Chase's POV: 

Sirens.

Unbearable shouts and piercing shrieks.

"She's breathing, she's still breathing...Nearing a slow heart rate, exposure 17°. Poor circulation. Approximately 70 beats per minute. Triage tage: emergency. Take her to the Emergency Room Two, pronto."

Several shoes pounded heavily against the floor, sharp breaths drew, heart beats rose, wheels hastening through the halls of which she laid.

With pursed lips painted with a rosy hue which radiated under the dull, flashing lights. Hair with rich golden locks descending down from the stretcher, swaying briskly back and forth with each driven push on the bedding.

But beauty wasn't able to mask the disfigurements of Death's near touch. A crimson bruise altering into thick gore, seeping and trickling down her once untouched skin. Fluid already reaching her locked eyes, shielding those magenta pupils from horrors and engulfing them into a pool of their host's blood.

She looked peaceful, too peaceful, even with bloody red cascading over her face.

Why?

Why did your blood need to fuse with the blood of my parents on that jinxed bench?

Why did you have to add on to my nightmares?

I don't want to fall asleep again.

I don't want to sent to a realm of chaos. Yours and their deaths replaying in my mind again and again and-

I don't want to break again.

Oh please, not again.

Don't be the reason I lose every inch of hope.

Don't die on me, Skye.

Please.

Each hammering step I took matched every beat of my heart, desperately trying to rush her into the ER Room.

I couldn't waste any second.

Each second could cost her life.

And time was ticking.

Nurses scowled and shrieked at me as I sped ahead of them. Though, I didn't currently care what they thought. I was distracted by the thunderous clock playing in my head, threatening me with each tortuous tick that pierced my ears, scratching my brain and making me want to scream.

No. I couldn't lose her, I couldn't lose her.

"He did this to her," One whispered.

"The news was true, he is a monster." Another hissed.

M̶o̶n̶s̶t̶e̶r̶, m̶o̶n̶s̶t̶e̶r̶, m̶o̶n̶s̶t̶e̶r̶.

"Leave the stretcher and the girl alone! Get out of this hospital before I call the cops!" A nurse screeched, her voice running through my whole body, alarming my steps to halt, to let my r̶o̶l̶e̶ m̶o̶d̶e̶l̶s̶ police to lock my hands together with metal and send me to rot in jail. The place where I presumably belong.

But I still ran, my calves burning, air seeping into my lungs. My breath quickened, unable to go on for much longer but I had to, I had a duty to. I had to make sure she's safe.

I bolted into the Emergency room quite recklessly, so I had to check if she was okay. My eyes lowered to her. Her breathing was slow but she was still alive. 

I placed my hand on her cheek softly, unaffected by the blood tinting her skin. I pulled away and set her in place for medical inspection.

I kneel down on the ground next to the stretcher as the whole planet might be offended if I sat on one of their precious chairs that I don't 'deserve' to sit on.

My gentle gaze settled down on Skye's face, still beautiful amongst all the treacherous chaos written on her skin.

Her hand fell off the bedding. I quickly checked if she was awake but her eyes were still locked, her breathing calm. 

My eyes fixed on her hand, which wasn't affected by any bruise or blood, it was still safe.

I drew a breath, I wanted to hold her hand which is usually always so warm, so safe. But as soon as I reached for hers, my hand drew back instantly.

What if there was still blood on my hands? Blood of a monster.

..What if I hurt her?

I don't trust myself anymore, especially near her.

I trailed off, but now returning a strong stare deep into her eyes, I cautioned, "There was so much blood on my hands-"

She grabbed my hands without a hint of hesitation.

And I secured the hold.

I could still feel her soft yet firm touch.

How does she, out of all people, not see me as the problem?

She's seen more of me than most, she's seen one of my happiest and one of my most gruesome moments. I allowed her in, knowing she would run away eventually but she didn't.

She stayed.

So, I stayed with her.

I hesitantly wrapped my finger around her pinkie. Pinkie. My most beloved nickname for her.

I didn't make her bleed shockingly, my touch didn't hurt her. I smiled slightly from that.

I would seem so pathetic if anyone caught me like this but I didn't care.

I tilted my head, subtly admiring her face.

No blood should even touch her. If I could, every time she got hurt, I wished to get all her bruises and blood instead.

But she wouldn't want that for me and I would respect that. 

Wake up, Skye.

Look at me with those dazzling eyes of yours and tell me you're okay.

But her eyes stayed shut.

My lips trembled, I was desperately trying to stop my body from letting out a raw scream. My hand shook so I tightened my hold on her one single pinkie to calm me down, while also making sure not to let myself hurt her.

I wouldn't bear seeing a mark on her untouched skin because of me.

I raised slightly, tucking in an escaped piece of golden hair behind her ear. Before I could lower down, I caught myself staring deeply at her. My eyes shudder, threatening to shatter into water. My mouth was dry when I looked at Skye, I wanted to speak to her even if she won't hear me. I want to speak to her.

After a bit of hesitating, I finally whispered: "I'll make sure you're safe, okay? That's my only priority, to make sure nothing bad happens to you. I don't want to lose you too. I don't want you to be in my nightmares. I don't want your ghost to haunt me on the streets, whisper in my ear, telling me...: "I always thought of you as a monster". Don't see me as a monster, please Skye. It may be selfish but you're the only one I can't bear hearing that one single word from, it'll break me. But, if you do say that to me, I'll understand; you'll still be my everything." The next thing I knew, I gently kissed the top of her head where the blood didn't dare touch.

When I understood what I did, I pulled away in guilt. That was mistake. Who would want to be kissed by a-

m̶o̶n̶s̶t̶e̶r̶.

I continued gazing at her, unwilling to even move. I wouldn't mind kneeling down on this hard floor, my finger wrapped around her pinkie, waiting for her for hours. It'll be worth it in the end. I can't wait to see her eyes open, so she can actually look at me and whisper that she's now safe and okay.

"Get out." A stern voice knocked me back into reality.

Several footsteps led to a stop behind me and I could sense their resentment.

I rolled my eyes, reluctant to even look at them. I wasn't going to move, I am going to stay in this hospital while Skye's surgery is being done and I will not leave until I see her eyes open.

I felt disinclined hands wrap around my arm, tugging me up. Now my body was in defence mode.

My eyes narrowed and I drew a sharp breath, "Let go of me!" I snapped, fighting to urge to elbow these exasperating security guards.

A scowl escaped a guard's mouth, yanking my arm more forcefully than before, "Move kid, the cops are already on their way."

I finally turned my head, glaring at that one particular security guard, "F*ck you."

He yanked my arm more aggressively this time, forcing me up. He made sure it hurt. My face scrunched up in pain as I felt his nails digging into my skin.

"See? Just another troubled soul, an orphan with a scrambled brain. You know how those types are, their minds don't function as smoothly as ours. Wouldn't be surprised if he switched out his entire brain after supposedly offing his own brother, a stupid act from a stupid kid. Should have been in jail ages ago."

Where the hell was he getting that information from? His shallow brain?

Another guard raised his eyebrow, grinning, "Seriously? Where do you come up with this stuff?" He asked, tugging me abruptly to provoke me.

The first guard chuckles dismissively, "I've seen it before. Orphan kids, they just can't handle life, and they resort to drastic measures. Bet he's got a whole different set of neurons firing up there now."

I immediately elbowed that guard and I seized the moment to shoot him a defiant look. My smirk widens as he collides fully with a nearby desk, his surprise evident on his face.

"If others see us as a bunch of misfits wrecking havoc, let them. We should honour our title instead of worrying about it."

"Truly inspirational." I smiled, sarcasm detected in my tone.

I swiftly pivoted, my foot connecting with the other guard's midsection. He stumbled backward and crashed into the wall.

"Inspirational indeed," I muttered to myself, reveling in the brief chaos that I had ignited.

The guards, now more agitated than before, exchanged heated glares. The first guard, recovering from the elbow to the chest, regained his composure and barked into his radio, "Calling for all backup, calling for all backup."

I shot him a dangerous look and he fell into silence.

I cocked my head to one side, a proud smile threatening to form on my lips, "That's what I thought."

However, my triumphant satisfaction was short-lived as dozens of hands tightened their grip on my arms suddenly. A gasp escaped my lips, feeling the collective force pulling me backwards.

I hadn't even realised the echoes of hurried footsteps and urgent voices filling the corridors, and tons of guards strategically positioned behind me. 

Backup had arrived.

I struggled pathetically against their firm grips. My face scrunched up and my breathing escalated rapidly.

The guards hold on me only tightened, some aggressively piercing their nails into my skin.

Doctors walked past me, examining Skye's body before pulling their gloves on. The lights of the room dimmed, the projection light on Skye's body illuminating, the blood painted on her head glinting hauntingly.

My whole body shook. I couldn't just leave her. I need to see her wake up, I need to know if she'll be okay. I can't live not knowing she's okay- "Fuc- I need to make sure she's going to be okay. I NEED TO MAKE SURE SHE'S OKAY! LET GO OF ME!" My raw voice strained and desperate, trying to kick away to the guards. Tears threatening to spill out of my eyes.

No, I couldn't show them that I'm weak-

But I couldn't hide it.

I needed her. I needed her eyes to open and see me.

Those pure eyes who see me anything but a m̶o̶n̶s̶t̶e̶r̶.

I love those eyes.

One guard lifted their elbow up and crashed it against my head. My head drooped down, my eyes wary and lips parted.

They dragged me away.

My tired eyes fought hard to gaze at her for the final time before they took me away. I flickered my eyes to her, a small light glinting out of them. I smiled softly at her, hoping she'll look at me for the final time.

Her eyes were still closed.

   ***************

Their vision became blurs, their frantic breath quickening as well as their pace, adrenaline filling their hearts. Their quick footsteps echoed in their ears, not anticipating to slow down at all.

"Where is he?" Everest breathlessly bellowed, her steps frantic and sharp.

"...We haven't checked his home yet, he might be there." Marshall hesitantly muttered, his eyes drifting towards the ground. 

Everest immediately looked at Marshall, her eyes furrowing in concern, "Marshall, are you sure? You swore you wouldn't go to that place."

Marshall let out a sigh, "Chase is my friend, Eve. My best friend. I was stupid and scared back then, now I'm going to do anything to make sure nothing bad happens to him."

Everest's mouth curved up softly, "Let's go then."

Marshall and Everest rushed into the overgrown forest which was the only route to Chase's house, their arms defensively over their face to shield them from the invading branches that choked against their dead neighbours. They jumped over the fallen trees which were engulfed in moss.

Marshall tripped over a tree, gasping from the impact but Everest caught him almost immediately, grinning at him. 

"My hero." Marshall drew out sarcastically before running again with Everest following behind.

After a few minutes, both of them reached the end of the forest.

Abnormal creaks and eerie whispers pervaded their ears. Death's grip tightened on their necks as he warned in a chilling shriek, 'You'll regret it. You'll regret entering the Monster's home. You'll meet the same end of the rest of the Gunn family, and you will meet me at the steps of heaven or hell,'

Fear has blinded them before. But now Marshall and Everest unwrapped their blindfolds and walked towards the m̶o̶n̶s-- Chase's house.

Everest opened the small, rusty gate, which screamed from old age, reluctantly flying open to let the two past.

Marshall followed her, though he was much slower than her. His eyes searched every crack and every stone of the house - his face deep in thought and reminiscence.

Now his eyes were running from the front porch to the forest. His face scrunched up and eyes narrowed in guilt. A few years ago, he ran out of this house - angry and disgusted at that m̶o̶n̶s̶t̶e̶r̶. Now he came back, sorry for Chase.

Marshall sighed, pinching his nose before walking again - his eyes glued on a single petal hanging on for its dear life attached to a tripled over stem, surrounded by all its dead friends. Is that how Chase was feeling this whole entire time?

Everest and Marshall approached the door, both knocking on the rustic wood - dust floating in the air.

Marshall didn't hesitate to speak, "Chase? Are you h-?"

The door flew open.

However no person stood opposite them.

It was already opened.

Then they realised the police tape around the house.

Everest and Marshall immediately bolted inside, being greeted by an unsettling mess. Dust snowed from the weak beams, cobwebs settling in its new home within the corners of the walls which has its once bright wallpaper now teared and rotten, casting a uncomfortable atmosphere. Photo frames from the past helplessly hung on the walls with merely one nail holding onto them while its friends were shattered and scattered across the floor with smashed plates, shredded photos and paper topped off with broken pencils, crayons, paints and journals and-

The police must have done it - they tried to believe - but deep down, they both knew it was already like that before.

Marshall walked carefully over the deceased objects, his legs shaky and breath uneven. His shoes gently pressing on the smoother objects rather than the shattered things though as he pressed his foot on the ground again, he felt a weird texture he was familiar with.

A disk.

One of the only things not severely broken like the rest.

Marshall's eyes widened and immediately grabbed the disk, blowing the dust away and rubbing the disk with his sleeve. His mouth was now agape, "Everest, come here!" Marshall frantically said - grasping Everest's wrist and carefully pulling her towards him without getting hurt.

As soon as Everest reached Marshall, she looked at him then the disk, her eyes glued on the shiny material in disbelief.

Marshall held the disk tight - desperate to keep it safe, "It's the disk. It's our disk that we made when we were children that holds so many of our memories. I thought your dad broke it but it's been here all this time...Did Chase retrieve for us?" He wondered, but he and Everest knew Chase did.

He kept it safe for them.

"Do you think it still works?" Everest asked eagerly, relief written all over her eyes.

Marshall looked behind his shoulder, spotting an old television, "Let's find out, shall we?"

Marshall paced towards the aged television. He grabbed the remote and pressed the 'on' button continuously, hoping that the TV would come back to life. "Shoot. Work, work..." Marshall muttered under his breath.

Out of sheer impatience, Marshall banged the remote on a table and just like that, the television turned on.

Marshal smiled slightly, his breath shaky as he slowly put the disk into the disk drive. It made a little sound and the screen went black.

Marshall and Everest's eyes lost its glimmer of hope.

But then the light appeared.

The screen was on.

"Is this thing working? Testing, testing. One two three." A little boy, his voice squeaky and distorted from the age and bad quality of the camera. 

"That's not how it works, Marshall!" A familiar voice, Rocky, exclaimed. 

"Oh, my bad." Marshall chuckled awkwardly, while shuffling with the camera, the video seeping into darkness every time Marshall clumsily dropped it again and again.

"Marshall, Marshall, I wanna use the camera next!" A deep and throaty voice appeared with crunches of presumably chips in the background. 

Rocky positioned the camera towards them again, while rolling his eyes at Rubble, "Rubble, if we give you the camera, you might just eat it." 

A boy surfaced quickly, tilting his homemade police cap on his head, "I'll make sure no cameras get destroyed or eaten as Chase is always on the case!" He flashed a grin, acting like some hero. 

Marshall lowered his head right into the camera, lowering his voice,"Psst, hey people watching in 100 years time. As you can see, my friend Chase, has an obsession of becoming the best police officer in the entire world. He already thought of all the catchphrases and almost memorised all the legi-legisla-"

"-Legislations." Chase corrected abruptly.

"Yeah that. See? He's practically a pro already. He basically mutters all of his catchphrases and random regulations everyday as a hobby that he is already making us go insane! But I know Chase is going to be the best policeman ever." Marshall turned his head to Chase, giggling, "Just don't do anything illegal and you'll do just fine!"

Rubble and Rocky laughed. Rubble shook his head and said, "There's no way that Chase could do something illegal or wrong. That's impossible." 

"Yeah bro, ywou're practically pwerfect." Zuma chuckled.

Chase put his police cap over his face in embarrassment, "Stop guys! You know I don't like getting flustered. But for you guys, I promise I'll make you all proud and be the best policeman in Adventure Bay." He fixed his hat and smiled at all of them. 

"And we'll be with you every step of the way. Right, team?" Marshall asked.

"Right!" The others said in sync. 

The weak wood of the floor creak. Footsteps. "I didn't expect that wholesome moment. You guys are sooo adorable. I almost want to tear up from the strong bromance." A girl with fluffy platinum hair drawled, grinning mischievously at the boys. 

"Hey gwuys of the future, don't mind Everest, she's nwew to our team. She's twoo outspoken for her own gowod." Zuma blurted out. 

Rocky laughed in disbelief, "It looks like Mr Turbot is influencing her. There's no way Everest could have that much brain power to know such sophisticated words."

The camera dropped to the dropped, blankness on the screen. Grunts and screams were in the background.

Everest and Marshall both smirked, clearly remembering what happened exactly at that moment.

Everest was tackling Rocky to the ground. The ground of which, water was spilled. Rocky's greatest nightmare. 

"Everest stop! I will sue you!"

"Yeah also guys, don't mind Rocky. He's currently in his grumpy phase."

"'Currently'? You mean always?" 

"Oh. You're next, Rubble."

"Fight, fight, fight!" 

...

"Rocky! Step back or I will throw this camera at you!"

"Wait no, Everest-"

Too late. A loud crack and gasps filled the audio and the screen went pitch black. 

Marshall laughed, moving his eyes away from the TV, "You were a savage back then, Everest. I'm not sure if I miss the old you or not."

Everest raised her eyebrows, "Was that a compliment or an insult?" 

"Uhm, both?"

"I can live with that." Everest leaned into Marshall, her hand on his cheek, with a subtle smile on her face. 

"Ew, that's gross guys!" A voice screeched.

Before anything could get freaky, the video turned on again, leaving Everest and Marshall flustered, thinking someone walked in on them. 

"Tell the world what those silly things are doing, Rocky." Everest sighed in annoyance. 

"So basically, Rubble and Marshall thought it would be a good idea if they used chewed gum as glue to stick the detached strap back on the camera that Rubble decided to rip, thinking it was liquorice."

An exaggerated gasp escaped Rubble's lips, "Hey! I was suffering with hypo-hypoglycemia at that time! My vision was blurry."

"Rubble dude, ywour body was literally stocked with all the sugar in your blood that you needed. Stop bewing a drawma qwueen." Zuma accused. 

Rubble groaned in irritation, throwing hands, "That's not true! Chase monitored me last night and specifically said: "Uh huh, you definitely don't have enough sugar in you.'" 

Rocky rolled his eyes, "That's called sarcasm, Rubble." 

Rubble tilted his head, his face scrunched up, "A what? No, you don't understand. Chase, tell them-"

But Chase wasn't there.

Everest looked around, "What? He was supposed to be back by now with the snacks. Where is he?"

Zuma gulped. His hands flying everywhere, "Ooo, it sweems like Chase disappeared, what if hwe got kidnapped? Or lwost his way home. We hwave to find him but...Chase is usually the wone leading these 'missing pwerson' cases. How are we supposed to find him?"

Marshall looked down in deep thought. After a bit, he met eyes with the rest as he said in determination, "We have to think like Chase, guys. What would Chase do? That's right, he would retrace the person's steps, finding the point of which things don't add up. Expanding the search in that area. He was going to the market to get snacks, right? The market is only five blocks away from the house and we all know how Chase likes doing things as fast as possible, possibly meaning that he already went into the market to get the snacks and was actually going back home. Adventure Bay is small, if all five of us split up, we can find him. I know we aren't as skilled as Chase in this area, but if we're really his friends, we would do almost anything to help him."

Everest gaped, "Woah, Marshall. Never expected such a speech from you." A small smile forming on her lips. 

"He's my best friend. I won't let anything bad happen to him. Ever." Marshall sighed before getting up, "Now, let's go."

The camera shook as the team rushed out of their tree house. Panting and loud steps hitting the pavement in the background. 

 "Okay, let's split up guys. Make sure to keep an open eye just in case. Now go, go, go!"

If only the 'unbreakable' team had that much passion till this day.

The camera was with Marshall, a shot caught a glimpse of his blurry face. The most prominent emotion presented on his face was worry. 

If only Marshall stuck with Chase in all these empty years, maybe everything could have been different. 

"Chase? Chase? Buddy, where are you? please, if you can hear me, answer me!" Marshall panted desperately, his eyes surveying every part of the street. 

A parade was going on that day, the biggest parade of the year. Deafening, almost overwhelming upbeat songs in the atmosphere, huge crowds with loud steps and voices. While Chase's could have merged into the background, lost and silenced. 

Marshall breathed heavily, his head turning left and right frantically. The moon's light illuminated his worried face. 

He pushed past the everlasting crowd. His eyes widened as he accidentally pushed a little girl, near the same age as him to the ground, "Sorry!"  Marshall apologised.

However, the girl with eye-catching white hair ignored him. Immediately getting up, despite the hard fall, seemingly desperate to catch up with someone. "No, wait! Miss Barkingburg, please wait for me! You don't understand, my mother is ill. I need to stay in this child modelling program-"

A woman turned around to face the girl. She was brown haired - draped in rich blue cashmere which was tightly wrapped around her body - and snapped, "Sweetie, you've proven countless times that you cannot be trusted. You've stolen food and supplies from my company, it doesn't help the fact that you're just not fit for this program. Look at you, you're a mess, a thief, a-"

Loud sobs came from Sweetie, shaking her head, "That food was for my mother! And I don't care if I don't meet the beauty standards, I'll change my whole body to make sure I'm finally pretty like the others. I'll make you prou-"

"Perfect."

Their steps and voice faded inside the crowd.

Marshall's mouth was left agape, horror painted in his eyes. Before he was going to help that girl, the camera dropped to the ground by the suffocating crowd, whose bodies forcibly pushed Marshall's small body away from it. 

He didn't hold the camera anymore on that single day.

But, he didn't need a camera to remember. Marshall remembered that day all too well and he hated remembering it.

Little Marshall didn't know someone else took the camera a few moments later. 

His small, frantic legs carried himself through the crowd. He told himself he didn't need that camera, he needed Chase. 

"Marshall?"

He turned his head, his eyes bright, "Chase?"

His eyes dulled as he spotted an old man, "Oh...Grandpa! What are you doing on the streets? It's not safe for you."

"Marshall?" His grandpa asked again, not even looking at Marshall's direction.

Marshall realised, his eyes tearing up, "Grandpa, I'm here...I'm here."  His voice was raw, desperately trying to lock eyes with the old man. 

The old man looked down slowly at Marshall. A sweet, amused smile pulling up his lips, "Oh hello, you are quite a funny boy! Say, have you seen my grandson? I didn't see him all day and I'm getting worried. But I must have hit my head, I don't remember what he looks like. I just know I need to find him...Can you help me?"

Marshall's lips parted, words refusing to come out for a while before he forced himself, "O-oh, yes...Can you give me a minute? I-I just need to do something and I'll come right back to you."

The man chuckled, scratching his head, "Of course, my dear boy. You're so sweet to help a clumsy, forgetful old man like myself."

Marshall smiled faintly, "Trust me, I'm like you too. But, my grandpa always said to me 'We're not clumsy, we just have a lot of experience falling down. But in the end, we always-"

"-get right back up.'"

Marshall's lips quivered, nodding his head. 

The old man placed his weak hand on his chin, "Say, that quote seems familiar. I just can't put my finger on it."

Marshall awkwardly laughed, "My grandpa is kinda famous around these parts, heh.." 

"He must be wise." The old man smiled genuinely. 

"The wisest."  Marshall whispered, tears threatening to drop down his eyes.

"Okay, I'll be sitting on that bench over there, away from the loud crowd. Don't tell my wife, but they sound just like her when she's mad. Such a beautiful woman but with such a fiery attitude. Oh my, I love her." The old man laughed.

A frown was planted on Marshall's face as soon as the old man mentioned 'wife'. He doesn't remember...But Marshall quickly hid that frown with an amused smile, "She must have been amaz-" He quickly rephrased, "She must be amazing." 

"Oh she is, she is. She is my life, as well as my grandson, I think..." The old man trailed off, "Oh right, I forgot. You had to do something I believe. I'll wait by the bench in that far area like I said but...oh, I don't remember where it is."

Marshall sighed, this man needed him now, perhaps the others found Chase, "...I'll help you." Marshall beamed, holding the man's arm gently, guiding him to a more quieter area.

...

"What's your favourite animal?" 

"A bunny..." A little girl whispered shyly.

"Oh, I love bunnies as well!" A boy laughed softly, "What else do you like?" 

The little girl's breath was caught up her throat but she managed to squeak out, "Uhm, weddings."

"Hm, why is that?" The little boy asked, his voice fixed in a gentle tone. 

The girl sighed dreamily, her voice immediately raising, "It's magical, it's the day where two people are bonded for eternity by love. The day they decide they want the other person to be their special person, who will listen to them, achieve their dreams together and grow old together." A giggle escaped her lips right before her eyes drooped, "...Just like what my parents promised, oh, until my dad..."

"Hey, hey. Don't think about him now. I'm kinda a professional at looking for people. We'll find him, okay?"

"He doesn't want to be found."  The girl flatly stated.

The boy's breath shook, "What? I know it may seem like that but he's your dad. He loves you and your mum. In the end, he'll realise he wants to be found." He gushed innocently. 

"No, no. He didn't want me or my mum, he still doesn't. It was all a lie- a dirty lie. I...I thought he loved me...I-"  The girl's voice cracked. 

Marshall turned his head, his mind screaming: 'Chase', 'Chase', 'Chase.'  His heartbeat went back to a normal as he sighed in relief.

There Chase was, crouched down on the pavement, away from the deafening parade. His arms  wrapped around a girl the same age as him. Her blond, messy hair falling over Chase's back as she trembled. 

So, Chase didn't disappear. He was busy with that girl. 

'Who is she?' Marshall wondered.

Marshall was about to frantically wave his hands, screaming Chase's name but he stopped, realising the girl Chase was holding was crying. 

The old man next to Marshall coughed, "Dear boy, I really need to have my medication. My grandson is usually the one who gives it to me." He breathed heavily, "or, granddaughter, I'm not quite sure."

Marshall knew the grandpa didn't have a granddaughter. He chuckled nervously, "Oh, I'm sorry for taking so long. I'll take you to sit down somewhere while I run a small errand. I promise you that I'll be quick, so you can have your medication when you come back home." 

"You're such a nice boy. Maybe my grandson can learn something from you," The old man joked, waving it off, "Oh haha, I'm only joking."

Marshall smiled softly at the man while he glimpsed at Chase in the corner of his eye, helping the old man to sit comfortably on the bench.

...

"Focus on my heartbeat. Don't let yourself think of anything else, okay?" Chase whispered, holding the girl gently, letting her sob onto his shoulders until she progressively calmed down, her body shuddering less and less.

They stayed quiet for a while before the little girl asked, "Tell me about your parents."

Chase froze. His pupils quivering, breath shortening and heartbeat fastening. Not them. 

"Your heartbeat..." The girl uttered, pulling herself away and staring at Chase's chest. Her eyes travelled to his, noticing the drastic change, "You were here for me when I needed you and now I'm here for you if you will let me."

Chase nodded tentatively before gently smiling at the girl, "I loved to draw...Every year, I would make a family portrait of us: me, my brother, my mum and my dad. We were poor but we loved each other. My parents would've always hung my drawings on the wall and that felt like the greatest accomplishment in the world, I felt loved, no matter the situation. Whenever I was with them, my heart was mended, my eyes had a new light, my smile was bright. I felt like the happiest child in the world. Last year, the brother was dealing with a rejection..so we decided to cheer him up by having family time outside while I painted our next portrait..." Chase's breath grew shaky, his mind trailing off to what happened next.

"Take your time," The girl reassured, an encouraging grin on her face. 

Chase put his hand on his chest, feeling his chest go up and down as he said: "That night, it felt like the calmest and thrilling time, even though all I did was watch my family sit on a...bench as I painted them, but I don't know...it just felt so perfect. But we weren't supposed to be happy, it wasn't supposed to be perfect. Not all good things have a happy ending and I had to learn that the hard way...My parents were slaughtered that day. The look on their faces as they died...'Priceless' the killers might've said. The colour drained from their face. My painting mocking their frowns with picture perfect smiles, all bunched up on that small bench but in the end, my parents were scattered on the floor, painted in red."

The girl immediately hugged Chase again, making his heart race for another reason this time.

"As you can guess, I don't really like art anymore." Chase nervously chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her. 

"But, what I really want to say is, some parents never want to leave, if they were real parents, they wouldn't dare to leave their child, no real parent wants their child to be alone, to cry, to think their departure is their fault. But sometimes life takes them away and there's nothing they can do about it, just like my parents. But also in life, even adults grow selfish, their needs being worth more than their own child's life. Those people aren't real parents, okay? you did nothing, your mum did nothing wrong. You are not unworthy of love, alright? you are a star. Don't let your past define you. Instead, use it as a stepping stone to become the person you are meant to be." Chase whispered in the girl's ear, his words were firm like a police officer's, but soft. 

"Thank you," She mouthed, her eyes lighting up, "I know your heart won't mend the same, your eyes won't shine the same or your smile won't be as bright but we can work on that, okay? We won't replace it but we'll fix it to how you feel comfortable with. One day, you'll paint. You'll paint the most beautiful piece, and you'll think of the times where you painted for your family, every year you grew closer and closer to them. They may be a memory but they're there, watching you from behind and from your art. They're in your memento - your paints and pencils - and if you keep hold of it, they're never really gone." 

They both had locked eyes. There was a rare glint in their eyes. That childish, innocent gleam in their eyes. 

"We'll make it through..." 

A rabbit hopped its way past them, holding a long leaf in its mouth. Chase caught a glimpse of it in the corner of his eyes and his eyes shone. He briefly let go of the girl as he reached out to grab the leaf, patting the rabbit's head before pulling away from the girl, holding the leaf in front of them.

The blonde looked at the leaf in confusion, "Is there something wrong?"

Chase ripped the leaf in half, thinning it out before making a loop on both of the leaves, making some sort of ring  "I know this isn't like some wedding but from this day forward, I'll be the one to listen to you, make sure we achieve our dreams together and watch us grow older and older into what we want. I'll be your special person, only if you say yes."  He held out one ring to the girl, smiling at her.

Her eyes slowly widened, "Yes..." She whispered first, "Yes, yes, yes!"  The girl practically pounced on him, attacking Chase with a hug.

Chase laughed nervously but it gradually turned into an endearing one instead. Putting the promise ring on her finger while she did the same to him. 

They hugged for a while, the despair drifting away from their expressions, being replaced by hope. 

Hope is a funny thing. Hope is like a rope - it can pull us out of the depths of despair. But hope can also be a double-edged sword. Deceiving and twisted - hope can lead to the end of optimism and the start of the depths of despair yet again. 

The girl slowly opened her eyes, still embracing Chase. But the small light of her eyes disappeared, being left with horror. 

The same rabbit was on the road, a truck heading its way. 

The girl immediately pulled away from Chase without a second thought. Running to the road as the car came closer and closer. It's blinding lights highlighting the scene as the girl quickly grabbed the rabbit, carrying it safely in her arms for dear life. 

Chase's eyes widened as he saw the girl, the girl who he gave his promise ring to, about to be hit. He couldn't lose anyone else. 

So, he ran. 

Marshall could see the whole scene, his heart pumping. In the corner of his eye, he could see the rest of his friends but they were so far still, they were waving their hands frantically. He had to save Chase and pull him away, "Chase! I'm comin-" 

But he was stopped.

"Ah! Dear boy, I can't feel my-!" The old man cried, collapsing off the bench. 

'No, no, no.'  Marshall thought. He looked at Chase, guilt flooding his stomach but he looked the other way. He looked at the old man, his grandfather, instead. 

He helped him.

"It's okay." Marshall whispered to his grandfather, gently helping the old man up and slowly walking away from the scene. 

And now there Chase was, pushing Sk- the girl away at the last second away from the lights that came closer...

and closer,

and closer. 

But he was a second too late to save himself. 

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

Sorry for the delay yet again. Also no, I am not thinking of discontinuing this book. This chapter was nice but also hard to write. With the continuous new ideas I kept adding, this chapter became unbearably long. It would've been over 15-20k words if I hadn't cut it down. The things that I couldn't add to this chapter will be in the next which will probably make it the 2nd or the longest chapter in this entire book, which will be torture for me to edit (fun), so it might take me while but not a year this time haha. 

Okay, I just realised that some of the dialogue in this chapter is poetic. My bad lol but at least Shakespeare would be proud.