𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐍// 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟔

The demons invaded Will's thoughts, twisting them, making him relive his worst moments.

He saw the faces of patients he hadn't been able to save. Of siblings whose souls had slipped through his fingers. Of when Death had been too fast and he too slow.

They would force him to see these things for a few minutes-- which was almost too much for Will to bear --then leave him be, not wanting to break him so early. No, General Blyden wanted to break Will slowly, enjoy every bit of it.

When they leave, Will would go through his shattered memory, reinforcing it with steel-- with good memories.

He remembered working in the infirmary, how he would sing the patients' favorite song to keep them calm as he healed them, to keep their minds off the pain and their predicament.

A personal favorite of his came to his mind. He found himself singing, his quiet voice echoing in the silence.

Made a wrong turn

Once or twice

Dug my way out

Blood and fire

Bad decisions

That's alright

Welcome to my silly life

Will paused, suddenly embarrassed. But after everything, it felt... good. It felt good to sing.

Keep going, a voice whispered in his head.

So he did.

Mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood

Miss, no way it's all good

It didn't slow me down

Mistaken

Always second-guessing

Underestimated

Look, I'm still around

Not hesitating, Will plunged into the chorus.

Pretty, pretty please

Don't you ever, ever feel

Like you're less than

Less than perfect

Pretty, pretty please

If you ever, ever feel

Like you're nothing

You are perfect to me

Again, Will paused, listening for the footsteps that would signal General Blyden's return. When none came, Will continued.

You're so mean

When you talk about yourself

You are wrong

Change the voices in your head

Make them like you instead

So complicated

Look how big you'll make it

Filled with so much hatred

Such a tired game

It's enough

I've done all I can think of

Chased down all my demons

See you do the same

Will repeated the chorus. As he finished, he realized there must be prisoners nearby, prisoners that needed something to hold on to.

He would give them something to hold on to. He would give them his voice.

So he raised his voice as he sang the third verse.

The whole world stares as I swallow the fear

The only thing I should be drinking is an ice-cold beer

So cool in lying, we tried tried tried

But we try too hard, it's a waste of my time

Done looking for the critics, 'cause they're everywhere

They don't like my genes, they don't get my hair

Strange ourselves, we do it all the time
Why do we do that?

Why do I do that?

And, despite his circumstances, despite what he'd been put through, Will smiled.

Why do I do that?

Yeah

Oh, pretty pretty please...

As Will sang the chorus for the final time, he knew: there was still good in the world.

And he would be that good. He would not let this turn him bitter. Instead, he decided, it would make him stronger.

So he sang, serenading the dark.