World Without End | Sitkolson [C]

TWENTY

THREE YEARS EARLIER (2014)

Ryan sat by the window, watching as the hunters walked away, Lynn's shoulders slouched more than anyone's.

To say she had been sad since Ricky's passing wouldn't be correct. She had taken it just as hard as Chris did. Her and Ricky were close, but had yet to actually know about each other. Though there were no secrets or lies between the two, there were still spaces that needed to be filled. Unfortunately for Lynn, though, those spaces were going to stay empty. Well, so she thought.

A knock on Ryan's, Ricky's, door brought him out of his thoughts, making him turn to see Angelo.

He was always the one that tried to comfort Ryan. Only, ninety percent of the time he never really could. All Ryan wanted to do was see Ricky's face, his eyes, his smile, one last time. He didn't even have a photo to hold on to. He didn't have anything. Only blurred memories.

Angelo sighed, trying to start up on a good note, "Josh just called. He and Ryan Ashley are doing just fine where they are."

Ryan Ashley and Josh had left a few months after Ricky's death. Due to them barely knowing him, they couldn't handle the atmosphere that surrounded them at the time. They understood where everyone was coming from, but didn't want to live like that.

"Ryan... I know you miss him, I do, but-"

"Please, Ange, I just... I don't know how much longer I can take this." Ryan cut him off, looking down, "It wasn't as bad when I left him, but now I know he's... dead, I can't." Ryan then turned to his already packed bags, causing Angelo to shake his head as he held back tears.

"Please, Ryan, not again. You don't have to leave. We can help you, we can get through it together."

Ryan turned to Angelo, his voice loud, "There is no way to help me get through this, Ange! I loved him, more than I have ever loved anyone. Now, he's gone. And... that's on me." Ryan walked to his bags, picking them up and throwing them over his shoulder, "I'm sorry, but, I need to. I can't live in this house without thinking about him and how it's my fault. I can't."

Angelo quickly walked to Ryan and hugged him, his sniffs making Ryan feel worse about the situation.

Running away like this made him feel like a coward, but he felt he needed to do it. He thought he was going to be okay at first, but he wasn't. Truth is, he probably never would be.

Who would've thought that one death could cause this much... guilt and sorrow in one person, let alone seven.

Ricky was the core of them all, he had been the one that made the suggestions on when to leave and where to go to, that's how they met the hunters. Angelo may've brought them along, which made Ricky a little raw at first, but Ricky was the one to let them stay. You might say he was the leader, but he was also far from it. He was just the person that held them all together. And, without that person, they would've separated. Without him, they were separated.

Ryan tried his best to smile at Angelo, "I hope to see you in the future, brother."

It had been centuries since Ryan had referred to Angelo as his brother, but it brought a little light to Angelo's dull eyes.

"Good bye, Ryan."

•|•|•

2015

Ryan's 'coping' of everything hadn't succeeded. He found himself right back where he started in twelve-o-three; empty. All he wanted was to be filled again, only he couldn't find the right person. In his mind, he knew who it needed to be, but couldn't bring himself to think about it anymore than what he already had.

Ryan had tried to move on, but he stopped as soon as he remembered the smallest detail of Ricky's.

He didn't want to move on. Well, he did, but only with Ricky. But, if he didn't cross that bridge, it'd break and he'd be alone the rest of his life. He didn't want that, and he knew Ricky didn't either, but he couldn't help but feel that his heart was no longer with him, but with Ricky. Little did he know, Ricky felt the same way.

In that small year since Ryan left Angelo and Chris, he had had his fair share of kills, but only few were human. As much as he hated animal blood, it was better considering this world wouldn't function properly without humans. As much as he hated humans, he knew he would be in trouble by someone for killing random beings for his own sake. Though, humans kill humans for their sake, but Ryan wasn't that type of person. Really, he didn't even know what type of person he was.

He called himself a coward, Angelo called him a brother, Chris called him a friend, but they're all completely different things.

Friends have a bond, but not stronger than brothers. Cowardice can break any sort of bond in a matter of seconds. Ryan ran away, therefore he broke every bond he had with his friends. So, what is he? A coward, friend or a brother. Answer, he is none. He sees himself as nothing special. He simply sees himself as Ryan. Nothing special, just Ryan.

•|•|•

(2016)

Ryan walked down the street, heading towards where the newest pub was.

He never was one to go during the day, but, so he had heard, it was no ordinary bar. For him, that could only mean one thing. If he was right, which he was hoping he was, he would already have a start on getting everyone back.

Since his dream, which wasn't entirely a dream, he had become more determined to bring Ricky back. But, first he had to get everyone else back. That was the only way it could work.

As he threw the door open, all eyes were on him, the glares making him raise an eyebrow.

"Wrong bar?" He asks, causing people to look around before growing defensive.

As one stepped forward, they both recognised each other immediately.

"Ivan?" Ryan asked, frowning at his former friend.

"Ryan." Ivan nodded his head, holding an arm out to everyone that stood behind him, "Why're you here?"

"A lot has happened since I took Ricky from the King." Ryan said, "A lot."

"Care to explain?" Ivan asked, eyes narrowed in confusion.

Ivan had tried to forget everything he went through in those times, but Ryan had just brought them back.

"Anywhere we can talk privately?" Ryan looked around at all of the people, receiving a head nod from Ivan who lead him through the crowd and to a more secluded area of the pub where Ryan told him everything.

As much as it pained him to tell Ivan everything, he deserved to know seeing as he was like Ricky's uncle.

"A week or so ago," Ryan said, sitting up in his seat, "Ricky came into my dream, he told me I need to get everyone back together. I'm pretty sure he's coming back, Ivan."

"I'll help you find these people." Ivan nodded his head, willing to give Ryan a hand with everything, "After all, it's the least I could do. What're their names?"

Ryan started straight away, not missing one of them, "Josh Balz, Ryan Ashley Malarkey, Angelo, Chris, Lynn Gunn, Vinny Mauro, Brian MacDonald and Alex Babinksi."

"Angelo and Chris?" Ivan questioned, "You're not with them?"

Ryan shook his head, "I left about two years ago. I just couldn't, you know?"

Ivan looked down, sighing, "Yeah, I get it." He then looked back up, trying his best to give a friendly smile, "I think I have an idea where your friends are anyways."