Challenge

Akira never grows tired of playing.

It is a familiar sound, that of the stones. Tetsuo decides he might even like it; rather than the fuss of those wretches, louder every day, or the echoes that drugs plant in is ears, he would listen to their rattling. It is one of the few things that return unchanged ever day, more or less at the same time and in the same place.
It resembles reality, in a way. Not that he remembers much of it.

But the sun is setting, and Akira must sit in his favourite spot — the one that lets him see all the people, such colourful, funny maggots — with a swarm of debris floating around him.
Nobody else is there. Tetsuo guesses the kid does not give a damn either way.

Sometimes, when they are alone, Tetsuo is scared. He can feel the fear soaking him to the marrow of his bones, similar to his blasted headaches, if not the very same thing. Some other times, he sees the matter differently.

Tonight the wind is chilly, and it sends the stench away from their home. Akira's hair flies under its touch, and he could swear — if he tries to get closer, quietly, like that — the stones themselves are cackling. Not him, not that creepy boy. Still, he couldn't look more innocent than this.

He is a little boy who plays with rocks. In evenings like this, Tetsuo still manages to believe it.

But if his steps become a little louder, and he stands to face him, right on the border between them — I will send you back one day, wherever you came from, just wait and see — Akira half-turns his head, without even looking at him.
They both stand still, for a long time.

And it must be him, his mind screams, it must be him to turn loose this hell in Tetsuo. Those eyes he is not yet looking into, eyes so small and cold, are watching the stadium with the cruelty of seven thousand universes — ready to face him, turn him to ashes, anytime they might want to.
He feels his blood turn into liquid pain, and runs away. The stones levitate again.

The tent is pitch black, but he still shakes. With eyes wide open, fuzzy, terrified, Tetsuo swallows his pills like candy.

He does not know what evil force might borrow such a small child. Whatever way, he must be strong enough to destroy it.

It is dawn. He tears the next capsule open.

Today is not the day.

I honestly believe the relationship between Akira and Tetsuo is truly interesting and deserves deep insight. Also: the boy is creepy as hell.