My eyes traced over the edge of the world. The distant roar of the ocean falling into the abyss filled the air, drowning out the usual sound of crickets. The sun hung low across the horizon, bleeding the orange into the gleaming sea. Birds flew overhead, their melody silenced.
The wind picked up for a moment, causing a wave to crash on the cliff side hundreds of feet below. The damp grass stained my trousers, though it wasn't hard to ignore. My mind seemed to be sinking into a deeper ocean of thoughts.
Political tensions were at an all time high, probably higher than the previous world wars combined.
I let out a sigh. The foggy breath rose into the air then dissolved.
The world was on the brink of chaos. And here we were, taking a family trip for my birthday. Except, it wasn't even my birthday. My actual B-day is tomorrow, but obviously we can't celebrate it tomorrow, since I'm turning 18.
And 18, is the age of manhood. The age of service, if you will. And luckily for me, that service happens to be in war. Woohoo.
I grabbed a fistful of dirt and tossed it into the ocean. It took a few seconds for the sound to reach me, but I heard a faint plop underfoot.
My school didn't even know that yesterday was my last day. The only ones who knew I was getting drafted were my parents. Blessing or curse, I'll let you decide. Though I'm leaning toward the blessing. Not 'cause I get to spend more time with them or whatever. I get to eat my favorite cake one last time.
I tapped my knees absently, watching as the grand ocean poured down the edge of the world. Millions, maybe even billions of gallons of water disappearing down into a void we didn't know anything about. But people say that the water mysteriously appears on the other side of the world after a while, so we don't really have a complaint.
I shifted on the edge of the cliff. A patch of loose dirt fell down the cliff, hitting the water.
"Not gonna scare me." I muttered.
I groaned, standing up. "I hope the cake is ready. My ass hurts."
I swatted away the grass from the back of my trousers and let out a stretch. Obviously it didn't do much to ease the tension in my muscles, but style points count, right?
I was just about to start making my way to the tents when a feminine voice spoke up.
"You sure took your time, Fel."
I turned toward the sound. The sight of my mother greeted me. Her hazelnut hair fell into her eyes, and she couldn't brush it away — both hands were full with a massive cake.
"Yea, I was thinking about stuff. But…" I pointed to the cake she was holding in front of her chest. "Tell me you didn't spend all my birthday allowance on that."
"Hmm?" She tilted her head, smiling that same smile she wears when she's struggling. "Oh Fel, you know I'd never do such a thing."
I sighed and took the cake from her hands. "Thank God."
"You're welcome," she grunted, brushing her hair back. Then she added with a proud little smirk, "I only used ninety percent."
"Are you serious?"
"I'm your mother, silly," she chuckled, patting my back. "Now let's go — your father's getting lonely."
My brow twitched. I rolled my eyes and followed her back.
Dad was sitting by the campfire, hand on his chin, blue eyes fixed on the flames — unfocused, somewhere far away. Mom didn't seem to notice, though.
"Oh, Lu! We're back!" she squealed, plopping down beside him and leaning in.
"Woah!" he yelped, steadying himself with one hand so they didn't topple into the fire. "I… noticed that," he said, clearing his throat and sliding an arm around her shoulders.
I set the cake down just out of reach of the flames and sat across from them on a stump.
Dad's gaze met mine, his grin stretching wide with pride. He looked me up and down before nodding and slapping his knee.
"You've steeled yourself! Aha! Lucas, that's your boy!"
I scratched the back of my neck. "I've done what I can." I tried to sound firm, but the weariness leaked through anyway.
"Don't worry, son," he said, straightening up. "Everything will turn out just fine." He gestured to the cake beside me. "More importantly — the main event?"
"Of course, Lu," Mom chimed in, digging bowls and spoons out of her bag.
A few minutes later we were all eating. I took small bites, trying to savor the strawberry flavor. Who knew when I'd taste something this good again?
The cake didn't even taste different, despite what all those stories say about food tasting dull when doom hangs over you. Guess that was a load of crap.
But of course, silence couldn't last forever.
Dad cleared his throat and set his bowl aside.
"Son," he began, "have I ever told you what lies beyond the sky?"
My eyes drifted up. The moon was climbing high now, pulling the stars into view.
"Yeah. Plenty of times," I replied flatly. "Too many, if you ask me."
He chuckled. "I see. But have I told you how it came to be?"
My spoon froze halfway to my mouth. "…No," I admitted.
"Oooh…" Mom gasped, her eyes glinting with mischief. "How did it come to be, Lu?"
Dad hummed for a few moments, lifting his gaze to the stars. He raised an arm and pointed at the moon.
"Myth says it all began with an explosion. So big… so hot… we could never imagine even a fraction of it." He paused. "And it lasted less than a blink."
Mom gasped, clutching her chest. "Oh my, Lu! That sounds terrifying. I hope no one got hurt."
Dad shook his head solemnly. "On the contrary, Sofia. That very explosion — they say — created the emptiness we live in now."
I set my plate down and scoffed. "Sounds like something a toddler made up."
Dad chuckled. "That may very well be true, son. This story was passed down from the ancients. But myth or not — it makes for a good story."
"That's true, Lu," Mom chimed in, still grinning. "Almost as good as the one about the tiger and the horse."
Dad's thoughtful smirk widened into a mischievous grin — I recognized that look.
"Ah, yes. The tiger and the horse," he began. "It starts with a lone horse—"
"Oh, would you look at that," I cut in. "Your bowl's empty. Lemme help you with that, Dad." I snatched his bowl before he could get going.
He just laughed, leaning back. "Calm yourself, son. I was only joking."
I let out a relieved sigh and set his bowl back down. "Thank god," I muttered under my breath.
Dad cleared his throat, his grin vanishing once again. "Though, there is a legitimate reason I told you this."
I raised an eyebrow at the sudden switch up. "That it was a joke?"
He paused. "No. Before that — the story."
I nodded. "Of course. Cause you always have a reason to drop toddler stories."
Mom giggled. "He's got you there, Lu."
Dad simply sighed. "My reason was to maybe give you hope." He declared, head drooping from resignation.
Confusion only dug deeper at me. "Give me hope? How so?"
Dad sat up straight again, staring at me dead in the eye. "Because the story says something that I have remembered every time I have been in a deep hole." He put a hand over his heart. A military gesture of respect, perhaps to the story. "That the fiery explosion that seemed as though it had burned everything down… May have been the spark that starts your growth."
My eyes widened. My fingers froze around the spoon, and for a moment I was speechless. I wasn't sure how to respond. It was the first time he had explained one of his stories in a way that actually made sense. "Oh…"
Dad stood up, dusting himself off. "I will let you marinate in the main idea for a bit. I have some sleeping to do." He cracked his neck and turned toward his tent. "Remember what I have said today, son. It will definitely help you through the fires of war."
As he crawled into his tent, a chill passed through me. It felt like he knew something. Something he wasn't letting on. There was no way he didn't know something more, especially after acting like that.
Mom's grin softened into a smile. "That Lu…" she muttered. "Always acting so cool around you, Fel."
I cleared my throat and patted my chest, wiping off the dumb surprised look on my face. "Eh. He wasn't that cool."
"But that means you still thought he was cool, hm?" she teased.
I grunted. "Y-yeah. Whatever."
She giggled softly. "Y'know, Fel… this night reminds me of the one you were born on."
I leaned back, glad to drop that last topic. "Yeah?"
She nodded. "Clear skies. Full moon. Gentle breeze. I even remember the way Lu saw him off at the docks before you came into the world."
My eyes snapped toward her. "Him?" I pressed.
"Oh? Did I say something?" She stood, stretching. "Ignore me. Just the ramblings of an old woman in love."
She didn't say another word — just walked back to the tent, winked, and zipped it behind her.
My eyes stayed fixed on their tent. Annoyance bubbled under my skin, my brow twitching.
"Oh, what the hell."
I slid off my stump and flopped onto the damp dirt.
"First the draft — which is bad enough cause that means I have to write monthly letters to my parents — then a random explosion story, then Mom drops a random 'Him' and walks away? How infuriating can this get?"
I grabbed a fistful of dirt and tossed it into the air, watching the blades of grass dance for a moment before the gust carried them away.
"Tch. See if I care. I might even skip the first month's letter just to give them a scare."
…The grudge lasted about fifteen seconds before I exhaled. As annoying as they were, it was impossible to stay mad at them for long.
I let my eyes trace the stars for a few moments. The wind ran through my hair, and the distant roar of the ocean filled the quiet night.
I tried to stand and head for my tent, but my limbs felt carved from stone. The chill of the night bit at me, but still, I didn't move. I rolled onto my side, eyelids heavy from the day.
A quiet yawn slipped out.
The last thing I remember was the sound of ravens cawing somewhere far away.
Then my consciousness drifted —
Washed away with the ocean.
And everything let go.