A Piece of Bread

CHAPTER 8 - A Piece Of Bread

In an unknown place...

"Let's test the steam turbine." The operator instructed. The worker nodded as a sign of his comply. Though, he accidentally pushed down a loose lever, which controlled the reactor power' output, reaching it to near- zero. Then a few moments, they were alarmed, as they fully dropped the power output, the core heated and melted.

Back to town...

As soon as they ran away from the angry stall owner, an earthquake happened. The two panicked. Fia tried to go to the forest but Axel grabbed her arm before the tree tumbled beside her, almost hitting her. They ran away, but Axel made sure they were running on open area, free from any tall structures. Then they heard a large explosion, all of the people covered their ears. The children were disorientated. They didn't understand what was happening. They saw green smoke spread out to the sky, covering it with toxicity. He looked where it was from. Then it was when it all clicked together -- the acidic water, the weird taste of plants despite being edible, the deformed fishes -- it was a nuclear power plant. It has been warning him all this time, and he simply disregarded it. He refused to acknowledge that this is the end of the world. He ran away where the blue sky was, where they can breathe fresh air. It was all happening too fast. Axel panted but endured his numbing body. "A-Axel...! S-stop! I'm getting... tired...!" Fia cried, he looked at her and forced to relax himself. The two rested on an improvised tent Axel made. They rested there, Fia became hungry, so they ate the one and only bread they have stolen from earlier. Axel told Fia to same some for later, and she obeyed. After some minutes of rest, Axel stood up, but he realized, it was too late. Far too late to run. Every people out there gradually disappeared as they took the train for a safe place to run, unfortunately, the train exploded as a result of the nuclear explosion. So some ran away by feet. Axel looked at Fia, it was obvious to her face, the fatigue she was suffering. He gave up. As they rested for a few hours, Fia became hungry but Axel persisted not to eat his bread. He clearly knows that Fia can't resist so she ate hers. Her last piece of bread, Axel gulped at the temptation. He wanted to eat his. As Fia finished eating, she slept. Axel didn't know what to do so he sang her a lullaby like he usually does when she wakes up from her nightmares.

(a/n: i revised the song's lyrics to make it suitable for Axel and Fia)

"Follow me into the flower beds
Follow me until you sleep
Stay with me as the days turn to nights
And with me as nights turn to days

You'll find me hiding in the shadows, friend
You'll find me hiding alone
My home has been lonely for a long time
But you can help me atone

You'll hear me calling your name out there
You'll hear my voice all alone
Follow me into the flower beds
To feel the joy and comfort

Never stray from the path I laid
I built it here with care
I built it before we can die
Before the moments all fade"

(i will end it here cuz its too long XDDD)

(a/n: this is the tune for Axel's lullaby, the song is titled : LINDA'S LULLABY by MERCOWE E  and  TAP. The song was for their novel fanfic, INKY MYSTERY, its one of their official ost's btw)

Halfway through the lullaby, Fia fell asleep in Axel's arms. He gently smiled at her as he decided to grab his piece of bread, and ate it with delight despite its now nasty appearance. Within an hour, Axel never felt Fia's chest to breathe. Followed by another hour, Axel has breathed in his final seconds...

...Peacefully. Blissfully. Truly something, a moment, a memory, that he can cherish for eternity.