A young man stands on the roof of the dorms, looking out at the campus. A heavy downpour falls, drenching him as he grips the metal railing. The fields between the lecture halls are green with trees scattered about, waving in the winds. He sighs, pondering what he's doing, what he hopes to achieve.

"Henry man!" A voice calls, "You up here?"

A young man is around Henry's age opens the grey door to the stairs leading back into the dorms and spots hero. He, much like Henry, is charismatic, with blonde hair, longer to Henry's, green eyes, and a bit more of a pale skin tone. He is also shorter than Henry by a hand's length. He wears a pair of blue jeans and a green t-shirt, over which he slips on an orange rain coat to stave off what looks to be the tears of those above as be approaches Henry.

"Yo man come on let's get to the bus station we're gonna miss our ride," the young man replies.

"I'll be right there," Henry sighs, "I just... wonder what I'm doing."

"You good man?" The young man inquires.

"You know why I do this Joey?" Henry inquires.

"I mean why do you wanna be a neurosurgeon?" Joey inquires, sensing that Hero wishes to open up about something, "You always avoid the topic."

"Its cause I have to save everyone I can," Henry replies, "When I was in high school, this girl I was close to killed herself. She was so kind and... she was the closest I've ever been to anyone I've ever know. She didn't tell me and I didn't see the signs. I failed her, so I vowed, hoping she will forgive me in Heaven, or failing that, that I could forgive myself, by saving as many people as I can."

"That wasn't your fault dude," Joey replies, "Man I know it's hard but you gotta let go. Look, you're headed home for the Summer. Maybe that'll clear your head and you can give me a ring if you need me."

"Maybe you're right," Henry sighs rubbing his eyes, "You're a good friend Joey."

"You are too Henry," Joey replies placing a comforting hand on Henry's shoulder as they walk into the dorms. I mean...

"Why else would your folks call you Hero?..."

Hero was fuming as Sunny stood, dared to, stand before him in the hospital later that week.

Kel spoke first, "Sunny, you don't have to lie to us. It wasn't your fault. It was an accident. You're still our friend."

Aubrey added, sighing, "I'm gonna be honest Sunny. If you had told me this a week ago I would never have forgiven you, but after what happened with Basil at the lake... What I did is no different. It wasn't your fault."

"Yeah!" Kel replies, "Isn't that right Hero?"

Hero remains silent.

"Hero?" Kel inquires nervously, "You're awfully quiet."

"We're leaving Kel," Hero retorts, "Let's go."

"What?" Kel inquires, caught off guard, "Hero what's gotten into you?"

"I don't associate with murderers," Hero retorts bitterly, "Now let's go."

"This wasn't Sunny's fault," Aubrey retorts, "It was an accident. I get you were close to Mari but-"

"I'm not getting into this," Hero retorts, "Sunny, you stay away from my family, and you stay away from me. I'm going home. Kel, you can call a cab with Aubrey or ride home with me. I don't care."

Hero storms off down the stairs. Kel assures Sunny, "It's OK man. He'll come around. I'll go talk to him."

Kel runs after Hero who unlocks his car door, opening it as he thinks about where to actually drive. He can't tell his family about Sunny and they wouldn't beleive him if they did. Everything he's done for years has been a lie and it's all because of him! It's all because of Sunny.

"Bro!" A voice calls.

Hero turns to see Kel walking through the parkling lot towards him.

"Ready to go?" Hero demands.

"No I wanted to talk," Kel replies.

"Bro," Hero sighs, "There's nothing else to say. He killed Mari. Seems cut and dry doesn't it? Let's just go grab some grub, and move on."

"No," Kel retorts, "This is hard on all of us bro but-"

"But what?" Hero demands, "Does Sunny being sorry magically undo years of pain? Does it bring Mari back? No! Nothing's actually changed, so why should I care? You going home with me or you going home with Aubrey?"

"Sunny had to live with this for years," Kel sighs, "Can you at least thinking about forgiving him?"

Hero replies with only silence.

"Fine," Kel sighs, "I'll cya later Hero. You need to cool off."

With that Kel walks away. Hero sighs, getting in his car. He starts to drive, unsure where. He doesn't want to go home and deal with Kel, there's to much tension and he needs time to cool off. He at least knows Kel won't tell anyone else so he won't get a lecture from his mom about this but...

Hero takes out his phone and makes a call.

"Hey dude," a voice on the other end replies. "What's up?"

"Hey Joey," Hero sighs, "Remember how I told you I do all this cause someone I cared about died from suicide?"

"Yeah," Joey replies, "Why do you ask?"

"It was murder," Hero replies, "That suicide was a cover up."

"Jesus..." Joey replies. "You OK man?"

"Not really," Hero sighs, "I swear I'm the only one willing to do what's right. The killer lied to me for years about it. Does no one else have any sense of honesty?"

"Wait you know who did it?"

"Yeah."

"Why not record a confession?"

"If I try now they'll be suspicious of my intentions."

"Well if this really is a murder as you say then you have to stop them before they hurt someone else."

"Yup. Old Hero playing hero. Of course."

"Is there more to this? Sounds like it's a long story."

"The semantics don't change the facts. I'm to tired to think man. Imma get some shut eye real quick and figure out what to do."

"Alright dude, just, don't do anything rash."

"You know me better man."

"I know. Cya Henry."

"Cya Joey."

The car comes to a stop as Hero sighs, looking at the ceiling. He sits there for a moment, mental exhaustion in his eyes before he drifts off to sleep...

He drifts, in his slumber, to a red, bare room with a single door leading out of the blank space.

...

Welcome to Red Space.

You haven't been here in years.