The fierce waters that were overtaking the island calmed down in an instant.

The orange sky continued to radiate overhead as Charlie observed a woman who seemed to be standing on the ocean.

“Wha… Wait…”

“Get up already. I know I didn’t teach you to be such a dumbass wimp.”

“Why…”

The woman locked her glare with Charlie’s and formed a mischievous grin on her face.

“Are you gonna get up, or am I gonna have to drag you up? Don’t make me start counting…”

Charlie jerked away from his position as the woman started him down. Her bright blue eyes were a perfect match to Charlie’s gaze.

“My dear son, I think I’m gonna kick your ass.”

——

Savior: Original Story by OneSevenEight

Episode: Framed Perspective - Part 12

——

“Anna… ANNA!!!”

Tsuru screamed out in terror as Anna looked over her shoulder.

‘Oh… This is… bad.’

Anna’s face turned to shock and disgust when she found Max’s knife embedded halfway into her shoulder.

“I really want to kill you right now, but I have a better idea.”

Anna felt Max grab onto the knife, who then proceeded to pull it out with excessive force. Anna screamed in agony.

Suddenly, a foot plow into her back, and she was immediately face down on the ground.

“Now, please stay down, like a good girl. I’m going to go check on your friend now. If you care about his life, I wouldn’t get up if I were you.”

Anna turned her head to the left. She watched in pain as Max approached Charlie’s limp body.

“Wow, you’ve slept through all of this. Someone really doesn’t care about his friends.”

Max grabbed Charlie by his shirt collar and picked him up.

“I’m done playing games with you. Wake up already.”

As Charlie’s baby blue eyes appeared dull in the dark gray atmosphere, Max began to swing at his face.

“WAKE UP!”

——

“What… what are you doing here?”

“Huh? I came to wake your weak ass up. You left two girls in danger, you know.”

As the woman floated in the air towards the island, Charlie was able to confirm his suspicion.

Long blonde hair and blue eyes. There’s no doubt about it.

“Wait, aren’t you supposed to be dead? Are you a ghost?”

Charlie suddenly felt a hard smack on his cheek.

“How rude. You’re calling me a ghost? I didn’t teach you to speak to women like that.”

“Sorry.”

The woman smiled and sat down next to Charlie.

“I’m here because a piece of me exists inside your soul. I’ll always be here to help you out.”

“That’s great and all, but the situation’s pretty hopeless right now.”

As she conversed with Charlie, the woman looked out to the ocean, watching the waters as they calmed. The island was still covered in water, flooding the bottom of her white dress.

“Hopeless, huh? So you’re giving up?”

Charlie had once again started to drop his head into his legs.

“I guess so. That guy’s a monster. There’s nothing I can-.”

“Since when did I teach you to be a quitter?”

Charlie lifted his head and turned to face his mother. She locked eyes with him, blue to blue.

“Never give up, Charlie. People are depending on you. Tsuru, Anna. Tamashi. They’re your friends. They’re there to help you, and for you to help them out.”

“But what if I fail? What if they all-“

“The answer’s simple: don’t fail. If you don’t give up, if you stay true to yourself, you won’t fail.”

“I can’t-“

Charlie was interrupted when his mother grabbed his arm.

“Stop telling yourself you can’t. Just do it already. Wake up.”

The waters began to quickly recede. As the island dried, Charlie snapped out of his stare and rose up. He then helped the woman with equally brilliant blue eyes up to her feet.

“Why… Why did you show up to me now?”

“I felt like I had to remind you of somethings. Do you remember my final wish?”

For the first time since entering the lonely mindscape, Charlie turned his face into a grin.

“Yeah. Grow up, fall in love, get married, and have lots of kids. But, most importantly.”

Charlie turned away from his mother and began to walk towards the ocean.

“Make lots of friends and have their backs. Thanks, Mom!”

As Charlie walked over the water into the sunset, his mother smiled behind him.

‘Asshole, you didn’t even say goodbye. I guess you’re expecting to see me again soon.’

She turned her head up to the orange sky.

‘It’s time for their stories to start.’

——

Over and over, Max swung his fists into Charlie’s face. Blood was gushing from his mouth and nose.

“STOP MOCKING ME AND WAKE UP!”

As she watched Charlie’s beating, Anna began to scream out to him, hoping to wake him up once and for all.

“CHARLIE! WAKE UP, YOU DORK! PLEASE!”

As Max continued to swing at Charlie, he began to lose his patience with Anna.

“SHUT UP, BRAT. I’M GONNA BE THE GUY TO WAKE HIM UP! I WANT HIM TO FIGHT ME! I WANT HIM TO ACKNOWLEDGE ME!”

Anna stopped screaming and began to process Max’s words.

“Wait… What do you mean by ‘acknowledge’? Why is it so important for him to wake up and start a fight with you?”

Max dropped Charlie and froze, seemingly caught off guard by Anna’s question.

“I… I…”

After momentarily standing over Charlie, shaking, Max turned around and walked to Anna, his face full of anguish.

“STOP ASKING ME STUPID QUESTIONS, BRAT! DO YOU WANT ME TO STAB YOU AGAIN?”

Anna looked up and met Charlie’s eyes. Everything had begun to make sense.

“Tell me. Are you mad at us because we’re a group of friends?”

Max hesitated on answering the question. His orange eyes showed a hint of water.

“Shut up.”

“Answer the question.”

“Shut. Up.”

“So that’s it, huh? I knew this whole thing seemed kind of weird. Why else would you go back on your boss’s orders?”

“SHUT UP!”

Max pulled out his knife and began to swing down towards Anna. She closed her eyes and covered her face with her right arm.

The pain never arrived.

When Anna lowered her arm, she was shocked. She then started to cry.

“I need you to put that down.”

Max’s arm was stopped when it was grabbed by someone behind him.

When he turned to see who it was, Charlie glared back at him, eyes full of anger and determination.

“Put it down, or you’re gonna die.”