The night beckons him into thoughts of freedom. Cool open wind grasps his gait, jumping, sliding, turning like an athlete practicing for the run of his life. He's free now, free to show off his skills. No obstacle in his path can shake Ahni's drive. If escaping means never-ending stride, he'll free his spirit until his heart explodes. At least that's what he tells himself. Held high and determined, Ahni does nothing but press on even through the thickest bush. Arms slash at the branches aimed at his face, but they suffer the sharpest limbs.

Ahni clears a path from the school grounds and into dense woods. So much so that his speed decreases significantly as he frantically seeks a way out. He needs to keep moving forward. Maybe through the ruckus, Diamond may give up and everything will be fine. He tries to keep track of his directional path, mentally noting the spots he passes, but the panic is setting in, his mind shatters. Sooner or later, he'll forget everything-- his direction, his self-awareness-- but it's worth a try.

Haste pushes him to the edge of a cliff, trees clearing, a field of grass in his wake. He is wide open as he stumbles, but his sight grants him a view of a busy city just below. The outskirts of the place they live. That's right. Nirvana Academy has its land away from the population, but the distance is further and takes a car to cover. His mind creeps with sudden realization. Did I run this far? This must be another location. His pants are hard as he doubles over, lungs on the verge of collapsing. The quick rise and fall of his chest grant no solace to the marathon he has run mixed with near-panic-driven dizziness.

He discovers what the outer limits of the school harbor, and he's filled with disappointment. Flagging down a vehicle from up here is nearly impossible. Nirvana stands on a steep hill; his voice cannot carry over the engines. What is it like seeing the place he has come from? Mentally, he doesn't want to go back, but physically, he knows that if he were surrounded by others, this wouldn't be happening to him.

Diamond wouldn't be so bold as to hurt those in this school.

He needs to get to Principal Jones. The only way out of this is to appear before an authoritative figure. Tell them what Diamond is doing and have him escorted away. 

None of the students can escape this location. No one can sneak in either. This strategic design is made to keep students inside like some sort of wild animal attraction. Maybe because the outside world is too tempting, and having access to what used to be would only push many students back into their dark world.

Ahni watches the spewed colors of the sunrise; their beauty gives him comfort, but he knows inside he has reached a dead end. His features rest, and his hand touches his lips softly to gather the warmth from inside, wiping away a stray line of drool. He's thirsty now, and already suffering from various other issues. As dry as his throat has become, and his stomach punching knots, he's at a foreign limit. Excreting this much energy on an empty stomach takes a toll on his ability to remain upright.

Ahni's legs stumble under his weight, but he only doubles over, hands gripping his knees. The knotting inside peaks and his muscles clench. A few hurls of air and mucus from his stomach, followed by violent coughing, and Ahni feels worse. He closes his eyes, hoping to cling to something that will keep his mind off his predicament.

Where is Crescent?

Can he find him out here? He did say he was coming, but after leaving that building behind, how would his brother know to come to the middle of nowhere? The thoughts just seem like distant hope. Ahni steps forward, trying to look calmly over the edge. Should he just jump? Save them all the hassle? His lifeless eyes stare over the edge, imagining what would happen if he suddenly fell over. All the cars below wouldn't hesitate to splatter his contents everywhere, but at least the nightmare would be over.

A soft rustling of the grass and bushes behind him sends Ahni to suck his teeth. The hair on the back of his neck stands.

Or maybe it has just begun...

Ahni falls to his knees—giving in.

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

Warm crimson liquid drips from Ahni's parted lips as he tries to focus on his breathing and not choking on his blood. He can barely stay awake due to the severe ringing in his mind. Pain massages his insides churning with every exhale, and aching pulse makes him less eager to escape. It's hard to focus when his hearing barely keeps up with what's around him. The shattering gnaw of his bones crunching forces him to keep as still as possible, but it's hard the weaker he gets.

The only thing he can take in is the rare warmth of an autumn morning. The light in this hellish punishment. The rising sun like the burning golden iris of Crescent's eyes reminds him of his brother, who casts a glow on his world. The air is clean, not too cold-- just gentle enough that it feels like an embrace. Earth is alive around him, it's a scent of dirt, animal fur, and fallen leaves, a mixture of dampness from the morning dew. Bright red, amber leaves, shimmer in early light. Even the birds are stirring, their songs filling the air softly. A day to live, a beautiful day to die. Oh, how he'd die to go for a nature walk with his friends right about now. 

Ralp, is he ok?

Diamond is a man who takes no orders, so his pursuit to unleash his rage lasted longer than Ahni thought it would. Ahni left as a sack of meat being beaten without relief. His begging didn't end the slaps, the kicks, the punches, the derogatory words, the yelling. He has never witnessed anything so animalistic. If he raised his head at all, even an inch, Diamond would kick him in the jaw, his mind-boggling and his body thrown to one side. The amount of blood splattered scared him, but he was unable to check his teeth.

If he climbed to his knees, Diamond would again kick him in the rib cage, forcing him on his side. And if he begged, then the slapping across his mouth would start. Pure torture.

He wanted to cry. Wanted to know why this was happening to him. Scared, alone, and worried about Crescent, he knew he had failed. Ahni was supposed to get away, buy his brother some time, and in the end, the two could meet up and face the darkness together. The innocent plot thwarts the enemies like the courageous young adults they were. The scene failed because he was too weak.

That imaginary scene playing in his head over and over until within his mind calls a voice,

"Ahnnnnniiii!!"

The heated crisp sound of his name sends a shiver down his spine. It sounds so far away, coated in worry and panic, but why does it sound like it's in the wind more so than in his head? Lifting his dangling head seeks to grasp onto this imaginary voice-- the consoling sound. That's when his tear-filled eyes wash over the figure he knows all too well.

Breathing heavily and hunched over, he finds himself just a few feet away from his best friend—the one who has always been his guide through the pain. In this moment, he realizes he can't let go just yet. They are finally reunited! All the hopelessness he has endured, the dread and agony that once swallowed him, seem to fade away. It's a moment of salvation, with his brother here by his side, reliable as ever. With a shaky hand, Ahni clings to the grass, tearing at a few blades as he draws on his strength. 

Dedicated to getting to Crescent but beside him like a dog master, Diamond stands loud and proud, his arms crossed under his chest. His devilish smirk plastered across his face as if Ahni wasn't the only one waiting. Any shift in movement and he's sure Diamond will stop him so his heart pounds with anticipation on what to do. He's unable to feel his legs, having been bent for so long. Ahni remains still, hoping Crescent can get to him instead. 

He was here! He was here to save him like all those other times! A fight could never break the love Crescent has for Ahni. Oh, how he missed that embrace. Ahni's emotions slowly creep up in his mind. The best of him breaks and he chokes on the heaviness in his chest. A little cough hurt like hell, but he doesn't want to stop the yearning that balloons inside.

Ahni nods weakly in response. 'Yes, yes, come get me.'

Diamond steps forward, his image severing and distorting Ahni's vision, before suddenly sending his limb to drift upwards. A palm extends to Crescent, not so welcoming behind those cold eyes, but he's relaxed and calculated, arrogant in he'll get what he wants. He dares Crescent to take it, but it's like willingly signing over one's existence to satan himself. Those purple hues dance around frantically in excitement, knowing just how much this has worked in his favor.

Coordinates aren't that hard to follow. A text message of a pin on the map was sent to Crescent. Principal Jones has every student install this tracking GPS on their phones. This app allows him to find any Nirvana Academy student who dares to walk the vast woods. Some are stupid enough to venture out. Rescue teams are sent soon after. Finding one another using the app is a simple task, but not everyone knows all of its features. Instead of calling 911 and having an operator answer, Principal Jones's standby team will respond. If Crescent had clicked the SOS, they'd be on their way, but that was something he failed to register.

Crescent approaches with a slow stride through the barely cut grass, his heels hesitantly digging into the dirt as his weight nearly stumbles his frame. If this means saving Ahni and surrendering himself to this monster, then he is willing to do anything. Seeing Ahni battered, sitting there bloody like a trained animal is something Crescent can't bear.

The anger that boils within him forces his limbs to shake and his heart to pound, his cold gaze remains on Diamond in case he decides to target Ahni at the moment. Diamond isn't to be trusted. Swing on him, show Diamond what it means to fuck with something he loves, but he fears his haste decision will hurt them instead.

So he tucks as much of his violent need away, only showing a sour expression as a reflection in those two-toned emotionless eyes. This fucking monster. Sooner or later, the eye of the hurricane had to have passed and Diamond would surface from his lair. Diamond promised him he'd deliver a world he had never seen before. How easy was that to achieve?

At least, Crescent kept his promises. Kisha knew nothing, so a fight wouldn't happen.

Saikai's secret is safe with him.

Ahni too will be safe.

It's his turn now, to save everyone again. What happens to him from here on out, he has to be strong. Diamond's a few feet away, the images of the slow rise and fall within his chest-- a trap alive and well remind Crescent what it's like to feel helpless. Hesitantly, Crescent lifts his arm, extended digits reaching for his demise. The nerves within his core shake him and his fingertips vibrate, every instinct, survival, and drive to live tell him to run, escape, and save himself! That is a coward's game. Without a shield to protect him, his role right now, sacrifice. Ahni doesn't have the strength to fight alongside him, so he'll bear this weight alone.

"You'll let him go... Right?" Crescent's lifted left leg stops, his toes touching the tips of the grass. He's reluctant to take another step if Ahni can't at least get out of striking range.

"You'd outta not rush things. Why be so willing?"

Crescent's attention drifts without Diamond's answer, his gaze falling upon a figure coming from a nearby bush. As the male approaches cautiously a gust of wind brings Crescent's bangs to dance. This scene bares another kind of audience. Phantom-- the rat of the school involves himself in the business of others while collecting what he refers to as data. No one understands what Phantom truly wants, but that doesn't matter anymore. If he's here to do anything how about throwing his useless ass in front of everyone!

Dressed in a uniform, a baseball cap, and a mask that only covers his eyes-- a bit different from his all black attire. Phantom plucks some leaves off of his suit from his travel, the desire to remain neat forces his attention on his appearance for a second. He's too casual.

"Why do you look so content, Crescent? He is my guest, after all." Diamond shatters whatever hope inside of Crescent's mind. His guest? So The Phantom works with Diamond?

Crescent's heart sank. All this time... it was merely a game? But that didn't exclude the information Phantom said. The rules, the warning... the actions that would ensure Crescent's survival. Was he a fool to trust Phantom?

"Fuck... Aren't you a piece of shit too, huh?" Crescent's clenched jaw makes his words come in growl.

"Nonsense. I could never be..." Phantom's eyes follow Diamond before he finishes his sentence. "... that..."

Diamond begins to chuckle. What a silly joke when that is the strongest thing standing here right now. When that can break any bone in their bodies and when that decides who lives and who dies. Yeah, he can never be that.

A light touch at Diamond's fingertips and the two are finally joined. Like the slithering tail of a snake, Diamond's frost-kissed digits run between Crescent's fingers. His grip suddenly tightens and like lightweight his frame comes slamming into Diamond's. A shiver racks Crescent's back as Diamond's unnaturally cold skin surprises him. Crescent tries to pull back, but his body is secured in the unpleasant feel. He tries to relax his muscles to no avail. He's tense.

He hasn't felt this before. Someone whose skin holds no heat. As if what Diamond has been is a corpse. That makes sense by the darkened circles under his eyes and ghostly pale skin. He stinks as well. The vile must of old meat and forest. How can anyone of the elite class handle him in a room with them? His looks can never overshadow everything else.

"This isn't part of the plan, Diamond!"

The Phantom abruptly screams which forces Crescent to jump. The Phantom's voice is always quiet and collected. Witnessing him losing control over the situation makes Crescent realize just how much plot these two are diving into. Who isn't safe from this moles claws? Are they just playing into some sick game orchestrated by the man himself?

Are those claws inside of Asho, too? No... That's Vergyl's vendetta. Walking into Kings, Crescent learned a lot about his leaders. They are the worst group Ahni could've accepted help from.

"Focus..." The words shake Crescent a bit as Diamond too physically moves him. Crescent's worried eyes drift towards pale pink lips, watching jagged teeth threaten to slit tongue. Surprisingly as Diamond talks so close to him, his breath is quite hot. The insides of his body is warm? But his skin ice cold? How is that possible?

"I told you... Not to bring anyone."

What? A baffled look watches intensely as his eyes take in Diamond's traveled offended gaze. He didn't bring anyone. Diamond was the one who brought someone. He hopes this fucker isn't some kind of mindless psychopath that will blame his decisions on his victims.

Diamond is adamant about focusing just beyond him, so he tries to follow where he has been looking. Crescent's unable to because the moment he shifts his attention, a hand extends towards his face.

Chilly, pale fingers run through his hair pushing the clump of his bangs backward before aggressively grappling at the top of his head. The soft stinging, Crescent winces, pulling his hand up to grasp Diamond's wrist.

His glasses shift slightly, threatening to fall to the ground, but they hang on.

He's effortlessly yanked forward, spun around, and an arm, heavily wraps around his small waist, his butt pressing against Diamond's groin. A calming exhale upon the side of his neck sounds more like a satisfied moan. A thump in Crescent's chest. Diamond's sharp inhale follows. Is this turning Diamond on? 

"Scram... Worthless fucker."

Diamond growls to Ahni who flinches, gathers himself, and weakly runs away.

Ahni's image nearly fades downhill, but Crescent notices that Ahni is running toward a group of people standing in the distance. First, standing in a hospital gown, picked up by the wind, barefooted... Saikai. He's alright. All this time he survived, but his condition doesn't come with care and understanding. Beside him an unfamiliar blonde. Probably another gang member. He watches as Ahni's frame stumbles into Saikai's arms before bittersweet rests on Crescent's core. A sense of relief and regret holds him. With Ahni now so far away, he's left alone. Ahni's safe. He did it.

His eyes soon look at Phantom as Phantom quickly nods at him. What is this...? Phantom then turns his eyes to the area Diamond is focused on the most and again so does Crescent. Why is everyone so worried about Saikai?

Saikai...

It dawns on Crescent when behind Saikai and Ehma comes the only other person--

"Oh..." Diamond chuckles. "I spy with my little eye..." Diamond lowers his head to whisper inside of Crescent's ear. "... a mutt."

Crescent caves into Diamond by force, relinquishing any form of space between them. His small frame secure, slightly bent over as Diamond travels a hand up Crescent's thigh, giving him a little squeeze. Disgusting. Being touched by someone like this.

The heavy huffing of Diamond's lungs in his ear, Crescent doesn't struggle allowing his frame to suffer at the mercy of a hard grip. There's no point in fighting him off. He's incredibly strong. Fighting a brick wall as a human being only means injury. What's the point of wasted energy? 

"His scent is all over you..." Diamond whispers again into Crescent's ear, a hard inhale from his neck to his head before the slimy parted sound of a mouth opening and a tongue slithering forward pile on Crescent's senses. Is he addicted to Kisha's pheromones?

"Gosh... You're so fucking annoying. Whatever you're trying to say, I don't want to hear it. You're complaining like a bitch." A flinch to dodge Diamond's attempt. "If you have a problem with Kisha then how about waiving your small dick around him, eh? You're acting so intimidated. Why? He's way better than you. Get over it..."

Through clenched teeth, Crescent speaks, watching from the side of his face, those happy, eerily curious eyes that became amazed at how well this feisty human can still chatter his teeth.

Diamond only releases a small amused "Ohhhhh?" He's entertained by that venomous tongue. Small dick? How rude when Crescent hasn't seen it... yet. Now he sees why Kisha is so smitten. The appetite to shut down this fire burns between his sanity and his composure. The desire to torture Crescent even more steers his drive so, Diamond takes his free hand, running a single finger up Crescent's stomach, following the path until his hand is securely wrapped around Crescent's slender neck.

"Say that again, but this time, scream."

"Diamond!" Phantom calls out to settle Diamond down, but his commanding voice doesn't stop anything. Phantom too has been itching to punch Crescent in the face, but this isn't going according to the book. Crescent's smart mouth isn't theirs to correct right now and pride should be hidden because the only thing this is going to do is spark Kisha.

His eyes close tightly, a small huff from his lips, Crescent prepares for his consequence, but it isn't enough to take away the heavy thumps in his head. Pushing up on the tips of his toes just to extend his neck, hoping that'll help, but efforts are in vain.

The grip tightens, each digit securing a synchronized squeeze and soon his panicked inhales are trapped inside his lungs. Fuck. Crescent does the unthinkable, attempting to slow his fear by focusing on the little breath he can take in.  Diamond's fingers listen to every opportunity like a safe being unlocked. They tighten at the correct moments which soon leaves Crescent completely void of being able to breathe.

Blood floods his face, the sensations kick in like the flickering of a dying candle. Veins straining and pulsing as every muscle strains, but his grip on Diamond's wrist—weak, trembling, soaked in desperation. So tight, useless attempt to hold on to something as unforgiving. His fingernails dig into skin, a being about to drown, only to find that the harder he tries to fight, the more life slips through.

The world around him fades, descending into a haze of bland grey, hollow colors, and foggy happiness as his mind focuses in and out on what's it like to... be alive. The lack of oxygen aches, and his heart begins to violently pump in confusion-- lack of knowing how to sustain itself, but slower and harder it clings. The feeling in his chest he's tired of fighting. A weight casts his physical frame and he feels airy, floating into a world he's not ready to see. 

How much time has passed in this suffering? The blur turns to a tunneling darkness in his eyes. The strength beneath his tips starts to loosen before one hand falls dangling by his side. His hearing deadens to nothing, the painful huffs of his breath his only friend. The ones that guide him like a mother's soft song to give up-- let it happen. 

How much longer he can hold on?

It hurts, the saliva bunching within his throat, his body, his mind-- it's numb, his legs, his arms, his...

'I'm dying, aren't I?'

The world he's surrendering to is colder than the depths of the water. Emptier than a swallowing black hole but more peaceful than the life he's lived. Slowly his other hand trickles down until it too dangles. The fear disappears. Images of a smiling face runs like sweet sunshine inside of his mind. His little brothers tears of joy play within a giddy laugh. Yeah, that Ahni.

'Please, Kisha... I'm not done yet...'

(((A/N

I want everyone to feel what Crescent feels. His forced hopelessness, but at the same time... His fire to live. It's an important character trait.

Don't be afraid to tell me what you think by commenting.❤️❤️

Drop a vote if you like. 👍👍))