Mira's P.O.V.
The quiet hum of Sebastian's computer had long since faded into my subconscious. The lack of sound was crippling. As I lay there, my eyes were fixed on the bottom of the door. The barrier keeping me here. Throughout the night I'd tried to escape. Pleading with no response, trying to send an SOS on the computer to realise he'd switched off the internet, throwing my entire body weight at the door only to find it had been barricaded, screaming at the top of my lungs… Until finally, I'd collapsed into the heap I now found myself in, drained of stamina and hope. He'd left me alone to ruminate all night. All night I was alone, racked with anxiety, confused, and without means to escape. I felt like I was losing my mind, the walls creeping toward me, boxing me in. All I could do was ask myself, "Why?" and I had no answer at all. None of this made any sense. How long had it been? I had no idea. And I didn't care. Time dragged on and distorted, collapsing into one unimaginably long stretch of suffering. I no longer had the will to move, to shout, to cry - hopelessness ate me up from the inside because I knew I could do nothing about the hell I'd wound up in.
That was, until I heard that sound.
The rough sound of furniture being scraped across a floor was audible from the other side of the locked door, shattering the silence. The barricade was being torn down. Did Robin come home? Was I saved? The door unlocked with a click and began to open as I mustered the energy to sit up and greet my saviour, heart fit to burst, only to see that black fringe again and instantly recoil into myself. Was he here to torment me? Was he going to force me to run away to the city, kicking and screaming? I held my breath, body shaking as his footsteps entered the room. Every muscle tensed, my eyes squeezed shut, bracing for whatever was to come.
But nothing came.
Cautiously, fearfully, I lowered my arms from my face and opened my eyes to see… Sebastian.
Well, of course, I knew it was him. But this time, it was really him. It wasn't the empty faced villain who remorselessly trapped me in his room last night. I could see it… The soft light in his eyes. The guilt on his stiffened face as his trembling lips parted. "I… I can't…" his breathing was ragged, like he was being held at gunpoint. Almost as if the tables had turned. "I can't do this… Not to you."
What? Was this some kind of a trick? He shouts me down, throws me in here, locks me up and then comes back all teary-eyed? My mind was spinning. I couldn't make sense of it. Guarded, I stumbled to my feet with the aid of the RPG table next to me, and carefully appraised Sebastian's infantile expression before speaking. "What… Why would you do this to me?" my voice was croaky, stuck in my throat like a ball of toffee but much less sweet. I doubt I could have mustered much more.
"...To get you away from him for good."
"Away from…?" Oh shit. Shane. I was supposed to be meeting him…! What time is it?! Oh no… No no no… A sudden burst of adrenalin rushed through me and I found myself facing off against Sebastian, my blood boiling. "What did you do to him?!"
"I-it wasn't my idea!" he shook his hands in the air in front of him like a child accused of passing notes. "H-Haley said I could convince you… to love me…" his voice trailed off into silence. "To… to run away with me for good."
His vague answers snapped against my temper and I balled his shirt up in my fist. "What did you do to him, Sebastian?!"
"W-we…" Obviously taken aback by my sudden outburst, his eyes filled with tears. "L-Leah called his ex into town… To convince him to leave… A-and you and me were gonna get out of here together and… I…"
"Wh-what…?!" This was all a ruse… To separate us…?! What kind of a sick joke is this?!
"Mira, you… You have to understand! I did this because I love-"
Not another word. I shoved Sebastian away from me with all my might, sending him crashing into the desk behind him, and ran up the stairs without sparing a second thought. Breath barely made it through my closed up throat but my feet weren't about to stop for anything. I burst through the front door into the blinding light of the sun, the chilly air freeing my joints from stagnation. So it's morning already… Maybe he's still waiting. Maybe I can still make it. Filled with a new spark of determination, I sprinted down the mountain as fast as my legs would carry me. Maybe I didn't need to run anymore, but I had to be sure. Nothing would get between us - I was about to make sure of that. The wind whizzing past my ears, my hair fluttering in the wind - racing against time had never felt so liberating. Questions about what the hell was going on could wait until I'd seen Shane. I was going to make it. I had to. Without even slowing down I turned the corner past the community centre and the fountain was in view. I'd made it. I collapsed, skidding on my knees across the gravel, halting just in front of the fountain. "I… I'm here now… I'm here…" Yes… I was there. I raised my head, my eyes flitting back and forth with growing desperation. "I… I'm h-here…" My eyes teared up as I clambered to my feet from my now bloodied, gravel encrusted knees. I was alone. No one was around. I kept looking around, holding onto a shard of hope that I'd see that tatty blue hoodie from the corner of my eye, but it never happened. I was too late.
I stumbled down to the town square. I had to find him. I had to. Just then, I doubled over in pain. Right in that moment, it all hit me. The hunger from not having eaten all night. The fatigue from staying awake. The exhaustion from running in this condition and the pain in my knees. I could barely think straight. I was panicking but I had to focus. Where would he be? Did they find him? Did he… Did he leave?
No, no, NO! I refuse to believe he'd just take off! I had to ride on a bet. The bet that he was still around. That he wouldn't just leave me. But where would he have gone after I didn't show? Marnie's ranch? Joja? What was he thinking right now? I didn't have time for this… Something creeped up from my stomach, invading my mind, telling me that Shane was in danger. Wherever he was, I had to find him. That decision of where to look first was crucial - I had to get it right. That was the feeling I had. But where…? I clutched onto a nearby lamp post, biting down on my bottom lip to endure the pain. Just then, as I raised my head, the sun glinted off of a small metallic object in the distance. A beacon of light that drew me in. I limped toward it, and before long I realised it was an empty beer can. A shock ran up my spine - this was a sign. Shane. It had to be. I was stupid… I know. Anyone could have thrown that can there but I had to believe in it. In that moment I had to cling to that hope. If I didn't… I don't think I would have made it off of that square. I would've just collapsed. Approaching the can, I saw another. And another. As if they'd been thrown in a breadcrumb trail. As if he'd thrown them whilst walking… Towards…
Before my brain even registered, my feet were carrying me toward the beach. It felt surreal. I was freezing cold. Absolutely starving. In a world of physical and mental pain, exhausted beyond belief. But none of that mattered. All of it evacuated my mind the moment I stepped onto the sand and saw that blue hoodie at the end of the pier. My mind was radio silence. I didn't need to think. I just needed to run. One final push.
Shane's P.O.V.
The choppy azure waves seemed to watch me as I knocked back the rest of my last can, my scuffed shoes digging into the sand. Everything was fuzzy now… But maybe that just made what I was about to do easier. She's really gone… Huh… She must have been. She never showed up. And then Amelie… Not to mention the fact that I almost definitely had no job to go back to after punching Morris in his stupid mouth. I couldn't even glean pleasure from recalling the look on his face. No… I couldn't glean pleasure from anything. For the longest time I'd been a husk with nothing inside of me but lies. And what kept me going? That ridiculous thing called hope. Or maybe even love. But Rain was gone. Maybe she took the last piece of me with her… Or maybe there was never a piece there to start with. Maybe life had already worn it away. I'd never be okay - that much was clear to me now. And I'd never do anything but burden others. Marnie. Jas. They didn't deserve to have a waste of space like me around, ruining their lives. And Rain… Mirabelle. She made the right choice to turn away from me.
My eyes ached, yet I had no energy to even blink. Every inhale, every exhale - it hurt. Just continuing to exist was painful. I knew it was time. I threw the metal can behind me onto the sand and stood up, walking over to a nearby rock pool. A large rock sat at one of its edges, and I lifted it, straining slightly under its weight. It's heavy… Perfect. This means there's no going back. My mind went silent as I walked down the creaky wooden pier. The sound of the wood crackling under my feet barely even reached my ears - everything was dulled. The heaviness of the rock, the creaking, the throbbing pain in my head. Even my vision. It was all like cotton wool. Time slowed as my feet approached the end of the pier. The waves shifted in slow motion, beckoning me coldly. I stood, watching as they danced.
And here I am. On the edge of this pier, ready to do what should have been done long ago. One last breath. This is long overdue. One final push. I raise the stone to my chest, hugging it tightly, and with one step I plunge into the depths. Darkness closes in on me from all sides as I feel myself sinking deeper. So this is how it is to drown. Silent, creeping, freezing cold. Yet tranquil. A peace I never felt in life. Something only the embrace of death can give me. What a meaningless existence it was. That's it… I'm running out of air. I can feel my body starting to struggle - it's a desperation rising like bubbles in my stomach all the way up to my throat. It's okay. Fight it.
Are those… Footsteps? On the pier? My hearing is so dampened now I can hardly tell. Maybe I'm hallucinating. A sudden whoosh of water as something plunges in beside me, tugging at my arms, trying with futility to pull me toward the surface. Its beautiful yet pained green eyes come into view… An angel? It's okay… Let me go. Just let me go. My arms drop - the rugged stone has done its job, tumbling downwards. I close my eyes and my consciousness fades into the abyss.