Warning: Graphic moments. Rated T for this purpose.
Segment 2: The Fading World
"Open your eyes to the beautiful land before you."
The scent of blood, sounds of gunshots, and the thud of something heavy.
A lone boy stood up straight among the motionless corpses that adorned the entire room, his cluster of sandy, light honey-coloured hair swaying gently and his cornflower blue eyes remaining unfazed. He spun a pistol skillfully around his hand, clearly relaxed despite the eerie scene before him. There were around four bodies laying on the floor, drowning in their own blood. They had a simple bullet to the head, but not much else.
The boy grimaced as he gripped his arm, where blood was slowly seeping out. He ignored the wound and pulled up the hood of his brown cloak over his hair, tucking away his deadly weapon as he climbed out a window, and landed with a soft thud outside the vexing building.
Walking away casually to meet civilization again, he noted the screams of panic occurring behind his back. Staring vacantly at the path he walked, he dodged every person he crossed paths with, and made his way to the usual tree he sat under when he had no missions to take care of.
The town he currently rested in was small, but he never stood out amongst the crowd in his cloak due to his quick maneuvering through every crowd he meets. He lives his life as an assassin, following his father's every order like the very dog he is.
He crossed a short boy wearing glasses with an anxious face, stuttering as he handed out 'Wanted' leaflets.
"P-please tell u-us when you s-spot any of th-these people!" He blurted. Chung sighed under his breath and turned the corner, the short boy's stuttering voice trailing away.
He stood on a few stone steps, walked past a few children playing a game of tag in the grass park and traversed to a quiet spot in the park, where nobody would pay attention to him.
Sitting himself down under his usual tree, he carefully adjusted his cloak and stretched his legs out before him, arms placed behind him and head leaned back slightly. Shaking his head, the hood fell backwards to reveal soft locks of sandy-coloured hair. He tugged on a strand of hair that was noticeable; naturally dyed in a chocolate tone, it faintly represented animal ears.
Pulling his hood up again, he began to look at his surroundings. Women strolled through the park with their children, hand in hand, with only one woman standing alone amidst them all. She supported her large stomach, which stuck out in the most round shape, and he figured that she was expecting. A few teenagers soon surrounded the woman, curious as to how it felt like to be pregnant.
A number of trees stood quietly behind everything else, the wisdom acquired over their years evident by the number of leaves they revealed.
A jolt of pain ran through his arm, and he winced. Rolling up his sleeve, the boy inspected a bloody wound, and sighed as he leaned back against the trunk of the ancient tree.
"Are you hurt?" A soft voice came from above. Surprised, the boy jerked his head up, catching sight of a figure perched upon a branch. Specks of sunlight shimmered through the gaps created by the green, summer leaves and shrouded the identity of the figure.
Shielding his eyes briefly from the dazzling light, the figure jumped from the branch.
Landing gracefully beside him, long and luscious silver hair arched up into temporary wings as air rushed through every strand of hair, before falling back elegantly on their back. The assassin looked up. Stunning, quiet golden eyes met oceanic, vacant paw-printed eyes.
She crouched down, knees touching the grass as she extended a hand to his wound. Shuffling his arm away defensively, the girl cocked her head to the side questioningly, as though she didn't find anything odd about her actions.
Looking into her innocent, empty eyes with his hooded eyes, he shrugged lightly to himself and held out his arm. Holding it gently, she began to bandage his wound skillfully but carefully.
They sat in silence as she quickly tended to his wound. The assassin would sneak glances at her porcelain skin, to be met with mysterious expressions.
The girl placed the arm next to him and stood up. Brushing down her white summer dress, she turned to leave, her silver hair trailing behind her.
"Thank you."
She looked over her slim shoulder at the boy, and nodded, before setting off.
The assassin stared after her, and blinked slowly as he stared at his bandaged arm.
Nobody has ever helped me like that before... I need to show my appreciation. But will she be here again tomorrow?
Murderer.
Heartless monster.
Cruel, merciless beast.
Those were his nicknames. Chung, an assassin going by the alias Lacher.
Working for his father, murdering and assassinating one after another, with no other choices.
With no other purpose in life.
All he wants is something to look forward to, but all he does have is mission after mission. However, there is something that he prizes. The gifts his mother gave him on his fifteenth birthday, before she passed away. Before he became an assassin.
It was two drones, one white and one black, specifically made for him. Created with elaborate blue gems that reflected his very own, and energized wings to act as a hovering-support device, he had adored it greatly, but now that he had grown to the young adult he is, he has grown tired of playing with them.
The assassin has them in his arms now. They transmitted codes and data through their system, installing information about the scenery before them, then beeped with every file download completion.
Placing them down, Chung, or rather, Lacher, leaned against the very same trunk that he had met the girl. She wasn't anywhere to be seen.
He put a hand on his stomach. Perhaps she wasn't going to come today. Maybe it was just coincidence. But that coincidence pretty much stopped him from dying of blood loss, seeing as he has no experience in treating wounds.
"It's you again." A familiar voice said. He peered behind him, to see the girl emerge from behind the tree.
"Yes. I would like to thank you again for yesterday." He said monotonously.
"You are welcome, however I only did what a normal person would do." She chose the words very carefully, but Lacher continued.
"Here. I want you to have these." He removed his hand from his abdomen and scooped the droids into his hand. The girl pressed herself against the tree, afraid of what he was going to give her.
"These are..." She began to stare into the smooth plates of the droids, and sat herself down near him, thin legs curled underneath her.
"They are presents from my late mother, but I no longer need them. Please, take them as a token of my appreciation."
"Thank you." She reached out and tapped them lightly. The drones hovered into the air drowsily, and the girl's hand came into contact with the boy's. For a second, the warmth of their hands connected, before the girl pulled her hand away shyly.
"They are named Shira and Kuro." He explained briefly. She whispered their names quietly as she pulled them into her arms and admired the intricate, unfamiliar shapes with tranquil eyes.
"Shira and Kuro..." She said, her gaze peeling away from the present she had just received. "May I know your name as well?"
"My name..." He hesitated, debating whether to give her his real name, or alias. "...is Lacher." He concluded.
"Nice to meet you, Lacher. I am Eve."
She turned her head back round to the gift. Lacher inspected her, to find bruises under the strap around her shoulder, and few others on her legs, hidden by her dress. They were concealed well, just not well enough.
However, he decided not to ask her about it. Instead, he decided that he'll leave this girl alone.
Before she gets killed by him.
Anyway, it wasn't any of his business, so why should he care? He adjusted the hood on his cloak, making sure he had hidden his eyes.
"Lacher."
"Yeah?"
"Will I see you tomorrow?"
Her question threw him off balance. "Perhaps." He replied coldly.
An awkward silence.
The girl didn't reply, and instead continued staring at Shira and Kuro.
"I see." She finally said, and rubbed her arm nervously, where a faint bruise had formed. Lacher remained quiet, and stared at the grey sky above them with empty eyes.
The girl was incredibly reserved, but that suited him fine. He wasn't much of a social person either, having hardly conversed with anybody.
"If you can make it... please come tomorrow." She murmured, shuffling from her seated position and continuing to rub warmth into her arms as Shira and Kuro encircled her. They were still unfamiliar with Eve, and was uncertain as to how they should act towards this stranger. "Also... thank you for the gift."
With that, she walked away, taking slow, small steps.
Lacher was also unsure of how to act around the quiet girl. He leaned back and closed his eyes.
He had hardly gotten any rest since the last few days due to the missions. He was demanded to accomplish them at midnight, but it starting to take a toll on him. However, this was to take care of the 'bad guys' his mother had told him about, and the innocent are allowed to rest peacefully during the sleepless nights with the criminals gone.
Or so his father thought. Lacher had already complained, explaining his beliefs, but his father merely had him punished for defying him.
You ungrateful child. I have given you food to fill your stomach, clothes on your back and a roof over your head. What else could you possibly wish for? The role you play is enough to repay my generosity.
Those were his words, and Lacher hadn't talked to him since. It wasn't that he didn't want to, it's just that, he didn't know how to. How was he supposed to reply to such a father?
A vision of his beautiful mother flashed through his mind, and he could still hear her words.
I love you, Chung. No matter what road you take, you will always be the little boy I have and will always love. Be strong.
Chung. That was his name. The name he was blessed with. How he missed being called by this name. But he is forced to be called upon as Lacher. How he hated that name. The very name that acts as his mask.
The sky had cleared entirely since yesterday, and Lacher sighed as he crossed the park for the third time that week as well as wearing the same cloak. A few people had given him odd stares due to his odd attire during summer, but no one questioned him.
He wasn't expecting anything. Really, he wasn't. But he thought that he should at least live up to someone's expectations. When he reached the same ancient tree, there was no one in sight.
To be honest, he wasn't expecting her to appear. He just came to relax.
"You came." The girl said, her calm voice coming from above. Her hands were pressed against the tree trunk nervously, and she jumped down from the tree. Landing with only a soft thud, she grimaced as her leg buckled slightly, but enough to rid her of her balance. She fell backwards, and Lacher jumped forward.
His arm wrapped around her waist with ease. He immediately helped her up and stood back, but not before having a smell of her fragrance.
Well, he couldn't help it, seeing as they were in body contact.
"Thank you again." She murmured, tilting her head. "Do you... have someone?"
What does she mean by that?
"If you mean by a lover, then no."
"No, no... do you have someone who is always nearby you?" Her voice was distant. He thought carefully about it, then shook his head.
"My mother passed away a few years ago, leaving me with my father. However... well, let us leave it at that."
"I see." She sat down, bringing her knees up, and patted the space next to her vaguely. He slowly joined her to view the park, using a leg as an arm rest, with the other stretched out before him. "I am the same, except both of them are deceased."
He looked at her wrist to find a new bruise there, and another on her knee and neck.
"May I ask how you got those bruises?" The moment he said that was the moment he wanted to smack himself. He had planned not to ask her, but he couldn't help it.
"...These?" She looked at her wrist and legs, and gave an expression showing that she hadn't noticed earlier. "They must have been when I was attacked again."
"Again?"
"Supposedly, there is someone who wishes to kill me. I do not know why."
"..." A sudden suspicion rose in Lacher's heart, and he doubted his father.
Would he really...?
"It is quite alright though. I am sure no one would really mind if I am to be gone from this world."
He remained quiet, and the girl turned to him, poking him on the shoulder. "I have to leave. I am sorry if I ended up forcing you to come." She stood up and left quickly, her long silver hair fluttering behind her. She turned round to an alleyway, but still remained in sight.
Without him noticing, the clouds have gathered. He stood to take his leave, but saw something he hadn't expected to see. At least, not at this time of the hour.
A few men had surrounded a short girl, who he recognised as Eve.
He took large steps with his long legs towards them and barged between Eve and the men, causing them to lose the grip they had on her wrist, and gave them a cold expression. "Leave her alone."
"Pah! Boy, don't even think to act tough! Look at you! So scrawny! And wazzup with that getup?!" The tallest one pointed a finger at his chest, and poked it vigorously.
Without hesitation, Lacher grabbed the finger and twisted it, causing the man to crouch down and scream. He then grabbed his elbow and placed it just below his head, and the rest of the gang backed away.
"Let our b-boss g-go, you p-punk!" They shouted, but didn't make a move, afraid they'd meet the same outcome.
Lacher ignored them, twisted the arm further by a few notches. The man began to groan, and he sounded like he enjoyed the pain.
The assassin scowled in disgust. Even his minions had begun to back away even more.
An ear piercing scream escaped from the boss' lips. Crack. He obviously couldn't withstand this amount of pain enough to feel erotic. Lacher then grabbed his head and other working arm, then locked the arm's bicep with his own and placed a foot on the man's cheek, pushing it as his head began to come further and further away from its original position.
"You guys better promise not to mess with this girl again, otherwise I'll snap his neck." He threatened with tone that showed he didn't care what happened to his victim.
The whispered to each other, and then nodded quickly.
"We promise! Now, let the boss go!" They even bowed down, and Lacher released the man in his arms, kicking him harshly in the shin and stomach.
"Get out of my sight."
They hurriedly picked their boss up and threw him over their shoulders, then ran, tripping over a few times on the uneven, cobbled floor.
Lacher stood in silence, his back still turned to Eve.
"I am sorry you had to see that." He finally said, and Eve grabbed his cloak. His hood had fallen during the encounter and revealed his honey-tinted hair as well as his paw-printed eyes.
"Why did you help me?"
Lacher stared down at the ground. Why, he wondered. "You didn't have to save me... I could've saved myself..."
"No... you wouldn't." He told her quietly. "What business did they have with you?"
"They... said that they wanted... money. Money that my parents owe them."
Lacher looked over his shoulder at her. She was looking at anything but him, her eyes doubtful.
"Eve." He turned towards her, and walked towards her. She looked up in surprise, and backed away before hitting the wall. He placed a hand on the wall behind her, and slouched over, golden locks concealing his eyes. "Tell me the truth."
The girl placed her hands on her chest as she whimpered inaudibly.
"I..."
He looked up at her, his eyes filled with slight worry. This sent a surprised expression to Eve's features, and she tilted her head.
"They told me... they want my eyes."
"Your eyes?"
"Yes. These eyes... are cursed according to the old tales of this town, but now people believe... they are equal to gold." He looked down at her shoulders to see her quivering in silence. He removed his hand away from the wall, and turned away.
"Humans are despicable." He said under his breath, and looked up. The sun still shines upon them nevertheless.
"I suggest you not to get anymore caught up in this."
"No."
"Pardon?"
"I'll protect you."
"But..."
"No matter what."
"Lacher...!"
"No. Matter. What."
Eve sighed, and poked him on the arm.
"You are incredibly stubborn."
"I cannot stick right next to you all the time though. Shira and Kuro have combat functions installed in them. Keep them with you."
"Uhm..."
"Yes?"
"Thank you, again." She looked up at him, her hair brushing against the cobbled floors. Her lips flashed into a soft smile, and Lacher couldn't hold back from putting a hand to his lips in surprise.
Unaware of her smile's effect on him, she cocked her head to the side at his reaction. "What is it?"
He removed his hand slowly, and pulled her gently into a hug.
She struggled slightly, but his strong arms kept her in his embrace, and after some futile struggling, she relaxed herself against his warm body. His sweet scent. His calm heartbeat.
His breath tickled her neck and she could feel him practically picking her up, due to their difference in height.
"Lacher."
"..."
She sighed quietly and abided, her legs picking off the floor and his face nuzzled into her silky locks. She pushed her palms against his chest, and peered into his face confusingly. He stared back, and set her down, hiding his blush behind his hand.
"Sorry. I couldn't restrain myself..."
"It is fine. I... um... felt safe in your... arms..." She trailed off.
"Huh?"
"N-nothing."
"S-spare me! Please, I beg of you! I-I'll give you all the money I have! H-heheh, tell me how much you want, and I'll give you it! Just please, show mercy!"
Demeaning, oceanic eyes bored through the begging man, and devoid of hesitation, he pulled the trigger.
Thud. A life, gone just like that. Without delay, and painlessly. The eyes of the assassin upturned to the night sky, and became flooded with doubt.
Was he truly doing the right thing?
Lacher spun the pistol in his hand and pocketed it, then pulled his hood up. There was nothing else he could do, apart from kill and kill, night after night. When will he find a day where he can just live for his own reason?
Throwing the body over his shoulder, he reached a secluded forest and threw the corpse into a bush, and simply left it there to perish.
Mission accomplished. He thought, and hurriedly ran back to his client.
His client sat on a bench in the town square, reading a book filled with complicated charts and instructions on jewellery. Lacher approached him, and leaned on the back of the bench.
"Is it done?" His client asked in a hushed tone.
"Yes."
"Indeed, you are a skilled assassin. I will pay you handsomely."
"Save that money for my father. I need not your money."
"...Very well." He snapped the book shut, and stood, flipping back his purple, curly hair with a hand decorated by rings made from rubies, sapphires and gold. "I shall take my leave. Oh, and one more thing."
"What may it be?"
"What is your purpose in life?"
"To kill and work for my father."
"Is that all though?"
"You ask meaningless questions. Take your leave and we will pretend we never met."
"Farewell then. May we meet again."
The purple-haired jewellery crafter disappeared into a crowd of women, and Lacher made his way to a certain alleyway.
Crossing a few collapsing buildings and dodging past desperate merchants, he was met with a large gang of thugs in a completely empty part of town. Probably where they trade drugs.
"Heh, can't believe you actually came."
"State what business you have with me, and do it honestly. You would not want to get on the bad side of me."
"I see, I see." The man with the broken arm smirked evilly, a cigarette jammed between his dark lips. "Well, all I want is..."
A few stepped up with knives pointed at him. "Payback."
Lacher lowered his head as alarms sounded in his head.
"I think you might wanna check on your girlfriend as well... she's probably in biiiiig trouble."
He looked up in surprise, and frowned, not willing to take the bait. Wait. She isn't even his girlfriend! "I did you a favour though by bringing her here with me." Stepping away, he revealed a certain silver-haired girl, crouched in a corner with bruises along her porcelain skin. "I still haven't taken the honour of taking her eyes out yet though! Hah! You should be glad. I wanted you to see your girlfriend suffer."
Lacher's heart thumped against his chest. He didn't want to do this.
But there is no other way to escape with Eve at this rate.
"Give her back."
He produced a pistol from underneath his cloak and knocked a few thugs to the side, knocking them out with a simple blow from his elbow. Aiming his pistol at the abdomens of a few of them, he brandished a second pistol and shot. A few began to charge blindly at him, thrusting their blades wildly. He sweeped his leg underneath them and they fell down on the stone floor. He pointed one pistol at point blank towards one who came up behind him and shot, without a care as to where he shot.
The boss of the group scowled as he held his broken arm. Another wave of them charged towards him, oblivious to the incoming danger. Lacher glared menacingly at them and rolled forward, shooting a frenzy of bullets to stop them from injuring him. They fell, one on top of the other. He then twisted around, his breath in control, and pointed the pistol straight at the boss' nose.
"Dead end. Hand her over."
Groans of pain came from the thugs behind him, but Lacher paid no attention to them.
"Kill me, like you killed them. I dare you. But you can't do it, can you? You are just a little kid, acting all hero." The man challenged, and Lacher glowered at him.
Seeing this chance, he swung a leg at him, but the assassin dodged successfully, and grabbed the leg in his iron grip, then twisted it, causing the man to twirl in the air before landing face flat on the floor.
"No matter how much you try, you won't beat me."
"WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT!" He shouted, and shuffling came from behind. Alerted, Lacher turned around, but he was too late. A hand covered his mouth, and two pairs of arms locked him in place. He was forced down to his knees, and his head was pushed down harshly.
The boss stood up, as though nothing had happened.
"Now, to extract the eyes of gold~" He said sadistically, and crouched down next to Eve before grabbing her delicate jaw and forcing her to look at him. She stared dully at him, and he brought out a hand to slap her face. "Don't give me that look, you're supposed to look happy when I'm around."
Eve ignored his order, and simply sat there. Lacher could see her hand reaching behind her slowly.
"And don't ignore me, either. Want to see your boyfriend there become quartered right here, right now?"
A flash of black and white whipped across his face, and Eve stood back as Shira and Kuro sprung into action, their eyes flashing a light red.
BATTLE MODE ACTIVATED. COMMANDS: ANNIHILATE ALL AGGRESSIVE TARGETS. METHODS: HIGH-POWERED ENERGY RELEASES [FLASHES]. COMMENCING COMMANDS. -INSTALLING-... ACTIVATING CODE: 00.666.01.
The two droids hovered drowsily, before disappearing and producing bright flashes of light, burned the eyes of the victims effectively. Eve hid her eyes from the horrid sight of eyes melting away as they screamed in pain. The melted substance began rolling down their eyes, and slight traces of blood mingled with the mixture.
Men dropped dead one by one, their hollow eyes sending a few nauseous feelings to Lacher's gut. He picked himself up and dusted himself down, before strolling towards Eve.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes..."
"Why didn't you use those droids to protect yourself earlier...?"
"This may seem like an excuse to you, but I didn't have the time to."
Lacher sighed.
She looked towards the corpses, and grimaced, her head jerking to the side.
"Don't look." He wrapped an arm around her and put her face against his chest.
"I'm so sorry." She whimpered.
"It's fine."
"What... what will we do with the bodies?"
"Leave them."
"But..."
"They won't be found. Nobody ever comes to this place anyways."
Eve rubbed her cheek gently, the place she had been slapped, while Lacher bandaged the rest of her injuries under their tree.
"I'm sorry Lacher."
"It's fine." He had repeated this line many times to reassure her that she had done nothing wrong, but she just wouldn't stop apologising.
"Even if you say it is fine, I am still... sorry." Her hand fell on her lap, and she lowered her head in guilt.
He cupped her face between his hands, and gently forced her to look at him in the eye.
"Why must you insist on apologising so profusely?"
"Because... I was the reason why you ended killing them."
"But I was willing to do it."
"If I had not gotten in trouble, you would never have had to do that."
"I told you I would protect you." He whispered against her ear.
"Even so... I don't want to become dependent on you." She shivered as his warm breath tickled her neck.
"I will not just stand aside and watch you become harmed." His hands slipped away from her face, and he placed them on either side of her.
"Lacher... you are so kind, yet... I am not sure how to word this..." Eve felt his head rest against her shoulder. "You are... important to me..."
He leaned backwards as Eve pressed a hand to his chest. Tears stung at her gracious eyes, and his eyes widened.
"I will not allow an important person of mine face danger for my sake..."
"Eve." He wiped a stray tear away, and closed his arms around her shoulders, embracing her dearly. "You are the only one I want to protect. There is no one else who is more worth protecting than you to me. Let me be selfish. Perhaps... there is nothing else for me to do, than be by your side."
She remained quiet in his arms, her arms trapped between them both.
"If... there is a way for me to pay you back..."
"I don't need you to do that." He mumbled softly. "Just... let me stay like this a little longer."
Eve had fallen asleep against the tree trunk as the sun began to give way for the moon. He couldn't help but stare into her face.
Her lips were plump and naturally a shade of pink, and thick, grey eyelashes-
He face palmed, but managed to sneak another look at her features from between his gloved fingers. What has he been doing up till now?! He couldn't figure out what caused him to act in such a way... like hugging her... and...
Something bumped against the hand that rested on top of his knee, and he looked down to see Shira perched upon his wrist, and Kuro rolling around on the grass weakly. Their eyes were flashed alarmingly, and he picked them up in his hands to inspect them.
"It must've been that code they installed..." Their eyes began to dim, and their movements became limp as their energy ran out.
"Lacher...?" Eve stirred, and shuffled quietly.
"I have to go fix Shira and Kuro... they are starting to run low on energy."
"I'll wait..." She said drowsily. He nodded at her.
"This shouldn't take too long." Standing, he rushed off with the drones in hand.
It's probably that code that was activated... I'll need to uninstall it without deleting any of the other files.
Eve watched as his tall, slim figure disappeared. She sighed, and pulled her knees up to her chest as she breathed calmly.
"I wonder how long he'll be?" Muttering to herself as she maneuvered her palm over the soft blades of grass dreamily.
A dark figure stood behind the tree, and a small smirk was spread across its face.
"I have you now..."
Lacher rushed around his workshop for a good ten minutes, and took another twenty minutes just trying to fix up the drones.
He sped through the doors and towards the park, eager to see Eve safe. In his arms.
Immediately shaking that thought out of his head, he rounded trees and avoided crashing into the elderly who were out for an evening stroll.
He was nearing the tree. The park had become completely empty, with the exceptions of trees whispering to one another, birds singing lullabies for the sky and strays leaves willingly being blown away.
He jumped over the small hill that he often crossed, and he could see Eve on the ground.
But she wasn't alone.
Panicking, he grabbed a pistol, and approached them carefully before his eyes widened in horror, dropping the drones on the grass.
The cloaked man had a club in his hand, and he could see an insane smile plastered across his face. There, on his club, was blood, dried since long ago, and a dagger fitted snugly in his other hand. Lying on the floor, was Eve. Crimson fluid ran across her face from her forehead, where an injury pulsated with blood. Her eyes were closed tightly, and her mouth hung slightly open.
What caused her the most pain, though, was the mortal wound on her chest. Blood stained her pale skin and summer dress. Her hand was placed on her left rib, and she struggled to breath.
"You're here... ahahaha... Your father sent me." The boss of the thugs said, chuckling. "You know... losing my right eye isn't exactly that pleasant..." He pulled away a thick strand of shaggy brown hair, to reveal a hollow eye, gazing into his cerulean ones.
"You... BASTARD!" Lacher let out a roar as he charged at the man, pointing his weapon straight at him.
He laughed manically at his uncontrolled rage, and waved his club and dagger around in the air.
"YES! Let me hear your voice again...!" He shouted, his chest left open to be struck.
Without thinking, Lacher thrusted the pistol straight to the heart, and pulled on the trigger.
The crack of the gun going off ripped through the air, then silence. Blood splattered across Lacher's face, but none of that made him flinch.
The man slumped to the floor next to Eve's, his life finally taken from him. Lacher quickly kicked the body away and rolled quickly down the hill, but he could care less.
"Eve... Eve!" He said frantically as he spun round to find Eve's eyes still closed. A small cut had occurred underneath her right eye, something he hadn't noticed a few seconds ago.
"Lacher...?" She whispered weakly.
"I'm here." He put an arm under her shoulder and pushed her up slightly, so her body could be rested against him.
"W-where...?" She spat blood from her lips, and stained his cloak further.
"I'm so sorry. I should not have left you...! I should never have... left you alone..." He managed to croak.
"But... I'm not alone... anymore." Snuggling against him, he grabbed her cold hand, now running cold.
"Shh... don't say anymore."
"Th-..ank you." Her breath began to become uneven as her eyes remained closed.
Tears touched his eyes, and he struggled to hold them back.
"I'll go get help."
"No... don't go." She squeezed his hand tightly, and her eyelashes fluttered as she opened her eyes. Her beautiful, golden eyes, piercing through his. Looking into his soul, and finding that one thing he had feared: loss. "I have... something to... tell you."
"But..."
She placed a shaking finger on his lips, silencing him.
"Shh... I have to say what... I want to, before... I forget. Do you remember that time, when... you told me you were keen on protecting me?" A smile formed on her blood-stained lips. "I believed you. But, I knew things would end this way... one day."
"Wh-what are you saying? Why do you have to word it like that?"
"I really enjoyed those days with you. Though... it was short, I'm glad... I met you."
No, please...
"You saved me so many times... from loneliness..."
Please, don't do this to me...
"...from pain..."
...Why does this have to happen?
"Lacher..." Her fingers brushed against his cheek, and she stroked it gently.
I promised to protect you...!
"I love you..."
Foreign tears rained onto Eve's cheeks.
"Eve..." He pulled her into a tighter embrace, sobbing against her. "I love you too..."
"Lacher..." She repeated. "I... can't see you..."
Her fingers fell from his face.
"It's so dark... Lacher..."
Her final words were mere whispers, and all Lacher could do was hold onto the last bits of her warmth.
Why did you have to leave me?
Of all the words she could have said, her last word became his fake name. He was never able to tell her his real name.
Chung.