𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑭𝒊𝒙𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 {𝘚𝘢𝘭 𝘍𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳}

Riptide [30]

**WELCOME BACK TO THE 2026 RYVER CHAMPIONSHIPS
idk, hi, hello, welcome, enjoy <3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A sudden vibration summons me from the depths of my slumber.

Groggily, I squint my eyes open in the darkness. My eyelids heavy and my brain foggier than a cool morning, I pat around the side of my bed to find the culprit-- the being that disturbed me.

I flip my phone over once my palm smacks it, hissing at the brightness of the screen. I blink a few times, lean closer to the device since my lack of contacts or glasses makes it near impossible to see.

Ash is calling.

She and Larry returned not long after I made it back to my apartment this morning. Since Ash and I shared breakfast, I've been napping. I slept comfortably last night, but my dreams were riddled with anxiety and fear. I feel like I didn't sleep a wink.

I accept the call, bringing my phone to my ear. "Hello?" I ask, my voice raspy and hoarse. I clear my throat and smack my lips.

"Hello beautiful!" Ash cheerily greets me. "I know you're napping, but the guys are over and I wanted to warn you to put your mask on before you come out."

My brows furrow as I push myself into a sitting position with a groan. What are the guys doing here? I figured Larry and Todd would be home resting since they were out all night. "What's the occasion?" I murmur.

"I didn't bring it up at breakfast because, you know, morning and all. But might I remind you of the screenshot you sent me last night?" Ash answers, her voice lowering to a whisper. My chest aches at the reminder. "I need some context and we really need to discuss this with... him. We're going to have to report that message."

"Yea," I reply robotically, staring into the dark abyss of my room. I run a hand down my face and sigh deeply. "Okay, I'll be out in a few."

"No rush, love! Take your time."

I suck in a strangled breath.

From the moment I buried my fingers in Sal's hair last night, I refused to let myself think about the events that led up to that moment. But Ash got that unsolicited text from me and now I have to address it. I have to think about all of it.

I don't have a God complex, I have a savior complex. I want nothing more than to be the wings on everyone's backs. I want to save them all from the cusp of despair, take their pain away. It's what drove me to take the actions I did with Sal last night. I never regret what I do to keep others afloat, I only hate to be reminded that they still suffer on the sidelines, in secret, when they're hidden away from prying eyes.

What did Sal do after I left? Did he blankly stare at his ceiling to soak up the impossible like I do sometimes? Did he cry? Did he get into another can of peaches?

After I reach my hand out and do all I can, I'm followed around by a reaper. He's not the one everyone else knows; this is my own reaper. He dangles everyone's weaknesses above me like bait, waiting for me to latch onto one so he can chip away at my soul with his scythe.

I let the breath out.

It doesn't matter how much I do. I can't save everyone.

I rub my cheeks with my hands, relishing in the warmth they bring to my chilly fingertips. Then with a grunt, I roll out of bed and stumble to my en-suite bathroom. I don't bother changing out of the sleep shorts and Michael Myers crop top I'm in. I got into them when I returned this morning, plus it's just the guys.