sandy shore, watching the rhythm of the crashing waves, the sensation of the water spraying my face as I wiggled my toes into the sand, laughing at its’ tickle. Then the memory of what happened returns. 


There! Maybe forty feet away from the edge of the coastline, I see him. A young boy, who has strayed out too far, is struggling. I watch as a large wave comes in, sweeping him out further. His head bobs in the water like the cork on a fisherman’s line. He is caught in the undertow. I spin around quickly to look for the childs' parents.

 
My mom is sitting in the same beach chair we’ve had since I was a kid, favorite book in hand. It’s what I don’t see that causes me to spring into action. The boys’ parents are nowhere in sight. Mom is too far away to attempt saving him; she doesn’t even see him! I’m a good swimmer… I have to go in.

 
I call out over the sound of the crashing waves. “Mom! The boy! He’s caught in the undertow!”

 
Mom jumps up from her chair yelling out for me to stop but I’m already on the move. I dash out between waves as they hit the shallows of the coast line, then when I hit the deeper spot, I begin to swim. In the distance, I can hear my mom. “Jilly! Jillian, no!”

 
Jillian: that’s my name. Jillian. The fog of the event begins to clear, my memory ebbs like the tides. I’m seventeen, a senior at Fontainebleau High School. I’m on the Color Guard Team and I have a boyfriend, Neil. We’ve been together since middle school. Our love for each other seems infinite.


My fleeting thoughts return to what brought me here; the boy drowning now five feet in front of me. I can feel every muscle in my arms burn as I fight against the oncoming waves. When I am within inches of him, I reach out to grab him. He is no longer in front of me. Spinning in a complete circle in the water, my heart pounding from adrenaline, I realize… he’s gone under. Taking in a deep breath, I go down in an attempt to find him. I can’t see; the water is too murky! I use my hands, sweeping them out in front of me, searching through the water for something, anything I can touch that will remotely make me think I’ve got him. Nothing… I need air.

 
As I head for the surface, I feel the tug on my leg. Reaching down, I try to grab hold of his hand wrapped around my leg. I know he’s panicking, he doesn’t release his grip. He pulls me further down. I am struggling to pull out of his grasp to reach fresh air. I jerk my leg back and forth, kicking at him. Gulping the salty, muddy water, I feel my lungs fill with a heaviness that pulls me deeper into the Gulf. My arms, my body become limp. The only thing that comes to my mind now is that we are both going to die today; then it is dark.


The sound of a siren brings me to semi-consciousness. Turning my head slowly, I see my mom wrapped in her beach towel. She grabs my hand, giving it a tight squeeze. “Stay with me, Jilly. We’re almost there.” 
It’s funny, the things that cross your mind when your life is slipping away. Mama B – that’s what all of us on the flag team call her – seems to be the only name she responds to lately. I smile up at her, returning her squeeze. “Mama B,” I whisper. 


My chest still holds the weight of the salty, murky water that fills my lungs. I am struggling for air; gasping for each short breath. The medics have put an oxygen mask over my face but it doesn’t seem to help. I remember feeling the painful slams of their fists as they tried to revive me on the beach before loading me into the ambulance. They think they have stabilized me long enough to get me to the hospital.


Time escapes my thoughts. I flash forward from the ambulance to being on this table. This is where I am; this is why I am here. This is what happened. This is why I will die. With my last functioning thoughts, memories flood my soul the same way the Gulf water flooded my lungs. My life flashes before me.  


I will my eyes open. Mom is by my bedside. My lungs are pumped to expel the water, my brain straining to perform, my heart weak… dying. I can barely hear one of the doctors as he talks to Mom.


“She was under for too long. Her body is too strained to fight for life. Even if there is a chance, she will have sustained brain damage. There was just not enough oxygen to her brain for too long a period of time. I’m so sorry. We won’t know the extent of the damage until…”


Gasping for breath, a very weak, “No,” escapes Mama’s lips. The shock of the event overtakes her. I extend my hand in her direction, watching as she collapses to her knees, wraps her arms around herself, releasing a gut-wrenching scream. I take my final breath, my heart beats no more, my body goes limp, my eyes slowly losing focus.
The doctors are pumping my chest. I can feel the pressure forcing down on my ribs but I feel no pain. Mama begs, pleads for me to stay with her. My eyes, straining before they close forever, do not leave her face. I stare at her for what seems like forever, embedding her strong features in my dying memory. I watch every tear from her eyes fall onto the sheet covering my legs. The beep, beep, beeping sounds begin to grow further apart until all I hear is one long beep. 


My vision leaves me, but there are still faint sounds. I can hear Mama plead one last time. “Please, Jilly. Please don’t go. I love you. I love you so much. Please don’t leave me.” Then… utter and complete darkness.


Instead of looking up at the scene surrounding me, I watch from above, my soul free from the pull of gravity. All of my senses return. I hear every sound clearly, my vision is perfect. Mama B is being shoved. 


“Move her out of the way,” the doctor yells to the nurse. 


The constant long beeping from the machine that has wires attached to my chest, echoes in my ears. There are several tubes inserted into my arm, one tube down my throat and for one instant, I look at myself and think don’t give up!


The doctor calls out. “Code blue! Code blue! Grab the crash cart!” 


Amid the chaos behind the doors of ER3, every trained professional leaps into action. The lab technician jumps out of the way, X-ray tech and respiratory aides step back against the wall. One of the nurses spins around grabbing the cart from behind her. She hits the switch lighting up the panel. Another nurse springs into action pulling my clothes completely off. It’s weird; I don’t feel embarrassed.

 
Mom is escorted through the ER doors where she collapses on the floor. Their attention returns to me. My focus is on Mom. She sits with her legs drawn to her chest, her arms wrapped around them. Her tears fall uncontrollably. All I want to do is comfort her, wrap my arms around her; do in death what I did when I was alive. How do I take away her pain? I can't even imagine the emptiness she feels. She grabs her heart at my thought. I command my spirit to move towards her, to stroke her hair and close my arms around her in a final embrace. She shivers at my touch then stands to watch through the small glass window of the closed doors.


Behind me I see what I can only describe as a plume of light. It starts off small then begins to mushroom out. It circles, spins at an unbelievable speed, orbs of light flashing through what I think is smoke, but know it was more cloudlike, floating… waiting.


This is it. This is the white light you always hear about; the light people see when they die. It’s gotta be here to bring me to Heaven, right? It’s gotta be! Surely that’s where I’m meant to go. I haven’t done anything so terrible in my life. Heaven. Yes, it’s got to be heaven.


The brightness of the light is exactly like I have heard, yet it’s not as blinding as I think, or maybe my eyes are able to withstand its full brightness. I turn around to see my mother. She is still sobbing hysterically, frozen in the corner. I touch her cheek one last time because I know I am about to enter a place where I will have to await her arrival. I put my face to hers and whisper in her ear. “I love you, Mommy.”


Although her lips do not move, I clearly hear her respond. “I love you more, Jilly.” Mama collapses to the ground.


As I return to the room where I lay, I see one of the doctors holding a pair of paddles in his hands I hear one of them yell, “Charge!” 


Then another doctor calls out. “Clear!” 


He slaps the paddles to my chest. I watch my body jump, arching chest up, off the table. They all turn to the machine that continues to carry the single beeping sound; there is a flat line that trails across the screen. 


“Again,” someone yells. “Charge!”

 
Another doctor shouts, “Clear!”


The paddles slam to my chest again. Again, my chest arches off the table. The flat line remains. I see someone turning a knob on the machine that shoots electricity into my chest. “More,” he says.


I don’t wait any longer. Before he jolts my chest again, I decide it’s time. I whisk over the table where my body lies empty, in the direction of the light. Entering it is easier than I could have imagined. I know only from what I’ve heard that where I am going I will be happy. Feeling a great sense of peace, I know this is meant to be. Not wanting to leave Mama is the only thing holding me here.


My thoughts are to convince myself to move on. I will see my Uncle Bubba, my grandmother and all of my other family members that I have lost over my seventeen years on earth. I’m gone now. It’s time to see what is beyond this life; if there is anything! I enter the light, facing backwards, only to say good-bye to Mama. Together, with the rest of my family, we will wait until it is her time to join us.  


I am engulfed in the light, cloud mixture spiraling around me, discovering a floating staircase. The circular stones hover atop and below creating rows of steps; stretching in each direction endlessly. Each stone is accompanied by rows of doors, each one white and long with a golden knob. I must choose. Do I go up or down the stairway? Is there a reason to this rhyme of doorways? Which door must be opened? 


A short distance below me, he appears. I strain my eyes knowing, hoping it’s my un
cle.


“Follow me.” His voice is gentle, welcoming. “The name is Daniel. I am here to guide you on your journey.” He stands in a shadow, cloaked in darkness.

“Where are you taking me?”


“We’re only going where you have already been. It is your life’s path, your predetermined choices, your destiny. Trust me.” He extends his hand, pointing just below where we stand. “There… that is your door. Enter there and enter eternity.


Confusion hits me. Not fully understanding, I take three steps down the marbled stone. A door knob, circular with a raised braided edge, the setting oblong with an antique style keyhole, catches my eye. I reach for the knob, turn it and swing the door open, entering… darkness.


I am Jillian.






http://goo.gl/qhUUSj 


SNEAK PEEK - CHAPTER 1
FOOL ME ONCE

1 - DRIVE

 

Shelby watched, frozen, as the white SUV came screeching around the corner, careening out of control. She knew it was moving too fast. Callie, her best friend, would not have time to get out of the way. The brakes on the truck squealed, leaving black skid marks on the street. It was too late. The scene unfolded as Shelby cried out from the curb. “Callie! No! No!”

Callie whipped her head around only in time to scream. One second they were racing across the street; the next, Shelby, three steps ahead, turned and watched in horror as Callie was struck. Her limp body flew over the hood of the SUV, spiraling through the air like a rag doll. She smashed head first into the windshield, shattering the glass with a gut-wrenching crunch. Her small body twitched then slowly slid down the hood, leaving a blood trail behind, landing on the concrete with a thud.

Screaming from where she stood, covering her mouth to hold back the bile rising in her throat, warm tears streamed down Shelby’s cheeks. She desperately wanted to run to Callie but her legs held, locked in place. The knot in her stomach made her want to retch at the sight of her best friend’s blood draining from her body. Callie’s lifeless body lay in the middle of the road.

Shelby lowered her head, her eyes focused on her feet where she had unknowingly dropped her books. On top was her school’s homework ledger opened to a new page. The date, without anything written on it for homework yet, was Tuesday, April 23rd. In a trance, she looked up to see a young boy with strawberry blond hair carrying a skateboard standing on the opposite side of the street with a terrified look on his face. She begged him with her eyes to move, to help, to save Callie. In that instant, he was simply gone. Shelby glanced back to Callie’s still body. She dropped to her knees, crying out for her. “No, Callie. Please, no.”

Shelby snapped awake, the visions of her dream still fresh in her mind. Grabbing her neck, she could feel her silent scream locked in her throat. At age eleven, this was the first time she had dreamt of someone’s death. Not Callie, not Callie echoed inside of her head. I can fix this! I know I can fix this! Shelby sprang from her bed. Her dream was specific this time; it would happen today; Tuesday, April 23rd.

Shelby learned at an early age that she had an unusual gift. Her dreams foretold future events. She didn’t believe it was a gift at first – not until she learned how to alter the outcomes. Simple things she successfully changed in the past didn’t seem to matter. Her faked appendix attack saved her dad from a broken leg during a skiing accident, but that was different. This was her best friend’s life. Her body trembled as her mind raced with thoughts of how she would prevent her friend’s death. There was a chance she could alter Callie’s fate.

A simple stomach ache would not save Callie. Callie would die if Shelby didn’t stop her. She didn’t know if she could change any of the events that would unfold that day but she was determined to at least try. She would tempt fate in hopes that her friend would be spared.

The two girls were best friends and alternated going to each others’ house after school. They would meet on the corner where, according to her dream, Callie would be struck. Shelby had to persuade Callie to meet her somewhere other than their usual spot before the end of the day. Her heart seemed to be pounding out of her chest as she dressed for school. She quickly gathered her schoolbag, let her mom know the plan to go to Callie’s house today then headed to school. Confident that she would see Callie in the one class they had together or at lunch, Shelby felt a little more at ease.

Shelby knew it was risky to attempt to talk to Callie in Mrs. Kempt’s class but she was desperate enough to take that risk. She entered the classroom too late, frustrated that she had to stop at her locker. She hoped she would have a couple of minutes before class began but already things were going wrong. The bell rang as she waved her hand at her best friend. She mouthed the words, ‘we need to talk.’ Callie did not see her.

“Everyone, be seated.” Mrs. Kempt began. “Let’s pick up where we left off yesterday.”

Mrs. Kempt’s class was boring as usual. They both spent most of their days in class with their chins in their hands, daydreaming. Not today. Shelby’s leg bounced with anticipation. She knew she had to somehow seize the opportunity to warn Callie, at least give her a desperate hand signal. Her stomach was doing flips as she waited for the right second. Mrs. Kempt finally turned away. Shelby quickly spun her head around to whisper to Callie. WHAM.  The ruler came down on her desk. Nothing escaped the hawk eyes of Mrs. Kempt.

“Shelby,” Mrs. Kempt snapped, “you’ve just earned yourself a lunch detention.”

“But Mrs. Kempt, I didn’t…”

“Would you like to make it two?”

“No, Mrs. Kempt.” Upset with herself, she turned her body forward and began tapping the floor with her foot. She could feel her face flush, redden with heat; her whole body trembling, she tried to work out a new plan in her head.

Callie chuckled under her breath along with the entire class. Middle school was not as much fun as they had thought it would be when they were in elementary. Mrs. Kempt looked as old as the Alps, was meaner than the Wicked Witch of the West and could hear a pin drop a mile away.

“Is there someone in here who would like to join Shelby?”

“No Mrs. Kempt,” the class responded in their most harmonious way.

“Now that we are all in agreement, let’s begin where we left off. Callie, please read the next paragraph.”

Callie straightened in her seat then began reading. In one second of bad luck, Shelby had ruined both of her chances to talk to Callie. Now she had to figure out another way to let her friend know about the change in plans. The lunch bell rang. As Callie made her way out the door, she turned to Shelby, pushed out her bottom lip then left the class heading for the small cafeteria. If Mrs. Kempt had a heart, she would allow her to leave early. Everyone in the school knew Mrs. Kempt had no heart; ice water flowed through her veins.

Shelby sat in her chair as calmly as she could. Her leg bounced furiously as she watched the hands of the clock tick by painfully slow. Lunch lasted twenty-five minutes; her heart began to pound with fear as she tried to figure out where Callie would be by the time she was released. A loud beep from the intercom made her jump.

“Mrs. Kempt,” the voice announced. “Please go to the teacher’s lounge.”

Mrs. Kempt sighed and turned to her. “You may g...”

Snatching her school bag, Shelby was out the door before Mrs. Kempt could finish her sentence. She made a mad dash to the lunch room to do a quick scan. She grabbed the arm of one of their friends. “Have you seen Callie?”

“She went to the office a few minutes ago.”

Shelby spun around on her heels then sped towards the office. Once in the office, Shelby learned Callie had been there and left. She must be at recess. Shelby ran around the school yard, her eyes searching side to side as she pushed her way through some of her classmates. Callie was nowhere to be found. Shelby began to panic. She was running out of time. The lunch bell rang ending their already short recess.

This can’t be happening! This won’t happen! I won’t let this happen! Callie, where are you? Her head pounded with fear. Callie, please. Where are you?

A voice from behind her shocked her back. “Shelby, are you looking for an after-school detention? You have one minute to get to your class. If I were you, I’d get my head out of those clouds it’s in and get moving.”

It was Kempt again. Shelby knew she meant what she said. The last thing she needed right now was to be kept for an after school detention. She forced herself to leave the school yard frustrated, upset; her body shaking from head to toe. She reluctantly headed to her next class scanning the hallways as she went. The dream replayed in her memory; Shelby knew she had missed another opportunity.

The rest of the day was spent tapping on her desk or chewing on a pencil, nervously anticipating the outcome if she couldn’t find Callie. Flashes of the accident never leaving her mind; time was not on her side. She was racing the clock, and the clock continued to click towards Callie’s death.

She stood in the school yard after classes had ended, her eyes frantically searching for Callie before she left the grounds. Her body, unable to move from one spot, began to shake from sheer panic. Her stomach was in a knot; ready to lose her morning meal. She knew this was her last chance to stop fate. I will not let you take her. She’s my best friend. I won’t let this happen. Oh God, Callie! Where are you?

“Boo!” Someone grabbed Shelby’s waist from the side.

Shelby jumped backwards. She nearly hit the ground. “Don’t ever do that again!” she snapped.

“What’s your problem?”

Shelby latched onto Callie, pulling her in tightly. She breathed a heavy sigh of relief; unable to stop her tears, they fell on Callie’s shoulder.

“I’ve been looking for you all day. Where have you been? I looked for you at lunch, I checked the school yard. I couldn’t find you.”

“What’s the big deal? You know I would have met you on the corner.”

Shelby turned away to wipe her unnoticed tears. She steadied her voice, not wanting to alarm Callie. “There’s been a change in plans. I’m going to come to your house after school today. My mom had to go in to work for something so she won’t be home.”

“No big deal,” Callie said. “My mom will be home. Hey, what did you think of my escape plan?”

“What escape plan?” Shelby looked at her, tilting her head.

“I had ‘ole hag Kempt called to the teacher’s lounge.”

Shelby broke out in a nervous laughter. “I can’t believe you did that.”

Callie joined the laugher. “Score one for the bestie!”

Shelby’s strategy saved her friend’s life; Callie’s accident had been avoided. Afterwards, Shelby knew she had to learn how to deal with these frightening situations or one day she would not be able to prevent bad things from happening. Right now all Shelby knew was that her best friend was okay and she was thankful. At eleven, she was too young to feel differently.

Over the years Shelby had learned to develop her skills. She sat in her bed holding her locked journal in her hands. Reaching into her desk drawer, she removed the key and unlocked her private thoughts. It had become a ritual for her to sit on her bed as she jotted down important memories taken from her dreams. When she completed her writing, she replaced the key in her draw and walked over to the oak chest that sat in the corner of her room. She had decided she would keep her ability a secret from everyone; her mom, her dad, even her best friend. Being an eleven-year-old weirdo was not something she wanted people to know. The chest was the perfect spot for her to keep her secrets locked away.

Shelby referred to her notes often, reminding herself of things that stood out in her dreams. Some things were important now, some she thought may be important later -- things like the little boy with the strawberry blond hair who kept appearing in her dreams. Who was he? He looked a little weird to her, yet he was cute. He seemed to appear more often now. Shelby decided to note his appearance in her journal. She had to write about what seemed to be his lifeline -- his skateboard. He had it with him in almost all of her dreams. If he wasn’t riding it, he was holding it tightly. She didn’t know what the connection was to the boy; she just knew she felt tingles deep inside, whenever he appeared in her dreams. Maybe she just liked him – if it was possible to like someone you only see in your subconscious mind. He was somehow important. She made her notes, continuing to do the little things her dreams urged her to do.

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