Writer Games: Pending Secrets

Task Two - The Water Runs Red - Male Entries

Alecks Glint

*DID NOT HAND IN*

Peter Mask

The depths of the ocean were as dark as the devil's soul, its waves like the suffocating embrace of death as Peter sank into the sea. In a way, the water surrounding him reminded him of Melody's eyes – he had always been mesmerized by the layers of emotions that swam in her dark blue irises. Happiness, sadness, anger, fear – you name it. It didn't matter what, but one look into her eyes spoke volumes about her heart.

He was swimming now, towards a building in the ocean that shimmered in the rays of the sun. The pinnacle of the tower extended high above the waves and disappeared from Peter's line of vision, but he did not care about that. No, the only thing, the only face that haunted his mind was that of his dead lover – the crimson streaks running down her cheeks, skin tore open by the force of the bomb's blow. Peter had failed her, and it was a failure that had cost Melody her precious life. It was a failure that weighed heavy on his shoulders and would stain his soul with guilt for as long as he drew breath.

A part of him wanted to let go and let his body sink below the waves – sink into the depths of her gorgeous eyes – to join his girlfriend in the afterlife, but something else instead of him refused to let him do so. There was another part of his mind – a bigger part – that refused to let go to life and fail himself. Somewhere inside of him, he knew that suicide was not the path that he needed to take – if Melody were still alive, he knew that she wouldn't want him to take his own life. So, right then and there, submerged in the waves, Peter decided that he would live.

He would live for her.

A few more powerful strokes of his arms, and soon the eighteen-year-old found himself stumbling on solid concrete ground, dripping wet, but somehow alive. Behind him, a crackling noise caught his attention. Peter turned around to see that the shimmers on the building he was currently in was not because of the sun's reflection as he originally thought, but a rippling force field that glittered and shone. The waves outside could not enter the building, for the field acted as an impenetrable glass. Subconsciously, Peter sighed in relief, knowing that the fear of drowning could now be placed behind him, for good.

However, Peter's relief quickly diminished as suddenly the figure of a muscular boy appeared from a few meters away, who quickly entered the building and dropped to the ground, just as Peter did. His pale skin made him almost seem sickly, but when he leapt at Peter with malice shining clearly in his stormy grey eyes, Peter knew that he would be a difficult opponent to beat.

The two of them crashed together with the force equivalent to that of a freight train and one that was going at full speed, that is. Needless to say, both boys toppled to the ground like a set of dominoes, Peter hitting the floor first and baring the blunt of the blow for his attacker, who fell onto him. Briefly, his vision swam and ears rang with birdsong, until a sickening crack reverberated around the room and Peter's head snapped backwards to hit the concrete. He barely had time to recover from the first punch when more were thrown with surprising ferocity from the boy, whom Peter recognized as Alecks Glint, a boy he had occasionally seen around District Thirteen. Never had he thought a neighbor would turn against him, and deep inside, he felt a twinge of harsh betrayal pluck as his heartstrings.

"I'm going to kill you," hissed Alecks, droplets spit flying out from the gaps of his teeth and spraying onto Peter's face. "I'm going to kill you just like I killed the Oliver and Jay." He spat out the names like they were venom in his mouth, and for the first time, Peter began to feel truly afraid. Of what exactly, he didn't know. Death? Torture? Or perhaps, it was the fact that if he did die at the hands of Alecks, he would have failed Melody. He would have failed his one true love.