Chapter 42: The Life Of Rafik
"This place is totaled, Rafik must have really messed this guy up, I kind of feel bad for him."
Trey’s voice broke the heavy silence that hung thick in the air, his words barely masking the unease gnawing at his chest.
He stepped cautiously onto the battlefield, his boots crunching over shattered concrete and twisted metal. The ground beneath him was littered with the detritus of destruction—chunks of crumbled buildings lay strewn like discarded toys, shattered glass reflecting the dim light of a fading sun. Every step echoed the magnitude of the fight that had just taken place here.
His eyes scanned the ruins, taking in the skeletal frames of what once were homes and shops, now mere husks ravaged by overwhelming force. A thick haze of dust hung suspended, catching the golden rays in a haunting glow. The scent of scorched wood, burnt rubber, and something coppery—like blood—hung in the air, mixing with the cold bite of the evening breeze. It was as if the earth itself was mourning the violence it had witnessed.
"I wonder where Rafik i—"
Trey’s words faltered abruptly. His breath caught, eyes widening in disbelief as his gaze landed on two forms lying motionless amidst the wreckage. His heart plummeted, and the world seemed to still. There, amidst the rubble, were the lifeless bodies of Rafik and Dawn.
"No, No..Ra-Ra-Rafik!! Hey stop joking around dude, wake up."
Trey’s voice trembled, a desperate plea that shattered the stillness. He hurried forward, dropping to his knees beside Rafik’s prone form. His trembling hands shook as they gripped Rafik’s cold shoulders, shaking him gently at first, then with increasing urgency. "What—What am I gonna tell your family!! What am I gonna tell Erykah, what am I gonna tell Monet, and especially what am I gonna tell Ada, please tell me Rafik, tell me!"
Tears welled up and spilled over, tracing hot paths down his cheeks as raw pain tore through him. "Don’t leave me alone," he murmured, voice cracking, the words barely audible.
———
"They should have been back by now, I’m worried, what if something happened to them what if dove won."