He didn't know how to comfort himself anymore. Back when his lover didn't have a car, at least they still lived together he could hear his voice, see his face, and never asked for anything more than that.
But once Toy had the car, he seemed to forget the one who had always stood behind him, the one he once promised to stay with…
The city was far too big.
So big that even a crosswalk stretched before him like a vast desert path with no end in sight. All he could feel were his short, dragging steps and the tears streaming down his face, as if he had nothing left in the world.
Walk… he had to keep walking.
Just cross the street. If he could make it to the other side, he would reach the room faster… the room they once shared. He just wanted to go back and collapse into sleep that would be enough.
Green light… 100 seconds.
It was one in the morning. Silence reigned. The streets were empty, not a single car in sight.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Short legs trembled with each step, shaky like those of an old man. Not even halfway across, a sharp gust of wind blew from somewhere distant. Something unseen brushed against him, but his ears were ringing, his vision dizzy he didn't want to notice anything else.
Whoooosh~
A familiar sound, echoing from somewhere he couldn't place. His mind was too foggy to think, and his own legs felt like the only solid thing he could rely on to get back. Just a little further… that's all.
Fshhh!!! Brummmm!!
A sudden flash of light from behind. He turned and the car was too close to dodge.
Screeeech!!!
Wide eyes peeked through messy hair. For a fleeting moment, it felt like he met the driver's gaze through the windshield. The headlights cut through the fog and tears, stabbing straight into his vision everything went white.
A second ago…
Was that the Grim Reaper?
Why… was it so terrifying?
CRASH!!
Huff… huff…
What the hell?
What car was that?
It had come so fast, almost too quick to track. It barreled toward him as if it would shred him into pieces. In a split second, the vehicle swerved.
The impact spun the other car in a tight circle around the small body in the middle of the intersection, smoke and debris filling the air.
Star froze, eyes wide. He straightened instinctively, holding his breath as one car narrowly dodged him and slammed into a street lamp.
Haaahhhh!
The long-held breath shattered the silence. The rear of the car was fine, but the front was mangled parts scattered across the asphalt, the driver's side windshield cracked. Inside, the driver lay motionless, blood running down his head and shoulders, the image seared into Star's mind even from afar.
Shit… this is bad… this is so bad!
Panic propelled him forward. Star sprinted toward the lowered red car, pounding on the window with all his strength.
Bang!! Bang!! Bang!!
"You! Hey, you!!"
The glass was cracked and could shatter any second.
His small hands grabbed a stray metal rod just nearby and slammed it into the glass repeatedly.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
With the last bit of strength, he pried the door open and pulled the big man out seatbelt off, airbags hadn't deployed. He lay face down on the steering wheel, blood streaming, eyes terrifying. Star dragged him away from the car, moving as far from the wreck as he could.
Then…
BOOM!!
The car exploded. A real explosion. This was an intersection under full CCTV coverage. If they hadn't escaped… they'd be dead.
How could life be so cruel, piling misfortune upon misfortune? There was no time to think.
His last reserves of strength and willpower had been spent in that desperate moment.
He couldn't handle more physically or mentally.
Emergency responders arrived swiftly, lifting the two injured men from the wreck.
Blood and dust smeared their clothes as they were rushed to the nearest hospital.