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Rosco had finally found something.
After days of exploring a part of an abandoned town since most people had disappeared, he finally felt like he was getting somewhere. He turned the object in his hands, wondering how exactly it worked.
An old tape.
He left the zone he was exploring, brushing dust off his pants and carefully handling the tape in his hands, quickly walking away to go back home. Curious, the young man put it to his ear while walking, slowing down to focus on the sounds.
It was horribly distorted. Not a surprise considering that the tape was probably hidden there since years. Rosco tried to bring it closer, hearing unclear words.
He abruptly stopped walking, his eyes widening at the words he was hearing. He shook his head before moving the tape away from his ear.
Rosco leaned on the bridge he was crossing, still holding the tape carefully, thinking about what he had just heard. He looked up at the sky, frowning at its unusual color. Red and orange, like a pretty sunset but with a touch of very light blue.
It was hot too, Rosco became conscious that he was kind of sweating which was rather abnormal. He removed his coat, tying it around his waist. He raised the tape to his ear again, trying to figure out how to react to what he was hearing.
Something’s coming
If only there was an eternal paradise where everyone could be saved
All the adults chanting the same song
The black star
The black star
The black star
The black star
The black star
The black star
The black star
The black star
Is watching me
It is getting close
It is getting close
It is getting close
It is getting close
It is getting close
It is getting closer
It is getting closer and closer to you
Those were the last words registered on the tape. The young man shook his head again, looking at his surroundings before bringing up the tape up to his ear for the third time, frustrated. He was ready to listen to it again before hearing a familiar voice calling his name.
"My, my is that Rosco I’m seeing ?"
He turned around, finding himself in front of someone he knew well. He answered, the words rolling off his tongue with difficulty :
"Yeah it’s me. Hi Zander, it’s been a while."
Rosco didn’t dare meet the other’s eyes. It had been so long since the last time they met, since the rest of Avallum disappeared at the same time as so many others people to be exact.
There was nothing judgemental in his old friend’s eyes, just a hint of playfulness and curiosity. Rosco sighed in relief before speaking again.
"So what you’re doing here ? I don’t remember you living around there"
The other man moved, stepping closer. Rosco’s first instinct was to back away but he changed his mind when he saw Zander leaning on the bridge at a respectable distance, careful not to invade his personal space. Mindful to his reactions like always. The taller man took his time before finally replying.
"I was just missing you a little. Or maybe more than a little. But when I got there you weren’t home so I walked until I bumped into you. Nothing less, nothing more."
Rosco shook his head in disbelief, not believing what he had just heard which causes the other’s usual grin to widen.
"Yeah nah, why am I even surprised of this reply. Of course it has to do with some affectionate bullshit."
The other’s laugh didn’t even manage to surprise him ; Rosco knew his reactions too damn well. Some people passing by stopped to glance at them, surprised before quickly turning their attention back to the strange sky. Rosco followed their gaze and felt his heart race.
Something’s wrong.
The sky looked the same as earlier but deep inside, he felt that something was utterly wrong even if he couldn’t tell what.
Zander had stopped laughing, his gaze following Rosco’s. For a brief second, Rosco caught a concerned expression on his face before Zander turned back to him, his expression softening.
"Something’s coming. And whatever it is, I don’t think it’s friendly."
"Yeah I agree. The heat has also been quite abnormal since a while. We should… Find a safe place or something."
He was ready to leave without waiting to see if the other would follow. This whole interaction had felt kind of awkward, with Rosco unable to process what he was feeling exactly like months ago when all of them were still together.
But as he turned away, he felt a warm hand grip his cold one. He faced Zander, waiting for him to give an explanation but he didn’t try to pull away.
"What are you trying to run away from ?"
Rosco stared at the taller man, confused.
"I’m not trying to run away from anything ? It’s just not safe to stay there knowing something could happen at any moment."
"Are you sure that’s the only reason ?"
Rosco pouted, very aware of what he was hinting He was stuck. He pulled his hand away from Zander’s. The tape was still in his other hand, playing the same distored words over and over again.
"Does it really matter right now ?"
He moved closer again, returning to his preivous position.
"There you go, I’m not trying to run away or whatever you think so are you going to finally answer me ?"
Zander was watching him with the same softness and affection as before, choosing his words carefully before speaking.
"Not running away you say ? So why did you disappear all these months ?"
Rosco looked away, embarrassed.
"You wouldn’t understand, that’s really not important right now."
"You keep saying it’s not important, yet you refuse to answer me. I was worrying Rosco. You might not realize it but I care about you. More than you can imagine."
The smaller one felt his heart ache without knowing why. Oh, how badly he wished that everything wasn’t so complicated. That his feelings weren’t so complicated to understand. That he wasn’t a burden to anyone.
"Listen dude I’m sorry ok ? I’m really sorry I disappeared during months without giving any news. I’m sorry that I can’t do anything right. I didn’t want you to worry. Really. It’s just… A little complicated but I’ll figure it out, I promise."
He had said it all in a hurry, stumbling over his words. As soon as he finished, he felt a small tremor.
The Earth was trembling.
The shake of the earth refused to be ceased
Around them, people were hurrying, starting to run, probably toward shelters, for those who were lucky enough to have one. A child pointed at the sky, eyes wide open. Something was visible, on the horizon. Something big and black.
A black hole.
Yet, the two men weren’t paying attention to it, lost in their own world. In a few minutes, they’ll be gone just like all those panicking people surrounding them.
Rosco didn’t even realize it but he let go of the tape which shattered on the ground with a dull thud.
He was waiting for an answer. Anything.
The reality is not supposed
To be like this
I can’t stand it
Instead, Zander looked at the sky, noticing the black hole. He made a silent prayer, already knowing it was far too late.
I’m begging for a future to exist
With hands full of hope and pride that I stitched
I plead to the stars shining in the night
But I’m met with a reflection of your eyes inside their light
"I get it" he said suddenly.
Rosco looked at him, confused.
"What ?"
The other was scrutinizing him, the softness from earlier still in his eyes but there was something more now. And that something more made Rosco’s heart beat faster.
They stopped talking but for once, the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. It was filled with the love they both held for each other.
Outside their bubble, the world was slowly falling apart.
They turned their attention back to the sky. Without realizing it, they drew closer, their hands brushing against each other.
After several minutes, they began to speak at the same time.
"The black star... "
"It’s getting closer..."
Silence again. Zander’s hand wrapped tenderly around Rosco’s.
They spoke again.
"To us"
"To you"
Now it is getting close
It is getting close
It is getting close
It is getting close
It is getting close
It is getting close
It is getting closer
It is getting closer and closer to you
And suddenly, it all hit at once : the feelings, the fear, the urgency.
Zander grabbed Rosco’s face, silently asking for consent. When Rosco nodded, Zander pressed their lips together, kissing him deeply, passionately.
If we hold hands together
And love each other
I'll kill the dreams we could never fulfill
The remains of my thoughts
A heat abnormality occurs in its center
As Zander wrapped his arms around Rosco, both of them disappeared, absorbed by the black hole.
All that remained of them was the shattered tape on the floor.