The District (Unfiltered Mess Rewrite)

Chapter Four

I take a small sip of my drink, which is an expensive, clear "alcohol" called Ambrosia that is often served in either a gold martini glass or a gold wine glass and is imported from Italy. Not many citizens can afford Ambrosia because of how expensive it is, though in my opinion, it's not worth the price, so one usually only sees executives drinking it. It's said to bring luck to those who drink it but lately my luck has gone to shit, and I order Ambrosia almost everytime I go to the bar, which is often. I swirl my drink absentmindedly, thinking back to the incident. I close my eyes, finding a slight comfort in the darkness. I start to notice a change in the darkness, though small, it was there. The change becomes more prominent and I realize that the change is light. The darkness is soon swallowed by light that is then filled with colors and objects. I try to pull myself away from the scene and back into the darkness but there is no darkness left. I am surrounded by color and sound and things, all familiar and overwhelming. Then there's people, familiar people, but who? I know them, I've seen them. I know this place, I know them, I've been here before, but where is this place? Who are they? Questions race through my head as the room and people become clearer. One person becomes clear, Taruo, then another, "Juggernaut", Milo, Kala, "Sixxer", Deacon, Synapse, Ryuu Nazuka. WSFD's strongest members and the leader. I know where this is. I know where I am. The warehouse by Cyber Tech. Realization hits me like a runaway train just as another person comes into focus, feature by feature. First I see short brown hair with cyan streaks, then round, hazel colored eyes, gorgeous fair and flawless skin, thin face. No. Derek. No. No. Why are you here again? Why?! You idiot! Leave! GO! They're going to kill you! GET OUT! I try to tell him to get out, but no sound comes from my mouth, I can't speak. DEREK! GO!! Sixxer has a large energy rifle, which he points at Derek. I see Nazuka's lips move but I hear nothing. Derek's lips move, then Nazuka's, then Milo's, then Juggernaut aims his rifle at Derek. Juggernaut's lips move and Derek steps towards Nazuka. BANG. The room is filled with yellow light and a the sound of a rifle being fired. The light vanishes and I see Derek lying on the floor, a gaping hole in his head. I try to get up but I can't move. I then feel something crawling on me and look down. I'm handcuffed to a pole and I'm covered in maggots. I start to gag and feel movement in my mouth. I choke and cough and more maggots fly out. I gag, choke and cough as I feel life slip from my grasp. I look up to see Nazuka bending over me, a nasty grin on his face. He opens his mouth to speak, but I hear no words. What? What are you saying? I try to ask but I only choke. He tries to speak once more, his expression irritated. This time I hear something, but I can't make it out. What? He tries again.

"K----k--a----hhh---p"

What?!

"Ky--hhh-en Waaa---hhhhk--- Uhhh---p"

What?!

"KYDEN WAKE UP!!!"

I jolt upright, my right hand flies to the side and knocks my drink over onto the floor. I look up to see Luka Sands bending over the table.

"Ky, are you okay?" She speaks in a concerned tone.

"I-I'm f-fa-fi-fine-THE MAGGOTS!" I start to gag and cough violently, remembering the nasty bugs. "All ov-over me!" I scratch viciously all over my body.

"Shit. Kyden there aren't any bugs!" Luka grabs me by my shoulders, trying to get me to stop.

"THEY'RE ALL OVER ME!!" I cry out, still scratching.

"KYDEN! THERE ARE NO MAGGOTS! YOU'RE FINE! YOU'RE IN THE LONE RANGER! YOU ARE NOWHERE NEAR THE WAREHOUSE! YOU ARE SAFE!" She yells at me and it finally comes back to me. That was months ago, I'm safe. I'm okay, the bugs are gone. I'm okay. But, where is Derek-No, no. No, please, god no. He's gone, he's dead. No. I take a shaky breath and my hands slowly sink to my sides. A lump forms in my throat and I start to sob. Luka steps around the table to sit down next to me. She pulls me into her arms and to her chest. I lose myself to overwhelming grief and sob uncontrollably. She caresses my hair and rocks me back and forth while saying comforting things like "It's okay. You're safe. I got you, I'm here. Calm down, I'm here."