This Is My Town

Chapter Twenty Six ~ Rye

Rye had been lucky. He'd just made contact with the door, as he was closer to it than Enzo was. He'd slammed into it, and it had knocked him off of his feet, but he didn't go unconscious. There was smoke in the air, making it difficult to breathe, but Vampires didn't need their lungs so it didn't bother him that much. He didn't hear any screams, just death. He literally saw someone's brain fly up to hit the ceiling, and was just wondering if it was still up there when he remembered Enzo. Eyes widening, he turned around and bolted for the last place he saw his friend, by his side. He was gone. Rye got desperate; if Enzo was gone, he would have no one. He remembered overhearing Enzo and Kiara's conversation, before she– before she left, and she had told Enzo to look out for Rye. Like he was going to need someone else in his life, now that she wasn't there. He had shrugged it off, not wanting anyone to be around him anymore. He wanted to live through his misery in peace. But now that there was a chance that Enzo was gone, he was instantly regretting thinking that.

"Enzo?" he called out, his voice croaky from the smoke. He let out a loud, bone-shaking cough as he stumbled for the doors, looking around. There, he saw a hole in the other door that he connected the dots with. Jesus, he went through the door? Rye thought as he moved through the now-open one and squinted down the hallway to see if he could make out Enzo's shape. And there he was, lying in a heap halfway down the hall. Rye sighed out in relief at him not being blown up and clambered over to his best friend, collapsing to his knees when he reached him.

"Enzo, get up," he choked, nudging at the Prince's shoulders, pushing at him. He turned him over so he could see how bad the damage was, but it seemed that he just hit his head pretty solidly on both the door and the ground when he landed. In the light, however, he swore he could see something coming out of his eye, but he had to squint to really try and see. It was too dark, though, so he dismissed it as nothing and continued to try and wake his friend up.

All of a sudden Enzo gasped and his eyes flashed right open. He started coughing and spluttering up blood, but Rye was there and helped him get his bearings.

"R- Rye," he stuttered. His voice sounded weak. "Rye, where are we?"

"In the palace," Rye replied quickly, searching his friend's face for any signs of pain. "Are you hurt? Did anything catch onto you?"

Enzo stiffened, and he moved his head around confused, before it turned panicked.

"Rye, I cannot see," he breathed. "Oh my god, I cannot see. I-"

"Enzo, it is just the hall we are in," Rye replied with a firm nod, looking his friend in the eyes. "It is just dark, is all."

"No, Rye," Enzo whispered, alarm in his voice. Rye hesitated, looking at his friend with worry in his red eyes. "I- I cannot see. I cannot see a thing. Rye, what happened to m- me?"

Rye looked around hurriedly before he stretched his hand out and a ball of fire whirled to life in his palm. He held it at a safe distance from his friend and, with a source of light, peered at Enzo's panicked face. There, he froze.

"Rye, what is happening?" Enzo asked weakly, his eyebrows creased up in fear. Rye sat down in a heap, staring at his friend in the light.

"Enzo, I-"

"I cannot see!" Enzo snapped suddenly, and Rye flinched. "What is happening to me, Rye? What is happening to me...?" His voice trailed off to the end of his outburst as he lifted his hands slowly up to his face. They were shaking incredibly, and when he touched his eyes, he breathed in deeply and swallowed hard. "It... it hurts, Rye. My god, it hurts so much-" He cut off his voice with a loud sob, and Rye looked down, knowing his friend was right. He could not see, because he had been- he had been blinded. His golden eyes had been pierced by the ferocity of the bomb, and looked as normal as they had before, only they were crying. Crying tears of blood.