PeakWEST 𝙎1 - 5 : Vessel

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 𝟺𝟺 - 𝙼𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛

Samuel stands there, a hollow look in his eyes, emptied from the exhaustion of grief.

He slowly gets up, laying Marlene’s body down with care. His gaze turns cold as he faces Alan.

Samuel: "Why did you… do this?"

Alan, panicked: "It wasn’t me, Samuel! Please, believe me!"

Samuel: "No. You’re not Alan anymore. You’re possessed by a monster."

Alan: "No!"

"Maybe…"

"I mean, I don’t know!"

"I’m still… me!"

"I think…"

Samuel: "Enough."

Samuel starts to approach Alan, his steps slow and deliberate.

Alan instinctively backs away, eyes widening.

Samuel: "So, this was your plan all along? Manipulate everyone, kill them, and now you’re going to kill me, too? Go ahead, do it!"

Alan: "No… that’s not it."

Samuel: "What, did you sacrifice them all to unlock some kind of power? To reach your true form? Is that it?"

Alan stands there, speechless.

Samuel: "Then go on. Kill me. I must be the last one you need, right? Take me out, complete whatever it is you started!"

Samuel’s words hit Alan like a hammer, and he feels the weight of guilt crush him.

Alan: "Yes… I killed them. What are you going to do about it? Kill me? Don’t worry. I’ll surrender myself… and they’ll sentence me to death. But not by your hands."

Samuel, seething with rage: "You don’t deserve to live."

Alan: "I know."

Samuel: "Then stop."

Alan: "Stop… what?"

Samuel: "Stop guilt-tripping everyone."

Alan, resigned: "Maybe I am. Maybe I’ve killed them… and maybe I’ve killed more."

Samuel: "Yes, you did."

Alan: "Then kill me, Samuel. But know that these gates are open, and it all ends only when I close them."

Alan begins to turn, walking slowly away.

Samuel clenches his fists, rage building as he watches Alan leave.

With gritted teeth, he positions his hand, remembering the gravity technique his master gave him.

He raises it, aiming directly at Alan.

Samuel: "Come on...."

He grits his teeth.

He steadies his stance, preparing to unleash the full force of his newfound power.

Scene shifted.

Haruta watches Sasaki, who sits silently, lost in thought.

Haruta sighs, the weight of his friend's grief heavy in the air.

He steps closer, placing a gentle hand on Sasaki's shoulder.

Haruta: "I know this is painful for you, Sasaki… but you don’t have to go through it alone."

Sasaki remains silent, his eyes cast downward, lost in the turmoil of his emotions.

Haruta: "We can fix this. Whatever it takes, we’ll get through it."

Sasaki lets out a quiet sigh, barely more than a whisper, as he finally looks up at Haruta.

There’s a glimmer of relief in his eyes, gratitude breaking through the pain.

Sasaki: "Thank you, Haruta. Really. For being here."

Without hesitation, Haruta wraps his arms around Sasaki, pulling him into a warm, reassuring hug.

Sasaki tenses for a moment, then relaxes, allowing himself to lean into Haruta's support.

The silence stretches between them, filled with unspoken understanding.

Haruta: "You don’t have to carry this alone. Whatever happens, I’ve got your back."

Sasaki nods, and a faint smile forms, a rare sight in these difficult times.

Sasaki: "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Haruta holds him tighter.

Haruta: "You’ll never have to find out."

They stay like that, the warmth of friendship comforting them both, a silent promise that they’ll face whatever comes next together.

Sai walks in slowly, closing the door gently behind him.

He takes a quick glance around the room, feeling the heavy atmosphere before his gaze settles on Sasaki.

Sai: "I've heard things... You’re not alright, are you?"

Sasaki glances up, his eyes carrying the weight of his struggles.

Sasaki: "No, I’m not."

Haruta motions to the empty chair beside them.

Haruta: "Take your seat, Sai."

Sai nods and settles down, leaning forward with concern etched across his face.

The three sit in a silence filled with unspoken words until Sai finally speaks up.

Sai: "Whatever's weighing on you, Sasaki, we're here. You don’t have to face it alone."

Sasaki hesitates, his fingers fidgeting slightly, as if unsure where to begin.

Sasaki: "It just… it feels like everything's slipping away. And no matter what I try, it’s like I can’t hold on to anything."

Haruta places a steady hand on Sasaki's shoulder, his grip firm and reassuring.

Haruta: "Sometimes things get out of control, Sasaki, and it’s okay to feel lost. But we're here to help you find your way."

Sai nods in agreement, his expression softening as he listens.

Sai: "We’re a team, Sasaki. Whatever's eating at you, we’ll handle it together. You just have to let us in."

Sasaki takes a deep breath, his voice almost a whisper.

Sasaki: "It’s just hard… trusting myself after everything that’s happened. I keep feeling like I’m the one pulling everyone down."

Haruta's eyes flash with determination.

Haruta: "Hey, don’t say that. You've been there for us countless times. You've saved us when we needed it. Let us do the same for you."

Sai leans forward, his tone gentle but unwavering.

Sai: "No one’s expecting you to be perfect, Sasaki. You’re allowed to lean on us. Just give us a chance."

Sasaki looks at both of them, their faces filled with genuine care and understanding. For the first time in a long while, he feels the weight on his shoulders lighten, just a bit.

Sasaki: "Thank you… both of you. Maybe… maybe I can finally start letting go of some of this."

Haruta smiles, giving him a light nudge.

Haruta: "That’s what we’re here for, Sasaki. To remind you that you don’t have to carry the world alone."

Sai reaches over, placing a reassuring hand on Sasaki's other shoulder.

Sai: "One step at a time, okay? And we’ll be with you every step of the way."

Sasaki nods, a faint smile finally reaching his lips.

Sasaki: "Yeah… one step at a time."

In that quiet moment, surrounded by his friends, Sasaki starts to feel a sense of hope, realizing he doesn't have to face the darkness alone.

𝘛𝘰 𝘉𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘥...