Wings Of Despair - Prologue

Chapter 4 - Their First Meeting

Yuto's lungs burned. He inhaled desperately for a slither of air, only to be met with the bitter taste of saltwater. It gushed down his throat as it slowly took his life; he choked on the quickened current. Yuto flailed his limbs and wings aimlessly, as he desperately tried to escape. His vision faded over time, as he felt his insides falter.

Before he realised, Yuto used all his energy; he hadn't moved an inch from his submerged spot within the lake. Yuto subconsciously hid his wings, as they vanished from sight – alongside his halo.

If Yuto couldn't swim his way to safety, what good would he be saving the world?

Yuto relaxed, as the reflection of the surface darkened the deeper he sank. He embraced death once more, as his vision fell dark. His lungs were clogged, his heart almost came to a stop.

Almost.

Two hands dove in and gripped Yuto's arms. The arms then wrapped around Yuto's waist and heaved him away from the freezing waters. All Yuto saw was a blur of lime green, before he blacked out.

...

Muffled voices surrounded him as Yuto's eyelids squinted, vision bleary until it blinked into existence. The first thing he saw was a shivered figure that overcast him, as he protected Yuto's eyes from the blazed sun. His eyes were a dark blue, with rounded glasses that shaped his face; his scarily pale skin glimmered in the light. His sopped dirty-blonde hair dripped rhythmically onto Yuto's skin. A lime button-up shirt, with sleeves bunched to his elbows, stuck to his frame – he noticed the outline of his ribs. He had dark-maroon dress pants that cuffed over black dress shoes.

"Hey," He cooed, as he offered Yuto his hand. "are you okay?"

"Yeah, thanks." Yuto croaked, as he gratefully clasped it.

He helped Yuto sit up, as he coughed out excess water that agitated his lungs. The person repeatedly slapped his palm against Yuto's back in aid.

"I'm Greg." The person greeted with a light nod.

"I'm Yuto-"

"Oi, are you alright mate? How many fingers am I holding up?" Another person butted in, as he invaded Yuto's personal space.

"John!" Greg scolded, as he softly shoved John away.

"What?! I'm just trying to help!"

John had peach skin, with brown eyes. He had greasy, mid-length jet-black hair, his fringe was swept and covered the right side of his face. He wore a grey shirt with a light denim jacket, with black ripped jeans and black and blue sneakers. He had quite an athletic body, but still looked lean.

"Its fine." Yuto rasped. He didn't want to be anymore of a bother.

"You're rocking quite an accent there, you visiting?" John queried.

"Yeah! For..." Yuto panicked, as he thought of an excuse. "Work! But I'm looking for a place to stay first."

"Well, as much as I'd love to offer my place, I can't. Don't have enough room." Greg tutted, as he forced a grin.

"So you're going to leave this poor man, who you just saved from drowning, stranded? Shouldn't you at least let him stay with you until he's all better to find another place?" John argued, as he slung an arm around Greg's neck and whispered in his ear. "Plus, you'd probably get paid another way with the way he's dressed."

"Ew, no! I'm not even into guys." Greg denied, as he flicked John's arm off him. "Plus, the way people dress isn't consent to-"

"Mate, I know. It was a joke! You should know that by now." John teased, as he playfully shoved Greg.