'It's so hard to be together, And I try, and I try, But it won't get better, Forever' ~ Chemical Prisoner by Falling in Reverse

He stood still with serenity pulsing in his veins.

A sort of flashback like item rattled and thundered through Archie's head. He felt like he was on a boat, sleeping, the sun forcing his eyelids shut. The unknown surrounding him was filled with tranquillity and he was at peace. No sound was heard, apart from the soft call of velvety waves crashing into each other.

Peace was something he had never had the privilege of having. The voices in his head taunted him daily, criticising his way of life. But now, he at last felt a wisp of freedom. A microscopic wisp, but a wisp none the less.

Archie was around 4 years old. He was undeniably intelligent for his age and managed to stun passing adults' singlehandedly with his excessive knowledge. His short, chubby legs trailed behind his mother's long, slender ones as they approached the hidden wonder.

"Come here Archie," she coaxed, motioning for him to take a seat on her lap once they reached the surprise.

"You see the pretty lake?"

He nodded carelessly, taking in its gorgeous presence. "This lake is all yours."

"Really? All mine?" He lifted his head briefly, the lake still in eyesight, to glance at his mother. She nodded. "Wow. Thanks mummy!"

He looked at his mother in adoration; she knew what he wanted. "Can it be our secret mummy? I don't want to share it with anybody else."

She laughed lightly, feeling fortunate that she had been blessed with such a sweet child. "Of course darling. You have my word."

Holding out her pinky, she gleamed at Archie. She tapped her chin with her index finger, pretending to think. "Do you think we should pinky promise on it?"

He glanced at her in a questioning manner.

"Because then it will never be broken."

"Yeah mummy!" He exclaimed. "Pinky promises are the best."

Archie held out his pinky as his mum interlocked the two fingers together. Their love would last a lifetime, if not, eternity.

That was nearly 20 years ago. Over time Archie had grown and matured like a red apple; but had also learnt the hard way that life never goes the way you want it to.

If it does go the way you want it to, then you're probably dreaming.

Archie followed the masked rock path to the lake he once adored. Though, secretly, he knew that he still does.

Sitting on a flat rock, he stared at the glistening water lapping happily at its surroundings. The water looked fully content. It felt relieving to visit the lake again, he hadn't for years.

The reason why tortured his soul, and, for some reason, he felt like he was completely at fault.

A day after the two rendered it a secret, Archie's mother and father hopped onto a plane for an emergency business conference; the destination: Canada. He was left at home with his crazy grandparents.

It was as if his mother knew what was to become of her. "You have the ability to change the world so much, my beautiful boy. Just remember to do so, if not for me, then for yourself. I believe in you." Her last words stay with him to this day.

8 hours after the plane had set off; Archie's grandparents received a call informing them that an aeroplane crash had occurred. The cause was pinpointed at faulty wiring. There were no survivors.

What happened after that remains a mystery to even Archie himself. He refused to remember the times that haunted him, and in the process of doing so, made up a fake childhood he soon believed to be his own. However, in due time he eventually realised that his life had never been filled with the happy past he desired and lusted for so deeply. After that, he gave up.

Grumbling at the stone he had just stumbled over, Archie walked carelessly towards the lake he once treasured. With his hands dug deep in the warmth of his pocket, he sat on a large lodged rock with minimal shade. Not that he minded the constant sun burning the right side of his face.

However, his peace was soon interrupted.

You have no mother.

You have no father, no family and no friends.

Lonely people like you don't deserve life.

You ruined life for others.

Now they will ruin life for you.

The words replayed in his head, like a broken record, emphasised syllables jabbing at his faux bullet proof brain. They shouted and jeered at him, twisting the words into raw insults. They made him the blame of his parents' deaths.

The urge to escape his current life always heightened when his depression grew. Most of the time this urge was concealed by swallowing multiple anti-depressants. But other times he just had to go through with the pain and wait till it was over.

** ** **

Archie didn't know where his legs were taking him until they stopped outside the city hospital. The hospital was known for its lack of highly educated staff and medical knowledge; however, it scrapes by with the title of a genuine hospital.

Though, he knew why he was there, he didn't understand why now? Why not later? Why did this feel like the right thing to do? Although, it was long due to visit her. She held captive a small place in his caged heart.

Walking to the front reception, he cleared his throat in hope of getting attention from the lady. She didn't bat an eyelid.

Shrieking, high pitched giggles erupted behind him as two teenage girls strolled past whispering about the newest boyband. The lady threw them unimpressed looks as she shushed them and went back to tapping on her shiny tablet.

"Excuse me miss." He tried to ignore the gnawing feeling in his stomach.

This went on for a good five minutes, Archie trying to get the receptionist's attention and him being blatantly ignored.

Swallowing the last of his dignity, Archie checked the area before giggling profusely in a high pitched voice, imitating the teens before.

The lady's head snapped up as she frantically darted her head around the lobby, an unimpressed look flooding her face. Her face turned to shock when she saw Archie awkwardly dawdling in front of her, red faced and sheepish.

"Uh, Amelia Jones' room number please?"

"Yeah sure, sorry for the wait." Yeah, you should be. "She's in room 206, second floor, first corridor to the right and then turn right again. Visiting hours end at six o'clock."

"Okay thank you."

Nodding in response, the lady got back to work; this time her distracting tablet abandoned on the top of a dark purple folder.

He took his time to get to the room numbered 206, he was in no rush. In fact, the slower, the better. He was not ready for this.

Pushing open the white door, the smell of disinfectants invaded his nostrils. Cleaning products had previously consumed the room and then left; taking the scent of what a room should smell like along with it.

The room was lightly lit via two lamps positioned on either side of the bed. On the pasty white hospital sheets lay Amelia. Her hair had been thrown into a messy bun and her petite body lay lifeless on the hospital bed. A white hospital gown was fitted loosely onto her body and her arms lay motionless on her stomach. It felt like she was on her death bed.

Archie sat down on a chair beside the bed and leaned forwards so he was looking directly at her. Silence consumed the two orphans as they both cried silently, without one another knowing.

"Oh, Amelia." He sighed, a breath, that he had been holding in, escaping.

"What happened that day? You just suddenly collapsed a-and I, I didn't know what to do. You might not be my sister biologically but that doesn't mean you can't be my sister. I love you like one and always vow to protect you. Always. But look how that turned out. I don't know what happened at the site but I'm sure it has something to do with the mansion. I'm sure of it."

Her face stayed painfully emotionless throughout Archie's little speech, but she heard every word that slipped out his mouth.

A single tear slipped past her closed eyelids.

It dropped onto the thin pillow case and dried, leaving a dry tear stain trail.

"And... I'm sorry for not visiting earlier. I couldn't," He sighed, "I couldn't bring myself to come and see you in a coma; I'm supposed to make sure you don't get hurt. I failed at doing just that. And if you do ever get hurt, then I'm supposed help you get better and be by your side and I didn't do that either."

He stood up to lightly hug Amelia and she, mentally, hugged back.

"I'm sorry."

He waved a 'see you soon' to her because goodbyes were over rated, mentally noting that he must visit Amelia at least five times a week.

Nodding curtly at the receptionist, he exited the hospital feeling somewhat lighter.

A long due duty had been done and the weight was lifted off his shoulders.

It was at this time that Archie felt an urge, an urge to solve the Earl's case. Once and for all. He felt lighter and happier than he had ever felt before. He realised that even if his parents are not with him at this moment, they are always with him; watching over him. He had a sister who he had abandoned years ago, who has been reunited with him once more. The bond was never broken.

~~~

How is everyone?

Sorry for this being so late and short, I would've have updated even later but i was told to end it on a happy ending by kim so yeah... has anyone heard Andy Black's new album 'The Shadow Side' because I really want to :( i cri

ps. look at that beautifullness

pps. exams are coming up so I probably wont update till the summer holidays, whoops

~whosperfect_