O.N.E. VIRUS

4: ONE

[WARNING. THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS... illness/viruses/disease, mentions of death/car crashes, mentions of memory loss, cursing. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.]

[BEGINNING ??? POV]

The wind is whisper, whistling through the trees. The grass is merely a platform as I stand so tall from it, high above it. High above the insects that scuttle low.

I like to be this tall, high above the insects, high above the grass... it makes me feel good, knowing that there are other things in existence besides myself. Especially things that I am greater than.

I am not considered great by many, actually... I don't remember meeting anybody.

Perhaps this is related to the aching pain in my head?

I close my eyes, the wind on my face and the grass beneath me as I sit silently on a wooden log. Time passes, but I'm usually never aware of it.

When I open my eyes, the sky has darkened. I may as well head to bed in that 'cabin' over there... but I just cannot. Sleep is unnecessary.

I stand from the log and I walk slowly toward a pond at the base of a waterfall. I look into it. No wonder the insects stand below me and scuttle away, I could definitely seem intimidating to some. I grin.

I then change my course and I walk slowly into a cave, a dimly lit cave with nothing inside. Well, nothing that a normal cave would have.

I sit at a chair at a desk and I turn on a computer. I am greeted by a screen showing many others, though this is only information on them.

Maybe it's time. Time to begin this.

How long has it been? 3 years? It doesn't matter, I've forgotten anyway.

And I am different. I have changed.

I sigh. Here goes nothing...

I click enter on the first string of code.

[RESUMING BRYCE HANSEN POV]

I stand back up from the floor. Seeing Brad like this makes me feel weak in the knees. And it not only makes me feel nauseous, but also a bit sad.

Even though I've reassured him at this point, I still feel horrible. Maybe even more so horrible now that I've made a promise that I can't keep.

A thick tear rolls down my face, soon followed by more. My vision blurs like a window covered in condensation, my hands shake like a car on a bumpy road.

Please. Please. Anywhere but here...
I don't need this.
A car. Stella. The water. The crash.

I fall to my knees, tears streaming down my face. Those tears form quick, rapidly falling down my face. The tears turn to horrid and loud and disgusting sobs, but I don't care.

The world around me seems nonexistent as I wrap my arms around myself. My eyes are shut tight, but the tears keep falling.

This is too much.

My friend is gone and I can't help.
I don't have anyone anymore.
I really don't.

No Stella.
No Liam.
No Scenty.
No Brad.
No.
Nothing.

I'm so deep in sorrow that I jump in surprise when I feel a hand on my shoulder.

"Hey," a kind voice says, "it's alright." And he pats my shoulder. Parker...

But this gesture causes me more tears, I shake off his grasp and I plunge deeper into this hole of sadness that I had dug for myself... and possibly buried myself deep in.