Chapter Text
Rain rain, go away.
Come again another day...
Let me out of here. It's all my fault, isn’t it? Every time the rain drops onto the roof with the tiny drip drops. Everyone else is suffering because of me. They locked me up in here. This platinum padded wall. It's cold like my misery. To stop me from toying with people's minds, but now I'm toying with my own. It's like I can make myself think I'm somewhere else. I can make myself think I'm back home instead of being locked up. It feels great. So great.
‘____ ? I’m here again.’ The boy stood outside, peeking through the only source of light. The barred window was just big enough for his hand to slip through and give a small piece of bread and meat. He had helped that boy one time, and now he was paying it back. He had used his powers to stop him from getting punished, but instead he had gotten captured himself. Called ‘one of the most dangerous weapons’ when actually, he wasn't that bad. He just didn't know how to control the hallucinations.
‘Milo. I'm going to help you escape. I can lead you through the castle.’ He whispered, putting the glasses on him to stop his powers getting out of control. He dragged Milo out of the dungeon as the guards bowed to the prince, not questioning his companion, who would be his friend for the rest of his life.
‘Father,’ he started, but the king’s hand gripped his arm so tight, pulling him away from Milo.
‘I told you not to touch them. They are different.’
‘But he's nice.’
‘Did you forget what happened to your mother? It's all your fault.’
The prince was eight at the time. Not understanding anything. Being forced to grow up.
Milo ran out of the castle walls while the king was being distracted. Was this all part of the prince’s plan or a coincidence that he was able to escape unharmed. The guards didn’t even say anything either. He looked back at the towering castle and then fell as he tripped over someone’s foot. His knee scraped against the rough bark that had dropped from the trees above.
‘Are you okay?’ The boy he had tripped on asked. His eyes were red and watery, and he looked like he’d been standing there for a while. Waiting for something, or someone, that never came back.
‘Have you seen my brother?' He tried to keep his voice low, sobbing as though he feared something was chasing him.
‘No… What’s your name?’
‘Owen…’
‘I’m Milo. Come with me.’
…
Shells lined the windowsill, neatly placed. They sat in the glare of the sun, behind the red curtains of the dorm room.
‘Eleanor has a collection now,’ Lina noted.
‘And one with me. Emotional support, she calls it.’ Kaito held it up for her to inspect.
‘Looks exactly like the one you have on top of your books.’
(And who's been put on duty to watch over from the rooftop? That's right, the two main characters!)
‘Sigh~’ Alex kicked a few pebbles as they flew off the rooftop. The tiles on the floor were mossy and slippery. He hopped around each patch of green like it was a game. Eleanor watched as he nearly fell every minute, prepared to catch him if he ever trips and goes too close to the edge. They were waiting for the sunset so they could go back to bed. She was basically leaning over the stone wall watching the moon rise. She could see the beach from here and the tides rolling in and out washing the white foam all over the sand.
Eleanor still remembers the day she drowned at the same beach. The same waves that carried her lifeless body out to the centre of the sea until she awoke again. That’s it. That’s all she remembers. It’s amazing.
Alex stopped as well. Looking out at the view. ‘So beautiful. Just like you.’ He said, except this time his eyes were sparkling and he was completely sober. Surprise caught Eleanor as she slowly turned around, rethinking her life choices.
‘Damn, Alex. Are you going to confess for real now?’
‘Can I?’
‘The fuck do you mean “Can I”, you’re the one saying something.’
‘Fine. I like you.’
‘I got that.’
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the necklace that he was chasing Kaito for earlier.
‘Here.’ He gave it to Eleanor, blushing. She stared at it for a while before taking it and examining it. The gem was purple and as shiny as the tide. All she could do was gape at it. How long had it been since she had gotten a proper gift? Without something bad happening right after.
‘Wow, it looks so nice.’ She said, grazing the silver with her thumb.
‘I can put it on for youuu.’ He took it in his hand and moved aside her hair so he could wrap it around her neck.
‘You’re not going to choke me, are you?’
‘What?! There. See, I didn’t choke you.’
‘Eleanorrrrrr,’ she whipped her head around to see Alex crouching on the floor, looking at something with so much focus. ‘Snail.’ He pointed at the tiny speck as if he were an innocent child. That little pout as he nudged the shell matched the description. The sky was nearly painted gold now. The waves glimmered in the afterglow of the yellow and orange and pink on the horizon.
‘Come on, let's go now.’
‘But the snail-’
‘I’ll put it on your bed if you’re that desperate.’ He groaned and stood up, even waving goodbye to the snail. Wanting to catch up to Eleanor, he sped up faster and faster, ignoring the moss he was dodging before.
Then suddenly, he tripped over an uneven tile and landed on Eleanor, face to face, holding himself up with his hands on the moss. They quickly became damp, but he still didn’t move. Eleanor could see herself in the reflection in his eyes. They just blinked, almost synchronised, until she pushed him off.
‘Do that again, I'm throwing you over the damn fence- what are you doing?’ She said deadpan, staring at Alex running to the stone wall.
‘Checking how high up it is, if it's worth it.’ He peered over the rough stone and vines while grinning.
‘We’re on the rooftop. You’ll definitely die if you fall?’
‘So not worth it?’
’No?’