Chapter Text
Pure darkness from above in the city of Bridgeport. It is very late and the storm is slowly becoming stronger. Flashing of lights can be seen through the dark abyss.
Liam limply walks to the smokestack himself on the city's wet streets after getting his friend's... err, companion's car, crashed into a pole. Yeah, he knew that wasn't a good idea but really, at this point he doesn't care anymore. He doesn't care about the consequences. He doesn't care if both of his mental and physical health is ruined. He doesn't care if Bryce would get mad at him. He doesn't care if he'll just flop onto the hard concrete ground and die. He just wants to end this once and for all. He wants to end the show, and save the contestants. Especially Amelia. Poor, poor Amelia. She must be feeling even worse than before. She needs to get out of there. She needs to get out of there very, very soon. It's been a week ever since Liam got eliminated.
He can do this. He can do this.
He repeats that thought to himself over and over as he slowly walks to the smokestack for something. Anything. As one of the notes is telling him to go there. There should be a sign.
He's almost there.
The rain is getting more stronger as his fabric is getting very wet
doesn't bother him
He needs to get there
He's almost there
He's almost—
Suddenly he got pushed onto the ground, silently wincing from the sudden force and pain
"What the heck is your problem!?"
Bryce yelled at him as he raised his hands. Visibly very mad at him while. Holding tears, Liam just stands, stared at him and walks away
Bryce had enough and decided to walk in front of him
"No." He points at the drenched and miserable backpack
"This has gone too far. You are NOT going to do th—"
"WHAT DO I HAVE TO LOSE? HUH??"
Bryce was taken aback from this
"My life was GREAT before this all happened. and Airy has taken.. everything... EVERYTHING-.. FROM ME"
He tried his best to hold back his sobs, he gave up. He couldn't.. He didn't want to have this conversation. After holding these thoughts for so long he couldn't seem to tell or yell them all out at that moment. Instead, he's crying. In front of the other. He really needs a break.
"I CAN'T SIT BACK AND MISS MY ONLY SHOT AT STOPPING THIS TO HAPPEN FROM ANYONE ELSE"
He yelled with the hint of tears in his eyes
They argued
And argued
And argued
And argued, until...
"I'M DEAD TO THIS WORLD, SODA BOTTLE DON'T YOU GET IT!?"
Oh.
Did he just.. called him..
Oh no.
This- This is embarassing
After a quick moment of silence, he just slowly walks around Bryce.
"Liam..."
His walking quickened
"Liam, wh-"
He runs
"LIAM!"
He immediately ran to follow him, letting puddles splash below their feet
"Liam..." Says the soda bottle, finally walking and catching his breath
"Don't-.. Don't do it..."
Liam made it near the smokestack with a chained wall blocking its way. He stares at Bryce, breathlessly, desperately telling to him to stop. But he couldn't. He wanted to try and climb over the wall to finally get there but...
When he touched the wall...
"OUCH!- aagh, what...?"
Liam hissed as he felt a sharp pain from the cold, and wet metal. Turns out the wall is electric. It zaps the person whoever touches it. Great.
Shaking his electricuted hand, he tried to find a door, but it's locked. He was this close to giving up, so he tried to resist holding the chains to climb up, but failed desperately. Nothing but pain from the extra security.
"Liam!" Bryce yelled out of worry
"Liam, that's enough. We're done, I'm taking you back t-"
"NO!" Liam cried, still trying to hold the chains. He needs to stop doing that
Bryce ran towards him, trying to make him stop from holding the chains. Liam was crying even more as Bryce held him by the shoulders, struggling to make the backpack to stop from hurting himself more.
A few minutes later, Liam finally stopped and just stood there. Staring blankly at the ground below them as tears are running down his face. Bryce was still
holding onto him.
"C'mon..." Bryce said softly
"We can... talk about this at my apartment.. Just.. Take a break.. please.. W-we can do this thing in the morning" He slightly shook him to sound more convincing so Liam decided to give up and just go back
The rain became stronger.
But as the two of them were about to head back, a sudden lightning strikes down near the two, making both of them yelp in surprise. Making their ears ring. Almost deafening.
That was a close one. They should really head back, and quick
They fast walked to the building. Bryce can deal with his car later. A person's sanity is more important.
They entered the building, walking towards the elevator drenched in water.
When they got in the elevator, Bryce presses one of the buttons that leads to the floor of where his apartment should be. The two are just standing beside each other awkwardly. The muffled strong pouring rain can be heard outside. The two decided to not look at each other through the whole ride.
Suddenly, the elevator shooked following a loud thud. The lights starting to flicker, then died down making the small room go dim.
"Wh-.. Oh, crap. I think we're stuck" Bryce sighed, Liam walks to the back and kicks the elevator's walls out of annoyance before he pauses to relax
"Can you.. call someone to fix it?"
"Well yeah but this elevator is like, a decade old but I'll just press the emergency button. Hopefully this thing still works"
Bryce pressed the emergency button as Liam sat slumply from behind. The two of them waiting for help.