ã RIVER LIN ã
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Oh I hope someday
I'll make it out of here.
Even if it takes all night
or a hundred years.
Need a place to hide
but I can't find one near.
Wanna feel the life outside
I can't fight my fear.
ââââââââââââââââââââââââ
Once dressed, he and his parents filed into the limo that would take them to the banquet hall. A room full of influencers, CEOs, diplomats, and the likes. The kind of world River grew up in but never fit into. But he was never given a choice to be anything or anywhere else, so he'd learned to deal with the hand he was dealt. Up until just a couple of years ago, he'd been managing to do just fine. Doing what he was told and keeping his mouth shut about his parents' illegal activities. He thought maybe he'd one day find someone he loved and he could marry and leave the house, not having to worry about keeping his family's secrets anymore, but the universe, fate or whatever the hell had decided it didn't like him also decided to throw his plans into the trash by introducing Blake and his family into his life. River never thought himself capable of living through the kind of physical and emotional pain he has.
He also hadn't expected there to be cameras and news channels at this event. Granted, he should have know a banquet that signified the partnership of two of the most influential corporations in the country would attract the media. Perhaps the common public didn't know any of their names or faces, but there's a very good chance they'd know his and Blake's fathers. Or, at the very least, knew their companies by name. The moment they stepped out of the luxurious vehicle, all eyes and camera lenses were on them. The flashing lights in no way helped River's headache. He squeezed his eyes shut to avoid a few of them as much as he could. During one of those instances, he felt an arm snake around his waist. There was no need to look, he could already tell from the overwhelming cologne. "Hey handsome." the voice sent chills up his spine, which he promptly avoided along with the stab of pain that shot across his forehead. "Hey-" he breathed, though wasn't given the chance to do much else.
A reporter had already spotted them, and of course, Blake was more than happy to answer any of her questions. "Well you two look as ravishing as ever." she gushed, her eyes sweeping between the two of them. Blake thanked them, and there was brief banter about their clothing choices and how they felt about the night's events. As per usual, Blake did most of the talking, but for once River was thankful. He could feel himself getting dizzy from the overwhelming crowd, the noise, the lights. He just needed to lay down. Lay down and sleep for a long time. Maybe forever. "-have a special announcement? Is that correct?" the reporter looked right at River as if demanding him to answer the question. After hesitating a few seconds, he felt a tight squeeze on his right hip. Blake wasn't happy, that much was clear. He could feel his anxiety rising at an alarming rate, his head beginning to spin as the sounds around him grew more and more muffled. He faintly heard Blake attempting to answer the question, but only picked up on the first couple of words followed by the journalist questioning if he was feeling okay. The last thing River heard was his mother calling his name before everything went dark and silent.