A Shipwreck ~ A Aphmau Ship-Based book!

Chapter 11

Zane's POV

~Flashback~

20 years earlier...

"Zane~Kun," Kawaii~Chan whispered. "There's something wrong with Gene~Kun."

Zane looked past Kawaii~Chan's shoulder. Gene was pacing and looked incredibly troubled. His blanket wasn't tied around his neck like usual; instead, it was draped over his shoulder, and he was messing with the end of it. Zane had noticed Gene's strange behavior lately as well. As Jess had gotten older and learned more stuff about the world, Gene had grown to be more on edge. He was constantly checking around the mindscape for monsters and his energy was affecting Jess too, making Jess as timid as Zane was. It was starting to become a problem.

"He's doing his best," Zane said uneasily. "He's just trying to keep Jess safe."

"But Jess~Senpai is just always afraid. What if this isn't good? For either of them?" Kawaii~Chan's fingers taped together and she kept glancing back at Gene. "Aaron~Kun and Aphmau~Senpai are getting worried too. Maybe we should talk to him? Try to work this out?"

Zane shrugged. He wasn't sure what good that would do. Gene wasn't much for talking anymore either. He had become even quieter than Zane lately and nobody really knew why.

While Kawaii~Chan went over to talk to Gene, Aaron and Aph walked over.

"Did Kawaii~Chan talk to you too?" Aph asked, watching the both of them. Zane nodded. "I have a bad feeling about all of this."

"He's just doing his best," said Zane.

Aaron hummed and crossed his arms. "I think we should all talk to him tonight, while Jess is asleep and we have less things to attend to. I don't want Gene getting distracted, especially when he's like this."

Zane nodded. Jess was on her way to the bus stop for school, accompanied by her mother, but Gene was still on edge and it showed in Jess, the way she moved quickly but carefully and looked in every direction. Zane was surprised that Jess wasn't clinging to her mother's hand. Maybe Gene felt a little more relaxed today.

"Kawaii~Chan just thinks it's important that we all talk to each other," Kawaii~Chan said, trying to put a hand on Gene's shoulder to station him. "We're all here for Gene~Kun."

"I'm fine," Gene snapped. "Do you know how hard it is to protect her from every dangerous thing? Do you know how easy it is for a kid to die? Do you know—"

Suddenly a dog jumped at Jess, barking. It was the dog belonging to the man who lived down the street, and it was a large Great Dane. Gene used to just laugh off a scare like that, but now he screamed, which led to Jess screaming, and running off to escape the threat of the dog. Gene temporarily had more control than Aaron, than common sense, and he ended up running into the street. A blare of a horn made Jess freeze and look to see the car barreling towards him.

Time slowed down as the mind sped up.

"Gene, stop it!" Aaron shouted, running up to him. He pushed Kawaii~Chan out of the way in his rush. Gene looked absolutely frozen and his eyes were hazy and unseeing, like a deer caught in headlights. "Gene!" Aaron shouted, shaking Gene. Gene's glassy look finally left his eyes, and Jess moved as the car swerved. The car slammed to a stop, but Jess was safe, laying on the sidewalk where she'd fallen when she jumped out of the way. Her mother and other nearby adults came rushing to her side to make sure she was okay.