They Couldn't Find What Was Wrong In Your Mind

4. A World That It Seems, Was Never Really There.

"Lorens?" Barrone gasped "I'm so glad to see you! I thought you were dead too! Where's Kier, is he okay?"

"Shane." The taller man sighed "We're not in Grandomina."

Barrone's eyes widened. "We are!" I just got the cab back here, with Tiberius... I saw the city, the walls..."

"No, Shane." Laurence sounded firm, yet full of sorrow. "Shane... you're ill."

"No!" Tears formed in Shane's eyes. "You're Lorens Vane... The Prince! I'm not Shane, I'm Cyrus Barrone."

Things began to make sense. The more Shane thought about it, the city didn't look as old as he once remembered. He thought it had been rebuilt, but in fact it was 21st Century London. But why were the streets so quiet? Were Drew and Luke alive?

"Does that mean Dionisio's okay? Is Lou alive?" A glimmer of hope struck him.

A voice appeared from down the corridor and a red-headed figure stepped towards him. "No, Shane." The apologetic voice said. "They are not okay."

Barrone broke into sobs, falling to his knees and cupping his face in his hands.

"Gravo... I have so many questions!" He gasped between cries. "What happened to Grandomina? Who killed Lou and Dionisio? Why am I ill? I'm not ill"

Shane's fist hit the cold ground and he began to sob more.

"Mate..." Kier pulled him to his feet. "Don't you remember?"

Shane shook his head. Kier and Laurence softly placed a hand on each of his shoulders. He was trembling, and his friends looked distraught.

"Shane..." Laurence continued. "You are not in Grandomina. I'm Laurence Beveridge, your friend. This is Kier, you know him."

Kier forced a soft smile.

"We don't know who killed Drew and Luke – that's their names – but we do know that we have to take you somewhere for a while, okay?"

"Where am I going?" Shane whimpered.

"Back to where you came from." Kier smiled

"But I was travelling..."

Kier and Laurence shot one another a sad glance and nodded.

"Shane, we need you to come with us." Kier frowned. "I'm sorry mate."

"Kier, I can't do this." Laurence's voice cracked. "Do we have to? Look at him. He's done nothing wrong... he has no idea."

"I know it's not him, lad. But it's his body. We can't keep him at home in case it happens again. Look at Drew and..."

"What are you talking about?!" Shane cried, struggling to escape their grip.

"You stay here, Beveridge." Kier sighed. "They're waiting outside. I'll be back in a minute."

Ten minutes later, Kier emerged from the doorway – he looked as though he had been crying for hours, even though he had only been gone a few minutes.

"That's it then." Laurence sighed.

"It is, mate. I'm so sorry." Kier wiped his nose with his sleeve.

The two boys began walking the streets of London, tears in their eyes and memories behind them.

"Do you ever think he'll be out of that hospital?" Laurence asked. "Discharged, I mean. Not escaping again."

"I'm not sure, mate." Kier stalled. "If they can sort him out, I truly hope so."

"Will he ever find out what he did to Luke and Drew?"

"I hope not." Kier wiped a tear from his eye. "After all, it wasn't Shane that did it. It was Cyrus Barrone."