Episode Three, Part 2:

How to Save a Life

You can't tell that you're bigger than the sea you're sinking in. 
You don't know what you've got, but you've got it at your fingertips. 

Ares heaved as they made it up the last stretch of the hill, finally making it to the top of the cliffs after what felt like the end of a torturous climb. 

The minute they reached steady ground, all of his troubles seemed to melt away for a moment. The view of the dams was spectacular; the blue of the water against the exposed white rock of the cliffs, and the sea of trees that enclosed both sides of the water. 

"Wow," Ares breathed out, taking it all in. "The view, it's... It's spectacular from here. I almost feel like I never want to leave this place." 

"That's exactly what I was thinking," Fenn murmured, ignoring the scenery and staring straight at the boy. Ares looked over, blushing and giving his eyes a roll. 

He shrugged the heavy bag off of his shoulder, setting it down beside's Fenn's - which was identical in appearance and began exploring his nearby surroundings. Once he had managed to wrap his head around the view, he began searching for something, but he didn't know what. 

Fenn came over, worried what had his attention. "What's is it? Everything okay?" 

"No, I can't... I can't find it," Ares mumbled, unable to shift his focus completely to Fenn, still searching only more desperately now. 

"Can't find what?" Fenn placed his hand on the boy's shoulder, hoping to slow down his turns so he could take a moment to properly answer him. 

"The sign!" Ares spilled out. "Wynn and Ell - they were supposed to leave a sign. Something to tell me they had been here, that they've passed by already. I-I can't find it... If they haven't crossed this side of the river yet, then we can't send the flood! They could be out there! I could-" 

"Hey, hey, it's okay. Just listen to me for a sec," Fenn grabbed onto both of his arms, forcing Ares to face him as he tried to console him. "There's probably a perfectly good explanation if they haven't, alright?" 

"Like what?" 

"I... I don't know," Fenn confessed, afraid that he was letting him down by his answer. "But we'll keep looking for a moment. Maybe it isn't in plain sight?" 

Ares shook his head. "Wynn would have known to make it obvious. Even if Targo saw it, they wouldn't have known what it was or that it meant anything..." 

He had a point. There would have been no reason for his brother to want to be discreet about the sign; the entire point of it was so Ares could see it clearly. 

"Okay, well, what kind of a sign is it?" 

Ares sighed, gathering his thoughts to answer him. "I... It could be..." he struggled, realising that they hadn't clarified anything specific - just something at the top of the dams that stated 'We were here, we survived, we passed by.' 

"A flower or something out of place? Like, on its own... A stick wedged into the ground... Something that couldn't have gotten there by itself-" 

"Okay, alright," Fenn assured him, moving his hand up to cup his face. He glanced around the plains, not seeing anything like what Ares was describing, and gut instinct told him they wouldn't. 

As Ares pulled away, wandering around the trees and the edge of the water, Fenn tried to decide what he needed to do: if his desire to help Ares locate his siblings was more important than wiping out Targo and Riders. 

Torn between his options, Fenn reached for his radio in his pocket, his fingers hovering just above it. A thought struck him: if he could get to Targo's labs without being seen, he could turn the radio tower on so he could call Wynn and find out his whereabouts, or even find them on his way if they had gotten lost somewhere. But it would mean leaving Ares alone to set up the bombs and he hadn't set them off before... 

"Hey," he called out, returning to Ares. 

"What? Did you find something?" 

Fenn shook his head. "No, but if you're really worried about them, I mean if you're sure Wynn didn't just forget to-" 

"No," Ares interrupted him. "Something must have happened to them. They should have been past by now, and I know Wynn - he wouldn't forget. Maybe it had something to do with Elara..." He pieced it together regretfully, knowing he was on to something. The only explanation for the both of them not having gone straight to Basilsik after Quill left would be if something happened to their sister. 

Fenn nodded, understanding that Ares' mind wouldn't change. "Okay, then I have a suggestion." 

"What? Anything?" 

He sighed heavily. "I can go to the labs and turn the radios back on," he said. "Right now, our radios are almost right in the middle of the two towers, so even if Basilisk have turned our tower back on, we could be just out of reach for us to be able to hear them, or radio Wynn if he's already crossed. If I turn on Riders' tower, we'll be able to call Wynn and Elara is they're still out here. But..." 

"But what...?" Ares asked lowly, knowing there was a catch. 

"But you'd have to set off the bombs yourself..." 

Ares exhaled, debating his answer. He knew Wynn could look after Elara and get her home, but he felt in his heart that something wasn't right. It was an ache too strong to ignore. 

"You place the bombs in the water here, and I'll set the ones at the higher section of the dam on my way to the tower." 

"I-I thought we weren't setting off that part of the dam? Just the middle section, here? River said it was only if the first flood didn't work?" 

"It is," Fenn answered. "The plan is to set off only this section, but I still need to put some at the very top just in case. I swear I'll be quick, then I can get to the labs and restart the tower." 

"How will I know when to set them off?" Ares asked. 

"You'll have to be on lookout yourself," Fenn replied. "Targo probably left a little while after us, but they have a lot more people with them, meaning it'll take them all longer to get here. When I leave, you need to place the bombs in the water straight away and then walk for about 5 minutes in the direction of Basilisk. Once you can see them from where you are, set the bombs off. They'll take a few minutes to activate, but you'll be able to hear the dam breaking." 

Before Ares could speak again, Fenn walked over to the identical bags, grabbing Ares' by mistake and slinging it over his shoulder. He picked up his own bag and blindly placed it in the boy's hands, leading him over to the water. 

He walked in until he was knee-deep, standing right at the edge of the wooden barrier that overlooked the hundred-metre drop to the river below. For now, it was the only thing stopping the water from rushing down and taking them both with it. 

Ares followed in him, holding his breath as the water swayed around his legs, not feeling any composure until Fenn grabbed onto his hand, reminding him that he was safe with him there. 

"It's a long way down," Ares chuckled nervously, not even a hint of lightness in his voice. 

Fenn frowned sympathetically. "The trick is to not look down. Keep your eyes on what's on the ground, and you'll be fine. Fear might make you think that you're falling, or slipping, but it's only the water that's moving." 

Ares nodded, exhaling a long, sharp breath. "Okay," he murmured, somewhat calmer. "How do I do this?" 

Fenn took hold of the boy's hand, diving it in the water below them to feel the wooden barrier to their side. 

"There's dips in the wood, almost like wedges," he explained, "that's where you need cram the bombs." 

He guided Ares' hand to feel the curves of the dam just like he explained, waiting until he saw the recognition on the boy's face before pulling their hands up. 

"I can do this," he mumbled to himself, unable to stop himself from looking over the edge. 

"Hey," Fenn placed his hand on the side of Ares' face, carefully turning him to look at him. "Of course you can." 

Ares leaned into his touch, holding his hand over Fenn's, his thumb running circles across his skin. There was desire in both of their eyes, staring deeply at each other as they slowly leaned in, lips joining together. 

Ares was hungry for the kiss, needing more and more of Fenn for his fears to be able to melt away, but he had to pull away. 

Their foreheads leaned against each other's, taking a few seconds to regain their breath and slowly pull their eyes open. 

"I have to go," Fenn whispered. 

Ares nodded, sniffling back his emotion. 

"I'll find them. I'll make sure they get home. I promise."

Holding onto his words - and to his hand for as long as he could - Ares watched as Fenn stepped out of the water, taking a final look at him before he hurried up ahead to the higher section of the dam, leaving Ares alone in the water. 

Two // Part Three 
The view is spectacular from here.

They're adorable. And that scene in the water? Ugh!

16/04/20