(Reverence 28, 55 / 3:33AM)

Three years later…

In the hilly city of Lagefor, Benn wandered through the empty sidewalks, the concrete ground starting to crack as the infrastructure looked to be breaking. Looking his eyes downward onto the ground, he thought of those cracks that were littering the pavement, his hands deep in his pockets.

His legs quivered as he continued to walk. His feet blistered with each step.

Benn then looked up at the downtown skyline, his eyelids, and eyebags covered in gray as he saw the cheerful light from across the city.

While the dim street light shone from the back of him.

Placing both his hands inside his pants pockets, he pulled out two objects that were kept in each pocket. On his right pocket, was a thin white and orange paper, slightly bent as he grabbed it with his pointer finger and thumb.

On the left, he pulled out a broken match.

(Benn) If hell’s real…

Benn crouched down, extending his left hand onto the stone pavement with his broken match. Swiping the match onto the slightly dirty concrete, the match barely ignited as sparks flew from the flammable area. With his right hand, he placed the cigarette into his mouth, the butt of the cigarette kissing the whitish lips of Benn.

Bringing the match slowly towards his mouth, the light of the match ignited the end of the cigarette. As noxious smoke soared through his lungs, he inhaled and exhaled as much as he could.

(Benn) Then I’m already living in it.

He saw one of the many highways that go around the city, the highway having little to no cars that barely shined the black-shaded pavement. On top of the bridge that overlooked the highway, Benn slowly walked towards the edge of the overpass, having the lit cigarette inside of his mouth.

Reaching towards the edge of the railing, Benn placed his left hand on the railing, his feet still on the cold dirty pavement as he looked down at the deadly height between the overpass and the highway.

Benn’s left hand trembled on the metal railing, the railing surprisingly short as the railing was only up to Benn’s waist. Continuing to look towards the highway, Benn’s cigarette started to dim.

With almost no noxious air to take in, Benn pulled out the cigarette with his right hand and threw it onto the highway, placing his right hand on the railing as well.

Time passed as he continued to stare at the dreaded highway, trying to swirl around the smoke from within his body. For who knows how long, Benn remained in this state as his eyes darkened evermore, his legs shaking as he tapped his right foot onto the cold pavement.

But from his peripheral vision, he noticed a tall slim figure enclosed in a black hoodie, wearing all black.

The figure, the same as Benn, looked at the dark-shaded highway, entirely focused on it as the figure placed their hands onto the metal railing, their smooth hands shaking violently as they gripped them with all of their fingers.

Benn turned his head towards the figure in all black, his body still leaning on the metal railing as his eyes remained entirely focused on the figure that fidgeted.

The figure slowly put their feet on top of the bottom lining of the railing, as they leaned their body on the edge. At that moment, the figure put their right foot on the other end of the railing, causing their crotch to touch the top of the railing, their body in between the railing.

Having their hands on the railing, with their left leg not on the side that was near the highway, the figure slowly lifted that leg so that they could place it next to her right.

(Benn’s thoughts) Should I stop them? Should I just carry on? Nobody cares about me, so what’s it to me?

Benn continued eyeing the figure, whose legs shook with a drive of adrenaline running through them. Their arms held their body as their hands continued to grip the railing. Slowly, they turned their body to face the highway.

(Benn’s thoughts) Then again. I never had someone to talk to.

With a heavy exhale, Benn walked towards the dark hooded figure that was on the edge of the railing, their head looking down onto the dark-shaded pavement. With each step towards the figure, his footsteps thumped upon the concrete.

Ignoring Benn, the figure continued to have a grip on the rail, their heels on the edge with their chest heaving up and down.

Benn cleared his throat.

(Benn) The world can be a horrible place.

The dark hooded figure continued to stare at the highway, their palms coated with hot sweat as their grip slightly loosened. The figure spoke, their voice breaking as if their throat was jumping with every consonant.

(???) Y-Y-You’re n-n-n-ot supposed to be h-h-h-here, sir.

(Benn) I hear that a lot.

Benn put his hands down in his pants pocket, standing near the figure that had a feminine voice. Making a cold frown upon his face, Benn tilted his head up as he put his hands into his baggy pants pocket.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

(Benn) Why call me sir? You know what creature I am.

(???) At this point, I don’t care anymore. Even if you’re a s-shark-human.

The hooded figure’s grip started to slowly loosen more as both of her pinkies were now open, leaving only eight fingers gripping the helm of the railing. Her body shuddered more as the cold wind smashed across her back.

(???) Why are you here? Do you want to end it all t-too? At this point, I-I don’t care if you live or die.

(Benn) Me too.

(???) Excuse m-me?

The dark-figured woman turned her head towards Benn, the city lights not showing the feminine face that lay beyond the darkness. Gulping, her throat jumped as her voice continued to quiver.

(???) So y-you don’t care that I jump off and end my life right h-here?

(Benn) I don’t know you.

Having her body still on the edge of the railing, the woman turned her head again towards the dark-shaped pavement, her feet shaking as some cars continued to roll down the highway. Seeing that her head was turned back, Benn inched closer to the woman as his body relaxed upon itself despite the situation.

(Benn) Do you have parents?

(???) Not anymore.

(Benn) Killed?

(???) You trying to save me? If you’re gonna give me a pep talk about how good life can get, you’re wasting your time.

(Benn) You don’t know me then.

The woman then had her ring fingers loose, leading to only six fingers holding herself together. Her breathing started to turn heavy as Benn inched his way ever closer, his body a few feet away from the woman.

She turned around again, with Benn seeing a little facial figure of her face, but still shrouded in the dark. Looking down on the sidewalk, between the many cracks on the pavement, Benn focused his eyes on each crack on the dirtied sidewalk.

(Benn) My dad has been long gone ever since I was born, never knew his name.

As soon as Benn said those words, it was as if the pain he endured lifted off his shoulders. He took out his hands from his pockets, laying them motionless as he sharpened his eyes towards the woman. Seeing the woman focusing herself on him, he could start to see her facial features or rather the outline of her head.

(Benn) My mom passed away when I was 15, leaving me and my twin sister to move to Lagefor.

Benn decided to take a few steps towards the woman until he was right next to her, her ears perking up as Benn spoke in a louder voice than before. Words kept spilling out of Benn like water bursting out of a hose.

(Benn) When I turned 17 and a half, I was arrested and beaten for being near a playground, just for following some creep who targeted children.

The woman let go of her middle fingers, with only four fingers remaining. Turning her head again, half her face was still shrouded in the darkness.

Benn then extended his right arm and hand onto the metal railing, having a loose grip on it as he looked down towards the paved highway. Clenching his left hand into a fist, his eyes sharpened as his big blue nose started to sprout a vein.

(Benn) He walked to a little girl who was trying to enter a restroom, wanting to escort her and whatnot, and she looked like she wanted to cry, so I had to defend her…

The woman continued to focus her barely revealing eyes on the shark-human, her eyelids on the verge of tears as she puckered her lips with a despairing frown.

Letting go of her pointer finger, her thumbs were the only ones that held onto the railing as a single tear drop rolled down her left cheek.

(Benn) I asked him to back away. I really did! But then he pulled out a knife. And before he stabbed me, I beat him. I beat him like hell.

Benn then placed his right hand on the woman’s shoulder, continuing to sharpen his gaze at the woman with black hair.

(Benn) The girl ran to get her parents for help. And I thought I did something good for society, but… they beat me like I was trash, thinking that I was the one who tried to assault her. But I DIDN’T!

Benn kicked the railing as he said that last line. For a moment, it was silent between the two.

(???) So? What happened to that girl? And what happened to you…?

Benn widened his eyes.

(Benn) You…believe me.

The woman gave a slight nod.

(???) I mean, yeah. You don’t seem to be lying. So…what happened?

Despite leaning her body towards Benn, her thumbs started to loosen. Tightening the grip upon her shoulder, Benn looked down onto the cracked white concrete again and took a shuddering breath.

(Benn) The girl tried to explain what happened, but they were too focused on me. And God knows they won’t listen to a damn thing I say. I only got out of jail when I turned 18. My life was ruined from the start.

The woman turned her head forward to look up at the sky, an eerie morning mist starting to form as her breathing softened at the sound of his words. Looking up at the barely visible stars in the sky, seeing the barely visible Pollux star…

(Benn) My sister cut contact with me, believing the story to be true. And for the past three years, I’ve been living off of the shelters, trying to look for a job but my record put a bullet in my head.

Benn turned his head onto the woman with black hair, his face replacing the sharp look that he had with a softened and gentle one. Releasing his grip on her shoulder, he laid it motionless as gravity pulled it down.

(Benn) Yet despite all that, I still somewhat kept going. I’ve had thoughts, I wanted to make society better by ending myself on my worst days, but … I still think I was destined for something great… so.

Benn put both of his bluish and large hands onto the woman’s shoulders rubbing the fabric of her black leather jacket. Seeing that she is making eye contact with him still, Benn leaned his face closer to the woman, his breath reaching towards her.

(Benn) Unless you have a horrible shitty story that can outrank mine, then I’m not letting you just kill yourself.

The woman began letting out a hollow chuckle as a couple of tears dropped from her slanted eyes.

(???) Pfft, we only met, and we’re ranking our sob stories now?

Feeling her body began to relax, she extended her left hand towards the back of Benn. Her hand coated with sweat even in the dim light of the streetlight, the woman unpuckered her lips as the color of her eyes began to appear visible to Benn.

(???) … Ok … ok … you win—

Her right foot all of a sudden slipped, causing her to lose balance.

But she was caught by instinct by both of Benn’s hands. He tightened his hands, causing an immense pain on her shoulders.

Using all of his strength to pull out the woman that dangled in the air, he steadied his feet and legs onto the concrete. Benn crouched and pulled the woman towards him, throwing her across the street.

Landing on the edge of the sidewalk, her body slammed onto the pavement, landing on the right side of her body. Running towards the dark-haired woman, Benn pinned her to the ground, holding her down as she let out another weak laugh.

(???) Pinning me to the ground? Ha, you’re such a weirdo.

(Benn) Are you trying to kill yourself?! I still don’t know if you trust me now!

(???) I just slipped! I promise! Just please let me go!

(Benn) I will, until you spill out your story.

The woman that was below Benn looked towards Benn’s sharpened face, gave a sigh. Turning her head to the side, she quietly spoke in a timid tone, an unusual tone compared to her loud demeanor from before.

(???) Can you at least not pin me to the ground …

(Benn) Ok. But I’ll hold your hand though. Just in case.

Both of them stood up as Benn had a strong grip on her hand, her eyes looking downward as she couldn’t look at his face. With his left hand, he extended it towards her shadowed face, trying to have her face shine in the dim light from above by making her make eye contact.

(Benn) Before you tell your story, we didn’t introduce ourselves. My name’s Benn.

(???) My name …

The woman straightened her back, clearing her throat. Benn noticed the number of freckles that the tall woman had, followed by her uniform badge that dubbed her the name “private”.

(???) The name’s Gwen … Gwen Keegan.