Sadiq tossed and turned beneath his thin bed sheets. His dark eyes were squeezed shut and for once, his mask was not on his face. Lately, he had been discarding it. He did not know why, he just didn't want it on.
Behind his tightly closed eyes, images flashed quickly. People, places, battles, blood. He'd seen it all.
What was he seeing? You might ask. The answer to this question is his past, his moments of glory as the Ottoman Empire. Though, what he was seeing at that moment wasn't one of his most glorious of moments.
'No! You cannot leave! You're mine Herecles, mine! I own you now. I forbid you to leave me.'
'I don't care Sadiq! You're a monster and I want out. I never wanted this! The destruction of my lands and the death of my people. I never wanted it. You forced that upon me. It wasn't my choice!
A growl sounded, along with the drawing of a blade.
'Take. That. Back. Now!'
A piercing glare, narrowed eyes. Anger was raging beneath that white mask.
'No! I won't. Do you want me to lie to you?'
'You're lying now Greece! I offered you everything you've ever wanted! Everything. And you repay me by trying to leave? Yok. I won't let you.'
'Try. Try and stop me. If you kill me, you'll only prove me right.'
The blade discarded, clattering to the ground. Hands wrapped around a throat, gasps for breath. Loud and sickening sounds of airwaves being constricted.
'I won't let you leave! You can't leave me!'
More choking, more gasping. He was losing air.
'L-let me g-go. You c-can't hold onto me f-forever.'
'Yok! I can! I won't let you go!'
Eyes dim, weak muscles force a small smile.
'I-I l-love you. L-let me g-go.'
A realization. Eyes widen, grip loosens. A weak, limp body falls to the blood muddied ground.
'What have I done?'