RED PARALLEL

Chapter 5: Found

Song: Détaler, by Lartiste.

Traviz opened his eyes and a furry thing licked his face. Yo, Creamy! Before he could stretch his hands and reach for the cat, a breeze hit him and the cat's silhouette was gone, giving place to a gray sky. What? Still lying on the floor, Traviz turned his head. A pool of dry liquid, its smell sweet and acid, so nauseating, so... He raised his arm and the picture was tragically repulsive. There was a purple-browned sneeze across the length of his forearm, with white and beige spots spread like powder butter with an avocado juice and bird's poop. Jeez, what the-

The recent events flashed through his mind. He choked on his tears as if someone had plunged his head inside a bucket filled with mud and piss and forced him to stay forever inside it.

A voice dived inside the bucket and called him.

"Stay strong, son. It'll be alright."

The voice was deep and low, so strangely calm. Traviz was far from calm, the mud was filling his whole body, and he couldn't breathe, it was not alright, he was going to-

"Son, open your eyes."

A warm and big hand held the right side of his head, and Traviz immediately sat up, eyes wide and head out of the bucket. He gasped for air, coughing and sitting. Still catching his breath, he looked at the massive being at his side.

The man was big and large, sitting on a brick very close to him, still holding his face. Dark-skinned with a low beard and a rounded and strong face, the man wore a peaceful smile. His cap had a curious symbol stamp. Golden.

"It's impressive how we pull up strength even in the most fragile conditions. I wasn't expecting you to sit up so fast."

Traviz stared at the man, eyes still widened in shock, not able to understand a single word from that strange big man. But the big man wasn't bothered by the lack of response. Traviz slowly turned his head, looking at the man's big hand on his face. The man lowered it and Traviz looked around. It was all foggy and desert. That was all. All gray and blank.

Then, a cold ball of desperation hit his chest.

"I'm, I'm..." Tears fell again. The man chuckled.

What the hell was funny?

"No, you ain't dead, son. You're damn alive," the bearded man proffered.

Traviz stared at the deep eyes.

There was something wrong.

"Y-you're lying."

"I ain't lying." The man smiled. "I'm saying what I see in you."

Looking at the peaceful stranger, Traviz felt the blood rise, tears still falling.

"Chill out, son."

"I'M NOT!" Traviz boomed. Though his throat was dry, the voice was louder than he had expected. He tried to spring up to run from that stranger, but his legs didn't respond. That was not fair, that was... "WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?"

"My name is Giulliard," the man said, unshaken by Traviz's boost.

"Wh-what?" Traviz frowned. That was not the question. Fuck the name, he wanted to kn-

"Oh, I'm sorry." The man chuckled. There was a missing tooth deep in his mouth. "I think you better call me Klaus." The big man stared at Traviz's nervous state. "I was just passing 'round the corner and saw you lying here." He made a pause. Way too long. "So I sat down, right here." And he glanced at the nasty flood of vomit. No one would quite guess what was he looking at, considering his tranquil gaze.