Chapter Text
“What heck is your problem?!”
Liam, not wanting to argue but especially needing to climb the tower as quickly as possible, gets up in one swift motion and turns his back to continue walking after looking at bryce briefly. He knew he shouldnt have took his car but whag choice did he have? He needed to get on top of the smokestack.
Bryce wasnt about to let this go. He walked infront of bryce and was gonna make sure he was actually heard of how ridiculous and DANGEROUS this was.
“No! This has gone too far. You are NOT going to do this!-“
“What do i have to lose? huh?! My life was GREAT before this all happened! And Airy has taken EVERYTHING from me! I cant sit back and miss what could be my only shot at stopping this from happening to anyone else! You’re telling me your life wasnt completely RUINED after what you experienced?!”
Liam snapped back. This was absurd, he had to stop Airy now. He’s considered dead in this world! His only purpose in life would be to stop airy logically. Theres nothing else to do.
“NO LIAM! My life was miserable before this competition! Now that its over, I actually have an incentive to… do something with my life. I’ve worked to hard now to throw it away a second time. I dont wanna be a part of this, and i never wanted to!”
“Not even for Scenty?”
“Dont talk to ME about Scenty. You’re doing this for Liam, and you know that! You just can’t move on with your life, can you?”
Liam wanted to scream at him. He COULDNT move on with his life because he didnt have a life anymore!
“Were you there for SEVEN MONTHS?! SEVEN MONTHS in a barren wasteland stripped of everything thaf gave you a purpose in life?!! Im dead to this world Soda Bottle, dont you get it?!”
Bryce couldn’t believe that. 7 months? SEVEN MONTHS? 210 DAYS? He just stared at Liam. Was that why it took Liam so long to find him? Why would Airy keep them for months when bryce left after a few days?? what happened-
Liam ran away, purposely bumping into him. There was nothing to reason with him about. He had to get on that smokestack right now before its too late.
“LIAM!”
Bryce chased, desperately reaching put to him, he had to get to him! Now he did understand this meant more to Liam then jt seems but he just couldnt let him to do this! Its illegal and he might get into trouble… But especially because its dangerous!! He could hurt homself climbing over the fence, or what if the stairs broke? they look really old and rusty… what if when he’s on top he fell? what if he got stuck by lightning? the mortality rate of these is higher then bryce would’ve liked. He wasnt sure why but he really didnt want Liam to get hurt, really not.
He was out of breathing, panting rapidly to have any air. He could barely run anymore.
“Liam… Dont.. Dont do it.”
He said in between gaps of breaths. In return Liam gave him and angry look and climbed over the metal fence pretty easily.
“Liam!”
He fell and hit the muddy floor, covering himself in mud but that didnt matter. He got up quickly and stared at Bryce intently.
“Hop over”
As much as Bryce wanted to jump over and help hi- wait huh? why would he want to help him so bad- ahh who cares…, he still had his good sense of logic with him
“No.”
Liam didnt fight back, just turned around and walked to the rusty stairs. Bryce was gonna go away but he couldnt, he just couldn’t but… Liam on the other was very determined. He went close to the stairs and looked them up and down. They didnt seem too safe but… He had to climb them. …Until bryce’s voice rang behind him.
“Liam!”
He would have ignored him but there was something in his voice.. He turned around to see bryce standing up, half-covered in mud from the same fall liam did when he got over the netal fence.
“Please listen, its- its too dangerous! what if you fall? what if the stairs break? what if-?”
Bryce tried to reason, really not wanting liam to get hurt but he cut him off.
“Bryce i have to do this! The notes havent disappointed me until here, why sould they now? I have nothing to lose anymore so there no reaso-“
“But I have! Liam, you’re my ..friend! I cant just let you by, risking your life for god knows what!!… Liam, i know this means alot to you though… …You might be dead to this world but you aren’t dead to yourself. …and me”