"No!" Devin jolted awake, his heart pounding in his ears.
"Darcey! Darcey!" He shook his head wildly, scanning the bedroom, looking for her.
"Right here, dumbo." Devin flinched at her voice beside him.
Darcey sat on his chair, scrolling through her phone. "Had a bad dream?" She asked.
"It's nothing." Devin muttered, getting out of bed.
"We're so late. I need to get you to school." He patted himself down, wondering. 'Where's my phone?'
"Looking for this?" Darcey dangled it in front of him.
"Yeah, thanks." Devin took it before checking the time. "Ugh, maybe it's not too-"
"What? Late?" Darcey giggled.
"It's… Saturday," Devin realized in a daze.
"Yep." Darcey stood up, a grin spreading across her face. "You know what that means, right?"
"No." Devin answered blankly.
"We are going out!" Darcey raised her hands in excitement. "Go, get yourself ready!" She pushed Devin towards the door.
"Wait, no, but—"
"No buts! Go, go, go!" She shoved him out of the room.
Thud.
…
"The sun is shining and the kids are running around. It's a wonderful day, isn't it, Dev?"
"Yep." Devin responded curtly, squinting his eyes against glaring sunlight.
'Damn, I hate the summer.' Devin squinted, his pale skin suffering under the heat. Dressed in a black long-sleeve t-shirt and thin pants, he endured the sweat trickling down his back.
His hands in his pockets, Devin scratched his palm in frustration. He could be closer to saving Darcey, but instead, here he was.
Darcey sighed, sensing his reluctance. In her blue skirt and green top, she basked in the sunlight. She had Devin go out with her today, hoping to get him to open up to her. Off to a rocky start, Darcey came up with a plan. She looked away as a smile tugged at her lips. 'Time for operation sad Darcey.'
"Do you hate me, Dev?" Darcey suddenly asked.
"What!?" Devin swiftly turned to her in shock. "No, no, what gave you that idea?"
"You've been kind of distant." Darcey hugged her arms. "I always see you brooding, like something's bothering you. When I try to talk to you about it you're always dismissive."
She sighed. "Hell, I had to force you to even be here with me." Darcey looked away.
Devin's face softened, looking into her bright blue eyes. "No, Darce, it's not that, it's just…" Devin held back. Not just because he didn't want to tell her everything, but also because of what happened with Emily…
Before he could tell her anything, he found himself jumping forward in time. He couldn't have that happen here, not again. More likely than not, he'd end up jumping to right before Darcey's death with no way to stop it. This, for all intents and purposes, was his last shot. Losing her again would hurt his very soul.
"It's just what?" Darcey asked.
"Nothing." Devin sighed. "I'm sorry, Darce. How can I make it up to you?"
"Well, you can start by enjoying yourself and—"
Da, dada, dadadadada…
Darcey smiled as the ice cream truck cruised by…
Taking the turn down Repulse Road, Darcey indulged in her chocolate ice cream while Devin took his time with his blueberry one.
"Since when were you into blueberry?" Darcey asked.
"Well, I decided to enjoy myself." Devin licked the bit of ice cream dripping off the cone.
Darcey giggled, looking up at the clear blue sky. "Dev, there's this manga I've been reading called Greenland Saga. It's about Thors, who witnessed his father being killed by vikings. He swore to kill the viking leader responsible. His obsession blinded him, and he killed anyone in his way. In the end, someone else killed the viking leader, robbing him of his vengeance. Since then, he's been lost and empty, living with the guilt of his actions." Darcey concluded, taking a lick from her ice cream.
"Hm, sounds pretty metal." Devin smiled. "Is the romance with that vampire in Night and Castles too cringe for you?"
"It's not cringe enough!" Darcey giggled. "For more reasons than one, Argold will always have a special place in my heart." She looked into his eyes.
"So, where are we going now?" Devin wondered.
"You'll see." Darcey smiled.
…
"Nantes…" Devin uttered, staring at the rusted entrance of the park before him.
"Yeah." Darcey smiled, leading him down the path. She paid no mind to the trash littering the ground, passing through playful shadows cast by the sun filtering through the trees. Her path led to a bench facing the swing where they both sat.
"Remember the swing, Dev?" Darcey asked, her voice filled with warmth.
"How could I forget?" Devin sighed. "On the first day we moved here, Mom and Dad brought us here to have fun. Dad pushed us on that swing, and we played with Mom and Dad on the see-saw. We had so much fun." Devin's eyes sparkled with nostalgia, his mind drifting back to those carefree days when Mom and Dad were still Mom and Dad.
"Yeah, let's have fun, Dev." Darcey's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Sure." Devin chuckled.
And just like that, they had fun on the swing, slid down the slide, and enjoyed all the other facilities Nantes Park had to offer. Laughter filled the air as they relived their childhood memories. Before they knew it, the sun's afternoon glow shone upon them, casting a warm, golden light over the park.
"Dev." Darcey grabbed Devin's attention. "I know you're burdened by a lot, and you feel responsible for everything but-"
"Wait Darcey-"
"No, let me finish." Darcey continued. "You are not alone Dev. I am here for you, just like you are for me." Darcey smiled. "I don't ever want you to ever feel bad because you are the best brother I could ever ask for."
A warm feeling spread across Devin's chest as his eyes glistened, his vision blurry.
In the middle of the park, Darcey stood before him. "Argold will always have a special place in my heart, and I think you know why Dev." She looked into his eyes.
"Wait, you know?" Shock marred Devin's face.
"I do." Darcey smiled.
Devin hesitated, before looking up. His hands trembling slightly, he slowly removed his contacts.
He closed his eyes and turned to face her. Darcey held her breath in anticipation. When Devin opened them again, Darcey stood stunned, her face reflected in Devin's gleaming crimson eyes.
"S-So?" Devin stood awkwardly under her gaze. Darcey took a step forward, then another, then another before rushing in and hugging him tightly.
"You look so cool!" Darcey beamed, burying her face in his chest.
Devin stood stunned, his heart pounding in his chest. He bit his lip, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. "Do you really think so?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
She looked into his eyes and said, "I don't think so Dev, I know so." Darcey giggled.
Devin chuckled as well, hugging her tighter with the sun dawning behind them-Snap!
End of Chapter 7