Chapter Text
Everything was just right. You had been accepted into an accredited college, just got a part-time job to pay for that, and your partner was going to propose to you soon (you were sure of it!). It was all falling into place, and life was finally going right.
So how did it turn out like this? You lay there in that sewer, as blood oozed from the back of your head. Screams could be heard, echoing against the cement walls, causing ripples in the excrement that gently splashed against your clammy skin. You felt like you were dying, hell, you probably were. And it was all your fault.
***
“Come on, where’s your sense of adventure?” You pouted at your partner, causing a sigh from them.
“Like I said, I’m not going to Japan with you.”
“Why not? It’ll be our last big trip before college! You always said you wanted to explore before slaving away at school.” Twirling your hair in your fingers, you glanced at them from across the table. They simply took a long sip from their coffee, it was really more sugar than drink.
“That was years ago, I’ve got to save up for more important things now.” They glanced at your hand, then back up at you with that look, the one you just knew meant they were thinking about a wedding. You couldn’t help but grin as you held your head with your hands in excitement.
“Those things can wait, I’m sure they’ll be there for you always, anyway.” Your partner of 3 years now, your highschool sweetheart. You loved them with everything you had. “Besides, you know I’m going to help you out no matter what, right?” Lovingly, you placed your hand on theirs, moving it away from their sugar with a side of coffee. You held it as if it were the most precious thing in the world, because it really was. You couldn’t live without your soulmate.
“I told you, I can’t.” Your heart sank immediately. “The things I want, they’re important to me. I can’t just go spend money without a care in the world, like you.” They took their hand back, and you felt a tinge of guilt in your heart. Maybe you were being unfair. But you wanted this so badly. They looked at you like you were an open book. “Do some research into the expenses first, then we’ll talk seriously about it, okay?” Your partner always had that soft spot for you, and your spirits were lifted once more.
“Great! I already did that!” Your overenthusiasm tended to get the best of you, especially when it came to long-time plans. Your partner seemed impressed, smiling softly in that beautiful way they did.
“Did you really? How much?” You paused for a moment, the enthusiasm fading as you took your phone out. You fished around the screen for a moment, pulling up your overfilled notes app.
“Um, about this much.” You turned the screen to them, you could see the gears turning, giving you a glimmer of hope before-
“Nope.” Damn it. “Too much. Let’s wait till we’re rich.”
“Come on, the flight is probably the most costly part, and I already took care of that-!” Oops. You were hoping to warm them up to the idea before you spilt that secret.
“Huh.” The gears were really spinning now. “You what?” The frustration in their voice was evident, you really screwed up this time.
“I, uh, I might have taken an advance on my paycheck.” The cup of sugar was left forgotten amidst the increasingly tense conversation. Your partner pinched the bridge of their nose, exhaling a loud sigh. It took a minute or two for them to fully process, but your impatience got the better of you. “So, uh, what do you think? Not too bad now that you don’t have to pay for the flight-”
“That’s not the point.” A part of you flinched at their tone. They never sounded like this before. “Can you return the tickets?”
“That, uh, it might already be past the return date.” You admitted as you shrank into your seat.
They deadpanned, then took your hand. You thought maybe, just maybe, this was a sign that-
“I’m not going with you.” Oh. Now it was your turn to process things.
“But hon’, I already bought the tickets-”
“And I told you, I can’t go with you. You really should have talked to me first before making that decision.” You felt so small, but you knew they were right. As much as you wanted to play the victim, you couldn’t help but feel wrong. Still, your eagerness to go had outweighed your disappointment.
“I’m sorry, maybe I should have talked with you. But, I’m still going.” Your partner’s face looked exasperated. You were really pushing your luck today. “I already bought the tickets, and made plans, and I’m not going to waste it. So, if you’re not going with me, then I’ll just go on my own.” A look of disbelief spread across your partner’s face, you wondered how many times their expression would change today.
“You can’t be serious.”
“Dead serious.” Sure, you felt nervous, but this was something you always wanted to do. If you were going to do it without the pressures of your future academics/career weighing on you, now was the time.
The disbelief transformed into one of frustration. The atmosphere was more tense than you’ve ever experienced with your partner. “Fine then, you do whatever you want, act as reckless as you want, but leave me out of it.” Without another word, your partner left. This might have been one of your bigger fights in your relationship, right up with that time your partner didn’t want to binge watch the Human Earthworm series, even though you knew they had the time to do it. At the time, you felt as if they just didn’t care. You felt that same way again this time. You knew they were worried, but it didn’t feel like they showed it. Maybe this was all in your head, but you still couldn’t shake that feeling.
Even as you tucked yourself into bed that night, the thoughts continue to swirl in your head. “Everything will be okay, right?” You asked yourself, partly about the trip, but mostly about your relationship.
It had been a week since the two of you last spoke. Why was this such a big deal? You sent them a text to let them know you were at the airport an hour ago. Left on delivered. Even if it was a trip you didn’t bring up with your partner, it was just you going alone now, like a self-vacation. So why did they react as if the world was ending? “Whatever, I’m gonna have the time of my life, you’re just missing out.”
“What’s that?” You had meant to say that in your head, so when this tall stranger replied to your strange remark, you fumbled your answer.
“Oh sorry, I was just talking to myself. Everyone’s doing it nowadays.” You laughed awkwardly.
“Are they really now?” His smooth voice rang out amidst the crowded terminal. That’s when you actually got a good look at the stranger. A clean black outfit contrasted his pale skin, it seemed more like a work uniform than anything. His hand held a suitcase that seemed to match his outfit. Looking further up, you noticed his white locks, it was strange to see that as a natural color, maybe it was dyed? But the strangest part about him was a thick blindfold that covered his eyes.
“Can you see with that thing on?” You found yourself asking without thinking.
“Hm?” His voice had a hint of confusion and amusement to it. That’s when it hit you, he was most likely blind.
“Oh, sorry about that, I wasn’t really thinking.” You tried your best to take all of the awkwardness out of the conversation, but he just simply chuckled and waved you off.
“Don’t worry about it.” With the smooth movement of his hand, and his (perhaps) freakishly long arm, he lifted the edge of the blindfold enough just to see one pupil, bending over slightly to give you a better look. His voice came out softened, but with a certain commanding tone. “I can see perfectly fine.” Your eyes widened at the sight of his. The most sky blue eye you have ever seen, it seemed to almost glow even in the brightness emanating from the terminal lights. You felt like you could fall in, certainly, it was drawing you closer as if to swallow you whole until-
Snap!
With the flick of his finger, the blindfold snapped back over his eye. He looked at you with a devilish grin, as if he meant to entrance you with that little act.
Ding!
His phone rang, although for a moment your heart jumped at the thought it could have been yours. Clearly, though, it was definitely his, as he fished it out of his pocket to confirm. “This has been a nice chat, but I really should get going.” A short wave was given, and before you knew it, his back was to you. Although, you could have sworn you heard him say, “Still got it”, when he was just barely out of earshot. You stood there as if the world had stopped its spin, all of your focus just on that one eye. It was beautiful, and almost made you forget everything.
Ding!
Almost.
This time, thankfully, it was your phone that rang. Your hands were quick to grab it, and your eyes lit up at the Imessage that appeared on screen.
Be safe. Was all it read. Your heart was finally soothed, the love of your life still loved you. That was all it took for you to forget the odd encounter you just had. You pondered a reply, but that thought was quickly washed away as you remembered something important. Your flight. “Shit.”
It took all your strength to make it just in time for boarding.
You sat in the window seat, a new smile on your face. Things were starting to finally look up, your little spat with your partner was now finally done (maybe), and you were headed off to your dream vacation. Everything was just right. You couldn’t help but feel a little melancholy as you glanced at the empty seat next to you, but you had decided that your partner’s absence wasn’t going to ruin this for you. Nope, everything was going to be fun and exciting, even if it was just you.
You looked forward to it.
Unfortunately, things rarely turned out the way you wanted them to. In just three days, you would be lying alone in a mix of gore and shit.
You were going to die, and it was all going to be your fault.