Return Of The Outcast

|027| Storm of Memories.

"...Where do I even begin?" Reign hummed with a soft chuckle trying to ignore the lump forming in his throat

He wanted to back down now. Made the excuse that he was too tired and he would tell her later, but every time his eyes met hers, he couldn't help but feel obligated to talk about it as she looked at him with a child-like curiosity and intrigue, ready to hear whatever he had to say.

Reign took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. The words were there, just beneath the surface, but bringing them out felt like tearing open an old wound.

"The catastrophe...marked the beginning of the end of humanity" He began, his voice soft and quiet.

The idea had Mia thinking, "Was it like a war?" She asked but he slowly shook his head "No. It was worse than a war. It was hell on earth"

He paused, his eyes darting around as if searching for an escape. But there was none. He had to face this, for her sake.

"It went on from 2040 until 2052. 12 whole years" He shifted uncomfortably, his foot tapping against the ground. The memories were like a heavy weight on his chest, making it hard to breathe. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to gather his thoughts.

"It's over now but not really. People still suffer. People are still being killed. The world hasn't gotten any better and I don't think it ever will. We have no choice but to accept this reality"

Mia's eyes filled with concern, but she remained silent, letting him continue at his own pace. Reign's hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white.

"I heard before everything happened, there was a time when the world's population was around 8 billion, now there's only like 6 million...That's like more than 99% of people gone. Isn't that crazy?

He looked at her, his eyes pleading for her to understand the severity of it all. Mia nodded, her expression softening.

Reign then looked back to the ground, swallowing the big lump in his throat before continuing "So many people died. Families, homes, communities destroyed...and all because of one person. She created this whole mess. She destroyed everyone" he sneered quietly, the anger evident in his voice.

Mia didn't know if this would be appropriate to ask, but her curiosity got the best of her and something inside her was clawing that she had to know. "who?" she questioned, leaning in closer "What was her name?".

Reign's breath hitched. The question hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. His vision blurred as the memories flooded back, each more painful than the last.

"Her name was..." He mumbled, trying to speak, but the words caught in his throat.

"..her name..." he tried again, but once again, his brain wasn't allowing him to.

"Her name....it's...umm," He shifted uncomfortably, his foot tapping against the ground. The memories were like a heavy weight on his chest, making it hard to breathe. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to gather his thoughts.

He couldn't say it. Just talking about the person felt like a poison burning his tongue, but he still felt like he owed it to Mia after she shared a bit about her world.

"Her name. Her name" he repeated as if stuck in a loop "Her name. Her name"

Reign's breath came in ragged gasps, his chest tightening with each attempt to draw air. The world around him began to blur, and he felt himself slipping into the dark corners of his mind. The memories he had tried so hard to bury were now flooding back.

The sky was a sickly shade of orange, filled with smoke and ash. Below the dull sky was a crowd of people, all there gazing at the same sight.

He ran through the gathering, pushing and shoving people out of the way despite his small frame.