Brody Solarin

Earth's Fall- Day 4701- 1:15PM- PassBox 1P178, Tundra's Death Harbour, Tundra, North Wing.

Little Levi held on to his father with one hand and an action figure of Chris Redfield in the other as they walked to the AreaSpace. Rustling leaves of palm trees, the squawking of seagulls with the calm movement of the sea portrayed a beachlike atmosphere.

This was the only place in Tundra with abundant vegetation and a natural feeling. It must've been made and maintained that way to keep the tranquillity for the events that take place there.

Every city of the North Wing has a Death Harbour, it was some sort of cemetery. It wasn't the usual cemetery with tombstones, dug up soil and caskets. It was considered a crime to bury your beloved ones in the ground, when there's lack of land in the world. 

The Death Harbour was simply a meeting spot for grieving families and Greyson Corporation. Yes, Greyson Corp. originated the processes, giving a consoling amount of money to the families in exchange for the body of their lost one.

Today, Levi and his father were walking to the space, dressed in all black. Mrs. Parker just died a few weeks back, all thanks to the deadly syndrome. And though Levi's father had first refused to give away the body of his lover, it had started to rot in their home and he couldn't do anything about it.

Levi coughed dryly and heaved his chest. His father noticing, bent to face his son. Jean Parker pulled out a pill from his pockets and a bottle of water, he carefully administered them to his son, stroking his brown hair. 

Jean Parker looked at his son in the eyes as the little boy started to recover from the short symptom. The boy had brown eyes just like him, brown hair just like him, Levi looked just like his father. Such a tragedy he had to inherit internal features of his mother.

Jean slowly kissed the forehead of his son not because he wanted to kiss it, but to hide his eyes that were teary. He didn't want to lose his son to this illness too.

"Why don't you wait over there for me eh?" Jean said to his son, pointing at a field bench not too far away. 

Levi only nodded, gripping his toy, he made his way to the bench and sat. His father was watching him, the bright morning sunrise uplifting.

Jean stood erect and arranged himself, signalling to some men behind carrying the coffin containing his wife. He took another glance at Levi before making his way to the AreaSpace. 

The AreaSpace was just a group of metallic storey buildings guarded by troops wielding raeger and phaser rifles. 

Levi stroked the carvings of his action figure, regularly tapping the button behind which prompted the character to speak. 

Levi didn't cry when his mother died. Although, he was very close and sticky to her. He never went to school because she said so. He stayed at The Shade with her day and night until the day she had her usual seizures and the pills didn't do their jobs anymore. 

Now, his father has suggested he starts school.

Three weeks drove Levi's father crazy. He was aggrieved and depressed, sometimes forgetting he had a son. Later on, he became fantasized with the idea of finding a cure for Lead Syndrome that has never been found after multiple research.

Jean Parker had made a lot of budgeting. 

With the consoling funds he'll acquire from handing over the body of his wife, he hoped to accomplish all this.

Levi watched his father and the men enter one of the buildings.

"Hey," a voice from behind startled him. Levi gripped his toy, turning, he could see another boy of around his young age. A dark skinned skinny lad with non-native brown hair.

"Hello," Levi replied sheepishly, scooting to the right of the bench nervously.

The boy smiled and sat down on the space next to Levi who started to feel uneasy. The boy noticed Levi's discomfort and laid back for a while.

"I saw you in school the other day, you're planning on enrolling?" He asked.

Levi didn't respond, he only looked down at the ground, tightening his grip on the toy. What does he want? Levi thought.

The boy looked at Levi's action figure and nodded his head. "Can I take a look?" He requested, stretching his hand.

Levi raised his gaze to the boy and cramped himself to the armrest of the bench. He wants my toy, Levi thought. He wants to steal my toy.

But no one has ever sat down so close to him, knowing he has Lead Syndrome that was scribbled all over his face. Something in Levi made him trust this boy.

He slowly handed the action figure to the boy, who welcomed it. 

The boy adored it, examining its construction. Tapping the button, the character spoke, "I'm Not Going To Stop Until I'm Dead." The boy pressed the button once more and it spoke again, "Suck On This, Wesker!"

He finished with a laugh and handed the action figure back to Levi who was smiling too.

"I'm Brody," he officially introduced himself, stretching his hand again for a handshake. "Brody Solarin," he added.

Levi stared at the lengthened gesture, unsure of what to do. Was this Brody aware he had the syndrome? No one ever wants to shake someone with the illness.

"It's not contractible by body contact," Brody piped in, still smiling.

Levi felt his heart lighten, his spirit uplifting. He slowly reached out and shook Brody's hand. "Levi Parker," he responded.

"Levy Parker," Brody repeated, still keeping the shake.

Levi chuckled, "No, it's Levi not Levy," he corrected.

"Oh," Brody exclaimed as the handshake was broken. He flashed a mischievous smile. "I prefer Levy," he said.

They both commenced a discussion, Levi forgetting today was his mother's Harbouring day.

∞

Levi opened his eyes back to reality, tears flooding out after reliving the past. 

He failed Brody. 

Brody has always been there for him, looking out for him and he couldn't do the same. 

Brody never wanted to be on this expedition, but Levi dragged him along and he was so pure to accept just to cater for his welfare. Levi whimpered, he couldn't stop crying.

His little sobs echoing around the dark quiet cave. The rest were sound asleep and he stayed up crying himself to a headache.

How many more of his loved ones would he lose? His mother, father and now, Brody. Levi dropped to his side, sniffing and sobbing inwardly.