Chapter 10: Danger In The Ruins

The incident happened when Sorey-then known as just Soren, as he hadn't earned the nickname until he was five-was about two years old. He only had very few blurry memories of it, so he was only able to tell Mikleo what his mother had told him. What happened was that Selene and her husband had to go to a family member's memorial service to commemorate the eighth anniversary of their death. But Selene couldn't find anyone to look after Soren during that time, so she had to take him with her. At first, things had went fine until they went into a temple. People began chanting, and loud drums were being used to make noise. All of a sudden, little Soren started screaming and using his hands to hit his head. His mother took him out of the temple in tears.

During his talk with Mikleo, some pieces of the incident played through his mind. Dark silhouettes, all glaring at him and his mother with anger, scorn, and hatred, surrounded them, trapping them in a haze. Mouths and teeth moving all around, shouting terrible things at his mother, all of which he knew were untrue, even back then. Hearing exasperated sighs and grumbles about how naughty he was being. Invasive hands pointing at them with vitriol, fists shaking up and down, arms waving around in exaggerated motions, invading their space. Voices, all loud and deafening, exploding all around him, making him and Selene cry even worse. One of the silhouettes was shaped like Zenrus, braids, goatee, hoarse voice and all.

"He was there," Sorey whispered. "That much I know for certain."

Not once did Mikleo interrupt Sorey or tell him to be quiet. He simply sat next to him, listening attentively without a word, taking it all in. Sorey wasn't used to being listened to, even among his friends. The fact that Mikleo was allowing him to go on, complete with that calm but curious and expectant look on his face, was enough to convince Sorey that maybe he wouldn't get mad if he told him everything.

Sorey continued. "I don't remember it very clearly. Mostly just bits and pieces. But I remember most of the things they said to my mother," He adjusted his voice to make it sound intentionally annoying and nasally. "'You caused our family a lot of shame! It's your fault he's like this! You can't raise him right, that's why he's turned out so selfish!' 'If this is going to happen from now on, you shouldn't be a part of this family at all!'" Even repeating those sentences made Sorey cringe. Mikleo could see the distress laced on his face when he choked them out. "I don't even know how I can even remember everything word for word. But I do…"

A brief silence fell between them. After a short moment, Sorey choked out, "I know for sure...Ze-Ze-Ze-Ze-Ze-Zenrus said those things. He was yelling. Yelling at Mom and me."

The only sound that came out of Mikleo during that time was a sigh. But Sorey could tell it wasn't a shameful, exasperated sigh. He wasn't quite sure what it was. Disbelief, maybe? Or a sigh that meant he was having trouble taking it all in? Sorey assumed the latter. Of course Mikleo would have a hard time believing Zenrus, someone he has known for a very long time and interacts with on a daily basis, would even say those things, and to a mother and child, no less.

"In fact, the day I saved your life…" Sorey continued, his voice still quivering. "I heard him yelling on the phone. He was insanely mad. I remember very clearly that he said, 'I can't do this anymore! I've done everything for him and he hasn't given me one lick of thanks! Can't you do something about this?!'" His hands began to flap up and down on their own accord. Just repeating that sentence made him feel as though he were trapped in heavy chains and shackles.

Finally, Mikleo spoke. "I had no idea. Is that why you came to the castle that day? To get away from that?"

Sorey nodded. "I know this is hard to believe, since you've interacted with him more than I ever had. I understand completely if you don't believe a word I say. I'm kinda used to not being believed or taken seriously. But...now you know the truth. I know he's ashamed of me. I'll bet he hasn't forgiven me or my mother for what happened. Every day, I live in fear that he'll cast me out if I so much as do anything at all. He gave me a home, but he can easily take it away from me. He has the power to do that."

Once again, Mikleo only listened.

"I know. I probably sound like a spoiled brat when I say all this. In some way, maybe I am actually a spoiled, ungrateful little brat, just like people back in Camlann used to say. He has done a lot for me...but how can I be grateful when for all I know it might be some sort of facade, or that he might take it all away?"

Right then and there, new memories came back. Evelyn taking him to the foster care agency to discuss placement options with anyone who would listen to them. Sorey hearing that because he was eighteen, he was a legal adult, therefore too old to be in the system. Not even the agency wanted him because of their lack of space and his age. At that time, he had been so consumed by his grief that he hadn't really taken time to really think about what happened. Hearing all this, he wondered if he really was...disposable. Like garbage. A broken toy that had long outgrown its usefulness, no longer wanted or loved by anyone.

A new set of tears spilled forth. "I'm scared. Scared that anything I do will set him off and convince him to disown me. I don't know how to live on my own...I don't know anything!" He buried his face in his hands, a new set of frantic wails escaping him. "I'm clueless when it comes to just about everything in the world! I don't know how to pay bills, land a job, own a house, cook on my own, or anything! I can't do anything! And I know for sure that Zenrus thinks he'd be better off without some useless, worthless, defective retard getting in the way of his golden years-"

"Stop."

An uncharacteristically stern tone of voice silenced Sorey. Mikleo stared right at him, his violet eyes suddenly austere and fierce. Not with hatred or scorn, but with determination.

"None of what you're saying about yourself is true," Mikleo told him, his calm voice suddenly fierce and assertive. "Don't ever say those things about yourself ever again. You're not useless, worthless, defective, or retarded. Call yourself retarded again, and I'm gonna make you pay me a dollar for every time you say it."

"What?!" Sorey yelped.

"You heard me."

Mikleo meant what he said. Sorey could feel it in every skin cell on his body. "Thanks for telling me all this. I'll bet it must have been hard to do. Now I have a better understanding of what's really going on," Mikleo told him kindly, his austere look softening. "I won't lie, I've known Gramps for ten years, and I honestly can't picture him saying that stuff to you or about you. Everyone in Elysia knows for sure that he only gets truly angry and explodes when he directs it towards people who he feels deserve it, like that Landon guy."

It was here that the diner incident flashed through his mind again. He remembered seeing Zenrus straight up roar at Landon for slapping him, like a lion intent to eat its prey alive and whole. Seeing Zenrus wave his hands and fingers at the frazzled man in angry, exaggerated motions. He was sure he saw some spit fly into Landon's face. If there was one thing Sorey did appreciate, it was that Landon was the one who got called out on what he did, exacerbating the situation by hitting him across the face. That was unnecessary and uncalled for, just like his wife said.

"I don't want to tell you you're wrong about Gramps," Mikleo said, hoping that what he was saying to Sorey wouldn't make him come off as being dismissive or unsympathetic. "He's always been nice to me and Mom all my life. But for all I know, maybe he was different when you were very little, so I could be wrong and you might be right. I won't question your memories about what happened to you."

Sorey flashed a grateful smile. Goodness, where had Mikleo been all his life? Warmth completely overtook him. He couldn't believe that Mikleo was actually listening to him and understanding him, not shaming him or making him feel pathetic. Sure, he knew other people who understood him and listened to his worries and concerns without judgment, but those were such a rarity in Sorey's life that experiencing it again was like a heavenly miracle. He never was able to get used to it.

"But I do want you to understand," Mikleo slipped a tender hand into Sorey's damp one, giving it a soft, reassuring squeeze. "The Gramps I know-the Gramps I've always known-has never said anything like that about you or your mother. Landon was going on and on about how Gramps didn't do a good job discipling you or teaching you manners and all that bullcrap. Do you want to know what Gramps said to Landon when you ran away?" Mikleo asked.

Sorey gave no answer, but Mikleo told him anyway. "He looked him right in the face and said, 'You had no right to strike my boy like that! It was an accident! He offered to help you out of the kindness of his heart, and you hitting him and degrading him is the thanks he gets?! You should be happy he offered to pay for your ruined meal at all! If anything, he has far more manners and good sense than you could ever have! You're the one who should know better!' I wasn't kidding when I said he really wailed on the guy."

The white haired boy continued on, and this time, Sorey listened quietly. The day before Moymor's party, Zenrus had given Muse a call, telling her about Sorey and how he wanted him and Mikleo to meet and maybe become friends. From what Muse told Mikleo, Zenrus sang nothing but praise for Sorey: how sweet, polite, considerate, and courteous he was, how proud Zenrus was that he graduated from high school with honors, the cute way he smiled and laughed, how happy he was when he would read his books and talk about the things he liked, such as ruins and ancient artifacts, how Selene did a good job in raising him and helping him with his problems, how exuberant and joyful he was when Zenrus got him the bookcase...

It must be confessed that Sorey found all of this to be very hard to believe. Did Zenrus really say all of those things? He certainly never heard any of this from Zenrus himself. But he knew Mikleo was no liar. Mikleo was always honest and straight-up with him whenever they were together. That was what Sorey liked about him. Nothing he said was ever confusing, and if it was, he always made an effort to help Sorey understand. Besides, Mikleo had no reason to lie to Sorey, and it was true that he had known Zenrus for far longer.

"Sorey. Please don't take this the wrong way," Mikleo's tender voice soothed Sorey's nerves with every word. "I understand how you're feeling. I don't know what it's like to be autistic, but I know what it's like to feel like you don't belong, to feel like your very existence causes problems for everyone around you, to feel pathetic and miserable because people can't or won't understand, listen, or take you seriously...and it's painful. I've been there. My mom has, too."

Sorey kept himself silent. But Mikleo could see from the way he looked up at him that he wanted to hear more.

"I'm sure this is going to be very hard to believe, and I can understand if you don't...but Gramps isn't the person you think he is. Yeah, he can be strict, a little old-fashioned, and pretty opinionated a lot of the time. He won't hesitate to tell you what he really thinks. But he always means well, and he's helped me and my mom a lot, even more so since Dad died. He's not ashamed of you. He never has been. He goes on and on about you every time we interact. Besides, if he really did want to disown you, he would have done it by now, and he wouldn't have put all this effort into making you happy and trying to help you get into college."

Good points. That made sense. He wanted to believe Mikleo so badly. Boy, did he want to! It sounded like Mikleo really meant everything he said to him. But he had been let down so many times in life. He didn't want to be tricked or let down again.

"I know this may sound hard, but I really think you should talk to Gramps about this," Mikleo suggested. "I'm sure he'll understand. Who knows? Maybe he's really changed since then. Or maybe things happened differently and you might have remembered things wrong. It happens. Nobody has a perfect memory when they're two years old. Or maybe he feels bad about what he said back then and wants to make it up to you."

Another good point. But Sorey wasn't sure if he could bring himself to talk to Zenrus. For Sorey, trying to talk to Zenrus was like trying to make a big speech in front of a huge crowd of people, with perilous repercussions in store for him should he fail to do a good job. He knew Mikleo was only trying to help, and he really did appreciate his boundless kindness.

"Heck, for all you know, Gramps might have been talking about someone else on the phone, not you," Mikleo suggested again. "I'm not saying I don't believe what happened to you back then was wrong or untrue. I wasn't there, so how would I know how it played out?" His hand gave Sorey's another squeeze. "But I do want you to be open to the possibility that...Gramps isn't the person you think he is. I absolutely guarantee you that he won't disown you. He's not like that. I really think the best way to address this is for you two to talk about what happened back then. It might help you get past it, and it might help to get his take on what happened."

Slowly, Sorey crawled out from behind the debris, positioning himself right next to Mikleo. "I want to believe you. You have no idea how much I...I want to believe that you might be right about him," He covered half of his tear-stained face with his free hand. "Maybe I am overthinking this and worrying myself to death over nothing."

Not once did Mikleo's hand leave Sorey's. Not even for a minute. Again, Mikleo smiled. "I'm not trying to dismiss your feelings or fears. Even I know that's wrong. Both my parents taught me that the best way to address a problem is to understand it, not ignore it, assume it'll solve itself, or assume stuff that's not true. Everyone's feelings and emotions are important, especially in times like this."

Sorey could definitely agree with that.

"If you want, I'd be more than happy to help you with this," Mikleo offered. "But I'll understand if you don't."

"Thanks, but…" Sorey shook his head, declining his offer. "I'll try talking to him on my own. Maybe not now, but…when I feel ready for it."

"Yeah. Push yourself too hard, and you'll end up getting overloaded again," Mikleo advised.

It was here that Mikleo looked out of one of the windows. The sky was quickly turning a bright, blazing orange, and he could make out some streaks of pink and purple clouds ambling along. It was getting late. But he didn't want to leave yet. Neither did Sorey. The two boys were alone in the remains of a broken, ruined castle left alone to the forces of nature, with Mikleo's silvery blue locks beautifully highlighted in the sunset's light streaming through the windows. Mikleo's violet eyes seemed to turn a dark, deep orange shade in the light.

God, Mikleo was beautiful. Even his hugs and comforting words were enough for Sorey to completely melt in his presence. He really wanted those slender arms to pull him into another hug. Those fingers to run through his hair and stroke his scalp. Those kind eyes to gaze upon him always. Hear his sweet voice whisper in his ear, his breath tickling the inside of it. All of a sudden, Sorey's big arms wrapped right around Mikleo, pulling him close, with Mikleo's nose nuzzling against Sorey's chest. The smaller boy melted into his friend's touch, closing his eyes and drifting off. In return, Sorey rested his chin on the boy's shoulder, relishing in his friend's comforting warmth.

A hand slithered up Sorey's back, rubbing it gently. Sorey hummed in contentment, even as the hand moved from his back to his hair, tickling the thick chocolate strands. Yes, this was much better. Far better than being in that diner with Landon. Being with Mikleo made him feel safe. Accepted. Loved. Sorey wished time would just stop in that moment. He didn't want to leave. Not ever.

"Mikleo?"

"Hm?"

"I've always wondered...why have you been so nice to me this whole time?" Sorey couldn't help but wince at the way he asked that question. He hoped to Maotelus that Mikleo didn't take it the wrong way. "I mean, you've done so much for me, and all I've done for you is whine and moan."

"That's not true," Mikleo continued to stroke Sorey's hair, running his fingers through the tousled locks. "You've done a lot for me, too. And I know what you're thinking. You're wondering why a normal kid like me would rather hang out with someone who yammers about ruins and the Celestial Record all the time."

Wow, Mikleo was good. "You read my mind. Like, you could have easily just left me alone and hung out with...normal people. But you willingly stayed with me. I mean, not that I'm ungrateful. Really, I am. But...why?"

Sorey did have friends, and still had some in Camlann, such as Rose, Bridget, and Isaac, but all throughout his life, making friends was a persistent problem during his school days. It was common for Sorey's eccentricities to be pointed out, gawked at, made into a big deal, etc., by both kids and adults. Whether it was his profound love for the Celestial Record, his interest in ruins, history, and archaeology, or his not knowing what was current or trendy a lot of the time, everything about Sorey seemed to turn other kids off to the idea of even associating with him. He even heard some kids say that they wouldn't be caught dead around Sorey, fearing that that would be social suicide. For them, not him.

This, unfortunately, caused Sorey to view himself as unattractive, both in looks and personality. He was used to people saying that he was noisy, annoying, disruptive, too clingy, a nerd, weird, and needed to grow up and be a real man. He always admired beautiful things and people, and tried to do his best every day, but it was hard. Constant rejection and failure over the years made him feel more than ever as though he didn't belong. Anywhere.

"Do you really need a reason to be nice to someone?" Mikleo asked.

"I don't think so. Sorry. It's just…" Sorey fiddled with one of his feathered earrings. "I feel like all I do is cause trouble and get in people's way. Regular kids at my old schools either wanted nothing to do with me or went out of their way to tell me how stupid and dumb I am."

Mikleo waved his hand. "I've been there. Trust me. I've dealt with some terrible people in my life, too. I've had some friends who were just using me for their own ends. Others lied behind my back just to make themselves look good," His voice dropped down to a low, somber lull as he looked down at his sneakers. Sorey knew that downward lookaway all too well. "I have some friends, but they live too far away for me to visit, and they barely know where Elysia is."

Definitely a scenario Sorey could relate to. His friends were in Camlann, which was too far away from Elysia. A three hour drive by car at the most.

"What about Edna and Zaveid?" Sorey suggested. "Are they your friends?"

"Sort of," Mikleo rubbed his neck with one hand. "But they can drive me nuts sometimes, as you saw the other day. We don't really have that much in common," His smile returned. "If you really want to know why, it's because I like you. I like being around you and hanging out with you. You're one of the few people my own age who actually treats me like a human being, and you never make any attempts to hide your true self."

Warmth suddenly lurched in Sorey's heart. Heat rose to his cheeks. Rose, Bridget, and Isaac all said the exact same thing to him. Hearing it from Mikleo, though...it was like music to his ears. Best of all, it was exactly what Sorey thought about Mikleo.

"That, and I'm just sick and tired of being surrounded by guys who go on and on about nothing but sex."

Sorey grinned. "Now that, I definitely agree with!"

Yet another similar situation Sorey could relate to. Many boys Sorey met during his years in school were too fixated on hooking up with girls and talking about their sexual encounters with them-very loudly and in public-something that always flabbergasted him to no end. Sorey knew about sex thanks to the sex education lessons he received in school, but he had always been told that it was something special that couples do in private to show their love for each other, usually after they married. The epitome of trust, love, and adoration. Something sacred. At least, that was how Sorey interpreted it. Why was everyone else around him being so frivolous about it, using the desire for sex and intimacy to nail as many girls as possible like it was some manliness competition? Like it was some kind of game? And why talk about something so private and intimate in public? What people do behind closed doors is nobody's business but their own, his mother had told him. Sorey's eyebrows furrowed just thinking about it.

But his smile didn't fade. Sorey murmured, "...Same here. I'm glad...we got to be friends. I really hope what happened today doesn't change that."

"It doesn't. I've seen way worse, and yeah, stink bugs are gross and annoying."

The two boys shared a laugh at that. The air around them was warm and safe. Sorey really hoped time would stop, as he didn't want this to end. Unfortunately, said moment only lasted for a few minutes. It was time for both boys to return home. Sorey didn't want to go back to the mansion and face potential scoldings and punishment. He wanted to stay in the ruins with Mikleo. But he knew time didn't stop for them, and Mikleo had his own life to live, too. He didn't want to get in the way, so they simply exchanged goodbyes and returned home.

It was still light out when Sorey returned. The first person he saw was Lailah, who, as usual, greeted him at the door with her warm, motherly smile. In a way, it left him stunned stupid. How could she still be smiling like that after what happened?

"Hello, Sorey. Is everything okay?" She told him.

"Yeah. Sort of. I'm...sorry about earlier. I had a bit of an...anxiety attack."

Once again, Lailah shook her head. "Don't worry about it. I know you can't exactly control them, so don't feel bad," She suddenly balled her hands into fists, her teal eyes glimmering. "But I do know the perfect way to cheer you up! What do you receive when you ask a lemon for help?"

Oh dear. Sorey looked away. Another bad pun incoming…

"Lemon aid!"

Yep. It was exactly as bad as it sounded. Well, he did give Lailah points for making it take his mind off the incident for a bit, so at least the pun served its purpose. But it didn't change the fact that Sorey was going to have to face the music sometime. Without another word, Sorey left Lailah to the silent aftermath of her bad pun.

It didn't take long for Sorey to find Zenrus, was he was sitting in the living room reading a magazine. Sorey couldn't help but glance at it as he approached. Butterflies of varying colors and sizes adorned the pages. Zenrus didn't take his eyes off it, not even as Sorey silently walked up to him, bracing himself for whatever punishment he saw fit to receive. Sorey couldn't bring himself to look the old man in the face. Then again, he didn't want to look at him at all. No way did he want to put himself through the pain of seeing his grandfather's angry face and his mouth moving as he yelled.

But there was no escaping.

"...Sir?"

Zenrus looked up, seeing Sorey standing before him.

"I...I want to apologize, for-"

Once again, Sorey didn't finish his sentence. It was because Zenrus closed his magazine, stood up from the couch and...hugged him? Sorey's breath hitched. He couldn't believe what he was seeing or feeling. Zenrus was actually hugging him. The old man's face was buried in Sorey's chest, in part due to Zenrus being shorter than him, and his arms clutched the boy's back. Sorey tensed up, but oddly enough, his grandfather's embrace was...warm. He didn't make him feel confined or trapped.

"Don't apologize, Sorey," Zenrus stressed, keeping his hold on the boy tight, but not constricting. "Please don't. You did nothing wrong."

Did nothing wrong? His green eyes shrunk. Zenrus clearly saw everything. "But...I messed up that man's meal and freaked out and embarrassed you in front of-"

"Don't you dare blame yourself for this," This time, Zenrus's hoarse voice turned stern, silencing him. "It was an accident. There was nothing else to it. That man had no right to hit you and berate you like that, especially when you wanted to rectify the situation. I'm the one who should be sorry. I wasn't able to help you…"

Sorey winced. How could he not blame himself? The "if onlys" had come back in full force. If only he had just flicked that stink bug off his arm. If only they had gone to another diner instead. If only he hadn't let his emotions take control of him. If only this stupid incident had never happened at all!

"I know...but I behaved like a brat, and I should have known better-"

"That's enough, Sorey," Zenrus said, finally letting go. "Don't say that," A grin stretched across his face, pushing his wrinkles upward. "Tell me. Would a brat want to pay for the ruined meal? Would a brat actually make an effort to rectify the situation?"

"No…"

A wrinkled, calloused hand patted Sorey's arm reassuringly. "It's alright, my boy. I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at the man who dared to strike you and degrade you."

Normally, this would make Sorey's heart leap. The fact that Zenrus was being so understanding and patient said a lot about him. Not a lot of people Sorey met in his life were so supportive and kind like he was being right now. Sorey wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, Mikleo was right about him. Maybe he really wasn't ashamed of Sorey. Goodness, Sorey wanted to believe him so, so, so badly.

But the bad thoughts completely overpowered any good ones he tried to cultivate. Sorey's mind was flooded with ugly thoughts. Why wasn't Zenrus mad at him? Why was Zenrus ignoring the fact that Sorey caused the whole thing and not inflicting him with punishment? Why wasn't he screaming or yelling his head off? He had to be a little bit embarrassed and ashamed, didn't he? After all, a teenage boy-scratch that, an adult-completely flipped out in a public place and ruined someone else's dinner as a result. Shouldn't Zenrus punish him for what he had done, even a little bit?

Better yet, Sorey thought, why doesn't he just come out and say it already instead of hiding how he really felt about him?

"I enjoyed our time at the museum today," Zenrus told him kindly. "I hope you had fun regardless."

"I did. Thank you."

Without another word, Sorey simply left the old man in the living room, running back to his room. Morgrim the cat rolled around on his bed like usual, her white ears perking up at the sound of Sorey's footsteps. The minute Sorey came in, he flopped right down on the bed. Morgrim rose to her feet, tilting her head to one side in bewilderment, her stubby black tail standing up.

"Mrooowr?"

Sorey flashed a gentle smile at the rotund cat. He reached out to run his hands through her fur, gently scratching her chin. Morgrim reveled in the touch, purring happily as Sorey's bulky fingers tickled her neck. "Sorry, girl. Sorey's had a really bad day."

Sensing his distress, Morgrim crawled onto his lap and nuzzled her head against his abdomen. Did she want to comfort him? Sorey wasn't sure. But he greatly appreciated the kind gesture nonetheless. Cats really were good little companions.

"Thanks, Morgrim. You're the best."

Muse eyed the clock every ten minutes. The last time she checked, it was seven fifteen. The sky was beginning to turn navy blue, ready to push the sun down into the next part of the world. Her legs ached from standing around for so long at her job, so she simply sat in the living room, reading a favorite book. She had already finished doing what usually needed to be done-dust the furniture in case any dust accumulated through the night, straighten out her sheets, run some dirty laundry through the washer and then the dryer-so she found time to relax. But she couldn't truly relax. Every few seconds, she would eye the front door, then her cell phone, and then the clock. Sometimes back to back.

One thing-or one person-was missing. Where was Mikleo? As far as Muse knew, he was usually always home before this time, and it was getting dark. She gave Zenrus permission to take the boys to the museum, and suspected that they would come home a little bit later than usual. After all, don't most trips usually take up a good portion of the day? But it was almost seven thirty. She checked her cell phone. No texts from Mikleo. No ring, no buzz, no ping, no vibration, nothing. Usually Mikleo always texted her in case something came up. She had sent a few of her own in his direction, and there was no response.

Did something happen? Was something wrong? Muse tried to keep herself composed, telling herself that it wouldn't do any good to worry or make up terrible scenarios in her head. Whatever was going on, it wasn't her business to hurry her son or pry into his affairs. Still, the worry still gnawed at her, like a leech trying to suck the blood out of its host, or an annoying itch that wouldn't go away no matter how hard she scratched. No matter how many pages of her book she read, her thoughts still gravitated towards Mikleo. She hoped, hoped, hoped that nothing bad happened, that he was alright.

Her prayers were answered. The door flung open, and in came Mikleo. Kicking her worry to the curb, Muse stood up, throwing herself onto her surprised son.

"Mikleo! You're home! Thank goodness!" Muse cried, overcome with relief, like she hadn't seen her son for centuries. "I've been texting you but you never responded! I was getting worried!"

Mikleo stroke his mother's back reassuringly. A twinge of guilt shot through him. "Sorry, Mom. A lot's happened," The last thing he wanted to do was make his mother worry.

"It's so late now!" Muse exclaimed, pointing to the clock. She didn't sound angry. Mikleo could tell she was far too relieved to even think of being angry at the moment. Still, he did steal a glance at the clock, and was taken aback. Wow, it really was late.

"Again, sorry. I lost track of time," Mikleo began. "It's been a pretty hectic day," He sat down on the couch, gesturing for her to come sit. "You're not gonna believe what happened."

Putting her worries aside, Muse sat down and listened to Mikleo's tale. She was happy that they had fun at the museum. But when Mikleo finished telling her about the incident at the diner, her lavender eyes suddenly shrunk in alarm, and a hand flew to her chest.

"My goodness! He actually hit Sorey? In front of all those people?" Muse couldn't help but blink, repeating the tale in her mind so it would make some sense. It didn't. The injustice of it all was like a blow to the face. "And after Sorey offered to help him out afterward!"

Mikleo gave a grim nod. "The whole thing was awful. This guy wouldn't stop ranting and raving about how his day was ruined and how Gramps didn't raise him right or discipline him correctly, how Sorey was an adult and should have known better to throw a tantrum, all that bullcrap," Just playing the incident back in his mind made Mikleo shake his head in disbelief. To think that people could just up and make a mountain out of a molehill.

"Tell me Zenrus put him in his place," Muse commented.

"You bet he did."

Her son then explained how Sorey spent a long time crying in the bathroom after that. Mikleo didn't want to leave him alone, so he offered to stay with him until he calmed down. But on the way back, Sorey had an anxiety attack and ran to the ruins. Again, Mikleo stayed with him, not wanting to leave him alone until he had calmed down. Mikleo didn't want to mention Sorey telling him about his fears regarding Gramps. He wasn't sure if Sorey wanted that information to be disclosed yet, so he decided to leave that part out for now.

"I see. So that's what happened," Muse's voice lowered to a calmer tone. "You were trying to comfort Sorey."

"Yeah. I'm sorry I didn't respond to your texts."

Muse flashed a smile. "I know. I understand. I've done that a bunch of times myself, and I'm glad you told me what happened. Although…" Her sweet expression suddenly turned into that of a stern parent, complete with slitted eyes and her lips sticking outward. "I'll be going into Mom Mode right now," She wagged her index finger at her son with melodramatic flourish. "You really had me worried when you didn't respond! I thought something bad had happened to you!"

Truth be told, Muse wasn't angry. She couldn't bring herself to be mad at her dear son, especially now that she knew what happened. Mikleo himself knew that she was only worried, and did have every right to be. He did forget to let her know in advance that he would be late due to extenuating circumstances, so he simply sat there and endured his mother's well-intentioned but arguably dramatic lecture. Muse was at least happy that it wasn't because of anything bad, and knew that Mikleo wasn't ignoring her texts on purpose. He just got caught up in the moment. That happens. She knew that, too. She lamented having doubted her son. Still, she couldn't help but go into Mom Mode and scold him for worrying her.

By the time her Mom Mode lecture ended, both of them gravitated to thinking about Sorey. "I do hope he's alright," Muse wondered aloud, closing her book dejectedly. "He must have been terrified, being humiliated like that in a public place."

Mikleo couldn't agree more. He had seen Sorey's sorrow firsthand and up close. "The whole thing's really got him rattled."

Rattled didn't seem like a good enough word for it, and Mikleo prided himself on being eloquent and well-spoken. His teachers and neighbors often praised him for his vast vocabulary compared to his peers. Whatever word he could come up with, he couldn't deny that Sorey didn't deserve any of it. Mikleo's mind drifted back to times when he would see Muse-his own mother-in similar states of despair, if not worse. In fact, his earliest memory was when he was about six years old. He stood at the entrance to his mother's room, completely confused and perplexed as he watched his mother sit on the floor, bawling and rocking herself back and forth. She was completely inconsolable. His six-year-old self had no idea what was going on. Little Mikleo tried to go inside, but a gentle hand rested on his shoulder.

"You'd best leave your mother be, Mikleo. She needs her space."

"But she's crying! Can't I give her a hug?"

"Not right now, sweetheart. Let's give her time to calm herself down. Then you can give her a hug. But ask her first. She doesn't like being touched without permission."

It was a sight Mikleo had never forgotten.

He was suddenly pulled out of his thoughts by a soft hand caressing his cheek. It was Muse, stroking it with her dainty fingers, her smile bright like starlight. "I'm proud of you, you know that?"

"For what?"

"For helping Sorey in his time of need. And for being a good friend to him," She quickly added.

Mikleo crossed his arms. "But you're not proud of me not texting you back right away. What's next? You gonna put a tracking device on me or something?"

It was Muse's turn to cross her arms, giving her son a pouty look. "Well, someone's sassy today! Sassleo!"

"You sound like Edna."

"Indeed I do!"

Both mother and son shared a laugh at that, hoping tomorrow would be a better day.

The remnants of the bad day ended, and a new, albeit uncertain morning greeted Elysia, with a helping of thick clouds covering the entire sky. Sorey didn't mind. The clouds made everything around him less bright, and his eyes didn't hurt just from looking at everything. It was definitely great walking weather, and the weather report didn't mention anything about there being rain, so Sorey found it a good day to just stroll through the neighborhood.

But what was there to do? All morning, he agonized over how to talk to Zenrus about his own fears. He even practiced in front of the mirror. But nothing sounded good enough. What could he say? How could he say it in a way that wouldn't let Zenrus figure everything out or take it the wrong way? Not even stealing glances at the trees or the goats on Kyme's farm gave him any ideas. No matter how much he practiced, it always seemed like the minute he opened his mouth, something, something was always bound to go wrong somehow. It had happened far too much for Sorey to think any different.

Still, what Mikleo told him still lingered in his mind. It had been years since that incident with the memorial service. Maybe Zenrus has changed? Maybe he really does feel bad about it and wants to atone? Sorey wanted to believe Mikleo so badly. His chest tightened just thinking about their discussion from last night. Rose's advice echoed in his mind as well. He was letting himself be crippled by fear. Sorey shook his head as he turned around, walking back to the mansion. Both she and Mikleo were right. He needed to rip off this band-aid and pull the fear out, or else it would swallow him alive.

When Sorey ambled into the dining room, Zenrus was at the table, sipping some tea and reading the newspaper. "Goodness. Just what is this world coming to?" Zenrus commented, reading an article about a series of murders at a nightclub. "Don't people have better things to do than go around killing innocent people willy-nilly? I certainly don't see what they hope to gain from doing that."

That sounded like a decent conversation starter. Sorey jumped in.

"Yeah. It's sickening."

Zenrus looked up, taking in his grandson's presence. "Oh. You're back from your walk already."

"Yeah, I am."

Sorey stood still as Zenrus sipped his tea. 'Go on! Talk to him! He's your grandfather' His mind yelled. 'Don't hold back any longer! You're gonna have to connect with him sometime! Fight through the fear and just talk to him!' Sorey took in a sharp breath, mentally preparing himself for what was to come. He balled his fists and sat down at the chair next to him.

"Where's Lailah?"

"She's in her room."

"I see...can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Zenrus put his tea cup down on the plate that it came with. "You know you can talk to me about anything you want, right?"

'No. I can't,' Bitter thoughts suddenly surged into his system. 'You say that, but I know what you're really thinking and feeling. Stop dancing around the issue and just say it!' Sorey tried to push those thoughts down into the abyss, but they still lingered. Nevertheless, he steeled himself and continued on.

"This may sound weird, but…" Sorey paused, his throat suddenly becoming dry. But he pushed it out. "...Why exactly...are you doing all this for me?"

Perplexed, Zenrus tilted his head to one side. "What do you mean?"

"Y'know...helping me apply for college. Standing up to that Landon guy on my behalf. Getting me that bookcase. Taking me in," Sorey winced. No amount of practicing could ever make anything that Sorey said seem inoffensive to everyone. "It's not that I'm ungrateful or anything. Really, I am. But...you see, it's just...you barely know me, and...I mean, your life was perfectly fine and then, boom! The agency just drops me on your lap without warning. I'll bet you didn't really think you'd be spending your golden years taking care of me, someone who should be able to take care of themselves by now-"

Slowly, Zenrus raised his hand, gently silencing the boy. "Are you saying I should be mad that you're a part of my life?"

A heavy silence zipped Sorey's lips shut. What could he say to that?

"I don't regret taking you in, my boy," Zenrus told him. "You're my grandson. It's a grandparent's job to take care of their grandchildren and make sure they're happy, and you being here makes me happy. That's all there is to it."

Normally, one would be happy to hear such praise. But Sorey couldn't help but think it was hollow. Was it yet another trick? A facade? An elaborate prank? Sorey couldn't bring himself to smile. He couldn't smile. His chest tightened, like his heart was being tied into a really tight knot, preventing him from breathing. No. He couldn't believe what he heard. He yearned to believe it, but he couldn't.

"Oh! That reminds me," Zenrus stood up from his chair. "Do you mind coming with me for a moment?"

"Uhh...sure."

Zenrus slowly escorted Sorey to his study. Yet again, Sorey was awestruck by how neat and organized all the books were. Zenrus went to a small shelf-one he could easily reach, pulled out a book, flipped through some pages, and showed it to Sorey. The boy leaned closer to get a better look. It showed the castle ruins at the top of the hill.

The very same castle where he and Mikleo meet on a daily basis.

"What's this about?" Sorey asked, his body turning rigid. Did he...find out?

"You're not in any trouble, Sorey," Zenrus reassured. "I've run into some of the neighbors, and they tell me you and Mikleo go to the castle almost every day. May I ask if this is true?"

Sorey was trapped. Trapped by the knowledge that Zenrus knew the truth. Obviously, he couldn't lie his way out of it, as Sorey was never good at lying. Certainly the neighbors had no reason to lie to Zenrus, since they trusted him so much. His fear morphed into shame. Frowning, Sorey looked down at his boots dejectedly. He knew he wasn't being punished, nor was he in trouble, but he still couldn't help but feel as though he was.

"...Yes. It's true," Sorey confessed, lowering his voice to a soft but still audible whisper. "Mikleo and I meet there most of the time. We're not doing anything bad! Honest, we're not! We've been careful!"

Zenrus smiled again, pushing his wrinkles upward. "Don't fret, Sorey. I just said you're not in any trouble, didn't I? I don't mind you and Mikleo hanging out," Said grin disappeared just as quickly. "But there is something I want to tell you."

"Yes."

"It's a very old structure, and some of the foundation has grown very weak," Zenrus flipped through some more pages. "I absolutely forbid you boys to go into this room in particular," He pointed to a page that showed one room of the castle.

The picture showed a decrepit room, with empty walls, cobwebs, and a practically non-existent floor, save for one whole strip of it that looked like a tiny bridge. A very unstable bridge, at that. A round window at the very end of said room provided what little light the room had. Sorey could make out what was beneath the strip, which was the pile of debris he had hid behind the night before. So that room was right above him.

"It's on the second floor, and it used to be a playroom for children," Zenrus explained, his voice turning hard. Sorey winced, wondering if he was angry again. "As you can see, most of the floor is gone, and I don't want either you or Mikleo walking on that strip of flooring. For all we know, it could crumble and take you along with it," He closed the book and put it back on the shelf. "I'll never forgive myself if anything were to happen to you or Mikleo. Just stay out of that room. Understand?"

"Yes, sir!"

Although Zenrus's study was Sorey's favorite place in the house, aside from his own room, Sorey found himself short on breath. The minute he replied, Sorey walked out of the room, leaving the old man alone in a silent crowd full of books.

The next few days were calm and uneventful. Nothing of note happened much in Elysia, but a blanket of thick, grey clouds made a great effort to keep the sun from shining its light onto the tiny town. Nobody really minded, per se, but some people preferred sunny days over dreary days. Thankfully, Sorey liked both, as both had their merits. It certainly didn't stop him from going to the castle once more, and with Mikleo, to boot.

"Sorey! Sorey!" Mikleo shouted, waving at his friend as he bounded up the hill, running like he saw the best ruins in the world. Sorey couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. What's gotten Mikleo so happy today? But his heart warmed at the sight of an absolutely radiant smile. The biggest he had ever seen on Mikleo's pretty face.

"Wow. You're uncharacteristically happy today," Sorey pointed out, scratching one of his cheeks with one finger.

"What?" Taking notice of the well-intentioned but sly remark, Mikleo put on his smug grin and crossed his arms. "Are you saying I'm not allowed to be happy?"

"No! Of course not!" Sorey protested, though he knew Mikleo was only teasing. "I think you have a beautiful smile."

Immediately, Mikleo's smirk returned to being the radiant smile from before. He seemed genuinely touched by the compliment. "Thanks. Anyway, Mom and I were on a walk yesterday, and you'll never believe what we saw!" Mikleo rummaged through his green backpack and pulled out his phone. It was already on, so Mikleo just used his finger to look through his photo gallery. Sorey leaned closer to get a better look as Mikleo pulled a photo up for them to see.

The picture showed a female deer looking right in the phone camera's direction, ears high and alert, round, black eyes staring, and tail standing upward. Sorey let out an audible gasp, marveling at the deer's beauty. The long neck, her graceful, spindly legs, the fluffy white patch of fur underneath her tail, glossy, orange brown fur, her elegant pose...it was all a lovely sight for sore eyes.

"Wow! You actually saw a deer?" Sorey exclaimed.

"Yeah. It was pretty cool," Mikleo beamed. "I still have no idea how I managed to get a good picture of it that close before."

"Were there any other ones?"

"No. Just that one. We do get a lot of deer here in Elysia. They always pop up in groups during the summer, and some of the neighbors like to feed them."

"That's a really good picture, too."

"Thanks. I've taken some other pictures. Want to see?"

"Sure!"

The two boys went inside the castle, sitting at the bottom of the stairs once more. Mikleo scrolled through some pictures, the more recent of which were just photos of trees, flowers, and food. One picture did catch Sorey's eye. A photo of Mikleo and Muse sitting in a restaurant, both holding cones filled with swirly, soft serve ice cream. Mikleo's cone had chocolate, while Muse's helping was a pale green color.

"Hey! You two look cute together like that!" Sorey pointed to the picture.

"Yeah," Mikleo held the phone closer to Sorey, allowing him to see it better. "This was when I stopped at the ice cream shop where my mom works. We decided to treat ourselves, and my dad took the picture."

Where Muse works? Sorey's mouth fell open in confusion. "Wait, what? Your mom works at an ice cream shop? I had no idea!"

"She actually has two jobs," Mikleo clarified. "She works part-time at the ice cream shop in the morning, and part-time at a housing complex for autistic people in the evening."

"Wow...awesome!" Sorey beamed. He had no idea Muse worked two jobs. Then again, he never asked about it. Still, he couldn't help but wonder how she was able to work two different jobs and raise a child for eighteen years without being crushed under the weight of it all. Sorey was sure there was no way he himself could pull that off. It was hard enough just dealing with his whole world falling apart around and underneath him.

"Mom was teaching me how to make soft-serve ice cream that day," Mikleo explained further. "I managed to get it right for once, and we treated ourselves to celebrate."

That made Sorey's ears perk up. "Wait, you make ice cream? All by yourself?"

Mikleo flashed a proud grin. "Yep. I've gotten pretty good at it, too."

"Cool! If you can believe it, vanilla soft serve is the only kind of ice cream I eat!" Sorey exclaimed, spreading his arms outward.

"Really? How come?"

"I dunno. All other kinds of ice cream just don't really do it for me, y'know? I guess I just like plain vanilla soft serve the best."

In a way, Mikleo could understand why Sorey liked it. Perhaps it was how soft and wet it was, or that it melted easily in his mouth. Mikleo's grin softened into a more relaxed smile as he went back to the photo gallery and swiped his finger across his phone, pulling up another picture. Sorey looked down and saw that Mikleo stopped at one picture in particular. An older man with long hair hand his hands on Mikleo's sides, turning him into a giggly mess. Sorey could tell from the way Mikleo's eyes were squeezed shut and his wide open mouth that he must have been laughing up a storm. The older man's hair was the exact same color as Mikleo's: silvery white or bluish aquamarine, tipped frosty blue.

Who was this man? If Sorey didn't know any better, he would have been quick to assume that the man was a woman with his long hair and youthful features. But he could see some subtle wrinkles on the man's face, traces of a shaven beard and mustache, and thin but subtly muscled arms through his long sleeves. Putting the pieces together, Sorey finally asked the question that lingered in his head.

"...Is that your dad?"

Mikleo nodded. "Yes. Luzrov Rulay. That's where my second middle name comes from," His voice lowered into a soft, wistful lilt, with a touch of nostalgia and sadness peppering it. "I wish you could have met him. He was one of the nicest people in the world. He was always patient with me and Mom, especially with her. He went out of his way to help her navigate the world, become more independent, and even helped her raise me, even when things got difficult. He was the one who helped me learn about her autism and how she sees the world and why she likes or hates certain things."

"I can imagine," Sorey's exposed arm rubbed against Mikleo's, feeling the fine hairs mingle with his own. A subtle, ticklish itch ran up Sorey's arm, but he didn't mind. Mikleo's arm was warm and soft, probably from the summer heat and the sun shining down on them just a few minutes before. Sorey's entire being was warm, namely because Mikleo exalted his father with every word he said.

"I'll bet he would have really liked you, Sorey," Mikleo suddenly closed the photo gallery and put his phone away. At first, Sorey cocked his head, confused at the sudden movement. But then he saw that Mikleo's smile turned into a frown.

Oh, that's right. Luzrov died last year. Sorey silently scolded himself for forgetting. It was easy for him to see and hear the pain in Mikleo's entire being. The way his voice turned small and weak, the way he hung his head, staring off into a space Sorey couldn't see, the very subtle, dejected quiver in his voice, like he was about to cry. On impulse, Sorey wrapped an arm around Mikleo and held him close. Mikleo didn't protest, allowing himself to melt into Sorey's chest, reveling in his comforting embrace.

"You can cry if you want," Sorey told him in a low, reassuring whisper. "I'm sure your dad wants you to be happy...but I don't think he'd want you to bottle everything up."

A soft hand stroke Sorey's back in return. A shiver jolted through his spine, and the muscles in his back suddenly let out a spasm, making Sorey feel like a jack-in-a-box ready to pop right out. It didn't necessarily help that his shorts suddenly became tight.

Wait...what?

"Thanks," Mikleo told him, gently breaking free from Sorey's embrace.

"You're welcome. I don't like seeing you sad. But it's not good to hide your pain," Sorey answered. "Oh!" Suddenly, he stood up. "Sorry if this is a sudden change in topic, but have you ever gone up to the third floor yet?"

Mikleo stood right alongside him, following suit. "I have once. But I didn't really have a chance to really get a good look at it."

Sorey held a hand out. "Wanna do it right now?"

The aquamarine haired boy answered without much thinking. "Alright. But we should be careful. That part of the castle is in pretty rough condition. We don't want to fall and get hurt."

With that, the two boys ascended the stairs, farther than they've ever gone so far. Sorey made sure to keep Mikleo's concern in the forefront of his mind. He had valid concerns. As amazing as the castle ruins were, their dilapidated state definitely came with potential danger and safety hazards, like weak foundation or rocks that could easily fall right on top of them. Soon, Mikleo and Sorey found themselves in one part of the castle, with a huge chunk of the wall having been ripped right off, just like other rooms like it. There were some holes in the ground, both big and small, that led to the room down below.

But their attention was elsewhere. They stood at the precipice of the remaining flooring, their eyes seeing a vast landscape opening up before them, down below. Elysia spread out before them, as far as their shining eyes could see. Kyme's farm, Zenrus's mansion, Mikleo's house, Mason's house, the Hyland goats romping about, they could even see some of Ladylake's buildings further down. Awestruck, the boys could only stare as the world below them suddenly became both smaller and wider at the same time, like they were right on top of it.

"Wow! You can practically see all of Elysia from here!" Sorey's wide grin was radiant with mirth, just like when he first discovered the castle.

Mikleo suddenly rummaged through his pocket. "I am so taking a picture of this and showing it to Mom! And Alisha if I ever see her around," He announced, managing to pull his phone right out of his pocket.

...Only for it to suddenly slip out of his hands like a slippery fish, falling right through a nearby hole.

"Oh no!" Mikleo knelt down to try and grab it. Gravity was not on his side, as the phone fell too quickly for him to catch it. "My phone!"

A subtle thud echoed underneath the hole. Sorey could hear it. "Did it fall on something?" Sorey kneeled all the way down to peer through the hole. It was a little bit dark, but he could make out the phone's shape on the floor below it. "Oh good! I can see it!"

"You can?"

"Yeah!" Sorey stood back on his feet, his body preparing itself for Operation: Get Mikleo's Phone Back. "Let's go down and get it!"

Without waiting for Mikleo to reply, Sorey dashed for the stairs, running right down. "Sorey! Wait! We need to find where that room is first!" Mikleo gave chase as Sorey descended to the bottom of the stairs. Good thing he stopped himself before going further, taking time to examine his surroundings. The stairs were circular in nature, and Sorey could see holes on the ceiling on his left. He looked to his left, noticing an area that he didn't recognize.

"It's probably down this way," Sorey theorized, pointing to the wing in question. The two boys walked down into the decrepit hall, hoping it'd lead them to where Mikleo's phone was.

It didn't take long for them to find it. But they both immediately stopped in their tracks. Mikleo's phone was in the middle of the room.

Or, to be more specific, on a long strip of flooring. A strip of stone surrounded by nothing else.

The rest of the floor had crumbled away long ago.

"Oh no…" Sorey muttered in disbelief. Right as he stared at that little stone bridge standing before him, Zenrus's warning echoed.

"I absolutely forbid you boys to go into this room in particular. As you can see, most of the floor is gone, and I don't want either you or Mikleo walking on that strip of flooring. For all we know, it could crumble and take you along with it."

"Crap," Mikleo cursed himself for having been so careless with his phone. "Gramps said we should never try to go across that...bridge no matter what."

Bulky fingers curled into a shaking fist. Sorey fixated his gaze on Mikleo's phone, alone on the remnants of a floor that could easily crumble. "I know...I know…"

Sorey found himself at an impasse. If he were to try to walk over to Mikleo's phone, he'd be breaking Zenrus's rule not to go across it at all. He always prided himself on following the rules-at least, any rules that were practical and made sense, and he wanted to respect Zenrus's wishes. Should he try to do so, he was sure Zenrus would yell and scold him. Sorey squeezed his eyes shut. Distant yelling from the past echoed in the back of his mind. No way was he going to put himself through that.

On the other hand...Mikleo's phone was there. It had pictures of his family and friends. Important pictures. Some of which had his father in them. His late father, whom Mikleo can never see again. Obviously, cell phones like that were expensive, both to buy and to replace. Mikleo's phone was important to him. Sorey knew it from the way he looked at the pictures he took on it so fondly. He couldn't just leave it there. Sorey looked down at the stone bridge-like structure before him. It seemed wide enough to be able to support him. If Sorey was careful, he could just walk over there, grab it, and come right back. Easy as that.

Zenrus didn't have to know. What Zenrus didn't know wouldn't hurt him, right?

"Let's go," Mikleo warned, putting a hand on Sorey's arm. "It's not worth the trouble. I'll tell Mom about this and she can probably ask Kyme or Shiron to-"

"Mikleo," Sorey stared right at Mikleo's hair with a firm, determined look on his face. "I'll go and get it for you."

Mikleo's grip on Sorey's arm tightened. "No. Sorey, don't. It's too dangerous. It could crumble and you'd fall, crack your skull, and bleed to death!" He cautioned, his voice rising, with concern and worry taking over.

"I know. Believe me, I know, but…" Not once did Sorey take his eyes off Mikleo's phone. "That phone's important to you, isn't it? You have pictures of your dad on there, right?"

"Yeah, but it's not worth it. Phones can be replaced. People can't."

"I'll be careful, I promise!" Sorey exclaimed. "I'll only walk over there, get it, and come right back! I'll be as careful as I can!"

"Absolutely not!" A fuming blush spread across Mikleo's cheeks, his face burning hot with anger and worry. "Do you really think I'm gonna let you get yourself killed over a phone?! Like hell I am!" He shouted.

Sorey winced. He had never heard Mikleo raise his voice like that. It stabbed into his ears, cutting right into his skull like a sword slicing through a monster. Even registering his bared teeth, scrunched up face, and angry eyes was too much for him. Looking at him was nigh impossible now. Sorey made no attempt to hide the pain displayed on his own visage. It was enough to stun Mikleo silent, whipping the anger right out of his being.

"I...I'm sorry, Sorey," Mikleo's whole being softened. Even his voice sounded defeated. "I shouldn't have yelled. I don't want you getting hurt. Please."

"I'll be careful. I promise," Sorey gently pushed Mikleo's hand off. Then an idea hatched into his head. "Oh! I have an idea!" He pulled his own phone out of his pocket, handing it to Mikleo. "If something happens, you can use my phone to call someone. Okay?"

Before Mikleo could respond, as he was having a hard time registering this whole mess, Sorey was already on all fours, ready to crawl across the stone. The fight drained right out of Mikleo's body as Sorey, the determined little soul he was, slowly began to drag his form across the bridge.

Carefully...carefully...Sorey repeated the word as if it were a mantra, a ritual chant as though he hoped it would bless him with good luck. The stone rubbed against his knees and hands, full of dust, gravel, and dirt that had gone untouched for years. Sorey winced every time he made contact with the untidy substances. But he pushed those feelings aside, keeping his eyes locked on Mikleo's phone. Gradually, it came closer and closer…

Until finally, Sorey was right in front of it. He reached out to grab it, taking it into his hand.

"Yay!" Sorey got on his knees and turned around, waving to Mikleo with a bright grin. "Look, Mikleo! I got it!"

So choked up with surprise was Mikleo that he could only smile back at Sorey, his vocal chords having been shut down by the sheer worry that overpowered him. Mission successful, Sorey stood up and made his way back to his friend.

Or would have.

Mikleo's purple eyes suddenly shrunk.

"Sorey!"

"Wha-?"

Sorey felt the ground suddenly disappear from underneath him. A big chunk of the stone bridge gave out, sliding out from Sorey's feet. With a frantic yelp, Sorey used his free hand to try and grasp the part of the bridge that wasn't bordering on collapsing. But he was too far away. Gravity took over, pulling a terror-stricken Sorey right down. Mikleo looked down at the remains of the bridge, screaming as Sorey descended to the floor below.

"NO!"

"Mi-!" He couldn't shout back, as he was falling too fast. How far did he fall? How long? Sorey didn't know. All he knew was that everything was spinning, falling, breaking apart around him. Nothing made sense. Wind pushed through Sorey's being as Mikleo went further and further away.

Was this...how he was going to die?

'I'm sorry, Zenrus. I'm sorry, Mikleo. I should have listened to you…' Sorey breathed out a silent apology, inaudible as his vocal chords had shut down from the shock of trying to process what was happening. Gasping them into the air, his hands shaking, so utterly sorry for putting his life on the line and then dying...

Then, the falling stopped. Sorey howled as his back, arms, and legs met a stone floor, with his left arm hitting a particularly large chunk of debris. Sorey heard and felt a sharp crack in said arm. It was like he was being ripped to shreds. His ears rang, his back throbbed, his arm was vibrating, and Sorey could only squeeze his eyes shut, afraid of what he would see. But he was going to end up more worried about what he'd be feeling. Before Sorey could pluck the courage to even try to open his eyes, something heavy and hard fell right on top of his right leg, trapping it.

Ripping right through his skin.

Loud, guttural screams finally escaped his throat. It wasn't like anything Sorey had screamed before. It was surprisingly inhuman, like he was crying from the very depths of his soul. He couldn't remember crying this hard before, and he had cried a lot throughout his existence, moreso after his mother died. Even the sound of it was enough to make his eardrums throb harder than before. A stone hard body ripped through his leg, burning it and everything else from the inside out. No amount of trying to drum his legs or flail his limbs was enough to make whatever it was that pinned him down to move. Move, move, move! The world was suddenly becoming hard to see.

"Sorey! Are you okay?!"

All Mikleo got in response was an agonizing cry filled with such pain that it broke his entire being in pieces. Not just his heart.

"That's a yes. Hang on! I'll be down in a second! Just stay put!"

That proved to be easy enough, as Sorey couldn't move. Warm tears suddenly bubbled to the surface, the floodgates having been flung wide open with the force of a tidal wave. Sorey couldn't see or hear anything but his own tears and screaming. Everything hurt so bad. His leg, his arm, his ears, his eyes, his entire body...the minutes felt like an eternity, and Sorey wanted whatever was digging through his leg to get the heck out of there. Sorey screamed and screamed, unable to take the pain. His brain didn't know which way was up or down.

It hurt so much…

'Mom...where are you? Someone...someone help me...I don't want to die!' Here he was, all alone with only his thoughts, regrets, and guilt. He wanted someone to make this all go away. Not even clutching to Mikleo's phone was enough for him to take his mind off the pain. Nothing could compare to how awful this was.

Then, by some miracle, a warm, soft, familiar hand intertwined with his own.

"Sorey! I'm here!" Mikleo's blessed voice rescued Sorey from his sorrowful thoughts. It wasn't enough to make the pain in his body go away. Hot tears still gushed down his face. But goodness, there he was. Sorey was no longer alone.

Through his own crying, Sorey was somehow able to make out Mikleo's voice.

"Come on! Come on! Pick up the phone, Mom!"

"Mom! Sorey's hurt! We're in the ruins! Get someone here! I don't care who it is! Just hurry!"

"I need an ambulance! My friend's pinned under a column and I can't get him out! He's bleeding really bad!"

"Nnnngh! Ugh! Dammit! It won't budge!"

"Sorey. Sorey. It's okay. I'm here. I'm here. Shhhhh. You're gonna be okay."

Alternating between loud and overcome with worry, to soft, tender whispers that soothed Sorey's ringing ears, Mikleo's voice fluctuated with every minute that passed. Sorey didn't dare open his eyes. The pain was too much to even try to open them, even as waterfalls of tears came flooding right out. Soon, Sorey noticed another sensation pressing down on him. A soft body covering his face. A hand running through his hair, fingernails very lightly skittering across his scalp. Finally, Sorey opened his eyes. He could make out Mikleo's shirt hovering over him.

"Mik...leo…" Broken, choked whimpers escaped Sorey's dry throat. "...Don't leave...please stay…" He croaked in a sad, piteous voice that surprised even Sorey.

"I won't. I won't. You're not alone. I'm here...Shhhh," Mikleo whispered and crooned, running his hand through Sorey's hair, keeping his torso over him as though he were protecting him from any debris that might fall. The tears refused to stop. At this point, Sorey didn't want them to stop. The only thing keeping him from losing himself was hearing Mikleo's sweet voice.

Then, a song.

When the darkness of night fades away

And the dawn's morning light illuminates the world,

New hope and new light will bring forth a new day,

Blue skies and birds sing as the day unfurls.

Newborn seraphim descend from heaven,

Walking among us, the human folk,

Watching the world, unseen by human eyes

Unknown to all, unheard, even as they spoke

Protecting the land from dragons and monsters.

What are seraphs? You may ask.

The answer is a tale

Told many ways by many folk

Through forest, glen, and dale.

Some say they are humans turned angels,

Blessed by Maotelus, given new life after death.

Disbelievers say they are illusions, fabrications,

Thought up by the sick and weak.

Believers say they are man's protectors,

Providers of the salvation that we seek.

Invisible friends, always by our side,

Watching us with love and kindness,

Guiding us home with gratitude and pride.

So in your hour of fear

When you feel most alone,

Know that the seraphim walk alongside you,

Welcome them into your heart, dear friend.

Sorey had no idea Mikleo could sing. Granted, he had heard many singers in his life, some of which he had grown to love. Mikleo's voice wasn't technically on that level, his voice cracked a few times, and sometimes he was a little off-tune. No, Sorey couldn't picture Mikleo becoming a singer. But Sorey could feel the love and compassion in every note he sang. The pain in his leg and arm still killed him, but gradually, Sorey's passionate cries died down into pitiful whimpers.

"Mikleo! Sorey!" Muse's voice cut through the tender melody.

"Boys! Oh God!" Was that...Kyme?

"We're over here!" Mikleo called, moving away from Sorey.

Finally, Sorey opened his eyes fully. Hovering over him were Muse, Kyme, Mason, Lailah, and...Zenrus?!

Oh no…

Everything Sorey feared hit him with the force of a freight train. Zenrus was here. That would mean...he knows. He knows Sorey broke his rule of not going into that room for any reason. Fear completely overtook him. All of Mikleo's efforts to comfort him and placate him were nullified.

OhnononononononononoZenrusknowsIbrokehisruleheprobablyhatesmesomuchnowhe'ssuretofinallysayhe'shadenoughofmeanddisownmeandthrowmetothestreetsohGodnononononoMaoteluswhatamIgonnadoI'mhurtandinsomuchpainIcan'teventalkcrapIcan'ttalkatallwhat'shappeningtomewhycan'tthisallgoawayMikleoMuseKymesomeonepleasehelpmeIcan't-

Before long, Sorey lost himself. Everything suddenly turned black.

All he could hear was Mikleo's voice. Even as he yelled, it was still far away.

"SOREY!"