"Haaah." I exhaled softly, looking skyward.
It'd always been beautiful, the night sky.
Even at this moment, it still looked beautiful to me. I couldn't take my eyes off it.
The soft twinkling light spread across the dark, and the warm hues that the moon showered on me. How I adored them.
After taking in the serenity of the sight, I closed my eyes, satisfied.
From my bare back, a cool feeling spread through my body.
My arms were widespread, and I lay resting on the bed of the shallow river.
I floated on the waters like a light, lifeless object.
I actually liked it. My breathing was more at ease, and my heartbeat less aggressive.
Floating here and being carried by the current of the waters made my mind feel at ease.
Unsurprisingly, it even stirred up some old memories.
Most of which made me chuckle slightly.
Like the one time I taught Margie how to make paper boats. The cute kid was just eight years old back then, yet she never stopped making paper boats after I taught her how to.
She was a real headache back then.
I remembered the swimming pool in our backyard being filled with melted paper almost every afternoon.
It really annoyed Dad, as Mom always forced him to clean it up.
I could still clearly recall the pouting on his face.
"Heh."
I opened my eyes, the night sky coming into view once more. And my heartbeat softened, my entire body mellowing into this calm moment.
Dad…
My smile cracked.
It's been tough…
Way too tough.
The smile completely faded.
I blinked, letting out a soft, resigned sigh.
But I'm stronger now.
I grunted slightly, my hands finding my broken ribs as I whispered. "Alright, that's enough soft guy nonsense."
It'd been an hour or so since we jumped down from the bridge.
And fortunately for us, the Avendars couldn't jump inside the water for whatever reason.
Although they did try attacking us from above with their hand-stretching thingy.
We dodged all that and speedily swam out of there.
I'm really going to come back here just to kill them.
What if I didn't know how to swim? I'd have just died like that?!
"Hm."
But wait. Would I really die if I were killed?
"Duz…"
I think it's a good question.
I mean, the last time I died, I didn't really die. I got revived.
"Duz."
Would I get revived if I were to die again?
I shut my eyes, scrunching my nose in annoyance.
Man, these system things are too confusing.
But I sure as hell know that I do NOT want to find out if I'll get revived or not.
Anyway, we'd been swimming ever since then, heading toward the other side of the city.
Although we stopped swimming after we reached a certain spot. The water became increasingly shallow, so we just floated on it.
Hm.
Speaking of we–
"Duz!" Marcus's voice cut through the thick fog of thoughts.
I blinked, shaking my head.
Then slowly, I turned my neck toward him.
"What is it, old man?" I asked, raising a brow.
"I'm not an old man. And I've been calling you."
Seeing where he currently sat, I came to the realization.
Ohh.
"We're on land now." He said, "The other side of the city."
He moved his neck, looking over the ruined city in the distance. A city engulfed in the darkness of the night.
I groaned, clenching my aching ribs tightly as I stood up from the shallow pool, water dripping from me.
Marcus sat on a slightly higher ground above the water. It was a patch of sand, where — I didn't know how — little springs of grass grew.
A thin, short-sleeved shirt was what Marcus wore, and even that was thoroughly soaked, just like his pants. And the brown coat he'd been wearing earlier lay on the ground beside him, squeezed and left to dry.
I slowly walked toward him.
He gazed at me, blinking as he asked, "You okay?"
I paused, furrowing my brows as I locked eyes with his.
The hell is he asking, 'are you okay?'
Do I look okay?
I forced a tight-lipped smile as I continued my stride. "Yeah, I'm fine."
He nodded. "Me too."
Fuck you.
I climbed up to the higher ground and sat beside him.
A thick mass of silence descended on where we sat.
I didn't mind it, though. I just kept gazing at the sky.
"We barely made it out of there alive, huh." Marcus suddenly said.
My eyes slightly widened as I turned to look at him.
He had a dim, awkward smile on his lips, and his warm grey eyes remained focused on me.
I looked away. "Yeah."
Marcus sighed. "I'm still having a hard time processing it all."
I cocked a brow. "Processing what?"
The fact that you were about to die?
"This… everything." He said, "The whistle, the monsters, the black cloud. Everything. It doesn't make sense to me, Duz."
Ah, I see.
I remained silent.
"How could a world go from fairly peaceful to full-on mayhem and destruction in one day?" He added, and a slight chuckle accompanied his words this time.
"It's just like an apocalypse movie come true. Except these monsters are… I don't even know what they are." He paused.
"What do you think, Duz?"
Once more, I met his eyes, tilting my head as I narrowed my eyes. "About what?"
"About the current state of the world? Mind you, even the internet ain't working."
About the world, huh.
I gazed up at the stars.
A small smile tugged at my lips.
I lay down on the ground, relaxing my back.
I don't even know.
I've not had any time to rest, let alone think about the world.
I've–
I blinked.
You know, in a way, it's still the same. Even back then and now.
I've just been trying to survive.
But I guess I see this current world as an opportunity for me.
An opportunity to break free from the Dustin I no longer want to be. And a chance to become stronger.
"Duz?" Marcus called.
"Ah, sorry," I said, my head resting on my arms. "You asked a question."
"Do you zone out a lot?"
You have no idea.
I nodded. "Kinda, yeah."
"I figured." He replied. "So, what do you think?"
A bemused smirk formed on my lips.
What do I think, huh?
Heh.
"Let me let you in on a little secret," I whispered, high enough for him to hear.
"I caused this apocalypse."
As I said that, I looked up at him to see his expression.
His lips curled in disgust, and his warm eyes darkened immediately as he furrowed his brows. "Don't make jokes like that, Duz. It's not funny."
I almost laughed out loud.
Welcome to my world, buddy.
I just scoffed, turning away. "I know."
"Many people have died. And with my own eyes, I've witnessed the death of countless people over the span of just a few hours. Mothers, fathers, children. They've lost their lives to this damned apocalypse." He said, his voice a bit low. "I'm sorry if I sounded rude or reprimanding just now. It's just that I.. I don't find being the sole cause of the death of millions funny at all."
My eyes widened as he said this.
The sole cause of the death of millions.
For the first time, the scope of it all really sank in.
Thanks for ruining any chances of me sleeping at night.
A bitter smile. "..."
Then, with a lower voice — one so low and so dark that I wondered if it truly belonged to the warm Unc I met earlier — Marcus said: "And if I eventually do find the source of this damn apocalypse, I don't care if it kills me, or if I'm too weak, I will die trying to destroy it."
I gulped.
A cold sweat ran down my forehead. Or maybe it was just water.
Sheesh.
"I had a dream I was actively chasing, one I hoped to actualize. But now, it's all been–"
I stood up immediately.
That's enough rest for me.
Marcus looked up at me.
"Huh? Where are you going?" He asked.
"I told you there's a guy I have to find here, didn't I?"
"Oh yeah, you did."
"I'm going to find him," I replied.
"This late? Won't you rest a little?"
I shook my head. "I've had enough rest."
Plus, I'm tired of your yapping.
He grunted a little, standing up. "Then I'll come with."
I stared at him, bewildered.
He noticed my stare and narrowed his eyes. "What? You don't think I'll stay here all alone, do you?"
I was hoping you would. Or maybe go find the other three in the subway station.
I shrugged. "Suit yourself."
I turned toward the city, faintly illuminated by the moonlight. But most of it was dark.
Destroyed buildings, flattened cars and corpses too.
It seems this side of the city couldn't escape destruction either.
"But what if the guy you want to find is dead?" Marcus asked.
"Then I'll find his corpse and bury him."
I began to walk.
"And what if he's not in this part of the city at all?" Marcus asked again.
I frowned. "After searching every single place in this city — no matter how long it may take — if I don't see him, then I'll go."
Marcus followed behind me as we walked into the city.
"Hm." He hummed. "You're a good friend."
That one caught me off guard, making me flinch.
Good friend?
I scoffed.
"Nah," I said. "I owe him money."