Is This Enough ||MxM || Lgbtq+ [ON Hiatus]

Chapter 4

This chapter delves deep into Vinnie's past and where he came from before discovering Leonardo.

[A week ago]

Vinnie's P.O.V.

I vented my fury by smashing the wood into little bits. The heaviness of the past seemed to settle upon me like a thick blanket, as if I had been presented with an invisible weight. A package had arrived earlier in the day, containing a small, innocuous box that held within it a reel of my family's memories. My family was everything to me, and the mere thought of them brought tears to my eyes.

Even though I've accepted that I had to be constantly on the go, the accompanying letter sent me spiralling back into the darkest corners of my mind.

Don't be naïve in thinking everyone is as honest and trustworthy as you are. You can't hide forever. <3

Despite only informing a single person of my whereabouts, somebody else had still managed to find me. I raced through my small collection of plain brown logs, so I hastened my efforts to obtain more. As I went off to scavenge for more, I stumbled upon a weak, unconscious individual in an odd device.

He had a captivating air about him; his sun-kissed skin was smooth and supple. His dark hair was styled in cornrows. He had eyes that were a deep, intense shade of brown, with eyebrows that had a gentle, refined arch. His clothing, though slightly tattered, was of a high quality and pressed. His V-neck shirt revealed a few of the alluring tattoos that covered his body.

I tossed the logs to the floor and popped open the pod, hoping to uncover any details about the man. Finally, success! I discovered an ID card on him. My gaze raced across the card and the details came to light - Leonardo Brown, 27 years old, born on January 5th. As I continued reading, I was astounded to see the words 'Residency: ACRIMA, SAXET' standing out. I felt my heart racing. Could this be the answer to the letter I had received? No, it couldn't be.

I was in a precarious position; Acrima had branded me an outlaw. I tucked his identification card into my pocket, hoping to keep myself out of this mess. I started walking away, as the sky darkened, and the wind began to gust. A fierce storm was approaching, and my conscience would not let me abandon this stranger, battered and out cold. I was unsure of who he was or if he was connected to me, but I knew I couldn't leave him out there alone.

I hoisted the man onto my shoulders. Bye, bye solitude. All around me the woods seemed to teem with life; the chirps and chitters of insects, and the cries of birds filled the air. The canopy of lush, green trees above me seemed to be reaching up to the heavens, like a veil of secrecy. The forest was left unscathed by the nuclear destruction that had struck Acrima and the surrounding areas. Constructed from golden-hued pine my cabin had enormous windows allowed ample sunlight to enter, making it a gorgeous abode.

The second floor was much more spacious than the first, crowned with a striking triangular roof. Nestled in the serene forest, it was isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city. Inside, the clothes were strewn across both floors and despite the musty scent of sweat and spoiled food that permeated the air, I loved it; it was my own little paradise. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

As I cradled Leonardo in my arms, I could feel the warmth of his body on my chest. I fumbled around with the keys, but finally managed to get it in the lock. Climbing the creaky stairs, I made my way to the spare room and laid him on the bed. I gingerly removed his shoes and tucked him in with the comforter.

I shut the extra bedroom door with a definitive click and meandered over to the living room. I slouched into the shabby couch, switching on the television with an absent-minded flick of the remote. Lost in thought, I faintly watched the images blur past my eyes. Then, I noticed a package I had not yet opened. I ripped away the wrapping and found a USB flash drive inside.

I was holding a relic from the past - something that had been forgotten in the bustling, high-tech atmosphere of 2050. It was an old-fashioned device that had enabled people to record and relive memories. As I held it in my hands, I was overcome with a wave of nostalgia, feeling as if I had been transported back in time.

With a deep breath, I took in the sight of my loved ones. The cozy room was suffused with a warm, gentle light emanating from the laptop screen, illuminating the faces of everyone I held dear.

I could almost feel the comfort of the hugs we once shared, the joy of our conversations, and the contentment of our time together. Tears of sorrow and longing brimmed in my eyes as I watched it, the memories of all that had been taken away from me still so fresh and raw.

As the reel played on, the memories flowed like a river. It was a summer's day in our old vacation cabin, nestled in the woods. We were all gathered around a bonfire, roasting marshmallows, and sharing stories. My father, a sturdy man with a hearty laugh, was teaching me how to play the guitar, his compelling, jade-green eyes were embedded in an ageless terra-cotta brown face.

My mother's kind disposition was evident in her gentle smile, her ivory complexion adorned with a myriad of small spots across her nose and cheekbones. My brothers were running around in pursuit of fireflies, their cheerful giggles reverberating through the air.

The small town of CrowWind held a special place in my heart, for it was unlike anywhere else. Unrivalled in its beauty, It had majestic waterfalls and beguiling cherry blossom trees. It was almost as though I had stepped into a utopia. Despite the allure of this haven, my late grandfather had to face the reality of living somewhere where people with similar backgrounds were scarce. As a sign of reverence for the remarkable ability and skill of some of Brazil's most esteemed footballers, my grandfather and father chose my name from the roster of their idols.

As one of the few people who identified as a different ethnicity in my class, I was often recognized as 'Vinnie'. My full name, Vinicius Gabriel dos Santos-Grey, was considered too long to say, with many people making comments about its length.

It kept going, and the images playing out in front of me began to take a more dismal turn. The night I saw had etched itself into my consciousness, and I had no idea it had been documented. I observed my mother's jovial expression change to one of fear. The door of our cabin burst open, and a group of masked men barged in. I was cowering in the closet, too petrified to make the slightest noise. My parents were doing their best to protect us, begging for compassion.

No mercy existed that evening. My pureness was exchanged for brutality. The men were unmerciful, and I could do nothing but gawk as they hurt them before me. My heart raced in my chest as I tried to muffle my cries, begging that they wouldn't find me. I heard their wicked laughter and their intimidations as they explored the cabin.

Thinking they were gone; I left the closet, not knowing one of the men lingered. It resembled a frightening film, and I was aware of the conclusion. The perspective switched to his camera. He had dragged me outside to the woods and threw on the ground.

The man walked towards me; each step more determined than the last. His hand clutched a knife, and shaky phone in the other. I felt a big rock behind me. Just as the man was close, I threw the stone towards his temple with all his might. The man fell to the floor, his knife crashing down beside him. His phone had managed to record me thrusting the weapon into his chest.

As I shut my laptop, the room seemed to envelop me in a shroud of darkness. I was swamped by an onslaught of emotion, and I felt tears stinging my cheeks. I made my way out of the dark, dismal room, my mind clouded with the bittersweet nostalgia of something that had been, but was no longer. Forever embedded in my heart would be the memories of the family I had lost, and living in a cabin would always remind me of them.

Thanks for reading. Let me know what you think!