Kavtham

Chapter 4 (Kavehs POV)

I wake up, and my head is pounding; My vision is blurred too. As I sit up, I focus my eyes and see Haitham, dripping with blood and injured so badly that couldn't even describe it. He's being held up by what seems to be... some kind of beast? I turn pale, my breath becoming fast and shaky at the sight of Haitham's state "LET HIM GO!!" I yell out at the top of my lungs, choking back tears as I lift myself up. "Well, well..Hello comrade! It seems you're a little too late!" *the beast sounds..oddly enthusiastic. Or, at least, that's what I thought..until his voice became serious and cold.* "This is what you get for messing with a harbinger, you piece of shit." My eyes widen as I stand there, trembling in fear whilst looking at Haitham, who is trying to move the harbingers arm. "Childe, that's not the right target! You always get carried away when it comes to fighting. Let him go and deactivate your foul legacy." A man's voice suddenly appeared. "Ahhh Scaramouche! My bad!" The..."thing" whose name seems to be Childe drops Haitham onto the floor and deactivates his "Foul legacy," now looking like a completely normal person. Him and the other person begin to walk off as if nothing happened. Once they're gone, I rush over to Alhaitham; He is still conscious, but is having trouble breathing. Not a good sign. "H-Haitham!! You're- You're going to be ok! Just.. focus on breathing!" My voice shakes, and I feel tears beginning form in my eyes. While he tries to regulate his breathing, I carry him on my back, completely ignoring my own injuries. I can barely walk while I'm holding him. Why does he have to be so damn big? I almost fall several times while trying to find my way out of the desert. Suddenly, I feel Haitham's heart rate get weaker and weaker, and his breathing slows significantly..and then, he goes unconscious once more. Tears run down my face as I struggle to run, trying to find safety. "Come on, Alhaitham! Just hang in there! Please!" I cry out as I try to maintain my composure for his sake.

Fortunately, I spot Cyno after a few minutes and call after him.

"Cyno! Help us.. please!" His head looks up, spotting Alhaitham and I. He runs over and grabs him, carrying him with ease. Once we're settled, we start rushing to Aru Village, I follow him.

There, we run into Tighnari, who is underneath some shade, trying to combat the heat. "T-Tighnari... please-- help Alhaitham..." I say in between gasps for air. He grabs both me and Cyno's arm, leading us to a room. "Cyno, set Alhaitham down here." He says, gesturing to a table, where Cyno sets him down and pats my shoulder before leaving the room. Struggling to not break down in that exact moment, I watch Tighnari treat Alhaitham's wounds. He looks incredibly nervous.

"Is he... going to be ok..?" I ask, full of worry. "I... don't know..." Tighnari mumbles sounding unsure. He checks his pulse, and his expression turns into a look of concern. "Damnit!!" He says, muttering curses. He continuously checks Alhaitham's pulse after he tries to resuscitate him. I start to break down as I hold Alhaitham's hand. It feels cold; lifeless. I begin to yell and bang my fist on the wall, making a crater in it. Tighnari looks up at me with a concerned expression and says quietly, "Kaveh... I'm sorry..." In a fit of rage, I smack Tighnari in the face and he stumbles backwards, looking at me in shock.

"NO! FUCK YOU!! Alhaitham is gone, and it's your fault!" I cry out. Blinded by my rage, I make an attempt to hit Tighnari again, but Cyno comes in and stops me, gripping my hand tightly. "Kaveh. You need to relax." I push him away from me, staring back at Alhaitham's lifeless, pale body...and I turn to the door and run. I can hear Cyno call after me, but Tighnari stops him. And I keep running...I run and run for hours. Eventually I fall to the ground, out of breath as I sob loudly.

I'm lost. I have no purpose in life. Everything I see reminds me of Alhaitham... and he's gone.

I cry and cry for what seems like an eternity, knelt down in the middle of the woods. At some point, my vision becomes blurry, and I pass out... Crying is exhausting.

When I wake up, I find myself in a house... but not my house. I feel my tears run down my face, and then I sit up, looking around. "Was that all a.. dream? But- Whose house is this? Tighnari's..? Hmm.. I must have passed out at the bar." I think to myself trying to understand the situation. "That was a shit dream..." I mumble to myself quietly, groaning. "Ah you're finally awake. How are you feeling?" Tighnari says as he walks over to me, handing me a glass of water. "I'm fine..." I say as I take it, gulping down the water before putting the cup down as I stagger onto my feet. "I.. should really get back to Alhaitham though..." I say and I turn to look at the door. Tighnari's face looks concerned as he stares at me. "Kaveh... he's..he's dead... do you not remember?" He says sounding worried. "Dead? No... he's not dead... that- that was just a dream! He's back at the house. I'm sure of it!" I say. "He's probably on his way to get me right now. I need to apologize to him..- "Kaveh! Alhaitham is dead! You don't remember?" He snaps, sounding more and more concerned. But why? "Alhaitham is alive... I know he is..." I think to myself... "I'll just go home and prove Tighnari wrong! Yeah! That's what I'll do!" I continue to ponder about Alhaitham. I can't wait to see him! "Well, I better get back to Alhaitham! See you later Tignari!" I say, gritting my teeth as I start to walk out the door, but Tighnari grabs my wrist. "Kaveh! Snap out of it! Alhaitham is dead!" His words sink in.. and the truth hits me... "No..No- HE'S NOT DEAD!" I yell, trying to convince myself. "HE'S... alive..." I go quiet and sink to the floor, breaking down again. Tighnari kneels down to try and comfort me but, I push him away and run out the door. Outside, I spot Fatui Skirmishers. In a fit of rage, I take out my claymore and start to attack them. "ITS YOUR FAULT! YOU KILLED ALHAITHAM!" I yell out, tears dripping down my face as I defeat each of them one by one.

I attack anything I see for hours. My brain is clouded, and I'm covered in blood and dirt. Once I grow exhausted, I walk back home, mumbling to myself. I make it to my house, and I begin to trash the place, throwing everything off the shelves. And then I grab a book... Alhaitham's favorite.

I look at it as tears run down my face and I throw it at the wall. I grab more books the throw them all across the room. Hours pass by, and the house is completely destroyed. "I've gone insane," I think to myself as I leave the house and see Cyno run over to Tighnari's house.. but he doesn't see me, and I don't pay any attention to it. I go on my way, fighting anyone and any creature I see ripping them to shreds... hearing them scream and bet for mercy. I go on, attacking anything and everything non-stop for days. Not eating..Not sleeping..Just fighting and killing everything in sight.

(timeskip to 3 days later)

My claymore is stained with blood... And so am I. I hear someone come up behind me and they hit me over the head with something..And I pass out on the ground.

I awake in a strange room... nicely furnished. I get up to leave the room, trying to open the door... but it's locked. I try to kick it- and nothing. "Where the fuck am I?" I mumble to myself. Just then, I hear voices talking outside. It's too muffled for me to hear what they're saying, but I already know who it is. It's Cyno and Tighnari. "So how is (Alhaitham)?" Cyno asked. "He's doing quite well. I gave him some medication earlier. However... I can't believe Kaveh went insane..." Tighnari responded. "Well at least (Alhaitham is alive) !. After he recovers (he can talk to Kaveh). That should calm him down." Cyno says. "Yes, you're right. I'm going to go check on him now-- You go check on Kaveh." I hear Tighnari walk away, and Cyno approaches the door. I stumble back into bed before he opens it. "Good.. You're awake. You went ballistic. I hope you know that." He pauses and looks at me. "You seem a lot more calm." I stare at him for a few seconds. "Weren't they just talking about me earlier and how I was doing fine? Who else could they have been talking about?" I think to myself confused. "Yeah... I'm doing ok..." My voice sounds somber and quiet. "That's good to hear.. I came to keep you company and... I brought my TCG cards! Want to play a few rounds?" He sounds excited. But it doesn't perk me up. Alhaitham loved TCG as well...

"Yeah sure..I guess I'll play..." I sit down at the table and start battling Cyno. We go at it for a few hours, with Cyno winning every round. As we play, I think about Alhaitham. How much I want to see him again. How I'll do whatever it takes. After a few hours, Cyno leaves me to rest, and I crawl back into bed, drifting off to sleep.

But it's hard to sleep without Alhaitham by my side.

It feels so cold.