Chaos Theory
Svenne14
Summary:
Meet the Diaz brothers. Nine-year-old Sean. Outcast and glad for it. His sixteen-year-old brother Daniel. A binge-drinking, confident, and likable party animal that loves being the center of attention. However, underneath the surface lies something neither of them can escape.
Chaos is a ladder...
Notes:
In this fic, Sean's nine and Daniel's sixteen.
Chapter 1: Misunderstood Genius
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Early summer, 2016 – Seattle…
Sean Diaz entered his home with a sigh of relief. Finally, no more school for two months. Also, he's home alone. This is his favorite time. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does happen, Sean savors every moment of it. His father's at the garage, working his ass off to provide for his family. Daniel, his older brother, must be at a friend's house since it's so silent here. As for Sean's mother?
"No." The boy shook his head, attempting to avoid thinking about it. It's been over a year now since she left them, just like that. The wound still felt fresh, and open, and refused to heal. Little Sean buries the memories of his mother, deep in the catacombs of his mind, in hopes it won't bother him again. Then, he proceeds with his plans.
Sean only had a few friends at school. Whenever left alone, his friends would get into all sorts of trouble. Lyla stole alcohol from her mother while Ellery tried and failed to bypass the parental controls on the family computer. Sean, however, was a very different child compared to his friends.
He didn't feel the urge to check out any R-rated websites or steal alcohol from his father. Most likely, Daniel did that enough for both of them. Still, Sean always felt like an outcast. Sean preferred to remain indoors whenever his friends wanted him to come outside and play. The few times Sean went out in public, he almost felt suffocated by the crowd. The impressions surrounding him caused his brain to overheat. In short, Sean Eduardo Diaz was a loner, however, he did not complain. The fewer people bothering him, the more time he could spend perfecting his craft.
His craft.
The one thing Sean loves to do, above all else on the planet?
Drawing.
He can't remember when he began drawing, but he's been doing it for as long as he can remember. For someone so young, Sean has a remarkable skill that he constantly seeks to improve. He spends almost every moment available in his room, drawing to improve his skills. That's why he loves being alone in the house. His father won't talk to him about how hard things have been over the last year while pretending to know what Sean's going through.
Daniel won't be- well… Daniel.
No loud music, blasting through the speakers across the hall. No older brother sneaked through the door at 4:00 A.M proceeding to pass out on the couch in the living room. Today, Sean can feel at peace. Hopefully, nobody's coming home for a few hours at least. Sean sits down at the desk in his room with a blank paper in front of him. He studies his room, looking for something inspiring to draw.
Most children his age have posters on their walls. Maybe a poster of a hockey player, a singer, or from a movie they like. Sean, however, has his walls covered in drawings. He only saves the really special ones that mean something to him on a personal level. A portrait of Lyla, his best friend. That strange drawing of a hooded figure he kinda liked. Then there's the wolf in camouflage gear. Sean didn't really like it, but Daniel said it looked cool which meant that it's a keeper.
Today, however, Sean could not find any inspiration. His mind felt blank, and the boy sighed. It rarely happened, but when it did, it drove him mad. How could he get stuck on something so easy as this? Sean, however, didn't have time to process that thought as the front door opened with a bang. Sean didn't need to ask who just entered the house.
Daniel. His sixteen-year-old brother, ran through the house as if his life depended on it, barely noticing his little brother's concern.
"… What? Of course, I'll be there, man, you worry too much." Daniel rambles into his phone while simultaneously searching for something in his room.
"Yeah, yeah, I know what happened last time, but I had a few too many, ok?" Daniel tries to sweet-talk his friend on the phone. Sean's not surprised when it seems to be working.
"Sure, man, I'll bring some stuff over. No problem, I'll be right over, bye. Hi, Sean, bye, Sean." And just like that, Sean's alone again. In less than a minute, his brother had entered like a tornado, grabbed a few hidden bottles, and finished by saying hi and goodbye to Sean in the same sentence. Yet again, Sean sighs.
Make no mistake about it, Sean loves his older brother. Their relationship, however, leaves a lot to be desired if Sean's to be asked. Sean looks at Daniel in two separate ways.
The first way is also perhaps the better one. He sees Daniel for what he, in many ways is. A young child, in desperate need of attention, willing to do anything for his five minutes in the spotlight. He sees how their mother's absence affected Daniel, who tends to drink copious amounts of alcohol whenever he's given the chance. Sean sees a person that he never wants to become.
At a first glance that is…
Sean also views his brother in a second way. A very different way. He looks at Daniel, and he sees someone who matters. A kid with tons of friends, charisma beyond this world, and an ego to match. Sean feels the confidence his brother projects whenever he speaks and knows that his brother's very popular among the crowds. Sean Diaz sees the person he wants to be, however, he knows that's impossible. He knows, and it sometimes makes him jealous.
"I don't get you, Daniel," Sean mumbles as he stood up from his desk, and moved towards his brother's room. He wanted to understand him. How could they be so different?
He enters his brother's room, immediately taking note of the change in… well, everything. Sean's room is tidy since he can't stand having things all over the floor, not to mention his desk. Daniel's room, however, is the exact opposite. The floor's covered with dirty clothes, it reeks of sweat masked with cheap aftershave, and there are poorly hidden bottles everywhere. Some bottles were empty, others not. Not knowing why, Sean decides to pick one bottle up.
"Absinthe?" The nine-year-old reads the lettering out loud. He's never heard of it before in his life. Sean opens it, curious as to how it smells. The poison-green liquid did look a lot more inviting compared to their father's cheap beer.
"Huh, weird…" It actually smells good. Like, really good. Sean briefly entertained the idea. He could take a sip, and Daniel wouldn't even notice. Nobody would because nobody expects him to do it.
"No." The boy shook his head before putting the bottle back where it belongs. He turns his attention to Daniel's computer instead. Meanwhile, Sean tries to avoid thinking about Daniel's reaction if he knew what Sean just did. Even more so, he avoids thinking about his own reaction if someone went through all his stuff. He's always been a sensitive child, however, few seemed to understand it.
"Enter password:" Some people would swear if they saw what Sean just did. Sean Diaz, however, loves a challenge. At least if it involves thinking. He tries out a few alternatives.
"Daniel" Nope.
"DanielDiaz" Nope.
"DanielFelipeDiaz" Once again, nope.
"EstebanDiaz" No, but it was worth a shot.
"SeanDiaz" Damn.
"DiazSean" Oh, well then…
"You're too easy, bro." Sean couldn't help but smile at the situation. Granted, Daniel's not famous for being the brightest person in the room, but damn. He creates a password, solely to keep his little brother away from his computer, and he does it by having the name of the said little brother as his password. Still, it made Sean feel warm on the inside. At least Daniel cared about him in his own way.
Sean didn't know what to look for on the computer. He did, however, know what not to look for. Daniel sure did have a lot of folders labeled "school stuff". Sean's smart enough to know that he ain't going in there.
"Wait…" Something caught his attention. A folder labeled "Journal GTFO!" was last changed roughly a year ago. Right after their mother left. Not knowing what to expect, Sean opens it.
"Holy shit…" Inside are hundreds of text files, each of them, written by Daniel as a way to express his deepest emotions.
Until that one day.
The last entry's dated about a year ago, shortly after their mother left. Sean knows he's crossing a line here, but he just can't stop himself from opening the last file. He holds his breath while waiting for it to load.
"You destroyed me, mom. I was happy. Was happy. Not anymore. You destroyed me. I'm scared, and I've got no one to talk to. Help me, mom. Please, " At the end, it almost seemed as if Daniel had slammed his fist on the keyboard in either anger or despair.
"Oh, Daniel…" Sean whispered sadly. He let himself take everything in for a moment before erasing his trail and shutting down the computer. Nobody will ever know he was here… again.
Back in his room, Sean lies on his bed, deep in thought. He didn't know Daniel lived with so much pain, not to mention fear. That journal he just read. It's Daniel, literally begging for help. Help that never came. Now it made sense to Sean. His brother's constant partying, never being home, always active with one thing or the other. Daniel tries to cope with his pain by escaping it. Be it through self-medicating himself until he passes out, or staying out all night vandalizing property, Daniel Diaz wants to escape.
But he shouldn't have to. Neither of them should. Sean may not be a great talker like his brother. He is, however, excellent at understanding and listening. Perhaps he could get his brother to open up somehow. Then, maybe they can help each other?
"You don't have to be afraid anymore, Daniel. You have me. You'll always have me." Sean whimpers as he bursts into tears. Today had reminded him of the pain that he too carries within. A pain that Sean has never processed. A deep pain, kept inside a bottle, never to be opened again.
No different from him, Daniel's experiencing the same pain as well. Hell, it's probably even worse for him considering the booze. Daniel stopped writing his journal the very second he needed it the most. Sean hasn't seen nor heard him cry over their mother a single time since she left. He can't even imagine the amount of pain his older brother keeps hidden.
No, he couldn't. Little Sean could barely understand his own emotions at times. Perhaps, him not understanding Daniel, was for the best. Besides, had little Sean known the truth, he never would have believed it.
Two brothers, living a seemingly normal life.
However…
One brother is far from normal.
Credit: JohnsonTerminal
Notes:
So, here's the first chapter of my newest fic. And yes, I've decided to try the age-swapping thing. Let's hope I don't accidentally confuse their names since it kinda becomes a habit after a while.
This is just the introduction chapter, so not that much has happened yet. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the reader to the characters and the setting. Most of all, however, it introduces the reader to nine-year-old Sean.
With Sean's character in the game being a shy introvert with poor self-esteem, I decided to crank it up a notch (or twenty). This version of Sean walks on the border between Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Asperger's, like myself. Also, that makes it very easy to write his character traits. All I have to do is remember.
In case you're wondering about the hint at the end: It's not meant to be obvious. That's all I will say for now. The next chapter will be from Daniel's POV, and since we got a taste of what teenage Daniel is like, I can tell you that it's going to be a wild ride. This story has barely begun.
The beautiful art at the end is only one of many works by "Johnson Blazkowicz". If you haven't seen it yet, do so now!
Twitter: JohnsonTerminal
Instagram: johnson_blazkowicz
I give him full credit for the art. If by any means the creator wants the artwork removed, just contact me.
Please leave a comment below.
Enjoy!
K. S.
You're different.
You see things.
You hear things.
That others do not.
You do things.
Great things.
Deemed impossible for a boy.
You excel at it.
On the inside.
You're not only special.
You're unique.
Some call you a genius.
On the outside.
Things are different.
You are not special.
Nor are you unique.
Crowds exhaust you.
The outside scares you.
You rarely speak.
Few know your secrets.
You.
However.
Know all of theirs.
Who are you?
You're Sean Eduardo Diaz.
Chapter 2: Painfully Popular
Summary:
The sixteen-year-old Daniel Diaz seems to be having the time of his life. However, underneath the surface, that might not be the case...
Notes:
This chapter introduces Daniel.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
An early Tuesday morning…
Daniel Diaz began to regain consciousness as he felt something burn through his eyelids. The sun blinded him as it reached the very center of the clear blue sky. He didn't know what the time was, but he knew it wasn't morning. The teenager sighed heavily as he dragged a palm across his face.
"Fucking hell, dude." It happened again, didn't it? The throbbing pain in his skull suggests that it did. He promised himself that he would stop drinking so much. Then again, promises don't really mean much to him these days. Daniel carefully looks around the room, attempting to decipher what went down last night. He looks to his right, noticing multiple people passed out across the room. Only now did Daniel realize that he wasn't at home, but at the house of whatever friend he visited last night. Daniel looks over to his left, and-
"Oh… hi there." Next to him, lies a girl with her arms wrapped around him. He's never seen her before in his life, nor can he remember a thing of what he did last night. However, Daniel's been in this situation enough times to put the pieces together. Daniel carefully removed the unknown girl's arms to get up and get dressed. In times like these, Daniel tends to have some sense of decency. The girl has no clothes on, so he covers her with a blanket. It's better than nothing. Either way, she'll forgive him. They all forgive him, just like they all come running back to him.
Still, he can't help but fear the day when someone would drop the bomb that is Daniel Diaz Jr on his doorstep. The mere thought of it makes his blood run cold with fear.
"Well, thank you for a good time… whoever you are," Daniel says arrogantly to nobody in particular. He picks up his phone, hoping to find out what he did last night.
"14 new messages." It seems like his father's pissed again. Daniel didn't give a shit. He deleted the messages without reading them as usual. Then, he moved on to check his gallery.
"Fuck…" Another night of greatness, followed by another day of hungover remorse. The latter part, however, is unknown to all but himself. Once again, Daniel had the time of his life while making a complete ass of himself in public. To no surprise whatsoever, a few clips and images have once more surfaced online, causing his Facebook feed to overflow. Daniel reads a few of the comments as a way to boost his ego a bit. One picture, however, caught his attention.
The picture itself is nothing spectacular. Just two drunken teenagers, each with an arm around the other's shoulder while holding a beer. The caption reads "me and my new bessst fryiend! I love yu bret wooo!"
"Shit." He didn't even know why he was at the same party as Brett Foster in the first place. They both hated each other. Well, it could have been worse. He didn't wake up in the back of a police car this time, so that's got to count for something. Deciding that he's had enough, Daniel moves towards the front door. The house still felt like that of a stranger. He's never been here before. Still, that didn't stop him from making a pit stop at the fridge to steal some orange juice for the trip. That, and it helps against the hangover as well.
Eventually, Daniel found his way home. He knew that his father was probably worried, but not worried enough to yell at him. Therefore, Daniel didn't bother with a silent entrance. He barges through the door in a state of not drunk anymore, but not hungover yet. It's hot, the world's spinning, he feels sick, and his legs won't hold him upright. Daniel had barely entered his room before his legs failed him, and he passed out on the floor after another night of doing what he does best.
The next day…
Daniel woke up in the exact same spot. One thing had changed though. Someone had put a blanket over him. The now, sober Daniel, turns to his side with a wholesome smile on his face. Most people would assume that the blanket was his father's work. Daniel, however, thought differently. His father's too busy, too tired, and too broken to care for him. His little brother Sean, however, is not.
In times like these, Daniel felt like he didn't deserve to have a brother like Sean. Also, Sean didn't deserve a brother like him, but for different reasons. Then again, that's just the thing with the two of them, isn't it? They're so different from everyone else, and each other.
It pains Daniel to think back to the day he learned that he was going to become a big brother. Some of his friends had younger siblings, and most of them were jealous of the baby that stole the spotlight from them. But Daniel wasn't like them. To him, a little brother was the best thing in the world. He swore that he would protect his brother against the evils of this world, with his life if need be. Also, he swore to teach his brother all the things that a younger brother shouldn't know.
They would get into trouble together, run together, and fall together as one and the same. His brother would look up to him, expect him to know the answer to all the world's questions, and Daniel would always be there for him. He had it all pictured in his mind, and things got off to a good start. The first time he held the unnamed Diaz in his arms, Daniel felt so proud that he cried. He felt like their little family was now complete.
Daniel didn't mind the crying, nor did he mind having to babysit his little brother. In time, however, things began to change. Neither brother realized it at the time though. The five-year-old Sean had just discovered his interest in drawing. Since that day, he became more withdrawn, reserved, and silent. Meanwhile, Daniel was about to enter his teenage years. A major part of him worried about Sean, and it did so constantly. Unfortunately, more powerful entities began to make themselves known in his mind.
Daniel began to feel restless. Like an itch in his legs that always appeared when he was inactive. An itch, telling him to get out, to do things, many things, all at once, and to do it now. That's how it began for him. He couldn't tell when things went out of control, but the alcohol likely contributed to that part. At thirteen years of age, Daniel had gone through a massive change in personality over the course of a year. Gone was the hyperactive, but innocent little boy who swore to protect his little brother.
Taking his place, was a teenager. A teenager that projects enormous confidence, radiates charisma and seems to be loved by everyone and everything. Most likely, that's not too far from the truth. Daniel could use his appearance to get girls to do what he wanted them to, and his words to get guys to either do or not do something. The young man had the gift of words, nobody would argue that. He's probably one of if not the most popular kid in his school, he's invited to every party, and everybody loves him. But he couldn't care less. Sure, he always had a great time when partying. But what's the point in having hundreds of people love you when the most important person hates you?
That's the question he still can't find an answer to. Neither does he know how to make this person love him again. It just hurts too much. This person is the reason his life has become a bottomless pit of despair. It's the reason he struggles every day to keep up his happy facade at school and home. This person is at fault for their mother abandoning them. The person Daniel Diaz hates more than anyone else in this world.
Is himself.
Up until a year ago, Daniel still had confidence in himself. He believed in himself, and everything that came out of his mouth. Nowadays, it's more like fifty-fifty. The day his mother left, Daniel felt like she took a part of him with her. She had always been his biggest supporter and acted like his anchor when he had a difficult time. Back then, Daniel would've said that he had a lot of tough times.
So many emotions, neither of which he could understand. Daniel always had a difficult time expressing how he felt. The one exception to that rule was his mother.
Was his mother…
Then his mother left. Daniel felt empty, alone, and scared. Something had created a void in his chest, and this void threatened to swallow him entirely if he didn't fill it with something. The problem was, he didn't know what. In a way, he envied his younger brother. Sean had a gift, that much was obvious. The boy was born to be an artist. Everything he draws just makes Daniel's jaw drop to the floor. Metaphorically speaking, of course. Little Sean had once shown him a drawing of a wolf.
The wolf was dressed in camouflage gear, an army cap, and an eye patch. It didn't necessarily stand out any more than Sean's other works, however, Daniel tried. He tried so hard to tell him. But he didn't know what to say. He didn't know, and he hates himself for it. Well, he knew what to say, but he just couldn't get the words out. All that confidence, all that charisma, shattered unknowingly by his nine-year-old brother. Daniel didn't understand his own brain sometimes.
After a few drinks, he had no difficulties when talking to people. He would walk up to random girls, asking them if they wanted to have a "good time" or if he was really hammered "wanna sleep with a Mexican?". Sometimes he got bitch-slapped into oblivion, but it's their loss he would say. Most of the time, however, it worked. He doesn't understand. Why can he pull stunts like that and get away with it, but not even tell his little brother six short words?
"I'm so proud of you, Sean." He cannot take any form of credit for Sean's accomplishments, but make no mistake about it, Daniel's very proud of his brother. Proud, and concerned. But he doesn't know how to talk to him. And even if he did, that's all Daniel is. Talk. He talks a big game whenever his friends speculate about their respective futures. But what kind of future does he really have?
Exactly.
That's why he's so proud of Sean. So young, but already a clear path in life. Ten years from now, Sean would be the newest artist on the rise. Daniel, on the other hand, would most likely do the same thing in the future that he does now. The same thing he's been doing non-stop for over a year, in a desperate attempt to fill that empty void in his chest.
Daniel would be seen as a popular guy, but in reality, he would be a loser. That's what he is. A drunken loser, a failure as a son, and a terrible brother. It is his future and his present.
Which brings him to today…
His back hurts from spending the entire night on the floor again. At least Sean made sure he didn't freeze. Daniel wondered where Sean got it from. Their father never cared much these days, and Daniel's never been there for him. As for their mother, well, fuck her. But somehow, Sean came out on the other side a better person. Daniel wished he could say the same thing about himself.
Sometimes, Daniel wondered if he was adopted. He never had that feeling of blending in anywhere. Not even with his family. Hell, the little brother he swore to protect against all the world's evils, they have jack-shit in common. Then again, he brought it upon himself. The last year, Daniel's purposely avoided his home whenever possible. It just reminded him of what he didn't have.
The void in his chest, Daniel desperately tried to fill with alcohol, alcohol, and more alcohol. To an extent, it works for him. A part of him enjoys the partying, the loud music, and all the people. After all, he is a people person. The aftermath, however, makes him question his purpose as a human being. It makes him question if someone really would miss him if he were to just disappear.
But today's no different than the other days. Daniel does what he always does when the negativity begins to spiral out of control.
"Ok, dude. Just- get your shit together, fuck." Daniel's voice almost broke as he put a palm on his forehead. The teenager's close to tears as he closed his eyes while dragging his palm down across his face. Then, after a few seconds, Daniel opened his eyes.
"Showtime." The look on his face, his posture, along with his entire demeanor changed. Daniel Diaz has unprocessed trauma that he cannot work through on his own, just like his little brother. However, unlike Sean who found some comfort in drawing, Daniel resorted to the one thing he knew how to do.
Lying.
Every day is the same. Daniel hides his pain behind a carefully constructed mask. A mask that adapts to his surroundings. Alone with his friends, Daniel's loud, confident, and seemingly unbeatable anywhere he goes. At home with his family while being neither drunk nor hungover, Daniel acts differently.
He spends as little time at home as possible. Usually, he's either on his way to a party or preparing for one. He's almost given up on his little brother, due to neither of them being especially good at communicating. Daniel, however, fails to see the things that Sean sees, and places all the blame on himself. He avoids his younger brother most of the time because he's ashamed. Daniel remembers the promise he made, and how he broke it long ago.
He's always in a hurry, with a thousand different things entering through one ear, only to leave through the other every second. Today, however, Daniel's not in a hurry. At the moment, he's got no plans, and he just woke up. Maybe he should just relax. Sean's probably stuck in his room anyway.
Daniel felt his stomach growl as he decided that today would be a lazy day. With that in mind, he finally got to his feet and left his room. He enters the kitchen and grabs a slice of pizza from the fridge. Daniel looks at the couch with a smile on his face. He's all alone. He could just binge-watch some bad sitcom all day without giving a shit. Just like the rest of his life. Daniel's just about to sit down on the seemingly empty couch when-
"Morning, Daniel." Sean's so small he didn't see him from behind the couch. But he's there. The little brother he so desperately wants to bond with is right in front of him, and it terrifies him. Daniel could walk away. It's the easiest option. Then again, Daniel doesn't want to walk away. He wants to be a big brother to Sean.
"Hi- err- morning, Sean." Real smooth, Daniel, you dumbass. Feeling more awkward than ever, Daniel sat down on the couch. Sean sits on the right end, Daniel on the left, and an empty place is between them.
"Are you ok, Daniel? I heard you." Fuck. Sean shouldn't have to deal with his drunken brother's mishaps.
"I- uhm… yeah, Sean. I'm good." Daniel lies to his younger brother. Nothing's fine with him, it never was. The brothers sit in awkward silence for a while.
"Daniel?" Usually, Daniel's terrible at reading the room. This time, however, he could hear on Sean's voice that something was wrong. He's worried, perhaps even afraid. Daniel swears if someone hurt his little brother-
"Yeah, Sean?" Daniel looks into those eyes. Nine times out of ten, Sean would have the exact same expression on his face. A general look that told nothing of what the boy felt at the moment. This, however, was not one of those times. Daniel saw great concern in his little brother.
"I wish you didn't drink so much, Daniel," Sean said sadly, and the words struck Daniel like lightning. He's proud of Sean, and Sean's worried about him. Daniel can't blame him. Sean always cared about those around him. So calm, caring, and gentle in spirit. A shame it goes to waste on worrying about Daniel the fuckup.
He's not sure why, but a part of Daniel wanted to open up. He felt like he wanted to tell Sean the truth, perhaps the boy could handle it, perhaps not. Either way, it's too late for Daniel. He's already lost. Daniel gathered what little genuine courage he had for what he wanted to do next.
"Don't worry about me, Sean. I'll be fine." It's ok, he can do this. Sean's his brother. It's just a hug. Still, Daniel felt his arms trembling in fear of the unknown.
"But- I don't like it when you-" Sean stumbled upon his words, unable to finish his sentence. To Daniel, it didn't matter. He loves Sean, and Sean loves him. However, to Daniel, Sean had crossed a line. Daniel might carry guilt for being a burden to Sean, but he carries an even greater burden himself. A burden that tends to get him in trouble.
A very short fuse.
"Come on, Sean, don't be such a fucking baby! I told you, I'm fine! What part of that don't you fucking understand, huh?!" The room went deadly silent while Daniel's anger evaporated in favor of shame. Sean's breathing increased rapidly, and the boy's eyes turned red with tears. His little brother stared at him. For what felt like an eternity, Sean stared at his older brother.
Daniel knew why. He hoped that Daniel would apologize to him. Say that he's sorry, and tell him how much he loves him. But Daniel couldn't do it. He doesn't know how. Without saying a word, Daniel leaves his little brother to his fate. Once again, he failed that boy.
Daniel returns to his room, and the tears burn his face like acid. The silent whimper from the room across the hall feels like a dagger in his heart. He can't do this.
Life.
He can't be in this fucking home any longer. Too much pain, too many memories, and too many lies. There used to be a time when Daniel thought about running away, however, he's accepted the fact that it's not a possibility for him. He can talk, sure, but he's just too dumb to do it. He would only get himself killed. Instead, Daniel grieves the pain of today in the same way he always does.
He opens his wardrobe and picks up the first bottle he sees. Daniel didn't care what the contents were as long as it did the trick. He drinks half the bottle in one go, and then, he sends a text.
"Hey, Chris. Party tonight?" Daniel sighed as the void in his chest only grew in size. He's a useless son and a horrible brother. The only thing he's good at is getting wasted.
In opposite rooms, lay two brothers. Both of them are sad, depressed, and, in their own way, broken. However, they were also unique.
Neither of them, however, was normal.
Credit: JohnsonTerminal
Notes:
This chapter was a bit hit and miss. It ended up feeling a bit "all over the place" but it definitely serves its purpose. The reader is introduced to Daniel, and how his day might look. He pretends to be happy when in reality, he's so miserable that he tries to ease the pain with alcohol.
Also, he cares about Sean. More than anything. His problem, however, is that he just can't put it into words. Emotions aren't his thing. He can talk, as long as it's not about himself and/or about emotions. It's worth mentioning that I'm using sooo much of myself in both brothers personalities in this fic. Both good and bad. I got tears in my eyes a few times.
We can see how Daniel desperately tries to bond with Sean, but can't figure out how to communicate with him since their so very different. This is mainly shown in their conversation on the couch. Daniel messes up, but he can't even apologize to Sean. Meanwhile, Sean has his fair share of difficulties as well which will make themselves known as we proceed further with the story.
With the main cast now introduced, we will now build towards the cataclysm. What will it be? Well, in due time, you shall find out. In the meantime, check out the artwork I added to chapter one...
The beautiful art at the end is only one of many works by "Johnson Blazkowicz". If you haven't seen it yet, do so now!
Twitter: JohnsonTerminal
Instagram: johnson_blazkowicz
I give him full credit for the art. If by any means the creator wants the artwork removed, just contact me.
Please leave a comment below.
Enjoy!
K. S.
You are popular.
You have friends.
The center of attention.
You crave it.
Nobody knows why.
Except you.
You do not want them to know.
What you really are.
They see you as happy.
Enjoying life to the fullest.
The truth.
Could not be further away.
You are miserable.
You are alone.
You do not give a shit.
For you have no reason to.
Who are you?
You're the person you hate the most.
Your own worst enemy.
You're Daniel Felipe Diaz.
Chapter 3: The Plan
Summary:
An unexpected event makes Sean realize that he might have to do something drastic to help his brother...
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Later that night…
Sean cursed himself. No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't do it. His brother needed help, and Sean wanted to be there for him. That's who he is. A helping hand, someone who cares for those around him. Daniel's face displayed a cheerful teenager, free from any emotional problems, and Sean had to give him credit.
Sometimes, he wished he could just put a mask on, and pretend like he was one of them. One of the normal kids. It seems to work for Daniel. Everyone loves his older brother. Sean, however, sees through his brother's mask now, more than ever before. The pain he desperately tries to hide underneath it, no matter the cost. Sean tried, he really did.
All he managed to do, was hurt them both even more.
"What am I going to do, Daniel?" Sean whispered while staring at the ceiling above him. It's late, and he can't sleep. Today's events have only increased his anxiety. Sean picks up the phone at his bedside table to look at the time.
3:00 A.M.
Sean sighed as he gave up on sleeping for the night. He randomly starts scrolling through his Facebook feed, noticing several pictures of his brother.
"You look so happy, Daniel. But you're not…" He mumbled as he kept browsing through his brother's drunken mishaps of the night. Sean watches a video published by Daniel. Flickering lights, loud music, and a cheering crowd. Just thinking about it makes Sean feel dizzy. He cannot for his life understand how anybody would consider that kind of environment as fun.
BANG!
"Ah!" Poor Sean's scared senseless by a sound. Something's outside. A monster. It tried to break his window. The small child pulls the covers over himself, hoping it will protect him from any harm.
"Ey… Schhean? Shuuawnie?" Goddammit, really? Sean felt a strange combination of relief, anger, and pity wash over him. The boy got out of his bed to open the curtains, and yes, really.
"Daniel," Sean says with an almost heartbroken tone.
"Ahah- hi." God, he's so drunk. Sean feels so sorry for him. But he also feels so useless, like he should be able to do something for him.
"What are you doing?" Sean asked for a lack of better things to say. Daniel began to lean in through his window as a way to keep his balance.
"I- oh… you mean that? I keys my lost… Nah, wait-" Daniel's drunk speech got a small giggle out of Sean. He rarely laughs even when he finds something funny. Daniel, however, managed to take notice of it in his state.
"Oh, ha, ha, haw. You laugh at me, huh? C'mere and I'll tell you somethin', Shhheanwise." Daniel leans in through the window. Sean reluctantly gets closer to him, uncertain what to expect. He felt his brother's breath on his face. The stench of booze made him sick.
"Ssssean…" Daniel's struggling to focus while placing a hand on the back of Sean's head.
"I would never laugh at you, you know why? You- you know why?" Sean shakes his head slowly.
"Because you are a good brother, Sean. I'm so proud of you, Sean, and I love you." Daniel's been wanting to say that for so long, and now when he's finally said it, he's too wasted to even realize it. Sean, however, was not. In this drunken moment, the real Daniel showed himself. Part of him at least. Drunk or not, it felt so good for him to hear that he was loved and that Daniel was proud of him. That's all a little brother could ever ask for.
"Can you let me in now, bro? It's cold as fuck out here." Daniel whines like a small child almost.
"Yeah, Daniel. I'll let you in." Sean smiles before silently walking to the front door. Daniel stumbles inside while Sean locks the door behind him.
"Are- are you good, Sean? Good?" Although completely wasted, Daniel had a serious tone in his voice.
"Yes, Daniel, I'm good." He couldn't help but wonder why he wouldn't be.
"Ok, dude. I- I- just worry of you- for you- about you… I'm drunk, aren't I?" Yes, he is. But Daniel showed a side tonight that Sean's never seen before. He showed the side he so desperately wanted to show on a daily basis. The big brother who cares for him, jokes with him, and worries about him.
"Let's get you to bed, Daniel." Sean makes sure his older brother enters his room safely. Daniel immediately passes out on his bed.
"Ur awesome, Seannnie…" Although Sean could feel his brother's pain, he couldn't help but smile. With his older brother unconscious but safe, Sean got back into his bed.
The boy lay with his hands behind his head, trying to comprehend what just happened. It wasn't the first time Daniel had come home wasted, and it likely wouldn't be the last either. But everything Daniel told him tonight…
"I'm a good brother," Sean whispered to himself while a smile formed on his lips.
"Daniel's proud of me." He whispered and felt his smile grow even wider.
"Daniel loves me." This time, however, the smile quickly faded as little Sean realized something.
"You don't feel loved. Do you, Daniel?" All those parties, all those friends, and don't even mention the random girls that Daniel sometimes brought home. His brother's surrounded by people that like him, and yet, he feels alone.
"Of course, stupid." Sean facepalms. His friends only love the fake Daniel but have yet to meet the real one. His family, meaning their father and Sean, only knows the lying Daniel. Sean briefly met the real Daniel tonight, however, their father hasn't.
Somewhere in his head, Sean begins to lay out a plan. A plan that will get Daniel to open up to him, and allow Sean to help him while simultaneously bringing them closer as brothers. To defeat an enemy…
"You must know them." Sean finishes his thought out loud. He already knows lying Daniel, and his ultimate goal is to get to know the real Daniel. That leaves only-
"No…" Sean's blood ran cold with fear as he realized what he must do. For him to get through to his brother, Sean must learn how he thinks, acts, and speaks. In the case of the fake Daniel, this means that he would have to follow him wherever he might go. And Sean knew what that implied.
People, partying, music, screaming, dancing, and flickering lights. Take all the things he despises, mix them together as one, and you end up with this. Then again, Daniel's his brother. And right now, his brother needs him. Sean sighed heavily.
"Guess I'm going to a party then." With a plan taking shape in his mind, the boy drifted away to sleep.
The next day…
Daniel sat at the table in the living room with a cup of coffee in his hand. He's not having a good day. Not because of the hangover, he's had much worse before. Last night, however, he made a complete fool of himself. He remembers every single word he told Sean. How he was a good brother, that he's proud of him, and that he loves him so much. He even remembers Sean's face, shining brighter than the sun itself.
Daniel didn't lie. Every single word he said was the truth. Sean, however, probably thinks it's bullshit by now. Either way, he's about to find out as the door to Sean's room opens. His little brother comes out of his room and sits down opposite him at the table. Daniel could hear his strained breaths. Sean desperately tried to gather the courage to say whatever was on his heart.
"What…?" Daniel didn't mean to sound like that. He wanted to help Sean find the right words. Instead, he just came off like an annoyed dickhead. Sean, however, didn't seem bothered by it. Strange…
"Thanks, Daniel. For telling me- you know. It really means a lot to me." It took every ounce of strength within his small body to get those words out, but Sean did it. He did it, and it felt good. Slightly embarrassing, but still, good.
"I- uh- sure, man. It's nothin'." Daniel hates himself for being so awkward in these situations. Sean's a good kid, and he deserves a good brother.
"It's fine, Daniel. Don't worry about it." Sean tried as he took notice of his brother's struggle.
"I always do." Daniel heard himself say without even knowing why.
"About what, Daniel?" Sean asked while remaining calm. He's so close now.
"You," Daniel answered in the lowest of whispers. For he did worry about Sean. His little brother's gifted, unique, and some even say a genius. Sean, however, is also a very lonely boy. Withdrawn from the rest of the world, Sean's social skills declined along with the boy's anxiety increasing. Fear of leaving the comfort zone that was his home kept him from ever making friends again.
That's what worries Daniel. However, Sean's not given time to absorb what he just heard before Daniel's phone rings. He could literally see how his brother put the mask back on.
"Yeah, whatup?" Daniel answered in a cheerful tone, completely different from the silent, depressing voice from just a few seconds ago.
"Damn, Chris, you already goin'? It's what, lunchtime? Shit, I'll be right over, man." Seriously? Sean could hear Chris say something on the other end which caused Daniel to frown.
"Aw, come on. Don't bring Brett over, he's a cunt!" Sean gasped slightly at the word.
"Yeah, yeah. Is a cunt, needs a cunt, whatever. Just, don't bring that asshole over, please?" Daniel let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you. Yeah, sure. Ten minutes, see ya." Daniel hung up the phone, noticing the big brown eyes of his little brother, staring through to his very soul.
"Don't say cunt, Sean." The boy's expression went sour as he knew there was no point in trying to keep his brother from leaving.
"Daniel?" His older brother stops right at the front door, turning around to face him.
"Be careful." After his words, little Sean walked up to his brother and hugged him for the first time he could remember. It felt slightly awkward. Sean never lets anyone except his family hug him. He never liked it when people poked at him. This, however, felt comforting. Little Sean could see how, for a split second, Daniel's facade dropped, allowing the real Daniel to shine through.
"I will, Sean. Don't worry." And before he knew it, Daniel walked out the door, off to another day of binge drinking. Sean sighed as he knew this is it.
Sean goes to his room and puts on his hoodie. It's unlikely that he's going to freeze, however, the hood is very helpful for him. With it, Sean could pretend like he wasn't surrounded by strangers in the middle of parts unknown. He felt safer with it. Concealed from the crowd while blocking out any danger that might attempt to get inside his head.
Sean left his room, entering Daniel's room instead. He takes a bottle of alcohol with him. It's just a precaution, in case someone wonders what he's doing there. He'll just give them the bottle, and move on. Most likely, however, everyone's too hammered to notice a shy, awkward kid like him though. Sean's ready to leave, and he opens the door.
"Ok, Sean. Just like the therapist said… one step at a time. Nobody's going to hurt you." With nothing but the best intentions in mind, Sean takes his first step into a whole new world.
Credit: curtis_undone
Notes:
Three chapters in three days. I guess that means things are improving for me on a personal level. This chapter has some brief interactions between the brothers while also subtly(?) showing just how much one means to the other.
Daniel wanted to tell Sean for a very long time how proud he is of him, how much he loves him, and all that stuff. But he could only do it when he was drunk out of his mind. The next day, Daniel's upset because, in his mind, Sean probably believed it to be the typical drunken ramblings.
Meanwhile, we have Sean. Since my Spanish is non-existent, and I refuse to reuse Enano, Sean's nickname until further notice will be "Little Sean". I am, however, open to suggestions (seriously). Anyway...
Sean suffers from social anxiety. He can't handle crowds, loud noises, flickering lights, etc. The next chapter will explain how some of his difficulties work, how he views them, and so on. In other words, Sean knows what to expect when following Daniel to a party. It is, however, a sacrifice he's willing to make for his brother.
The build-up has officially begun...
A huge thanks to "curtis_undone" for the wonderful artwork of the brothers. It really captures their personalities in this fic perfectly. Daniel looks like the confident and happy teenager he wants everyone to think he is, and Sean looks anxious, worried, and fragile.
Keep up the awesome work!
Please leave a comment below.
Enjoy!
K. S.
One boy.
Alone.
Against the world.
It scares him.
His brother.
Drinking.
Dancing.
Having a good time.
However...
There is a third.
An ancient force.
Unknown to all of mankind.
An eternal light.
That never goes out.
Death.
Fire.
Destruction.
Screaming.
Explosions.
Dismemberment.
You cannot stop it...
Chapter 4: Acidic Anxiety
Summary:
Daniel parties like never before while Sean attempts to follow him. But the world is a scary place for a child...
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
On the other side of town…
Daniel heard the music from a mile away. Immediately, a switch went off inside his brain. The sad and depressed teenager who walked here, wondering why he kept doing this, just disappeared. Taking his place, was another being. An animal, some would say.
Daniel the party animal enters the house, preparing to make himself the center of attention yet again.
The music is loud, threatening to bust an eardrum, and the lights flicker in a variety of colors. A strong smell of pot came from around the corner, people were dancing, drinking, and enjoying life. Daniel Felipe Diaz loved every second of it.
This.
This is his domain.
In this environment, he's the uncrowned, unofficial, yet somehow acknowledged, king.
"Daniel! You made it, man, good to see you!" Chris Eriksen. Probably the closest thing to a genuine friend he's ever had. They've known each other since they were kids. Back then, Daniel didn't have a care in the world. Chris, however, had his fair share of problems.
When they first met, Daniel visited his grandparents in Beaver Creek and got to know the neighbor's son, Christopher. He also witnessed horrors that he never told anyone about. Not even his mother. Chris still has that scar on his forehead. Then again, that's why he lives with his grandparents in Seattle now.
"Hey, man! Of course, I made it. I never miss a party." Daniel playfully hits Chris on the shoulder while taking the beer Chris offers him. Sometimes, Daniel wonders how and why Chris drinks. His father drank every day, and Chris suffered because of it. Today, however, is not one of those days.
"I know, man, I know. Let's have some fucking fun!" Chris screams at his face. Daniel felt that familiar surge of adrenaline throughout his entire body. With one beer already down, Daniel grabs another.
"Alright, let's PAAARTY, captain Chriiis!" He could see how his friend's face turned slightly red as Daniel reminded him of his old nickname from the past. Chris, however, pretended like he didn't hear it.
This is the best time of the night for Daniel. The alcohol in his blood. Too low to impact his judgment, but perfectly high to make him forget all about the miserable life that awaits him in the morning. Most important of all, the alcohol gives him what he wants. It makes his fake persona into a real one. The more Daniel drank, the more he could feel it. Just like he always does.
The confidence he doesn't have is larger than life itself. His fear does not exist. Daniel turns into a charismatic enigma, and he doesn't even have to pretend like it. He doesn't have to because it's happening live. This is the only time Daniel feels like he belongs. An alcohol-fueled, traumatized, afraid, and lone child he might be. Here, however, Daniel Diaz felt at peace. He felt more than that, actually. Daniel felt at home. Like he never wanted this night to end because if it did, he would end with it.
After a couple more drinks, Daniel begins sweeping the area for someone to possibly spend the night with.
"No. No. Hot, but hates me." Daniel skims through the crowd of girls while searching for a possible target.
"Cousin, major no… wait-" Daniel sees someone. A girl he hasn't seen before with long brown hair. She looks beautiful. That's all he needs in his state. Daniel grabs two beers and approaches the girl.
"Hey, sweetie. You havin' a good time? I'm Daniel." He doesn't even have to try anymore. It's almost pathetic.
"I'm Sarah-Lee." Weird name. She seems a bit shy but accepts the drink with a smile on her face.
"So… Sarah-Lee? You wanna go have some fun?" Daniel could see how the girl's eyes widened in shock. Then, shock turned to the look Daniel's more used to seeing. That would be the look of a drunken "yes".
Unfortunately, Daniel never got the answer to this question though as something came between them. Or to be precise, someone came between them.
"The fuck you doing with my girl, Diaz? Who the fuck do you think you are?!" Brett Foster, the one person Daniel didn't want at this party stepped in front of him, pushing him back.
"Fuck you, Brett! Fuck you even doin' here, man? Huh? HUH?!" Brett's still somewhat sober. One could not say the same about Daniel. A sudden burst of rage made it difficult to even speak properly.
"Oh, god, Diaz. You're so fucking wasted it's not even funny. What a fucking loser. Come on, Sarah. No wonder his mom ditched him." Daniel could take the first insult. He could take the second insult as well. The third insult, however, tears open a wound Daniel's been trying to hide from everyone for over a year.
Now, he stopped trying.
"FUCK YOU!" Daniel screamed after Brett, causing the latter to turn around. The very second he did, Brett received a punch on his nose and fell to the floor.
"Oh, fuck! You're dead, Diaz…" Brett stood up, but Daniel held his ground. Nobody talks shit about his family. He's prepared to defend his name with violence if need be.
"Wowowowowow, stop, stop, stop! Let's just- calm the fuck down, ok?" Chris, the eternal peacekeeper had stepped between the two, attempting to defuse the situation.
"Brett, you're not even fucking invited, so get the fuck out of here, dickhead!" Brett's eyes screamed with rage as he knew that he had no answer to that.
"This isn't over, Diaz. Not fucking over!" Brett Foster along with Sarah-Lee left the party in a hurry.
"You good, man?" Chris turned his attention to Daniel.
"Sure, whatever." No. He's not good. Brett's right. He's so wasted it's not even funny anymore. Not even to himself. He's just a pathetic fucking loser which is why his mom ditched the entire family. She couldn't stand having a son like him.
Daniel moves into an empty corner of the room. He grabs a large bottle of Tequila and has every intention of drinking every last drop of it before the night's over. He's a loser, so he might as well be honoring his heritage. At least that way, he's doing something right for once.
1452 Lewis Avenue…
It's not dangerous. Nobody's watching him. Sean knows this. He knows that he's got nothing to be afraid of. He repeats the same mantra to himself as he prepares to go outside.
"No fear, no danger, you are safe Sean." Then, his feet touched the ground outside. Whenever Sean's outside, his father's with him. That's the only time he feels safe when he's not at home. Now, however, his father's not here, and Sean's not at home. He's all alone.
And he's never felt so small before.
His entire body screams at him to run back inside. To run back to safety before it's too late. And he wants to. Sean wants to do it, so badly. The boy looks back at the door, however, he shakes his head immediately.
"No. Daniel needs me. I- I can do this." Sean began walking away from his home, following the same path he saw Daniel take.
The hood covers most of his face, his eyes are stuck on the ground beneath him, and his hands are in his pockets. Little Sean Diaz walks a lonely road completely unaware of the destination. Knowing Daniel, however, it shouldn't be too difficult to track him down.
After about twenty minutes, Sean starts to get used to the outside world. It doesn't feel so scary anymore. Slowly, he removed his hood. It felt good to have the wind in his hair. Sean almost felt proud of himself for doing this all on his own.
Then, Sean heard footsteps. Loud footsteps, echoed across the neighborhood. Sean froze in fear. He'd hoped to avoid people on the way, but knew that's unlikely to happen. The boy began to sweat. He felt dizzy and wanted to throw up. His heartbeat increased by the second, and he was having difficulty breathing.
The footsteps in question belonged to an elderly woman and her dog. Probably one of the most harmless things on the planet. Little Sean, however, could never think rationally in situations like these.
"Excuse me, little boy? Is everything alright? You seem lost. Do you need help?" The woman asked him with genuine concern while the small puppy placed itself between Sean's feet. No. Everything's not alright. He's not alright, and he never was. Poor Sean's mind runs at maximum capacity, envisioning horrific scenarios that could happen in the worst of cases.
"She thinks I'm a freak, I see it in her eyes. They all see me as a freak, a weirdo." Hundreds of thoughts run through his mind by the second.
"She doesn't want to help me. She's out to get me. I'm gonna be kidnapped, put in a dungeon, and fed to her dog." None of these scenarios make any sense. Deep down, Sean knows that. In his current state, however, he's inches away from a full-blown meltdown.
"Son, you're scaring me. Do you want me to call your mom?" The woman mentioning Sean's mother was bad enough, however, the next thing sent him over the edge. The elderly woman placed a hand on his shoulder intending to comfort him and make him feel safe. But she did not know…
Sean didn't like strangers poking him.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" Sean screamed before running away as if his life depended on it. In the mind of the small child, that was very much the case. Sean ran as fast as his legs would let him. He ran through the neighborhood before making a left turn into an alley. Then, he collapsed.
The boy collapsed on the hard concrete, ignoring the physical pain it caused him. He sat up, pressing his back against a brick wall while pulling his legs to his chest. He can't do this.
"I'm sorry, Daniel. I tried, I really did. But- I can't." Sean whimpered as he pulled the hood over his face in shame. He still felt sick, and his heart was about to explode. What was he thinking? He can't be out here on his own.
"You're stupid, Sean. You're just a stupid little freak." He whimpered in despair while his pulse began to calm down. Sean leaned his head back against the wall, sighing painfully while closing his eyes.
"You can't help anyone, Sean… before you help yourself." That's when he heard it.
A loud thumping sound, repeating itself over and over again.
Music.
Sean's eyes sprung open immediately.
"Daniel…" Sean looked around the vicinity. He's got no clue of his whereabouts, and the way home remains uncertain thanks to his panic attack. Daniel, however, is nearby. And Daniel knows something that Sean does not. He knows the way home.
"Follow the sound, Sean… follow the sound." His legs could barely hold him upright, but Sean pushed through it. He's so close now. So close to finding the key to his brother's mind. Little Sean Eduardo begins to follow the sound, hoping to find his brother at its source.
The music began to calm down as Sean got closer. A new song starts to play, and Sean's close enough to make out some of the lyrics.
"When the light begins to change, I sometimes feel a little strange. A little anxious when it's dark." Yeah, Sean doesn't feel singled out at all by those lyrics. Fuck…
"I have a phobia that someone's always there…" The lyrics made poor Sean turn around in every direction. He does have a phobia that someone's always there, and out to get him.
"Calm down, Sean. It's all in your head." He whispers silently to himself. A few minutes later, Sean finally lay eyes upon the house of his nightmares. The very house he must gain access to, no matter what.
A massive house with two floors, a balcony, a porch, and even a pool out back. Damn, he didn't expect that. Sean could admit that the pool looked kinda cool. At least from a distance. Odds are that he would prefer not to enter it tonight for a variety of reasons. First things first, however, as Sean focused on the front door. There's only a single person out by the door, and Sean's confident that this isn't a doorman, but just a person getting some fresh air. Time to put that theory to the test.
Sean takes a few deep breaths. Inside that house, some of his worst demons await him. This won't be easy. Slowly, little Sean walks towards the door. Every step is heavier than the last.
"Hey, you?!" Sean stopped mere inches from the door as the drunk teenager turned his attention to him.
"You can't be here, kid. You- you like seven years old." Granted, Sean's very small for his age, but seven? Really? Oh well, that's about to change anyway.
"I'm seventeen," Sean said while offering him the bottle as an obvious bribe. He did not need to say it twice.
"Shit, whatever, dude. My mistake, I guess." The teenager takes the bottle before returning to his previous chair on the porch. After a few deep breaths, little Sean Eduardo enters the house of horrors.
The music hurt his ears and head. The flickering lights made it difficult to see where he was going, and the impressions around him immediately caused his fragile mind to overload. Something's wrong, he's gonna-
Bathroom. Now.
NOW!
Sean looks around in panic, desperately searching for a bathroom. Unfortunately, he never found one. Sean emptied the contents of his stomach on the floor of what appeared to be the living room of the house. He did it, and no one even cared. Somehow, Sean felt like he wasn't the first person to do something similar tonight.
The boy moves through the crowd, hating every moment of it. The screaming, the deafening volume, and the smell. Dear god, the smell. Beer, booze, pot, cigarettes, vomit, and god only knows what else. Still no sign of Daniel though. Eventually, Sean finds himself in the kitchen area of the house. The taste of vomit has yet to leave his mouth as he opens the fridge in search of something that might get rid of it.
"Orange juice, perfect." Sean makes sure that the bottle's not opened. He doesn't want to get drunk. Then, he pours himself a glass and sits down at the table. This way, he'll blend in because he's so easy to miss. His hoodie covers his face, so nobody will see how young he really is. The table he sits at, combined with the dark room, hides his size. People who pass by will just see him as a skinny kid who wants to be alone for a while. The orange juice serves multiple purposes. It's good, it helps him get rid of the vomit taste, and it can easily be seen as a drink. For the moment, Sean blends in.
"Where are you, Daniel?" Sean searched the crowd. Considering how much Daniel loves the spotlight, he shouldn't be too difficult to find.
"Gotcha!" There. In the middle of the room, dancing his ass off is Daniel Diaz. Sean watches him from a distance, fully aware that he cannot, under any circumstances, let Daniel see him.
"You're happy here, Daniel. You look like you belong… but you don't." Sean mumbles in joy and sadness alike. Daniel's mask was good, he'll have to admit that much. Had Sean not seen through him at home, he would easily have believed that his brother was happy.
Daniel seems to be finished dancing for the moment. Sean studies his brother, attempting to figure out his next move. It didn't take long. That look is something he's seen before. Any time Daniel brings home a girl, that's exactly how he looks at her. Sometimes, he's just-
"So predictable, bro," Sean mutters with a smile, feeling a sense of pride.
"Fuck…" Daniel's coming in his direction. Did he spot him? No, he couldn't have. Shit. Sean buries his face within his arms, pretending to be in a drunken sleep on the table. Behind him, Daniel opened the fridge.
"Fuckin' orange juice is out, fuck!" Sean stopped breathing. If Daniel spots his glass, and questions him… there's gonna be hell to pay.
"Sean's right. I- I shouldn't drink so much… fuck." Sean's not sure if he should smile or cry, so he did both in silence. Somewhere, deep beneath the lies, his words are getting to Daniel. Still, he could hear the pain behind them. So much pain, and suffering.
Sean watches from a distance as Daniel talks to a girl with brown hair. He can already tell where this is going. By the looks of it, so can Daniel. However, Sean witnessed how Brett Foster got in between the two and pushed Daniel away. Sean couldn't hear the words they were saying, but he felt confident that it wasn't anything good. Brett looked pissed as usual. Daniel, however, appeared broken. Whatever Brett said had gotten to him in a significant way. He watches as his brother sits down in the corner of the room with nothing but a bottle for company.
Later…
Daniel did it. The bottle's empty… yay. What a fucking accomplishment for him. Just add it to the pile. This night is the worst in recent memory. He just wished that someone would put him out of his misery because he's too much of a coward to do it himself.
"Daniel, come on, man. Are you just gonna sit here all night, huh?" Chris comes over to him. What a friend he is. It only took him about three hours.
"Whatever. I just don't… feel like it, I guess." He's not lying. Daniel doesn't feel like partying right now.
"Don't let that asshole get to you, man. Here, just take this, ok. It's gonna make you feel better, I promise." Chris took his hand, placing something in his palm. Daniel looks down, noticing a small colorful pill.
Acid.
Daniel had done many things in his life that he wished he didn't do. Drugs, however, are the one line he swore to never cross, no matter the circumstances. Tonight, however, Daniel's not in a state to comprehend his actions. Dangerous amounts of alcohol influence his mind, and he doesn't care if he lives or dies.
He might as well go out with a bang.
"Fuck it." Unaware that the little brother he adores is watching his every move, Daniel takes the acid to little Sean's horror. The colors began to blend into each other, the music was everywhere and nowhere at the same time. And Daniel?
Higher than the highest of kites, Daniel ran across the floor, continuing to make an impression anywhere he went. Way back in the kitchen area, Sean shook his head in pity. He began to wish he never went through with this.
"Oh, Daniel… I know you're in pain, but this won't help you." Sean felt a tear as it made its way down his cheek.
"Come on, just drop it, ok?" The voice of a girl pleaded behind Sean. This felt awkward. Should he get out of their way, or-
"Shut up, Sarah. Don't tell me what to fucking do!" Sean's eyes widened as he recognized the voice.
Brett Foster.
"You're drunk, Brett. Let's talk about it in the morning, please?" The girl pleads once again. Sean analyzed every soundbite, attempting to decipher what this is about.
"I'm sick of that little fucker, you hear me?! I told him this wasn't over. Look at him… acting like Pablo fucking Escobar or some shit." Damn. He's talking about Daniel. This can't be good. Sean, however, remains silent.
"Brett, what are you doing?" The pleading had now turned to fear. A very genuine one. Sean felt his blood run cold.
"I'm gonna have a little talk with everyone's favorite Mexican." Sean heard a whimper, indicating that the girl held something back. He took the risk and turned around to look.
Brett Foster had a knife in his hand.
"Fuck. No, no, no, no, no." Sean's mind ran rampant. For once, his destructive mindset wasn't wrong. There's only one thing Brett could do with that knife.
"Daniel." He whispered as the realization struck him like lightning from above. He has to do something. Sean looks around, noticing how Brett's already closing in on his big brother. It doesn't matter if Daniel sees him here. Sean has to save him.
He runs.
Little Sean Eduardo runs towards his brother, praying he'll get to him first. Daniel has his back towards him while Chris dances in front of Daniel.
"Daniel!" Damn it, why can't he ever speak up?!
"Daniel!" The music, combined with all the people makes it impossible for poor Sean to make himself heard. Still, he keeps running, uncertain of what to do when he gets there.
Although he refuses to give up, Sean knows in his heart that he's too late. Brett's already there and has every intention of taking his brother away from him.
Sean, however, forgot about Chris. The eyes of the blonde teenager widened in shock and disgust both.
"DANIEL, BEHIND YOU!" Chris screamed at his friend. Daniel quickly turned around to face Brett, immediately feeling how all the trauma he's suffered during the last year is about to reach a breaking point.
Then, Brett raised his knife.
"NOOO!" Little Sean screamed as he desperately reached out with his hand, attempting to save the brother he loved so dearly.
"AAAH" Daniel screamed as he let out a year's worth of pain, suffering, misery, and trauma while reaching for the knife.
Sean screamed.
Daniel screamed.
Then.
The forces of evil awoke.
Notes:
Well, how about that for an ending, huh?
I like how this chapter turned out. It shows how Daniel acts at a party while also showing how little is needed for him to break down in his current state. All it took was Brett mentioning his mother, and Daniel got depressed, deciding to sit in a corner instead. He even decided to break his one rule of not doing drugs.
As for sean? Poor kid...
Being outside is a real struggle for him. A did some brief homework on social anxiety, and the symptoms Sean experiences are very real. So is his mindset (feeling like people are out to get him, etc.). Eventually, he made it, and he even feels a little proud of himself. He never would have made it unless he'd have to help Daniel.
Btw, the song Sean heard the lyrics of?
FEAR OF THE DARK
... Because why not? I refuse to believe that Daniel goes to a party with dubstep music (shivers).
Anyway, please leave a comment below.
Enjoy!
K. S.
One boy.
Drunk.
High.
Miserable.
His brother.
Anxious.
Selfless.
Caring.
Both brothers.
Unconscious.
Covered in blood.
Yet only one brother is injured.
They are in for a rude awakening.
If they both wake up...
Chapter 5: Tragedy Strikes
Summary:
Sean wakes up to a living nightmare. This nightmare, however, is very real...
Notes:
Tags on this one!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Several hours later…
Sean mentally cursed his father as he slowly began to wake up. He hated it when Esteban opened the window in his room because he would wake up freezing. Seems like his father just won't learn. Something sharp pokes Sean's waist, causing him to grimace slightly.
"Stupid bed springs." He seriously needs a new bed. The boy rolls over on his back instead, hoping to ease the pain. It made him feel slightly better. Not good, but better. Also, Sean began to feel something on his face. He raised a hand to touch his face, only to feel the same thing on that very hand. It made no sense.
Water?
Sean opened his eyes, expecting to see the ceiling in his room. What he saw, however, was a dark sky, covered with clouds. What the hell is this? He doesn't understand. Sean sits up on the side of his bed, only to notice that he's not in his bed. He's not even at home. Sean tries to adjust his eyes to the surroundings. Maybe then he could figure out where the hell he is.
"What's that smell?" He wondered while his mind began to fully wake up.
"Fire…" Something's burning, but what? And again, where the hell is he? Sean raised his hand to touch his face, only to freeze as he gazed at his palms.
Blood.
Both of his palms were covered in blood. Sean began to hyperventilate. He wanted to look away, but he couldn't. His legs, his body, and his entire face are soaked in blood. He could smell it, and even taste it.
"No… what…" That's when it hit him. All at once. Sean remembered how he followed Daniel to the party in hopes of finding clues that would help him on his quest to help Daniel. He remembered Brett Foster's argument with Daniel, and how he came back with a knife. Sean remembered how he screamed, and how Daniel screamed. Then, it's all blank.
"No, no, no, no no! Not real!" Sean screams in horror before turning around. Sean runs as fast as his legs could carry him. Unfortunately, he doesn't get far before tripping over something.
"Ow, shit." Without a second thought, Sean turned around to see what he tripped on. That would be a major mistake.
Sean stares into the cold dead eyes of Chris Eriksen. A massive piece of glass had impaled the teenager's torso, killing him instantly. Little Sean panics beyond control, running straight forward.
"AHHH, HEEELP!" Sean falls again, except this time, his foot gets stuck. He must turn around, but he doesn't want to, and his mind is in a state of complete and utter chaos.
"NONONO!" He pulls, and he pulls. Eventually, Sean lost his shoe, but at least he's not stuck anymore. The boy continues to run towards nothing. He's not stopping now, not until he gets home. To his safe zone. There, nobody can hurt him.
There was, however, one thing that could make him stop.
Sean froze on the spot when he saw it. He knew the implications. A bright red jacket, and a pair of blue jeans. Both were covered in blood.
Daniel.
Sean wanted to keep running. A part of him believed that he could escape this. But he must know. The boy walks up to the body of his older brother, kneeling next to him. He's fine. Daniel's not injured, so everything's fine.
"Daniel?" Sean whisper silently with a tiny bit of hope.
No reaction.
"Daniel, come on, you- you gotta get up…" With the last ounce of hope fading into oblivion, Sean Diaz felt his entire world shatter before him.
"Daniel, we gotta go home…" Sean cried. Large beads of tears poured down his face as the floodgates opened. This can't be happening.
"Help me, Daniel, please. I'm- I'm so scared…" How ironic. Sean set out to help Daniel, but after whatever horror caused this to happen, Sean's the one to beg Daniel for help instead. What happened here tonight? Sean doesn't know, and Sean doesn't care. The worst possible thing happened.
Daniel, his big brother.
Is dead.
"Daniel, please wake up… I- I love you." Sean felt ashamed that he never had the guts to say those words to his brother until it was too late. Little Sean Eduardo lies down on the cold and hard ground next to his brother. He takes Daniel's arm, proceeding to wrap it around his upper body as a protective shield against the outside world. Then, Sean cried into Daniel's chest, praying to find a sign of life. A pulse, the sound of his beating heart, anything.
Nothing.
It's over.
"I'm sorry, Daniel. I failed you." The shock causes Sean to pass out in the arms of his dead brother.
Sunrise…
"Dispatch, I think we've got an 090 here." A lone officer whispered into his radio while staring at the wasteland in shock.
"10-4, anything else?" The officer couldn't tell where to begin.
"I- I think they're all dead…" A silent whisper followed by a long moment of silence on the other end.
"Copy that, we'll send everyone there." The officer stepped out of his car, unable to believe what he was looking at.
An entire house completely destroyed, and bodies were all over the place. Blood, fire, death, and destruction. Whatever happened here, none survived. He sweeps the scene, noticing how every victim seems to be a teenager.
Except for one.
And he's still breathing.
Sean heard the sound of sirens in the near distance as he woke from his peaceful slumber. Immediately, it all hit him again. Daniel was dead, and he did nothing to help. He did nothing because he is nothing. Just a freak. Sean sobs in silence while begging for someone to put him out of his misery.
"Are you alright, son? Are you hurt?" From the corner of his eye, Sean could see a police officer kneeling next to him. Usually, Sean didn't fear the police. His current state of mind, however, makes him completely shut down mentally, ignoring all forms of human contact.
"Did you know him, kid?" The officer pointed at Daniel. His brother had yet to move a muscle.
"Do you have a name?" The officer asked him kindly while placing a hand on his shoulder. Unfortunately, the officer didn't know Sean. The terrified child immediately shrugs off his hand without uttering a word.
"Ok, not much of a people person, huh? Well, I don't blame you. But you gotta give me something here, kid. I'm trying to help you." Help him. Help. It's too late for him, and it's too late for Daniel.
Little Sean, however, failed to notice the multiple paramedics, desperately scavenging the area for survivors while lifting the bodies on stretchers. And now, they came to Daniel's body…
"Over here! This one's got a pulse!" Sean doesn't register the words. He's completely shut down.
"Ok, let's get him on the stretcher. Hurry, we don't have a lot of time." Two paramedics put a stretcher next to Daniel as the officer moves out of the way. To his horror, Sean felt how his brother disappeared, taking a part of Sean with him. No longer did he have that small ounce of safety. He's all alone, in a mass grave, covered in blood, and he's so afraid.
"No! Daniel, come back! Come back!" Sean gets to his feet, attempting to run after his brother, however, a firm set of hands keeps him from doing so.
"Calm down, kid, just calm down." The officer tried to restrain Sean, however, the boy panicked as he felt a complete stranger hold him while refusing to let go. Sean panicked once more. He couldn't breathe.
"NO! DANIEL! DANIEL, COME BAAACK!" Moments later, little Sean Eduardo found himself thrown into the back of a police car, and on the way to the station.
Seattle Police Department South Precinct – 24 hours later…
Sean Diaz sat on the floor of the interrogation room. He didn't know how long he's been sitting there, but it felt like years. His life is over. Everything is over. He can't wrap his head around what happened back there. Vague flashes pop up in his head from time to time of people screaming in pain. Among those people are both Daniel and Sean himself.
He wants to get out of this horrific environment. But he knows why nobody's coming to get him. The one person who would miss him, meaning his father, doesn't even know he's here. And Sean once again curses himself for it.
"My name's Sean Eduardo Diaz, born on August 15th, 2007. My father's name is Esteban Diaz, and I live on 1452 Lewis Avenue." It sounds so easy in his head. All Sean had to do, was say those very words. Say them, and his father would come to the rescue.
The officers tried getting Sean to speak, and god only knows he tried to answer them. The recent events, however, replayed a never-ending loop in his mind, causing the boy to break. He found himself unable to speak. The officers tried giving him a stack of papers and some crayons, hoping it would make him open up a bit. Sean, the boy who lived for his art, didn't acknowledge their existence.
Instead, he sits here. On the cold, hard, concrete floor. He's no longer Sean Diaz. He isn't, because the world has yet to notice the disappearance of one Sean Eduardo Diaz. Right now, on this very floor, sits an unnamed child. A John Doe about ten years of age, and of Hispanic descent. This John Doe has yet to utter a single word since an officer removed him from the crime scene, and placed him inside a police car. But worst of all…
The child with an unknown identity is still covered in blood. Upon his arrival at the police station, the boy was offered help to clean himself up along with a set of clean clothes. An offer he did not respond to. Considering how violently the boy reacted upon being touched, the officers agreed to leave him to his misery. Next to him on the floor lay a pile of clean clothes that he had no intention of putting on. What's even the point?
"Please, Daniel… help me. I'm scared." Sean's lips moves, however, he fails to find the right words. Then, Sean heard something. Well, technically he heard four something, followed by a brief pause, and a final something.
Even in times like these, Sean's mind takes notice of things few others would. In this case, the keypad outside this door.
A somewhat high-pitched sound, that to Sean sounded like the number three.
A very low-pitch. Definitely a nine.
Then, it goes only slightly higher. Perhaps an eight?
And finally, back to a three.
A loud buzzing fills the room as the door opens. Sean had yet to acknowledge whoever just entered the room. He did, however, take notice of a certain smell that made his stomach growl in an almost painful way.
"Hey there." A voice said in his direction. He didn't recognize it, so it was someone new. Sean didn't know if that was good or bad. He could hear the person behind him sitting down on the chair next to the table.
"You should eat something, kid. You need food and water if you're gonna get through this, you know." The voice said with genuine concern. Sean had to admit it. That smell made him realize just how fucking hungry he truly was. His joints ached from sitting in the same position for hours upon hours, but little Sean stood up and turned around.
Looking at him, was a large man in his forties. He wore a thick hoodie, and glasses, and had a large beard. Whoever he was, he didn't look like your typical cop, that's for sure. Sean sat down opposite him, taking great care as he watched his every move. He may look nice, but he's still a stranger, and Sean doesn't trust strangers.
"I'm Mr. Holloway, but you can call me Brody. I'm not a detective or anything. Sometimes, I just help out if there's a kid that feels uncomfortable, talking to a police officer." In other words, Brody's a doctor. Sean may be covered in blood, but he's not stupid. Brody grabbed a bag, placing the contents on the table in front of him.
"I got you something to eat, buddy. You must be hungry-" Yeah. He's fucking starving. In front of him, Brody had placed a burger, some french fries, and two bottles of water. Sean grabbed the closest thing, meaning the french fries, and proceeded to stuff his face. Brody waits patiently for Sean to finish eating.
It did not take long.
"Wow, you really are starving, huh?" Brody said with a hint of a smile on his face. Again, Sean's not stupid. He knows that Brody's here to earn his trust and get him to open up. Then again, Sean did nothing wrong, and the sooner he can open his stupid mouth, the sooner he can get home again.
"You're not much of a talker, kid, and I respect that." Buuut…?
"But…" There it is… fuck.
"I can't help you, unless you start communicating with me, one way or the other. So, how about we try this?" Brody takes a pen and a piece of paper, sliding them over to Sean.
"Your description doesn't match any missing kid's database, and you don't have any identification. Can you tell me who you are?" Sean struggled internally with the idea. He wants to, but can he trust this man, this stranger, to do what's best for him?
What choice does he have?
"Sean Diaz" He writes on the paper with a trembling hand before sliding it back to Brody.
"Sean Diaz?" Brody said out loud as if stating it to someone behind the surveillance camera.
"Ok, Sean. We're gonna make sure that someone comes down here and picks you up. In the meantime, I was wondering if you'd like to talk about what happened last night?" No. No, he doesn't. Sean shook his head rapidly while attempting to erase the images of his brother on the ground.
"What were you doing there, Sean? You gotta say something, anything…" Brody almost pleaded with him in desperation. Sean didn't know why, but he just couldn't help it.
"Three, nine, eight, and three again," Sean mumbled in a barely audible tone. Brody immediately raised an eyebrow, however, lowered it just as fast.
"What's that, Sean?" Brody thought he was just imagining things.
"Three, nine, eight, and another three. It's the code to that door, isn't it?" Sean whispered as he looked Brody in the eyes for the first time. He knew now. Sean knew that Brody could be trusted. The boy closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he prepared to tell Brody the truth.
Swedish Hospital – Cherry Hill Campus…
His eyes hurt, his head hurts, his body hurts, and he's having difficulty breathing. After an entire on the brink between life and death, Daniel Diaz starts to regain consciousness. The brightness in the room causes him to raise his left hand to touch his forehead. He knows where he is now.
The hospital. Well, he doesn't know it, but seriously, name anyone who would have such bright walls in their home. He can't think of anyone, so this must be the hospital. It beats the drunk tank, that's for sure. Daniel noticed the television on the wall in front of him. A local news reporter told the latest story to whatever old people still watching the news on television.
"… leaving over fifty teenagers dead without explanation. No word yet on any possible survivors, but rumor says that two minors survived the explosion. Their whereabouts at this time remain unknown." Had Daniel paid attention, he would have recognized the remains of the house behind the reporter. Daniel, however, saw something else.
A large gash on his left arm. He counted up to fifteen stitches. His hangover's killing him, he got hurt so badly that he needed stitches, and for whatever reason ended up staying the night. Whatever happened last night, Daniel knew one thing for sure.
"Must have been one hell of a party." He mumbles with a grin on his face. Daniel reached into his left pocket, hoping to find some clues on his phone as to what went down last night.
"Damn-it…" It's not there. Sometimes, his drunken alter-ego forgets the fact that he's got semi-OCD and really wants his phone in the same spot. He takes his right hand, trying to search the other pocket for his phone.
"What the-" But he can't. Something stops him from reaching it. In his mind, Daniel recognized the metallic clanking from other, less fortunate nights. He looks at his right wrist, noticing a pair of handcuffs, securing him to the bed.
"Fuck…" Daniel leans backward in defeat. Fear, however, is not present within him. He barely remembers leaving his home for that party, and even less of what happened when he got there. This situation's mostly annoying than it is frightening.
"What the fuck did you do this time, dude? Fucking idiot…" Then, just like always, the guilt hits him. He's the bad son who drags his father's name through the dirt. Once again, he fucked up. But how?
"Well, you're finally awake, Mr. Diaz." A police officer entered the room, not even bothering to knock. Daniel felt how all his confidence, everything he's fought so hard to build just fell apart. Whatever he did last night, it was something bad.
Very bad.
"I'm detective Campbell, and I'm going to ask you some questions about what happened." Daniel was kinda hoping he would tell him.
"Sure, whatever." Daniel tries to rebuild his confidence, however, he doesn't even know what's going on. Maybe that's a bad idea.
"What's the last thing you remember from that night, son?" Officer Campbell asked him while looking at him suspiciously.
"Uh… I- I- I don't-" Come to think of it, he can't remember squat. Not a damn thing.
"Nothing, huh?" Officer Campbell's face takes on a more sympathetic look.
"Look, there's no easy way to say this, but something happened in that house. Everyone inside it is dead except for you and one more. We need to find out if you saw something suspicious that night." Daniel didn't know what to say. He didn't know how to react.
Until it all came back.
Voices. Dozens of them, all screaming in pain. Brett Foster was obliterated by an invisible object. An image of Chris, his best friend, impaled by-
Daniel can't process this much information at once. It's too horrifying, too disgusting, and it fucking scares him. He bends over the side of the bed, emptying the contents of his stomach on the floor.
"Yeah, I don't blame you." Officer Campbell sighed.
"Who- who's the other one? The other survivor?" Daniel said between whimpers. He no longer bothered trying to maintain his facade. Whatever this shit is, it's bigger than him.
"I was hoping you could tell me, Mr. Diaz." Officer Campbell opens a portfolio and seems to be searching for something.
"What do you mean?" Daniel asked in confusion. He was kinda hoping that the other one would be Chris, but that's an image he'll never be able to erase from his mind.
"Everyone at the scene, including you, was teenagers. Everyone, except this one." Officer Campbell picks up something from the portfolio.
"He was found in a state of shock, unable to communicate with anyone. He did, however, have to be physically removed from the scene since he refused to let go of you." Let go of Daniel? That doesn't make any sense.
"Of me? I- I don't get it?" Daniel can't wrap his head around what he just heard.
"I am asking you, Mr. Diaz, do you know this kid?" Then, Daniel saw a picture.
A picture that made no sense.
A picture he wished to erase from existence.
But no matter what, it's still there.
The picture depicts a young boy that Daniel instantly recognized as his little brother. He wanted to stop looking but couldn't take his eyes away from the horror depicted in this very image. Little Sean sat on the floor, covered in blood, and traumatized beyond this world. This picture raised so many questions for Daniel.
What happened?
How did it happen?
Is Sean injured?
And, of course…
What the actual FUCK… was his nine-year-old little brother, the same boy suffering from crippling anxiety, and fear of crowds, and never left the house on his own… what the fuck was he doing there? Did he follow him for some reason? Or has Daniel failed so badly as a brother that his greatest fear has already become a reality? Has he failed Sean so much that Sean's on his way to becoming…
Him?
"It's my little brother. It's Sean. What- what the fuck was he doing there? Is he hurt? Can I see him?" So many questions, but very few answers.
"He's not physically hurt, that's all I can say for now. I'll contact his legal guardian to have someone pick him up as soon as possible. You, however, won't be going anywhere for a while." Shit, the handcuffs…
"Let's see…" Officer Campbell grabs a paper from the portfolio and reads it out loud to Daniel.
"We've got underage drinking, possession of narcotics, substance abuse-" Wait- WHAT?!
"Wait, what the fuck did I do last night?" Daniel screams in horror as he begins to realize that he used drugs. The one thing he swore to never take.
"Don't interrupt me again." Officer Campbell gives Daniel a look that makes him understand that this wasn't a request, but a command.
"Possession of narcotics with the intention to distribute. Also, we looked through your phone, meaning we can add several cases of harassment to the list as well." Get the fuck out of here. These charges are all bullshit, and they both know it.
"Finally, you are considered the prime suspect in an explosion that killed over fifty people. Daniel Felipe Diaz, I'm placing you under arrest." Fuck.
FUUUUUCK!
Daniel cries. He cries like he's never cried before. He cries for his miserable life and the fuckup that he is. Daniel cries for his dead friends, both real and fake. He even cries for Brett. Daniel cries for his father's sake and feels the emotional guilt crush him as he realizes that his father's going to have to deal with all of this. More than anything else, however…
He cries for Sean.
Notes:
Bit of an abrupt ending in this chapter. I originally wanted to include a lot more stuff, however, that's postponed since I don't want the chapters too long.
I sincerely hope that the whole "Daniel's dead" thing, sounded credible. I did my best but felt like I didn't want to put off his reveal longer than necessary. It is, however, worth mentioning that Sean still believes that he's dead.
The way Sean talks to Daniel, asking him to get up, is inspired by THIS SCENE that broke me as a kid. Yeah, I know I'm old... come at me!
The code used by the police officer when addressing dispatch (090) is used by Seattle police and means either arson, bomb, or explosion. Damn that site was ancient btw...
As for Sean sitting in the interrogation room for 24 hours while covered in blood. Would it happen in real life? Probably no, but only probably. Take a semi-autistic nine-year-old who just lost his brother, and woke up in a bloodbath, and I don't think they'll allow any strangers to get near them. About Sean figuring out the door code by listening to the button sounds, that's mostly for the heck of it. Still, it does show a side of him that will be displayed more throughout the story...
Oh, and apparently, Seattle has something called "Swedish Hospital". I have no clue why it's called that, or if it has jackshit to do with Sweden as a country. Since I'm Swedish, however, I just couldn't resist...
In Daniel's conversation with officer Campbell, we can see how his facade falls like a house of cards. He's so deep in trouble that he's unable to see any way out of it. And yet, he cries more for Sean than himself.
Well, feel free to leave a comment below.
Enjoy!
K. S.
You cannot escape.
Last night?
Was only the beginning.
The time has come.
Soaked in blood.
Eternity in arrest.
Do not bother.
Soon...
Everybody...
Diez...
Chapter 6: The Force Awakens
Summary:
Sean reunites with his older brother. However, he never prepared for this...
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Seattle Police Department South Precinct…
"So, Sean…" Brody sighed in disbelief.
"You followed your older brother to the party because you wanted to help him, is that correct?" Sean feels stupid. How could he be so naive? He's just a kid. A stupid kid that doesn't belong among the regular crowds.
"Yes." Sean's voice was still low, but he spoke with a bit more confidence. Brody seemed like someone he could confide in.
"And you got inside the house by bribing a teenager with a bottle you stole from your brother's room?" Sean's been inside Daniel's room plenty of times without him knowing it. This, however, is the first time he's stolen something that didn't belong to him. Ashamed doesn't even cover it.
"Yes. I'm sorry." The boy apologized, but Brody didn't seem to judge him.
"It's ok, Sean. You didn't do anything wrong, you just wanted to help your brother." Sean sniffled while doing his best to not think about his dead brother.
"I guess…" Brody seems like a nice guy, but Sean's too broken by the loss of his brother to bother.
"Let's try to continue. You got inside, and then what?" Brody pushes the subject. Meanwhile, Sean desperately tries to remember. What happened in that house?
"I just- I don't-" He's not sure what to say. Maybe it's better not to say anything?
"It's ok, Sean, take your time." He takes a deep breath while trying to relax.
"I don't remember everything, Brody. Sorry." He felt so useless. Outside his safe zone, Sean Diaz has no purpose and is nothing but a burden to those around him.
"Can you tell me what you do remember then?" Fuck. He can, but he doesn't want to.
"There was a fight, I think." Sean felt his heartbeat increase.
"And- and I tried to help him, but I couldn't. It's my fault. All of it. I- I killed him, Brody." Sean starts to cry as the nightmare has turned into reality.
"I killed Daniel." Brody looks at him with compassion.
"It wasn't your fault, Sean. You didn't do anything wrong-" That's what Brody's trying to tell him. Sean, however, doesn't even hear it. More and more starts coming back to him.
"I heard screaming. So much screaming. It's- it's horrible, and now I can't get it out of my head, and I hate it." Little Sean buries his head in his arms on the table, crying his heart out.
"I think you need a break, Sean," Brody mumbles as if still attempting to process what he just heard. Sean answers with a nod.
"Listen, Sean…" Brody paused for a moment, giving himself the time to choose the right words. He knew that this boy is unique, and unlike any other children his age. Therefore, he's unlikely to see things the same way as most others.
"You need to rest for a while. Just until your father gets here. I could take you to a room- don't worry, it's not a cell." Brody noticed how Sean immediately looked at him in panic at the mention of a "room."
"You'll have some privacy there, so you can maybe clean yourself up, try and get some sleep. How does that sound?" Again, Sean knew this to be a cleverly disguised hint, however, anything's better than this room.
"It sounds good, I guess." Brody smiled while standing up from his chair, gesturing for Sean to follow. They both left the room, closing the door behind them.
Thirty minutes later, little Sean Diaz looks at himself in the bathroom mirror. He avoided the mirror until after he finished showering, in fear of what would be looking back at him. The blood-red water washed down the drain, and it removed any traces of blood from the boy's body. Unfortunately, he couldn't wash his sins away.
The guilt of being responsible for his brother's death, the horrific screams inside his head, and the image of Daniel's body on the ground. Sean knows better than this. He's smart enough to know that neither of this is his fault in any way, type, or form.
He should know better.
But not today. Little Sean Eduardo looks at his reflection in the mirror. He's been given clean clothes, but he feels just as dirty as before. The boy in that mirror may look pure and clean to most people. To Sean, however, he was the worst of the worst. He saw nothing but a murderer, a liar, and a thief. Sean can't look at that monster anymore. He leaves the bathroom, sitting down on the bed in his temporary room. Sean sighed before laying down on his back.
"I would do anything… to see you again, Daniel. Anything." Sean whimpered through tears while violently pressing his eyelids shut, attempting to hold them back.
That was unfortunate.
Because all the boy needed to do in that particular moment was to…
Look up.
Not too far away…
Had Sean only listened at that moment, he would have heard. Sean would have heard, and he would have recognized the nervous footsteps of his older brother Daniel as he was escorted past his room. The teenager's mind couldn't function properly. All the people he used to call friends are dead. They're dead, and Daniel's their main suspect.
And that's not even the worst part.
Daniel can't remember shit about what he did, or what anyone else did in that house. It's not impossible. In theory, that is. Deep down, he carries a great deal of anger that he tries to keep hidden from view. Sometimes, however, the booze gets the better of him, and it makes him do stupid things. Stupid things like tracking down a person who harassed his father, and proceeding to demolish his car with a baseball bat. But this?
This is far bigger than some vandalized property. He couldn't have done this, right? Daniel sighs. How can he convince the cops if he can't even convince himself? Daniel's led into an interrogation room. His wrists are cuffed to the table before him, and then he's left alone with his thoughts. His only company is the ticking clock on the wall.
"What the fuck is going on?" Daniel thought to himself. He felt claustrophobic. This room's getting smaller by the second, and he can't even fucking move because he's stuck to this fucking table!
"Mr. Diaz, I'm officer Matthews, and I'm going to ask you a few questions about what happened." The officer sits down in front of him while Daniel gives a silent nod in return.
"Can you tell me what happened that night?" Officer Matthews asked. The tone of his voice made it clear that he wanted to know, not what happened, but why Daniel did it.
"I- I don't know, sir. I can't remember." Daniel's telling the truth. He can't remember shit, and it scares him.
"Did you partake in any kind of recreational drug use during the night?" Fuck off. He already knows the answer to that. Daniel felt the frustration growing inside his chest.
"I don't remember." He said with a more strained tone.
"So, how did your brother get there?" Fuck. Poor Sean must be scared shitless. What the hell was he even doing there?
"I don't know, can I see him?" Daniel asked while sounding much angrier than intended.
"We'll get to that. Now, let's go over this again…" No. He can't do this shit anymore. The pressure's getting to him.
"I don't remember, don't you fucking get it?! I DON'T FUCKING REMEMBER!" Daniel screams at the top of his lungs.
"You- you can't fucking do this to me. I'm-" Daniel considers his next words carefully. He knows how fucked this situation is. His next move will only make him look more guilty, but it will give him some time to rest his exhausted mind.
"I'm not saying another word without a lawyer," Daniel says with slightly more confidence in his voice.
"Fuck…" Officer Matthews mumbled in silence.
"Have it your way then." Officer Matthews pressed a button to stop the recording. Then, he looked at Daniel.
"It won't change a thing, kid. You're going to prison for the rest of your fucking life." Daniel barely had time to comprehend what he just heard before he once again found himself alone in the room. He leans his aching skull against the cold, hard table, desperately trying to understand.
"Sean. What the hell were you doing there?"
Meanwhile, Sean stared at the gray concrete ceiling, trying to forget that he was there in the first place. He's a disgrace, undeserving of life itself. What would his father say about this? What would Esteban Diaz say when he found out that Sean had robbed him of his firstborn son?
Well, the rapid footsteps in the distance would suggest that he's about to find out.
Sean heard the door unlock, but did not care. In the corner of his eyes, Sean saw a figure enter the room, but Sean remained still. Be it fear, shock, or grief, he could not say. Perhaps all of them.
"Sean?" His father whispered to him while sitting down next to him on the bed. Sean refused to answer, nor did he move. He didn't want to face his father's eyes, knowing the pain he just brought upon him.
"Can you sit up, Sean? Please?" His father's voice is calm and comforting. Slowly, Sean sits up next to his father. The boy's feet hang several inches above the floor.
Esteban Diaz didn't say a word. Instead, he wrapped his arms around his youngest son, causing Sean to immediately burst into tears. This confirmed it.
His father had no words to tell him because that's how much shame he felt about having Sean as his son.
"I'm sorry, dad. Sorry, sorry, sorry!" Sean desperately apologized to his father who only hugged him tighter in response. He didn't know how long they sat there, but it felt like hours. Sean cried, cried, and he cried some more. No words were said between the two. Only when Sean felt like he's gotten it all out of his system did his father look at him.
"Are you ready to see your brother, Sean?" Esteban had yet to be updated on the exact words his youngest son had given in the interrogation room. Due to this, Esteban's got no reason to believe that Sean's spent the last day, thinking that his older brother's dead. The words felt like a dagger through his little heart. He's already seen Daniel dead once, and it broke him. Deep inside, however, Sean knows that he must do it once more.
For closure.
This time, there will be no blood and no chaos. Daniel will just be sleeping. He will look peaceful, and be in a much better place. No pain and no more stress of having to keep up with his own lies. This would just be Daniel.
His brother.
"Ok, dad." Little Sean takes his father's hand, and the two left the room. With every step he took, Sean felt his pulse increase tenfold. Sweat began to pour down his face, and his mind told him to do one thing, and one thing only.
Run.
Sean's heart, however, was stronger. His breathing's erratic, his legs are trembling, and he feels like he's about to throw up. Still, he's not going to back down from this. He needs to say goodbye, and he needs to… apologize.
They come to a stop outside a door. Sean keeps his eyes peeled on the floor to avoid the lettering on the tinted glass. He doesn't need to read it because he already knows what it says.
Morgue.
Behind this door rests his brother. The same brother he intended to help. He left his home with nothing but the best intentions in mind, and this is what happened. Fuck, he can't do it. Sean's legs won't hold him as the boy collapses to the floor.
"Sean?!" Esteban managed to grab hold of his arm, preventing Sean from hurting himself. He found himself on his knees while breathing rapidly.
"Calm down, Sean. Deep breaths, remember?" Sean closed his eyes and calmed his breathing along with his nerves. It took longer than he'd liked, but eventually, he felt ready to keep going.
"I'm good, I think… thanks." Sean nods to his father, his father nods to a guard, and the guard presses a button to unlock the door. Esteban opened the door, entering in front of Sean.
"Oh, Daniel, son…" Sean heard his father's sad voice in front of him as he looked at a table. Sean knew that this is it. On this table lies his big brother. His body sliced open, and his organs harvested to be sold on the fucking black market-
"No, stop. Not now. NOT FUCKING NOW!" Sean screams internally at his demented mind. Then, he acted quickly and pushed past his father to just get this shit over with.
Sean had prepared for a lot of things, however, what he didn't prepare for, was the one thing he wished for. He never thought for a second that Daniel would be…
Alive.
"Da- da- dan-" Sean can't even get the words out. Is this some kind of sick joke? No. He's sitting there, clear as day. Daniel, his brother. A bit messed up, but it's him. Sean's vision becomes blurry with tears, and the boy's sobbing silently.
"Sean. Are- are you ok, little brother?" In the back of his mind, Sean realized it. For the first time, Daniel genuinely cared for him and asked him due to legitimate concern for his well-being. Sean walks closer to his brother. Daniel was still handcuffed to the table but did his best to get as close to Sean's level as possible.
Then, Sean wrapped his small arms around his brother, and he cried. He cried because he was confused and angry, and scared. But also, Sean cried because he was happy. He went out that night, hoping to help Daniel, but also, help them be closer as brothers. Perhaps this is a humble beginning?
"I- I thought you were d- dead, Dan- Daniel. I thought you were dead." Daniel wants to hug his little brother back. Finally, he feels like he can do it mentally, but the fucking handcuffs prevent him from doing it physically. And it fucking sucks. Not even when life decides to give him a break can Daniel get a break.
"Don't worry, Sean. I'm ok. And… I'm glad you're not injured." Daniel says awkwardly. Sean, however, cannot seem to calm himself.
"What happened, Daniel?" Esteban asked his oldest son sounding very concerned. Meanwhile, Sean began to hyperventilate. It felt like someone just filled his lungs with concrete.
He remembers now.
From one second to the other, Sean remembered everything that went down that fateful night. The images fly through his retina at such speed, not even Sean can process what he's looking at.
"D- dad…?" Sean whimpers in an attempt to beg his father to help him with whatever is going on with him right now. Esteban, however, was too occupied talking to Daniel to even notice Sean.
"Da- Daniel?" Every single nerve in his small body was on fire. Sean wanted to scream, however, his subconscious did everything to stop that from happening. Blood began to pour from the boy's nose at an alarming rate, and his skin grew pale.
"Sean? Sean?! What's wrong?" He heard the concerned voice of his brother ask him. But it felt so distant.
"Daniel…" Sean cried as he embraced his older brother once again. He knew what happened now. Sean knew what caused that explosion, and killed all those people.
"What's happening, Sean?" Daniel tried to get his little brother to talk to him, maybe get some clue as to what was going on.
"I- I can't, Daniel. I can't…" Daniel exchanged a worried look with his father before continuing.
"What do you mean, Sean? You can't what?" The boy sounds absolutely terrified and clings to his brother as if his life depended on it.
"Stop it. I- I can't stop it, Daniel." The oldest of the pair grabbed a hold of his little brother, forcing Sean to look into his eyes. Daniel did his best to ignore the blood.
"What do you mean, Sean?" This very question would haunt Daniel Diaz for the rest of his life. He would never forget the innocent look on his younger brother's face as his childlike voice gave him a short, four-letter word in response.
"This." The innocent little Sean Eduardo did not lose consciousness this time. He watched, heard, smelled, tasted, and felt it happen. The boy, however, was powerless to do anything about it. With blood pouring from his eyes, nose, and mouth, the boy unleashed an inhuman roar and with it, a fire that burned the station to the ground in seconds.
The last image little Sean sees before exhaustion takes him into the land of dreams, is how Daniel tries in vain to wake their father up from a sleep that shall never end.
Notes:
Well, if it wasn't official before, It sure is now: Sean is the one with the power!
And it's not a carbon copy of the original LIS2's power either. This power (that I have yet to figure out the details of) will be much more destructive, and as the ending implies, Sean will have very little control over it. But it will be explained over time, no worries.
Also, I did kinda place an obvious hint at the last chapter's end poem...
Soaked in blood.
Eternity in arrest.
Do not bother.
Soon...
Everybody...
Diez...
S.E.D
S.E.D
Sean Eduardo Diaz...
The brothers began to bond a bit in this chapter, however, the events at the end of this chapter may have severe repercussions for their relationship. Or you know... not.
Please leave a comment below.
Enjoy!
K. S.
You swore.
You promised.
Protect him.
Keep him safe.
From the evils of this world.
However...
What of the evils beyond this world?
It scares you.
Fear of the unknown.
You do not know right.
Nor do you know wrong.
Worst of all.
You do not know.
Who you are protecting.
Are you protecting him from the world?
OR
Are you protecting the world from him?
Chapter 7: The Curse
Summary:
Daniel wakes up to a new and terrifying discovery that changes his life forever...
Notes:
Short chapter, but I'll explain why down below.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Daniel saw everything. He knew deep in his gut that he couldn't have done this heinous crime, however, Daniel almost wished that he did. The truth was so much worse. The truth was right there before his very eyes, and yet, Daniel could not believe what he was seeing.
Sean.
The boy he swore to protect from evil, now carried an appearance of evil incarnate. The small boy wanted to beg for help as he cried tears of blood, however, Daniel did not see it. All he could see, was steady streams of blood, pouring from Sean's eyes, nose, and mouth. His little brother's skin had turned pale, and the blood vessels had almost a black color to them. Little Sean's right eye screamed for someone to help him with this unknown horror. Daniel, however, only saw his left eye.
Sean's left eye had an intensity to them, unlike anything Daniel's ever seen before in his life. Whatever he was looking at right now, it wasn't his brother. Daniel wanted to help him, but he didn't know how. Could he even help Sean with this?
"Sean! Sean, come here!" Daniel tries to wrap his arms around his little brother, however, a massive force immediately sent Daniel flying to the corner of the room. Dazed and confused, Daniel looked around as the room started to crumble along with the building and everyone inside it.
"Finally…" Daniel thought as he realized that this was it for him. The ceiling's coming down, and he's about to be buried forever. His suffering has finally ended. Daniel closed his eyes while preparing to meet the reaper.
He didn't know how long he was out. It felt like hours. But if the daylight's anything to go by, it was more like minutes. Daniel moves around on the ground without fully remembering what went down. He can hear rapid breathing nearby, and the wind blows on his face. Daniel opens his eyes as the memories return.
"What- wha- what the fuck…" Daniel got to his feet, and then he just stood there, unable to move. The entire police station was reduced to rubble, and a pile of bodies was rendered unrecognizable. Who did this? What did this? Daniel starts to panic as he desperately tries to remember what he did before blacking out.
"Fuck. I- I was at the station, and dad came, and-" Daniel attempts to backtrack mentally before coming to a terrifying stop.
"DAD!" Daniel turns around, looking for his father.
No…
"Dad…?" On the ground behind him, lay the body of Esteban Diaz. His spine was broken, and the body had suffered severe burns. But his eyes finally had a sense of peace in them.
The same could not be said of Daniel.
"Dad, no, no, NO! Wake up, dad, WAKE THE FUCK UP! Don't you fucking leave me! Not you! Not fucking you!" Daniel grabs his father by the collar, attempting to shake some life into him, but there's no point. Esteban Diaz is dead. Daniel can't think straight. Nothing makes sense anymore. From the corner of his eye, he sees a small figure standing at the epicenter.
"Dad, please. Don't leave me alone with- with him. I- I don't know what to do." These words are not the words of Daniel, afraid of his demonic little brother. It's the real Daniel Diaz, confessing to his father how afraid he is of being alone with his younger brother. How awkward he feels when he can't even talk to his own little brother.
"Tell me what to do, dad. Just… tell me what to fucking do, please!" Daniel begs, receiving only silence in return. He can't do this. He can't fucking do this.
Then, something happened. Something that awoke a slumbering part of Daniel's mind.
The small body at the corner of his eyes fell to the ground with a loud thud. Immediately, Daniel put the pieces together. At least the necessary ones. Daniel was always less for thinking, and more for action. And right now, he needed to act.
"SEAN!" Daniel forces back the tears he wants to shed over his deceased father, and runs over to his little brother. Sean's covered in blood, and Daniel's got no idea if the blood belongs to Sean or someone else. But he can't stay here to find out. The image of his younger brother remains etched before him until the day he dies. Sean's unique in more ways than one, and nobody can ever know.
So Daniel acts.
He grabs the small body of his brother in his arms, and he runs. To where, he doesn't even know himself. But he does know why he's doing it. He's failed Sean before, and now, Sean needs him more than ever. Daniel can't let his brother go into foster care. For someone like Sean, foster care would be like a prison. Daniel runs while ignoring the pain in his legs, and the sirens in the distance. He desperately tries to hold back his tears along with his shock and confusion while avoiding that one thought in his head.
"I'm running to save myself. Sean's with me to save myself from guilt, nothing else." He doesn't want to believe it, but since it's there, a small part of him must believe it, right?
It felt like a small eternity. Sean had yet to wake up, and Daniel still ran through back alleys while carrying him in his arms. He had to make a stop, but where, and how? The cops confiscated all his money, so he can't do shit. Most likely, they did the same thing with Sean as well. All of Daniel's friends are dead, and even if they weren't, none would dare to help him. Daniel looks around while trying to figure out where they are.
Of course…
Without even thinking about it, Daniel began to run in the direction that made him feel the safest. He began running home. This is a bad idea, a very bad idea, however, Daniel can't figure out something better. He sneaks to the back of the house, unlocking the backdoor with the spare key Esteban had hidden under the porch.
The moment he entered his home, Daniel got this feeling. He knew that he would never return here again, for better or worse. Daniel also knew that they shouldn't stay long. It's a small miracle the cops haven't begun surveillance here already. Daniel slowly walks into Sean's room, carefully placing his brother on the bed. Then…
It all hit him.
Daniel marched into the bathroom, not bothering to close the door behind him. He barely made it in time to empty the contents of his stomach into the toilet. What the fuck has happened with his life? Daniel splashes some cold water on his face before looking at himself in the bathroom mirror. Ancient words of comfort echoed in his head.
"Nothing's wrong with you, Danny. We all love you for who you are. You should never have to put on a mask around people. If they don't like you for being you, then that's their loss. You are a wonderful person, Daniel, and I'm proud to have you as a son."
A complex mixture of emotions begins to stir in the teenager's gut. Love and hate, longing and bitterness, beloved and despised. Two emotions, however, stood out as stronger than the others. The first one, Daniel felt when looking at that thing in the mirror.
He did not see Daniel the beloved party animal, standing at the center of attention, loving the color of the spotlight. Neither did he see Daniel the compulsive liar who just convinced his father that everything was fine and under control.
No.
He no longer had a father to convince. He didn't, because he was dead. Dead, courtesy of this thing looking back at him in the mirror. This thing made his mother lose faith in him, leaving the entire family. It broke the entire household, and any relationship he ever had with his little brother, and now, it officially broke him. This thing…
Is the real Daniel Felipe Diaz.
"You fucked up again. But that's the story of your life, isn't it?" Daniel whispered to his mirror image. He received no response for obvious reasons.
"Yeah… fuck you too." Daniel felt an itch in his knuckles.
"FUCK YOU, FUCK YOU FUCK YOUUU!" Daniel punched the teenager in the face, causing the mirror to break, and shards of glass to pierce the skin on his hand. The pain did not bother him. He barely felt it. He barely felt anything. Daniel just felt… empty.
"What the fuck just happened? The entire fucking building's gone, dad's-" He can't even let the thought pass through his head. But that's not even the worst part. Daniel returns to his younger brother. He looks at the crimson mask that is Sean's face.
"Sean? What happened to you? What did you do?" Daniel cries while grabbing his brother's hand. This is his fault, isn't it? He did this to Sean. Well if he started it, then it's up to him to end it.
Sean's better off that way.
"FUCK, MAN!" Daniel screams at himself for even thinking such horrific thoughts. No, Sean did not do this. Whatever happened, it wasn't his fault. Sean would never harm a soul. Whatever this is, Sean needs someone to support him. Daniel knew this to be his time to step up. But Daniel needed support as well. Hell, he's probably needed it for the last year at the bare minimum.
Daniel sighs.
"First things first…" He exits the room and grabs a bucket of water along with a towel. No brother of his is going to look like that. Right before entering Sean's room again, however, Daniel comes to a halt.
He knows deep down that he shouldn't. If there ever was a time to keep his head clear, this is it. Then again, a part of him doesn't want to have a clear mind. It just wants to drift away to the far unknown where no problems of his exist.
"Fuck it," Daniel mumbles before going into his room. He opens a drawer, immediately grabbing the contents at the bottom. Three bottles of scotch. He hates scotch which is why it's been here for so long, however, it's not the taste he's after now. Daniel drinks half a bottle in one go before putting the rest in his backpack. Then, he returns to Sean.
Daniel never felt so horrified in his life. Although Sean seemed unharmed, the blood made it difficult to tell if that was the case or not. He expected to see an open gash at any minute while his little brother bled to death in front of his very eyes. The alcohol didn't do shit. He still remembered everything, and it still felt real. It still happened.
Fuck…
It felt like hours, but eventually, Sean look like himself again. Thankfully, he's not injured. Not even a scratch. Daniel couldn't help but think of how different it felt. Not too long ago, he looked at Sean, and he saw a demon, a monster. Something that would be better off dead even if it meant that he would be the one to do it. When he looks at Sean now, however, things are very different.
His little brother looks like he's asleep. No anxiety, no worries, no nothing. He looks so innocent. Few people, Daniel himself included, would believe that this small boy just destroyed an entire police station, killing everyone inside.
"Sean." Daniel grabs his brother's hand.
"I- I know I've been a shitty brother to you." It still hurt to talk about it. Sean being unconscious, however, made it slightly easier.
"I've been a shitty brother to you, and I'm sorry. Whatever happens from now on, we'll get through it together, Sean. Like brothers." Sean didn't move a muscle, leaving Daniel with his slow, silent breaths in response. Tears began to pour down the older brother's face as he knew that he had to take care of his little brother from now on, until the day he dies.
"You don't have to be afraid anymore, Sean. I promise you that, little brother." Daniel builds up his brave mask yet again. Little did he know, however, that the one he built it for, is the only one who sees straight through him.
And Daniel Diaz…
Is very, very afraid.
Notes:
I wanted this chapter to be longer and with a lot more content, however, tomorrow I'm leaving town for about a week, which means there will be no updates until I get back. I really wanted to get one last chapter out. Usually, I always put quality first, but this is the same quality, just shorter than expected.
Now the brothers are about to go on the run. At first, I planned on them going to a motel immediately. Then I figured it would be impossible since the cops would've confiscated everything Daniel had on him. Instead, Daniel runs to the only place he knows should be safe - home.
I have a lot planned for how Sean and Daniel will act when on the run. Their personalities are different, and so are their set of minds along with their knowledge. More on that later. Also, Sean's power will get some more explanation further on, however, know this keyword: PAIN!
District V - For Victory! (If you know, you know)
Feel free to leave a comment below.
Enjoy!
K. S.
This is you.
Loser.
Unwanted.
Pathetic.
Guardian?
This is him.
The favorite.
Innocent.
Caring.
Murderer?
Can you take care of him?
Teach him right from wrong?
OR
Will he take care of you?
Doing wrong along the way?
Chapter 8: The Perfect Storm
Summary:
The reality slowly sinks in as Sean regains consciousness. The question is, does Sean know the entire truth?
Notes:
Well, that's enough traveling for me this year. Here's the newest chapter, and sorry for the long wait.
EDIT: This chapter had a decent-sized continuity error, but that has now been fixed. No more clones!
P.S. - Kudos to the one who finds the God Of War reference...
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The human body has over seven trillion nerves. And right now, every single one of them hurt in the body of Sean Diaz. He wasn't used to this type of pain. Sure, he's had some aches once or twice the day after a soccer game which is only one of the reasons he quit. This, however, was different. Everything from head to toe felt like it was on fire. He could barely open his eyes.
"Uh…" Sean groaned while looking around, trying to get his bearings. He's in his bed, in his room, and in his home. Sean breathes a sigh of relief. It was all just a horrible nightmare.
"I'm still safe." Sean mentally repeats the secret mantra that helps him push back the negative thoughts.
"I'm safe in here. Nobody can hurt me here, and nobody can get to me. I am safe, I am safe, I am safe-" Then, Sean looked to his left.
"Hey, buddy." Sean froze when he saw Daniel on a chair next to the bed. He didn't need to look his older brother in the eyes to know what this meant. In the nine years that Sean's existed, Daniel's never done anything remotely similar to this.
It was no dream.
It was real.
Sean killed dozens if not hundreds of innocent people, including his best friend, and his father. Sean's vision becomes blurry with tears as the vision of himself slaughtering their father replays over and over again in his mind. He can't speak, he can't move, and his father's no longer there to help him through his pain.
"Sean…?" Daniel tries to put his hand on Sean's shoulder awkwardly, but Sean immediately shakes it off. The younger Diaz brother sat up while pulling his knees to his chest, and leaning his back against the corner of the wall.
This is Sean Diaz, shutting out the outside world. It happened a lot when he was younger before the family knew about his needs. Daniel knew from experience that there were only two people that could get to Sean when he was in this state. One of them is dead, and the other stopped giving a shit.
"Sean, I know it hurts, but-" Fuck, Daniel's hurting too. He can barely hold it together.
"We can't stay here, man. The cops are gonna come looking for us." Sean doesn't respond to him. He barely acknowledges his presence in the room. Damn it, how can he reach him?
"I feel safe here, Daniel." Sean's not a child to have long conversations, but his words carried weight when spoken.
Safe.
"Sean, do you trust me?" Finally, Sean made eye contact with him. Daniel, however, failed to notice how Sean's nose twitched ever so slightly when the boy smelled the alcohol on Daniel's breath. Little Sean, however, was far too broken to care right now.
"I- I trust you, Daniel," Sean said through his sobs. Daniel felt a need to comfort his younger brother but failed to act, blaming it on a lack of time instead of his demons.
"Sean, you're safe with me, I promise. I need you to trust me on this, and I know it sucks, but-" Both boys looked out the window as a faint sound could be heard in the distance.
Sirens.
"Fuck! Come on, Sean, we gotta go! Let's go!" Daniel grabs Sean's backpack, not even bothering to put something inside. In Daniel's backpack lies two and a half bottles of scotch along with a variety of items.
"SEAN! WE HAVE TO GO, YOU FUCKING RETARD!" Poor Sean's scared senseless by the chaos that just invaded the only place he felt safe. But Daniel's afraid too. Afraid of going to prison, or getting the death sentence. Afraid of what would happen to Sean if the wrong people were to find out what he can do. Daniel completely loses his cool, grabbing Sean hard by the wrist before running out the back door. Panic, fear, and broken hearts weigh down the two brothers as they run from their home in an attempt to find peace.
Several hours later…
It's dark and cold, and even if Sean thought it to be impossible, his body hurts even more. He's starving and feels sick at the same time. Daniel's been saying for the last two hours that they're almost there. Well…
Daniel's a jackass!
And why is that?
It's because they're here. Now, where exactly is here?
"I know, Sean, it's a roach motel. But trust me- I know the owner." Sean facepalms internally. Every cop in town will search this place. How could his brother be so smart and so stupid at the same time? Sean should say something. He should, but he can't. Why is it always so hard for him to speak up?!
The brothers walk inside the motel. Sean had to admit that it felt good to be indoors. Daniel approached the front desk, leaning against it. Sean literally saw how Daniel put his game face on. In some ways, he felt jealous.
"Hey there, David! It's been a while, huh?" Sean never forgets a name. He's never heard of someone called David before. Sean stares at the man called David while hiding behind the boy called Daniel. He studies his every move, analyzing him, searching for the smallest hint of doubt or betrayal. Right now, David appeared to be more tired than anything.
Tired of Daniel to be precise.
"You know you're not welcome here after that stunt you pulled last time, Diaz," David said with a tired voice, almost as if he knew he wasn't going to win this one.
"Hey-hey, that was not my fault, we've been through this already. Brett stole my booze, so I stole it back." The look on David's face suggests that Daniel left out a large portion of the story.
"Okay, maybe I punched him a few times, and maybe I kicked him while he was down and out- but it was self-defense, dude." David rolled his eyes before sighing once more.
"What do you want, Daniel?" Sean looks at his brother, noticing the self-indulgent smile as he enjoys his victory.
"Nothing big, man, just a two-bed room for the night." The phrase "two-bed" caught David's attention. Only now when he stood up, did Sean notice the size of this behemoth.
"You're not alone? I don't trust the people you're with, Daniel!" Sean sees no other option than to step forward and show his face. David's staring down at him, and Sean's too afraid to meet his judging gaze.
"Who is that kid?" David sounds more concerned than angry at this point.
"It's my brother. Dad's… out of town, and I lost my keys, so we need someplace to stay. He won't cause any trouble, he's just a bit of a weirdo, I guess." Daniel may have said that solely to get them a room, however, the words hurt no less because of it.
"Goddammit…" David finally relents.
"Room eleven- but you better pay up tomorrow!" Daniel grabbed the keys and went towards the room with Sean without saying a word.
The room was awful. It smelled like a sewer and looked about the same. Still, it didn't stop Daniel from collapsing in a straight line on one of the beds. He couldn't sleep though. Too much had happened for any of them to sleep. Only now does everything start to settle in Sean's mind.
He locks himself in the bathroom, just to get some kind of peace and quiet. Then he looked at himself in the mirror. The boy he saw in there, wasn't him. It looked like him, but it wasn't him. Sean looks at his palms. He even smells them.
Nothing.
Not even a trace.
Still, the image of fire shooting out of his hands while his blood vessels turn black is forever etched in his retina. That sure as hell was no dream.
"What's happening to me?" Sean asked nobody in particular. Whatever this is, it goes against every possible logic that Sean knows to exist. It simply should not be possible.
But it is.
It's possible, it's real, and horrible things happened because of it. Dark thoughts begin to appear in the mind of Sean Diaz. He knows that Daniel never killed anyone. He did it all. Sean killed them. Sean's the one the police want. And the thought of it terrifies the small child. Little does he know, his older brother's the one wanted for his crimes.
"Maybe I could just-" Sean looks at his mirror image, at the demon that taunts him in return.
"End it? I could end you." It's not like he's never considered it before. But he's never actually done something.
"Hey, Sean? I convinced David to get us a pizza. Come and eat something." Little Sean Eduardo closed his eyes before sighing deeply.
"Yeah. Coming…" He blows up an entire police station with his bare hands of fire and gets his life saved by a pizza. What the fuck happened to his life?
The very second Sean left the bathroom, something changed inside him. Almost as if his father still helped him from above.
"Nowhere is safe anymore. Not when I'm around. And this place sure as hell isn't safe. We have to go now. I don't want to get Daniel involved, but I'm just a kid. I need him." Sean may only be nine years old, but his way of thinking is similar to that of an adult, unlike his teenage brother.
Sean knows that he's a murderer. Therefore, his anxious, and chaotic mind has convinced him that he's the one wanted by the police, not Daniel. The fact that a semi-autistic nine-year-old boy would never go to jail, fails to enter his fragile mind. Sean knows that he needs to get as far away from Seattle as possible, and he knows he needs Daniel's help to do it. A lonely child walking the streets downtown is bound to attract attention in many ways, neither of them good.
And Daniel?
Daniel Felipe Diaz knows the streets, he knows the people, and he can talk his way out of, or into, anything and everything. He does, however, have his fair share of weaknesses.
That's where Sean comes in…
Little Sean Eduardo Diaz may fear the streets both day and night. However, the seemingly innocent boy makes up for his silence and awkwardness with a variety of skills most people could only dream of. Near-photographic memory, attention to detail that goes beyond this world, and a creative mind to solve problems most people find impossible.
Alone, they're crippled, broken, semi-functioning human beings.
United, however, things will be different. The two of them working together would be like a perfect storm. One brother possesses the very ability that the other brother lacks. They complete one another.
In theory. In a theory, currently residing inside the head of a very frightened nine-year-old boy. His theory is a long shot, and he knows it. Then again, anything's better than staying here. Then again, that pizza smells damn good.
FUUUCK!
Little Sean gathers every ounce of courage in his small body as he prepares to speak up. There's simply no other way.
"Daniel?" His older brother turned to him while stuffing his face with pizza.
"Mhuh?" He tries, Sean's got to give him that. But he can see that Daniel's in so much pain. The guilt feels painful in his chest.
"It's not safe here." Sean did his best. He tried to sound confident. But the chaos in his head and around him just makes him want to lie down and scream.
"What? Don't worry, Sean. I trust David even if he's a bit of a weirdo." Daniel's hurtful words from before now struck Sean once more.
"You mean like me?" Sean said hurtfully while sitting down at the table. Daniel looked at him, opened his mouth as if to speak, but then closed it again without a word.
"You said I could trust you, Daniel. Now… I want you to trust me." Sean tries to convince his older brother. Daniel, however, looks at him like he's from another planet.
"Sean, you're nine. I'm the adult, so I make the decisions now when dad's-" And that's when little Sean officially got really fucking mad.
"DEAD! He's fucking dead because I fucking KILLED HIM! I killed him, I killed him, I killed him!" Sean almost felt possessed. Be it all the strong emotions from the events that got them here, or the curse that resides within him, Sean Diaz screamed like never before.
However…
This time, he wasn't alone in his pain.
Barely had Sean opened his mouth before a pair of strong arms pulled him in for a tight hug. Little Sean screamed and cried into his brother's chest as Daniel provided him comfort for the first time in far too long.
"What's happening to me, Daniel? I- I don't know what I am anymore." Sean asked between his tears. Daniel had no idea what to answer, and he hated it.
"It's not your fault, Sean. It was… an accident." Sean looked into Daniel's eyes before asking a question neither of them wanted to know the answer to.
"Do you hate me, Daniel? Do you hate me for what happened?" Daniel's never been the sharpest tool in the box, to put it mildly. But he knows how complicated this is, and he definitely feels it as well. Whatever Sean did, he didn't do on purpose. That's not a theory, that's a simple fact. Daniel could never hate Sean. Then again, Sean killed their father. There's just no getting around it.
"Sean, I-" Daniel's face takes on a confused look when his little brother rushed over to the window. With no idea of what to expect, Daniel joins him. What they see is not good news.
David's talking to two police officers while pointing in the direction of their room.
"That fucking fat dobber!" Daniel almost screamed as he felt the sting of betrayal once again in his life.
"Daniel… we- can we-" Sean stumbles over his words, desperately trying to get Daniel to understand the situation.
So he did.
A smile spread across the face of the oldest Diaz as he turned to his little brother.
"You knew from the start, didn't you?" Sean nods slowly.
"Holy shit, Sean. I knew you were… special, but damn. I- I should have listened to you, bro. I'm sorry." Not even Sean could see how difficult it was for Daniel to get through those few sentences. But he did it.
"Can we go now, Daniel?" Sean really loved hearing his brother praise him, but this is serious.
"Oh, right, uh- let's go, Sean." Two brothers escaped through a backdoor, heading north with no plan in mind.
Unofficial homeless shelter in northern Seattle…
Esteban always told Sean to see the good side of things. No matter how difficult it was, he tried doing so now as a way to honor his father's memory. Today, he had gotten closer to his brother. That if anything, qualifies as good. Not only that, but Daniel comforted him in a time of need, and he even listened to him- well, eventually, he listened. But at least he was pretty damn impressed.
After leaving the motel in a hurry, Daniel said that they needed to find shelter for the night. Since they're now technically homeless, he suggested a homeless shelter.
It took some time.
Well, it took about thirty minutes, but in the end, Sean managed to explain why that wasn't an option since the cops would be watching those as well. At least the official ones. Sean asked his brother if he knew anyone who ran a shelter that wasn't actually a shelter but still kind of was.
Turns out that he did.
Daniel sort of knew this guy and slept with his girlfriend and sister- honestly, Sean zoned out pretty quickly. The important thing was that somebody's mom ran a shelter, and didn't ask any questions, no matter what. Everything's off the record, and unofficial, meaning it never happened.
It's perfect for them.
Sean sighs while listening to his stomach screaming for food yet again. Sure, the shelter gave them some soup, but it was more like water and some food coloring. It tasted like shit and only made him feel worse.
And now, here he is. On the floor, laying in a sleeping bag right next to his brother. Daniel's already out for the count. How he can sleep in the middle of this, Sean could never understand. Then again, booze helps. Sean puts his hands under his head as he stares at the ceiling, wishing he could at least see the night sky.
This is the time of the night when Sean would usually dive deep into psychological theories, the meaning of life, or a variety of complicated topics his mind tends to entertain.
Now?
A nine-year-old, traumatized boy cries in silence.
He cries for the people he killed and their families.
He cries for the father he killed.
He cries for the brother who's destined to go down with him.
But more than anything, Sean cries over what he's become.
Credit: curtis_undone
Notes:
First of all, I apologize for the delay. It was out of my control really...
Now:
From here, things will begin "for real". Some might wonder why I say that when like a hundred people have died already, but the story is about the brothers, is it not?
This chapter lays some groundwork for how they will act in the future. Daniel is what you can call "street-smart". He can talk, he knows people, and he can even pretend to know people to an extent. Daniel, however, is also a borderline alcoholic with a short fuse, and on the overall scale, not very intelligent.
Meanwhile, Sean is (I don't want to say book smart) "smart" smart. Basically, he's smart as a motherfucker. He sees things that others don't, but feels uncomfortable around people in general, and can also confuse simple everyday stuff at times. This is one of the reasons why he believes himself to be the one wanted for murder.
In theory, they complete one another.
In theory...
In Chaos Theory? (I'll see myself out)
Daniel = Act first & don't think about it later.
Sean = Think first & maybe act on it later if necessary.
I want to thank curtis_undone for the fantastic artwork of Sean. Keep doing what you're doing!
Please leave a comment below.
Enjoy!
K. S.
One brother.
Manipulative.
Camouflaged.
Convincing.
Another brother.
Intelligent.
Unique.
Genius.
Separated.
They are nothing.
Doomed.
United as brothers?
They're unstoppable.
Like the perfect storm.
But ye be warned!
You may be the perfect storm.
But you shall always...
Always...
Be the eye of it.
Chapter 9: Parasite
Summary:
Having left their hometown, each brother gets closer to the breaking point. Sometimes, however, a breaking point might generate unexpected results...
Notes:
Sorry about the Brody "clone" in the last chapter. That was a mistake and has now been fixed.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
An unknown forest in the outskirts of Seattle – Two days later…
Well if it wasn't official before, it is now. Daniel can't even follow directions when their lives are at stake, meaning they're both lost. Lost in the middle of nowhere with no food, no water, and nobody to come to their rescue. He's so tired. His body's aching, just screaming at him to get some well-earned rest.
But where, and how?
This isn't exactly a camping spot, and even if it was, they don't have any camping equipment. Fuck, he's so not cut out for this. Daniel sighs while stopping to let Sean catch up to him.
"I- I think we should rest for a while, Sean." His younger brother didn't say anything in return, but carefully put his backpack down on the ground. Daniel couldn't really blame him for not speaking. He just killed dozens of innocent people, and their father, using a power that shouldn't even exist. What Daniel doesn't know, however, is that Sean's also troubled by the belief that he's the wanted one instead of Daniel.
They only spent one night at the homeless shelter before leaving. Since then, they've been walking nonstop to get as far away from Seattle as possible. Well, mission completed. Daniel's so far away from home that he's got zero clue where he is. Well done.
Idiot.
Daniel sees how Sean sits down with his back against a tree to rest. Meanwhile, the oldest brother begins to look around, in hopes of seeing a hot dog vendor in the distance. Obviously, no such thing exists out here. For now, he'll settle for these berries. He walks over to a bush, grabbing a red and juicy berry in his hand while preparing to eat his first meal in two days.
"Daniel, NO!" Sean screamed before rushing forward, slapping the berry out of his hand. For a millisecond, Daniel had to resist the impulse to use the same hand to slap his younger brother.
"Sean, what the fuck, man? I'm starving, and you pull shit like this?!" He could see that Sean was scared, but right now, he didn't care. He's so close to the breaking point, and he's afraid of what might happen when he reaches it.
"They're poisonous, Daniel. You would get sick. I- I don't want you to get sick… you're my brother." Sean whimpered in fear.
Daniel sighed. He felt like an asshole, and he knew he should apologize. Sean's very sensitive about these things and doesn't like it when someone yells at him. But Daniel's a very sensitive person as well. The only problem is that he's buried that part deep within, and never intends to let it out again. Daniel pretends like nothing happened while sitting down with his back against a large tree.
Meanwhile, Sean seems to do… something, but Daniel just can't be bothered right now. He just can't. Daniel's supposed to help Sean, but who's going to help Daniel?
Nobody.
That's who.
They're going to die out here, and he knows it. The mind of Daniel Diaz starts to run wild, and it never runs to a good place.
"It's over. We're dead. I don't know where we are, and I don't have any fucking food. We're… we're fucking dead." Daniel's chaotic train of thought, however, is interrupted by his little brother placing something in his palm.
"Here, Daniel," Sean said cautiously. Daniel looked at his palm, noticing a few mushrooms, and some unknown berries.
"Sean- What… uh- what is this?" Daniel felt so stupid sometimes.
"It's food, Daniel. Eat it." Sean mumbles while sitting down next to his older brother.
"Oh… thanks, Sean," Daniel said before looking down at his dinner. It wasn't much, but it's better than nothing.
"Wait- what about you, Sean?" His little brother doesn't have anything to eat, and Daniel swore to take care of him.
"No, thanks. I'm… not that hungry. I just want to rest." Had Daniel thought about it, he would have noticed how Sean couldn't look him in the eyes while answering his question. Then again, Daniel's not known for thinking too much. Ten seconds later, Daniel had finished eating. Oh, the things he would do for a cheeseburger now.
Still, he couldn't deny that Sean helped him. It was a nice gesture considering how he acted just seconds before. His little brother's too kind for this world sometimes. Daniel turns to look at him, and Sean's half asleep. He can barely keep his eyes open.
"We should get some rest, Sean. You've earned it today." Almost like he pressed a button, Sean's head leaned back against the tree, and the boy fell asleep. Daniel drags his palm across his face as he opens his backpack as silently as possible.
"Shit…" He whispers in despair as he takes a few large sips of scotch before putting the bottle back. Just a few seconds later, both Diaz brothers are asleep.
Hours later…
Little Sean Eduardo woke up in his bed. He looks around to get his bearings, but he's definitely back in his room, home, and place of comfort and safety. Whatever madness that was, it was all in his head.
"God… I'm never leaving this room again." Sean whispered to himself, part joke, and part serious. Maybe he'll have breakfast first. The boy got out of his bed and then someone knocked on the door to his room. His mother ditched him, and Daniel never cared, so that means-
"Dad, is that you?" Sean may be convinced that last night was just a dream, but he still feels insecure about his father's fate.
"I just want to check in on you, Seanie. You usually don't sleep this long." Sean's never felt so relieved in his life. He ran to the door, opened it, and embraced his father without hesitation.
"DAD!" The boy cried tears of joy upon seeing his father alive.
"Is there something wrong, Sean? You sound upset, son." his father asked with the same combination of comfort and concern he always has.
"I- I- no, nothing's wrong. Just a stupid dream…" Sean sobs while refusing to let go of his embrace.
"Well, do you want to tell your papito about it, Sean?" Technically no, but Esteban Diaz is the only person that can convince him of anything.
"Something about me being… cursed, and- I- I- did bad things, dad. Really bad things. I- I killed you. And I know it was just a dream, but I want you to know that I'm so sorry." Sean's feeling that familiar pressure on his chest again as a panic attack is around the corner.
"Sean-" No. Sean's not listening.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Esteban hugs his youngest son even tighter for comfort as Sean cries out his pain.
"Sean, listen to me." He whispers into the child's ear, receiving nothing but crying in return.
"I forgive you, my son." Sean's breathing seemed to even out as he heard those words.
"You- you mean it? Thanks, dad, you're the greatest. I know it was just a stupid dream, but it felt so… real." The last word sent a chill through his entire body for reasons he did not understand, nor had the time to think about.
"Lo siento mucho, hijo mío…" His father whispered in his native tongue, something little Sean had yet to learn.
"Ella tenía razón… estás maldito." The temperature dropped to below zero as Esteban broke their embrace. Now, Sean could finally look at his father. He wants to look away, but his entire body feels frozen and unable to move. His gaze stuck on his father.
Or, what's left of him.
His eyes are white and dead while most of his body suffered severe burns. Esteban raised a pale finger and pointed at his youngest son.
"You did this to me, Sean. YOU DID THIS!"
In the forest of the unknown…
Sean woke up screaming, or so he thought. His mouth was open, but no sound came out of it. His ears are ringing like he just busted an eardrum, and the cold ground has made his body near-frozen. Sean feels something inside of him. Something ugly, dangerous, and evil. And he feels how it's growing. Like a parasite, attaching itself to a host. And when the host is no longer needed, it's disposed of.
Sean's the host in this scenario. And the parasite, whatever it is, is dangerous beyond his understanding. He feels an odd pain spread from his skull, all the way to his arms and fingertips. The pain gets worse, and Sean can't even make a sound. Sean looked down at his hands. The same hands that killed his father, and ruined both his and Daniel's lives.
"Not real… not real…" The boy whimpered in despair, hoping for this to be a horrible nightmare.
But no. This is very real.
Sean witnessed how the vessels in his hands began turning black, just like last time. It's happening again, and he can't do shit to stop it. He must get away from Daniel. If he ever hurt his big brother-
"I- I just can't live with that, Daniel. I'm sorry." Sean whispered as he forced himself to his feet. With the pain sending him into panic mode, Sean ran straight forward without any idea of where he was going.
He didn't get far, however, before stumbling to the ground, courtesy of a small rock.
That's when it happened.
Little Sean Eduardo hurt his knee in the fall. Not much, but enough to make him wince in pain while crawling up toward a tree for support. The pain he felt moments ago had faded away, and his breathing returned to normal. Then, Sean realized something.
He realized that he was alone.
Alone in a dark forest with tall trees, and nothing to save or comfort him. Sean's a smart child. He's more than that. But no intelligence in the world can save you from fear. Sean tries to hide his face under the hoodie, but all that does is make the sounds more obvious. The animals, watching him from afar, just waiting for the right moment to strike.
"No. I- I don't wanna. I wanna go home. Please…" The boy closed his eyes while covering his ears, attempting to block out the outside world once again.
"Go away, go away, go away!" Sean felt it happening. He would never admit it to anyone, but it almost felt… good. He carries so much pain and so much anger. This way, he rids himself of some of it. Sadly, the bad outweighed the good by far. A deafening sound echoed in his ears as multiple trees fell to the ground without explanation. Sean didn't open his eyes, but he knew that he was the one who did it.
Seconds later, he felt a pair of strong arms grab him. Daniel, his brother, had finally awakened from his drunken sleep.
"Sean, are you ok?! SEAN?!" Daniel screamed in a state of panic. Sean didn't respond, nor did he open his eyes. He didn't want to see the horrors he had caused this time. Daniel sighed before lifting his little brother in his arms and taking him back to their camp.
Daniel placed him on the ground carefully before laying down next to him. Only now did Sean dare to open his eyes. To have Daniel look at him with genuine concern did make him feel slightly better.
"Do you- wanna talk about it, Sean?" No. He doesn't want to talk about it. What would he even say? This shouldn't even be possible. It goes against everything that everyone has ever known in the history of mankind.
"No." Sean's voice broke on a single word. Daniel gently removes it with his thumb.
"Hey… it's ok. We're gonna get through this, Sean. I- I promise." And then…
Little Sean Eduardo broke.
The boy started crying, loud, heartbreaking tears of pain and sorrow. His older brother wrapped his arms around him, letting him cry on his shoulder. With his brother, Sean felt safe. He felt strong, brave, and confident. No longer did he feel alone and afraid of the dark. But he still feared what awaited them. Tonight could have ended badly for them both. What happens on the day Daniel's not there to support him?
Does he even want to know?
"I'm scared, Daniel. I- I can't do this." Sean says between his tears.
"Sure you can, Sean. You're the smartest person I know, and it's ok to be scared. We're gonna get through this, don't worry." For once, Sean buys into the lies of his older brother. Daniel didn't believe for a second that they would get through this. However, that would not stop him from trying. But there's one thing he needs to do first.
He needs to find out exactly what his little brother is capable of.
Notes:
I'm starting to get a decent picture of how this fic will look. I have a lot of stuff planned that ranges from "similar/somewhat similar/zomgwtf did this come from" when comparing it to the original story.
This chapter can sort of be seen as the "Into the woods" part of the story. Nothing huge happens, but there's some brotherly bonding and other interesting/worrying elements (drinking, Sean's power).
It also displays some of Sean's knowledge with him stopping Daniel from eating the berries, and finding something else for him instead. He's not a kid that goes outdoors, but he still knows a lot of this stuff because... because smart. It's worth mentioning that Sean mostly thinks of "bad" things when he looks at Daniel. Like how miserable he (Daniel) is, and how he lies all the time, etc. Meanwhile, Daniel has started to open his eyes a bit to who Sean really is.
Any Spanish has been translated via Google Translate, so be kind. That happened because I just like writing dream sequences. That, and mirror stuff for some reason...
The next chapter will have Daniel attempt to look into the power/curse a bit deeper, in an attempt at understanding what's going on with Sean. But is that really a wise decision?
Chapter 10 carries the answer... or not.
Please leave a comment below.
Enjoy!
K. S.
The leech.
On the outside.
Feeding.
On the host's blood.
The parasite.
On the inside.
Feeding.
On the host.
The leech.
It needs no host.
Only nourishment.
The parasite.
It needs a host.
To avoid certain death.
The unknown.
It resides within you.
Like a parasite.
It feeds on your blood.
Like a leech.
It needs you.
And now...
You need it.
Symbiosis.
However...
The unknown.
Is unknown.
To everyone.
Except those who remain pure.
Chapter 10: Symbol Of Five
Summary:
Daniel tries to convince his brother to use his abilities. Be careful what you wish for...
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
The next day…
They say that with great power, comes great responsibility. Well, Daniel Diaz isn't exactly known to be a responsible person. His younger brother carries something unpredictable, something dangerous, and has accidentally killed with it. And Daniel has every intention to find out what that is today.
What's the worst that could happen, right?
Well for starters, Sean's not exactly thrilled by the idea.
"I- I really don't want to, Daniel," Sean says weakly to his older brother. The pair had walked deeper into the woods and now stood next to a small river.
"Oh, come on, Sean…" The boy looked at his older brother, expecting him to say something more, but he clearly overestimated Daniel on that one. Sean turns his back on him and stares across the river.
"Sean, look- I know you're scared, okay? But the only way to not be scared, is to control it, right?" Actually, Daniel had no clue if that was true or not. He ripped that speech from some old movie, hoping Sean wouldn't notice it. He really wanted to know what the fuck this shit is. No matter what.
"I- I don't even know what to do, Daniel." Sean turns to face him. It pains Daniel to see his little brother so scared of something neither of them understands.
"Well… what do you think?" Daniel can't be the adult here. He's forever stuck in kid mode himself.
"I don't know, Daniel," Sean said sadly as he turned his eyes to look at the ground.
"So, just try something out, Sean. You know… use the force." Daniel jokingly said while raising his hand as if using the force like a Jedi.
"I- I don't-" Sean starts to argue against his brother before Daniel gives him a look that says "I believe in you, little brother."
"God damn it," Sean mutters as he raised his hand awkwardly, not having the slightest clue of what to expect. He feels stupid, and ridiculous like he's on display at a freak show. Maybe he should be.
"This is stupid, Daniel," Sean begs for Daniel to just stop this misery. The boy's hand, however, remains in place.
"Don't give up, Sean. Just- you see that rock over there? Try to do… something with it, okay?" This time, Daniel felt stupid. He didn't even know what "something" was. Then again, Daniel's not known for paying attention to details. For example, he didn't notice the small veins on his little brother's arm.
They began turning black.
"I said I don't want to…" Sean said in a much more determined tone than usual. The boy's right hand remains in the air as the veins grow darker by the second. Neither brother has noticed it thus far.
"Sean, just give it a try-" Daniel tried to sound encouraging, however, his little brother interrupted him.
Sean.
Interrupted Daniel.
"I said I don't WANT TO!" Little Sean screamed at the top of his lungs, and yet Daniel's attention was anywhere but on Sean. Moments ago it was a beautiful day with a clear blue sky, and the sun shining down on them. Not a cloud in sight.
And then Sean screamed.
Daniel's not sure what scared him the most. The way his little brother's voice reached volumes that should be impossible, or the deafening lightning bolts that followed. Either way, Daniel fell flat on his ass in terror, and looked up at the image of his nightmares.
Sean looks him right in the eyes. His entire body was trembling like it could fall apart at any minute. He's crying, not tears, but blood. And still, that's not even the scariest part. What scares Daniel more than anything, is right behind his little brother.
A brother that seems smaller with every passing second.
At first, Daniel didn't understand what it was. Something wide and dark rose behind his brother. Then he realized what it was, and the implications of it.
The river.
Somehow, without even realizing it, Sean began to raise a massive wall of water behind his back. Daniel watched in awe and horror equally while he found himself unable to move an inch. The wall kept rising higher and higher, and the small beach they stood on grew darker and darker.
"I killed us both…" Daniel thought for a second while considering his options. Did he even have any?
"Sean, you need to calm down." Daniel stood up slowly as he tried to talk some sense into his younger brother.
"Just run, Daniel. RUN! I- I don't wanna hurt you." Daniel could hear how terrified Sean was, and it hurt so much. He can't run away. No chance in hell. If they die, they die together.
Daniel makes a break for it, and runs to his little brother, wrapping his arms around him.
The rumbling thunder disappeared in a heartbeat, leaving a place for the sun to return. The massive wall of water came crumbling down into a minor tsunami on the other side of the river. Daniel's eardrums were almost shattered by the sound, but it still wasn't nearly as painful as the sound that followed it.
Sean's crying.
"I- I- I don't know w- w- what's w- wrong with m- me, Daniel." This time, the boy cried very real tears. Daniel didn't know what to say. What he just saw, it shouldn't be possible. It's the kind of shit you see in movies. And somehow, his nine-year-old brother can do it.
But not him.
Daniel pushed that thought to the back of his mind. This is not the time for selfish acts. He needs to be a big brother now, and probably for a very long time in the future as well.
"Are you… hurt, Sean? Like, are you in any pain?" Sean remains silent for a while before nodding his head.
"Okay, I need you to tell me where it hurts, and how bad it is," Daniel told his brother while attempting to hide his concern.
"Here, and… here." Sean points to his head and then his heart. Daniel wasn't sure what to do. This is far beyond his understanding.
"Just- lay down, okay. You need to rest." Sean lays down on the ground in silence while keeping his back against Daniel. He's not sure what to do anymore. Daniel had hoped to get some answers by seeing Sean's ability with his own eyes, but all it did, was give him more questions. Daniel looks at the sobbing mess that is his little brother, and extends his hand for comfort-
Wait…
Daniel sees something there. On Sean's neck. What is that? Daniel looks closer, taking great care not to disturb Sean, just in case.
"What the fuck…" His eyes weren't deceiving him. Below the hairline on Sean's neck, is a mark.
Not a birthmark, not a scar, and sure as hell, not a tattoo.
But a mark of sorts.
A large circle with a triangle inside it. Within the triangle, there's a small square, and the square contains a small circle.
Now, Daniel could've just brushed this away as nothing had it not been for one little detail.
The mark or whatever it was, was glowing red. A fading glow, but he's sure of it. What the hell is this, and what does it mean?
"Daniel?" Sean whispered to his older brother in despair, snapping Daniel out of his trance-like state.
"Huh- what?" He looks at Sean for less than two seconds before returning to the mark on his neck.
That was nowhere to be seen.
"I'm cold, Daniel." Sean looked at him with so much pain in his eyes. Whatever just happened, he can save it for another time.
"Here, Sean. It's gonna keep you warm." Daniel takes off his hoodie, proceeding to wrap it around Sean like a tight blanket.
"But- won't you get cold too?" Sean asked with concern. Classic Sean. Always putting others before himself.
"Dude, it's a sunny summer day, I'm gonna do just fine." The fact that Sean's freezing just shows that something's off.
"Thanks, Daniel. You're- you're a good brother." Daniel didn't respond to that. He didn't know how. Still, it felt good to hear it. Moments later, Sean Diaz fell asleep. Daniel, however, remained awake, and in deep thought.
Today, Sean almost killed him with a bolt of lightning, and he almost killed them both with a tsunami. Daniel can't wrap his head around this shit, what it is, and why Sean. It makes no sense. And it's dangerous too. Sean's got zero control over it, and there are already plenty of examples of what could happen if things get out of hand.
"What am I going to do?" Get away from here with Sean. Somewhere safe, where people won't bother them. There, they could figure out his… ability, and maybe he could learn to control it or at least suppress it. That sounds like a good place to start. Then, after Sean controls it, they can figure out where to go next.
"But where the fuck do we go now?" Daniel mumbled in hopes of getting some answers. He's a wanted man, deemed "armed and very dangerous" which means that a lot of people would shoot him on sight. They can't exactly rely on the kindness of strangers anymore.
"Fuck… one step at a time, Daniel. One step at a time…" Daniel sighed as he starts to question his ability to take care of his brother.
"Where do we go from here?" Daniel desperately tried to come up with a plan but ended up with nothing. He's got nowhere to go, and no friends to call for help since they're all fucking dead. They don't have any money for food either, meaning something needs to be done, and fast. Daniel's not proud of what he considers doing, but he can't let Sean starve to death.
"I know, dad, and I'm sorry. I just- I can't let him starve. I hope you can forgive me." Daniel mumbled as he mentally prepared himself for the next phase of his non-existent plan. They need food. Real food. And clothes too. A bit of cash wouldn't harm either. One question remains, however…
Where's the nearest gas station?
Notes:
Bit of a short chapter here, but I wanted to keep the focus on the power reveal for now. Plus, I prefer to do more short chapters, rather than fewer longer chapters.
So we now start to get a decent picture of what Sean's powers can do (we=me as well). There are more than a few hints in this chapter for the future, and I have a lot planned down the line. Right now, I just need to figure out what "A" is. After that, I got pretty much "B-Y" figured out (Z= ending), so this is going to be interesting in the long run.
Hopefully, people understand the symbol I described. I really hate it when I make things too obvious/too difficult.
And don't think for one second that you've seen all of Sean's abilities...
Please leave a comment below.
Enjoy!
K. S.
You possess great power.
But you do not want it.
You can do things others cannot.
But wish you could not.
You wish to be normal.
But you are anything but.
Little do you know.
The meaning of your power.
What you can do with it.
And...
What others want you to do with it.
Chapter 11: Elementally Unique
Summary:
A seemingly normal trip to the gas station brings severe consequences for the brothers...
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
The next day…
Sean's starving, his muscles are aching, and he's so very tired. But none of that bothered him right now. The only thing he could think of was what happened yesterday. He screamed in anger, and a small part of his subconscious could feel the lightning bolt appear out of nowhere, almost striking down his older brother.
Then, there's the tsunami. He felt something behind his back, but he didn't know what it was and was too caught up to look. Still, the amount of power he possessed felt scary. To make matters even worse, he didn't feel in control of himself anymore. Sean didn't know what to do here. A part of him wanted to bury this horrible curse somewhere deep within his mind where it could never hurt anyone ever again.
However…
Sean Diaz is only ten.
While he may not be like many other ten-year-olds, Sean still has the curiosity part to him. To some extent, he wants nothing more than to explore this strange ability and figure out where it comes from, what it does, and why he has it.
"Hey, Sean? I think I see something up ahead." Sean snaps out of his trance after hearing his brother's voice.
"Huh? What's that, Daniel?" Sean asked while sleepwalking next to his older brother.
"There's a small store over there. We should- uh… get some supplies." Sean's more than aware of the fact that they don't have any money, but he's too exhausted to care.
"Can we get something to eat, Daniel? I'm hungry." Sean complains, receiving a smile in return.
"We'll figure something out, buddy." Sean, however, did not suspect his older brother's plans.
The brothers walk towards the entrance of the store, and immediately, Sean does what he does best. He scouts the area for anything that might be suspicious. No surveillance cameras, so that's a good thing at least. He keeps searching the store for any possible dangers, however, the smell of hot dogs overwhelmed him. For a brief second, Sean entertained the idea of stealing one. Who would suspect him?
No one, that's who.
Daniel, however, is far less discreet.
Sean saw it from a mile away, and he wasn't surprised. In the middle of the store stood Daniel. He looked to his right, to his left, and his right again. Then, he proceeded to press a fist full of Chock-O-Crisp bars in his pockets. The entire state must have heard it. Sean felt ashamed that his brother resorted to stealing candy bars to survive, and he knew dad would be too.
"Hey, man. Come look at this." Sean calls his brother over, taking great care not to use names or to call him a brother. Most likely, the police are looking for two brothers named Daniel and Sean, so they're just two friends on a journey. Nothing else.
"Yeah, Sean, what's up bro?" Sean mentally facepalms at the stupidity of his older brother yet again. He points at something on the shelves, making Daniel kneel to his height. Then, Sean whispered into his ear.
"Don't steal. You're gonna get us caught." Sean felt how Daniel tensed up for less than a second.
"It's okay. I know what I'm doing." No. He really does not. But someone did.
It was so subtle and so quick, Sean barely noticed it. The woman behind the counter reached for something under the register and almost appeared to be pressing something. Like an alarm.
A silent alarm, perhaps.
Sean wraps his arms around his older brother, hugging him for dear life. Not only because he needed it, but also to deliver a message.
"They know, Daniel. They know, and we need to get out of here." Finally, Daniel understood how serious this is. He took his younger brother's hand and prepared to leave the store. The chocolate in his pockets was forgotten by both of them.
"Anything to declare, young man?" The woman asked Daniel with a mean look on her face.
"Nah, sorry. We were just browsing, thanks." Daniel answered and then they both left the store.
"Don't- don't do that to me ever again, Daniel," Sean whispered while they both hastily walked away from there.
"I'm sorry, Sean. I know I messed up-" Although neither of them had heard the sound in real life, they both knew exactly what it was, and what it meant.
Someone stood behind them with a shotgun.
"On your knees, and keep your hands in the air." A threatening male voice tells them.
"Da- Daniel?" Sean cried. It's over for them. This is where they both die.
"It's okay, Sean. Just- do as he says. He won't hurt you." The brothers proceed to kneel on the cold and hard ground while raising their hands in defeat.
Sean felt a blunt object strike the back of his skull as he went down to the ground with full force. The last image little Sean Eduardo sees before fading away, is that of his older brother knocked unconscious without mercy.
Many hours later…
Sean slowly began to wake up. His head hurt, and he could barely move. Something's wrong, very wrong. Then, it all came back to him. The image of Daniel, knocked unconscious before his eyes by an unknown man, seemingly hellbent on making life miserable for them.
Sean opened his eyes and began to look around.
"No. No, no, no, please, no." He understood now why he couldn't move much. His ankles were chained to the floor, rendering him unable to do much else than sit or stand. The room in question looked to be a basement of sorts. Sean had no idea where they were, but he knew that this isn't a part of that gas station. That old man must have taken them someplace else.
But why?
That question got its answer a mere second later as Sean heard something that sent chills through his entire body. Sean heard someone screaming. Not just anyone, however, but he heard Daniel screaming. In pain, fear, and horror. Every instinct in Sean's mind tells him just to block out the sound, and pretend like it's not happening.
But in his heart, Sean knows he can't do that now.
Sean's stuck in here, and Daniel's stuck in an even worse place. Nobody's coming to rescue them, meaning they'll have to look out for each other. Somehow, someway, Sean must find a way to save his big brother.
"Let me go! Let me go! AHHH!" Sean screamed in panic while using what little strength he had to pull at the cuffs around his ankles, hoping they would magically shatter into dust. Sadly, Sean's more skin and bones than he is muscle, and the cuffs remain intact.
"Hold on, Daniel. Just- don't give up." Sean's exhausted and lays down on his back. He desperately tries to come up with a plan to escape this room and save his brother. Sean thought back to that moment at the beach. The power he felt within him. How he felt afraid and immortal, both at the same time. Immortal because nothing could stand in his way, and afraid because this power is beyond his control. It even changes his views on right and wrong if only for a brief moment.
Then again, perhaps that's what he needs now.
If he needs to do something that he normally wouldn't, then so be it. As long as it saves Daniel, it'll be worth it. Maybe he needs to risk doing wrong to be able to do right in the end. Does that even make sense? Hell, barely anything made sense anymore to him.
Fuck it, he's out of time and options.
While still laying on his back, Sean extends his right hand toward the cuffs around his ankles. In his mind, he repeats the same word, over and over again.
Break.
Break.
Break.
Break.
It did not work. No victory was achieved, and no chains were broken. Sean did not pull off a miracle, nor did he manage to set himself free. Nothing happened. Not a damn thing.
"Shit. No. God, no." The screaming is getting worse by the second, and Sean's having a hard time concentrating. His brother must be in so much pain up there, and that's where Sean wants to go.
"Calm down, Sean. Breathe… breathe…" Slowly, Sean sits up while crossing his legs. Then, he closed his eyes while doing his best to block out the sound of his brother's screams.
"I am safe. Daniel's safe. Dad's looking out for us. We're going to be alright. We look out for each other. Like brothers." Sean whispered to himself repeatedly. All he did was try to calm down, but instead…
Something else happened.
Sean didn't think much of it at first. The room rapidly got cold, very cold. Below zero cold. The air going into his lungs almost hurt to breathe. Then, a sound caused Sean to snap open his eyes. A loud cracking sound, followed by a metallic object hitting the floor, and shattering into a million pieces.
"Holy- holy shit…" Sean whispered upon realizing that the metallic object in question, was the cuffs that used to keep him prisoner. He looks around the room, noticing how the previously locked door is now open, and how every time he breathes out, smoke leaves his mouth due to the cold.
"Wow…" He's not sure how he did it, but Sean's pretty sure he just froze an entire room to the core. But there's no time to think about that. He must save Daniel before-
Yeah, he's not willing to consider the other alternative.
While keeping a low profile, Sean leaves the room. Just like he thought, he's downstairs in a type of basement. The lights are off, meaning he's most likely alone down here. Still, there must be something he can use down here. Sean opens a door at random, hoping to find something useful.
In a way, he did. But he's not sure if he can do it.
"I- I have to." Sean takes the newly found object in his hands. A gun. It feels so heavy and so dangerous. He doesn't like it, but he's got no other option. Sean can't rely on his… ability to save him because he doesn't even know how to use it. Then again, he doesn't even know how to use a gun either.
They're both going to die here, aren't they?
Sean puts that thought aside as he begins walking toward the source of the sound. The source of those horrible screams.
Meanwhile…
Daniel couldn't move. He's tied to a chair, and the man called Hank repeatedly punches him. Daniel never begs for mercy. It's not who he is. If there was a god, he would have killed Daniel out of pity long ago.
"That all you got, huh?! HUH?! You old fat FUCK?!" Daniel's in a surreal amount of pain, but his arrogant attitude shows no sign of breaking. At least not to the common man. But the louder Daniel screams, the closer he gets to his breaking point. The point where the scared little teenager will come out of his shell.
"You think this is over, boy? You think that you can just wait until the cops come and save you? Well, you're wrong. This place? No one can hear you scream out here, so I got all the time in the world to break you… and your brother." Hank touched a nerve when mentioning Sean. Daniel lost his cool completely.
"Don't you FUCKING GET NEAR MY BROTHER! You hear me-" He is, however, silenced by a fist to the nose.
"Or what? Are you gonna kill me, just like you did to those kids and the cops?" Hank calmly asked him. Fuck, he can't take much more of this shit. He gotta get out of here, but he can't do shit. Maybe if he could get Hank to leave the room, he could figure out a way to get out of these ropes.
How can Daniel get him to leave the room?
"What do you want with me?" Daniel asked in a defeated tone.
"You bombed two buildings, kid. I want to know how you did it, and what you're planning next." This guy. He's fucking insane. He truly believes Daniel bombed two buildings, doesn't he? Well if there ever was a time to be a good liar and play along…
This is it.
"Okay… okay… you- you win." Daniel cries in defeat, uncertain of how much of it is an act and how much is real.
"So… tell me." Hank's voice took on a much calmer tone. Still, Daniel must get him the fuck out of this room.
"I can show you. Just- give me a map, and I'll show you where they are." Hank did not attempt to hide his victorious smile.
"Where what are?" Fuck you, old man. Fuck. You.
"The rest of the bombs." Hank wasted no time in getting up to leave the room in search of a map. The door was left open, and Daniel was alone in the room. Now, how the actual fuck is he supposed to escape?
"Daniel?" A familiar voice called for him as his little brother sneaked into the room silently.
"Sean? Are- are you okay? Did he hurt you?" Sean's anything but okay right now, but there's no time for emotions. He must free his brother so that they can get out of there.
"I'm fine. I'm gonna get us out of here, okay?" Sean opens a drawer behind Daniel in hopes of finding something useful. The knife will do just fine.
"Come on, Sean, hurry. He'll be back soon." Daniel didn't want to freak Sean out, but the pressure's getting to him, and he was starting to panic. Sean, however, managed to remain calm while cutting off the ropes that kept his older brother in place.
"There. Come on, Daniel, let's go." That's when Sean saw it. Up until now, he's been too focused to even acknowledge how badly wounded his brother is. Daniel could barely move, and a loud, painful groan escaped his lips. Why would anybody do this to him?
Sean wants to help him somehow, but he's not sure how. Why can't this shitty ability of his, come with a manual that tells him what he can and can't do? Sean stands in front of his brother, trying to pull him to his feet.
"Come on, Daniel. We have to go. Don't give up, please." Sean grabbed Daniel's arm, and the oldest brother pulled away as if it burned like fire.
Then, the door slammed shut behind Sean's back.
"Where the hell do you think you're going, huh?" Hank entered the room once more, and almost sounded amused. Sean, however, could feel only one thing.
Anger.
This is the creature that brutalized his brother so badly that he can't even stand up straight. Nobody does that to Sean's family. The boy turns around to face Hank.
"Leave us alone!" Sean screamed with confidence he's never experienced before. Hank, however, didn't care much as he began to approach them.
"STAY BACK!" Sean pulled out the gun he stole from the basement, and aimed it at Hank. The behemoth stopped his approach but didn't seem too concerned about the situation.
"Or what? Are you gonna kill me if I don't? Is that it, huh?" Slowly, Hank starts to walk toward little Sean.
"I- I said… stay- stay back." His confidence evaporated, and Sean could barely hold the gun anymore. He did everything in his power to pull the trigger, but little Sean Eduardo is not a murderer at heart.
"Sean… run." Daniel, too injured to move, desperately tries to get his brother to run for his life. Hank took advantage of the situation and grabbed the gun out of Sean's hands.
"You're not a killer. But you aspire to become one, and I'll give you credit for that, boy." Oh, the irony in that statement.
"Your brother, however, is a whole other story. He's a murderer." Hank pressed the gun to Sean's temple so hard it hurts.
"And murderers…" Hank pulls back the hammer of the gun, preparing to shoot. Sean's frozen in fear as tears begin to pour down his face. Daniel can do nothing but watch in agony and despair.
"Murderers need to be punished." A gunshot echoed as Hank pulled the trigger, and little Sean prepared to face the reaper.
But he didn't.
The bullet never hit Sean.
It did, however, hit Daniel.
Sean couldn't even begin to make sense of what he was witnessing. His big brother, was on the floor, desperately clutching a bleeding wound on his shoulder. Poor Sean felt like he was suffocating. This isn't real, this can't be real.
"Looks like he's still kickin', huh?" Hank's voice mumbled as he reloaded the gun.
Sean's anger reached a boiling point as he turned to face the man who shot his brother.
"You…" Sean stared him down as Hank pressed the gun to his temple once more.
"Looks like you're next, huh? Don't worry, kid. This will all be over soon." Sean did not back down. Sean barely had control of his limbs anymore. He felt his heart, beating at an unnatural pace. The next moment, Sean could taste the blood that poured from his eyes.
"What the fuck are you?" Hank mumbled in confusion upon seeing Sean's crimson mask. Sean heard himself answer with one single word.
"Everything." This time, Sean felt every single bit of it. And he didn't have any regrets. Not when the lightning bolt struck Hank, not when he set him on fire, not when the tornado swept him away, and not when he dumped his corpse in the lake. No regrets.
For a brief moment, Sean just stood there. The adrenaline began to fade away, and the impact of his actions began to settle with him. And he didn't like it. All of that, however, evaporated as soon as he remembered-
"DANIEL!" Sean turns around to look at his older brother.
"No, no, no." He kneels next to him, trying to find signs of life.
There is none.
"Daniel? No. Please… don't leave me. I- I love you." Sean cries to his brother but receives nothing but silence in return.
"Wake up, Daniel, I'm sorry…" The fatigue from his recent outburst hits him with full force as Sean collapses on the floor next to his brother. Is this their end? Is this how they both die?
That is the last question on little Sean Eduardo's mind as he slips into unconsciousness, one arm over his brother's chest, so Daniel won't feel alone on his journey.
Notes:
First, I want to genuinely apologize for the lack of updates recently. I haven't been myself in a few months, and my motivation just goes up and down like a rollercoaster. Tomorrow I start working again after two months of being at home, so we'll see what happens.
Now, on to the story...
This chapter is definitely NOT my proudest work, but I had to kinda say "screw it" since this update was way overdue. I still have a rough direction in mind for the story though, so expect a time skip soon.
SEAN'S POWERS
As the title of the chapter suggests, Sean is kind of an "Elementalist" with his powers granting him the ability to control each element. The reason I'm saying he's "kind of" like one, is because there's much more to what he can do than that. It's not just shooting fireballs and creating lightning. Also, I wanna thank Supyovalk (again) for asking me the question that gave me the core idea for this. (I had zero clue at the time btw) NOTE: Decided to change the chapter name at the last second since the name "Eduardo The Elementalist" feels spolerish. I still fucking like it!
Now, how shall Sean manage from here?
Is Daniel really gone?
In time, the answers shall come.
Please leave a comment below.
Enjoy!
K. S.
Fire.
Earth.
Water.
Wind.
The four elements.
Cornerstones of our creation.
What brings life to our planet.
And sometimes take lives from us.
The four elements.
All gathered as one.
Only one.
One boy.
This child.
He is cursed.
He is blessed.
He is a symbol.
He is Sean Eduardo Diaz.
Chapter 12: Felipe The Failure
Summary:
An old wolf tries to stop Daniel from crossing the bridge to the other side. But Daniel's never been one for deep talk, has he?
Notes:
Long wait, I know. Slowly, my life is getting back on track.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Somewhere, in a war-torn realm…
"AAHHH!" Daniel gasped for air as he regained consciousness. At least he thought he did. Daniel opened his eyes to look for his younger brother. Sean, however, was nowhere to be seen.
Actually, he couldn't see much of anything.
Whatever this place is, it sure as hell isn't Hank Stamper's cabin. A black void surrounds the teenager, stretching itself beyond the non-existent horizon. What the fuck is this place?
"Sean?" Daniel silently calls out for his brother, only receiving the echo of his own voice in return. He gets up to have a look around.
"Sean? Are you here, buddy?" Once again, echoes, but no Sean. Something else, however, caught his attention. A sound. The sound of something… dripping.
Daniel noticed how blood poured from an open wound on his shoulder. Now he remembers. He got shot by that asshole. So, is he dead now? Daniel pokes the wound with his finger.
"The fuck?" He felt no pain whatsoever. Usually, that's a good thing. This, however, may not be such a case.
"I gotta get the fuck out of here," Daniel mutters as he starts to look around, almost expecting to find a door that leads him back to the real world. But he doesn't. There's nothing here. Every direction is the same.
Dark.
Empty.
Silent.
Just like Daniel. The real Daniel. Not the fake-ass party animal he pretends to be just to get through the misery that his life has become. This place, whatever it is, it's almost a symbol of his true self. An empty shell of a man, with dark thoughts he refuses to share with anyone.
This place has no trees, no grass, no water, and no wind blowing through his hair. It's dead. Dead, just like Daniel Felipe Diaz. The realization hits him harder than Hank Stamper's fists ever could, and Daniel collapses on his knees in tears.
"I'm sorry, Sean. I failed you. I failed you, brother." It's over. Daniel has officially failed at life itself. Not just his own life, but that of his little brother. Daniel feels unworthy of the gift of life. He feels like scum, like vermin that needs to be exterminated. Internally, he just begs for his misery to come to an end.
Buried in despair, however, Daniel failed to hear the sound of footsteps closing in on him from behind. The footsteps were light, yet very determined. Daniel Diaz thought he lived in hell from the day his mother left…
He's about to be told otherwise.
The source of the footsteps comes to a halt behind Daniel. The figure studies him for a moment before slowly shaking its head.
"You're really giving up this easy, huh?" A voice from nowhere caused Daniel to drop to the ground, roll over on his back, and crawl backward in fear and relief. He knew that voice. A bit… different, in ways, he couldn't quite figure out, but there's no mistaking it.
It's Sean.
"Sean, SEAN! You're okay, little brother?! What happened-" Daniel got to his feet to wrap his arms around his brother, only to fall flat on his ass once more.
The person speaking to him wasn't Sean Eduardo Diaz.
"What- what the fuck?" Daniel whispered while studying the figure in front of him.
Looking right back at him, was a ten-year-old boy, named Daniel Felipe Diaz. The boy's dressed in full camouflage gear as if he's playing soldiers or something. Still, the look in the child's eyes makes Daniel feel very uneasy.
"I know, dude, it's weird, but we've all been there. There's not a lot of time, so get your shit together, okay?" The younger Daniel says with determination his teenage counterpart could only dream of.
"Are- are you… me?" The teenager asked the boy in a combination of shock and confusion.
"What? No, I'm not you. You are me- wait- fuck. I don't know, I'm only ten years old, damn it!" The boy muttered in an annoyed tone.
"We're one and the same, but we're still very different. Understand?" Teenage Daniel never was the smartest kid in class, so…
"Uh… no?" The small child pats him on the shoulder.
"Good. Now get your ass up, and let me explain a few things." The older Daniel does as he's told. Just what the actual flying fuck is going on right now?
The duo of different Daniels begins a walk with no obvious direction in mind.
"Am I dead?" He had to ask it. The silence was unnerving, and he was losing his mind here.
"Hmm…" The small Daniel mumbles for a moment before turning to him.
"Yes, Daniel. Yes, you are dead. There's no going back for you now. You're destined to stay here forever." His entire body went cold in fear. So this is his fate.
Then, he felt a slap to his face.
… And not the soft, friendly kind either.
"Dude, get real! I'm a random ten-year-old kid you just met in the middle of fucking nowhere! How do you know I'm not bullshitting you? God, this is worse than I thought, you're such a dumbass!" The smaller Daniel revealed his bluff while venting his frustration at his older twin.
The twin was not amused.
"You think so, huh? I don't know what the fuck this place is, and I don't give a fuck, but I do know this you little shit. You wouldn't last a week in my shoes. Not even a fucking week!" Daniel screams at the child's face. The child, however, doesn't move a muscle.
"That's cute…" The boy giggled before rolling up the sleeve of his shirt, exposing three large scars on the lower right arm. By the look of things, the scars were self-inflicted, and not the result of an accident.
"You say I won't last a week in your shoes, tough guy? I assure you, you wouldn't last more than ten minutes in mine." The boy looks at his scars with a strange face. Almost nostalgic at first, yet the hint of deep psychological trauma is ever so present.
"Do you want to know how I got these scars?" The boy smiles smugly at him. Somewhere deep inside, Daniel knows this to be a bad idea. Sadly, he's not known to think first and act later.
"I guess so… yes." A look of sadness spreads on the boy's face.
"No, you don't. Trust me." The boy mumbled before rolling down his sleeve to hide the scars once again.
"Why show them to me then?" Daniel asked his childhood self.
"Your life's bad, but you've been through worse. A lot worse. Sometimes, you die, and sometimes, Sean dies. But never like this. You need to look after him, do you hear me?" The small soldier seemed very serious about making that point.
"You mean Sean?" Daniel sighed as he thought about the things his brother could do.
"Your brother is special. In more ways than one. His abilities are both extraordinary and destructive. He possesses power, too great for a single person to control, and he's going to need your help to learn it." Wait-
"My help? What the fuck can I do? I can't do shit, and even when I try, I fail." Suddenly, Daniel's shoulder began to hurt. The pain increased more and more by the second.
"Great… we're out of time, and you got jack-shit of what I was trying to say. The reaper of misery awaits me, and he's a walk in the park compared to what your brother becomes if nobody teaches him control." Sadly, Daniel could now only hear every other word of what his twin told him.
His shoulder burned with a surreal amount of pain as Daniel began to walk toward the light.
Meanwhile…
Sean awoke several hours later. Nothing had changed. The cabin was still leveled. Hank Stamper's body's still missing forever, and his big brother's still dead.
Dead.
Sean had two seconds. Two wonderful seconds of just feeling normal before it all hit him again.
"No… don't go, Daniel. I'm scared. I'm so scared." Sean sits up to hold his brother's hand.
"I- I don't know what this is, and I need help, Daniel. Please? Help me…" Sean used every muscle in his little body to pull Daniel up and into a hug. His desperate hug may not have been returned, but it did make him feel a bit safer.
"Don't go, Daniel. I want you to live. Live, Daniel, live. Please, big brother, live…" At this moment, Sean's hand touches Daniel's wounded shoulder.
"Come back, Daniel, please." Then, Sean froze in his place. He found himself unable to move an inch. A strange, buzzing sound filled his eardrums to the point where he felt like they would explode, and a throbbing pain appeared in his shoulder. He wanted to scream, but he couldn't. At the corner of his eye, Sean could see the wound on Daniel's shoulder starting to fade away, like it wasn't even there to begin with.
"AH!" From nowhere, Daniel regained consciousness with a loud gasp for air. With one brother regaining it, the other fell limp to the floor with his face pale as that of a ghost. Daniel just stared emptily for a moment before realizing what just happened. He remembers everything. That strange dream with his ten-year-old twin, telling him how Sean's capable of destructive things.
Yeah, he kinda figured that one out already.
Wait-
"What the fuck…?" Daniel looks at his shoulder. The same shoulder Hank Stamper put a bullet in. the fabric of his shirt is torn, and he's covered in blood, but…
No wound. Not even a scratch. Nothing. Did his little brother just-
"SEAN?!" Daniel rushes to his brother's side, hoping he's not hurt. The boy's pale and unconscious, but thankfully, he's alive and seemingly unharmed.
"It's okay, Sean. We're okay. I'm gonna get you out of here, buddy." With those words, Daniel takes his unconscious brother in his arms, and then…
He runs.
To where, he doesn't know. He doesn't know because he can't tell north from east or south from Africa. That's all Sean's brain, not his.
How will they survive? He cannot tell. The possibilities frighten him. He tried to steal and ended up getting shot while increasing Sean's body count. He's reckless and he knows it. Then again, recklessness is all he knows. Sean warned him about the dangers of stealing, and Sean turned out to be right. Maybe he should listen to the kid more than he usually does.
Still, Daniel's the adult from here on now. He should learn how to act like one if they want to have even the slightest chance of surviving this mess. But how do you act like an adult when the most important adult in your life decided to bail on you?
And how do you take care of a child with not only an intelligence far superior to yours but also, a strange power that could kill you at any given moment?
Control.
Control is the key.
No matter where they end up next, Daniel must help Sean to tame this power.
Before the power does the same thing to Sean.
Notes:
I know, it's been far too long. I hate it too. My life has been a mess for the last couple of months with me being burned out (work-related, not writing), and a whole bunch of stuff. After two months at home, I'm now back to work again, and I'm starting to get used to having a daily routine once more. Hopefully, things are about to get somewhat normal again.
This chapter can be seen as the unofficial finale of episode 1. This means that the next chapter will have a minor time skip of sorts, but nothing huge. Weeks, not months (I think).
Also, what started as a brief dream sequence in "The Sinner & The Saint" has kinda become a thing now. Every Daniel goes to the GOW-inspired "realm between realms" (hi, curtis) where they meet another version of themselves. Here, teenage Daniel got to meet Wolf Brigade Daniel. If anyone knows of hell, it would be him.
And to make one thing clear: Daniel was NEVER dead/dying, just unconscious. Sean, however, did in fact HEAL him. The question is, at what cost...?
I've gotten through the "difficult" part of the story now, and things feel a lot more steady from here. Hopefully, that's going to improve the quality going forward.
Please leave a comment below.
Enjoy!
K. S.
Earth.
It grows your food.
And it buries you.
Sometimes alive.
Fire.
Keeps you from freezing.
Only to roast you later.
Until nothing remains.
Water.
The elixir of life.
Or an impending tsunami.
Of death and destruction.
Wind.
The invisible breath of life.
The visible trail of chaos.
Spread across the globe.
These four elements.
Are now combined.
Into one powerful being.
Destined for great things.
Who is it?
His name is Sean Eduardo Diaz.
The Fifth Element.
Chapter 13: Wolves
Summary:
Sean attempts to come to terms with how much his life has changed. But with nobody that understands him, how long can he continue?
Notes:
Sorry about the long wait. I haven't been myself lately...
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Two weeks later…
He could still feel it. Every time he woke up, every time he moved around, and every time he breathed air into his lungs. Sean may have healed his older brother without even knowing it, but it came at a price. While Daniel could run off like nothing even happened, Sean's condition was far worse.
The injuries his older brother received at the hands of Hank Stamper didn't heal as much as they simply switched one host for the other. Although Sean had no visible wounds, the pain was very real. Every punch, kick, and the gunshot to top it off, Sean felt like it was happening to himself.
For the first few days, the boy remained unconscious due to exhaustion from using his ability. When he finally woke up, he found himself here. In this awful, godforsaken place.
Daniel tried his best, he really did. He had hoped to stumble upon an abandoned cabin or something that they could just break into and use however they wanted. Sadly, luck wasn't on their side. The only thing Daniel found, was a small cave. It's the smart thing to do, Sean could admit that much. But this place gave him the creeps. He didn't feel safe anymore. Not inside the cave, and not outside it.
It still hurt to move around, but Sean had begun to explore the nearby area. He might be traumatized, afraid, and unique, but he's still a child at heart. The curiosity is still there even if it's buried beneath deep layers of self-doubt.
"Where are you, Daniel?" Sean sighs while staring across a small lake. He knows where Daniel is. Well, sort of. His older brother would try to find something for them to eat. Since they're basically homeless now, that means they have to scavenge every inch of this forest for whatever berries and mushrooms might exist.
It's getting harder and harder. The fact that Daniel's dumb as a rock doesn't exactly help either. Sean knows what's edible and not, but his brother just won't learn. He tries, but he just can't. Not even when their lives are at stake.
"What are we even doing? Maybe we should just… go to the police? It's all my fault." Sean looks at his hands. The same hands he did unspeakable things with. Something's wrong with him. Maybe he could get help? Sean kneels as he dips his hands in the cold water, attempting to wash off the blood from the people he killed. It's not visible anymore, but it's still there. He can feel it. All the time.
But that's only the tip of the iceberg that is Sean Diaz. Since he lost his father, Sean's had no chance of putting his emotions into words. Everything that happens to him, he just buries deep inside his already damaged mind. Sean knows it serves only the purpose of making him suffer even more, but he can't talk to Daniel. No matter how much he would love to, his older brother just wouldn't understand. He tries to write or draw in his journal, but it only makes him feel worse if anything.
Sean, similar to his brother, has built up a wall, telling his surroundings that everything's fine. The first note he made in the journal, however, proves that this child is anything but fine. He wrote it a few days ago after Daniel had fallen asleep.
"NONONONONO! Dad, I'm so sorry! Sorry, sorry, sorry! Please come back! Don't leave me alone here, I need you. You're the only one who knows what's wrong with me, and you're not here anymore because of ME! Just… tell me I'm not a monster, dad. Please. Help me."
For five minutes, Sean Diaz opened the border gate to his wall, and a floodgate of pain followed. He's been terrified to do it again ever since. Writing just felt like empty words on a piece of paper. He requires someone to listen to him. Not just listen to him. Sean needs someone that understands him.
But nobody does. Not even himself. He feels so alone in this. So scared, and so alone-
"Who's there?!" A sound caused Sean to leave his dark line of thought, instead turning around to look for the source. He had hoped for Daniel to come back before nightfall. Sean doesn't like darkness. He's already filled with it, so why should he have to be surrounded by it as well?
The boy looks from left to right, searching for whatever made the sound. Have they been found? Is it over? The thought of it made Sean feel both relieved and horrified at the same time. The source of the strange sound, however, was not what he expected it to be. It wasn't a helicopter about to put a spotlight on him, telling him to surrender. Hell, it wasn't even a lone cop, aiming a gun at him. It wasn't even a human being.
Sean Diaz stared into the eyes of a small wolf cub.
Like Sean, the little cub was alone with no pack in sight. The creature appeared to be weighing its options while staring into the eyes of the human child. Sean's no fool. A wolf cub it may be, but it's still large enough to overpower him and tear him to shreds if it felt like it. Still, the creature seemed more afraid of Sean than Sean was of it.
"Hey there, little guy. Relax, okay? I'm not gonna hurt you." Sean says with a soothing voice. He's not sure if what he's about to do is brilliant or incredibly stupid. Perhaps a bit of both?
"I'm Sean, and I kinda live here now, I guess. Do you live here too, little guy?" The wolf stares at him but does not attempt to attack or run away.
"Or, are you like me? An outcast, unable to ever return home again?" Sean extended his hand, attempting to invite the wolf to come closer to him. Slowly, the wolf began to move closer to Sean. The boy began to have second thoughts. Maybe this is the day he loses his hand? Then again, could things really get any worse?
Probably, yes. But for now, that's not happening. The small wolf cub lay down next to Sean, so close, he could hear it breathing. The boy carefully placed a hand on the cub's head, knowing this could go either way. Sean could make a friend, or Sean could lose a hand, at the very least.
"Wow…" Sean mumbled to himself for several reasons. Not only is he making friends with a wolf, but he could feel the animal's pain while touching it. Abandoned by its own kind, unable to understand why, and unlikely to survive on its own. Sean could relate to that.
"I know, buddy… I know…" Sean whispers a few words of comfort to his new friend who gives a subtle sound of acknowledgment. Maybe he was going crazy, maybe it was his abilities, but somehow, Sean just knew that this moment was important for them both.
"Yeah, you like me now, don't you? I bet you would run for your life if you knew the things I've done. I'm- I'm a monster, you know." Sean's voice became unsteady as he felt the tears about to come.
Suddenly, Sean felt a large weight on his lap. The wolf jumped into his lap, distracting the boy from any negative thinking. At least Sean likes to think that's the case. Slowly, Sean wraps his arms around his friend in a scary, yet comforting embrace.
"Thanks, buddy. Thanks for being here with me. I hope you'll never leave. You're like my wolfbrother." How cool does that sound? Hell, it even made Sean smile briefly. Still, one important detail is missing if his wolfbrother is going to stick with him.
A name.
Not just any name, but a meaningful name. Sean looks deep into the eyes of his new brother while in deep thought.
"Who are you, little guy? What are you?" The latter question made Sean realize something. His wolfbrother can be the one thing his real brother cannot.
He can be a good listener. Obviously, the wolf would not understand any of Sean's troubles, but it would listen to him without judging him, and that would be comfort enough in these times. And for the wolf to listen, Sean must learn to-
"…Loqui," Sean mumbled with a smile. It's perfect.
"Hi, Loqui. We're family now, you and I." Sean giggled slightly at how insane his life has become. Not too long ago, he sat in his room, shivering at the mere thought of going outside. Now, he's sitting in the middle of nowhere, all alone, hugging a wolf cub while running from the law.
Life is strange. Then again, so is Sean.
"Hey, Sean. Sorry I took so long-" Daniel finally returned from his scavenging, only to stop dead in his tracks at the sight of his little brother hugging a wolf. Daniel's not exactly a genius, but he's smart enough to know that this isn't exactly the safest thing to do. He approaches his brother with caution.
Or, you know… not.
"WOW- what the fuck?!" Loqui immediately placed himself between little Sean Eduardo and his older brother, intending to defend his fellow wolfbrother to the death.
"Hey, HEY, no. Calm down, boy, calm down. He's safe, understand? Safe." Sean managed to get his bodyguard to back off, however, not without keeping a close eye on Daniel until further notice.
"Sean- what the fuck, dude?" Daniel didn't even know where to begin on this one. Sean's always been the kid that befriends animals anywhere they go, but this is on a whole other level.
"I- I know, Daniel. But he's safe. He's my new friend." Daniel internally facepalms. He understands how desperate Sean is for a friend, and god only knows, Daniel's doing a shitty job at being one. But this is just too much.
"Sean…" Daniel does everything in his power to sound confident while also avoiding saying anything that might break little Sean's spirit.
"You have to get rid of it. It's not safe. You're smart enough to know that." Daniel kinda impressed himself with how calm he sounded. Especially considering the panic he felt on the inside. Sean, however, was not convinced.
"It's not an it, Daniel. His name's Loqui." Motherf-
"You named it- I mean- him?" Daniel deadpans while dragging a palm across his face.
"Of course I did. I want him to stay. Can he, Daniel? Please?" God-damn it. Daniel doesn't like the idea, but at the same time, Sean sounds more hopeful than he's been in a long time. Maybe this could provide a distraction from their everyday madness.
"Okay, he can stay. But you're taking care of him, Sean." Daniel could see his little brother's eyes light up like never before.
"Thank you, Daniel. You're the best." Little Sean Eduardo stood up and embraced his older brother. Due to Sean being who he is, he rarely allowed people to hug him. And those who did were the people in his closest family. Even more rare, however, was Sean hugging someone else.
But now he did.
Not because he needed comfort, or tried to provide it. Not because he was afraid of what lay ahead of him, or felt pathetic for never going outside.
No.
Little Sean Eduardo hugged his older brother to say "thank you, big brother, for doing this for me." The moment Daniel realized the implications, he had to force his tears back. He may not be the best brother in the world or even a good one. But today, Daniel made his little brother feel hope for the first time in ages, and that's something you can't put a price on.
"I- thanks, Sean," Daniel whispered so silently that Sean failed to notice. The brothers break their embrace as they remember the sole reason for Daniel's absence.
"Did you find anything to eat, Daniel?" The younger Diaz asked with a small hint of hope. Daniel sighed while reaching for his backpack.
"Not much, dude. But it's better than nothing, I guess." Another day of disgusting mushrooms, and rotten berries… yay. The things he would do right now for a large cheeseburger, my god! The brothers eat a quick dinner in silence. Neither of them knows what to talk to the other about. Well, there is that one thing. Daniel's been putting it up for too long, but he can't continue like this.
"Sean, I think it's time." Sean's eyebrow twitched ever so slightly. He knew what his brother meant, and he knew it was only a matter of time before this happened. Sean doesn't want to. He doesn't want to because he's afraid of what might happen. It would be so easy for him to just… shut down. Ignore everything that goes on around him while pretending that everything's fine.
But he knows he can't do that forever. Sean must face his fears, sooner or later. The sooner, the better. Maybe now is the time.
"I'm scared…" Sean whimpers while staring at the ground in shame. He's not ashamed of being afraid, but he's ashamed of what he is, and that he's allowed himself to become that way.
"I know. I am too. But-" Daniel stops to consider his next words. Whatever he says next could brighten Sean's mood enough for him to give it a shot, but it could also break him forever.
"You're not alone, Sean. I'm here with you, every step of the way, and- uhm- so is Loqui." The wolf cub turned to look at Daniel at the mention of its name.
"Okay, Daniel. Just, don't leave me." God, he's such a failure as a big brother. Sean expects Daniel to leave him at every turn.
"I promise, Sean, I'll never leave you. Are you ready to do this, bro?" Daniel asked his little brother, uncertain what answer he would be the most satisfied with.
"Yeah. Let's go. I'm ready." Believing himself to be ready, little Sean Eduardo follows his brother to what would be his very first session of power training.
Later…
After about an hour, the trio reached a large open area. No visible lake, no mountains nearby, and no fire. This should be safe for them to practice.
In this case, "them" is Sean.
The question is, how? How does he practice it? He doesn't even know what happens most of the time he's used it, and now he's going to train it? Daniel stopped and turned to him. Judging by his expression, he's just as confused as Sean.
"We… haven't talked much about it, haven't we?" Daniel admits to the one thing Sean knew days ago.
"No. We haven't." To be fair, Sean doesn't blame him. What would anyone even say?
"Listen, Sean, I know I'm not the-" Daniel stops talking, settling for a slight facepalm.
"Fuck. Let's say that you're the smart one, okay? We both know it." Daniel managed to say it with a slight laugh at the end, but the pain was clear in his eyes. He didn't mind having a smart little brother, however, Daniel hated the fact that he sometimes knew himself to be an idiot.
"So, how do you think it works, Sean?" The million-dollar question, is it not? Clearly, Daniel has exactly zero clues. Sean, however, has a few theories.
"I think it's connected with my emotions or something." His theory sounded a lot better in his head. When he said it, it just sounded stupid.
"What do you mean?" Daniel asked in an attempt to get his little brother to elaborate.
"Like if I'm angry or sad… they sorta activate, you know. That's how it's been every time so far." Sean said sadly as he remembered every one of those times.
Daniel felt completely out of his depth. This is way more than he can handle. Not even his genius little brother can get a grip on what's happening to him, so why in the blue hell would Daniel understand anything?
Wait-
Maybe that's the thing? He's been looking at this the wrong way. Daniel's been thinking about what to do, instead of just doing what he does best.
Improvise.
Strong and powerful emotions make it activate. Well, perhaps he should put that theory to a test.
"Sean, I think I know a way to find out if you're right." His little brother's attention peaked, to say the least.
"You do?" Still, the boy sounded skeptical.
"Yeah. I just need you to, I dunno, focus, I guess." To be honest, Daniel's not sure what he needs Sean to do. That's something only Sean can tell when the time comes.
"Do you trust me, little brother?" Daniel asks the nervous wreck in front of him.
"No…" Sean wasn't lying. He could not place his life in Daniel's hands because Daniel's too reckless, and never thinks about the consequences of his actions. The answer hurt Daniel to the core, but it made the next phase slightly easier.
"That's what I get in return, huh? You ungrateful little shit." Daniel spat the words out with the sole intention of pissing off his little brother and activating his abilities.
While hopefully not killing any of them.
"What? Daniel?" Sean looked incredibly hurt by the words but failed to grasp where this anger came from. Daniel had to turn things up a notch.
"I gave up my life, my future… FOR YOU! And you don't even fucking trust me?!" Daniel screamed at his little brother's face as the small boy started crying.
"Daniel… please, stop." But Daniel's not stopping.
"I had a real life, you know? But thanks to you, I'm a fucking wanted terrorist! How bout that shit, huh?! I'm wanted for over fifty murders, Sean. All because of YOU!" This is where something happened in Sean's mind.
Sean might be able to understand things that most adults cannot, however, such knowledge comes at a cost. At times, Sean has a difficult time understanding basic information in his everyday life. This is a part of who he is, for better or worse. This is also the reason Sean believed himself to be the one wanted for all those murders. It was the logical option. He committed them, and he should be the one wanted for them. Simple as that.
That's what he believed up until this very moment when Daniel screams the opposite to his face.
So many emotions at once, all fighting it out with each other.
Sadness. Sean's sad about all the hurtful things his brother told him.
Anger. He's angry at Daniel for being back to his usual asshole self and angry at himself for being so naive that he believed that Daniel had changed. Most of all, however, Sean's angry at himself for making his big brother the most wanted man in America today if not ever.
The internal conflicts were battling it out with one side wanting to tear Daniel apart, piece by piece, and the other wanting to protect him more than anything else. In the midst of it all, Sean felt something. Maybe it's because this situation isn't a threatening one like the others, or maybe not, but there's no mistaking it though. He feels it.
Control.
Not a whole lot of it, but ever so slightly, it is indeed there. But Sean doesn't just want to feel it. He wants to see it too. Hell, Sean needs to see it. His eyes turn to his brother, who seems to have run out of insults for now. Sean loves his big brother, more than anything in the world, and he would never wish him any harm. However…
Little Sean Eduardo is also a child.
Calm as he may be, Sean could not control the first line of thought that popped into his mind when their eyes met.
"I wish someone would punch you in the fucking face, Daniel." Well, Sean asked…
… And Daniel received.
With authority.
Sean felt an invisible extension of his right arm as it reached out. He felt his invisible hand grab hold of something cold and hard, only to launch it toward Daniel's face. Sean didn't fight the process for once. Instead, he just let it happen while focusing on what he could feel.
And boy, could he feel things or what?
Sean could feel his surroundings like never before. He had little to no control over it but still knew to an extent where his ability took him. A cloud brushed his fingers while his mind and body remained on the ground. Sean felt the cold water of the distant lake. He felt an amazing kind of high. A massive power, literally in the palm of his hands, and all he needs to do…
Is learning how to use it.
"OW- MOTHERFUCKER!" The sound of a foreign object making direct contact with human bone caused Sean to snap out of his trance. On the ground in front of him, lies Daniel. His nose is bloody, crooked, and possibly broken, courtesy of the large rock next to him. That would be the cold and hard object Sean felt in his non-existent hand.
Fuck. What did he do?
"Oh, no! Daniel- I'm so sorry, are- are you okay? Please, be okay!" Having already forgotten the hurtful words from mere seconds ago, Sean rushed to his brother's side.
"You really should trust me more, Sean," Daniel says with a hint of pride in his voice.
"What? What do you mean?" Slowly, Sean starts to remember the painful words and backs away from his older brother.
"I know I've been a shitty brother to you, Sean, but I seriously hope you don't believe that anything of what I just told you was true?" This is what Daniel wants to say. So badly. It's also what Sean needs to hear. A confirmation that Daniel just said bad things to piss him off.
He doesn't say it. Instead, Daniel wraps his arms around his little brother for a comforting embrace. While reluctant at first, Sean eventually returns the favor. No words were spoken, however, many words were probably needed. Both brothers felt great pain as they began their walk back to camp.
Daniel's in pain because once again, he's a failure. No matter how hard he tries, Sean cannot trust him. And if Sean can't trust him, he's unlikely to feel safe with him as well.
Meanwhile, Sean's in pain courtesy of the hurtful words earlier. He understands that Daniel didn't mean them, but that doesn't change the fact that some of them are literal facts. Daniel did have a life, and he did have a future. He's got none of that now. Thanks to Sean. That brings him to the big one. The major mindfuck of the day.
Daniel Felipe Diaz. Innocent, yet wanted for domestic terrorism.
Sean Eduardo Diaz. Guilty, and could live an ordinary life if he were to walk into the nearest police station.
But how could Sean ever live an ordinary life when he was never ordinary, to begin with?
Maybe he can't.
Either way, Sean's starting to realize that he's completely derailed his big brother's present and future. Later that night, long after Daniel had fallen asleep, Sean and Loqui went down to the lake. Then, Sean began to open up to his wolfbrother. About his deepest, darkest secrets and concerns. The wolfbrother did not judge him, nor did it mock him. It acted as a listener; sometimes, that's all the comfort you need.
Sean lost track of time, but it must have been hours. When he felt like he was out of things to talk about, he realized how much better it made him feel. The boy went back to camp and laid down to sleep. His wolfbrother placed himself next to him, keeping the boy safe all night. If only little Sean Eduardo knew…
How grateful he would be for these moments soon.
Notes:
My apologies (again) for the long wait. I've been having some issues where I just haven't been feeling good which makes my motivation decline.
Now...
This chapter starts off with a small time skip. We see how Sean's trying to adjust to his new life, but he's having difficulties, to say the least. Daniel can't talk to him, and Sean knows it.
Enter Loqui (pronounced "Loki").
Sean gets a pet wolf because fuck it why not, right? WRONG! There's more to it than that. "Loqui" is Latin for "speak" and if there's one thing Sean needs to do, it is to speak about how he feels. Daniel can't deal with it, so Sean can talk to someone who listens without judging him. It acts as an emotional outlet for him. Among other things, but that's for later.
Power training has officially begun, but the question is, how smart is it? Daniel may not have thought about the consequences some of his words might have in the near or distant future. And now, Sean realized that Daniel was the wanted one. Not him. A lot of things have been set in motion...
Please leave a comment below.
Enjoy!
K. S.
Power.
To some, it is everything.
To others, not even a thing.
To you?
Power is frightening.
Power consumes.
Power changes.
Power kills.
Power destroys.
Is what you've always felt.
Until now.
Today was different.
You were not controlled.
Neither were you in control.
You could take on the world.
Power.
You were drunk on it.
And you don't even know it.
Blinded by your own intellect.
Too naive to see the signs.
Instead.
You'll do what they all do.
Keep chasing that high.
You got a taste of power.
And now?
You want more...
Chapter 14: Disaster Strikes
Summary:
Daniel tries to have a conversation with his brother. The results, however, are different from what he expected.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
A few days later…
Daniel still can't wrap his head around it. It shouldn't be real, and even Daniel knows that to be true. Still, his aching nose suggests otherwise. Sean can control it, at least to some extent. The question remains though.
How can he achieve total control?
Daniel looks in the distance, seeing his younger brother sitting with Loqui, his wolfbrother from another mother. Sean seemed to be a lot more comfortable since meeting his new friend, and Daniel's glad for him. Well, a part of him is. Seeing his little brother talk more with an animal says a lot about what kind of brother he's been to that boy.
Brother.
That's just it, isn't it? He's never been a brother to Sean. He can lie to himself all he wants, but that doesn't change history. Still, it's never too late to change. Daniel may not have been there when Sean needed support or someone to look up to, but Daniel can be there for him now. As much as Loqui means to Sean, that wolf isn't going to help them find food, shelter, or make a fire.
"Probably could do it better than me if he tried," Daniel muttered, part anger, and part sarcasm. All he ever wanted, was to be the best big brother in the world. And now, he's been replaced by a wolf. Daniel wants his little brother to be happy, but he would be lying if he said this didn't feel like a knife to whatever remains of his heart.
Still, that's the least of his worries right now.
They don't have any food. The nights are getting colder, and without proper gear, they're bound to either get sick or hurt, at best. Daniel didn't like it, but he saw no other option. He and Sean would have to go to the nearest town, and get supplies. One way or the other. Getting supplies, however, is the easy part. The first step of the plan is also the most difficult.
Convince Sean to come with him.
Sean's never been comfortable around people. Now, with this ability of his, the boy's a danger to himself and those around him if he loses control of his emotions. Obviously, Loqui can't come with them. Two dirty Mexican kids walking through town with their pet wolf aren't exactly being discreet. But how would he get Sean to agree to it?
Only one way to find out.
"Hey, man, can we talk?" Daniel says awkwardly while sitting down next to his brother.
"It's nice out here, isn't it, Daniel? I mean-" Sean grabs a stick and throws it for Loqui to fetch.
"It still hurts. All of it, but- it's peaceful here. So calm." Fucking hell. This isn't going to be easy. Loqui returns with the stick and Daniel grabs it in his hand.
"Go on, boy, get it!" Daniel throws the stick, only for Loqui to stare oblivious at him. He can't even convince this animal to do something it did five seconds ago. How the hell would he convince Sean to go with him?
"What the hell, man?" Daniel mutters at the poor wolf, earning himself a glare from Sean.
"Maybe if you didn't yell at him, he'll like you." It takes every ounce of strength for Daniel to avoid screaming at Sean. He must remember why he's here, and why he's having this conversation to begin with.
"Right, uhm… I'm sorry, Loqui." The little cub seemed to be accepting his poor apology as Loqui sat down in front of them.
"So what's wrong, Daniel?" Sean asked silently.
"What makes you think something's wrong, Sean?" He should know better than to out-talk Sean at this point. The kid knows. He knows because he can read Daniel like a book.
"I can see it on your face. You look… nervous, I guess." Yeah, that would be the understatement of the century.
"Sean, we don't have any food, and we don't have any warm clothes. You know that, right?" Daniel mentally prepares himself for what might happen if Sean loses it.
"I know, Daniel." Okay. So far, so good.
"And there's only one place for us to get those things, correct?" Sean turned to him with a look of confusion on his face.
"Daniel, what are you talking about?" The boy started to sound nervous. This is one of those moments when Sean's unique way of thinking takes a turn for the worse. He understands that they're starving and somewhat freezing as well, and understands that a solution is needed. Sean, however, rarely understands the action itself.
He understands their situation, probably much better than Daniel.
He knows exactly how long the human body can last without food.
He knows how low the temperature can go before their lives are in danger.
And he knows that something needs to be done.
But, he cannot understand what, when, or by whom.
"Sean, I need you to understand this, okay?" Daniel's so close to panicking but tries to remember how their father used to talk to Sean whenever he needed him to understand something.
"We have to find the nearest town and get some supplies there. I know it's not what you want, but-" Yeah, Sean did not want that.
"No." Sean wrapped his arms around his legs as darkness began falling upon him once more. He just started to like it here, and now Daniel wants him to leave. Why? So he can hurt more people?
"Sean, come on. You don't have to worry. I'll protect you." No, you won't. Sean doesn't need to be protected. He needs to be contained. And Daniel can't do that himself. Only Sean can. But he doesn't know how.
"You can't, Daniel. I- I don't wanna. I'll just hurt someone again." Daniel thought about what to say. Sean wasn't exactly wrong here. He could very well hurt someone or worse.
"Don't say stuff like that, Sean. It wasn't your fault." Daniel tries to wrap an arm around his little brother, but Sean shrugs him off.
"Don't touch me!" Sean's broken voice echoed. Daniel's starting to run out of both options and patience here. He tried, he really did. But now, when he no longer has any other options, he uses his standard response.
Anger.
"Come on, Sean, let's go. I know it sucks, but we're leaving now." Daniel said in a harsh tone, receiving no acknowledgment from Sean. This did not help the older brother's temper.
"Let's go, Sean," Daniel orders his little brother, but still, only silence in return. Loqui, however, stood up, looking suspiciously at Daniel.
"I said… LET'S GO!" Daniel grabs Sean's arm, attempting to pull him to his feet.
"NO! LET ME GO! DON'T TOUCH ME!" Sean screamed as he tried to escape his brother's vice grip. Daniel carried a great deal of emotional trauma before the incident, and now, that trauma reaches a boiling point as he completely loses his cool with his little brother.
"You listen to me, and you listen good, Sean." Daniel grabbed his brother by the collar, staring into his eyes.
"We are here because of you. I am here because of you. I don't have a fucking future because of you. I've always been the fuck-up, Sean. Just like you've always been the golden boy that everybody loves." Daniel can hear the horrible words coming out of his mouth, but he can't stop himself. Like it or not, it's the truth. His truth. In his anger, however, Daniel fails to notice how Sean reacts…
"They all look at you, and they see the boy genius. A one-of-a-kind wonder child. People look at me, and all they ever see is failure. A fucking failure, destined for nothing, and the eternal black sheep of the family." Daniel hates himself for saying this. He doesn't hate Sean. On the contrary, he loves Sean and would die for him without hesitation. Still, this frustration is very real.
"I might be a fuck-up, but at least I had a life. Until you ruined it. I'm a wanted fucking terrorist, Sean… BECAUSE OF YOU! The entire fucking country's after me, and the only person I can trust, is the same fucking retard that got me into this fucking mess! I fucking can't-" Daniel froze in horror.
He saw it now.
Sean's skin was pale, his blood vessels dark, and his nose, mouth, and eyes were bleeding. This is bad. This is very bad. Whatever happens now, Daniel did it.
"Shit…" Daniel mumbles to himself as he tries to think of something to do. He must find a way to calm his brother down.
"I'm sorry, Sean. I- I didn't mean it." Sean's hyperventilating, and lightning strikes a tree in the distance. Poor Loqui runs into the cave to hide.
"Why… I TRUSTED YOU!" Sean screams at a deafening volume. Daniel's not sure if he should run from Sean or comfort him. His heart says one thing, and his mind says another. Daniel's mind, however, usually had the worst of answers.
Which is why he goes with his heart.
"Sean, you're safe, little brother. I'm sorry-" Daniel attempted to pull Sean in for a comforting hug. This action would prove to have severe consequences for both of them.
"Don't… TOUCH ME!" Daniel heard his younger brother scream, and then things went south. He felt his feet leave the ground as his body began to levitate. Daniel tried to move, he tried to speak, but couldn't do either. He could not breathe, nor could he move a single muscle in his entire body. Not even his eyes.
Then, the pain hit him.
Every single nerve in his body felt like it was on fire. Nothing could even compare to this kind of pain. Daniel wanted to scream, had to scream, but he couldn't. His joints cracked, and his bones bent in unnatural ways as Daniel could do nothing but endure. He did this to himself.
"Daniel- Daniel- help me…" Meanwhile, little Sean Eduardo could do nothing but watch himself torture his big brother. The power was in the palm of his hands, however, the power controlled him instead of the other way around. He didn't see a way out of this.
"AAAHHH!" Sean unleashed an inhuman roar, and with it, a shockwave that sends his brother flying toward the deeper parts of the forest. What little control Sean felt at the end, he used to dampen his fall. Hopefully, it worked.
"I'm so sorry, Daniel. Forgive me… brother." Sean whispers before slipping into unconsciousness due to exhaustion.
Later…
When Daniel woke up, everything hurt. His head hurt, his legs hurt, his back hurt, and even his ears hurt. None of it, however, compared to the pain inside his chest. What happened back there was all on him. He's the failure that just keeps on failing in the most incredible ways a person could fail.
"Ah- shit." Daniel gets to his feet, trying to get his bearings. He could see their camp in the distance, however, no sign of Sean. Did Sean survive? Yeah, probably, but Daniel's too ashamed to face him right now. He's too ashamed to face Sean if he's alive and too afraid of the truth if Sean's dead. Daniel planned to go on a supply run, and that's what he will do. He tries convincing himself it has nothing to do with his fear of confronting Sean, however, he doesn't succeed.
He didn't know the right path, nor did he know how far away the nearest town was. Add to that the fact that he's hurting, and things don't get any easier. Still, it feels better than the alternative. Daniel Diaz does what Daniel Diaz does best.
He tries to escape the truth.
The route of escape was never an easy one, and this was no exception. His body ached, and he didn't even know what he was fighting for at this point. His life's over, and Sean? Sean either hates him or lies dead under a tree somewhere.
"Fuck. Get out of my head!" Daniel tries to rid himself of the horror he just pictured. The horror he just made happen. He can't escape this. Hell, he never managed to escape any of that other shit either. Still, that doesn't stop him from trying.
The hours passed, but Daniel refused to stop. When he fell, he immediately got back up to continue. And he fell a lot. But the more he walks, and the more exhausted he gets, the less energy his mind uses to think about what just happened.
"What the fuck am I doing?" Still, the negativity starts to take over from within as Daniel feels like he's walking in circles.
"I'm sorry, Sean. I- I failed you. I failed you again." Daniel admits his defeat before sitting down on the ground. He's either going to rest and continue in the morning, or he'll die in his sleep. The latter of those felt tempting right now. Either way, it felt good to sit down and rest.
"Fuck it…" Daniel leans his back against a tree before closing his eyes. Either he'll meet the reaper or a good night's sleep. It didn't matter much to him at this point.
The next morning, long after sunrise, a lone truck driver stopped in the area. Usually, he didn't stop for strangers, but the image he saw made him feel like he had to make sure everything was okay. The truck driver approached a teenager, laying passed out on the ground. The teenager looks like he's been living on the streets for quite a while.
"Hey, kid, wake up." The man speaks to him, receiving nothing in return.
"Wake up, kid!" The teenager jumped awake with fear in his eyes.
"AH- what- when- who-" Daniel rambled nonsense while trying to make sense of the situation. Looking down on him, was a complete stranger. The stranger, however, raised his hands to show that he meant no harm.
"Hey- hey, it's okay kid, don't worry. I just wanna make sure you're alright. I'm Anton, okay? You have a name?" Don't say Daniel or Sean, don't say Daniel or Sean, don't say Daniel or Sean.
"Chris." Daniel felt a sharp pain in his chest as he spoke the name of his deceased best friend. Anton, however, did not seem to notice.
"Chris? Okay. Are you injured, Chris? Wanna tell me what you're doing out here? You look a little… beat up." Remember who the fuck you are Daniel.
You are Chris, except you can lie your way into the fucking Pentagon if you wanted.
"Yeah, me and some friends were out camping, and things got a little wild if you know what I mean. I- I guess I had a few too many. It's my first time drinking, and I don't really remember much, sir. You mind telling me where I am?" Had the circumstances been different, Daniel would have laughed at how stupid his lie was. Both are accurate and completely false at the same time.
"Yeah, kid, you're right outside Buckley, Washington. Town's just a few minutes down that road." Daniel did not have to fake the look on his face. Not only did he realize that he fell asleep next to an actual road, but he was only minutes from a town. Guess this is his big break then.
"Wow… uhm, I live all the way back in Rochester, and I don't know how to get back. Pretty sure my so-called friends ditched me… sir." Come on, come on, please.
"I'm pretty sure you can take the bus from downtown, Chris. Too bad my route isn't that way, otherwise you could ride with me. You got money for the bus?" Bingo! That's the question Daniel wanted him to ask. It's always easier when he gets them to ask it instead of him begging.
"Uhm… I- I guess not." Daniel watches as Anton reaches for his wallet, picking out a few dollar bills.
"Here, Chris. This should be enough to get you home. Stay safe out there, okay? And be careful with the booze, kid." Daniel takes the money in his hand. It was fifty bucks. Anton, whoever he is, is definitely one of the few good guys in this world.
"Thank you, sir," Daniel says as Anton gets back inside his truck. The engine roars, and he disappears into the distance forever.
"Sucker…" Daniel says with a smirk on his face.
"First time drinking, yeah right." Daniel puts the money in his pocket and heads downtown to get supplies for himself, and hopefully, his little brother.
Buckley wasn't a large place, meaning Daniel would stand out more here. He knew that he shouldn't stay here a second longer than he had to. Just get the necessary supplies, and get out.
"Okay, what do we need?" Food, clothes, first-aid kit, maybe some camping gear, and then leave. Daniel spots a wildlife store where he could probably get some camping gear.
Upon entering the store, Daniel looks around for whatever equipment they could use out in the wild. Sadly, however, buying a tent goes straight out the window. He can't afford it, and it's too heavy to steal. He does, however, buy himself a decent backpack, along with some warm clothes for himself and Sean. So far so good. Nobody seems to suspect that a wanted terrorist roams the streets.
With his stomach starting to growl, Daniel enters a different store in search of food. Hopefully, he could buy a bunch of canned food to bring back with him. He takes as many cans as he can carry up to the cash register, not even bothering to check how much money's left in his pocket. The store clerk goes through everything in his pile before giving Daniel the total amount.
"Okay, kid, that's $24.99." The clerk says while staring at him.
"Okay, hang on a sec." Fuck. That's a lot of money. Daniel counts what he's got, pays the clerk, and feels his heart sinking as only two dollars remain. With a heavy sigh, Daniel starts packing the cans in his backpack.
"Hey, kid?" The clerk turns in his direction as if in deep thought.
"Yeah?" Just play it cool. Your name's Chris.
"Don't I know you from somewhere?" Shit! Shit, shit, shit, shit, SHIT!
"Uhm, I don't think so, no. I'm just kinda… passing through." With all supplies in the backpack, Daniel starts heading towards the exit while attempting to maintain his poker face.
"Fuck. Time to get out of here, Daniel." The teenager starts hurrying back the way he came. He must leave this city before it's too late. Sure, it could've been a false alarm, however, he's not waiting around to find out. Daniel walks through the downtown area, doing his best to ignore the various food joints he so dearly wants to visit right now.
Then, he stopped dead in his tracks.
Daniel saw something. And what he saw, resurrected an old craving he almost forgot existed.
"Liquor store – Open!" Daniel knows this to be a stupid idea. Hell, it's probably the single dumbest idea he's ever had, and that says a lot. But the feeling in his gut grows bigger by the second. The last couple of days have felt like a massive test of his patience, and in the end, he failed that test miserably yesterday. Now, Daniel feels the need to fall back into his old habits. To do what he always does when he needs to forget about another defeat in life.
He feels the urge to drink.
Unable to stop himself any longer, Daniel enters the store. The fact that he's not only a minor but also wanted for terrorism doesn't seem to phase him. He walks to the back end of the store, browsing for something cheap when suddenly, it hits him.
"Stupid. You're so fucking stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid." Daniel growls at his own stupidity. He can't legally purchase alcohol because he's only sixteen. Unfortunately…
Addiction is a powerful force.
Daniel looks to his left, and his right. Nobody's around. He takes the largest bottle available, putting it under his shirt before casually walking out. The second he got outside, Daniel walked around the corner, and down a dirty back alley. He leaned against the brick wall, sliding down to a sitting position while taking out the bottle.
"What the fuck happened to my life?" Daniel could feel the tears about to come as he opened up the bottle, preparing to drown his sorrows in a drunken wasteland.
He didn't know what kind of booze this was, and he didn't care. It did the job. Step by step and drink by drink, Daniel's pain began to fade away. No longer did he feel guilt over his mother abandoning their family, or pain over their father's death. Hell, he didn't even acknowledge the fact that his little brother might be dead.
Suddenly, a shadow looms over him. Daniel, however, is too wasted at this point to do anything about it. He cannot make out who or what it is. In the distance, it sounds like someone's calling out to him. Daniel felt a palm slapping the side of his face lightly, waking him up somewhat.
"Hey, are you with me?" Daniel tries to get a good look at the person in front of him. The second he did, he knew he fucked up big time.
"Daniel Diaz, you're under arrest."
Notes:
It's been too long since I updated this, but it's been Christmas, and I've also done the collab fic. But here it is.
This is where things really start to diverge from what we might call the "original LIS2 path". Daniel's arrest leaves Sean alone with Loqui in the woods. If he's alive, that is.
The argument between the brothers felt like something way overdue. Daniel always envied Sean for his intelligence, and Sean envied Daniel for his popularity and charisma. So they already had a lot of repressed emotions about each other. Add the recent trauma to the pile, and it becomes a ticking time bomb.
Please leave a comment below.
Enjoy!
K. S.
Failure.
Jealousy.
Anger.
Hurt.
The story of your life.
A story you just told.
For the first time.
With disastrous results.
You are a plague.
Anything you touch.
Is poisoned to the core.
Just like you.
Now.
You have truly outdone yourself.
Failed in ways one thought impossible.
Whatever happens from here.
It's your own fault.
But you already know that.
Don't you, Daniel?
Chapter 15: A Hangover From Hell
Summary:
Sean makes a decision that will change his life for the better if he can pull it off. Meanwhile, Daniel wakes up with the worst hangover of his life... in more ways than one.
Notes:
From the bottom of my heart, I AM SO SORRY FOR THE WAIT. 3 months & 1 day is absolutely NOT what I intended to have you guys wait between chapters.
Long story short, there's been a lot of stuff in my private life, and I've been close to yet another crash. Due to this, nothing really felt "fun" anymore, and I didn't have the energy to do it.
To all of those who patiently waited: THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I LOVE YOU ALL!
K. S.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
In the middle of nowhere…
Sean awoke as he felt something wet against his hand. Loqui desperately tried to wake him up by licking his palm over and over again, and when it finally gave some results, the small cub tried to gently poke at Sean to get him up.
"Uh, stop it, Loqui. I'm tired, just let me sleep-" Little Sean Eduardo's eyes opened wide as it came back to him. Everything. The hurtful words his brother screamed to his face, the anger he felt building up inside, and how he failed to suppress said anger.
"Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no." Sean starts to panic. He can barely breathe. Where's Daniel? Is he hurt? He can't be- no.
"Daniel!" Sean rushed to his feet, however, the powers has taken a toll on his body and Sean immediately collapsed.
"Ow- damn." Sean whimpered as he fell right back to where he began. Loqui tried to encourage him by letting Sean hug him close for comfort.
"Help me, Loqui. I- I don't know what to do." Normally, Sean knows exactly what to do, but is too afraid to do it himself. Now, however, he feels completely lost. Slowly, the child stands up on wobbly legs, trying to get his bearings. His head's pounding, his breaths are uneven, and everything just hurts.
"D- Daniel…?" Sean whispers as he looks around the area. Nobody answers his plea for help. Everywhere looks the same, and Sean's terrified. He knows he's alone, yet he feels like he's being watched.
"DANIEL?!" Another time, louder, but still only silence in return. Sean starts to aimlessly walk across the area with Loqui following close.
"Daniel, I'm sorry. Please, come back. Please. Don't- don't leave me-" The boy starts crying as he realizes that nobody will answer him. Least of all his brother. Sean, however, also realized something else.
There's no dead body and no major traces of blood nearby. That means Daniel's alive. He should be happy with that conclusion, however, since Daniel's alive, but not here, only one option remains. Sean sits down on the cold, hard ground in defeat.
"You left me, Daniel. You left me here… to die." Sean couldn't exactly blame him for it. Contrary to his beliefs, Sean wasn't the one wanted for all those horrific incidents. He's the one to blame, yes, but Daniel's the one they're after. It always was.
"I ruin everything." Sean silently stated. He drove away his mother. His father, the one person who truly understood him, he killed. And Daniel? He got a fate worse than death. An eternal brand mark as a domestic terrorist, forever preventing him from living a normal life.
"You should just go, Loqui. I- I don't want you to get hurt." The wolf cub placed its head in Sean's lap, proving that he was not going anywhere. It made Sean smile on the inside. At least there's one family member he hasn't pushed away… yet.
"I guess there's only one thing to do now, huh?" He says to the small cub as if hoping it would come up with another option. Loqui, however, remains silent. He's out of options, and nobody can help him.
"I guess I should turn myself in," Sean says with defeat in his voice. Would he tell the police about his powers in hopes of ending the manhunt for his brother?
Perhaps.
Then again, Sean's no fool. Daniel abandoned him here. His own brother left him here to die, and if Sean were to turn himself in, he would be seen as an innocent victim in all of this. He wouldn't even have to lie, just keep certain details from public knowledge. That way, Sean would get into a decent foster home, and life would continue.
Maybe…
"So, are we ready to find our way out of here, Loqui, huh?" The boy tries to sound confident, however, what little life force he had left, disappeared with his older brother. Still, Sean Eduardo Diaz walks through the forest, Loqui at his side, hoping to find a path to freedom.
Buckley Police Department – Holding cell…
Daniel awoke to a throbbing pain in his skull. Great, another hangover. Well, he's dealt with worse. All he needs to do is get to his feet. After that, the worst part is over.
"…Fucking hell." The teenager groans as he starts to move around in what clearly isn't a bed. Whatever this surface is, it's cold, hard, and unforgiving. The next moment, Daniel opens his eyes.
For a split second, everything felt like it used to. Not just before the incident, but way back before their mother left. Back when Daniel still felt somewhat normal. After said split-second, however… everything came back at once.
The horrible things he said to Sean, how he left him in the woods like garbage, and how, like always, Daniel Diaz fuck things up like no other can.
He got drunk… again. This time, the price might be his own life. In the best case scenario, Daniel spends the rest of his life behind bars, and if that's not an option, death row.
"Shit." He doesn't even know how to react. Almost like his brain failed to comprehend the magnitude of his astronomical fuckups. Then again, that's nothing new.
"I'm-" His voice breaks, and it hurts to say it. The words, however, are very true.
"I'm so sorry, Sean. I failed you, little brother. I failed you again." Daniel slowly rises to his feet, just like he suspected, he's in a holding cell. The older kind. Rusty metal bars instead of a door, and the window is no different. Daniel looks outside as if by some miracle Sean would stand there to bust him out. All he can see, however, is an empty parking lot.
How fun…
He gets little time to self-reflect, however, as a loud, buzzing noise echoes in the room. A door opens, and three people enter the cell block where Daniel's the only prisoner. One police officer, and two heavily armed guards with shotguns.
"Fuck. This is bad. Really bad." Daniel knew there was no escape from this. The only thing he can do is the only thing he's ever been good at.
Bullshit.
Bullshit. Lie, cheat, and steal. Twist a truth here, turn a word there, and a certain death sentence might be twenty years if he's lucky. Does he believe it?
No.
But he's got to try.
"Ok, dude, you can do this. You have to do this. You're fucked if you don't pull this off." The teenager closes his eyes in an attempt to give himself a mental pep-talk before the one conversation which could very well decide if he lives or dies.
"My name is Daniel Felipe Diaz. I don't know what happened, I panicked, and my brother was afraid. I had to protect him. FUCK!" He tries coming up with believable lies, however, all he sees before his eyes are the hurt on his brother's face when they last saw each other.
"DIAZ! Let's go, boy!" Daniel snaps out of his trance as the police officer yells at him in a not-so-nice way. This, however, is not the time to argue. For now, he plays their game and follows the officers down the hallway, into a small interrogation room. The armed guards raise their shotguns at him while the officer points at a chair beside a table. Considering he's at gunpoint, Daniel decides to sit down. Within seconds, his feet, and hands are both shackled to the floor, making it near-impossible to move.
"State your name for the record, please." The guards lowered their guns, the officer sat down opposite Daniel, and he even said please. That's the best thing to happen so far.
"Daniel Felipe Diaz." He mumbles in a neutral tone, doing his best to stay focused.
"And for the record, are you speaking to me voluntarily?" Is that supposed to be funny? He got escorted here by armed guards, and locked to a chair at gunpoint.
"Whatever…" Not the smartest thing to say, but there's not a chance he would say yes to that. Not in a million years.
"Hm, I'd drop the attitude if I were you, kid." The officer gives him a lethal stare, but Daniel's got nothing to lose at this point. At least that's how he feels.
"And why is that, huh? You gonna tell me why I'm here, bro?" He asks the officer in his most arrogant and cocky tone. Although terrified, Daniel could at least pretend to sound confident. Hopefully, that counts for something.
"Don't play stupid. You know goddamn well why you're here. You killed innocent people, and a lot of them too. People with families… with kids." The words made him sick to his stomach. The image of Chris, impaled by a massive shard of glass makes an unwelcome cameo in his mind. And that's not even the worst part…
"Here, Mr. Diaz… take a look at the destruction you've caused." The officer placed photos in front of Daniel, one by one. Photos of the people he supposedly killed. That's the worst part. Daniel didn't kill them.
Sean did.
The knowledge that his sweet and innocent little brother, the golden child, the boy genius- is a mass murderer? Hell, even if he were to give them the truth, they would never believe it. Not in a million years. Then again, he would rather die before feeding Sean to a lab in Area 51. Daniel can't tell the truth, nor is he going to lie and say he did it all. But he can't just be silent either.
What the hell is he going to say here?
"You don't need to show me those photos, bro. I was there-" Daniel just wanted the horrifying pictures taken away, however, the officer slams his fist on the table as he interrupts.
"Oh, so you WERE there after all, huh?" Daniel just stares emptily. A cop this brain damaged? He could probably talk him into giving him his ATM card if he wanted to. Hell, had the circumstances been different, he'd likely tried it too.
"Uhm, yeah. I never said I wasn't. I literally woke up in the hospital to a police interrogation, genius. Go and have a look, it should be on record." He doesn't consider himself intelligent, but in these moments, Daniel Felipe Diaz thrives. The officer's face turns red with embarrassment as he realized his mistake, and the teenager in handcuffs loves every moment of it.
"You know what I mean, you little shit- what did you do?" Dude… just let it go. Accept your humiliating defeat.
"Do what, my good sir?" Daniel says with a smile on his face. He's already doomed so if he sees a chance to have some fun, he's gonna take it.
"Fine. I only have one more question for you, Mr. Diaz." The officer scoffs at having to call Daniel "Mr. Diaz" as if he's not worthy of it. He proceeds to grab a small folder before handing it over to Daniel. One of the guards appeared to unlock both of his hands from the cuffs so he could take a look at the said folder.
"Can you at least tell us where he is?" Well… shit.
Daniel read the folder in front of him. Sean, his little brother. They had just about everything on him with the obvious exception of his power of course. And still, Daniel knew it. It was his fault for putting Sean in that spot, to begin with, but it's too late for that to change. The kid's on his own now.
"Nope…" Daniel closed the folder symbolically before sliding it back to the officer. He did his best to not show the pain he felt when seeing the photo of his little brother.
"Listen… this isn't even about you, Mr. Diaz. It's about saving your brother. Then again, you've already proved what family's worth to you, huh? Blowing up an entire building while your father and brother are still inside? Yeah, I bet your dad's really proud of you. Too bad we can't ask him." Those words lit a fire inside Daniel, and it wasn't of the good kind.
"You look at me, and you see what? A murderer, a terrorist, or maybe even a kidnapper? Think about this for a second… officer. I'm considered the fuckup of the family. The stupid, reckless, idiotic, impulsive, and quick-to-anger son that always acts but never thinks. And then? Then, there's Sean…" Daniel continued to speak while his voice rapidly increases in both volume and anger.
"You have no idea who he is… you have no idea what he is. He's nine-year's-old and he's the smartest person you'll ever know, I guarantee it. You have all your fucking intel on him in that folder- even his goddamn weight- but I promise you this. You will NEVER find him. He's too smart for you fuckers, and he'll only let you see him if he wants to." Daniel's losing his temper rapidly, but he can't be bothered to care anymore.
"Calm the fuck down, kid!" The officer tells him sternly. This, however, serves the opposite effect.
"Calm down?! CALM DOWN?! Why the FUCK would I be calm, huh?! The best thing I can hope for is life in prison, and you tell me to calm down?! Listen to me real good, friend, because I'm only saying this once…" The officer seemed reluctant, but he let Daniel speak.
"Someone… will come for me. Someone… will get me out of here. And someone… will show you why I can't stay the FUCK calm!" He knew he couldn't handle the pressure. It got to him, and once more, he fucked up. Daniel knows more than well that nobody's coming for him. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.
"This interview's over." The officer ends the so-called interview, and the guards come to drag Daniel back to the cell. At least he's not cuffed anymore, but the cell isn't exactly the best place in the world to be in. It smells of vomit, blood, sweat, and tears. All he can sit or lie down on is either solid concrete or pure and unforgiving steel. As the door closed behind him, Daniel sighed heavily.
"Listen, kid…" What the fuck- he didn't even know that asshole was still there. Daniel turns around to look at the officer that just spent a small eternity interrogating him. The man's got a smug smile on his face that gives Daniel the creeps.
"You know, the feds are on their way down to have a word with you. Then again, a lot of people would gladly see your head chopped off right here and now. An alcoholic and drug-dealing Mexican turned domestic terrorist? Yeah, that's bound to attract some attention, ain't it? I would be very careful to fall asleep if I were you. A lot of… bad things can happen here at night. Goodnight… Mr. Diaz."
The officer leaves the room, and Daniel's completely stunned to silence by what he just heard. This is bad. He's in danger here, but he can't do a thing about it. Talk to the police? The police are the danger right now. He sits down in the corner of the cell, leaning against the wall.
"I know, Sean. I'm not worth it. But please, I- I don't want to die in here. Help me… please, Sean… help." Silent sobs echoed as Daniel Felipe Diaz spent the entire night awake. Too afraid to fall asleep, and too broken to do anything about it.
Is this how he ends?
Notes:
So that concludes this chapter. Not a very long one, but things haven't been the best lately. I have NOT abandoned this though, I promise.
The brothers are now separated and are bound to stay that for the time being. I still have many things planned for this story, so I'm somewhat confident in what my next move is going to be. I don't know why I decided to randomly create a "missing person's poster" for Sean, but I somehow thought of it, and I liked the idea. I might do similar things in the future, who knows?
The artwork of Sean used on the "missing person" poster is a work created by "Johnson_Blazkowicz". I give full credit to the artist for the wholesome artwork of smol Sean, and I recommend you visit the artist's Twitter I shall link below.
If by any means the artist wants me to remove their works, just let me know.
JohnsonTerminal
Anyway, feel free to leave a comment down below. It doesn't even have to be related to the fic. I just need something to "reignite" my motivation.
Enjoy!
K. S.
Two brothers.
Torn apart by forces of evil.
One brother...
Doomed.
Imprisoned.
For all eternity.
The other brother...
Guilty.
Free.
Yet trapped in his own head.
A teenager.
Alone against society.
A boy.
Alone against the wild.
One brother sees a way out.
However...
It may not go as expected...
Chapter 16: The Seeker
Summary:
Sean struggles with the recent events, and what it might mean for him.
Notes:
I deeply apologize for the severe lack of updates on this. 7 months is far too long. But I always remembered this fic, and I love all of you who kept waiting.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Deep inside the unknown woods…
He really did it this time. Sean's in way over his head, and he knows it. Lost in the middle of nowhere, and god only knows how far away civilization is right now. His joints ached, his stomach growled, and his mouth screamed for water he did not have. He should be able to find his way out of this, but still, he's never felt so lost before in his life.
"Come on, Loqui. It's gonna get dark soon, we need to hurry up." The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. Dark. Finding shelter is one thing. It might not be easy, but he'll manage. The darkness, however, is something else. Whenever Daniel was around, it worked. It still creeped him out, but he wasn't scared.
"Focus, Sean… focus. You can do this." The boy tries to pep-talk himself into ignoring his fears and focusing on the bigger picture. He closed his eyes for a moment, attempting to calm his nerves. Usually, this would work to some extent. Sean would picture something in his mind to give him a sense of peace. Sometimes, it would be the smallest of things. Most of them, are memories of a previous, more happy life. A life where he had a mother, a father, and… a brother.
Needless to say, his little pep-talk did not work this time around.
Instead of his loving family, Sean only saw what he did to them. His father dying in front of his eyes, and Daniel becoming the victim of a nationwide manhunt because of him. Images of the people he accidentally killed, played on constant repeat at a pace Sean could barely begin to process.
"And you wonder why I left you…?" The voice of his mother echoed in his head. It wasn't a real voice, and Sean knew it. Still, it felt so authentic.
"No… stop! Please, stop. I- I don't wanna- I don't wanna-" The boy collapsed on the ground, leaning his back against a tree. He's never felt so small in his life. So small, so helpless, and so useless.
"I can't do this, Loqui. I- I just can't." Seeing his human companion on the verge of tears, the small wolf cub squeezes himself in under Sean's arm to give him a sense of comfort.
"Maybe I should just- I dunno… stay here? Wait for things to take care of themselves, you know? I- I don't have anyone out there. Nobody's waiting for me, Loqui. Nobody." As much as the words broke him, they were true. Nobody waited for little Sean Eduardo to come home. No mother, for she abandoned him. No father, for he killed him, and no brother, for he drove him away.
Deep down, however, Sean knows how the mind of his older brother works. When talking his way out of trouble isn't an option, Daniel's either going to fight, or he's going to run. Talking did him no favors this time, that much is clear, and Daniel would never fight him, Sean knows that for sure. So, with that being said, could it be possible that Daniel didn't leave him here to die on purpose, but instead-
"You just ran away, didn't you? You saw what happened, and you felt guilty-" Sean choked on his words while holding back tears.
Still, there's a newfound sense of hope inside him. He knows he shouldn't get too far ahead of himself, but the more he thinks of it, the more it makes sense. While they have a complicated bond, they're still brothers, and they both know it. Daniel wouldn't leave him here to die. At least not on purpose.
"But he still ran, Loqui… he still left me. And now I'm alone." Little Sean Eduardo looks into the eyes of his wolf companion, realizing that, while he may be lonely, he's not completely alone in his pain. The realization gave him comfort and a sense of calm, making his mind far less chaotic.
"Okay, Sean. Deep breaths… in… and out…" The boy utilizes the breathing exercises he was taught at a very young age to use when in desperate need to calm himself.
He needs to think this through. Daniel left him here, but not on purpose, meaning he likely ran in a state of panic. His brother could easily be lost, however, there's also another thing that may have happened. Something far more likely and frightening.
"Shit…" Sean mumbles upon realizing that not only did he inadvertently cause his brother to be the victim of a nationwide manhunt, but he may also have gotten him arrested for it.
"Daniel, I'm coming to get you-" Upon realizing the error of his ways, Sean stood up, announcing to his surroundings that he was coming to save his brother. There was, however, one problem about that.
Well, a lot of problems. But the one thing he noticed upon standing, was that the darkness had settled in all around him. One of his greatest fears surrounded him, threatening to swallow him completely. And it might as well. He can't save Daniel. Hell, he doesn't even know where he is, and even if he did, he wouldn't be able to save him. Sean's just a child.
Except for the fact that Sean's anything but a normal child. He possesses a dangerous ability, far beyond his control. However, he knows he can do good things with it as well. Like when he healed Daniel's gunshot wound. But he doesn't have control over it. Whatever this is, it's far too unstable. Just like him.
"How?" Little Sean Eduardo thoughtfully studies the palm of his hand as if hoping to see the answer to his question. How can he gain control of something so unstable when he can't even control himself? Or perhaps…
"I'm not meant to control it?" He tried to resist, and it cost him his father. He tried to control it, and it almost cost him his brother. Maybe this isn't something to be controlled by a mere mortal after all. That being said, he knows better than to let it control him. Perhaps the right way would be somewhere in between. Not resist it, not tame it, just let go of it. Let it run wild and do its own thing.
How would that help him get his brother back though?
"Let's just go. Come on, Loqui. We have to get moving." With a deep sigh, Sean and his wolf companion begin a slow walk through a dark forest. He did his best to ignore the disturbing thoughts that moved around in his mind a mere moment ago. How he genuinely entertained the idea of letting this curse run free in his mind, body, and soul. He didn't feel like the same person anymore, and he didn't like it. Perhaps the events of the last couple of months are getting to him.
Either way, it wasn't nearly as scary as walking through the dark forest. Every little sound made Sean jump or turn around, expecting to see a monster standing behind him. Even if he knew how ridiculous that idea was. Still, little Sean Eduardo kept pushing forward with one goal in mind.
Getting to his brother.
Did he walk in the right direction? He did not know. What would he do when he learned of the whereabouts of his brother? He did not know that either. But he knew that this was the only thing he could do. Sean knew it was the right thing to do. He got Daniel into this mess, and one way or the other, he should be the one to get him out of it as well.
Route 410, many hours later…
Sean barely believed his eyes when he saw a road ahead of him. He made it to civilization at last. Unlike most in similar situations, however, little Sean Eduardo didn't run towards the road while the rush of victory took over him. No, he began walking slower and slower with each step because something else had taken over instead.
Fear.
Anxiety.
The greatest issues he suffered from before this mess began. His fear of being near people. Especially people he did not know. And this time, it's exactly what he must do. That is the fear he must conquer. The last time he tried doing so, he ended up branding his older brother a domestic terrorist while accidentally killing more than fifty people as his curse made itself known for the first time. So it's safe to say that his fear is greater than ever before.
Add to that the fact that even if Daniel's the one wanted for the actual crimes, people are looking all over the country for him as well. Sean knows it. A nine-year-old kid going missing is bad enough to make the entire news media go haywire. And that's not even mentioning the fact that he's got… special needs.
Sean muttered while cringing slightly. He never had high thoughts of himself, largely due to his condition. Freak or not, however, he's still Sean. People calling him "autistic" or "a special needs child" made him feel like they made fun of him. He just wants to be Sean.
Suddenly, Sean covers his face with the palm of his hand as something blinds him in the distance. It's just an oncoming car, and by the looks of it, it's not a police car, so things should be fine.
Loqui disagreed though…
The small wolf cub started whimpering in fear, courtesy of the strange sounds that only got closer with every passing second. Sean grabbed him in his arms, holding him close to his chest.
"Shh, it's okay, Loqui. Don't be afraid. I got you. I'm right here." As the whimpering ceased, Sean realized now more than ever, just how important his seemingly random bond with this animal was. Two lone wolves, comforting one another in desperate times of need-
"Hey, kid? Everything alright?" A voice snapped Sean out of his peaceful trance. The approaching car had stopped right next to him. Instead of answering the question, Sean quickly began to analyze his surroundings. The car in front of him, an old, worn-down pickup with only two seats, and the man driving it.
"Did something happen to you? Is everything alright?" The man asked him once again. The look on his face, however, shows little if any of the concern implied by his words. Sean should just say yes and carry on, but he can't. He just freezes. His social anxiety always gets him. And even if he were to speak, what would he say in this situation?
"I'm fine, nothing to see here. Just a nine-year-old boy walking his wolf cub in the middle of the night." Yeah, that would get him places. Say what you want about Daniel, but he could talk his way out of virtually everything.
"So, I'm heading into town. I could give you a lift if you wanted, kid?" Daniel might have a way of speaking words, however, Sean has a way of seeing words. The strong lights in the distance suggested that whatever town this man was talking about was located just around the corner and that he was traveling from it and not towards it. In other words, Sean saw through his lie with ease. Yeah, he still hasn't changed on that one.
Now, if only he wasn't so useless at communicating with other human beings. He shook his head, hoping it would be enough of an answer for the stranger. For once in his life, Sean felt lucky.
"Alright, suit yourself, kid. Just- stay safe, okay. Oh- by the way… don't take the damn wolf into town. People are gonna go batshit insane if you do." Before Sean knew what happened, the stranger had disappeared in the distance, and his heart rate began returning to normal.
"I don't know why I'm like this, Loqui. I just- I have a real hard time talking to people, I guess." Sean confessed to the wolf cub, receiving looks of doubt in return.
"Come on now, let's go. I don't care what he said, of course you're coming with me, boy." side by side, the pair continued the journey toward civilization.
It didn't take them long to arrive at a sign which read "Welcome to Buckley". It seemed like a relatively small town, however, it's the closest one by far, and if Daniel were to have gone anywhere, it's here. It's still late at night, or early in the morning, meaning the streets were deserted, and the stores closed. Probably for the best. A Mexican child and his pet wolf aren't exactly something that will blend in anywhere on this planet.
No people in sight, at least that's good. It gave him time to think and time to explore.
Eventually, he found himself on a playground. With Sean being who he is, he never spent much time on the playground, be it now or when he was younger. He never understood why it was supposed to be entertaining, however, he wished he did. He wished he could just be a normal child for once.
Sean takes a seat on the swing set, dangling his feet slightly above the ground. It felt almost scary like he would lose his balance and fall backwards. Still, at least he did something normal. Little Sean Eduardo began thinking about his next move. Does he even have one? How can he even be sure Daniel's here?
"Fuck!" Sean stood up to kick the ground. Where should he even start? Soon, people are going to wake up and hit the streets. And when that happens, he doesn't want to be here. So, what should he do?
"Think, Sean. Think, you- you freak!" Just as his mind was about to spiral, it came to him.
"The police station. Of course, you dumbass." Sean mentally facepalms at his own stupidity. He should definitely be able to find some sort of answer there. Although entering the station is out of the question for many reasons, it doesn't mean you can't find clues scattered around it.
It didn't take him long to find the police station. The town wasn't very large, nor were the buildings inside it, making it easy to navigate. The police station seemed like any other building really, and nothing like an actual police station. However, as Sean got closer, he noticed something.
Five black SUVs, all with tinted windows, poorly hidden sirens behind the spotlights, and license plates from Washington. That would be Washington, DC., and not the state of Washington that Sean grew up in. The likelihood of these vehicles belonging to federal agents seemed high, and federal agents wouldn't come to the other side of the country for nothing. It would have to be something big.
Such as the arrest of a domestic terrorist.
The heart of little Sean Eduardo sank to the very bottom. He knew this was likely to happen. He didn't want it to be true, but he knew. Still, having it confirmed felt like a dagger in his young heart. He walked down an alley that took him to the side of the station where he fell to his knees, sobbing in defeat and victory alike. Daniel didn't leave him to die, but he got arrested instead.
The boy placed his palm on the cold, unforgiving concrete wall that kept his brother from freedom. He then closed his eyes while resting his forehead against it, attempting to feel closer to his brother, and maybe give him a sense of comfort as well.
"I know you're in there, Daniel. And I want you to know… I'm coming for you."
Notes:
First update in so long that I almost feel ashamed. To all of you still waiting for updates here, I say thank you for your patience. It means a lot to me. A lot of stuff has happened this year, few of it is good, let's just go with that.
This chapter shows Sean and some of his internal struggles with the recent events that caused Daniel to disappear. He guilt-trips himself into thinking Daniel abandoned him, however, eventually the "smart Sean" gets the upper hand as he looks at what happened in a more "Sean" way. That is by analyzing the things other people wouldn't, and using the things he knows about those involved, in this case, Daniel.
Then there's the obvious hint/statement Sean makes by saying that he's coming for his brother. The question, however, is how? I mean- he's just a kid, smart or not...
Also, it may or may not hint at other things that I have planned for the future.
Dangerous.
Unhinged.
Freak of nature.
It is what you are.
Calm.
In control.
A light in the darkness.
It is what you must become.
To achieve victory.
Control is key.
But...
How does one obtain it?
You cannot control it.
It cannot control you.
Maybe...
You should just live by your own rules?