COULD THIS BE DEATH.

"What was the meaning of that?!" He yelled at his friend.

Akima laughed at what he saw, making Edmund more surprised.

'Was he going insane?'

"Why should I help you. Do you know how long I have waited for this?"

"Years. No, close to a decade."

The no longer funny joke had now turned into a reality. Edmund's eyes got widened by his so-called friend's revelation.

"But…..:w-hy?" He asked with his voice stuttering.

"You are asking me why. As if you don't know what you did?"

He glared at Edmund expecting a reaction but when he didn't get one, he forced himself to speak.

"Oh..my. You have even forgotten about my father." He paced about looking infuriated, wishing he could strangle Edmund to death.

"I don't know what I did. I am serious."

Akima stared at Edmund whose face appeared scared.

"Oh… you are scared?" He said before bursting into another round of laughter.

"Well, I don't care if you remember or not. What I do know is that you are going to die today."

Akima could remember how his father died from the fire Edmund had started when they were 9 years of age.

It was the seventeenth day of the third month when four little boys were playing with fire lighters and sticks at Ayan's house. They were burning some of their old toys and some old books. Ayan and Skurt excused themselves to help fetch some more tiny woods while Edmund and Akima stayed behind. Edmund was getting bored so he decided to try something different.

He rolled a piece of sheet and placed it into the fire. Feeling amazed by the action of the flame, he decided to wait for it to get close to his hand before putting it off.

Akima also saw this and did the same. Soon, they began to compete for who could hold the flame much longer. The duo tore a piece of sheet and rolled it into a ball.

They placed into the fire at the same time and began to watch intensely for who could hold on much longer.

The competition seemed to be tight as no one was ready to put off their fire. With the flames getting too close to their fingers, Akima put his off but Edmund didn't causing him to get burnt a little. Feeling the pain, he threw the paper away and the boys were too late to realize that a fire had started. Within some minutes the entrance was covered by flames and the room was covered by smoke. They found it hard to see clearly and began coughing.

The fire had now erupted almost the entire building and their parents were now outside looking for ways to get in. Some were trying to stop the raging fire while others trying to break in.

"Help! Help!" The two panicked boys yelled, unsure of what to do.

Suddenly, Edmund spotted a window at the back and informed his friend. They rushed there hurriedly and tried climbing to get out but it was too tall.

"Here let's use this!" Akima yelled on sighting a stool. Edmund grabbed it and climbed. He was successful but it broke just when Akima stood on it.

"Edmund!" The little Akima yelled making Edmund turn.

He wanted to go back for his friend but he knew he might not be able to come out, so with tears in his little eyes, he ran off.

Edmund turned his gaze to the crowd outside the building and ran off to Akima's father who had been informed about what happened.

"A-ki-ma…. He is inside." He stuttered as he spoke to him.

The man rushed immediately to the burning building. Having lost his wife due to child birth, his son was most valuable to him. He ignored the flames and saw his little boy beside the window.

"Akima!" The man yelled. He rushed to his son and embraced him before turning his gaze to the environment searching for methods to save their lives.

He glanced at the window and at first paid it no mind but suddenly returned his gaze on sighting the stool beside it.

Realizing how Edmund got out, he lifted Akima through the window and he escaped.

"Akima!" Edmund yelled on catching sight of his friend. He drew the attention of the crowd as he rushed to embrace him.

Akima stood motionless even with Edmund embracing him. He was wondering how his father would get out.

He got out of Edmund's arms after realising that his father was no longer by the window and could only pray that he came out alive.

Akima's father was almost out when the building fell causing his demise.

The little boy cried profusely as he watched the entire building fall to the ground and since then, he never forgave Edmund. He had always waited for the day he could exact his revenge and it seemed the day was today.

He returned his gaze to Edmund who was trying to grab several branches of leaves.

"You started the fire yet refused to save me causing my father's death and now you are trying to play innocent?… You never told anyone that the fire was caused by you and you are still asking me what you did." Akima said with some tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Well, I don't care about that anymore and like I said you are going to die today."

Edmund began to feel more afraid realizing that Akima was serious about what he was saying.

"I'm sorry about that.. believe me, I can't remember what happened. I swear on my mother-"

"Oh.. Mother? Mother?? Now you are mocking me by reminding me of what i lack." Akima cut in on him.

"Oh no, I'm so sorry about that." Edmund said this time with tears rolling down his eyes.

"We could even share fathers if you don't mind. But please… spare me. I beg you I am all my parents have." Edmund added with more tears flowing from his eyes.

"You just mocked me about my father's death. Oh my God… I hate you!" Akima yelled making Edmund more terrified. He just seemed to be ruining things.

"I'm sorry ab-"

"Enough! I don't need your pity. I want your parents to feel how I feel. I want your mum to weep just like I wept. I want that disgusting Ayan to know how I feel. And that shall be my revenge."

His cold words made Edmund weep more causing him to begin begging for his life.

"Please Akima. I'm sorry. It was a mistake."

"As I said, I don't care and your pleading would only make me angrier.

Edmund began to sob silently realising the trouble he was in. If only he knew, he would have listened to Ayan and stayed away from Akima.

He began to search for things to use to pull himself out, knowing fully well that he wasn't going to get help from Akima.

He tried to reach for some branches but they were too far. His body was already consumed by half and he knew there was no way he could get out on his own.

"Help me!"

"Somebody!"

"Ayan!"

He yelled hopelessly praying that someone would hear him.

"Haha." Akima laughed with pleasure enjoying the view he was getting.

"The taste of revenge is indeed sweet." He said and glared at his friend.

Edmund looked at him and pleaded one more time while trying to grab a branch of leaf nearby. He stretched a bit and was able to grab one from a weak leaf but it got cut as he took it. He grabbed another and just as Akima was about to prevent him from coming out, that also got cut. His hands began to shake with sweat dripping from them. He was sweating profusely at the thought of this being his last memory. His body was shivering with fear and his heart could only beat ten times faster. He was also getting weak from all the shouting he had done. These feelings felt familiar like this wasn't its first. He eliminated every thought from his mind and stared at Akima.

"Please, I'm sorry for whatever must have happened. I was still so young and insecure. Please… for the sake of our friendship."

He brought his hands to a close, pleading with him.

Akima let out a wide laugh and was enjoying every little bit of this. He had waited for this day for so long that he wasn't sure if he was awake or dreaming.

Edmund watched his so-called friend mock him, making him burst into more tears.

"AKIMA PLEASEEE…."

His cries became deeper and louder as if reality just dawned on him about his fate.

Akima wasn't going to let him live.

"Even if I wanted to forgive you, you would still need to die," Akima said with a cold tone.

Edmund blinked his eyes severally realizing what he meant. He looked around lost in words. He didn't know what to say or do to convince him.

"I promise not to tell anyone about this but please just let me go." He said with sadness evident in his voice. Tears rolled down his cheeks with each word he let out.

One would feel pity for him but not Akima. He turned about to leave but stopped midway. He stared at his friend as if feeling pity for him. He came close to the quicksand and stretched his hand to his friend who was already sucked to his abdomen. Edmund struggled to try to grab the hand but just when he was close, Akima retracted his arm.

He laughed at this.

"You want mercy?" He said and burst into another round of laughter.

"When you get to heaven, pls do greet my parents for me. Or no you deserve to be in hell."

He spat on Edmund who was nearly two metres from him and returned to his horse, riding away.

Edmund watched him trot his horse before gathering all his strength to yell one last time.

It was the only name he could think of right now and was the only one who could possibly save him right now.

He took a deep breath and shouted his best friend's name.

"AYAN!"

His spirit was only hoping he was somehow passing by right now. He looked around realising that the route was lonely and silent and began to muster to himself in tears. He turned to look one last time before his face became entirely covered with his hands up.

Edmund began to get memories of his time with his family and his friends. He couldn't believe that this was how it was all going to end. He didn't want it to end like this.

No one would even be aware of his whereabouts. No one would know where he died. His mum would be devastated and his dad worse.

He tried to clear those thoughts from his mind but he just couldn't. They mattered a lot to him. He knew this was his end. He was going to be buried in this deep quicksand.

He finally made up his mind. He had to make good use of the few minutes he had left before he goes out of breath. He began to reminisce on the good memories he had.

At first, he thought of his best friend. He remembered the moments they shared. How they did their chores and how they had so much fun. He remembered how they rode together. He also reminisced about his time with Drax and then with Skurt.

'What wonderful friends they were.'

His heart finally drew to his mother and father. He could feel aches in his heart.

Could this be the pain of death or the pain of love? Is this the consequence of having this feeling called love? Is this the consequence of having loved ones.?

'You feel the pain even before it hits them.'

"How I wish I didn't have to go like this." His thoughts were so painful that he could feel tears gathering in his shut eyes.

What hurts him the most was Akima's betrayal. Moreover, he didn't even know what he was being killed for. If only he knew, maybe he would have apologised earlier. But as of now, it was late.

He was a dead man.

He gave up all his hopes and decided to prepare for his journey to the netherworld.

Maybe it would be a more pleasant one than this. He wished he would meet friends like he had here and have wonderful parents like this.

He cleared all thoughts from his mind and allowed his hands to fall...