Bringing his cupped hands up to his face. He slowly tilted his hands over the top of his head. Letting cool water wash down his face as it wetted his nonexistent hair before falling back down into the rushing river. Some of water beads up before rolling down the nape of his neck, causing him to shake his head lightly and clench his teeth as the cooling touch of the water sends shivers down his spine.
Looking down, he stares at his reflection in the crystal clear water. Wincing as the bags underneath his eyes become more pronounced the moment his gaze meets his reflection. The whites of his eyes looking like cracked porcelain as veins stretched from the iris' until they disappeared beneath his half closed lids.
Giving a sigh, he lifted himself from the ground, quickly bending over to pat away the loose grass blades that stuck to his pants.
"Damn I'm beautiful," he muttered before turning on the spot and proceeding to walk away. His dirt stained white sneakers sinking into the grass with a whisper with every step. Freezing, he stops mid stride, the feeling of electricity running up the back of his calf causes his eyes to widen. Not a second later he begins to jump and shriek as he struggles to undo the belt of his pants. After a moment frantic dancing and yelping, he rips the leather belt from his waist and tosses to the ground. Hopping on one leg as he tore the pant leg from his body before switching legs and removing the pants all together. Now in his underwear and grey hooded sweatshirt, he begins to wipe his legs down with the palms of his hands. His breathing ragged and forced.
When he sees nothing, he turns his gaze to the very pants he was wearing not a second ago. Stretching a leg, he proceeds to lift the waist of his pants with a single sneaker and kick the pants even further away. Jumping once more as the pants begin to hiss. Before he can do anything else, a mass beneath the light brown fabric he called pants begins to move. Snaking its way out of the right pant leg, a large mud colored... something, reared its head. Two antennae whipping at the air as the mandibles clicked and gnawed, the eyes like small grey beads stared at him. As if just spotting him, its head snapped back before it turned around and dashed away. Disappearing into the brush of the forest as its seemingly infinite dagger-like feet pushed it further and further away.
"What in the name Satan himself was that?" He mutters to himself. "And why the fuck does it exist?" Sighing, he walks over to his pants. Bending over, he lifts them up with a grunt. Satisfied that they were now vacant of any potentially life ending creatures.
"Hello? Is anypony there?" A voice calls out. Even though it echoed through the clearing, it was more of a terrified squeaking than anything else.
Snapping his head around, he tries to find who ever spoke. Only to be met by greenery and the twisted bark of the trees.
Oh shit. He thought to himself. Pulling his pants up around his waist, he turned and began to run alongside the river. Away from the clearing and away from the source of the voice. His feet leaving the grass as mud began to replace the ground underneath him. His sneakers being stained more and more the further he ran down the riverside.
As Fluttershy entered the clearing, baskets in tow. She turned her head from side to side, scanning the small field for the one who had screamed. Fluttershy sighed in relief as the field seemed to be vacant. The only noise she could hear besides her own beating heart was the rushing water of the river. Giving a small smile and shrug she began to turn away, only to be stopped as a glint of light caught her attention from the corner of her eye. Turning back to the field, she trotted out to the shining object. Raising an eyebrow at what she saw.
It was some sort of long black rope, the end of it was adorned with odd metal parts. The rope itself shined with a dull glean as the black material was glossy as if it was coated with a slime. While the metal rectangle and rod seemed to shine as bright as the sun it was reflecting. Picking it up in her mouth, she craned her neck and dropped the rope into a basket.
Turning back, she left the clearing from the same way she came in. Her soft yellow fur becoming shrouded in darkness when the branches overhead become thick with leaves. Blocking out the sun entirely as she journeyed back home. She was late as it was and she couldn't keep her friends waiting any longer. She planned to make a tea with the flowers in her basket, something new. Some of them were flowers she had already tried, they were fine, but she wanted to make something special. It wasn't often that her friends and her got together. What with each of them having their own responsibilities.
"Ooh, maybe I'll put some of these in the sandwiches," she thought aloud to nobody in particular. As Fluttershy trotted through the forest, she began to hum to herself. A small tune to help calm her nerves.
After some time passing, Fluttershy came to the edge of the Everfree. The joyful cries of her animal friends noting her return. Smiling, Fluttershy began to climb the hill that separated her and home. Rays of light spilled over the top of the hill. Casting a shadow that engulfed her and the rest of the slope.
Ponyville was abuzz with a vigor that didn't fit the small town. Sure the town had its fair share of excitement here and there, being a hotbed for monster attacks and such. But celebrations were always something everybody planned for.
"Oh darling, you just have to teach me how you make this!" Rarity said with a single sip of her tea. "It's absolutely heavenly."
There were murmurs of agreement among the group of friends as they all took a drink from their cups. The only one who didn't take a drink was the one known as Fluttershy. Who only hid her reddened face behind her pink mane. The praise getting to her.
Lifting a cup to her mouth, she took a sip of the tea. It was something special for the occasion but that didn't stop her hoof from shaking in embarrassment at the praise. "Okay," she murmured. Rarity gave a squeal of joy as she got up from her place on the large blanket and trotted over to her yellow friend. Looking in the basket as she began to ask the questions she had.
"Oooh I can't wait!" Pinkie Pie yelled with a tooth filled grin. "Isn't this exciting?"
"Sure is, Pinkie," Applejack said with a nod. Giving a smile before continuing. "Not everyday that we get to have a get-together like this."
"It's even on the same day of one of the best celebrations ever!" Pinkie exclaimed.
"One of the best?" Rainbow Dash questioned. "What about Nightmare Night and the pranks we do?"
"One of the best!" Pinkie replied.
"Hearth's warming eve?" Twilight asked. Laughing as she did so.
Turning her head, Pinkie's gaze rested on Twilight. "One of the best!"
They all joined their pink friend in laughter. Once it died down, the groups collective gazes were all drawn to the blow glow at the corner of their eyes. When they all turned their heads, they all looked at both Rarity and Fluttershy. The former of which was holding a large rope in her magic, the rope levitating inches away from her face as she inspected it.
"What's that?" Pinkie asked.
Rarity's face twisted in thought. "Fluttershy said she found it in the forest before she came back."
The group turned their heads to Fluttershy, who only nodded before speaking up. "I was collecting flowers when I heard somepony scream. I went to see if they were okay and I couldn't find them, I found this though."
"So what is it?" Rainbow Dash asked as she turned her head back to Rarity.
"Well, it's obviously a belt of some sort. Some ponies have loose fitting clothing that requires something like this to keep everything close. Although, it is on the big side for a pony, you could probably wrap this around three or four ponies. What I want to know is the material it's made from." Rarity lifted the belt away from her face before turning to Twilight. "Twilight dear, do you know a spell that can tell you what this is made from?"
Twilight shrugged. "I could give it a try. I don't really know what I'm looking for though," she said before taking the belt in her magic.
"What is it made from? Like what are the materials used in making it?"
"I'll try." Twilight said.
Bringing the belt before her. Twilight concentrated on the glossy black material. The stitching would switch from side to side like some kind of art work on the belt itself.
"There's the thread that–"
"Twilight, I don't mean to be rude, but I'm looking for for the shiny flexible material the entirety of it is made from."
Nodding, Twilight focused on the glossy material in her magic. Trying to think of what it could be. That was before her magic told her what the belt was made of. Her eyes widened as she began to stare at the fashion statement that was being held in her magic. The blood draining from her face as her stomach began to swim.
"Twilight? You okay there?" Applejack asked. Raising a hoof to place on her friend's shoulder.
They all jumped when Twilight's magic canceled out. Letting the belt land between them with a 'fwump' as it landed on the blanket.
Twilight turned her head to look at Fluttershy. "Where did you say you got this, Fluttershy?"
"The Everfree...?" She mumbled, unsure of what to do. Unsure of what to do about her friend's behavior.
"Twilight? Dear, what's wrong?" Rarity asked. "What's got you like this?" She asked, taking the belt in her magic.
"The belt is made from cow!" Twilight said quickly. Swallowing a moment later as she tried not to vomit.
There was nothing. None of them could say anything. They were all hoping that what their friend said was just them hearing things.
"Care to repeat that, Twilight?" Applejack asked with a nervous chuckle, her face conveying no emotion whatsoever. "It almost sounded like ya said–"
"It's cow skin!" Twilight yelled. The world spinning around her as bile rose the back of her throat. Burning her mouth as her eyes began to water.
There was a moment of silence before Fluttershy collapsed onto the blanket. Now there were no birds chirping. No whistling winds. Nothing. It was as if the world itself froze at the revelation.
"Oh hey." A voice spoke through the silence.
Turning their heads to the source of the voice only caused the silence to return with a vengeance as a tall creature was slowly making its way towards them. None of them dared to move. Fluttershy, who was unconscious. Rarity, who was open mouthed and wide eyed, as if she was trying to find out what was going on. Applejack, who hid behind her hat with tears rolling down her cheeks and onto the blanket they sat on. Rainbow Dash, with a luck of utter disgust written across her face. And Pinkie Pie who only sat there, mane deflated with neither a smile nor a frown.
"My belt." The creature said as it took the item from Rarity's magic. Looping it through the clothing on his bottom half before latching the metal bits closed. Bending a knee, the creature gave a toothy grin to Rarity, who's horn was still lit.
"Good horsey... unicorn... thing." He patted her curled mane with a claw.
Before anyone else could do anything, a loud crunch reverberated from the creature. Its eyes going wide as it lowered its gaze to Applejack. Who had her hind hooves just above where the creature's knee met his torso. It's eyes watering before it got up from its knee and began to sprint away. Clutching its side as it ran away from the group.
Oh God. He screamed internally. His chest hot with a searing pain, it was as if someone had decided to drop a ball of molten metal on his chest. Oh God. He repeated. The tears welling in his eyes as they blinded him. Raising his free arm, he wiped them away with a sleeve.
Looking back, he tried to see if those things were chasing him. The air caught in his throat. It may not have been all of them, but it was the one that kicked him, and the blue one he had seen. Before he could turn his head back and focus on running, the blue one took to the air, spreading it wings and going into a dive towards him.
He couldn't react fast enough before it hit him. Causing him to trip on his own feet as he slid face first into the dirt below. The dirt and rocks tearing at the left side of his face as small pebbles embedded themselves underneath the skin and the dirt rolling into his eye. Rolling over, he felt the thing attached to his back. Getting up from the ground, he jumped and went to fall on his back. Trying to land on the creature attached to him.
He gave a pained scream as he landed on the side the tiny horse had kicked. But he couldn't stop. Getting up again, he noticed that the blue one that had been on his back was now on the ground, unconscious, or dead, he didn't care. He turned and continued his run. Mud streaming down his face as his tears and the dirt mixed, only to turn into a dark crimson as it mixed with the blood that poured from the dirt clogged cuts on his face. Looking around, he tried to find a place to hide. Spotting a giant yellow dome to his left, he began to run with a renewed vigor. The large building inside the dome seemed to a place that would hold events of some kind. As he approached the yellow-tinted wall, he raised a hand up to it trying to see if he could get through before the orange one caught up.
When he found that his hand fell right through, he rushed into the dome. Approaching the door to the building itself and giving the handle a push as the wooden door creaked and groaned with quick whines cutting them off. Closing the door behind him with his back to the wooden surface, he slammed it shut, the resulting sound echoed throughout the building.
"Ha," he coughed. This only to lead up to even more laughter, the tears blinding him once more as he did so. Once again, he raised his free arm and wiped them away. Gasping for air, he wheezed and tightened his grasp at his side as his chest was set ablaze. Slumping to the floor, he slammed the back of his head against the door behind him. Groaning with a lump in his throat between every knock of his head.
"Don't cry," he whispered to himself. "Please don't cry," he said, his words getting slurred as the world around him began to buzz. His body getting heavier and heavier before he ended up falling on his uninjured side. His right hand still clutching at his side. "Please cry," he murmured. The world getting brighter and brighter before the light engulfed him. Swallowing him whole as he loss consciousness.
Please don't cry.
And in that moment, his eyes shot open. The sudden rush of light blinded him, stabbing at the back of his eyes. Gasping, he let out a pained yell. Raising his hands to block out the offending light, he cupped them over his face. Tears flooding down his cheeks as he tried to calm the fire that was behind his eyes.
After a moment of sitting in silence. The tears finally having stopped. He slowly begins to remove his hands. Allowing the light of the room to seep into the darkness behind his hands. Blinking rapidly, he watched as the room began to take shape.
Turning his head from left to right, he gazed at the barren room. The egg-shell white walls and ceiling seemed to reflect the light from the singular fluorescent bulb that swung from the ceiling on a wire. There was no furniture whatsoever, the only thing that stood out in the room was the door, and even then it matched the walls with its gleaming white paint. A singular thin window in the center of the door.
From his point of view he was laying down on the floor. A number of mats laying underneath him as they were lined up length wise to keep his entire body from touching the floor.
Sitting up at the waist. He raised a hand, gripping the blanket that was laid over him and tossing it to his right with one quick motion. His eyes widening at the sight of his nearly naked body. The only thing left of his clothing were his boxer briefs. And even then, that was not what worried him. Looking down at his left leg, his gaze followed a trail of craggy skin, a spider web of scars as the skin rose and fell. Shakily, he reached a hand out. Flinching as he touched the sensitive skin.
His eyes widened at the memory of being tackled by the blue winged horse thing. It wasn't just his leg. Giving a short hiss, he raised the hand to his face. Flinching once more as he felt the same thing across the left side of his face. The flesh rising and falling as he felt the newly formed crevices on his face.
Rolling over, he used his right hand to push himself from the floor. Wincing as the scarred leg began to tingle with light waves of electricity at the use if the muscles within. With a limp, he stepped towards the door. Grabbing the handle, he pushed down on the lever. A small flash of light exited the key hole as he pushed the door open.
Swinging silently, the door opened to the hallway of what looked like a hospital, the white tiling of the floor flecked with colors of every hue. The entire wall opposite of the doorway he just left was one giant window. The sight of the hay roofed buildings looking like that of a painting. The bright blue sky stretching as far as they eye could see before disappearing behind dark mountains.
"Wow," he muttered.
Before he could do anything else, something was dropped to his left. Snapping his head to look down the hallway, he spotted another one of those horse things. This one was light brown in color, not unlike his pants. But what the thing was wearing made his eyebrows raise. It was wearing some sort of lab coat. As they both stared at each other, he began to slowly back away, down the other end of the hallway. Limping slightly as his bare feet pressed down on the cold tiles of the floor.
Turning, he sped up into a quick walk, his jaw tightening with every step as electricity ran up his leg. Before he could make it to the end of the hallway, something stepped into his sight. It was another one of those things, but this one was bigger, nearly twice as big. Its white coat seemingly reflected the sunlight that poured in through the window. This one sported a giant spear like horn that stretched from its forehead and wings the same color as its coat. The hair was what drew his attention the most. The almost ethereal colors of it shined and sparkled on its own, all the while flowing in a nonexistent breeze. The creature radiated warmth and joy, like the very sun itself.
But that didn't matter to him. Turning back, he ran towards the smaller, brown one. Who was still frozen, staring at him with comically large eyes.
Oh God, oh God, oh God. His mind spat, repeating the same line over and over and over again as he stepped. His heart adding to the cacophony of noise in his head as it drummed in fear. Pounding at his chest as if his heart itself wanted to escape.
"Wait!" The creature behind him called out. Its voice rich and feminine. But he paid it no mind, unable to hear it over his own panicked thoughts.
As he ran, a wall of golden light appeared before him. The very same that made the dome that surrounded the building he had hid in. Using a hand, he swatted away the golden material as if it were only smoke in the air. The wall disintegrating into the air as it vanished from view. Continuing his run after getting rid of the odd wall.
After reaching the small brown doctor horse, who was frozen in fear as he approached, he pushed it out of the way. Seconds later, he was froze as the large white one from before cut off his path. Stopping in front of him.
"Oh dear Jesus don't stab me with that thing!" He quickly said, gasping for air after finishing. His gaze on the long spiraling horn that protruded from the horse's forehead.
With a hand clutching his chest as each breath burned his lungs. He began to step away, backing up from the white horse without turning away. His steps getting smaller and smaller as the pain in his left leg began to grow.
His hand began to fall before it stopped at side. Feeling a strange crease in his skin, he looked down. There right next to his hand was a giant gash in his side, some kind of sowing holding it closed. But the line of stitching didn't stay at his side. His eyes followed it all the way to the center of his abdomen, his vision going blurry as his eyes began to cross as they followed the trail of stitches until it ended just underneath his chin that was now pressed into his chest.
"They did the best they could." The white horse said.
Looking up from his own body, his gaze the horse's. A look of pity written across her face.
"W-What the fuck did you just say?" He asked. Unsure if the words he heard were real or his panicked mind making him hear things.
"The doctors, they did the best they could." It repeated.
"How are you– W-what are–" He tried to speak but the words only died in his mouth as his mind raced, asking more questions than he could ever hope to keep track of.
"I am Princess Celestia, co-ruler of Equestria. I wish we could have met some other way, but you were dying when I found you," Celestia paused. "Well, it was more like you found me. I was preparing for the Summer Sun Celebration in the town hall when you made your way through my shield."
Nothing came from him.
"I tried to use my magic to heal you, but for some reason, it just wouldn't work."
"Magic?" He asked. "W-What are you talking about?" He took half a step back.
"Please, let me help you. I don't know who did this to you but–" she stopped before finishing.
He shook his head. "Magic. Talking, flying horses. This has got to be some kind of dream," he said before he began to nod his head. His breathing calming to a soft, throaty hiss. "Yeah. A dream. I fell asleep and some freak found me in the woods and drugged me. I'll wake up with my arms and legs broken, and a dick in my ass."
Taking another step, he coughed and gasped for air as the pain in his leg robbed his lungs.
"The pain you're feeling right now isn't something you'd feel in a dream." Celestia stepped forward, her hooves clopping on tiling.
He gave a sigh. Turning his back to the wall as he stared out the window. "Yeah," becoming silent before he spoke up once more. "So you saved me?"
Celestia smiled. Her wings rustling as she moved closer. "I was the one who found you, I brought you to the doctors here who had to open you up. One of ribs broke off and stabbed your left lung, they even had to take out an organ that had been ruined."
While Celestia spoke, he inspected himself, the fact that he was still alive in the end amazed him. "I would have never thought horses could have medicine," he thought aloud.
"Excuse me?" Celestia asked.
"What?" Looking up he noticed Celestia glaring at him.
"Horses?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, you guys are called horses... right? I mean horses don't have colors like you, but you've got the same proportions and even the hooves." His eyes darted from her forehead to her back, chuckling as he did so. "Well, and then there's the horns and wings. So I'm gonna go on a limb here and say that you guys aren't called horses."
Celestia shook her head. "Ponies."
"Ah, that works too, I guess."
"Now that you know what I am, may I ask what you are?"
"I'm a human." He replied.
"And your name?"
He didn't respond this time.
With her glare replaced by a small smile, Celestia stepped forward. Opening her mouth to say something before someone stopped her.
"Uhm, Princess Celestia?" A voice asked from behind her. Her eyes widened before she turned around.
"Yes?" She asked. Looking down at the unicorn doctor. Who's light brown coat was matted with sweat. His coat wrinkled and hanging off his body unevenly.
"Is the creature okay? It hasn't been long since we operated on him and he hasn't had the time to recover. And I was wondering if I could ask him some questions as well." The stallion said with a smile, the corner of his mouth twitching as he spoke. "Since he's awake after all."
Before Celestia could answer the doctor's questions, the human answered them for her. "Fine by me, and all the stitching is fine."
The doctor sighed. "Perfect. Now if you could follow me, I'll get you back you to your room."
"Isn't it in this hallway?" Looking around, he spotted the open door to his room. "Yeah, right there."
After Celestia, the doctor, and him all got back to his room. The doctor proceeded to ask his questions, ranging from what his diet was to if the lack of hair on his body was normal. Just normal questions for a newly discovered sentient creature.
Half way through the questions, Celestia ended up being taken by one of the nurses, something about a message from her pupil. She tried to apologize for having to leave but he refused, she was a Princess after all. She had stuff to do, a country to run.
Once the questions stopped, the doctor left the room, locking the door behind him, allowing him to rest like he should have been doing in the first place.
With his eyes closed. He tried to find himself some sort of peace, but in the end, even the silence kept him up.
"That means the ones that attacked us we're just like..." He thought aloud, his thoughts trailing off as he remembered the incident. The group of ponies just sitting there, staring at his belt. Why were they staring at his belt?
He groaned out when the palm of his hand smacked against his forehead. The belt was leather. "Wait. How the hell would they have known that? Do they have magic for that kind of shit?" He shrugged.
The belt was something that was given to him by his father. The belt buckle was the main thing being passed on, it had been in his family for three, maybe four generations. There wasn't anything special about it. Just a regular buckle, the meaning behind it lost to his father's father. "A real mystery to the ages."
Silence reigned over the room. The air thick with the smell of rotting fruit and flowers.
"So they think I'm a murderer or something? Well, if they found out about the belt being leather, and if cows talk just like them, then yeah probably." He laughed. "They're like a bunch of hooved vegans." He said before bringing his hands up to the side of his head, shaking them as he began to mock. "Oh meat is murder, animals have feelings too! You wouldn't eat a baby would you?"
He chuckled. "You don't know me, maybe I would eat that baby. That shit got old years ago." Giving a sigh, he closed his eyes. "In this case, they actually have a reason to believe it's murder."
Sitting up, he opened his eyes. "Wait, if what I think is true then... What am I going to eat? I can't eat cows, I can't eat ponies... Well I could, but..." He silenced himself, this time, it didn't feel like he was talking to himself anymore. His train of thought died as he began to listen to the silence. After a moment of just sitting and looking at the wall ahead of him. His gaze began to wander to the door, something in the corner of his vision catching his attention as the door that had been closed was now cracked open slightly. Narrowing his eyes, he called out. "You know it's rude to listen to people talk to themselves you know."
When no answer came back. He called out again. " I know that you saved me and all. But if you really want me to keep the respect I have for you right now, you'll come in before I come out and shove my foot so far up your ass, you'll be tasting the dry skin between my toes in the back of your throat."
Nothing.
Getting up, he grunted as the tingling in his leg came back. Limping to the door, he reached a hand for the handle.
What happened next was a blur. As soon as the door swung open he lost balance, falling to the tiled floor with a thud. Groaning and shaking his head, he tried to use a hand to push himself from the floor. His eyes widening as he felt something he never felt before.
Looking to his hand, his eyes widened. A mewl escaping him as the scream died in his throat.
What he was feeling was a certain lack of fingers.
Looking at the hoof, he stared at the orange furred appendage trying to discern what was going on. His head snapping up as a chuckle echoed down the hallway. Looking to his left, he spotted a figure. Shadowed from the moonlight as it poured from the window.
As soon as he spotted it, the figure raised a hand and pointed a figure at him. "Animal!" It bellowed, causing him to wince as the noise assaulted his ears, echoing inside of his head as it slammed into the walls of his mind. "Monster!"
Putting its hand back down, it stepped towards him. Its body became drenched in moonlight as it stepped. Bare feet slapping the tiled floor echoed through the hallway replacing the words that it spoke. The slapping turned into pounding as it stepped closer and closer. Cries of fear and confusion echoing through his mind as... it stepped closer.
With one quick motion, it scooped him up. Pinning him to the wall with a single hand as the other one fell back to his side. Looking at its face made him want to scream. The only thing that came out was a strangled whine as the grip around his neck go tighter, as if he was expecting him to scream.
It was him. The same bloodshot golden eyes, the bags underneath them that seemed to sap light. Sickly pale skin glistening with sweat in the moonlight. Looking down he spotted the very same stitching that was on his body before he turned into one of those ponies. The wound oozing with puss and other fluids as the stench rose up to his nose. Causing bile to rise to the back of his throat, burning his tongue and making his mouth water.
"You can't die now," the copy groaned, his eyes filling with tears as he raised a hand. Placing it on the side of his head, the copy began to stroke him. "Please don't cry." His eyes widened. "Please don't cry," he repeated. "Please don't cry." The copy began to weep.
He cried out as the copy's hand gripped the hair on the side of his head, releasing the one around his throat as he moved it to the opposite side. As soon as the other hand got a grip on his head, he was risen, his back grinding against the wall.
Staring out at the window, he whimpered at his reflection in the window. It was the very same pony that had put him here in the first place. The orange fur, the blonde hair, green eyes. His stare was cut off as thumbs poked into his eyes. Tears flooding what little of his vision he kept as they tried to wash away the offending digits.
"Please... cry." The copy whimpered pathetically. "Don't die. I don't know what you want! What do you want me to do!?"
As soon as it spoke, the copy pressed his thumbs into the eyes. Grip tightening as the pony tried to get away, limbs flailing, screaming, pleading for it to let go. Tears burned his face as he pleaded. There was blood. So much blood.
"Please cry." The screaming stopped. Silence held its fist over the hallway as both pony and human stood still. One dead to the world around it, the other pleading silently.
Why couldn't he listen? He stopped crying but he only wanted silence, not this. Not this.
Author's Note
And so the story begins.
