Here comes Chapter 2. R&R please.

Chapter 2

There was a huge crowd of "dragonflies" hovering around him. They form the shape of a human. Jess saw the whole crowd glowing and fainting. He shaded his eyes with an arm from the dazzling light. When the light darkened, Jess opened his eyes, what he saw was a mirage of a young girl in the air in front of him. The girl that Jess would recognize no matter how long he didn't see her.

Yes, that is… Leslie.

"Jess…" it muttered. "Please… don't be so childish."

It can't be real. She was gone. But, why? Why do I have a feeling of being fooled? Jess stayed silent. What was I thinking? She's still ALIVE! Isn't that why you come to Terabithia? Leslie still lives in Terabithia! She didn't die! He was in a shock and he was hardly having strength to say anything. How did he feel? Concern, worried, anxious, unbelieving, surprised… Is that a dream? The idea suddenly crossed his mind.

"Jess, so good to see you again." Leslie's soul landed gently and greeted to Jesse.

"You…you are still…alive?" Jesse pinched himself hard in the hand; half believing it was a dream. Ouch! It hurt. So…that's not a dream. I'm not hallucinating…

"Yeah!" Leslie's cheerful voice always made things all right. "I'm here, talking to you, don't I?"

"Why… How…" Jesse tried to ask in a gentle way, "But I heard you are…"

"Drowned." Leslie completed the sentence evenly as if it isn't a depressed topic. "Yes, I was. But you have witnessed the power of imagination before. You see…" she paused a little, "What stands in front of you is actually Leslie's memory. The Terabithians are gifted to create the image of the owner of memory. I'm actually Leslie's spirit, or you can call me Leslie's soul."

"No. You ARE Leslie, the UNIQUE LESLIE!" Jesse shouted, "You are the Leslie who always lives in my heart! Even if you are her soul, you are still my Leslie!" After realizing what he had said, Jess flushed and "Er… I mean…my best friend."

"Thank you." Leslie blushed. "It's very nice of you."

"Why don't you go back and see you parents?" Jesse changed the subject. "They must be extreme happy if they know your soul is still alive."

Leslie's eyes darkened. She hesitated and looked so sad. Jesse never saw her like this before and that made he didn't know what to do. He didn't want to upset her. "What's the matter, Leslie?" He asked carefully.

"It's nothing."

"It seems…something. Come on, Leslie, spit it out. I can help you."

Leslie shook her head. "No. It just… I can live in Terabithia, but if I leave, the power of imagination will be extracted from me and… I will become dust."

"Dust?"

"Yes. Dust."

"I'm sorry…" Jess apologized.

"It's okay. It just I'm already not belong to the…to this time. No need to say sorry, Jess." Leslie's smile came back to her face, "Come on, Jess. We rule Terabithia and nothing crushes us!"

"Yeah!" the corner of Jess's lips came upwards. "Let's race, shall we?"