The 4th Memory: Friendship but Farewell

The monster had me defeated before I even had a chance to realize it. Its harsh screech was shrill enough that it reverberate through my teeth. As its salty, scarlet tones disgust my palate, I drew my gunblade. Before it could throw a jab, I beat it to the punch and severed its appendage, only for it to pounce back with renewed vigor. Leaping directly into my line of fire, I discharged my weapon directly into its maws. Merely enraged from its wounds, the monster fought relentlessly. As I began to wear down, the monster proceeded to fight like a fiend, forcing me to retreat into the shadows.

From the periphery I ascertained that the boy had evaded the monster's initial attack for he had realized our adversary for what it was from the start: a machine. One whose heart of steel spares it from fear or pain. The boy, who had only his fists and a small blade, wasted no time taking cover. Realizing it was unable to locate either of it targets, the machine began to pump voltage into one of its appendages. Exposed by the glow, I could see that I had severed all but one of its supports. It was on it's last leg.

It found the boy first. Its back turned to me, I took advantage of my position and took aim at the joint connecting its remaining support. Just as I pulled the trigger, it lunged in reverse to take me down. Although unhinged, I hadn't expected this and had no choice but to brace for its coup-de-grace.

Suddenly, as though lightning, there was a flash of illumination and then nothing. Although brief, the flare afforded insight into our circumstances. In retreat from the machine, I had taken refuge behind the Founder's Statue, and the boy, or what could be none other than the boy's body, laid between me and the machine, having intercepted its final assault.

Only someone so young could be so reckless. Although he had only lived for ten years he risked them all for me, someone who had lived long enough to live his life twice. Had he been able to comprehend all that had just happened? As though raising his soul, he was weightless as I laid him to rest against the statue. Life draining from his wounds, the boy violently shivered; his fiery passion finally extinguished.

Although the boy tried hard to hide behind one of his witticisms, he could only grimace. Hoping to offer solace, I reminded him of all there was to look forward to once everything was over. When I began to mention resuming life Outside, he stared back at me in disbelief.

"I've been through worse before," he reassured me. "I know I’ll be fine--It's as though the pain is fading away..."

Then, through his eyes I saw him leave.

It was the beginning of the end... or perhaps it was just a new beginning. When our eyes met, blue to brown, a relationship had planted itself in my mind; as my father said: a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet. After the boy opened his mouth, however, I knew he was going to be the end of me. In fact, I knew it was he who had started it all along. My father's favorite phrase: as one door closes another one opens, I rest my case only to open another: What was to come?