As soon as Max got off the stage and out of sight, he ran. He ran and ran and ran until he couldn't anymore. He panted, out of breath, and leaned against a weird tree.
He fell against the trunk and curled in on himself, a sneer resting on the 10 year old's lips. God that was so stupid, he should never have done that. Unease and regret settled cold in his chest and he started to breath harder.
No, no, no, no, no, no! Goddammit he really was pathetic wasn't he. A choked laugh escaped his lips. He squeezed his hands and almost jumped in surprise. The violin and bow was still in his hand. He smiled bitterly, ironic. He placed them beside him on the soft, wet grass and sighed, looking up.
Panic settled harsh in his chest as his breathing became more forced, and to his horror, he felt the burning ache as the tears started to form. No! He's not supposed to cry! Frustration curled up in Max's throat, making breathing become even more difficult. He couldn't breath, he couldn't move, he couldn't think or hear or even see.
The world became blurred as he choked out a sob. God why was he crying over this! Was he really so weak to be reduced to a slobbering mess because of one performance! He shouldn't be crying. He shouldn't be crying over this!
He didn't cry when they first hit him. He didn't cry when they left him here! He didn't cry when he finally realized they don't care! He doesn't cry when he's left alone again, and again, and again! SO WHY IS HE CRYING OVER THIS!
Max was openly sobbing now, overcome with bottled up emotions. Regret, loneliness, abandonment, fear, anger, all of these he locked away were finally being poured out. He pulled his knees up to his chest and rested his head, his arms coming up to wrap around himself. Bitter, fat tears trailed down his face. Choked, broken pleas falling from his mouth.
The sobs faded until they were nothing but wet hiccups as Max tried to pull himself together. His hands shaking as he pulled in on himself even more, seeming to disappear as he pulled up the hood. He rocked himself back and forth and squeezed his eyes shut, pulling at his sleeves until his knuckles were white.
He started humming. The broken voice rang in the air, so different to the music he was performing just minutes before.
Camp Campbell sat silent and unmoving, faces filled with awe and shock at what they had witnessed.
"Wha- he can play violin?"
Neil stood by the stage dumbly. He just couldn't believe that Max had done that. He thought that after what happened earlier, Max would be even more reluctant to do, well, anything for the talent show, much less actually play.
Nikki ran up to him panting, "Neil! Neil!" He turned, shock still clear on his face, "Y-yeah, sorry what do you need." Nikki stared at him anxiously, "We need to find Max! I just saw him run off into the woods! For such a short guy he can really run."
"Wait, the woods!" Neil and Nikki both glanced at the mass of trees where who knows what types of animals lay The night made the woods deep and dark as shadows clung to the trees. The duo shivered. Neil nodded, "O-okay let's go! He could be in trouble!"
The two campers ran into the woods while Gwen and David tried to calm down the others who were in disbelief.
"-are puppets held together with string, there's a beautiful sadness that runs through him, as he asked me to pray to a god, he doesn't believe in."
Haunting and lilting came the voice from the woods. Choked and soft but still able to be heard.
"Time and again boys are raised to be men. Impatient they start, fearful they end. And here was a man mourning tomorrow, he drank and finally drowned in his sorrow." The voice faltered to take a deep, rattling breath before continuing on in its sorrowful melody. "Oh he, could not break surface tension, he looked in the wrong place for redemption. Oh don't, look at me with those eyes. I tried to unheave the ties, turn back the time that drew him."
Nikki and Neil finally came to the spot where the song was being sung. They knew that voice, but they weren't fully prepared for the sight that greeted them.
Max leaned against the tree with tears flowing freely down his face as he sang, choking on the words. The violin lay beside him, forgotten, as he rubbed his arms as a form of self comfort.
"He couldn't be s-saved a sadness runs through him. A sadness runs through, a sadness runs through him."
The duo was shocked, they had never heard him sing before, much less like this. It was heartbreaking. Max swallowed and started a new song.
"Weep for yourself, my man, you'll never be what is in your heart. W-weep little lion man, you're not as b-brave as you were at the start. Rate yourself and rake y-yourself, take all the courage you have left."
He sobbed harder and squeezed his eyes shut, "Wasted on fixing all the problems you made in your own head. But it was not your f-fault but mine. And it was your heart on the line. I really f-fucked it up this time. D-didn't I, my dear. Didn't I, my dear"
"Tremble for yourself, my man, you know that you have s-seen this all before. Tremble l-little lion man, you'll never settle any of your sc-scores. Your grace is wasted in your face, your boldness stands in among the wreck. Now learn from your m-mother or spend your days biting your own neck."
Max's voice drifted off, emotion engulfing him like a wave held back by the tide. "I-it was n-not your fault but mine. And it was y-your heart on the line. I r-really fucked it up this t-time. Di-didn't I, my dear. Didn't I-" He broke down.
Hey everyone! Sorry for the short ass chapter. Also major thanks to those of you who offered songs for this chapter! It was super helpful even though I only used one. Maybe in later chapters(maybe 2) you'll see the songs you reviewed to me! Thanks to WanderingSoul7152 for the song 'A Sadness Runs Through Him" by Strumbrellas!