That summer day, as the sunset fell over the beach and the brightest of the stars began to shine, a soft song echoed from that weather worn pavillion. His flute, under experienced yet rusty lips, nobody's favorite but oddly fitting with the tranquil mood lulling us after a busy day.

You were playing with the reeds, remember? Looking at me, but also far beyond, somewhere I could never reach. The smell of roasting meat was intoxicating, so distracting I barely heard your voice.

"I'm going."

"Going where?" I asked, playing the fool as always. I didn't know, back then, didn't even know this side of the world existed, but I could see it in your eyes. "What about dinner?"

The roll of eyes was enough of an answer, and I laughed. You used to say I had a nice laugh, and I would punch you in the shoulder and tell you to shut up. Yet, I always felt a swell of pride at the way it seemed to infect you, how you always seemed to be laughing with me.

That day you didn't laugh. You finally focused, staring me dead in the eyes, and asked, "what would you do if the world we lived in was a lie?"

"Like, an illusion, VR?" I played it light, but something in your tone was making me worried, "VR would be really lame, I think, but if it was something like fantasy..."

"Forget about it." No amusement, none of that vivacious glint you used to have. "Let's go get a bite, alright? Think I'm starting to get hungry too."

After you and your family disappeared, not two weeks later, I kept turning that conversation around in my head, making conspiracies from your every word like I was trying to remember a cypher, desperate for clues. They found your mom's car empty, abandoned by the side of the road, damaged like it had hit a truck full on, and that was all. The searches died down a month later

And that's when I started in earnest. I just couldn't believe you were gone. Refused to. Went far and went low, turned what felt like every rock in the city, deep down knowing I would never find what I was looking for.

And I didn't. A year later, unprompted, the truth searched for me instead.

Ten years passed, and today I find you again, overlooking the beach from a tower of glass. The television glows softly, the screamed cheers of some commenter or another lowered to whispers, the cream of sparse modern decor painted in swashes of blood red, the coppery tang pungent.

So much changed, but you still take my breath away. Even washed in the gore of the penthouse's security, even with the shine in your eyes gone, the taut line of your thin lips fighting off the grimace, you are gorgeous. I smile, among the bodies of former comrades, and you shiver.

"You." That's the first word out of your mouth, tense and low, a warning for a rabid animal. "Why?"

I ignore your meaningless question. When I try to approach, you flinch away, and I must admit, I'm left confused. Surely, if I've bothered you somehow, the separation should have healed all wounds?

"Why are you here?!" You insist, and fight the desire to roll my eyes. "You don't belong here, you aren't suppose to, to-!"

I wait for you to finish your words. I weight for you to lower the rustic knife, it's blade regaining a luster that should be centuries gone. I pay it no mind. "For the reason opposite yours, I suppose."

You snarl, and who's the beast now? "You are to stand in my way then? To defend them? Do you know who these people are, what they have done?!"

"I don't," is my earnest response. "And I don't care either way. They were all means to an end."

"Means to an end? To what end?"

"To be here, right before you." I smile and open my arm, my invitation to a fateful embrace.

But you don't come. And I, despite the years of trial and suffering, don't feel particularly bothered either. There's a rift here, one that should be entirely your fault, yet it's almost as if I'm the one widening it's margins. Why? That is the true question.

You don't talk anymore. You wait for my move, seeing the animal tense its haunches behind the smiles. How unfortunate, that our reunion comes to this, isn't it? No matter. Perhaps the union of combat will give me the answer you can't.

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