Reese Faigon took to hiding at the old shack by the beach. A place he and his girlfriend Cree often hid away in, but that was the past. There was a time in his his life when he wished it had been him who died in that cave, but instead Cree made that sacrifice to save the the lives of her friends. Guilt ruled his mind since that day. Now, the guilt of his mother’s death plagued him.

Just when the guilt of letting Cree die alone had passed, it was replaced by a new one, a feeling of shame and regret.

“Why do I live?” he asked himself out loud. “They sacrificed everything. Why? Am I the selfish one? Are we all? All who live and keep living. Tell me! Tell me!”

His shouts echoed through the air. At that moment he was no longer alone. “Reese, stop blamin’ yourself.”

Reese turned around quickly. “Dusk, how’d you find me?”

“Losin’ your touch there, kid. Fanta knew ya came here and why. It ain’t hard t’figure where you’d be.”

“I should have saved her.”

“Who? Your girl or your mom.”

“Both. I told Cree I’d always protect her. I lied. I let her die.”

“That was her call. You knew it, and so do I.”

“Why did she do it? Cree destroyed herself, yes. I can understand why she had to go, but my mother too. Why do the fates want me to suffer?”

“You’re not alone, kid. We all suffered.”

“Then why go on?”

“We got no choice, Reese. Your ma would never give up. You shouldn’t either.”

“Why not? I’ll just end up dead like her.”

“She ain’t dead, kid. She’s out there somewhere.”

“No Dusk, she’s gone. You gotta face that. She ain’t nothing but worm food.”

Dusk grabbed Reese by the front of his shirt. His intention was not to harm him, but he was angered by Reese’s indifference. “Listen up, Reese. There ain’t no body in that grave. As long as there’s no body, there’s hope.”

Using his natural strength, Reese prodded the older man from his person. “What about Cree? No one ever found her body, and she’s dead. Don’t tell me what to think, old man. I know the truth.”

Reese walked away for the old shack and soon he was running. Down to the shores Reese ran as Dusk just watched. He realized the best thing for him to do was leave the boy alone. In a way Reese was right, but with Fanta, it was different. He felt her more strongly now then ever before. He just wished he knew where she was.

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