beyond our universe || markle/rucas

farkle minkus

"DANG IT." I pulled at my hair, nervously pacing around in the basement. Just 30 minutes ago, I had been sleeping in my room, awoken by the ear-bleeding shattering of the glass windows, the blood-curdling screams that fell from my own mouth. I had shoved off the covers, gingerly stepping over chunks and shards of the sharp material, grabbing my phone from off the counter and a thick comforter, rushing downstairs.

So now here I was, listening to the boom of thunder and wreckage crashing against brick walls behind my own, wincing every time a scream would just barely cut through the noise to be enveloped and swallowed up once more. I stared at the taunting screen of the device, cracks littered across its surface and the flashing notification of no signal across it, serving as a dreadful background and reminder.

It faded away, revealing the calling history and bars that stretched across the phone, names in fine print now deformed and crooked. DAD (12). CALL FAILED. A sigh escaped my lips in a breath of desperation and fresh tears began to still at my waterline, brimming along the edge of my eyes. Loud and booming, another piercing slam of another lightning wave thundered across the floor, vibrations up my spine and pounding against the walls with watery fists charged with electricity.

I flinched, stepping back one step behind me and cupped my mouth, the phone falling from my hands with a clack that seemed minimal in the cacophony of the storm that raged outside. It swirled and consumed in the thick blue darkness within the sky, washing away the last remains of any hope- the stars. "Okay," I whispered, combing shaking hands through my hair. "Don't freak out, Farkle," I reeled an inhale through my lungs, "you're okay."

Another crackling line of lightning shot across the air with unrivaled energy, ringing in my ears and clear in the echo of the vast place I called home. I whimpered, feet sliding against a puddle of water trickling from the bottom of the walls, falling to the floor with a thump. "Please," a sniffle forced itself out of me, "please. Don't let me die here." The howling wind only grew stronger, screaming now over the slosh of water.

I frantically glanced around, eyes flickering in the shadowy ink lingering around the walls and quickly got up to my feet, ignoring the pain radiating from my back. Snatching my phone from the floor, I immediately bolted towards the back door, fingers wrapping around the cold handle and attempting to wrench it open, tears streaming down my face. "I need to get out!" I shouted, at the world, at the storm, at myself through my sobs.

"Let me out!!" Panic crawled up my throat in another scream, manic and an animalistic instinct as I gripped at the door, pulling and pulling to no avail. Fear gripped my body and with force, I shoved my shoulder against the cold glass, crying out in pleads. No one answered, nothing but the accusing thunder and prevailing whistle of wind. "Let me out," I mumbled, softer, slipping down the door, palms against the surface.

A bit more collected than before but still trembling, I gripped onto the edge of the lock, twisting it in two motions and attempting to reopen the door once more, trying to make an exit. When it did not submit, stayed frozen with no mercy or sympathy I turned and pressed my back against the wall next to it, pulling my knees up into my chest and pushing my chin into them, sobs breaking through the ominous roar of night.

How cruel, I thought, teeth chattering as cold seeped through my skin, sending prickling sensations of goosebumps along my entire body. A bitter laugh left my bruised mouth, "Pathetic." Curling up into myself, I reached for the phone with a quivering hand, fingertips barely brushing against the metal before picking it up, enjoying the electronic light it emitted preceding the guarantee it would eventually go out.

The touches were feathery over the screen, outlines of the cracks pressing into the pads of my thumb as I navigated through my phone, finding a way to the green call button and choosing DAD. Like expected, it barely rang once, twice in a warning before cutting off, promising a voicemail through a robotic voice. "Hello, dad," I murmured after the beep, not sure if he could hear me over the noise. A beat passed and I stifled a cry, shoulders shaking.

"I'm scared, dad, but I'm okay. Don't worry." My lips bled from how hard I bit them, and I smacked my head against the wall behind me. Lies, whatever fragments of my conscience said, but I ignored them, like I always did. "I'll be fine. Everything will pass soon, that's what you always said, right? That everything comes and goes?" I wiped my nose. "I know you're in Asia right now. It's okay, right? You're okay?" A pause, "I'm worried. But it's going to be fine."

I winced, another loud clang of the fight of the storm meeting my eardrums. "Bye, dad," I whispered, shutting my eyes and allowing my lashes to skim over the tops of my cheekbones, wet and gentle like butterfly wings. I could almost hear the memory of his last goodbye, a kiss on the forehead and a ruffle of the hair, saying, "I'll see you later." He never said a goodbye, but it always managed to feel like one.

I turned off my phone and faced the bluish tones outside, barely visible through the tornado of light ocean and lost remnants of the moon's illuminance. "It'll be okay," I told myself, getting to my feet and trying one last time to open the door. My heart stopped when it twisted, regaining the function to open. I swallowed, another fissure of pain breaking apart within me, a million frissons of trepidation and horror. I looked around for the last time.

Better to take a chance than to simply give up.

I wrenched open the door and rushed outside, welcoming the cold rush of air with a timid smile and open arms as it ripped me apart in its joy to devour, to destroy this world with its bare hands. Stupid, I thought, blood beginning to trickle from the corner of my lips, bruises exploding all over my body and the oxygen knocking out of my lungs as I delved deeper into the water pummeling against my body.

I closed my eyes, submerged in the storm itself, water enveloping me in its ruining embrace as a drifting line of bubbles from my lips struggles to rise to the last pieces of light above me, through the currents. My hair moves in the water and I fall, giving up, allowing the lack of air to lull me to sleep and muddle my mind.

It'll be okay.

a/n

bro im really sorry it's been a WHILE

ahhh i have no excuse this time

though i would love to continue this book! see you guys in another like 8 months lol

jk

i hope