Under the blistering desert sun, a figure moved with unwavering determination. Each step pressed into the scorching sand, leaving a trail of firm footprints behind. The relentless sun cast a sharp shadow beside them, mirroring their steady, unyielding pace.
Sweat beaded on their brow, but they pressed on, eyes narrowed against the glare, focused on the vast horizon ahead.
Approaching nearer, the figure revealed itself to be a young boy, around sixteen years old. His sharp eyebrows cast a shadow over dim blue eyes, which held a distant, almost lifeless gaze. His skin was a deep brown tan, indicative of many hours under the harsh sun, and atop his head sat a wild, curly bush of hair. Standing tall at 1.8 meters, his presence carried a silent strength, contrasting with the desolate emptiness reflected in his eyes.
The young man's attire was a striking mix of utility and resilience. He wore a black compression shirt, clinging to his well-toned physique, layered under a practical cloak that fluttered slightly with each determined step. His lower half was clad in baggy military pants, paired with sturdy military boots, well-suited for the harsh terrain. Slung casually over his shoulder, an unmistakable outline of an AK-47, a testament to the seriousness of his journey or perhaps the dangers of his environment.
"Man, I might long for death, but dying in a desert? That's not the way to go," the young man said nonchalantly, as if discussing something trivial rather than his own life and death. His voice held a light, almost indifferent tone, contrasting sharply with the grim content of his words.
As the young man trudged forward, squinting under the intense sun, a shape began to materialize in the distance. At first, he doubted his eyes, wondering if the relentless desert was conjuring mirages. But as he continued, the shape solidified into a distinct form - a camp, about a hundred meters ahead. The sight, emerging from the shimmering heat haze, seemed almost too real to be a trick of the desert.'Hmm, it doesn't look like a mirage.
But even if it is, what does it matter to someone who's seeking death?' he thought, mocking himself with a hint of dry humor. The sight of the camp ahead stirred a mix of skepticism and apathy within him.Noticing the young man, one of the camp's inhabitants quickly sprang into action, breaking into a run towards him.
Their feet kicked up small clouds of sand as they rapidly closed the gap, driven by urgency or curiosity, under the blazing desert sun.As the figure from the camp dashed towards him, the young man felt a sudden, overwhelming weakness grip his body. It was as if his apathetic spirit could no longer bear the weight of his physical form. With a faltering step, his strength gave way, and he collapsed, tumbling face first into the hot, coarse sand.
The desert, indifferent to his plight, seemed to swallow him up in that moment of vulnerability.'Damn, I guess this is how I go out, huh? Well, it was fun while it lasted,' he thought wryly, even as his consciousness began to ebb. The intense exhaustion from not eating or drinking for two weeks straight was finally taking its toll.
His thoughts started to blur, fading like the last rays of the desert sun, surrendering to the overwhelming fatigue that enveloped him.As the young man teetered on the brink of succumbing to his exhaustion, the figure rapidly approaching him drew closer. Now, with the distance between them shortened, it became clear that this was a male, likely in his early to mid-20s, judging by his facial features.
His expression was one of Cautiousness mixed with curiosity, a clear intent to survey etched on his youthful face as he neared the fallen traveler in the unforgiving desert.As the man arrived at the young man's side, expecting to find him unconscious or worse, he was met with an astonishing sight. His face registered confusion, shock, and a bit of fear, reacting to something unexpected and seemingly miraculous happening right before him in the desert.
----
10 years later.
USA, MN state XXX city.
Beneath the bright moonlit sky, two boys of similar age stepped out of a supermarket, chatting animatedly. They both wore bright blue vests draped over their shoulders, their lively conversation continuing as they walked into the night. Sunny was a teenage boy with distinctive features and style.
His curly hair fell to the length of his eyes, framing his bright blue eyes. His skin was a rich brown tone, complemented by his choice of attire: an orange Hawaiian shirt worn over a white T-shirt. His look was completed with slightly baggy navy blue jeans and clean orange sneakers. Standing at 1.7 meters, Sunny also had a well-toned physique, hinting at a regular commitment to physical fitness.
Keys sported a freshly groomed hairstyle with a mid-fade and a sharp line. His brown eyes and slightly dark skin tone were accentuated by his attire: a red T-shirt, blue cargo pants, and clean red sneakers. His lean, fit physique suggested a regular workout routine ."Sunny, not going to dish out your regular payday compliment tonight?" Keys teased, barely containing his laughter.
His tone was light and playful, hinting at an inside joke or a routine banter they shared. Sunny rolled his eyes in response, a hint of amusement in his gesture. "Yeah yeah, I really do plan on quitting soon though," he replied, his tone carrying a mix of resignation and a faint promise of change."When you land a new job, shoot me a link, okay? And hey, you up for a match this weekend?" Keys asked, his eyes shining with anticipation.
His tone was casual yet full of expectation."You haven't kicked my ass in a while now, so I would've expected your sorry ass to give up," Sunny ridiculed, his words laced with playful mockery."But nah, it's on. Saturday or Sunday, it don't matter. I'll see you at the gym," Sunny replied, accepting the challenge with a confident ease."Bet. Also, who was that girl today at work? I could tell you didn't know her based off the look on your face," Keys inquired, his tone carrying a touch more vigor than before, clearly intrigued by this new topic."Apparently she goes to the gym I go to, y'know, the one relatively close to my house," Sunny replied, casually taking out what appeared to be his car key.
His response was nonchalant, indicating a casual awareness of the girl in question."So?" Keys pressed on."I haven't been there much these days, so she just asked what's going on," Sunny explained, shedding light on the brief encounter."Ohhhhh, I seeee," Keys replied, his words drawn out with a knowing smirk. Not bothering to reply to Keys' teasing, Sunny simply said, "Alright, I'll catch you tomorrow." As they had done countless times before, Sunny and Keys performed their signature "bird allegiance handshake." This ritual started with a dap, followed by the interlocking of their index fingers. They then executed a snappy motion, and finally, both extended their hands across their chests, forming shapes akin to the wings of an eagle in full spread.