I hate it here.

Alexander found himself in his room listening to his radio. 

"…and in other news, the Royal Navy has commissioned a new class of Dreadnought, the HMS Conquest."

It creaked as he settled into his bed.

"This vessel uses a combustion engine, that's right folks, the same engine used to power our airships and automated carriages…"

Alexander sat up—his eyes wide.

"Automated carriages?"

He muttered. "Does the Ambur kingdom have cars?!?"

Alexander lept out of bed—sprinting out of his room. 

"Louise!"

Alexander shouted as he approached her room.

"Louise, I have questions!"

Louise looked up with an alarmed expression.

"Go away, you ignorant scoundrel!"

She shouted—her voice muffled behind the door.

Alexander was undeterred by her words.

"Louise, I just have a few questions, I'll do anything, anything!" 

Louise frowned—rolling her eyes.

"Fine, I suppose I can answer your question, depending on what it is."

Alexander grinned.

"Does Ambur have automated carriages?"

Louise raised an eyebrow.

"That Hazardous contraption."

She sighed.

"The nobility use them as a novelty, but they're troublesome."

"How so?" Alexander asked, pressing his lips against the door.

"They carry a ghastly stench and are infamously loud," Louise explained—annoyed.

Alexander chuckled, he loved the smell of diesel and a roaring engine.

It was something he missed, amongst a flurry of other modern conveniences.

But now that he thought about it, his entire life, friends, and family were gone. 

He was swiftly overwhelmed with homesickness.

Louise spoke up—intrigued by the silence.

"It's rude to ignore me."

"S-sorry," Alexander said softly. "I'll be on my way."

He turned away—toward the courtyard where he was greeted by the massive tree.

It's golden leaves blowing gently in the wind.

He took a seat on the bench he once shared with Ava—leaning back with a sigh.

How did I skip past the fact that my entire life is gone? 

"Are you okay Alex?"

A soft voice echoed. 

Alexander glanced towards the entrance. 

He saw Marcus—dressed in a long-sleeved shirt and baggy pants.

His hair was long and parted, revealing a concerned expression.

Alexander frowned—looking away.

"Leave me alone."

"Did someone hurt you?" Marcus asked, slowly approaching.

Alexander glared at Marcus as he sat beside him.

"Can't you just do what you're told, for once?"

Marcus frowned. "That's not nice Alex."

Alexander remained silent. 

You wouldn't understand, no one would understand.

Marcus grew closer.

"Talk to me Alex, I wanna know what's wrong with you."

"Go away," Alexander muttered.

I should've died that day.

Marcus frowned—grabbed the bottom of Alexander's face.

His hands were soft but his grip was firm.

"What's wrong with you Alex?" Marcus asked again.

Alexander narrowed his eyes—meeting Marcus's caring gaze.

He didn't care anymore. 

He didn't care for this world. 

He didn't care if he lived.

His mind went blank as he reached back a fist, tightening it as hard as possible.

He then swung down in a rapid arc—crashing his fist into Marcus's jaw. 

Marcus recoiled from the harsh attack, jumping down—holding his face.

"A-Alex?" Marcus shook with her eyes wide.

Alexander wasted no time hopping down and charging Marcus again. 

Marcus took a quick step back and raised his fist. 

As Alexander got close and swung again—Marcus countered it.

He grabbed Alexander's fist and yanked him closer. 

Then with his other arm, Marcus elbowed Alexander in the face. 

The impact was brutal.

Alexander felt his nose creaking under the force of the hit.

The pain was intense, blood dripping out of his nostrils as his head flew back.

Marcus followed the elbow with a punch to the gut.

Alexander's mouth snapped open as the air escaped his lungs—slobber darting out.

"Gyah!" 

Marcus then dropped an elbow on Alexander's back. 

The impact was brutal, a sharp pain spiraled through his back as he crashed to the ground.

Alexander crumbled into a ball—groaning.

"Why Alex?"

Marcus shouted, looked down at Alexander with confusion and pain.

"What did I do?"

Alexander glared up at Marcus with eyes of hatred.

His nose was healing physically, yet the phantom pain continued to burn.

Marcus frowned as Alexander silently stared.

A palpable tension thickened as Alexander slowly rose to his feet.

Blood trickled down his lips and dripped from his chin.

He gritted his teeth as he raised his fist. "You godless fuck, I'm gonna rip your damn throat out!" 

Alexander kicked up dirt as he blitzed Marcus once more. 

Marcus readied his defense, narrowing his eyes. 

Alexander moved to punch—Marcus countered by grabbing his fist.

But this time Alexander was prepared.

As Marcus grabbed his fist, Alexander yanked it back last second—blindsiding Marcus with a left hook. 

The punch to Marcus's jaw was swift.

It knocked his head to the right as the sound of bone popped and echoed.

Marcus quickly recovered—moving to strike Alexander with a roundhouse kick. 

Alexander was caught off guard.

The price to pay was the wind being knocked out of him for a second time. 

Alexander shouted in pain as he reached for his side. 

Marcus took the opportunity to blitz Alexander with another punch.

An uppercut to the jaw. 

As the punch connected Alexander clenched his teeth. 

Marcus then grabbed Alexander's shoulders before thrusting his knee into his gut.

Marcus then reached for Alexander's head, yanking him towards the ground.

As he crashed against the cold dirt—Marcus swung his heel into his back.

Alexander wailed in pain, a primal roar that came from deep within the depths of his chest. 

Reaching for the spot that Marcus had struck, Alexander was left wide open for another attack.

Which Marcus took without a second thought.

He swung back his foot—then rocketed it forward like a bullet. 

The kick landed squarely in Alexander's stomach.

His eyes grew wide as his cheeks swelled up.

He felt something quickly rise from the depths of his stomach. 

Alexander—vomited onto the courtyard.

The contents spewed from his stomach as he gasped for air, his laborious breathing ragged and unsightly. 

Marcus took a step back as he looked down at Alexander in hurt and confusion.

"A-are you okay?"

Marcus stammered as Alexander stopped vomiting.

Alexander lay there, anger and despair swirling within him.

"I… hate you."

He managed to say in a strained voice.

Marcus's eyes welled with tears as he listened to Alexander shouting.

"W-why?" Marcus asked. "We're friends, you're my friend!"

Alexander gritted his teeth as he pushed himself off the ground.

Marcus watched as Alexander rose to his feet once more.

His wounds healed as his body shook with pain and rage. "I despise you, Marcus!"

Alexander shouted with a twisted grin, "Do you hear me, I despise you!"

Marcus was confused and frightened—hurt by what he was saying. 

The idea that Alexander hated him… the very notion that his savior and only friend despised him was heartbreaking. 

Tears began to roll down Marcus' cheeks as he dropped his fists.

"Why…" he asked softly, "I thought we were friends."

Alexander prepared to charge Marcus once more.

But before he could—he was tackled, by Elise.

She tightly wrapped her arms around Alexander's small frame.

And crashed into the ground.

Alexander's eyes widened in confusion as he looked to see the afternoon sky.

Orange and purple clouds against the backdrop.

What the hell?