Chapter 37

Deeper And Deeper

Water splashed and rippled as a tanned young boy waded through a creek strewn with river rocks. The boy stopped and bent over to peer into the waters, his short brown hair and determined expression reflected across its algae-rich currents. An outstretched hand then dove deep into the water as the boy wriggled his fingers from within. He braced himself for the lashing of teeth and readied his submerged hand to latch onto anything that took the opportunity.

"Liiiiiaaaaam!" the drawn-out, familiar voice of a girl came from beyond the treeline and stole his attention.

Liam quickly withdrew his hand from the creek and peered into the crowded forest. Twigs and fallen leaves crunched underneath tall ropers that belonged to a young girl emerging from the treeline. Liam could see her medium-length scarlet hair sway in the gentle wind, her freckled face wrinkling in bemusement when she saw him. Despite his predicament, he could not help but smile every time their gazes crossed.

June - the spry little sister he loved with all his heart.

"What are ya doin', Li?" she asked, crossing her arms. "Are ya tryin' to noodle some catfish again? Ma and Pa already told ya not to after the last time ya got bit."

"Nah, nah, I wasn't - I swear!" Liam said in his defense. His eyes darted to the necklace resting against his chest, grabbing the piece of jagged deer antler at the end. "My, uh, charm fell in the creek while I was crossin', so I went and dove for it, yes I did."

June looked at him askance. "… Ya ain't such a good liar."

Liam frowned as his arms dropped unceremoniously in the water. "I gave it my best, sis. Reckon I'm honest as the day is long - like Pa says," he ended with a wry smirk.

"Quit playin' around and let's get to Swan Lake already." She spun around and headed back into the forest before turning her head. "And Pa says ya gotta row the boat for me," she ended with her own smirk.

"Says a lot of things, that man does…"

Liam crossed the creek and followed closely behind his sister until they were side-by-side. He took a deep breath and drank in the sights of a picturesque forest that smothered the pair within its natural canopies. It was perfect, and the more he looked beyond the forest, the more the gaps of white space were filled in with glimpses of untamed nature.

Liam felt his daydreaming disturbed as June batted his shoulder and stared at his necklace. "Why do ya carry around that necklace all the time?" she asked, giggling. "Did Ma really convince ya pieces of junk have 'special powers' or somethin' stupid like that'?"

Liam clutched the piece of antler and held it close to his chest. "It ain't junk! And it ain't stupid either if you think about it. Ma makes those little statues so she feels closer to her old home, and wearing this makes me feel closer to Mother Nature herself!"

June rolled her eyes in response.

"Me sportin' my charm is just like you showin' off those boots of yours, 'cowgirl'," he teased.

Her freckled cheeks burned and her fists tightened. "Hush up. Ya know I'm just wearin' them 'cause Uncle Curtis got 'em for my birthday."

"Sure, sure, whatever ya say… cowpoke"

June shot him a scathing look. "I mean it! Do I have to get Pa to wrangle ya again?"

Liam laughed gleefully. "Maybe Pa could also help ya wrangle in some cattle! Or maybe teach ya to ride one of them ponies ya always wanted!"

June flared her nostrils as she stormed ahead.

Liam smiled and followed the trail of tramped flora left in her wake. "Oh, c'mon, sis! A little teasin' never hurt no one!"

Emerging from the treeline, Liam and June happened upon a lake in the middle of the forest. It sparkled in the morning sun's rays. Cattails slick with fresh dew grew alongside the clear waters. They walked alongside the lake's rocky shores as June neared a beached rowboat and stepped into it. She brushed aside the two fishing rods resting on a bench and plopped herself on it. She crossed her arms, her pouting glare finding Liam as he caught up.

He chuckled. "All right, all right, no more teasin'!"

"Ya better," she muttered.

Liam hopped into the rowboat and knelt to retrieve a blue and white cooler below the benches. He popped open its lid and marveled at the amount of writhing worms packed within. June, however, formed a look of disgust.

"Ugh, how come Pa made us go with them slippery 'lil worms?" she questioned. "Couldn't we have used cheese? Them fishies like that, don't they?"

"Some do - but Pa is a worm guy, and he wants ya to learn like he did," Liam said as he closed the cooler. He then pulled a more compact box out and opened it, revealing an assortment of colorful lures, along with bundles of reel. "We got our bait, reel, and our tackles here! Pa sure wasn't no liar when he said he got everythin' set up for us."

"Sooooooo now we can get on with it, right?"

"Yeah we can, Your Highness," he murmured.

June smiled widely as she kicked her legs back and forth. "Well then, get to rowin' with ya, Sir Liam!"

Liam groaned. "The things I do to be a good big brother 'round here…"

She giggled. "Nice to see ya treatin' your sis right for once."

Liam stepped out of the rowboat and began pushing its wooden hull across the wet grass. Water splashed and welled as the boat made contact with the lake, the small vessel now slowly drifting across it. Liam quickly hopped back on and planted his behind on a bench. Small, sun-kissed hands then latched onto two paddles on opposite sides of the boat. Liam grunted as he began rowing the craft further into the lake. The sun made its shining presence known across the calm, sparkling waters.

Liam's muscles ached from the repetitive motions, but his heart and mind soared at what he was currently experiencing. The air was thick and humid, clinging to his skin and invading his nostrils with a smell of fresh rain. Beyond the gentle creaking of the rowboat, his ears picked up the soothing chirrups of a Mourning Dove, the singing of a Northern Cardinal, and the cries of a Red Fox from deep within the forest. He felt surrounded by the natural, uncorrupted forces of life itself like it was squeezing him in its warm, inviting embrace.

To call it bliss would be an understatement.

The rowing ceased as the boat slowed, stopping in the heart of the lake. Liam took in a deep breath as he looked at their surroundings. "Always nice to get out of the house and onto the lake, ain't it?"

June leaned over the boat's railing and peered down. She smiled and reached a hand down to swish through the crystal clear waters. "Would be nice to get our feet wet instead and do a 'lil swimmin'. Ma said we shouldn't, but it ain't like there's piranhas."

Liam shook his head. "No piranhas, but the catfish here…" He gulped upon remembering a particularly painful memory. "Well, we ain't gotta worry 'bout them."

A loud guffaw came out of June. "But Pa insists on not swimmin' again after he got bit by one of them mean 'toe biters'."

Liam snickered as he knelt to retrieve their fishing rods. "I could hear his cryin' and swearin' from the other side of the lake that day. Can't say I blame Pa." He handed her a rod while he cradled his own, his lips curling into a wide grin. "Now. Are ya ready to learn how to fish, sis?"

June swung the fishing rod over her shoulder and nodded eagerly.

"Great! Now we just to… uh," Liam's words trailed off as he looked around at their setup in a confused manner. "Oh, right! Get the tackle on the rods and set up a line!" He paused. "At least I think so."

June harrumphed. "Are ya kiddin' me, Li? All this time you was talkin' 'bout bein' an expert at this fishin' thing and teachin' me, and you was just spinnin' the yarn?"

He blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Hey! I only done this once before with Pa! Besides…" He let out a short huff. "I got a memory clear as day, so don't ya worry!"

"Whatever ya say. Now are ya gonna teach me or what?"

The next few minutes passed as Liam attached lures to their rods and threaded the reel through them. Mixed in was colorful commentary from June through her initial learning struggles, much to Liam's chagrin. But once everything was prepared, they stood side-by-side and held their fishing rods outward toward the lake.

"All right, now we're gonna cast 'em," Liam said. "Watch what I do!"

The boy maintained his perfect stance as he extended the fishing rod over his shoulder. He swung it back not a second later, the long reel gliding over the lake until it landed gently in the water. Liam smiled at his successful cast before glancing over at his sister, who was nervously fiddling with her rod.

"Now you try it! Do exactly what I did!"

"Um, okay, I'll try it!"

June breathed in and out before she whipped the fishing rod behind her with immense force. Her eyes squeezed shut in concentration as she balanced herself on one leg and kept her rod as far back as possible. Seconds later, she threw the rod back as the reel went flying over the lake, the lure creating a small splash when it landed dozens of feet away from their boat.

Liam blinked. "Well, I hope that worm was able to stick on the lure after that journey ya sent it on."

June's reddened face scrunched up. "I just wanted to make sure I got it on the lake!"

"Whatever ya say, Junebug.".

She rolled her eyes. "So now what do we do?"

"We wait!"

Time passed by slowly as the two siblings kept a steady grip on their fishing rods. They waited patiently for their prey to take a bite, feeling for any amount of movement in the living waters, and listening for the sounds of splashing.

June lowered her rod slightly. "Li, I don't mean to be rude since ya was so excited and all 'bout teachin' me, but… this is kinda borin'."

The boy laughed. "Never said it was gonna be fun, now did I? But it's relaxin', ain't it? Away from home, away from dumb ole school, away from Ma and her list of chores. Yup!"

June pouted. "From the way ya was talkin' bout it, I thought we was huntin' for sea monsters."

"Ya never know, sis." His jubilant tone turned sinister. "Some man-eatin' 'toe biter' might turn up to snack on a cowgirl and her brother, and then finish off their Pa!"

His joke sent her into a storm of giggles as she shoved him lightly with her shoulder. "Quit playin'! Ya gonna make me drop the rod!"

Liam's own laughter faded as the tranquil sounds of the lake replaced their voices. His gaze was drawn to the clear skies as a bevy of swans descended from the heavens and landed in the waters. Like tiny white boats, they drifted closely together and occasionally dunked their heads in the lake. Jungle giggled lightly at the playful honks and whoops they sounded out. Liam found his breath stolen by their beauty, but eventually found his tongue and spoke up.

"I heard ya speakin' with Ma the other day - in her room."

June perked an eyebrow as she glanced over. "A bad liar and now one of them nosey girls lookin' for gossip? Jeez, Li."

"It- it ain't like that!" he defended. "I was just passin' down the hall and heard you both talkin'. Y'know, talkin' about your future and all." He grew a sly grin. "And you wantin' to be one of them silly movie actors."

June flipped her hair with a turn of her head. "It ain't silly - and so what if I do? You've seen me at the school plays, which means ya know I've got the talent of one."

"I know ya do! It's just," he frowned, "you'd want to run off to California and join some 'Hollywood' business they got there?"

"But Hollywood sounds like fun! Fancy dresses, shiny lights, and I could meet so many of them famous movie stars!" she gushed.

"That stuff sounds so silly and fake, sis. Them movies, too - I don't get it. Why would ya wanna watch somethin' imaginary when ya got the whole world to live in and experience? I mean-" He was suddenly treated to a round of laughter from his sister. He eyed her with a confused look. "Hey! What's so darn funny?"

"That's 'cause you never even sat down to experience one, Li. We don't even got a television at home! You and Pa - y'all seem to think we're still in the 1800s."

Liam was not bothered by the remark, shrugging. "And what's so wrong with that? I think more people should be like us. Out in the middle of nowhere and away from the city, family's all here, and the simple, honest beauty of Mother Nature. And who says ya can't become an actor here?"

June let out a frustrated growl as she threw a free hand high. "Ugggghh! See! This is what I mean! I love ya, Li, but I could mistake ya for a mule with how stubborn ya are."

Liam smiled proudly. "As long as ya don't think I look like one, sis." His cheerful expression waned. "But why would ya wanna run off to some stuck-up place like that?"

"Because it's my dream, Li."

"I know, but-"

"There ain't no 'buts' to it!" She sighed and wore a resigned smile. "I know you're lookin' out for me and all, but when I'm a grown woman and stuff, there's decisions I gotta make for myself. I don't wanna stay in South Carolina my whole life. Ma knows I got big dreams, and she wants me to reach 'em, no matter where I go. I'm sorry, Li, but I don't wanna have my big brother make decisions for me forever."

Liam flinched, almost hurt by her honesty. He recovered with a warm smile of his own. "I-I know, sis. We ain't gonna be kids forever." His features twitched slightly. "But If ya got dreams, then I don't wanna hold ya back. It's just… I like being your big brother, y'know." He chuckled. "'Sides, I need to make sure that Hollywood place can handle a rough 'n' tumble cowgirl blowin' through town."

June shot him a withering look before mellowing her features. "I should slap ya for callin' me cowgirl again, but ya reminded me of somethin' - somethin' I should thank ya for. Few weeks ago, when ya protected me against those idiots after class."

Liam sniffed. "S'no problem."

"But ya didn't have to punch one of 'em. Ma don't want you gettin' suspended anymore," she said as a giggle escaped her. "One thing I know is that I'm tired of helpin' ya with your math and English homework."

"If I didn't show them I was for real, they'd keep pickin' on ya. Have they messed with ya since?"

"Nah. Ya sure scared 'em off. They scatter like rats when I see 'em in the halls now."

"See? It was good that one of 'em gots a black eye now. Nobody messes with my family - especially my little sister."

'Well ain't that that sweet of ya. And ya know I'm always lookin' for ya, too." June looked up in thought. "Y'know, maybe Ma or Pa could explain it better, but I think I know somethin' 'bout you, Liam Shaw," she enunciated slowly.

Liam raised a brow. "Oh? What do ya know ya haven't already called me?"

"Well… Maybe ya-"

Their peaceful conversation was put to an end as June's fishing rod jerked in her grasp. The girl panicked as she felt a lively force from within the splashing waters pull her rod downward. "Ah! Somethin' bit! What do I do now, Li?!" she screamed.

Liam dropped his rod and focused all his attention on June, placing a hand on her shaking shoulders. "Calm down, sis! First step is to lift your rod upward so that mean ole fishie doesn't drag it into the lake!"

"O-okay!"

June did as instructed and lifted her fishing rod. "Now what?"

"Wait till the fish stops fightin' and start reelin' it in!"

When the ferocious splashing ceased, June began spinning the handle on the rod and reeling in her lure.

"Keep goin'… keep goin'," Liam encouraged.

Slowly but steadily, the creature hidden beneath the thrashing waves was dragged toward the rowboat. June gave one final spin of her handle as the brightly colored lure erupted from the lake before the pair. Writhing in the air and latched to the lure's hook was an olive-green fish with spiny fins.

Liam leaned over the boat's railing wearing an expression of pure excitement. "Ya did it, sis! Ya caught a," he tilted his head, "looks like a bluegill! Big one, too!"

June's face mirrored her brother's as her shaking hands threatened to drop the rod. "I-I did it! I actually caught one of these scaly things!"

Before her catch could wriggle its way out from its capture, Liam plucked the fish from the hook and deposited it into a cooler loaded with ice. "I know I said we would toss 'em back into the water, but ma said she'd cook 'em for dinner if we caught a few bluegills." He saw a gleam in his sister's eyes, knowing full well it was because of her love of seafood.

"You're kiddin', right? I've been fixin' for some good sea critters!"

"I ain't." He smirked. "And I know a spot with lots of bluegill over yonder."

June excitedly stomped the boat's deck with her ropers. "Then let's head over there now! C'mon, we still got hours of daylight and I'm gettin' hungry! I wanna eat till I'm full as a tick!"

"All right, all right, hold your horses; I'm the one doin' all the rowin', anyway..."

Liam sat down on a bench and grabbed both of the idle paddles. Water rippled beneath the rowboat as it began slowly moving further into the lake. June observed Liam's repeated motions as she slumped her body against the wooden railing.

"I ain't forgot what I was gonna say earlier," she said, her vivid amber-colored eyes meeting Liam's as he stared at her. Her next words carried a strange, somber tone. "Maybe… Maybe ya don't want me leavin' 'cause you're afraid of change."

Liam stopped rowing.

The boy felt his body tense up through sheer animalistic fear. Goosebumps erupted across his arm as a cold feeling swamped his sensations. His chest burned; his mouth gaped as he tried to draw a breath, but was blocked by an odd pressure building up. His widened gaze darted around his blurry surroundings before they snapped to something coming into view.

Something incomprehensible.

Another rowboat passed theirs. A fox-like creature that was white as snow leaned against the boat's railing while another blue and black bipedal canine gently rowed. The foreign vessel quickly vanished in the hazy distance of the lake as Liam's intense stare tracked it. Only the cheery voice of his sister yanked him back into reality.

"Why'd ya stop? Are ya tryin' to make sure we don't get dinner?"

"N-nah, just thought I saw somethin', is all."

June stuck out her tongue and blew a raspberry. "If it ain't a sea monster, then it ain't worth stoppin' for. Get back to rowin', Sir Liam!" she bellowed with a pump of her fist in the air.

Liam's face flashed a mixture of expressions before settling on a smile. "Ya got it, Your Highness."

The rowboat continued on its way, wading through cattails, lily pads, and gentle waters.

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'Ew, did I swallow something from the lake?'

Liam stifled a cough as he pushed himself off his bed. He took a look around his room, grimacing at the messy and disorganized state of it. He knew his mother was sure to give him a blistering earful about it later, yet he did not feel compelled to act when there were far more important things to take care of first.

'Where is it… I remember placing it somewhere.'

Liam stepped past the haphazardly discarded laundry and peeked into his crowded closet. He rifled through its contents but could not find the object of his interest. He threw himself to the floor and peered into the darkness beneath his bed, a smile gracing his lips as saw the wooden circular frame of it. He reached a hand into the abyss and pulled out his banjo.

Liam sat back on his bed and propped the instrument in his arms. His fingers hovered above its strings as he took a couple of breaths. He waited a couple of seconds before beginning with a single strum. It was a cheery tune - one that he had picked up from his uncle during his last birthday party - and now he was going to play it during his next one. For hours on end each day, he meticulously whittled away at this song. He nodded his head to the well-practiced notes, a foot tapping the wooden floorboards in rhythm with his playing.

'This next section is so hard. But I-'

His thoughts and playing were halted by another fit of coughing. He scowled, tossing the banjo onto his bed in frustration.

'C'mon, I can't have some stupid cough prevent me from practicing.' He psyched himself up. 'Yeah, just a few more sessions.'

As Liam moved to pick back up his instrument, the sound of commotion coming from the open window in the room caught his attention. He hopped off his bed and trudged toward the window. He stuck his head out into the open, where he was given a view of blank nothingness. He blinked. He saw sprawling fields of hilly grasslands surrounding the home. Looking down at the driveway, he located the source of the noise - a tanned man in a sweat-drenched t-shirt digging through an open toolbox and muttering curses under his breath.

It seemed his father was also having troubles of his own.

The front door to the large home swung open as Liam exited. He meandered over to the driveway, where his father was hunched over the open hood of a deep blue pickup truck. Filling the air were sounds of metal ratcheting and the almost growling grunts from the man. Liam strode around the side of a cart and into the view of his father. He leaned against the glossy finish of the vehicle's passenger side door.

Robert did not take his attention off the exposed engine. "I just waxed it, Liam," he deadpanned.

Liam smirked as he removed himself from the truck. "How ya doin', Pa?"

"Could be better, son," the man grunted, wiping his oil-slick hands with a white towel. "Been here all mornin' with this fuckin' hunk of junk." He paused. "Shit. Your ma don't want me swearin' in front of ya. You'll keep quiet, ya hear?"

"My lips are sealed, Pa, but maybe I should mention to ma about gettin' a swear jar." Liam crossed his arms as he leaned over. "What's wrong with the engine?"

The mere mention of it caused Robert to scowl. The man shook his head. "Was plannin' on headin' out earlier to the market; didn't get even a couple feet off the driveway before the engine went kaputz on me." He tapped what looked like to Liam a crooked, inverted golf tee with his wrench. "Looks like one of the valves went and got bent, meanin' this here cylinder might not be takin' in the right amount of exhaust. Plus this piston here," he tapped another set of metal pieces, "could hit that bent valve, tear it off, and cause a whole amount of ruckus in the engine."

Liam blinked after zoning out during his father's long, uninteresting spiel. "Um, so that means the truck don't work, right?"

"No."

"But it will work when we gotta head to the party tomorrow, right?"

"Here's hopin', son. Either I fix this, or I gotta call Bill and have him take us there." The man glanced over at Liam. "I ain't gonna cancel nothin' when it comes to my boy's special day."

"Cars and trucks, they're nice and all, but they seem more trouble than they're worth if ya ask me. Pollutin' the earth, breakin' down all the time. What's wrong with a good ole horse?"

Robert laughed heartily, revealing his grim-ridden features from behind the truck's hood. He scratched his five-o'clock shadow. "I take ya out horse ridin' once in Texas and now ya wanna go and revert all the progress mankind has made? Strange kid I got here."

"Darn right I do! And I bet it'd fix them traffic problems, too."

Robert returned to fiddling with the engine. "Thanks, Liam, but I'll stick with my truck over some beast of burden. Goes a hell of a lot faster, too."

"But it don't seem to work now, does it? And this ain't the only time, either. Why don't ya just get a new truck and replace this one? I mean, ya called it a 'hunk of junk'."

His father chuckled again, seemingly at the boy's temerity to say such a thing. "I've been with this truck since the year ya was born, son. You'll learn when ya get a vehicle of your own someday, but this truck here? It's like family, and ya always keep family close." He patted the truck's front bumper. "Racked up close to a hundred thousand miles on it. It's my baby - and don't let your Ma know that."

Liam crossed his arms. "Guess ya and I are the only ones that see it that way…" he grumbled. "Did ya know June said she wanted to go that 'Hollywood' place when she gets older?"

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Twisted valve pieces clattered loudly onto the cart beside Robert as he dropped them. He let out a short huff before ducking underneath the hood again. "Your sister is just growin' up, son. She's figurin' out where she wants to go in life, and that's good. She might not go as far as Hollywood or whatever they call it now, but she's got talent and the drive. I reckon she'll go places - like you."

Liam puffed out his chest. "Them forests out there need protectin'. That's the job of a forest ranger, and I'm gonna be one of 'em, yes I will," he said matter-of-factly.

"I know ya will, son. But… sometimes life likes throwin' ya a curveball. Happened to me when I was young."

"What do ya mean?"

Robert placed his wrench down and stared up at the blue sky. "Did I ever tell ya I wanted to be one of them NASCAR drivers?"

Liam attempted to stifle his laugh but failed. "Seriously, Pa?"

"Dead serious, son. Every time we all got a chance to watch television in the orphanage, I'd always have to fight with the others to put on a race - talkin' punches, not wordds. Watchin' those stock cars zip around the track and drift was always the highlight of a depressin' day. Ya don't know how happy I really was when your sister wanted to see one live."

"I never got behind it. What's so fun 'bout seein' cars drive around a track on loop?"

"Startin' to sound like your Ma," Robert remarked. "It's fast, it's exhilarating, and it got me into cars. And yeah, I wanted to drive one of them stock cars, too. In front of thousands of spectators, aimin' to succeed."

"So why didn't ya? I could see ya wearin' those silly overalls," he said with a grin.

Robert stiffened as his mouth parted. A moment passed by before he let out a long sigh. "Back then, in my youth, things wasn't like they were now. I didn't have you, your sister, or even your Ma. Didn't know my folks, either. I was truly alone in this world, and then I started runnin' with a bad crowd. Things… They got crazy. But I eventually found a way out, met your mother, and got this house built here."

Liam frowned at the brevity of his father's explanation. "A way out? What do ya mean by that?"

The man sighed. "Maybe it's somethin' I can tell ya when you're older - much older - but it's better to not mention it. These bad people I ran with, they-" he stopped himself. "We was friends once, and we was bad people. I don't rightly know what happened to 'em, but I hope they fixed their lives like I did mine. And I like to think I make up for what I did then by what I do now - protectin' and servin' the fine folks of Sumter County."

"Well, then I'm glad my Pa did just that!"

"But…" Robert returned his forlorn gaze to the skies. "Maybe it doesn't make up for my mistakes. I don't regret what I did to secure a family; I wanted- I needed to have what I never did. I saw a chance to get out and I took it. I'm glad I did. And yet I still lay awake some nights thinkin' that I didn't end my problems but only ran from 'em. And those problems will come to haunt me in the future."

Liam absorbed the man's words with rapt attention. He opened his mouth to speak but stopped when he saw his father clenching his fists.

"Liam?"

"Yes, Pa?"

"Ya may never know what I've done to reach this point, son, but I want ya to know one thing; I never want ya goin' down the path I went down, and committing the same mistakes I did."

The boy honed in on the intense stare his father was now giving him. He tried to swallow the growing lump in his throat to no avail. He peered up at the sky, noticing a strange oddity permeating the sea of endless blue.

'Are those… bubbles?'

Pockets of air drifted languidly into the atmosphere. Liam swore he could see bright rays of moonlight shining through shimmering waves. The sounds of the serene nature around him were sucked into a vacuum of dull, muted noises. His terrified stare lingered on the ascending bubbles as they increasingly vanished one by one.

"Liam!" Robert snapped.

The boy jerked in place. "H-huh?"

"If you're gonna stick around, then can ya hand me my flex head wrench?" He jabbed a thumb at a red toolbox a few feet away from him.

"Uh, sure!"

Liam trudged over to the open container and looked inside. The boy's already hazy vision was now swarming with multitudes of screwdrivers, pliers, spanners, clamps, and wrenches all in different sizes and shapes. He was so inundated by the display that he simply stood there. Such a simple request felt like an incredible task as the spotlight

Robert glanced back, eyes narrowing. "Did ya find it?"

"Um, what's a 'flex head' again?"

His father groaned and flicked a hand. "Forget it, Liam, I'll get it. You should be practicin' for tomorrow's performance, anyway."

Liam let out a sigh of relief. "I'll gladly do that instead, Pa. I reckon I'll see ya around later."

"Dinner time, for sure," the man said, grinning. "And tell your sister I wanna have a little chat with her later about this 'Hollywood' business."

"Will do, Pa."

Liam blinked and regained his perception. He walked back to the front door with a noticeable hitch in his steps.

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The stairs squeaked underneath Liam's careful footfalls as he ascended them. His cough returned with a vengeance and forced him to stop and heave over the railing. He hacked his lungs out until drops of a clear fluid flew out of his mouth and stained the wood. More of it spilled from his jaw as he wiped his lips and suppressed a gurgle crawling from his throat.

He panted where he stood. 'First these hallucinations, and now I'm coughing up… water?' It befuddled him, and he had no answer to the many questions popping up in his mind.

He chose to ignore them and move on.

Liam leaped the last few steps of the staircase and emerged into a hallway decorated with paintings of flowers and ornate-looking white statues resting on tables. They depicted various animals - from howling wolves to diving humpback whales - glistening in the sunlight peeking through the curtains of windows. These peculiar figures could be seen on shelves all across the home. Created by his artistically gifted mother, Liam loved them dearly; mostly because they represented wildlife of all kinds.

While his father held lukewarm reactions to them, he and his sister were always excited to see a new one or partake in making one themselves.

Faint humming could be heard from the open door to his parents' bedroom. Liam lingered by the doorway before stepping inside. Small cardboard boxes filled with bubble-wrapped objects lined the floors and even the wide bed in the center of the room. The boy watched with a smile as his mother paced around the room, a bounce in her step.

Liam could not help but feel calmer every time he crossed paths with his mother's contagious optimism. With her long, scarlet hair that glowed in the sunlight pouring into the room, colorful blouses, and her warm smile that seemed to never fade. Her words and mere presence alone reinforced his love of the world when its cruelty revealed itself. To their community, she was Angelica, a housewife with a streak of creativity. To his father, she was 'Angel' - a fitting name Liam had thought. And to himself, she was simply his 'Ma'.

The boy did not know what he would do without her.

Angelica soon noticed him lurking in the doorway and twirled around, showcasing that eternal smile and warming Liam's heart right back up. "Hey, sweetheart."

"How ya doin', Ma?"

The woman motioned to the boxes littering the floors. "Do you remember when we met the Lachaises at church last week?"

Liam nodded. "Yeah? What about 'em? They seem like decent folk."

Angelica hummed as she laid a hand on a taped box. "Well, Mrs. Lachaise and I had a long chat. She loved the little statue I showed her and wanted to buy a bunch from us!" She clapped her hands together. "She told some of her friends from across the county and now they want to buy some, too!"

"Wait! So you're gonna sell all them 'lil statues we got here?"

"Not all of them, Liam. But it's nice to have some extra money around here, and it gives me something to do!"

The boy frowned and crossed his arms. "I don't know. It kinda feels like we're sellin' pieces of our home away, don't it? Shouldn't that be more worth than money?"

Angelica resumed wrapping up the painted statues and placing them in various boxes. "Liam, there's so much more to a home than decorations. If was just you, June, your father and I, it would still be a home. And I wouldn't sell off any of you. Well, except your father when he insists on doing things 'the right way'," she remarked.

Liam exhaled an amused huff, his smile betraying his conflicted thoughts. "I… I guess you're right."

Angelica laughed lightly. "If you're here about dinner - it isn't for a few hours."

"Nah, Ma, I ain't here 'bout that."

"Hmmm, and have you cleaned up your room and sorted out your clothes as I've asked for the dozenth time?"

Liam scratched the back of his neck. "Err, I still haven't gotten around to that yet. I've been busy practicin' for tomorrow."

Angelica whirled around and placed her hands on her hips, looking at him almost expectantly. He wilted under his comforting yet authoritative gaze.

"I-I'll do it after dinner later, I promise!" he said hastily. "But I just wanted to talk to ya about somethin' - somethin' that's been, uh, buggin' me lately."

Her features softened. "If something is wrong, Liam, then you can always come to me or your father. Now, what is it, sweetheart?"

Liam walked over to the bed, brushing aside layers of bubble wrap as he sat on it. A cough erupted from his mouth but was quickly snuffed out. Strangely, his vision fluctuated and blurred as he recalled a certain memory - one that had been plaguing him the last couple of days. An odd force weighed heavy in his throat. He ignored it.

"It's stupid, Ma, but the other day, when June and I went fishin' down by the lake, she said somethin' to me."

Angelica sighed. "Your sister says quite a lot of things, Liam. She has quite a thing for theatrics."

"Nah, ma, this was different. I remember overhearin' ya and June talkin' 'bout her leavin' South Carolina someday and headin' to Hollywood or whatever to start this acting thing. I told her it was silly and she should stay here, but then she said… She said that I was afraid of change, and that made me feel really weird, I guess."

Angelica brushed aside the cardboard boxes on the bed and sat down next to Liam. She placed a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder. "Sweetheart. I remember when you were just six years old, and you wouldn't let go of that blue blanket I gave you as a baby. Even when it was nearly torn in two and bits of strand, you still clung to it."

Liam blushed at the reintroduction of that memory, looking away as his mother continued.

"Heck. You're more stubborn than your father. So what do you think? Do you think your sister's right?"

The boy shifted uncomfortably in place. He fiddled with his necklace charm. "... I keep thinkin' about when grandma got real sick and passed. Almost every night before I sleep - and I cry sometimes 'bout it. She was a part of all our lives, y'know, even if she didn't live here. She was there for me - for all of us. So when she was gone, it-" a few tears slid down his cheeks,"-it felt like a piece of me was gone, too. And, uh, I just get scared that if June leaves, then we might never see her again." His soft voice began cracking. "Like she'll become famous or whatever and never have the time again, o-or she'll get hurt and-"

"Liam," his mother said. "I know what you're feeling. I miss my mother every day, and yes, I do still cry for her sometimes, too. But we all have to move past this and accept the changes in our lives."

"I… I don't know if I can, Ma," he croaked out. "I don't want things to change from how they are now."

Angelica moved her hands to the boy's back and rubbed it soothingly. "I had to change my own life, too. Almost thirteen years ago, I met your father in New York City - in a pizzeria - and everything I thought I had planned for me was turned on its head right then and there. He was new to the city while I lived there for two years after moving from Indiana. He said he was looking to start over in life, and that captivated me. I took a gamble with this mysterious, handsome drifter and drove down here to start a new life. We were just teenagers, and I had to give up all my dreams of being an artist there to do this. Your grandmother said I was being a fool; said I should've stuck to the course, gone to college, got a degree, and lived in some apartment flat for a decade." She snorted and shook her head. "My mother eventually came around to trusting your father. But I remember her saying something to me days after you were born that stuck with me since."

Liam glanced over. "What she say?"

"She told me that I would regret being with your father and that I would regret having you. "

A significant blow was dealt to Liam's core as her words sank in. He could not fathom that his grandmother would feel that way about his mother. He wanted to be angry at this revelation, but could not bring himself. The stern yet loving old woman was always watching out for him; helping him with schoolwork, making him realize his love for music, and getting him a banjo for his birthday. The poems she created and read out to him while he laid in his bed and imagined them playing out in his head.

"Make no mistake, Liam, my mother loved you as much as she loved me. She came around in the end and embraced this change. I know she passed knowing full well that I had made the right decision, and that I don't regret anything."

"I still- I still don't think I can accept somethin' like that."

Angelica placed both hands on the bed behind her as she leaned back and smiled. "It sounds like you need to hear 'The Forest Of Vanishing Sorrows' again."

Liam's heart was now aflutter at the mention of the poem his grandmother occasionally read to him. Before he could say anything, Angelica began to recite it, her timbre motherly and reminiscent of his grandmother.

"Tears flow and flowers grow. Across tombs read intimacy sundering to dust. Stand beside relics as eyes shutter and throats go tighter."

Liam closed his eyes and simply listened.

"Think and you are there. Let go and weather the storm; these freezing, frigid scars shall warm to a crisp. Absence of familiar smells and instead a comforting pine and oak."

The boy took a deep breath.

"When eyes open, the scrying forest awaits, and intimacy springs alive. Take your first step into this copse and…"

Liam waited for the stanza to be continued, but it never came. Confused, he opened his eyes and was immediately caught off guard at what he saw. Thick trunks of tall, evergreen pines flooded his vision. The boy pushed himself off a stump he was sitting on, his bewildered gaze snapping around this new environment.

He was in a clearing deep within a dusky forest, and not his home.

'What the… Where- where am I?! What's going on?'

The twinkling stars and moon hanging above were obscured by the tips of pines. Trilling noises of insects and the hoots of hunting owls intertwined harmoniously. Liam took a hesitant step forward as if this mirror to another realm would shatter.

"Ma? Pa?" He turned around. "June! Is anyone out there?"

The forest returned his shouts with the vocalizations of unseen animals. Liam seized up at the silence that followed but found his hopes clinging on as he saw a paved dirt trail that led out of the clearing. He steeled his shaky nerves and jogged toward it. Only glimpses of moonlight parted through trees shuddering from sharp gusts and onto the trail. And yet strangely, Liam felt completely warm on the outside and serene on the outside. He kept walking in whatever direction the path was taking him. Confusion and fear still clouded his mind.

"Ma! Pa! Where ya at?!"

After a few more unanswered pleas, he focused entirely on the pathway. Scanning the tree line, he noticed cracked, gray headstones behind bushes and trees; they lacked names or noticeable features. They grew in numbers as Liam walked further, his leisure pace now a quick amble as he attempted to put distance between himself and the headstones.

'Is this forest a cemetery or something? What's going on here?!'

Liam's hopes soared as he saw a glowing red light in the distance. He made a mad dash toward it, emerging into another, much smaller glade. The dying embers of a campfire were still smoldering in the clearing's center. The boy stopped near it as the path reached a dead end. He looked down and saw another headstone placed right in front of the campfire. Unlike the nameless ones from before, there was visible writing on it that sent a chill racing down his spine.

'LIAM GASPARD SHAW

AUGUST 12TH 1987-JANUARY 8TH 2007'

The warmth Liam initially felt was ripped away and replaced with a cold, numbing sensation. The blood in his veins froze into ice. The rhythmic pounding in his head was mirrored by the scalding sensation tearing his chest asunder. He backed up from the headstone and turned to see sets of familiar eyes observing him from the forests of pine.

They were sympathetic.

The shallow breaths Liam took were reduced to wheezing as he shut his eyes off from the world.

'No… This isn't real! None of this is! I'm back home, with Ma, Pa, and June, and I have a party tomorrow!' he reinforced in his mind. 'Ma put me in bed, and this is all a nightmare. I'll wake up, and I'll-'

----------------------------------------

The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in vibrant, scarlet, and purple tones.

The sounds of corn stalks being brushed aside resounded throughout the field as Liam marched through it. His body jerked and he let out a haggard cough that sent specks of water over strands of dry grass. Ignoring this, he happened upon stacks of piled straw and bent down to pluck a strand. He chuckled and wedged it between his teeth before continuing.

He ascended a steep hill and flicked his amused gaze to the singular tree at the very top. June was resting her back on it and occasionally flipping through the pages of a book she appeared engrossed in. Liam reached the hill's peak and then cupped his hands over his mouth, yelling.

"BOO!"

June visibly flinched and slammed the book close to her chest as she glared daggers at Liam. "Hey! Did ya have to go and do that, Li?"

"I was just wonderin' where ya went, sis. Party's 'bout to start soon and you're off wanderin' into farmland?"

"Just doin' some readin'. Why? Ya got a problem with that?"

Liam circled her with exaggerated, long steps. "Oh? And what ya readin' there, cowgirl? Tips on gunslingin'? Ooh! Or maybe ya actually do read them cheesy romance books Ma got ya!"

June scoffed and returned her attention to the open book. "It's 'bout these two girls from the countryside movin' into the city and becoming actresses together. Then they become rivals and stuff and start betrayin' each other for movie deals."

"And no romance junk?"

She rolled her eyes. "Nah. Y'know, we can read it together if ya want. It's mighty interestin'"

"Me and readin' don't get along well. I ain't so good at it, and it seems more like a thing for girls, don't it?"

June scoffed at his claim. "Now I know why ya ain't ever found a girl at school. Ya act like one of them hicks who ain't got a lick of sense."

Liam grinned and bit the straw sticking out of his mouth. "Oh, just 'cause ah tawk like this, then I's stupid and always fixin' fer sum moonshine?'" he said airily, exaggerating his accent. "'Cause ah wrestle wit mean gators 'n bears, and ah don't take too kindly to that disrespect, ma'am! And ah-" He was cut off by loud giggling from his sister as she hid her face behind the book she held. "Hey! Do ah need to call my daddy and have 'em git you?"

"Ya s-sound like Uncle Curtis!" she struggled to say. Her amusement eventually petered off. "You're too silly sometimes, Li." Her brows perked up upon observing her brother. "Why the heck is your skin so blue? Looks like ya took a bath in dish soap."

"Don't worry 'bout it; I'm just nervous, is all." Liam crossed his arms, shivering at the sudden chill sweeping the area. "Ya was around for my last practin' sessions, so what do ya think? Think I can hold my own up there on stage with those talented folk from the choir?"

"Hmmm, I don't know, Li. Ya think that I could become a good actress?" she asked smugly but with a hint of curiosity.

"I've seen ya in school plays, and I've seen ya spin the yarn with Pa 'bout gettin' an allowance, so I'd say so."

June smiled victoriously. "Then ya got this in the bag, Li."

Liam opened his mouth to retort but the rumblings of a car engine stole his and June's attention. A blue pickup truck flattened grass as it drove toward them from behind. The vehicle then came to a stop as the passenger side window rolled down and Angelica popped her head out.

"Liam! Junebug! The party is about to start!"

Liam shot his sister a grin. "Race ya back to the truck!" he shouted before immediately taking off down the hill.

"Ya know I always win these!" June grumbled before she sprinted after him.

Car doors slammed shut as Liam and June strapped themselves to the back seats. A second later, the truck was moving once again and driving through the fields. Liam's face was glued to the windows as mazes of corn and wheat became but a blur to his eyes. Excitement and fear bubbled simultaneously in his chest as they got closer to their destination. He broke into a sweat, stomach twisting in tight knots and churning to the bumpy ride.

'I got this! Everyone's gonna love it!' he reassured himself.

June seemed to notice his nervousness and lightly punched his shoulder. "Don't ya sweat it, Li. Ya got this!"

Liam gulped and pushed his worries aside. "… I do."

The party came into view as the truck rolled to a stop. The four occupants inside stepped out and began walking toward it. A large, wooden stage was erected in a vast clearing that was packed with mingling family and friends. Colorful balloons were tethered to posts. Smoke from sizzling barbecue on open grills wafted above. Long picnic tables were covered in white sheets and held platters of fresh food - undoubtedly Liam's favorites - that smothered the party with a pleasant aroma of fried goods. Liam nearly drooled at the smell as he craned his neck to look up at a wide, blue banner stretching across the orange sky. A thump appeared in his heart as he read the bubble letters on it.

'HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY LIAM!'

Cheers, and fervent clapping exploded from the party attendees as they saw Liam and his family approaching. Liam was approached by multiple relatives and found his arm sore from how many hands he shook, and his back aching from the strong hugs he received. He was eventually left to his devices as everyone else grabbed plates of food and conversed in small groups.

Liam merely stood around and watched the motions of the party for a while. After being told 'Happy birthday' so much, his head and heart were overwhelmed. But something caught his attention, and it was not the many sights the party offered him, but something beyond it. Atop a grassy knoll, a woman in an alabaster sundress stood with her back to the party. She swiped away at a canvas on a stand, seemingly in her blip of reality separated from his. The boy found himself staring at her as she passionately painted away, though he could not see what the canvas depicted.

A cold gale excised the humid breeze and made Liam shudder. He felt a cough coming from the back of his throat, but it never came as a firm hand clasped onto his shoulder. He looked up at the owner of it and saw his smiling father.

"Already thirteen years old, Liam, and I can't believe it. If I blink, I'm sure ya will be eighteen and ready to leave home," Robert said with a chuckle, taking a swig of a beer can in his other hand.

Liam frowned. "I hope not, Pa. Sometimes I wish I would stop agin'. Uncle Curtis now wants me to start a job out in his fishin' shop. "

"Well, I can always give him my blessin' on that. Growin' up is hard, and comes with certain responsibilities, but also some benefits; like gettin' to drive your own car someday."

The boy's frown deepened.

Robert chuckled again before giving him a straight look. "Look, lot of us adults here wish we could wind the clocks back, too - but the fact of the matter is we can't. We do what we gotta do, and we live the lives we was given. So start smilin', converse with the fine folks we got here, and enjoy this party while it still lasts."

With his parting words, his father walked away. And Liam took his advice immediately. He smiled and caught up with old friends and relatives. He stuffed himself with delicious food. He enjoyed every second that he was given. Still, his attention was always focused on the looming stage in the corner of his eyes. He knew it was coming, and he knew there was no avoiding it.

This was his party and also his performance.

An hour passed by until members of the Sumter County Choir filed up the stairs of the stage and took a seat in the wooden chairs. Attendees crowded around as the testing thrums of guitars and violins filled the air. Excitement was palpable all across the party as the show was about to begin.

And yet there was still one seat left empty on stage.

Liam closed and opened his mouth several times as he slowly stepped toward the stage. It was only then that he realized he did not have his banjo. He whirled around in a panicked state, only to see June holding out the wooden instrument with a smirk.

"Did ya miss this?" she asked cheekily.

"Um, yeah, reckon I did."

She giggled. "Then go play already!"

Liam grabbed the banjo and rushed onstage to the encouraging shouts of many - the loudest being June, who was standing on a table and stomping it with her ropers. He plopped himself in the empty chair and looked at the amassed crowd. It felt like the world was watching them - watching anxiety spiked, but his excitement peaked.

The choir members looked at him expectantly, their faces missing and blank. Liam coughed again before he responded with a look that exuded confidence. They nodded and prepared themselves, Liam doing the same and gripping his banjo.

'Remember everythin' grandma taught ya. Remember all the hours of practice.' He laid his fingers across the banjo's strings. 'Okay… Okay. On the count of three! One. Two. Three!' He began with a single pluck of the strings.

The show ended with a final drawn-out strum.

Cheering and clapping exploded from all angles of the crowd. Liam's tense expression softened into one of absolute elation at their reaction. He peered into the horde of people and saw his mother and father smiling proudly at them; he smiled back. He saw June leaning against a post and merely giving him an approving nod; he nodded back. Overcome by this moment, Liam leaped him from his chair and stood near the edge of his stage. He intended to give an out-of-the-blue speech of his gratitude as he opened his mouth.

But all that came out were choked gasps and gurgles.

Liam blinked as he stepped back and surveyed the crowd. He wondered why he could not speak, or if he was simply too speechless to do so. He blinked once more. 'They're… They're still clapping. Was I really that good?'

Indeed, the crowd was still going wild, and all their ferocious cheering was focused solely on Liam. The boy took another step back until he collapsed into his chair. Dizzy and disorientated, goosebumps erupted across his cold, clammy arms. His breathing turned ragged before ultimately fading into more gurgles.

'I don't feel so good, but…'

The crack of multi-colored fireworks bursting in the sky resounded across the field. Liam swiveled his blurry gaze around as the crowd grew to a fever pitch, black specks consuming his vision turning to large splotches of darkness.

'But I feel so…'

His chest burned like molten lava was being spilled on it. His lungs were full of a strange substance that kept a weighted pressure on them. He slumped further into his seat.

'I wish I could say thanks for everything, but I feel so peaceful… just right here.'

A ringing noise in his ears drowned out the restlessness. No longer could he even move his numb limbs as his eyes slowly closed on their own.

----------------------------------------

"Liam!"

Liam groaned and turned in his sleep at the vocal disturbance.

"Liam! You've got to get up! Please!"

The boy stirred again before he reluctantly cracked an eye open. He saw his sister staring down at him. Her scarlet hair was frazzled, and her eyes filled with worry and fright. "J-June?"

June nodded. "It's me, Li, and you've got to get up!"

"Okay! I'm getting up!" Liam finally pushed himself up from the soaking wet grass he was laying on and opened both eyes. What he saw was nothing short of nightmarish.

They were by their lonesome in a vast field and captured in the eye of utter chaos. Tidal waves of water surged across the plains, crashing up against and uprooting trees and rocks. Whirlpools were birthed from the enraged sea and towering tornadoes of water formed and raised high. Spiderwebs of lightning occasionally lit up the pitch-black sky. A light rain descended from it and pelted them.

"June! What's- What's going on?" Liam cried. "What is this?! Where's Ma and Pa?!"

June sighed as she knelt in front of him. "Listen to me, Li, and listen closely. Ya have to stop this."

"W-what do you mean, sis? Stop what? Where's the party and everyone else? I was just performing there!"

"There ain't no party, Li; there never was."

The boy's face paled and his mouth parted. "What… N-nah! We was just there - you and I! I was playin' on stage and-"

"No, ya wasn't."

"This is all a dream, then! My mind playin' trick-"

"No, Li! Stop the games already!" June snapped, her hands latching onto his shoulders. "Please. Stop. You're lyin' only to yourself."

The boy visibly recoiled and turned his head. "I-I don't know what you're talkin' 'bout. This ain't real. None of this is."

June smiled sadly. "You're right, Li… None of this is." She motioned to their surroundings. "Look what ya done. You're destroyin' yourself."

"No. No - you're just my mind messin' with me. I'll wake up and continue my party and-"

"Ya ain't a kid no more. You're an adult. Ya can't hide no more from what's real."

Water trickled in from the raging storm, seeping into the ground beneath them and welling up their fallen knees. Liam peered down and saw the reflection of a young boy in the trembling water - an identity he so desperately wanted to cling to. His counterpart flickered until an older version of himself appeared. The reflection altered again until it resembled the odd, bipedal canine he hallucinated before. Its crimson eyes were sunken and bloodshot, its blue fur drenched and sticking out. Liam stared at the creature until it, too, vanished in the increasing waves.

"You're dyin'…" June said wistfully. "Only a few minutes, but ya lived a different life in that time."

"N-no," Liam uttered. He clutched his head and squeezed his eyes closed. "I'll stop the teasin', sis, I promise. I'll c-clean your room for a whole month, even. But please say you're jokin'. Don't… Don't say that everythin' wasn't real this whole time."

June moved closer to her brother and pulled him into an embrace. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. "I wish I could. But I can't lie to ya anymore, and ya can't lie to yourself anymore, either. I ain't real, and ya know that deep down."

Liam said nothing as he held onto her tight and buried his face in her shoulder. He never wanted to let go of her, decrying her words in his mind. "You're wrong," he said, his voice muffled.

"Ya are so silly and pigheaded, Li," she mumbled, forming a small smile. "I keep tellin' ya, but you're so stubborn to accept it. We're both alike in that way."

Liam reluctantly pulled himself away and wiped his tears. "Then if ya ain't real, then who- what are ya? Are you me?"

"I'm… I guess I'm the part of ya that still sees clearly; the part of ya that still wants to live."

Liam scowled as searing, bitter tears flowed from his hazel eyes. "And what if I don't want that anymore?"

"Then-" A pregnant pause followed. "Then I guess this is it."

The storm worsened.

Turbulent seas swallowed entire forests and plains. Frenzied typhoons enlarged as tornadoes multiplied. The ground beneath the motionless pair quaked as the water level rose to their waists. Rain now came down in freezing sheets.

"But ya know there ain't no comin' back after this; not like before," June whispered, brushing aside her wet, auburn hair.

Liam remained silent as he watched the carnage unfold around them.

"Ya can't ignore it anymore. But that's a good thing." June raised an arm and pointed a finger at a hill unravaged by the sea. "'Cause maybe there's still a chance for change."

Liam followed her gaze and his eyes widened. It was the mysterious woman in the white sundress from before. She was facing them and looking straight at him. The incomplete canvas from before was now finished, and he could see it vividly. A headstone with his name and fate on it - the one he saw in the mysterious forest. "… There's nothin' left for me other than this," he muttered. "This world... I don't care if it's fake when it's real to me. If I'll die, then I'll die here with ya."

"But this can't be the end after everythin' you've gone through. Why would ya want a fantasy in your head, when it could be lived in reality?"

"Could there even be a reality where ya really existed?"

"I don't know, Li. But if it means anythin' to hear it from yourself, then I would've loved ya like any other siblin'."

"Ya really mean that?" Liam waited for an answer. "June…?" He returned his attention to the spot where his little sister was kneeling, only to find it empty.

He was all alone; just how it had always been.

The shaking of his world reached its pinnacle as the water at the boy's waist was rapidly climbing. The dark skies cracked and split open, gushing forth waterfalls that began filling up the drowned world. Liam's instincts activated as he desperately tried to swim upward to a surface that was constantly rising. He put all his feeble strength into one action that felt inevitable.

An invisible force stalked him and kept trying to pull him back under; a voice in the back of his mind telling him to stop fighting. But no matter how many times he was consumed by the tide, he resisted. He could see rays of light shimmering across the sky as he gave one last push before he succumbed.

His vision darkened.

----------------------------------------

Water erupted like a geyser as Liam emerged from the depths of the lake. An intense, protracted gasp escaped the Riolu's lungs as they gorged themselves on precious oxygen. A fit of uncontrollable coughing broke the stillness in the air and forced fluids from his maw.

Wide, crimson eyes met twinkling starlight as his choking slowed, and he felt his consciousness reawaken. The bruises across his fur ached, and the cuts and lacerations stung from the water's frigid bite. Blood trickled from his soaked eye bandage, dripping into his parted mouth and bestowing him the taste of iron. His absent gaze swiveled; pine trees and dense forests. Everything hurt, and the fact that it did stirred elation within him.

He was alive - and with that graced a smile upon his quivering lips. He was happy, but that was crushed in mere seconds. He craned his head up to see the full moon barely shrouded by dusky, gray clouds. It drowned him and the uncaring loch in its silvery luminescence. He floated in place, only staring, and not moving a muscle.

[https://i.imgur.com/PVUvFGH.png]

A minute passed, and then another before the Riolu twitched.

He laughed.

More spontaneous laughter spilled from his muzzle as hot tears ran down his cheeks and dropped into the burbling lake. His cackling turned ragged as he continued, his expression twisting and contorting into a vicious scowl. His vocalizations ended with a whimper as he sobbed.

Even more laughter came, his cries only louder. And yet, nothing responded to him.

Water splashed and rippled like shockwaves around the Riolu as his arms swung down at the lake. He took all his caustic anger out on it until his arms were too tired to move. They fell limp into the freezing drink, the waves, and erratic noise he created fizzling out in mere seconds. He thrashed in place and emitted pained screams at any being who cared to listen to his agony, but even that proved futile.

He stopped.

With everything spent, he did nothing but stare ahead. The lake was still once more.

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Mouthful of air, resuscitating a corpse given life it rejected, now baptized in cold, harsh revelations.

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Discord: z2h2z

Next Time: Two Shepherds And Their Unwitting Flock