I Will Follow You Into The Dark || Harrison And Alaska
Dying was one thing, but it was this afterlife that was truly killing her. Everything was half of what it used to be. Things were greyed, dulled and lost their appeal. Alaska had never felt this way before. She had been the vibrancy in her own life, leaving a trail of colour from one place to another. She’d known this, too. In fact, she had thrived on it, bringing out her best and most bright self. She was the girl who found a world hidden beneath a rock and made other people believe it as well, but she had also become a well known troublemaker as she reached her teens. Breaking the rules was all in the name of fun and she had a right to that while she was young. There was plenty of time to worry when she was grown up, but the young were entitled to the freedom they were constantly denied. Even then, the state home in which she had been left on its step on the date of her birth had kept their gates closed to keep the orphans from getting out and the children were expected to follow strict rules on the occasion that they were taken out for a trip while other kids got to be kids.
When Harrison eventually came along Alaska’s world lit up, but for the first time it wasn’t of her own doing. It was the boy — the one who drew her to him without even having to say anything. She was curious, and just as aware of how to get attention as she was at avoiding it. He was the only one ever able to keep up with her. Looking back on it now, Harrison had her before she’d even known it herself. He had been her best friend and her worst enemy. Her first love and her first heart break. He was everything in between. A smile graced her lips, lifting them to reveal her teeth as her eyes fell upon Harrison. As he lowered himself to sit she leaned back into the wall, crossing one ankle over the other. God, she loved him. He was all the colour her world needed now.
“Am I in trouble?” She asked, sarcasm heavy in her voice as she uncrossed her ankles and peeled herself from the wall, purposely making it seem like more effort than it was. Dragging her feet over to him, she gave a small smile and dropped down, her hand landing on his leg just before she leaned into him, snuggling her back into his chest. Usually the four letter phrase would have her heart racing as she knew those were the cliché words before a break up, but she trusted Harrison and she knew in her heart that he had no intention of hurting her. “What is it?” She asked, tilting her head back to look up at him. They certainly weren’t the same teenagers they had been at the home any more, that had suddenly become clear to her.
Harrison shook his head at the girl’s question. There was no way that Alaska could do wrong in his eyes. Even though trouble tended to be Alaska’s middle name. It never mattered what she did, he would always be there to help her with it. If she came to him with a dead body, he would hide it for her. Anything she needed, he would do it for her. Which is why he was clinging with such hope to the idea that she would come with him into the after life. The world was an unbearable place for people like Harrison. But he would figure out how to manage if that is what Alaska wanted.
“I love you so much.” He started. His voice was quiet but strong as he started in on the monologue he had prepared in advance. As stupid as it seemed, even to him, preparing what he wanted to say was the only way he would be able to get through this without stuttering and seeming as scared as he actually was. “We’ve been through so much together, Juno. I can’t imagine my life without you. I know we’re young, but that’s never mattered before. I don’t want to be without you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and all of eternity with you after that. Now, that being said, this is where things get...complicated. As usual.”
Harrison took a breath, trying to compose himself before he finished. He did not want to start crying. He pulled Alaska closer, inhaling her familiar scent that seemed to calm him instantaneously. “My life is over. It was over when I got diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Everything since then has been down hill. That means there is only one place left for me to go.” He pointed across the hall at the demon door. “I’ll understand if you don’t want to come with me. You’ve always been so full of life and energy. And if you want to stay, become human again, move on with yourself and live the life we always talked about living together...expect with someone else...I’ll understand. I’ll be happy knowing that you’re up here, happy as can be, with a beautiful family that loves you. But I want you to come with me. I know it’s scary...I’m not sure what life will be like down there...but we’ll have each other to lean on. We’ll make it through, just like we always do. But the choice is yours, Alaska Solo. If you want to stay, or if you want to come with me. It’s all up to you.”
Anxiously, He began to chew on his bottom lip as he awaited her answer. He certainly did not want to face the toils of hell on his own. But forcing Alaska to go through hell for him, literally--that was something that he wouldn’t be able to live with if it happened.
