Chapter 23: You Always Remember a Friend

Arturo crumpled to the ground, pain reverberated throughout his battered body as he confronted his harsh reality of defeat. Arturo sat up, engulfed in the pool of his own blood. Arturo then used the wall of the petrol station to support him.

"What did you do! You were only supposed to beat him up a bit, not kill him" shouted one of the bullies, their tone a mix of shock and anger, as the consequences of their actions unfolded before them.

"Let's get out of here, before we are found with his body" the bully continued, urgency tainting his voice.

Struggling to maintain focus, Arturo's gaze fixated on the shadows of the escaping bullies, the world around him becoming a surreal montage of agony and abandonment. A feeble attempt to call out yielded only a raspy whisper, lost in the hollowness of the alley.

As the last vestiges of strength waned, Arturo's senses dimmed, leaving him alone in the eerie quiet. The distant footsteps of the culprits faded into an indistinct echo, and the pool of blood beneath him seemed to absorb the remnants of his consciousness.

Gaining the new dark matter properties of teleportation, Runo pondered where he should transport himself. As if guided by the unseen force, the coordinates of Valen Petrol Station imprinted themselves in Runo's mind, a destination chosen by fate or perhaps something beyond the realm of mere chance.

In the blink of an eye, the oppressive confines of the torture facility evaporated, revealing only the reminiscent expanse of the midnight sky. Suddenly, Runo found himself standing amidst the familiar surroundings of Valen Petrol Station. Immediately, two boys sprinting in panic seized Runo's attention, their frantic movements contrasting sharply with the quietude of the petrol station.

Upon closer observation, Runo recognised the frantic boys as some of his former classmates, their faces etched with a mix of fear and urgency. The boys left a trail of dark red liquid in their wake, a sinister and foreboding path that hinted at a troubling and urgent situation. Following the ominous trail, Runo discovered his one and only friend on the blood stained floor.

As Runo rushed to Arturo's side, the gravity of the scene unfolded before him. Arturo, weakened and battered, struggling to draw breath as his life force dwindled. The air in the vicinity seemed to thicken with sorrow, and time itself appeared to slow.

"Arturo," Runo whispered, his voice choked with emotion. Kneeling beside his friend, he felt a surge of helplessness, confronted by the harsh reality of morality. The once vibrant petrol station now bore witness to a poignant reunion tainted by tragedy.

Arturo managed a weak smile, his eyes conveying a mixture of pain and gratitude. "I feel like I know you, but I don't," he uttered, each word a laborious effort. "However, I'm glad I spend my last moments with someone who feels familiar.”

Desperation gripped Runo as he tried to stem the flow of blood, his hands trembling. "We need help. I'll get help, just hang on, if only I had a healing ability!" He pleaded, but he knew, deep down, that time was slipping away.

Arturo's gaze met Runo's, a profound understanding passing between them. "No time, my friend. It's too late," Arturo murmured, a serene acceptance settling over him.

In his last moments, the life he had experienced flashed before his eyes, bypassing the sinister effects of the memory virus. As Arturo's life ebbed away, Arturo uttered his final words.

"Look at us now, you were the one who constantly needed comfort and cried all the time. Runo, I'm glad you were my friend." Arturo gave his last bright smile, a facade hiding the fact that tears were streaming down his face.

The Valen Petrol Station, once a backdrop for shared laughter and camaraderie, now bore witness to the cruel twist of fate that had torn apart the fabric of their friendship. In those final moments, Runo held Arturo's hand. The dim glow of the station's lights casting a somber pallor over the scene. The echoes of their shared memories lingered, a bittersweet symphony as Arturo's journey reached its poignant conclusion in the hallowed grounds of Valen Petrol Station.