Capítulo 71: Chapter 70: Cave Of Regrets
1 hour later,
"Ricky!"
*BAM*
The door burst open, and there stood Father Sebastian, his robe slightly askew and his hair in disarray.
"Ernst has entered the cave, you must follow now!" Father Sebastian's voice rang out in a sharp, urgent cry as he stood in the doorway, his eyes locked on Ricky.
Panic flickered in his gaze, his chest rising and falling quickly and Ricky, caught mid-motion with a piece of bread poised near his mouth, froze as the weight of Sebastian's alarm settled in the room.
"Can I finish my-"
"There is no time, Ersnt has initiated the trails meaning you must go now!' Father Sebastion informed, rushing to Ricky and pulling him towards his feet before leading him down the hall.
"I literally just sat down father-"
"By the rules, once a successor enters, the others must enter right after." Percival appeared at his side with a knowing expression, quickly offering an explanation to Ricky who was currently showing an annoyed gaze.
"These rules are so f*cking stupid-"
"Language, child," Father Sebastian interrupted as they descended the ancient spiral staircase into the depths of the Vatican.
The atmosphere grew heavy with an ominous presence, pressing down on Ricky as they approached a vast cavern.
At its entrance stood a weeping woman carved into the stone, her expression haunting and with a slow, grating sound, the gate began to scratch open.
"That's not creepy at all," Ricky muttered under his breath, his eyes fixed on the gates creaking open before him.
The slow, deliberate movement made him feel a little foreboding, but he took a step forward regardless.
Glancing over his shoulder, he noticed Percival lingering behind, rooted in place, his face unreadable.
"Are you not coming?" Ricky asked, his voice tinged with confusion as he turned to face Percival who merely shook his head.
"The Cave of Regrets is the only trial I cannot help you in," Percival said, his tone solemn and unwavering.
Immediately upon hearing the words, Ricky stopped in his tracks, his brow furrowing in confusion as he turned to face him.
"The what?" Ricky stared at Percival, dumbfounded, his confusion deepening.
The weight of Percival's words hadn't fully sunk in, but the unease in his voice was undeniable.
"There are three trails; the cave of regrets, the approval of the past, and the dual of blood-"
"Wait, wait, wait, did you say this is the cave of regrets?" Ricky pointed at the completely void of darkness in front of him with a slightly foreboding feeling as Percival raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, Ricky," Father Sebastian said anxiously, his voice barely steady while trying to gesture him in.
"This is the real Garden Tomb of Jesus Christ, the very place from which he transcended to Heaven." Father Sebastion continued his explanation, his eyes wide, pleading for Ricky to understand quickly.
"In it, Jesus was said to have confronted all his regrets, everything he endured on Earth, and accepted his past. Only then did he ascend." Father Sebastian finished speaking, his eyes searching Ricky's for some sign of understanding. But instead, Ricky took a slow step back, his hesitation clear.
"Listen, Descendant." Percival''s voice softened, trying to steady Ricky's nerves.
"This cave manifests all your regrets, everything you bury deep, and traps you inside until you come to terms with them. But if you're worried, only you will know what you see. No one else will witness it but you." Percival words, though meant to be reassuring, carried an undeniable weight, leaving Ricky completely in a panicked state.
"Whoa, why didn't anyone tell me about this?" Ricky said, his voice edged with disbelief.
The sheer number of regrets crowding Ricky's mind made the prospect of facing them feel insurmountable.
His entire past life and current had been a relentless effort to bury these regrets, shoving them into the deepest corners of his consciousness.
Percival raised an eyebrow from the side, a hint of curiosity in his gaze as he observed Ricky's reaction, perhaps pondering why this was such a shock.
"Ricky, it is the easiest of the three-"
"Child, there is no time, you must enter and exit within twenty-four hours, or you will be lost within its depths forever." Father Sebastian urged, his voice growing more insistent as he hurried him forward, but Ricky remained rooted to the spot.
"Wait so, what will I see? " Ricky asked Percival, clearly uncomfortable and seeking clarification, while Percival regarded him with an understanding expression.
"Everything you've truly regretted will be shown to you, and you must overcome it all." Percival said with a smile, his hand pointing forward but Ricky shook his head in disbelief, while Father Sebastian bit his lip.
"Nevermind, I'm not doing that-WHAT THE!" Ricky, in his efforts to suddenly stop whatever he would see, stopped paying attention for a split second, and in that moment, Father Sebastian pushed him into the encroaching darkness.
"YOU MOTHERF-"
*BAM*
The boulder slammed shut behind Ricky, and he was immediately plunged into darkness.
It felt as though he were plummeting off a cliff, the sensation of falling and descending deeper into the abyss overwhelming his senses as the oppressive blackness closed in around him, each moment stretching into an eternal void.
"May god be with you Child." Father Sebastion gave him a silent prayer, asking for forgiveness for his shrewdness not from Ricky, but God.
*Thump*
Ricky collided with the ground, his eyes snapping shut for a moment from the impact.
When he opened them again, he was met with a strangely familiar scene, as if he had been here before or was reliving a memory as the surroundings seemed to shift and breathe with an eerie, unsettling familiarity.
"Slick, are you okay?" Trevor tapped Ricky's cheek, his figure looming over him in a sharp dress suit, surrounded by a crowd of people.
Ricky looked around in confusion, trying to make sense of the scene unfolding before him, his bewildered gaze darting between Trevor and the unfamiliar faces surrounding him.
"What is-" Ricky let out a breathless sigh, at a complete loss, and turned to the side as there, in the reflection of a glass window, he saw his own image staring back at him that wasn't what he was used to.
"DADDY!" Jessica lunged at him, her face a mix of urgency and relief, while Ricky instinctively caught his daughter.
Sam, her now husband, stood nearby, patting Ricky's shoulder with an overwhelming smile that radiated gratitude for saving Jessica.
"Buddy, you're alright!" Dan flashed a toothy smile as he gazed at Ricky, who stood unscathed.
He dropped the bloodied driver to the ground, the one who was driving that car that barely missed him, with a relieved expression.
Ricky, still holding Jessica clinging and crying in his rented suit, pushed himself to his feet.
"What happened, what's happening?" Ricky asked, his voice tinged with disbelief, as he looked down and saw his old appearance.
He patted his body all over, as if trying to convince himself that it was truly him, the familiar contours and sensations stirring memories he had thought long forgotten.
"You don't remember?" Sam asked, a hint of surprise in his voice and Trevor let out a sigh, though his smile remained.
"That jerk over there almost hit Jessica, and you pushed her out of the way, saving her once again." Trevor said, his tone carrying a note of admiration for once as Ricky scratched his head, feeling a wave of confusion.
"I-this-but-" Ricky stumbled with his words, trying to make sense of it before regaining himself.
"Sweety, can you give me a second?" Ricky asked, and Jessica nodded, allowing him to step back.
As he took a good look around, he realized it wasn't the old New York he had grown accustomed to.
Instead, it was a skyline filled with towering skyscrapers, the bustling cityscape unmistakably marking the twenty-first century.
"But wasn't I-didn't I die?" Ricky was completely and utterly confused by the situation, trying to grasp at straws that always seemed to slip away in his mind.
He turned around to face his reflection, which revealed his old self, as if his next life had been nothing more than a dream.
He rubbed his head, struggling to piece together the fragments of reality and make sense of the surreal scene before him.
"I need a drink." Ricky let out a sigh and walked back into the venue, his mind reeling from the confusion as Trevor rolled his eyes.
"Of course you do." Trevor scoffed, watching as Ricky made his way through the anxious crowd and disappeared into the bar.
"Slick didn't I say you were cut off-" The bartender pointed at Ricky, putting away the bottle of bourbon as Ricky had a sudden thought.
*Inaudible mutter*
*DING*
*BAM*
Ricky muttered a word under his breath, and in an instant, he drove his fist into the bartender's face, sending him staggering backward.
Ricky leaned over the bar, his hand hovering inches from grabbing the bartender, but he clenched the edge tightly instead.
For a moment, he questioned his sanity, doubting the reality of his second chance at life as his knuckles turned white from the force with which he gripped the bar as he whispered a single, fateful word.
'Status.'
"F*cking hell, this isn't real."Ricky let out a curse under his breath, feeling both unnerved and oddly relieved.
The bartender, brushing himself off and chuckling, pulled himself to his feet and set a glass down beside Ricky.
"You are correct, this is not real." The bartender smiled, and in that moment, everything around Ricky seemed to freeze, isolating just the two of them.
The bustling bar fell silent, the world narrowing to the shared space between Ricky and the bartender.
"I am the manifestation of your regret for what could've been." The bartender said with a bright smile, nodding toward Ricky.
Ricky's expression grew wary, the weight of the bartender's words settling heavily on him as he tried to process the gravity of the revelation.
"What are you-"
"Slick, even though you're relieved to have a chance to start over, part of you still regrets leaving this world too soon." The bartender said, spreading his arms as Ricky glanced at the bottle in his hand, the bartender's words resonating with a troubling truth.
"I mean, your current life is a hundred times better than this one, yet a part of you remains regretful and trapped here. Isn't that something?" The bartender poured himself a glass of bourbon, the amber liquid catching the light as he took a measured sip.
"So, is there something I need to do in order to-" Ricky scoffed, gazing at his empty shot glass, proning for a complicated answer only to receive an interruption.
"No, the way to pass this part is to simply walk through that door." The bartender said, pointing behind him.
Ricky turned to see a red door standing alone in the middle of the bar, its presence oddly out of place amid the familiar surroundings.
"That's it." Ricky glanced back at him, raising an eyebrow at how straightforward it all seemed while the bartender took another sip of bourbon, unfazed.
"That's it." The bartender mused thoughtfully, causing Ricky to frown but still, he stood up and made his way to the door.
"That is, if you want to leave." The bartender smiled as everything around him slowly unfroze with Trevor walking into the scene.
"What's the catch, though?" Ricky finally asked, turning back to see the bartender wiping a glass.
"Nothing." The bartender replied, his tone casual.
"But if you stay, everything will play out as if you never left and actually survived that day." The bartender tempted him, giving him another chance at his past life.
Ricky scoffed, dismissing the challenge as easy, and turned his attention back to the door, ready to confront whatever lay beyond.
"Hey Dad, can we talk for a second?" Trevor spoke up just as Ricky's hand rested on the doorknob.
"It's just that, I was wondering if you'd like to come over and meet your grandkids-" Trevor, looking nervous, said as he glanced down momentarily but when he looked up again, Ricky was already walking through the door, disappearing from view.
*BAM*
The door slammed shut behind Ricky with a resounding thud, and the bartender's laughter echoed in the emptiness.
As the sound of his mirth lingered, the image of Trevor began to fade away as if he was nothing more than a mirage.
"As expected of me." The bartender said with a satisfied smile.
As his words lingered in the air, everything around him began to dissolve, and he faded into obscurity, leaving nothing behind but the echo of his self-assured grin.
"Ugh." Ricky grunted out in announcing, appearing in front of a different bartender who gestured to the seat in front of him.
"And what are you supposed to be?" Ricky asked, eyeing the bartender as he smiled and continued cleaning the glass in his hand.
"I'm the regret of what could have been." The bartender replied with a knowing wink as he patted the counter with a casual air, as if the answer was as simple as the gesture.
"Come on, sit." The bartender began to speak, but as Ricky turned around, he found the same bartender standing right in front of him.
"I can't leave can I-"
"Nope." The bartender smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes as Ricky frowned but reluctantly dragged himself over to the bar.
"So what's your shtick?" Ricky sighed heavily, settling onto the stool at the counter as the bartender laughed.
"Well, one of your regrets is abandoning all your lovers in the past when things got rough, so I'm going to give you an option, a choice." The bartender said, setting a shot glass in front of him as Ricky raised an eyebrow in response.
"Either you confront a random lover or you pass on them by taking a shot until you choose the one you confront." The bartender proposed, placing a shot glass before Ricky and filling it to the brim.
"What's the catch?" Ricky asked, heaving out another sigh as the bartender nodded in response.
"You cannot skip the last person I have for you." The bartender said, his tone firm while leaning on the counter and looking him dead in the eye.
"You must see the life you could've had with them if you had stayed." The bartender finished his foreboding words with a chuckle, leaning back as he casually wiped a clean glass.
Ricky frowned, his gaze shifting to the shot glass before him, the weight of the bartender's words settling heavily in his mind.
"Second option-"
"Ricky?" A black woman appeared next to him, revealing herself as the sister of Ricky's loan shark as she sat down a pregnancy test with a slam of her hand.
"I'm pregnant and you're the father-"
*Gulp*
Ricky downed the first shot with a determined gulp, catching the bartender by surprise.
The bartender shrugged, a hint of amusement in his eyes, and nonetheless began preparing another shot.
*Sniff*
"Did you really never love me-"
"Seriously, I didn't even love Jennete." Ricky interrupted the crying girl, pointing at the busty brown-haired woman behind him as the bartender merely shrugged.
"Hey, they're your regrets and not mine, don't get mad at me." The bartender laughed as Ricky took the shot.
An Asian girl appeared next, but Ricky just laughed and downed another shot, continuing the pattern with determined resolve.
"What is this, water?" Ricky asked the bartender with an incredulous expression, clearly unfazed and not even slightly buzzed.
"It's a metaphor-"
"Of course it is." Ricky rolled his eyes, but when he turned around after downing about twenty more shots, he found that no one was there.
The space was empty, each of Ricky's past relationships burning through his mind in a matter of seconds, all while the bartender observed with a detached gaze.
"Wait, is that everyone-"
"Since you took the second option, the one I have for you is beyond that door." The bartender pointed his gaze to the side as Ricky sighed once more, his shoulders slumping as he slowly stood up, bracing himself for whatever lay ahead.
"When I open it, will there be another one of you guys there?" Ricky asked, but the bartender simply shook his head, offering no further explanation.
"No, after me, you will have to guide yourself through it." The bartender informed him.
Ricky downed the shot in a single gulp and then walked purposefully toward the white door, ready to face whatever awaited him beyond.
"Good luck, Slick." The bartender cheered Ricky on, his voice filled with encouragement, as Ricky grunted with effort while pushing open the door.
"Luck's for chumps." Ricky offered his parting words, and as he stepped through the door, the bartender returned to his task, calmly cleaning his glass once more.
"So it is."
Ricky opened the door, and a blinding light seemed to consume him and when his eyes finally adjusted, he found himself on a porch.
"Dad?" Trevor asked, raising an eyebrow, while holding one child in his arms and guiding another by his side.
"Grandpa!" The kid exclaimed with excitement as he ran towards Ricky, who frowned at the unexpected and unsettling scene unfolding before him.
Just as the kid was about to lunge at Ricky, he thrust out his hand and stiff-armed the child's head, stopping him in his tracks.
"I know this isn't real and you're not Trevor, since he's never once let me see his kids." Ricky said with clear annoyance, pointing at him as Trevor's expression shifted to one of confusion and discomfort as he processed Ricky's words.
"Uh, Dad, I come with the kids every other weekend for dinner with you and Mom," Trevor said, his tone laced with confusion.
Ricky's eyes widened, trembling slightly, as he turned around to see a familiar woman he never thought he'd see again.
"Honey, what are you doing standing there? Go set the table like I asked you to," The woman said with a warm smile, giving Ricky a gentle smack on the chest.
Ricky took a step back, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief as he struggled to process the surreal scene.
"Cindy?" Ricky asked, his voice tinged with bafflement as he struggled to reconcile the sight of her with the reality he knew, unable to fathom why she would be here or why she was looking at him with a smile.
"Mom, is he okay?" Trevor asked, handing Cindy the baby as she kissed its forehead affectionately while rolling her eyes, a gesture of both tenderness and exasperation.
"Your father always likes to go too far with his little joke escapades. Just ignore him," Cindy said, beckoning Trevor inside with a mix of amusement and resignation.
Once the door closed, Ricky bolted off the patio and into the nearby field, which stretched endlessly with crops as far as the eye could see.
He ran through the vast expanse until, overcome by exhaustion, he collapsed onto the ground.
Lying there, he huffed with each breath, covering his face as his heart pounded like a drum.
"Are you done?" Cindy leaned over him, her hair dripping down as Ricky avoided her gaze.
"Stop pretending to be my Cindy." Ricky scoffed, turning his head away from her as he struggled to maintain a strong front while his nerves churned inside.
"The real Cindy would've slapped me if she'd seen me like this or just seen me in general." Ricky knew this wasn't real, yet he couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes as Cindy chuckled and bent down to pat his head.
"That's true." Cindy gave him a warm smile as she gently ran her fingers through his slicked-back hair.
"Then what do you want from me?" Ricky finally turned to the smiling Cindy, who gently kissed his forehead, stroking his cheek.
"I want you to spend a day in the life we always dreamed about when we were still together," Cindy said, spreading her hands out in a sweeping gesture as Ricky took in the view all around him.
"We dreamed about being on a farm, what a shitty dream that was," Ricky said, his laced thich with cynicism but Cindy laughed at his words, patting his cheek.
"But it was a happy one, a dream that could've been fulfilled if you had just given it a chance," Cindy said with that same warm smile, extending her hand to Ricky, who still remained extremely hesitant.
"One day, just spend one day with me, and you can finally let go once and for all," Cindy urged, her voice gentle but firm.
Ricky clicked his tongue, wrestling with his doubts, but ultimately took her hand and in an instant, they appeared outside the house, the scene shifting to what could have been.
Walking in, Ricky saw Jessica and Sam already seated at the table, chatting animatedly with Trevor and his significant other.
"Hi daddy!" Jessica beamed him a warm smile and waved, while Sam gave him a nod and a smile that made Ricky feel uncomfortable, the sincerity in Sam's expression seeming almost too earnest.
"Hi grandpa!" The boy waved at him with admiration and Ricky, feeling a bit sheepish, glanced at the kid before nodding in return.
"Dad, are you alright?" Trevor asked with slight concern, noticing that Ricky seemed more awkward than usual.
"I'm sure Ricky is alright; he's probably just still a little mad that his little girl was stolen from him," Nora, Trevor's wife, joked as her comment eased the tension, and everyone laughed immediately.
"Come on, Ricky, you sit at the head of the table," Cindy said, planting a kiss on his cheek as she guided him to his seat as Sam laughed at the scene.
"Well, if our marriage turns out half as good as yours, then I'm sure we'll be just fine." Sam said with a heartfelt smile, while Jessica rested her hand on his with a heartfelt grin.
"Oh Sammy~" Jessica kissed his cheek, deeply touched by the sweet words from her new husband.
"Now, let's dig in shall we?" Cindy wasted no time and promptly began the family dinner.
Ricky could only describe the atmosphere as unexpectedly smooth, a rarity compared to his past experiences.
He often stumbled through heartfelt moments, leaving them in shambles which was why he was so surprised that, despite his nervousness, everything seemed to fall into place, defying his expectations of disaster.
Trevor didn't cast his usual disappointed glare; Jessica didn't need to cover for his mistakes; and Cindy was simply present, adding to the ease of the evening.
The dinner ended on a cheerful note, with everyone departing in good spirits and Cindy walked the last of the two newlyweds to the door, rounding off the evening with a sense of contentment.
"Now have fun in Cabo, you two! Bring me back a souvenir!" Cindy called out, waving as she watched them leave.
Once the door closed, she turned around to find Ricky seated at the dinner table, drinking straight from a wine bottle.
It still didn't taste like anything, but the hope of getting drunk fueled him to drink even more.
"Where did it all go wrong, Cindy?" Ricky asked Cindy in an aggrieved tone, who smiled and walked over to sit next to him.
Cindy didn't respond right away; instead, she grabbed the bottle, poured herself a drink, and laughed at his words.
"Oh Ricky, we both know where it is wrong." Cindy looked up at him with a sad frown as she took a sip, noticing Ricky's silence, showing he wasn't going to add to her comment.
*Sigh*
"It went wrong when everything was going so right. Why couldn't you let us be happy?" Cindy asked, clutching his hand and gazing deeply into his distressed eyes.
"Why couldn't you let yourself be happy-"
"This is stupid." Ricky scoffed, pushing himself away and standing up, pacing back and forth.
"Can't you just yell at me or throw your drink in my face? Seriously, I'm actually begging you," Ricky said in a desperate manner, placing his hands together in a pleading gesture.
"I knocked you up TWICE, and not only that, I slept with your mother and cousin. On a lighter note, I honestly think that little Geoffry might be my bastard, but I'm only 70% sure," Ricky said, trying to distract the gravity of the situation around him with humor.
But Cindy only shook her head, taking another sip, clearly unimpressed by his attempt to deflect away from the conversation.
"You did that after I pressed you about a ring, Ricky. Can't you simply admit that you did all those things because you were afraid of being happy?" Cindy continued to probe the scar on his heart, but Ricky just shook his head.
"When will you forgive yourself for what happened to Danielle-"
"Don't, do not finish that f*cking sentence," Ricky said, his eyes dangerous as he pointed at Cindy, who sighed.
"That is not why I ruined us-" Ricky began, trying to retort with more lies, but Cindy saw through his attempts.
"And here we are, back to the start." Cindy leaned back, Ricky plopping down and collapsing his head into his hands.
"Alright, you want the truth? I was afraid you'd be happier without me, constantly ruining your life. Okay?!" Ricky looked up, confessing why he left Cindy as she smiled at his words.
"I was a wreck when you found me, and I didn't want to keep hurting you, showing up late, waking up a baby Jessica, f*cking up Trevor's life with my crappy personality. I wanted you to smile when all I ever did was make you cry." Ricky let out his grievances, leaning back in the chair and grabbing the bottle of wine, taking a long swig.
Ricky finally confronted his lies and revealed to Cindy the real reason he left all those years ago, choosing to face the truth rather than taking the cowardly route that would have caused her so much pain that she'd be forced to break up with him first.
"If I wanted to drink f*cking water then I would've gotten a fresca from the fridge." Ricky gritted his teeth, frustrated that he couldn't drink away his feelings as he threw the bottle aside in exasperation, and Cindy chuckled as she stood up.
"Thank you, Ricky, for finally telling me how you really felt all those years ago." Cindy said with gratitude, plopping down on his lap and kissing his cheek tenderly.
Ricky caressed her back, still sulking while Cindy rested her head on his shoulder while they sat in a comfortable silence, cherishing each other's embrace.
"Can we-"
"I was waiting for you to ask," Cindy smiled seductively, her eyes twinkling with playful affection.
[Really short R18]
Ricky swept Cindy up in a princess carry, her laughter ringing joyfully through the air as he held her close.
The warmth of her body against his, their hearts beating in sync, created a tender connection between them.
As Ricky spun her around, Cindy's arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer as their laughter echoed toward the bedroom.
Their gazes locked, brimming with unspoken words of love and longing, before they tumbled onto the bed.
Their lips met in a passionate kiss, Ricky leaning down as Cindy cupped his face in her hands and gradually, they pulled away, their breaths mingling as they slowly drifted apart.
"God, you were one of a kind." Ricky smiled and kissed her palm, receiving a raised eyebrow in response.
"Were?" Cindy laughed, which only made Ricky laugh as well as he continued to kiss her palm, their joy and affection palpable.
"My bad, you still are one of a kind." Ricky chuckled as Cindy pulled him closer.
"That's better."
As Ricky and Cindy's lips met once more in a slow, passionate dance, their kisses deepened with each lingering touch.
Their laughter faded into a haze of desire, their bodies moving together as if they've danced this tango a million times before.
The bedroom around them became a sanctuary of whispered promises and heated gazes, the air thick with anticipation.
Ricky's hands traced the curves of Cindy's body, his touch igniting a trail of shivers along her skin.
She moaned softly into his mouth as he remembered the way she reacted to his touch, pulling him closer as they melted into each other's embrace.
Clothes were shed with a sense of urgency and reverence, each layer revealing more of their hunger and devotion.
"I've missed you, I still miss you." Ricky murmured between kisses, his voice husky.
"You're such a flirt." Cindy didn't buy it, and Ricky smiled widely at her disbelief, continuing to scatter tender kisses across her body.
Cindy's response was a wordless plea as she guided him onto her, their bodies entwined in a fervent embrace.
"Ha~" Cindy let out a refreshed sigh as she felt Ricky slip into her pussy, the very same that had given him two beautiful children.
Ricky felt lost in Cindy, who was both his first love and the last person he ever wanted to hurt.
This deep affection made him especially gentle with her as Cindy smiled, taking his hand and pressing it against her cheek as he moved slowly inside her.
"Ah~" Cindy moaned softly, and Ricky bit his lip, reflecting on how foolish he had been to let someone as special as her slip away.
"Ricky~" Cindy moaned, closing her eyes and losing herself to the sensation.
Ricky couldn't resist the urge to pull Cindy closer, his heart pounding with a blend of desire and relief.
Her moans were music to his ears, each breathy utterance driving him deeper into her being.
"Cindy~" Ricky whispered her name like a prayer, his movements becoming more urgent yet still tender.
He kissed her deeply, his lips seeking reassurance in the heat of their embrace while Cindy's fingers traced along his back, nails gently grazing his skin as she surrendered completely to the intoxicating pleasure of their union.
In that moment, nothing existed beyond the touch and connection they shared, a bond strengthened by years of love and longing.
Ricky cherished every sigh, every whimper that escaped Cindy's lips, knowing that this, here and now, was where he belonged yet knowing that he could never really stay.
"You always knew how to make my body bend to you~" Cindy whispered sweet words into his ear that made his spine tingle.
"You always did this, always revving me up on purpose." Ricky chuckled, kissing her tempting lips with that sleazy smile he always adorned.
Cindy's soft moans echoed in the room, mingling with the sound of their rapid breaths and the gentle rustling of sheets.
Ricky, overwhelmed by the depth of his emotions, caressed her cheek, tracing the contours of her face as if memorizing every detail.
In that intimate space, time seemed to slow down, allowing them to savor the intensity of their connection.
They moved together, bodies moving in perfect harmony, their union a celebration of their shared history and the unspoken promises of their future.
Cindy nestled closer, her fingers entwined with his, knowing that in Ricky's embrace, she had found her home while whispering a moan into his ear.
"I'm cumming Ricky~" Cindy seductively whispered, kissing his ear afterwards while closing her eyes while letting herself be taken by Ricky's being.
Ricky held onto Cindy tightly, thrusting gently but with enough force for them to truly feel each other's pleasure.
His cock feeling at home within Cindy, throbbing while her wall's twitched violently until Ricky let out one thrust.
As they both reached their climaxes, they embraced tightly, feeling the full force of each other's love and connection.
[End of really short R18]
*HUFF*
*HUFF*
*HUFF*
Lying on the bed with Cindy held tightly in his arms, they stared at the ceiling as he rubbed her shoulder slowly and gently.
"What now?" Ricky turned to Cindy, who rested her head on his chest, their bodies intertwined in a comfortable embrace.
"Now, it's time to say goodbye." Cindy looked up with a teary gaze as Ricky hesitated, unsure if he could walk away from her at this moment.
"Can't I stay-"
"You can, but you know I wouldn't want that for you." Cindy caressed his chest gently as Ricky laid his head on the pillow as he turned his gaze to the side, noticing a door nearby.
"I'm sorry for ruin-"
"You didn't ruin my life Ricky, I chose to be with you." Cindy kissed his cheek and gave him a warm, reassuring smile.
"But not everything works out the way we want it to, and that's why you could never let go." Cindy said, patting his chest as she stood up, throwing his clothes at him.
"Now get out of here." Cindy playfully teased as Ricky sighed but reluctantly put on his clothes.
Standing up, he glanced back one last time to see Cindy waving goodbye as he gave her a final smile before stepping through the door.
*THUMP*
A familiar room appeared before his eyes, causing his pupils to shake violently, as if in an earthquake while his breath began to come in rapid, shallow gasps.
"No, no, no-"
"Ricky, will you read me a bedtime story?" A little girl's voice asked cutely from behind Ricky, causing him to suddenly go pale at her mere voice.
"Ricky?" The girl called out in confusion, but Ricky refused to turn around, covering his ears and scrunching into a ball.
"Ricky, I know you can hear me." The girl called out, gently tapping his shoulder, but Ricky's breathing began to quicken.
Ricky's chest tightened, each breath coming in short gasps as his heart hammered in his chest, its rhythm erratic and loud in his ears.
Sweat beaded on his forehead as his vision blurred and his hands trembled uncontrollably.
He felt trapped, overwhelmed by a sense of impending doom, as if the walls were closing in around him.
Panic surged through him, a wave of fear and helplessness that threatened to drown him as he closed his eyes, trying to calm himself, but the panic only seemed to intensify.
Ricky muttered, shutting his eyes tightly and pressing his palms against his ears to block out the noise but despite his efforts, the words still trickled through.
"Will you read me a bedtime story, please Ricky-"
"NO!" Ricky yelled as he opened his eyes, facing the unsettling sight of a young girl who eerily resembled Sofia.
"Not today Danielle, I have plans." Behind Ricky stood his younger self, a teenage version of him shaking his head with an annoyed expression.
"I quit."
Author's Note: The status is really big and I saw the commetns so I just made an auxillary chapter mb
Capítulo 72: Chapter 71: Approval Of The Past
"I quit, I F*CKING QUIT!" Ricky's scream tore through the air, a raw, visceral outburst that echoed the turmoil within him.
The scene before him had struck a chord deeper than anything he had ever felt, pushing his emotions to their breaking point.
"I DON'T WANT TO BE THE STUPID BLACK KNIGHT ANYMORE! ERNST WINS, SO LET ME THE F*CK OUT OF HERE!" Ricky screamed, his voice trembling with desperation, but no matter how fiercely he wished for an escape, the scene refused to change.
"Alright, it's a promise." Danielle offered a sad, knowing smile as Ricky covered his eyes, struggling to hold back his emotions.
The little girl, sitting on her neatly made bed, was his long-lost half-sister Danielle, now just a haunting memory.
This was one of the most painful fragments of his past he had always refused to face, desperately burying any recollection of her.
But as he turned to escape, he found himself thrown into another scene.
"Ricky, can we play go-fish-"
"I can't Danielle, I'm going out with friends, next time I promise." Ricky waved her off and walked out through the door, but the present-day Ricky suddenly jerked his head to the side, as if trying to escape the memory unfolding before him.
"Alright, it's a promise." Danielle reappeared, her sad smile lingering as she slowly lowered her head, the door closing in front of her with a quiet finality.
Ricky stumbled backward, turning just in time to see Danielle rushing forward, clutching something tightly to her chest while his past self descended the stairs.
"Hey Ricky, I found this really cool movie-" Danielle, her eyes sparkling like stars, held it above her head with a toothy smile, brimming with hope.
But his past self only sighed, letting her excitement fade into the silence as he walked towards the door.
"Nope, busy. Promise I'll play next time." Ricky waved her off once more, closing the door behind him.
"Alright, it's a promise." Danielle slowly lowered the movie in her hand, her smile fading as she watched the door swing shut in her face once more.
That same understanding, sad smile crept back onto her face, yet the past Ricky didn't even care to spare her a glance.
"Hey Ricky, do you want to play hopscotch?"
"Hey Ricky, let's just talk-"
"Hey Ricky, I found dad's old board games-"
"Hey Ricky-"
"Hey Ricky-"
"Hey Ricky-"
"Hey Ricky-"
"Hey Ricky-"
Every direction Ricky looked, he was met with scenes of neglect, the words echoing relentlessly around him.
Danielle's attempts to reach out continued, each time met with his turning away, until Ricky finally stopped moving, unable to escape the haunting repetition and finally gazed forward.
"Ricky, is it true what Daddy said before he went away?" Danielle tugged at Ricky's shirt, her voice trembling with uncertainty before he could walk out.
"Who cares about that loser anyway? Just forget about him." Ricky said dismissively, brushing her off but Danielle fidgeted with her fingers, her gaze downcast, as he walked out the door.
"But he said I wasn't his daughter." Danielle's words struck his past self like a tidal wave, freezing him in place at the doorway. In the present, his face flushed with sudden, seething anger.
"Don't you say it, don't you f*cking say it-" Ricky ground his teeth together, pointing an accusing finger at his past self.
"Yeah, you're not his daughter, so just stop thinking about him, alright?" Ricky tried to push her to move on in his own way, but his words only left Danielle devastated.
*Sniff*
"I'm not?" Danielle sniffed, her eyes filling with tears as the past version of Ricky hesitated at the door, visibly unsettled by her response.
"Y-Yes." Ricky's voice wavered with guilt as he delivered the painful news, while Danielle tugged at his shirt once more, her eyes pleading.
"Can you stay with me today?" Danielle asked, her voice quivering with tears threatening to fall as the present Ricky's heart shattered into tiny pieces, already knowing the answer.
"N-No, I've got to go." Ricky fled through the door, escaping from the problem he had created as he left Danielle standing alone, her sadness deepening in his wake.
He stood there, his face etched with heartbreak, as he watched Danielle's tears fall slowly.
Finally, he sank into a nearby chair, his face buried in his hands as he succumbed to his own anguish.
"What is wrong with me?" Ricky asked himself, his voice heavy with despair, as he confronted the reflection of his own flaws.
It was a moment of reckoning, forcing him to finally face the music and after taking a deep breath, he looked up, only to find that the scene had shifted.
"Ricky!" Danielle rushed to his side as he collapsed onto the floor, clearly having drunk himself into a state of numbness.
"Shut up~" Ricky muttered through a drunken slur before slamming face-first into the ground.
*BAM*
"RICKY!" Danielle cried out urgently, running to his side and tapping his cheek with tearful eyes but he was too far gone to stir.
Alone with only each other for company, Danielle began to push and struggle to carry Ricky up to his bed on the second floor.
She employed every method and contraption she could think of, her determination unwavering.
The present Ricky watched in heartache as his younger sister exhausted every effort to ensure he had a restful night, a gesture he would never fully appreciate.
Then as Ricky started to feel that remorse and guilt completely consumed him, the final scene played out as Ricky fell to his knees as he no longer had the strength to stand.
"Please, Ricky, can we go play at the docks?" Danielle begged earnestly but Ricky, already in a foul mood, shook his head in response.
"I'm not in the mood-"
"YOU'RE NEVER IN THE MOOD!" Danielle screeched at Ricky, tears streaming down her face as her frustration and hurt spilled over.
"I ONLY WANT YOU TO SPEND TIME WITH ME BUT YOU NEVER-" Danielle poured out her frustrations, hoping Ricky would notice her sadness but his past self merely snapped his head back, indifferent to her pain.
"WHY SHOULD I SPEND TIME WITH SOME SNOT-NOSED BRAT?" The past Ricky retaliated harshly, causing Danielle to flinch.
Meanwhile, the present Ricky shook his head in disbelief, unable to reconcile with his former self's cruelty.
"Stop." Ricky begged desperately, reaching out to anyone who might hear him, but his cries were met with silence.
But it was no use.
"But I'm your sister-"
"HALF SISTER, YOU'RE ONLY HALF MY SISTER CAUSE YOU'RE A F*CKING BASTARD!" The past Ricky yelled, and as his harsh words cut through the air, tears began to stream down Danielle's cheeks.
"Stop." Ricky breathlessly uttered the words toward his past self, knowing full well what would follow as avein throbbed on his neck as he glared at his former self with seething hatred.
"Y-Your lying-" Danielle shook her head, tears streaming down her small cheeks as she backed away, overwhelmed by the sudden news.
"WHY DO YOU THINK DAD SAID YOU WEREN'T HIS? BECAUSE HE HUNG HIMSELF WHEN HE FOUND OUT OUR MOM CHEATED AND HAD A KID WITH ANOTHER MAN!" Ricky unleashed his frustrations on his young sister, who only ever wanted to spend time with him.
*SNIFF*
"I-I HATE YOU!" Danielle screamed at his past self, but he only scoffed as he opened the door and walked away.
"STOP!" Ricky shouted, standing up in a desperate plea to his past self.
It would be a moment he would come to regret deeply, a haunting memory that lingered with him to this day.
"And I hate you too." Ricky said in a bitter, pessimistic tone, intending to wound Danielle deeply as his words succeeded, shattering her heart completely.
"FINE!" Danielle yelled, her voice echoing with anguish as she watched his past self walk away.
The present Ricky, consumed by remorse, began shaking his head fervently, unable to escape the torment of his own actions.
"Danielle, stop." Ricky breathlessly stumbled forward, watching as Danielle reached for her yellow rain jacket and paper boat, her small hands trembling with despair.
"I'LL GO BY MYSELF!" Danielle yelled defiantly, but his past self didn't even glance back.
Meanwhile, the present Ricky sprinted towards her, driven by a desperate need to stop her.
"DANIELLE, PUT THAT F*CKING RAINCOAT DOWN, DANIELLE!" Ricky roared in grief, sprinting after her as she headed towards the back door.
She struggled for a moment but finally managed to open the door, and the rain poured in torrents as Ricky's heart pounded furiously.
His pupils trembled violently, reflecting the image of her stepping outside as desperation surged through him as he leaped out the door, determined to reach her before she could disappear into the storm.
"Today, we are gathered not to mourn the loss of Danielle Freeman, but to celebrate the life she lived." The priest said somberly, standing beside a small red oak coffin adorned with a large photograph of Danielle hanging above it.
*BAM*
*BAM*
Ricky was consumed by an overwhelming wave of grief and anguish as he slammed his head into the dirt, having to relive the tragic fate of his little sister.
He later discovered that Danielle had gone down to the docks, fallen into the water, and drowned, taking her last, terrified breaths alone and frightened with her final moments colored by the pain of his earlier words, when he had told her he hated her.
This haunting event left Ricky deeply scarred, unable to form close bonds with others.
The fear of experiencing such devastating loss again prevented him from opening his heart, as he dreaded the heart wrenching pain of losing someone else just as he had lost Danielle.
After that day, if Ricky was considered broken, then after Danielle's death, he was utterly shattered.
He could never forgive himself and drifted through life, consumed by self-pity as he sought to drown his pain with any substance, woman, or can of booze he could find, trying to numb the relentless ache within.
"Would anyone like to say a few words?" The priest asked and one by one, people began sharing their stories, and Ricky's eyes widened in surprise as he turned to look behind him.
"Ricky, as her loving brother, would you like to say some parting words to Danielle?" the priest asked, gesturing towards him as all eyes turned towards him.
The present Ricky, overwhelmed, stood up and rushed toward his past self, who had also risen to his feet.
Without hesitation, his past self turned away and started running with all his might, fleeing from the funeral as tears streamed down his cheeks.
"YOU GO BACK THERE AND SAY GOODBYE, YOU BASTARD!" Ricky screamed, his voice a raw mix of frustration and hatred.
He knew he couldn't change the past, but he refused to passively witness his greatest mistake again.
Despite his desperate efforts to catch up, his past self outpaced him, the distance between them widening until he disappeared completely.
Ricky turned back to the funeral scene, now eerily silent, with empty rows of chairs where grieving people once filled.
The only presence was the departed soul and the vacant podium and after taking a deep breath, Ricky walked toward the podium, determined not to flee this time but to face the sorrow head-on.
He climbed the stairs and positioned himself in front of the podium, facing the empty rows.
As he glanced toward the supposedly nonexistent crowd, his eyes trembled with profound grief when he saw Danielle sitting in the front row, patiently waiting for him to speak, her familiar smile still gracing her face.
"I-" Ricky hesitated, instinctively turning to leave but his hands tightened around the podium, anchoring him in place as he fought against the urge to flee.
*SIGH*
"Danielle, I'm so sorry." Ricky finally found the words he had never managed to say, his voice trembling as he looked her directly in the eyes.
"I was such a bad big brother," Ricky said, his voice breaking with raw emotion. "If I could, I would've traded places with you, because God knows a piece of sh*t like me didn't deserve to live in a world where you couldn't smile." Ricky spoke from the heart, tears streamed down his face, and he choked on his breath, but he pressed on through the pain.
"I-.......I should've been there for you. There isn't a day I don't kick myself for not taking your extended hand when I had so many chances and just blew them all." Ricky began to break down, his voice trembling as the weight of his deepest regret stood right in front of him.
After her death, Ricky had always loathed himself and the crushing sense of loss that accompanied it.
Whenever that feeling resurfaced, he would instinctively run from it, just as he had all those years ago.
"You just wanted to be near me, and all I ever did was push you away," Ricky said, his voice heavy with regret.
As he spoke, Danielle stood up and began walking toward him, her presence a poignant reminder of his failings.
"You deserved so much more and I'm sorry-"
"Ricky." Danielle walked right up to his side and gently tugged on his shirt as Ricky fell to his knees, bringing himself down to her eye level, the gravity of the moment pressing heavily upon him.
"I forgive you," Danielle said softly while Ricky pulled her into a tight embrace, burying his grief in her presence, overwhelmed by the release of his long-held sorrow.
Ricky knew deep down that Danielle would have forgiven him if he had only asked for it, but that was precisely why he never sought her forgiveness in the past.
He tormented himself with grief, fearing that if he were forgiven, it would mean Danielle had died in vain.
*SNIFF*
"I love you so much, Danielle." Ricky choked out, gripping her tightly while Danielle gently patted his back, offering comfort as he let his emotions flow freely.
"But Ricky," Danielle said softly, breaking the hug to Ricky's visible grief as she gently caressed his cheek, her touch tender and reassuring.
"You need to stop running," Danielle said, her words echoing with a deeper meaning that left Ricky puzzled.
"Danielle-"
"Ricky." Danielle pouted at him, gently closing his mouth before returning to a warm smile as she stroked his chin.
"It's time for you to move forward instead of running backward." Danielle's toothy smile was bright, but Ricky shook his head, struggling with the weight of her words.
"No Danielle, I need to stay here and make up all the lost-"
"I'm already gone, Ricky." Danielle's sad smile broke his heart, leaving him staring at her in stunned silence.
"And it's time for you to finally forgive yourself." Danielle said softly, breaking away from Ricky before walking toward the last door.
"W-Wait, can't we talk-"
"No, you have to hurry up. I'll be mad at you if you don't win," Danielle said, crossing her arms and tapping her foot as Ricky couldn't help but let out a chuckle at her determined stance.
"O-Okay." Ricky hesitated for a moment, but then, with renewed resolve, he stood up and walked toward the final door.
"Brother to sister, can you give me a hint?" Ricky asked shamefully and Danielle let out a sigh, her exasperation clear as she acknowledged that some things never changed.
"Okay, fine, but only because I love you." Danielle said, gesturing for him to come closer as Ricky leaned down to her level once more, eager for her guidance.
"Just don't run away this time," Danielle whispered. Ricky gave her a deadpan expression, and she simply shrugged, a knowing smile on her lips.
"I thought you loved me," Ricky said, raising an eyebrow at the inadequate hint.
"I do love you, even after knowing how stupid you are," Danielle chuckled, her playful tone lightening the moment.
Ricky sighed, placing his hand on the door knob but pausing as he considered her words.
"A-Are you okay-"
"Ricky, I'm not real," Danielle said, her voice soft but steady as she could already see the words forming on his lips, cutting him off before he had the chance and Ricky paused, then let out a quiet laugh.
"Right, it's all just one big mindf*ck," Ricky muttered, taking a deep breath. He couldn't help but steal another glance at Danielle, her smile warming his chest in a way that rattled him.
With that, Ricky opened the door, confronting the root of everything that had twisted him into the broken mess he had become.
"Hey there, Slick."
Ricky exhaled shakily, freezing at the sight before him as his biological father, Tanner Freeman, was perched on a ledge.
This was the man responsible for it all, the one who gave him the infamous nickname that had haunted his last life.
"Come over here, take a seat, and talk to your old man for a bit," Tanner said, tapping the ledge with an innocent expression.
Ricky hesitated, remembering his sister's warning, but ignored it, turning away and opening the door.
Yet, as soon as he stepped through, he found himself back in the exact same spot, facing Tanner once again.
"Oh, come on, Slick, you know you can't run away this time like before." Tanner laughed heartily as Ricky slammed his head against the door and tried again.
*SIGH*
"I guess some people can never change; you're just like your mother in that regard." Tanner sighed, shaking his head with clear disappointment etched on his face.
Watching Ricky try to leave through the door for the eighth time, but stopped just before stepping out.
"Ha~" Ricky laughed ironically before turning to face Tanner.
"You know, you've got a lot of nerve judging me." Ricky showed a hateful smile, pointing at Tanner but made no move to advance.
"Judge you? I'm not judging you, Slick. I'm just accepting that you'll always be the child of your whore of a mother," Tanner said, his smile unnervingly warm as Ricky's disgust flared at the sight.
"W-What are you talking about dad?"
Ricky was about to speak when he heard a voice from his past and upon turning to his right, he saw his younger self, the version of him before he became the mess he is now.
"What am I talking about? I'm talking about how your mother whored herself out to other men and had their bastards, that's what I'm talking about," Tanner said, leaning back on the ledge as the younger Ricky flinched at the harsh words.
"What are you-"
"I found out that Danielle isn't mine, Slick. She's not my daughter," Tanner scoffed with disdain, gazing towards the side as the younger Ricky looked on in shock, unable to process the revelation.
"I was surprised when I learned that you're actually my boy," Tanner said, taking out a flask and taking a swig, wiping his mouth and then pointing it at him.
"You're nothing like me, you look and act just like your whore of a mother." Tanner continued to belittle Ricky over and over, his words slicing through the air as the younger Ricky stood there, stunned and unable to grasp the cruel reality being thrown at him.
"I should've never met her in Sicily, she ruined my life." Tanner said in a cynical way, throwing the flask to the side, his gaze returning to him
"You ruined my life." Tanner's voice was firm in that stance, believing it wholly as he pointed the blame at the younger Ricky who took a step back.
"She used me for that damn green card, just like how you use women to distract yourself from your own loneliness," Tanner sneered, letting out a hateful laugh while the present Ricky watched, scowling from the side.
"But we can rectify that horrible part of you, salvage the goodness I know you still have within you," Tanner said with a gentle tone, smiling as he grabbed two ropes and held one out to Ricky.
"Come on, let's stick it to her together, like father and son," Tanner said warmly, holding the ropes out only for the younger Ricky to look on in horror at the suggestion.
Without hesitation, the younger Ricky turned his back and ran, not sparing his father a single glance as he fled down the stairs and out the door, driven by a desperate need to escape.
"And after that, you never stopped running from your problems, right, Slick?" Tanner said, finally turning to face the current Ricky as he halted his movements, locking eyes with his father.
"Yeah, you really f*cked me up-"
"Oh Jesus Christ, Ricky, how about you take some accountability for once and admit that I wasn't the entire problem but your inability to face your problems head-on." Tanner scoffed, wrapping the noose around his neck and tying the rope to the side of the building.
"Fine, you can blame me for running away today, but what about when you ran away from your own bastards?" Tanner egged Ricky on, his words driving Ricky to grit his teeth.
"Or what about Cindy?" Tanner raised his gaze, Ricky's eyes turning dangerous when looking at the bastard before him.
"You better watch your mouth old man." Ricky threatened, his hate shining through his eyes as they glared at Tanner.
"How about Daneille-"
"I said shut your f*cking mouth, Tanner!" Ricky yelled out his hate filled words, but Tanner responded with a cruel laugh, his amusement cutting through Ricky's anger.
"How can you act all tough when you can't even take a step forward?" Tanner taunted, pointing at Ricky as he glanced down, realizing he hadn't moved an inch.
"Because-"
"Oh boy, here we go with your classic diversion," Tanner sighed, rolling his eyes while Ricky clenched his fist in response, the silence thickening between them.
"Nothing?" Tanner asked, surprised as Ricky ducked his head, letting out a chuckle filled with disdain.
"Alright, you're free to go," Tanner said, pointing as a door suddenly appeared behind Ricky as he turned around to see it.
"What are you-"
"You passed. I mean, you made it to the end, so you should be able to leave." Tanner said with a smile that was laced with disdain, watching Ricky turn towards the door.
"Let's save us both the awkwardness and just leave," Tanner said, beckoning him away, watching Ricky grasp the handle and turn it.
"Just run away like you always do." Tanner said, the words halting Ricky in his tracks.
"Oh?" Tanner remarked as Ricky's hand shook violently, the handle beginning to crush under his grip.
"You think I like being this way? You think I enjoy hurting everyone around me-" Ricky began, turning back around, but Tanner's laugh interrupted him once more.
"You know what, I think you do Ricky." Tanner spread out his arms, revealing his truth to him.
"I think it's your favorite excuse." Tanner said, his mocking tone silencing Ricky as the reaction only widened his bastard father's grin.
"I think you enjoy the thought of never taking responsibility for your actions after you mess everything up, get drunk, and go f*ck some whore. I think you love it!" Tanner exclaimed out, laughing heartily at his poor excuse of a son.
"That's your true love, Ricky. Never taking any accountability and blaming everyone else except yourself," Tanner concluded, gesturing toward him as if summarizing his final point with a glorious conclusion.
""Ha, I guess you're right." Ricky said, letting out a self-deprecating laugh, actually agreeing with him.
"I guess I have been that guy," Ricky admitted, his voice heavy with resignation, holding his forehead with that stupid smile of his.
"A part of me just wants to do it right because, well, it's the easy route. I mean, the door is right there." Ricky gestured to the door with a short laugh, and Tanner responded with a mocking smile.
"But f*ck that." Ricky said, surprising both himself and Tanner as he took a step forward instead of retreating.
"I'm tired, I'm worn out, and I'm sick of just doing nothing, being nothing!" Ricky yelled at Tanner, causing his father to stand up and take a step back.
"Are you finally gonna join me-"
"No, I don't want to be this guy anymore! AND YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M GOING TO DO WHAT I SHOULD'VE DONE THE FIRST F*CKING TIME I SAW YOU ON THIS GODDAMN LEDGE!" Ricky roared, rushing at the man who, in his mind, had long since ceased to be his father.
"What are you-" Tanner started, but he couldn't finish as Ricky grabbed his collar, yanked him off the ledge, and threw him down to the ground.
*BAM*
*BAM*
Ricky began pounding on Tanner, delivering punch after punch as the man tried to shield his face and despite Tanner's attempts to cover up, Ricky's fists relentlessly collided with his face.
"STOP-"
*BAM*
"I'M YOUR FATHER-"
"NO, YOU'RE JUST A LOUSY EXCUSE FOR A MAN!" Ricky yelled, pummeling his fist into Tanner's face.
Blood started to splatter on his being but Ricky was firm, letting out all his deep rooted anger and resent that had haunted him throughout his life.
Ricky's downward spiral reached a crucial point here, where he ceased to grow as a person and began to shatter throughout his life.
Though some things would remain unchanged, Ricky resolved to confront the part of himself that always ran, determined to rid himself of the feelings that had plagued him for so long.
It was his way of breaking the cycle, refusing to let the weight of his past dictate his future any longer.
Standing over his beaten father, Ricky felt a profound sense of peace for the first time in what felt like centuries and as he stood there, a door materialized before him.
*Huff*
*Huff*
"You know, a part of me still thinks that all of this isn't my fault, that I didn't lead myself to this very spot." Ricky huffed, standing over Tanner with a resolute look, wiping the blood off of his fists.
"But the real answer is that it is."
"It's my fault that I'm an idiot, it's my fault that I'm a coward, and it's my fault that I act the way I do," Ricky admitted, his voice steady and finally acknowledging that he is the problem, instead of blaming everything around him.
"But I don't want to be this person anymore, I don't want to be this weak of a man, I want to be different." Ricky declared with a firm resolve, kicking Tanner in the chin one more time and turning his back to him.
"I want to be better."
A light shone through the door, and Ricky, drawn by its warmth, instinctively walked toward it and as he approached, the warmth began to fill his barren heart once more.
"ARE YOU JUST GOING TO LEAVE? TURN YOUR BACK ON ALL OF US?" Tanner screeched at Ricky who turned back to see every person he had ever wronged, their faces a mosaic of guilt, anger, sadness, smiles, and acceptance.
Until his gaze finally settled on Danielle, who waved at him with a gentle, encouraging smile.
"I'm not turning my back on you," Ricky said with a smile, his eyes fixed on his new beginning.
"I'm just moving forward, that's all." Ricky scoffed at the pitiful excuse for a father, taking his first step of liberation and as he did, the people around him began to fade into obscurity, except for one.
Danielle watched with a smile as Ricky was enveloped in a warm, life-like glow and as the light surrounded him, her entire body began to fade away.
"Goodbye, Ricky." Danielle said, having finally achieved her last wish.
As her form slowly started to fade, Ricky didn't walk forward completely; instead, he slightly turned his head, catching the last glimpse of her farewell.
"Goodbye? That means I won't ever see you again, and that's not happening, Danielle." Ricky side-eyed the shocked Danielle, who could only laugh through her tears as they streamed down her cheeks.
"I can't play today, but next time, you have to promise to play whatever I want!" Danielle shouted at the top of her lungs as her form began to slowly trickle away into nothingness.
Ricky rubbed his eyes, stepping fully into the light, leaving her final words echoing in the space behind him.
"Alright, it's a promise."
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