Vin dreamed.

Maybe his last.

It was an extraordinarily vivid dream.

Not just lucid, but reality-shaking.

He stood on his skateboard in a bright garden, rolling through warm sun and sweet flowers.

He felt the wheels turning under his feet. 

He felt the breeze.

He felt peace.

It was a moment he wanted to last forever, and oddly, it did.

He tried skating toward a pair of daisies, but he never drew closer. Time stretched strangely, holding him inside the moment.

Part of him felt guilty, as if he was hiding from something terrible waiting outside. But he didn't dare look too closely.

Blink after blink, he happily enjoyed peace in that majestic garden.

It lasted for what felt like hours.

But out of nowhere, he felt that place waiver.

Strangely, he knew it was over, and it was time to say goodbye.

The dream dissolved.

An ungodly chill slammed throughout his entire body—like he'd been inside a freezer.

Pain throbbed in his skull. And worse, he could discern the poison that ravaged his insides.

He sensed that—like his comfortable dream—his life was gradually coming to an end.

There was, however, one sense of warmth pressed against him. 

It was dark now. Night. So it took him time to adjust his eyes.

When they did, he saw Lynn asleep beside him, curled close for warmth.

Memories of what happened settled in heavy.

The swamp.

The monster.

The near-drowning.

He tried sitting upright.

Tried... But pain lit through his veins—veins that had turned pitch black beneath his skin.

It hurt so much he stopped moving.

For a while, he only stared at Lynn as she slept.

There was a particular affection in his eyes he'd never had for her before. 

Lynn. His savior.

Someone he wouldn't be able to thank enough for dragging his heavy body across a swamp.

A cold chill eventually ran through him, triggering a harsh cough.

The sound echoed downward.

Below, water shifted.

The monster stirred.

Lynn shot awake, saw the black blood within his veins, and recoiled.

She bit her quivering lip and mumbled, "Your arms.... Gavin..."

"Are you ok?" 

Vin fought off another cough and replied simply, "Mhm."

It was a hard sell since he was scared—no, terrified of dying.

Lynn frowned and turned her teary eyes away from him. 

"I'll be fine, are you ok?" Vin returned.

He tried to quickly draw attention away from himself.

It's what his father would do if in a crisis with his mother.

"I'll be fine," she said in mimic, then became silent.

The distasteful platter of guilt between them was difficult to swallow.

Tension lingered, but Vin finally ventured to get something off his chest.

"Why'd you help?"

Lynn's brow immediately tightened into a threatening gaze. "Do you really have to ask?"

He thought, 'Yes.'

He wanted to know why the person he'd previously harassed bothered to save him. However, he only exhaled in loss.

The unusual breath made his gut wrench, and he choked on the foul air.

He covered his mouth, and when he removed it, he discovered dark blood. 

Below, the creature scraped across the water again.

Lynn clutched onto him, worried.

There were subtle flutters in his heart when she gazed into his eyes.

100% of her being dedicated to his health.

Maybe that short flash of emotion was love.

He didn't know.

He'd never felt anything like it.

In that moment, he wished they'd gotten to know each other sooner. 

However, he'd pushed everyone away chasing his father's shadow.

Even her.

Lynn was a good person. 

He was doomed, but he didn't want her to die in that swamp too.

"We can't stay here forever," he whispered, careful not to rile the monster below.

"I know..." she replied.

"You should sneak away," Vin resumed.

"Find someone. A village. Anything. I'll distract it."

Lynn brought her knees up to her chest and hid her face. "No. I won't leave you to d—"

"I can't leave this tree," he interrupted.

"And without a doctor… I'm going to die."

The truth hurt her more than the cold of that night.

Lynn sniffled.

She knew what had to be done.

She pressed the hoodie they'd used as a blanket into his hands and whispered, "I'll find someone. And if I can't… I'll come back for you."

She hesitated, then mumbled:

"My parents are doctors. I've read a lot. I… might be able to help."

A painful chuckle escaped Vin's mouth.

"Doctors, huh? Didn't expect that."

She glared.

"Sorry—just surprised," he said.

"Can't imagine they're too thrilled about you hitting ramps instead of books."

"No. They never approved of me skating," she muttered.

Vin nodded. "Sorry. Sounds rough."

Lynn squeezed her feet together. "It's ok..."

"I'll keep trying to become a pro skater regardless."

He held her gaze, breath shaking.

"I hope your dreams come true, Lynn."

Her cheeks warmed slightly.

"Thanks. I… hope so too."

The conversation faded, quiet and soft.

Vin knew what needed to happen next.

Lynn had to go.

And he had to stay.