Blinded By Pain

A deadly night.

The night was cold, holding many shadows. The air was crisp and silent, so silent one could hear a pin drop. A dark haired boy stood in an alleyway investigating an odd noise. It truly was like him, to seek out the strangest of things without thinking of danger. Without checking around first, it really would be his demise.
As if moved by a signal that nobody else could see a shadowed figure crept behind him. Within one swift movement metal flashed before being sunk into the boy's body. A deadly smile was planted on the shadow figures face as he watched the light fade from the boy's eyes. A pool of red began to cover the pavement of the alleyway, darkening it further and leaking among the crevices. After a few moments of watching the limp body the figure turned its back to walk away. Its steps made no noise.
A small tsk rose from them as they walked away, mumbling quietly. "Should've watched your back my friend." And with that, they were gone. Running back into the cover of the night.

***

In another place sat another boy. This one a blonde with blue eyes. He sat in a discord call with some friends. He had recently went for run and returned tired, but eager to play some Minecraft with his friends. Smiling he clicked onto Minecraft and joined a voice channel.
Soon enough, someone hopped on, greeting him with a friendly call out of, "Tommy! How have you been?" Tommy wondered for a moment. How was he doing? In a sense fine, but in another sense something felt off about the world that he couldn't quite pinpoint.
Shrugging it off as a mystery of the universe he replied in a playfully mocking tone, sparking a friendly argument between him and Wilbur; the person on the other side of the call.

After a bit of affectionate bickering amongst the two Tommy sat back in his chair, his posture was evidently awful, but he didn't care. With a sigh of contentment, the world was seemingly perfect for the moment, yet there was something still nagging at him. Urging him to get up and go, but where?
Forcing himself to remain in his chair he sat up once more. Then he clicked to begin streaming. "Sup chat!" He said as per usual routine. Tommy launched into the stream, his eyes focused on his computer screen as he played Minecraft and read out donations. Wilbur had left the voice call a while back, but about an hour or so into Tommy's stream he returned, though not to the call directly. A small ding of a discord notification rang in Tommy's headphones. Odd. He thought. He kept all notifications off except for his close friends, and he had asked them not to message him while he was streaming unless it was important.
As he checked his messages with a small frown he read the message that was displayed.

Wilbur: Can you stop streaming for me. I need to talk to you privately. Now.
Read: 5:57Pm

Tommy didn't bother to answer. Rather, he just said a swift, "I need to do something quickly, I'll be back soon guys!" With that a click of a button the stream ended abruptly. A few seconds later the ringing of a discord call sounded in his ears. The blonde picked up quite quickly a jokingly irritable tone coating his words. "What's so important it couldn't wait until after the stream?"
Though for once Wilbur offered no playful retort, no affectionate jabs as he typically did. Wilbur's voice was solemn, and he turned his facecam on so he could look Tommy in the eyes. "There's something I have to tell you..." After a moment of silence Tommy spoke, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Well? Spit it out then." Yet even what would typically be a jeer at his friend was a bit wavering, as if wondering what could be so wrong.
Wilbur inhaled before speaking almost whispering, his voice hoarse as if he couldn't believe what had happened himself. "Tommy... Tubbo is..." Wilbur paused to draw another breath, steadying himself mentally. "Tubbo is dead... murdered in an alleyway."

Though the reaction Wilbur got was not what he was expecting. Instead of breaking down and crying, or asking questions as Wilbur expected, Tommy simply sat in his chair looking puzzled. At last he spoke his words slow and measured.
"No. He can't be dead I refuse to believe it. This is some sort of twisted prank you guys are trying to pull. He's not dead." Concern was etched on Wilbur's face. Did Tommy truly believe that? Or was he simply in shock, soon to come to his senses.
"Tommy... surely you know I wouldn't lie to you about something like this." However his face stayed set in a firm line and his next statement confirmed Wilbur's fears. "It's just some sick prank. Tubbo's fine. I'll see him soon and we can get back to normal life." Tommy truly seemed to believe what he was saying.
With a sigh Wilbur left the call with a slight comforting message to Tommy, his eyes watering as he thought of his friend, stabbed and left for dead. Hoping Tommy would come to his senses soon Wilbur went to lay in bed and think.

***

Roughly a week or two after Tubbos death Tommy was still denying it. Claiming things like he must be out walking, must want some alone time. Must be bored with gaming. All excuses that he had made for his dead friend. Tommy acted like Tubbo was still alive, refusing to address it anytime someone brought it up. Telling people they shouldn't joke about the death of someone whenever they tried to offer condolences.
No matter what was tried Tommy seemed determined to believe Tubbo was still alive. Grasping at empty air for an explanation. Something to say, something to do to make them see Tubbo was still alive. Other times Tommy curled into a ball on his bed, holding back tears as he internally fought with himself over whether or not Tubbo was still alive or if he was crazy. Tommy was an emotional wreck. Another side of Tommy was showing, the one he struggled so hard to hide. Under playful taunts and jeers. Fake insults, and so much more. It was a vain attempt, for no one can hide a side of themselves forever.
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That's chapter one for ya! Sadly it only has 5998 characters and 1078 words as a total. I hope to make longer ones next time though! Let me know what you think of it!