The Forests of Silence

Farewell - Sakamoto Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence

Brett heard a scream. He couldn't tell if it was him screaming or Eddy screaming or if the scream was from inside his head.

Everything was a blur as he saw Eddy fell, clutching his hand and gasping in pain. Red spilling from his hand and to the floor. The sound of chain shaking as he tried to get near Eddy but failed. Anthony taking the ring out of the butchered finger and opening the iron safe. The gold spilling to the floor and Anthony shoving them into a bag.

There were whistles blowing out the door. Brett screamed louder.

Help us. Please, help Eddy.

The police charged inside the house as Anthony ran to the backdoor with his men.

Eddy laid on the floor, heaving heavily. His mind turned blank as he saw the bloody trail from where his thumb has been.

This can't be true.

Eddy gazed bleakly at Brett, screaming and crying from the other side of the room.

Don't cry, Brett. Don't cry.

"Are you Mr. Yang?" One of the police officers approached Brett and untied him from the chains. Without replying, Brett immediately ran to Eddy, falling next to him.

"Eddy..!" Brett cried, hugging him.

The pain in his hand was too real to be a dream. Eddy groaned as he tried to sit up.

"Brett...."

The crashing realization fell upon Eddy as he touched Brett's bruised cheek with his four fingers.

He won't be able to play the violin anymore.

This was not a dream. Everything has been taken away from him. As he stared at his blunted hand, Eddy wanted nothing more than to run back to the darkness, just like how he ran away ten years ago.

He was once again, a useless rat in the street, without his music.

.

.

The cold wind has started to blow in Meldovern.

Professor Claude sighed as Brett sat limply on the chair.

"Brett, are you feeling better this week?"

Brett shook his head, his eyes hollow.

Brett remembered what happened after the incident.

Anthony has been arrested in Port Kaiim.

Brett and Eddy were taken to the hospital.

When Brett woke up, Eddy was gone.

Eddy was not in Shobaim. He was not at Odal beach. He didn't return to Meldovern.

Eddy was simply gone, without a word.

It was as if the time they spent together was just a mere dream, an illusion.

"Brett, I know it was hard for you...but you need to pull yourself together," Professor Claude softly consoled Brett.

Brett has been refusing to play the violin since then, which was few months ago.

"Are you not going to play anything for me today as well?"

Brett shook his head, no. Just the thought of holding the violin was painful. He would have gladly given up his spot in Meldovern but his brother thought the fresh air in Meldovern would be better for him to recover from the trauma.