𝐃𝐀𝐁𝐈 | 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝

10

The aches in your bones only continued to grow from the sheer weight of Touya. Despite Touya being light for someone his age, operating on little food and water was beginning to take its toll on you. Touya's right arm clutched to your neck, and you feebly supported his weight on your shoulder as you walked side by side. You could tell he was doing his best to ease the load from your shoulder—dragging one of his exposed feet along the ground so he was not relying entirely on you.

You were on a mission to visit the doctor. The very doctor that destroyed your life just a day ago. Yet, the more you thought about it—the more thankful you felt. You felt thankful that your family was torn apart. The doctor was your ticket out of that hell-hole of a home. He was your ticket to meeting Touya. Therefore, it could be said that he saved you both. You prayed that he could do it again.

The gravel road was deserted at this hour, with not even the mere breath of wind to break the harsh silence. The road ahead stood illuminated by the dim glimmer of a broken streetlight every now and again. They flickered and flashed. Some did not work at all, and you would be left in the darkness for a while.

"Touya?" You broke the silence.

"Mm?"

"I'm still scared. What if he turns us in for a reward? The heroes would surely reward him enormously for finding us." You were overthinking again. Yet your concerns were logical. Wouldn't any sane person turn you in for the sake of 'doing the heroic thing' alone? Plus, throw in the possibility of an award and the desire to turn us in is only amplified.

"Look at what we just did, Ryu. We burnt that mountain to dust; the forest to ash. His fear will work in our favour'. Touya assured.

Your humanity smashed and fell into a million pieces, "I never wanted anyone to be afraid of me..."

"If they don't fear you, they will hurt you". Once again, Touya was right, you hated it. You hated the truth. You hated the violence that was waiting for you around every corner. You hated the evil of this society run by so-called heroes.

The silence of the night was soon broken by the sounds of traffic. The two of you were nearing the highway, you were getting closer to the city. When you looked ahead, you could just make out the lights through the trees.

"Truck drivers. They're the only people who would be up at this hour". Touya mentioned, "we won't have to worry about them turnin' us in. They won't care."

"And you know this how?"

"Dad's a hero, in case you forgot. So he deals with their shit", he scowled. "The bastards hit innocent people every day. Late shifts have them drifting off and losing focus of the road ahead."

"That's terribl-"

"Shut it and pay attention. We're about to cross the highway." He scolded. You lost focus. Maybe you were drifting off just like those truck drivers. You needed to focus on your own road ahead, you needed to focus on protecting Touya.

You both stood on the edge of the highway when a truck passed you, merely a foot between you and the 15-ton vehicle travelling at over 100 miles an hour. The force of the wind felt like it could carry you away with it. You held onto Touya tighter, repositioning him on your shoulder.

He was right, again. These truck drivers could not care any less about you.

"Hold on," You said as you took a step onto the now empty highway. He limped beside you, not saying a word. With the speeds that those trucks travel at, it was unpredictable when the next would appear.

The highway was empty and dead silent. You continued to walk, pulling Touya along with you. That was until an earsplitting honk blasted your soul from your very body. Like dears in headlights, you both looked up to see exactly what you both feared.

"Well shit." The two of you announced in unison. Stopped in the very middle of the highway, you had merely ten steps to go. Ten steps until you reached the other side. Yet Touya was slipping from your shoulder, and you could tell he was far too tired to support himself any longer. If you let him go, you would reach the end in no time. If you let him go, you would live without the burden of dragging him around much longer. Yet what reason did you have to go on without him? You had no family, no friends. You were dead .

Touya and you locked eyes and time froze. His rebellious exterior had fallen, and you could clearly catch the fear in his eyes. It reminded you of how similar you were. How terrified, traumatised and chronically alone you were both doomed to remain. In an instant, the world shifted itself out of focus.

You were overcome with fear, with intensity, and determination so potent you were almost elevated off the ground. You were boiling with undiluted fear and a growing disgust for this world. You didn't understand what happened beyond that point.

Just that your feet moved in an instant; without your permission.

You didn't understand how your hands supported the weight of Touya as your feet left the ground.

You didn't understand how your body decided to fly forward; how it propelled into the air.

You only knew that you hit the surface again mere seconds before the truck passed you.

You only knew that Touya was safe. And that was all that mattered.

The two of you hit the ground with a thud, where you both collapsed into a heap of heavy breaths and panting.

"Holy shit, Ryu". Touya breathed, and a hint of laughter edged his breathy words. "You just flew!"

The intensity was gone. The sudden unbearable fear was gone. Your mind had already surrendered to disbelief. Confusion. You didn't know what just happened. You obviously didn't know what you were capable of, still. You had no idea your body could carry you above the surface; you had no idea your body could soar at such speeds. You were beginning to feel terrified of the sheer power you carried.

"Touya, what just happened to me?"

"Look at your back, Ryu." Touya smiled at you proudly. "What do you see? What do you feel?"

"Good grief..." Your body felt indifferent. If Touya didn't mention it, you never would have noticed the wings protruding from your back.