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Pyro tried his best to get away from everything that happened in the capital, but some things never leave, no matter how much effort he puts into leaving them behind.
He doesn't remember what happened that day at the river, not in it's entirety. He can recall bits and pieces.
He knows he was scared.
He knows Czeslaw was drunk.
Pyro can remember Czeslaw falling into the river, a blood splattered rock held in his shaking hands. He remembers he decided to run as the river swept Czeslaw's body away.
Leaving the town early at dawn by himself is foolish. Pyro knows it is, but he can't stand to be around anyone right now. Not when his head is spinning.
He thought the fresh air would help ease the racing under his skin.
It doesn't, especially not when he comes across the murky river. He doesn't get too close, sitting a little ways away on a large rock. The sunrise is pretty, and slowly, some of the tension eases from Pyro's body. The world around him is quiet, and it soothes the shaky feeling in his chest.
At least, until the quiet turns to complete silence.
Pyro doesn't know when exactly the birdsong and rustling of animals in the nearby forest stop, but once he notices it, he knows somethings wrong. He turns, his eyes flickering along the tree line, his fingers tingling with nerves. He can't see anything, and that's almost more unsettling than if there was movement.
The stillness is eerie, the hairs on the back of Pyro's neck standing on end. It feels like he's being watched.
He swallows hard. "Hello? Is— Is someone there?"
When there's no response, Pyro slowly gets to his feet, starting to make his way back to the path.
A hand on his shoulder stops him in his tracks. A shudder runs through him as cold breath brushes against his ear.
"Where do you think you're going, Jack?"
Pyro startles, spinning around fast enough he almost ends up falling backwards. His heart pounds in his chest, hammering against his ribs.
"No," he takes a step back. "This— this isn't real."
It can't be. Not when a man who should be long dead is standing right in front of him.
A man he killed.
Czeslaw tilts his head, smirk mean and dangerous.
It's a familiar look. One he always got before beating Pyro into the ground. It sends a cold shiver down their spine.
Czeslaw steps forward, following Pyro's retreat. "Don't walk away from me. You know better than that."
They're frozen in place as he places a hand on their shoulder, stuck to the muddy ground beneath their feet. Sharp nails dig into their skin, making them flinch.
He looks them over, a dark look passing over face. "Got nothing to say?"
Pyro's throat bobs as they swallow. "I—"
Czeslaw doesn't let them finish, seizing Pyro's wrist and yanking them towards the river. It's only as they get closer to the water that their feet start to work again, trying in vain to pull away from Czeslaw's iron grip.
"W— Wait!" Pyro stumbles as their pushed forward, slipping on the loose ground.
They catch themself on their hands, inhaling sharply as their palms get scraped on the rocks surrounding the riverbank. They whimper as Czeslaw grabs onto their hair, hands flying up to hold onto his wrist.
He shoves their head down, inches from the water. "I think you need to be taught a lesson about consequences, Jack."
Pyro trembles, shaking their head as much as Czeslaw's hold allows. "I'm sorry," their eyes sting. "I'm so sorry—"
They aren't allowed to finish, their face being forced down into the river. Pyro chokes, water flooding their mouth as they gasp. They squirm, attempting to struggle against Czeslaw's hold, but all it does is make them panic more when they're kept under the water.
They gasp again when Czeslaw pulls their head up, coughing hard.
Pyro can hear the glee in Czeslaw's voice as he mocks them. "What was that? I couldn't hear you."
They aren't able to manage a response before Czeslaw's forces their head back down. This time, Pyro manages to hold their breath. Their chest hurts, lungs burning the longer they're held under.
They hold on tight to Czeslaw's wrist as they're brought up again, trying and failing to plead him to stop. The water rushes in their ears as Czeslaw pushes them under again, barely giving them a chance to breathe.
Czeslaw yanks them up by their hair, his grip painful.
Pyro wheezes, sucking in air as quickly as they can. Hot tears run down their face as they choke on a sob. They whine weakly when Czeslaw tightens his hold in their hair.
He leans down, making them flinch as he presses his lips to their ear. "Not so fun is it? Maybe I should just keep you down there until you stop moving."
Pyro whimpers, their voice hoarse. "P— Please. Please, please don't… I'm sorry."
Czeslaw releases them, Pyro flinching hard when he tucks their wet hair behind their ear.
"You're so pathetic, Jack."
He crouches down beside them, lifting their chin up. He squishes their face in his hand, leaning forward and pressing his cold lips against theirs. A mockery of a sweet moment, as if he hadn't just threatened to drown them.
Pyro doesn't fight, knowing already that they're too weak for it to do them any good.
Czeslaw is grinning as he pulls away. "I'll be seeing you later. Try not to die too quickly, yeah?"
Pyro closes their eyes, lifting a shaky hand to cover their mouth, trying not to throw up.
When they manage to get their stomach to settle and open their eyes, they're alone.
They look behind them, eyes locking onto the wet ground. There's only one pair of footprints in the mud.
The birdsong has returned.
Pyro shuts their eyes again, unable to stop themself from sobbing.
No one is there to hear them anyway.