Part 1: Denial - Episode 8 

Elias and William had moved to the bunks, a thick, unfriendly silence followed. Elias shook his head in dismay, a large lump forming in the back of his throat as tears stung in his eyes. “Why,” Elias breathed nearly inaudibly. In turn, William hummed slightly, indicating his somewhat patient listening. “Why are we expected to – just – move on . . .” he choked. William looked up at the top bunk, his face remained straight, indifferent, as he shrugged, though invisible to Elias. “It’s just too chaotic,” Elias sighed, shifting on his mattress, fiddling idly with a rainbow sticker on his notebook. The cover of his notebook was a rich, black leather, the pages of parchment were rough, with delicate strokes of pencil. Elias’ handwriting was a mess – scribbles and, in a way, out of pocket doodles precariously crowding the corners of his page. He exhaled, thinking of his home, not the city, but before that. A place – not that he could remember where, but he could remember sitting in the living area with the golden sun shining through the open front door, the flat landscape stretching with trees and water towers and the large, fluffy clouds looming in the sky.
Groaning slightly as he got up, Elias slowly climbed down the creaking bunk ladder, sighing at the bottom, heading towards the bathroom.

Elias leaned against the basin, his skin glowing softly in the brilliant sun as his arms vaguely ached. Elias’ knees began to cave and he shrunk to the cold tiles. This was the first time – the first time of many. Alone on the cold tiles, shaking, crying. His big cousin wasn’t there to comfort him anymore – ah, right. That’s why he was here. Elias sniffed quietly; aware to keep the sounds of his sobbing to a minimum. A somewhat muted – not quiet, but not loud – rap came from the other end of the door.

This is my life now. Elias thought inaudibly to himself. It would have been worlds more beneficial for Elias to just have stayed in The City District. And his mother – probably flooding his phone with calls. But he left it back there. There isn’t signal, wifi, or even enough outlets for a T.V or phones in this isolated part of the world. Elias’ silent cries eventually slowed to a quiet breath. His head throbbing slightly. 

Another knock came, this time, softer. It took Elias a moment to notice, but he aided himself up slowly. He opened the bathroom door, and there sat William; leaned against the wall next to the door, lightly holding his abdomen. Politely, Elias silently took a seat next to William, oddly far apart.
“I don’t like it here,” Elias murmured, barely audible. William hesitated, thinking – processing. “You will get used to it,” William responded coldly, yet, once again, a barely visible tinge of warmth . . . Elias sighed. “Do we really know as little about Thy Bad Habits as Lloyd says?” he queried. Once more, William paused. “I have a theory,” his voice lowered. “It was Abel’s theory – a popular thing among him and his friends. Certain mythical creatures react to certain materials. In this case,” William stopped suddenly, processing again. A short silence crept up for a few moments. “Tamahagane,” William began. “Oh –” Elias turned his head, “It’s a metal found in Japan, yeah?”
“Yes,” William responded. “I read a book about it once, it was some magical metal that could kill anything,” Elias laughed softly to himself. “Anyway,” William continued, “There is a ring made from Tamahagane. It belonged to my father’s grandfather, but it was lost. “. . . You want that ring?” Elias questioned carefully. “Abel wanted it. For me.”

“For you.”

. . .

Collin laughed, wrapping his arms around Elias, “Aww~ my little cousin’s first day of High school!” he sneered. Elias rolled his eyes, obviously amused. “Leave, Collin, c’mon, my friends are waiting . . . and watching.”
“Aww~ moody little teenager, yeah?” Collin cackled, ruffling Elias’ shimmering brown hair aggressively, Collin’s hair dry from bleach.

. . .