AN: Well, after a long hiatus, I'm back! I'm sorry guys this one took so long! But it's my longest chapter so far. Here comes chapter ten, you guys. It's almost over. Chapter eleven will be the last chapter, excusing the epilogue. Enjoy now!
It's been a good amount of time since we've spoken to each other. I feel rather bad about that. A two hour's walk shouldn't be this silent. But what we have on our minds is keeping us from talk. From speech. I feel as if I should say something, perhaps to get our minds off the reason why we're even walking to the Western Segment in the first place.
The rain has finally let down more. Rae still has her umbrella up though, there's nowhere else to put it. The ground is wet, full of mud where we're walking. Thank goodness we're all wearing boots. If Rae decided to wear something more feminine, we'd be in trouble.
"It's quiet," Rae let's out with a sigh, moving her brunette bangs out of her face.
"I know," Is my only reply. I want to talk, I really do. But I just can't find anything to say.
"We're almost there though, only a few more minutes." Well, that's something I guess.
"Good." Though really, it kind of isn't. A part of me doesn't want to see the ending of this. What just happened to him. And yet that other part of me… only wants to see the little guy safe and sound. But what Lyle said might just be true. I do have my cowardly ways, I can't argue with that. But I'm not as cowardly as my predecessors, I believe. They wouldn't have walked into that orphanage alone, wanting to see just what was down there in the deep and dark rooms. I think I'm just… curious. Too curious for my own good, seeing the heap of trouble I caused.
"Good? That's all?" Rae comments, picking up the pace.
"Apparently. Really, that's all I can say. It's good that we're almost there. What isn't good is the thing we're all afraid of."
"And 'tat is?" Starn puts himself into the conversation, but I don't mind at all.
"If Link is truly safe or not. If he's being put through Hell at this very moment."
Suddenly, Rae starts to fume a bit, glaring at me. "Listen. You're thinking way too negatively. He'll be fine."
"Rae, how could you say that? You know what goes on down there; you practically work in the same area!"
"And? That's not a reason. Just because I live there doesn't mean I know how the people tick. Who knows, he could just be sitting around like a lost little puppy waiting for you."
"Somehow I don't think that's the truth."
Rae sighs, rolling her eyes a bit at me. "You're hopeless."
"And you try to put optimism where it doesn't belong."
"What happened to the old Linebeck, huh? He'd always crack a joke, even during the bad times. Seriously, where did he go?" Rae comments, still giving me that glare.
"He left, after watching one of the only people he cared for dragged off kicking and screaming by a madman. Does that help?" Her questions are like a boney finger to the chest. Even after you've answered it and it's gone, you still feel something linger there.
"You sound like you watched him being murdered in cold blood or something."
"It sure did feel like it. Look, we're already in the area now, so let's just go and-"
"Not until you straighten out your attitude." Wait what? "You're getting more and more… stubborn. You keep saying this is all your fault, which it isn't. Why do you think that anyway?" Time to come clean, I suppose.
"…I opened the front door when Link kept telling me not to. I think he saw him but just couldn't get the words to come out right."
"See? It was just a misunderstanding between you two. It wasn't your fault, and never will be. It only is if you just handed him off willy-nilly. Which you didn't. He took Link by force, you know that."
"But I didn't fight back."
"Of course you did, you were leaning over the couch when I first saw you. There was blood on you too. I say you fought back as well as you could, without getting violent. You're not one to get violent, I know that."
"But I didn't, I took his punches, his kicks. I gave up."
"Honestly. If I was in that situation…" She didn't finish the rest of her statement. I know why. She is a fighter, after all, unlike me. She looks away from me, biting her lip.
"Exactly."
"That's not what I meant…"
"If you were in that situation, you would've kicked him out as hard as you could."
"And risk getting the kid hurt? …Well…er-" And now's she's just trying to find an excuse.
"Look, 'ow about we all jus' try 'ta get movin'. All this bickerin' won't solve anytin'," Starn intrudes, trying to keep us level. Sane.
"…Right. We came for Link, not to bicker. …I can see it."
"See what?"
"…The orphanage."
We stop and stare at what's ahead of us for some time. I'm as afraid as the others, maybe a little more. I know, call me cowardly. But damn it, my kid is in there. And I'm afraid of what's happening to him, not me.
Shaking my head, I start to walk on, murmurs escaping the other two as we near the alley, and in that is the place where Link and I first met, his shining eyes convincing me something was arry.
Hopefully, his eyes are still shining.
For what seems like hours, we stand outside of the orphanage, or really what's become of it. The vibe this place gives off makes me want to run away and never look back. But I didn't come for that now, did I?
"Well… this is it," I announce, "No turning back."
"Yep."
"Aye."
The thing is, I cannot go in. I can't let these two in with me, they're innocent. They didn't do anything to be put in the danger I'm about to wade into. It'll be hard to tell them, I know.
I turn to them, saying solemnly with my head looking down at the puddles near my feet, "I've been thinking. …I know this won't sound good, but… I'm going in alone." And now we see the rising anger.
"Wha-?-! You can't do that, Linebeck! You'll get yourself killed!"
I don't lift my eyes from the ground, just like the boy so long ago. "You will too if you come with me. Please… let me do this on my own."
"There's no way I'd let you-…" Rae stops in mid-sentence. I wonder why this time.
"What's wrong?" I ask, but she pushes me down to the ground. What is going on here?-!
"Stay down! There's something in the window!" She whispers harshly in my ear. I see Starn is already on the ground. For a few moments, Rae keeps me down, but I can see, out of the corner of my eye, a black shadow crossing the window, followed by a taller one. They're moving quite fast. The shorter one seems to be running away from the taller one. It has a quite skinny build, a child's.
After a few moments, she jerks me back up.
"And that's why you need us to come, to save your skin!"
"And what if I want to save someone else's skin, hm? …Look, I just don't want to put you in any danger."
"Are you saying we're going to get hurt and possibly killed?"
"No. But, I do need you two to stay out here as… guards. Guard the place, make sure nobody gets in. Help Link and I when the time comes." When the time comes? What am I even saying?
"Honestly. I'm not-"
"Let 'ta man do wha' 'e has 'ta do." Heh, Starn's standing up for me, in from of my sister? Bad idea.
"Look Starn, I'm not going to let him get hurt-"
"Jus' keep yer trap shut, 'e's already goin' to the door." Gee, thanks Starn.
"…Linebeck! Get back here!" I feel sharp nails against the back of my neck for a moment, and then a tug at my collar. What is she even thinking?-!
"Rae, please! Just let me do this! …Please… I don't want to see you get hurt."
She lets go with a sigh.
"You know what? Fine. Go. We'll stay out here." She brings me into a warm and very confusing embrace. "Just be safe. I love you too much to lose you like this, you know." This is a rare moment, her telling me she actually loves her brother. How sweet, really.
I gently run my hand through her hair as I speak. " I'll be fine, don't worry. If I don't come back in… in a little more than an hour, two hours tops, then get help." I don't want to think of the possibility of anyone getting hurt, but I have to now.
She nods, letting go of me.
"Be safe."
"I will be. See you in a little bit." With that, I turn to face the door to the building; the thing towering over all of us. I wonder what this place looked like back in its glory days. Was it calming or disruptive? Did you always hear laughs or cries? Were the children… happy? It's strange to think that once in a place like this, the ones who live here were once happy souls. Now all that's left is a shell of their former childlike qualities.
With that thought not ready to go just yet, I take a deep breath and open the door. My heart is racing, hands sweaty. I can't believe this is even happening, it's going too fast, too fast too fast too-
The door slams behind me. All I see is red. Well, the red on the walls. The paint. I can hear a… rather mature voice coming from another room somewhere.
"Another customer today. Sunday too, I think. …I'll go check… no, you stay here- I said stay!"
I wonder just who he was talking to.
Out of the door across the room I'm in steps out a young boy who looks not a day over seventeen. Why there's a boy his age here I don't know. But it does give me a sick comfort to know there are older children here. He's rather clean too. Hm.
The boy himself has pale skin, doll-like. Rosy cheeks, a small blush tints his face. Light brown hair covers his light blue eyes. He's as skinny as Link, perhaps even more.
The boy smiles an obviously fake smile. "Well hello there. What are you here for today? You look rather… wet."
Might as well get some conversation in. Perhaps I can slip by when he isn't looking.
"Seems so. I'm not here for much. Looking for a certain someone actually."
"Ah, so you have a request? …Never had that happen before. Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm number twenty-six. You must have heard of my… talents."
Sickening talk from a boy his age. "No, I haven't. Got a name?"
"…A name? What do you mean?"
"I said I wish to know your name."
"Why?"
"No reason. I'd just like to know. If it makes you feel better, the name's Linebeck the Fifth."
"…I think I've heard of you, sir! Do you own a trading post?" Huh. Has everyone heard of me?
"Why yes, yes I do. But that's not what we're going to talk about. Give me your name."
"Fine, be that way." His smile gets more defiant and real. "The name's Luke. Nice to meet'cha."
Luke. I like that name. Wait a minute… he shares the nickname of the young prince Luca. How cute. He even looks like him a little.
"Lovely name you have. I've been fond of it."
"Gee, thanks!" Luke says bashfully, "So, who are you looking for, anyway?"
"You may know him. Link." You might be wondering why I'm not rushing down the stairs right now. I'm not that stupid. I'm going to get some information first before rushing in to save the day. Or something to that extent.
Luke's face loses all the rose for a minute. "…Link? You know him too? …Was he a good performer for you or something? He usually never puts any heart into it. Shame." Sickening. Very sickening.
"I know him because well… I'm the one who stole him away."
"So you're the one that Lyle's been fuming about! Never thought that you, a trading post owner, would need to have a-"
"No no. I took him in as an apprentice." Luke just starts laughing at that.
"Ha! Best one I've heard all day!"
"No boy, it's true. I took him in."
"Does he still… you know."
"No. He helps around in the shop. That's it." Alright, I need to get down to business. Who was he talking to before, and if I can get any knowledge out about Link.
"Ah. So he works with you in that trading post of yours. The little guy always did give off a flair of… entrepreneurship. When it was allowed-"
"Wait. So how well do you know Link?" Hook.
"Oh, uh… heh heh… we're like brothers."
"Hm. Tell me, who were you talking to earlier?" Line.
Luke steps back a bit, thrown off by my question. What does he know, and what is he afraid of?
"…Why would you want to know?"
"Just tell me. Is it the same person you were talking about before?" And sinker…?
"Well… it wasn't Link if you're wondering… one of his friends actually…" I think he's lying.
"I see. Can you tell me where he is? I'm in a big hurry."
The youth now steps back even more, inching toward the door he came from. This wasn't going to be easy.
"Please, a simple direction. A room. Please, I just want him back."
"…I'm not supposed to say, orders according to the owner. L-leave p-please…" I can see his eyes are welling up with tears. Why, I don't know. It's as if he wants to tell me, but is afraid to do so. Why? the boy is well over the age of childhood. Is he that scared?
"No. I'm not going that easily. Are you afraid?"
The brunette's vivid eyes lock into mine with some surprise.
"W-what? Me, afraid?"
"Yes. Are you afraid of him? Lyle, was it?"
"…A little." Now he sounds like the child he is on the inside.
"Don't worry; you won't be in a little while. Now tell me. Where is the boy?"
Suddenly, Luke creeps up to me, rosy cheeks getting redder and eyes misty.
"…He's upstairs. …He's being… punished. Do I need to explain?" Alright, where's the nearest window or waste can? My stomach is churning something awful.
"You don't, I follow. …How far upstairs?" This building is quite tall…
"Hate to say it but, tallest room. Ya know, like the tallest tower where a princess is being held." Yet another analogy I don't really agree with. Link, a princess? What?
"So it's all the way up then." Wonder why.
"Yeah. But what do you plan to do?"
"To take back the child. And…" I try giving him a smile. "And getting you out of here. All of you." How is another question.
"R-really? Ya mean it?"
"I'm not the kind to lie like that."
"…You're not an official in disguise, are you?" I would be surprised if he didn't ask that.
"No, I'm not. I'm just a simple shop owner of many trades." It feels strange to sum up your occupation like that.
"Then why are you offering to help us?" Seriously kid?
"Because unlike most men that come in here, I'm kind and don't like to see children in a state such as yours." Hit the nail on the head right there.
"…Thanks. It means a lot to me."
"I'm sure it does, kid. Anyway, I've wasted enough time here, which way do I go?"
Pretty sure I shouldn't have said "wasted enough time" in front of him like that. But Luke doesn't seem affected.
"I'll lead you, it's better that way. You won't see and hear too much." I'm very sure I know what he means by that. Disgusted again.
"Thanks. Lead the way, Luke." I think he likes being called by his name, the way he beams at me. …What I'm wondering though is why Luke can speak so well, and how Link took his sweet time to open up to me. Is it because he's much older than Link? Able to take things better? …Gotten used to it?
"You got it. …We'll stop at the beginning of the hallway though, I don't wanna go all the way down. Lyle's room is down there…" So it's his room I'm going to. Weird.
"That's fine. Is it all the way at the end of the hall then?"
"Yup." And we begin our little trek to the staircase. Turns out the room he came out of led to more hallways and rooms, and at the end of that is a staircase. We go on up the first flight. It's a long way up, let me tell you.
"So… how many more?"
"Pardon?"
"Flights of stairs. How many more?"
"Oh. Four, I think." Four?-! But the flights are so long… how many people can this place occupy anyway, with all the flights of stairs I've been seeing?
"…Fine then."
"Yeah, the place is really big, isn't it?" Luke comments with a laugh. Of course, this one seems a little forced. "The rooms are just really spaced out, seven rooms to a hall, five floors. Thirty-five of us in all." Going by that logic, Link must've been the last orphan to walk through those doors then, thirty-five of them and his number being the same.
"So there are five halls to this place?"
"Yup. Well, the boarding halls, which are upstairs. Each floor has a hall. Good for organizing. Way back when, we were called by our halls. If you lived on the third floor hall, you were called a third floorer. Or haller, whichever you like." How is he able to talk of the place like it's nothing?
"Which floor do you live on?"
"You mean used to. I used to live on the second floor. Each of us got our own room… it was great. …Well, funny story really. Before the little kid Link waltzed in, we were at a perfect thirty-five, Lyle being the thirty-fifth. Link made it thirty-six, and he had to share a room with one of us. I volunteered, and we were buds ever since." Touching.
"Ah. But Link told me some of the children ran away. So you don't have thirty-five anymore, do you?"
"They did. Then we took in a few more to compensate. I really don't wanna talk about that one, actually."
"And what of the boy who ran away?" Luke gives me a strange look as we near the beginning of the first hall. Four more left to go.
"…I don't want to talk about it either." Seems like the comment hit him hard, the way he looks away from me, rosy cheeks flaring.
"Suit yourself. I'm sorry for asking if it's very personal to you." I give his shoulder a squeeze but he wrenches away from my touch. Looks like most of the children don't really like skin contact, even if it's just a way to sympathize.
"…It is. Just let it go, please?" Was it he who ran? What happened?
"Alright. Is there anything you wish to talk about? We're almost to the second staircase too, it seems."
"No. We'd better hurry." I swear, this boy doesn't act his age. He acts quite younger. Then again, he was never taught how to act like a proper young adult, was he?
"I know." We've been going at quite a fast pace. I'm still very much worried for Link. But I need to keep as quiet as I can as to not disturb anyone, or bring any more attention to myself than I have.
We're rather silent as we go up the floors, turning at the corner at the end of the hall to go up and around. It seems the halls wind around the place. Finally, together, we reach the fifth and final hall. …I can hear something muffled at the end, way in the back. Oh Gods, please don't let it be him…
"This is as far as I go," Luke says, shuffling his feet awkwardly on the ground in a stance of shyness. I feel rather bad for the boy.
"Alright then." I give him a half smile, patting him on the back a few times. "Thank-you for all your help."
A true and sincere smile forms on the lad's face, looking up to me. "…W-welcome."
Without a second glance, he races for the stairs, waving to me. I wave back, not even able to say goodbye. I'll be seeing him again soon, for sure.
With a deep intake of breath, I move towards the door at the end of the hall, the muffled sounds getting louder as I progress. I'm not about to let my weak stomach get ahold of me, no matter how gruesome the sight I'll be seeing on the other side of the door.
Palms sweating, I fumble with the doorknob, knowing whoever that's inside can hear my little mumbles of "come on, come on". After a few seconds, I finally get the door open, pushing it forward lightly.
What's inside makes me feel relieved and alarmed at the same time. Link is in the room alone. That's good. But he's very disheveled, almost naked apart from his shirt. I know what had happened at this point. I close my eyes at the sight, feeling a wave of complete failure rush over me. I was too late to save him from this "punishment" Luke spoke of, whatever it was.
The sight before me is depressing. He's half naked as I've said before, hair all over the place and in his eyes some. His arms are tied to the bed rack, perhaps a way to keep him from struggling.
But what really makes the tears flow is his little voice, speaking to me in wonder and desperation.
"P-papa?" I can't take it anymore. I rush to his side, kneeling down before the bed. I lay my head down on his small chest, body shaking. I've found him. I've lost him too. What that man had just done to him makes me sick.
Noting my current state, I jerk my head up to look into confused hazel eyes.
"I'm here now. Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" I ask, going for the rope around his hands. The knots are tied well.
He doesn't respond, a shaky frown forming on his face. Now both of us have tears on our faces. What a reunion this is.
"Answer me Link. Did he hurt you?"
He nods a slow nod. So it did happen. I was too late. I'm kicking myself in the backside deep inside my mind as of now.
"Oh Gods… I'm sorry Link. I'm so sorry… Oh Gods-"
"It's okay… papa…"
Freeing one hand, I quickly reply, "No, it isn't. He hurt you. I wasn't here."
"If it makes you feel any better… we couldn't take the train. We walked. So we were only here for a little while now…" So they weren't on the train! They walked, so that cuts the time!
"We couldn't take a train either."
"We?"
"Rae, Starn and I. We walked together here. They're outside watching for anyone."
Link sniffles a bit as I free the other hand. He quickly sits up and wraps his arms around me. I bite my lip, running my hand through his tangled mess of hair as I do the same, plucking him off the bed. I set him on the floor, and we stand there together in some sort of embrace for some time, the only sound his sniffling.
I break the silence by gently asking, "What did he do to you?" Though I already know the answer.
"…You know. …He beat me. Then he tied me to the bed and told me to wait there. I cried myself to sleep and I napped a little bit. I woke up when I heard something on the stairs." Seems like he forgot about the boy.
"Are you sure that's all he did? …I mean, look at you."
"Y-yeah…" I honestly think he's lying.
"Look, I'll understand if you think it's too bad to say. Please, for the sake of me and the others, tell me the truth Link."
"…You really want to know…?"
"Just speak the truth."
The boy goes into another wave of shakes, and I hold him against me.
"…After he tied me to the bed… he… he…"
"He did something to you."
He doesn't respond, instead opting to cry out again.
"I understand. We're leaving. Find your pants."
The boy looks into my eyes, as if searching for something.
"He took them." Oh. Of course he did. Great, just great.
"…Then you can use my coat. Button it all the way up so it covers you," I say as I let go of him, slipping the coat off of me and gently placing it on him. Link just stands there, brow furrowed as if he's trying to understand something way out of his league.
"…Someone's coming!" He exclaims, buttoning the coat as fast as his hands allow him. The coat, thank goodness, goes past his knees like always. But now it really looks like a dress on him. Meanwhile, we're hearing some very unsettling footsteps…
"Who's coming?-!" I ask, confusion on the rise. It can't really be him, can it?
"L-Lyle! …H-hide!"
"No, there's nowhere to hide Link. ...Brace yourself." With a small cry he pushes himself into me. The boy is just a mess.
The heavy footsteps get louder and louder, nearing the room. I wonder if he could hear me. We talked rather quietly, but still.
"Papa, don't let him hurt me! Please!" There's no way I can protect him now.
"I won't let him hurt you."
After some time, we can hear the knob being messed with. After a "damn it to hell", the door swings open and hits the wall with a bang. In walks in Lyle, the man of the child's fears and of my anger.
"Well well well. Wouldn't expect to see you here," The man says, snaking around us. I'm still holding onto Link tightly, not letting him go.
"Well, I am. And if you excuse me," I start coolly, "I'll be out of here with the boy."
"Not excused in the least." Lyle rests a hand on Link's head, and he shrinks into me, whimpering.
"You know, a little birdy told me you were here. What a nice boy he was too." Luke. That traitor.
"Who is he talking about-"
"Hush, Link. Hush."
Lyle drops his hand from the boy's head, going around us as if we're prey.
"Oh, let the boy ask his questions. You're supposed to be the good "papa", are you not?" Now that gets on my nerves. "Anyway, I was talking about twenty-six."
"Luke!" Link exclaims, "Luke, where is he? He's still alive?-!" Well then. That doesn't sound too nice. Still alive?
"Listen boy. I said was. Was. I mean, he's still around… but not for long."
Link's face goes to a shade of pale white as he pulls away from me, to my discomfort.
"What'd you do to him, you monster!"
"I simply re-explained our code of conduct, and then swiftly punished him for his disobedience."
"Did you kill Luke?-!"
"No. Not yet. He's in the second hall, currently bleeding very well. I can go however and-"
"No!"
Lyle lets out a chuckle that sends a chill up my spine. "Suit yourself. Besides, you've been very disobedient, have you not? Taking board with this man for many days… running away… tsk tsk tsk."
"Shut-up, just shut-up!"
"Oh, now you're yelling at me. That's one more offense. I'll just chalk that one up for you."
"Just shu-" Before Link can continue, Lyle slaps him hard across the face. The boy is very surprised, the force of the hit making him fall onto the bed. He sits there, bewildered as he strokes his soft cheek.
"What was that for just now? He didn't deserve that, Lyle!" I exclaim, quickly going over to the boy and helping him back up on his feet. Something tells me this isn't going to end well.
"Bah. Disobedience must be punished. Surely you did the same?"
"No, I didn't. I almost thought about slapping him square across the face once, but I've only yelled at him. If you knew what goes on in this child's mind…"
"Do you?" Touché.
"No. All I know is that you've done many horrid things to this boy. It's ruined his life, his future. You are the one to blame, honestly."
"Hah, you make me laugh! What have I done to him? It was his own decision, not mine!" What?
"How so? How was this Link's decision? Did he decide to put everyone in this Hell? Thought not."
"You'd be surprised. " I quickly look down at the boy, hazel eyes aimed down at the ground, almost as if he was trying to cut a hole through it. He didn't… no. I cannot believe this man, no matter what he says. He's a crook. A lying crook. But the way the boy looks now…
"You're lying."
"I'm not. Do you not see the boy's face? His body language? It all points to him!" He gives out a little laugh, the kind that again sends shivers down my spine.
"He's only doing that because he's scared. I know this was all your idea."
"No. He knows. Ask him."
…Ask… him?
"Link… listen to me. What is he talking about?"
The one with the hazel eyes doesn't look up at me, and mumbles out his words.
"All I said was that we needed a way to get money…"
"That's it?"
"I said I'd do anything to help…" And in context, that must've been a very naïve statement.
"Link… what happened after that?"
"I just said that we could work for money… around the area…" So that's how it happened. A simple and childish idea like working for a few good Rupees turned into this mess.
"And it just… escalated?"
He only nods his head, wiping his nose with the sleeve of my jacket. Well, I'm washing that later.
I turn to the man, who most likely wasn't expecting that answer.
"Do you see what you've done to the boy? Do you?"
"They wanted work. I gave them work."
"Don't be stubborn. Look at him."
"I didn't do anything. They are his emotions, not mine." He sounds like he's trying to deny something.
"Look at him, damn it!" I go for the man's torso, wrenching him around and making him look at the now whimpering child. I hold his head there as he struggles from my grasp. "You did this to him! Can you not see the error of your ways? He didn't deserve any of this! None of them did!"
"They wanted this!"
"No, they didn't! It was you! All you, and the death of your wife!"
Suddenly, the man stops struggling. His eyes narrow as he looks into mine. I've looked into them before. I've seen the hidden guilt and hurt. And now it's sadness. Begging. Begging for what?
"Don't ever mention her again."
"Your wife caused this. Her death sent you spiraling into madness. Despair."
"Do not make me use force-"
"No. After her death, you needed money to keep up with the place. You let the children work around. Then something happened to you. I don't know what, but you saw something else in those children. And you worked with that to get where you are today. "
"Be quiet."
"No. Think about it. Let it soak in." I let him go, and he immediately draws his pistol. Bad move by me. He doesn't aim or even cock it. Perhaps all he needed was to hold it at his side. A comfort thing perhaps?
"Do not make me use this. It was them. All them."
"You're lying to yourself. It was you all along. The death. The madness. The money you wanted. It was all there. And it points not to Link, but to you."
He just pauses for a while. It's as if he's thinking about something.
"What else could I have done? Besides, some of them actually enjoy it!" What lie that is!
"Stop lying to yourself."
"Be quiet!"
"Stop lying to yourself and think."
I think I've taken him over the edge by this point. Lyle raises the pistol at me.
"Now put the gun down. It doesn't have to come to this. Please-"
My words are interrupted by the sound of a click. He cocked the gun. And now, it's pointing directly at me. The boy at my side has calmed down, but he's frozen in a state of fear.
"Don't make me use this. It was all their fault! All of it!"
"For the Gods' sake man, see the damn light!" I scream out, the intensity of the situation getting higher with every second. He puts his finger on the trigger, fingering it. Is he going to shoot?
"What light, there is no light!" He pulls the trigger. Oh Gods he pulled the trigger oh Gods no-
"No!" The blast shatters the sound of the room, and surprisingly I'm not hurt. If I'm not shot… who did he shoot…
…I hear screaming.
And it's not me.
AN: And that's ten. Ended it on a cliffhanger, I know. See you all in the final chapter, and the epilogue.