ᖇEᑕᗩᑭ:

BANG.

Silence.

The sound rang through his ears, his head nearly exploding as Callum doubled over onto the ground, cursing under his breath.

"Callum!" Soren shouted.

His side exploded from a searing red pain as he looked down- there was a bullet that went from his back that ripped through his rib cage. He looked down to find red splotches of blood painted over his hands, body shaking from the sudden impact as he cried out in pain.

Soren, now repeating a continuous mantra of curses, started trying his best to aid him when Soren also fell to the ground with a blast in the head.

Callum's communication device began to ring obnoxiously when the receiver on the other end answered.

"Sir, we have target A and subject B."

"Subject B? Why would you have him?"

"We are unaware, sir. We will bring both to the chambers as soon as possible."

"Throw them in the pit instead."

"With all due respect, sir-"

"Did I stutter? Go! Do as I say!"

Beep.

And the call ended.

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

C A L L U M

Ringing.

That was all Callum could hear as the realities of the world had crashed down on him- not only was he injured, his thoughts were all jumbled up into random places with images that did nothing more but float around in his head. His thoughts were fuzzy as he tried to keep track of what had just happened.

Everything occurred so quickly that he had to try to take a deep breath, but it felt like he was inhaling knives- Knives that were sharpened and lit on fire and dunked in acid, then frozen and shoved down his throat.

And his side- it was on fire. Or at least that's what it felt like- along with the constant pang in his ribs as if someone had sharpened and icicle so much that it felt hot at first contact instead of cold. But all he knew was that it was nothing but painful.

He felt the side of a boot kicking his back- even though he was still closing his eyes, the world spun around him. At this point, Callum had no idea where he was- he was nothing but lost. Maybe this was aftershock- perhaps he only imagined things.

But Callum knew inside of him that this was something he couldn't dismiss- as much as his brain believed that he was alright, he knew that this was him being in total and absolute denial.

His side exploded from pain, but at the same time, he had never felt so numb- he was like a balloon that was slowly drifting away. Maybe things would be over soon. Perhaps he wasn't inside some sort of capsule, and he was fine. Maybe after everything was over, the world would fall back into place, exactly where it needed to be.

Callum squeezed his eyes shut, praying for this to all be a dream and he would wake up back at home. He didn't know who to pray to. But whoever was looking after him certainly didn't take a liking towards him at all.

He wished that it would be alright.

With all the dignity and pride left of him (along with a few mended bones), all he could do was hope- hope that someone could come to save him.

But how could it be alright?

It took him a moment to realize what had happened- someone had shot him.

He felt stupid to realize this now-only to suddenly have the entities of the world to dawn on him.

It's fine. Callum muttered like a mantra to himself. No, really. I'll be fine. He sighed.

The first few minutes of being trapped in 'wherever-he-was' were alright. Callum had no problem with it at all. It was as if weights had lifted off his shoulders.

At least he knew that the world wouldn't end while he was still there. Callum would admit he felt nothing more but selfish- the fact that he was leaving the fate of the world in someone else's arms.

But at least he could breathe.

In his head, he saw his mother- he saw his step-dad grinning at him, arms opened wide. A bright light blinded his vision, yellow and white that seemed to beam into his soul.

Was it over?

"Callum," Sarai smiled at him, embracing him.

He was hesitant if he was honest at first. But the moment his mother's smell of persimmon filled his nose, he felt tears prickle at his eyes as he returned the hug.

He had never felt so relieved, so happy to see anyone in his life.

King Harrow was standing behind her, his smile so vast that he could see his molars. "I'm so proud of you, Callum," he said gently, scooping Callum up in his arms and spinning him around.

He had never felt this selfish in all his life. But at the same time, he felt like exploding from joy as he laughed- he hadn't laughed in a long time. It was like he finally found a cheat code to life- as if someone handed him the answer key. Or someone had unlocked a chain. He felt like a bird who was finally free to escape, high above the clouds on wings-

Wings.

Rayla.

He was so caught up in himself that he had forgotten the one person who he cared about the most-

No, the one person who cared for and loved him the most.

Rayla-

-the savage, beautiful and hilarious and unique elf who had picked him up from his pit of sorrow and helped him soar.

The one who cared for him when he thought no one else ever could.

Rayla.

Who did he even do this for?

It was for Rayla.

He suddenly came back to his senses once more, stepping up at taking a deep breath- as if he were diving from a skyscraper into the ice-cold water. You could either sink or swim, one or the other.

"Is it over?" Callum managed quietly.

"What is?" Sarai asked, still refusing to let go of his hand as she brushed his hair over his ear.

"The-the war," Callum managed. He released the hug, attempting to shake off his mother's grasp. She squeezed his hand, which was now beginning to feel ice cold, not as warm as he would have expected.

"Callum, what are you talking about?" His step-dad asked.

"I have to go," Callum stuttered. He loved them- but he knew something was off about them.

"No, Callum, please!" Sarai cried, now pulling him into a hug. "We love you too much. I don't want to lose you again."

Callum almost held his mom's arm willingly, when he had to remind himself something was wrong. He knew that this was not his mother.

Maybe he was in some sort of coma- whatever it was, he had to fight.

"Mom-" Callum managed.

"Listen to your mother," Harrow smiled, stroking his hair. "Come on. Let's go."

"Where?" Callum wavered. He was terrified as his legs nearly gave way beneath him. Why was he so scared in a place where he had missed everyone in his entire life?

"Just... come on," Harrow chided.

His step-dad looked forward towards the place where the light was emerging and peeking its head from. Being honest, Callum couldn't quite tell from where it was from, but all he knew was that he had to find the closest way to get out.

There was something about his eyes that was off. His mother wrapped her arm around his neck, subtly choking him. "If you deny your father one more time, you're done." She hissed into his ear.

Her voice wasn't pleasant anymore- it was harsh and cold that seemed to demand justice.

"Callum, sweetie," Sarai now said out loud. Her voice was gentle, but her eyes seemed to glare into his soul. "Let's go,"

Callum decided he had enough- he was tired of feeling helpless and useless all the time.

His father was now grabbing onto his sleeve so hard his knuckles were turning white. Callum's heartbeat was so loud that he swore his parents could hear it. But the thought of Rayla, Ezran, Soren, everyone who he ever had to fight for filled his chest with warmth and courage.

Never again was he going to let an opportunity to stand up for himself slide.

Never again was he ever going to let anyone else down.

And never again would he only think for himself

"No." He demanded under gritted teeth.

Never again.