"I'm home..Armando I'm finally here..." Everett began to weave and leap his way through the piles of burned wood and ash. "My father's study..my mother's private room...it's all here Armando..."
"Everett..what are you talking about..there's nothing here.." Armando looked around, kicking what looked like the leg of an old chair. He looked up at his friend who began to spin and jump around, looking around with wide eyes.
"It's all here.." he froze, standing up at blank air. "There it is..the painting of my mother and father..they look just how I remembered..." Armando slowly walked over, stepping over broken glass and scorched wood. He went to grab Everett's shoulder, only for the boy to whip around to face him.
"Everett..baby..there's nothing here..it's all gone.." his expression was pained, tears forming in his eyes. "I..I think something bad happened..I think this place bu-"
"Burned.." Everett's eyes cleared, no longer glazed over in his hallucination. "There was a fire.." Everett began to look around, seeing the ruins as what they were and not a vague memory. "The cemetery..I went there to visit the family mausoleum..and then I smelled the smoke..and then I saw the fire..."
"You..you were there..?"Armando asked, holding Everett's hand. "But..how did you get to Georgina..?"
"I remember running all night..and then it all went blank..." Everett froze in place, tears beginning to stream down his face. "I don't remember much after that...I'm sorry I can't tell you more..."
Armando watched as Everett's red eyes went wide and he began to jump around, bouncing off the wood and stones. He kicked his shoes off, splashing in the mud as splinters and glass entered his feet. Soon blood strained the once beautiful tiled floors in gruesome footprints as the boy screamed and laughed.
"Dead! Dead! Dead!" he yelled and threw his shoes as far as he could. Armando walked to him calmly and hugged him from behind. "Dead..."
"Ev..please calm down for me...you're hurt..please sit down for just a sec..I'll get your shoes and then we can clean you up...maybe that nice lady will help us.." Armando helped him walk out of the ruins and eases him down onto a patch of moss. "Lets take a look at you.."
"It doesn't hurt that much babe...It's nothing.." Everett looked away as blood dripped down onto the wet grass.
"You might need some medical attention...I saw a pharmacy on the way here so maybe we can grab something to help you there...You stay here. Don't you dare try to walk." Everett nodded at Armando's serious tone. He watched him walk down the hill and out of view. He waited, the dull clouds breaking into rain. The cold water hit his skin and clothes as he continued to wait for Armando to come back. He returned with a bag on his arm.
"Babe, I got everything. Tweezers, gauze, saline solution, rubbing alcohol, medical tape and some food. Let get you cleaned up..I'll do my best.." Armando began to pluck out the chips of wood and glass, Everett biting down on his lip, a pain look on his face. "I know it hurt..try to relax so I can finish up faster..." Everett nodded and looked up at the sky, letting the rain hit his face.
