Mitch's POV 

Fire.

Fire.

Fire.

Fire everywhere.

Every time I closed my eyes, that's all I could see; it was already 3a.m., and I was a trembling mess under my tangled blankets. I wanted nothing more than to just sleep, and forget what happened, but I knew that would be too easy.

Eventually, I heard my phone going off; I picked it up and found Eli messaging me.

Tigerxx1: hey

Tigerxx1: you awake?

Tigerxx1: probly not, but…thought i’d see

For a second, all my worries faded away…only to be replaced with his instead. Had his dad done something? 

LukeaDuke: I'm up!

Tigerxx1: oh hallelujah

Tigerxx1: wait no 

Tigerxx1: why are you up

I chuckled a little.

Tigerxx1: you gotta rest after what happened

I stopped chuckling.

Tigerxx1: wait wait no

Tigerxx1: are you okay after all that?

LukeaDuke: not really…

He's a mess, but he's got a really good heart. 

Funny…he's said that about me before, I think.

Tigerxx1 is calling you!

I blinked a few times; I knew it was dangerous for both of us, but…

“Hey big bro,” He likes to call me that, especially when I'm in a funk. “Talk to me.”

I could tell from his cracking voice that he'd been crying.

“I think I should be telling you that…”

“Nah, don't worry about it.”

“You sound like me, TigerEli.”

A moment of silence passed.

“Two peas in a pod, huh?” He sniffled.

“...I guess so.” I sighed.

“You first.” 

“...I can't sleep.” I whispered. “The fire's all I can see.”

“Oh…”

“Your turn.”

“...Dad went off again. He even said that if I was so depressed I could go jump off a bridge.”

My blood boils every time I think of that asshole.

“Don't do it.” I begged. “Please.”

A moment of silence passed.

“Eli?”

More silence.

“Eli…take it off.”

My heart stopped.

“Please, Eli. I can't lose you.”

After a moment, I heard a heavy sigh…and the shifting of a chair.

“Why shouldn't I…?”

“You're my best friend,” I pleaded more. “You're kind, you're fun, you work hard even if nobody sees it. I believe in you. You just gotta get outta there.”

“I could go right now—”

“Don't.” 

More silence.

It sounded like he jumped down from somewhere.

“Only because it's you asking…”

He started to cry again.

I hugged my phone to my chest and encouraged him to let it all out.

“S-Sorry—”

“Don't be, lil’ bro.”

“...Y-Your turn.”

“Huh?”

“Y-You can cry ‘round me,” He insisted. He always insists I let my guard down around him.

I usually do, but crying? Nah…

…I haven't cried like that in a long time.

“Nah, I'm good…just stressed.”

“...C-Can I do anything…?”

After a moment of thinking, I hummed.

“Sing for me?”

“You sure…?”

“Yeah. I like your singing. Lots.”

After a minute or so, he started on that song he'd been writing.

“Open my eyes unto this broken world

Searching for purpose that’s never there

The misery that never relieves its hold

Clouds my vision with grey despair

But soon enough I see a flare

Shooting through my enclosed heart…”

I stared at the ceiling as he sang.

“One flip, two flips,

Two sides of the same coin

Halves that in a single slip

Found each other in the void…”

My eyes slowly slipped shut.

“‘Seek and ye shall find’

A red thread loops into a twine

A single word changed the course of life

A blood bond cursed to endure strife…”

Before I knew it, I was asleep.

__________________________________

“Sister…”

I woke up to find myself staring down a girl; she had long curly hair and green eyes, like Eli. She and I were standing on a balcony, and she was leaning a liiiitle too far over the edge for my liking.

“Admit it, Mattheus.” The way she said my person's name made my stomach churn. “It wouldn't really matter if I dropped right now.”

“It would matter to me,” I took a step towards her. “I can't lose you again.”

She stared me down.

“You were fine without me.” She insisted. “You'll be fine again.”

“No I will not be!” I snapped. “I wasn't fine! I missed you every day!”

“...Really?”

“Of course, Eliza.”

‘Eliza’ looked up at the sky.

“...I missed you, too.”

“Then stay. Please.”

“...If it were anyone else asking…”

She finally stood up; I ran over and hugged her.

“I'll protect you from now on.” I promised, hugging tighter.

“Thank you…”

As the dream faded, I could have sworn I heard someone crying.