Swing-Set (Septiplier)

//Chapter.1\\

The ghost of your footprints remain in the snow.
And I've tried to hide them, but they just won't go.
It's a reminder that hurts like a memorised scar.
And if the memory keeps burning like this...
I don't know if I can go so far.

Sean Mcloughlin scraped his feet across the gravel underneath him. The ground was left untouched by snow as it hid under the metal bench with peeling, dark green paint. The cold nipped at his face and blew the fringe of his green hair that peaked out from under his cap. His hands had long since turned numb as he gripped the bench, staring ahead of him with terrified, piercing blue eyes at the swing-set just some feet away from him.

"Come on Sean!! Let's go on te' swings!!" A small, brunette girl squealed happily.

"Race ya'!!" Answered a slightly taller bot with the bluest of eyes.

The two children skidded through the gate of the park and sprinted to the swings, their childhood laughter filling the air.

"Sean, will ya' push me, pretty pleeeeeeease??" The girl asked.

"Okay, okay Maddie. But hold on tight okay??" He warned.

"I will!!" She promised.

The girl hopped up onto the swing and wrapped her gloved fingers around the chain, wriggling her bum back a bit to get comfy and secure.

"Okay," The boy said. "Hold on." And he pulled the swing back before pushing it forward.

A clouded huff of breath brought Sean back to reality. He shook his pale head and blinked back frozen tears as the memories stirred from deep within him. Shakily standing up, he took a few cautious steps towards the swings, his feet making a crunched echo in the frosty snow of the deserted park. Taking a few more steps, the swing seemed to move slightly and squeak in the wind, as if it were beckoning him closer. Sean could almost picture the memory happening right there and then. All those years ago, he still remembered.

"Higher Sean, higher!!" The girl chirped delightfully.

The boy pushed with all his might to make his sister go as high as she possibly could. Sure, she was only five, but that shouldn't matter, she was smart and strong.

"Wait, Jack slow down a bit!! Jack!!" She cried out, alarmed as he fingers started to slip.

But the boy was too enticed in trying to make the swing go as high as it possibly could, he couldn't seem to hear his sister's pleading. And he simply shoved harder.

"Jack!! I'm slipping!! JACK!!"

"What?" The boy finally asked as he gave one more almighty shove.

Then, just as looked up at her for an answer, the girl's grasp faltered, her fingers slipped, and the ground rose up to meet her.

Sean cried out as a sharp pain shot through his head. He staggered backwards, away from the swing-set. He tripped over one of the small wooden barriers that substituted as fences, and fell flat on the ground. He whimpered and covered his face with his frost-bitten hands as painful memories flashed through his heavy mind.

"I'm sorry..." He murmured. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sor-ARGH!!" He screamed as another wave of agonising memories surged through him.

Te' fall...

Sean's frame was racked with sobs as he let the tears flow freely.

Her neck...

He rolled onto his side and curled into a feeble ball, wrapping his arms around his knees.

No pain...

The sky grew darker, just to set the mood, and began to rain. Softly at first, then a heavy flood all at once.

Instantly...

Sean lay shivering on the ground, not caring about any effects or consequences. He didn't care if he died right there and then, if he drowned, or froze to death, he didn't care.

I'm sorry...

"I killed her..."

...His fault...

"My sister..."

...Your fault...

...Your fault...

...Your fault...

"It's my fault."

He closed his eyes.

"It's all my fault..."...

I still hear the echoes of your cries.
Of joy, then of fear.
I still feel the fabric of your gloves.
Your heartbeat, so near.
Then gone.
So fast.
Your breath, lost.
Your bones, brittle.
Your life, gone.
Your death, my fault.
I'm sorry.