Every Single Thing I Touch || HeartLiming "Moonlight Chicken"

2. Broken

The cluster of pale purple flowering trees spread their branches like a giant umbrella, casting dappled shade over the path as Liming and Night bicycled beneath them on a sunny afternoon. Dressed in their crisp school uniforms, the soft rustle of fabric accompanied their movements. Night's laughter rang out, a bright, clear sound that seemed to chase away the very shadows, filling the air with a carefree joy that made Liming's heart ache with longing.

They were racing, and Liming was in the lead, feeling the thrill of the wind in his hair and the sun on his face. But Night's giggles grew louder, a sound so full of life that it wrapped around them like a warm embrace. Liming turned, a puzzled look on his face, catching glimpses of Night's flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes.

"Why are you laughing?" he called out, glancing back at Night, who was pedaling harder, his pace quickening with an effortless grace.

"I'm happy" Night exclaimed, his eyes crinkling with laughter and happiness, "Aren't you?"

Liming shook his head, unable to understand Night's ever-sunny disposition, even as he pushed himself to go faster—feeling the strain in his legs, the burn of determination. Night was closing the gap, his legs pumping with a determined rhythm. Liming gritted his teeth, but Night surged past him, casting a triumphant glance over his shoulder, his eyes dancing with mischief.

"What's there to be happy about?" Liming yelled, his frustration mingling with confusion, his voice barely audible over the wind rushing past them. His eyes narrowed, focus sharpening on the race.

"You should be happy now!" Night's voice was full of laughter, echoing around them. He was pulling ahead, his figure growing smaller, and no matter how hard Liming tried, he couldn't keep up.

"Why?" Liming shouted, desperation creeping into his voice. He was trying to keep the conversation alive, to fill the oppressive silence that threatened to engulf him.

"Because I'm not there anymore," Night giggled, his voice hauntingly light, a chilling contrast to his words. "You should be happier, Phi. You got what you wanted."

Liming skidded to a halt, watching in horror as Night stopped a few feet away. Crimson liquid trickled down Night's forehead, tracing the lines of his laughter and disappearing into his smiling mouth. Liming stood horror struck, his eyes starting to fill with tears.

"I—" Liming's voice cracked, his throat constricting with pain.

"You have all the attention on you now, Phi. That's what you wanted, right? You wanted everyone's attention on you. You wanted to be the best between us. You eliminated the competition. That's why you killed me. Now you should be happy"

Liming bent over his bicycle, his stomach churning violently. His vision swam, dark spots dancing before his eyes as tears streamed down his cheeks, hot and relentless. The world darkened, the vibrant colors fading into shadows, and suddenly he was no longer standing. He was on the ground, just like Night, who lay curled in a fetal position a few feet away. Blood pooled around Night, seeping into the earth, his eyes closed, lashes resting against his pale cheeks as he took his final, shuddering breath.

Liming screamed, a raw, guttural sound that tore through the air, his voice raw and ragged. He called out for Night, for himself, his cries echoing in the stillness. He crawled towards Night, each movement a struggle, but the distance between them only grew. Liming screamed until his throat burned, until he tasted blood, but he couldn't stop. The pain was a living thing, clawing at his insides, a relentless reminder of his helplessness.

Night stood before him now, his face a mask of horror, eyes glassy and lifeless, a haunted smile curving his lips. "You murdered me, Phi," Night said, each word dripping with blood, a gruesome waterfall. "You're a murderer! Murderer! Murderer!"