"Why?" Luca asked him, brushing himself off when they got back on land. "Just why. Why are you doing this?"

"I don't know!" Alberto said. Nobody was more confused than him. "I don't even… I would never do something like that." He studied his hands, as if they didn't belong to him. "I don't even remember doing it… I don't remember anything."

Luca gave his friend a skeptical look.

"But apparently I did do it, because you're telling me I did it."

"… Are you serious right now?"

"Yes!"

"Well… stop it. Because this could be dangerous. Nobody's even looking for you anymore." Alberto was hurt, but he had to continue; Luca picked up a wanted poster he found discarded on the beach. "They're calling you Charybdis. And they're offering a 500 lira reward to anyone who can kill you."

"Kill me? Charybdis?" Alberto began to panic. "I don't want to be Charybdis… what's Charybdis?"

Luca explained all that Mr. Filellene had taught him. Worse still, Charybdis lived in the same sea they did.

"No!" Alberto backed away from the shore. "I can't! I'm not anything like her!"

"They're sending missiles," Luca informed him nonetheless. "Torpedos. They said they'd bomb the whole Mediterranean if they had to."

Alberto's eyebrows knit together. He wasn't even listening to what Luca was saying anymore. "What's that?" he said.

"What's what?"

"Like down the side of your back."

"… Nothing."

Alberto grabbed his arm - Luca cried out in spite of himself - and extended it, revealing a deep slash snaking down the side of his friend's back. "What is this?" he said again, this time afraid of the answer.

Luca pulled his arm back, hugging his hands. "It was from a boat," he finally said. "From one of your whirlpools… " He'd been bleeding the whole time, but the fact that it hadn't attracted any sharks was concerning. "I'm okay, though. I promise.

Alberto raised a hand to his head, mesmerized by the scar. It was hideous. It looked like someone had taken a knife and plunged it into his friend's skin over and over and over again. Like they were purposely trying to kill him. "Luca… I'm so sorry."

Luca could tell from the tears in his eyes that he was sincere. Of course he was, because Alberto would never hurt him. He would never hurt anyone… he was good.

"I… I can't be here." Alberto turned to go, but Luca caught him.

"Where are you going?"

"Away from you."

"Alberto - "

"Please," he begged in a voice just above a whisper. "Please just let me go."

And we said goodbye for the last time

Gently hugged him

And kissed him goodbye

. . .