Boondocks~~Teens No More

15) Caesar's Virtual Challenge

~•~

"What the fuuuuuck..?" Caesar's eyes are as wide as saucers. The moment he steps inside, he finds himself on the stretching platform across a waterfall -- the most majestic waterfall he's ever seen. "Victoria Falls..." He whispers in fascination, heart beating. He had seen it in the pictures. And now. He was here.

Well, not here. But a virtual version is close enough.

Other tourists are on the bridge with him, taking pictures with their big cameras and stretching their hands over the rail. He whips around. The opening that he walked in through has disappeared.

Kiara is right in the middle of the bridge, curled into a ball. Caesar rushes to her, elbowing his way through passing people. As he gets closer, the heat rises. He stops a metre from the Spanish girl, sweating like from running a marathon. "Kiara?" He heaves.

Kiara's eyes peel open, burning that fiery amber. Her eyebrows cringe slightly as she tries to look around and fails. "What the fuck...did you do...Caesar..." Her eyes close again. "This idiota..."

"Kiara, what should I do?!"

I told you to call a fucking agent...Kiara thinks, but says nothing. She feels her chest tighten. They're just side effects, Vega. They'll wear off...any moment now.

"Fuck fuck FUCK!" Caesar clutches his dreads. "HUEY! RILEY! ANYBODY HEAR ME?!" Only the sounds of the waterfall cloud his ears. The tourists act normal, as if no one else is there. "Shit..." He breathes. "Aight...cursing won't help." He takes a step towards Kiara, and stops immediately. It felt like sauntering by a volcano. He closes his eyes for a long moment, and takes more steps. Every step feels like one to the sun.

He finally gathers the courage to open his eyes, and when he does, Kiara is right below him. His vision turns into waves and he drops to his knees. His mouth is dry. He can't even speak. His breath becomes short. Kiara's eyes open again, sleepily. She watches Caesar gasp for oxygen whilst he sets a hand on her sizzling shoulder. He collapses.

"Caesar...no, no no no." Kiara grits her teeth and uses all the energy she can to roll away from him. His hand falls. She rolls again. When she sees how Caesar's chest has stopped heaving, her own heart stops. She looks at the edge of the platform, and at Caesar. She closes her eyes tightly, and then finally makes the decision to roll over the edge.

She didn't even have the energy to scream.

"Caes!"

There's pounding on the platform. Riley rolls Caesar onto his pack and begins to perform CPR, but hesitates. "Man...this gon be gay." He takes a deep breath and commences with the saving act, pressing his mouth against Caesar's. After a few more tries, Caesar hacks a cough. He inhaled deeply and looks up. Instant relief floods over him at the sight of the man with cornrows.

"Riley..."

"Nigga, you dumb as fuck," Riley scowls, and Caesar can actually tell how angry he is, because it is just any scowl.

It's a Huey scowl.

"Never speak of this mouth to mouth...ever."

Caesar tries to chuckle.

~•~

When Kiara opens her eyes, the ceiling is white. She sits up quickly, heaving. Medic room. The nurse rushes to her side and feels her forehead. "Relax, Agent Vega."

"Where..." She holds her hand up and examines the drip in her wrist. The fluid is blue. She lowers her hand and looks down at her body -- she's wearing a different jumpsuit. The material feels tighter...but almost in a protective manner. "What happened?"