Chapter 10 (I) - Sweet Revelation I -
Ludwig stood watching the show of explosions, fire and actually death and destruction just in front of him with a sadistic smile, thinking about how difficult is to actually destroy a doppelgänger. His brown hair moved back and forth with the hot air currents created by the demise of the mechanical spider, and his red eyes never ceased staring blankly at the moment. The sky kept raining and the Death Hand watched satisfied how he had single-handedly turned the tides. The Hell Knight also thought about it, but most importantly he felt the urge to find out why had Kevin meddled with this affair.
But the moment was to be enjoyed.
Jessica ran outside the moment she heard the chaos in the border of the castle. At the second she saw Ludwig standing in front of the flames,
she resumed her haste to reach him, and she ran at him, not knowing exactly if it was love, worry, or curiosity. Ignoring the dead bodies, the cries of the Negator chasing her, and the screams of Charlotte trying to keep her inside the castle walls, she jumped at Ludwig, holding him from behind with tears on her eyes. However, Ludwig didn't even turned his head. He was just staring at the fire.
"Ludwig! Are you okay? What happened? Why are you standing here?"
She heard no response. Ludwig merely blinked and looked back. He then smiled slowly and turned around.
"Apparently nothing."
Jessica pulled herself apart from the Hell Knight and, disappointed, asked "What happened to the Ludwig I talked to a few days ago? Who are you?"
Ludwig rose his chest proudly and answered "I am Lord Ludwig, Jessica. I am, unfortunately, a new person everyday. It pains me to know that it affects you. I can... I can barely remember the moments we've shared."
"It doesn't matters! Don't give me that stupid speech, Ludwig! I am still here! Don't you care?!"
"Of course I care." Ludwig sat down in the floor, ignoring the pandemonium around him "But I can't really do much about it."
He then looked down and let go of his sword. "I can't do much. I want to. I want you. I want to stay here, with you, to see what happens, to see if everything could work out... but watch all of this. See what I've brought to you? Do you think I can live with you knowing I killed everything you held dear once? Your life? Your parents? Your town?"
Jessica bit her lower lip trying to hold her tears, and she promptly slapped him with her right arm "I can't believe you already gave up. You killed that thing. You've saved us. You've got nothing to lose, nothing to love, nothing to gain, and now you've found friends, allies, answers, everything. Everything just below your fucking nose and you've chosen to just ignore it."
recognizing some truth on her words, he smiled again and replied "You know... sometimes... sometimes your seventeen years seem to make you look older. Your figure. Your life style. Your ideals. I can't make out what I have, yet you can throw it at me like rice. I am sorry."
She knelt and told him "Remember a few days ago? I told you I wanted to be your friend. I don't give a damn about what you have done. I do care about what you are."
Jessica then threw herself at Ludwig and kissed him long and tender.
He held him tightly, like feeling him about to go away and never come back. He barely rounded her with one arm, and closed his eyes. A single tear came down and fell on the floor.
A moment of ironic silence took over the scene, but a sudden and massive explosion deafening our heroes broke out. From the flames, a masculine figure arose, and walked out of the remains of the spider.
"Bravo... bravo... Sometimes I get amazed about group work. Blah."
Ludwig arose his view, watching the monstrous figure coming out of the flames. Black, of course, was the one, once trapped inside the spider,
came out for a last round, but something was different. His body, once similar to Ludwig's, was now an abomination standing several meters tall and wide, with four grotesquely deformed arms wielding different weapons, and its legs were enormously impressing. His face, once handsome and enigmatic, now was a bizarre parody of a human face, stitches and blood coagules all around.
Jessica felt vomit coming up from her throat but managed to stand firm, pointing her arrow at the thing. Ludwig barley took out his sword once again and asked, puzzled, "What in the world have you turned to, Black?"
"Something bigger and meaner than you, of course. Listen, well, I didn't really managed to escape in *one* piece last time, right?"
Black then opened his or its enormous jaws and screamed, deafening again everyone and causing everyone to black out for a second, a fateful second when everyone defined their lives...
Riesz jumped out of the building alongside Duran, to meet the monstrosity in battle. Carlie also took off, hoping to reach Ludwig before Black killed him or Jessica, as they both had passed out from the scream.
Duran reached the monster and tried a powerful cross slash at the thing, but it blocked it easily and counterattacked with a mighty jab at his face, sending him flying a few meters, and Riesz succeeded in catching the Paladin with her face. The monster then lifted Ludwig who was barely recovering conciousness by the neck, and claimed "Oh, Hell Knight!
Don't tell me that was it?"
A powerful punch to his face.
"I thought you would be a lot more challenging!"
Another fist hit Ludwig's face.
"DO SOMETHING HELL KNIGHT! I WANT TO KILL AN ALIVE MAN!"
And a last hit was met by Ludwig's sword, effectively cutting the fist on two, and good part of the arm. The limp extremity then simply fell off dead, and hung from Black's arm. The monster, in pain, dropped the Hell Knight down, exhausted and slightly disoriented. He was held up by Charlotte, who had reached him finally, and asked "Ludwig? Can you hear me? Do you remember your name?"
Ludwig opened his eyes painfully and looked at the girl and said "Holy crap are you hot, you fucking nun!", then fell down heavily. Charlotte sighted and thought 'okay, he's out.'
Duran recovered and he coordinated a quick attack with Riesz, while Jessica was attended by Charlotte, who had given up on the funnily charming Ludwig.
The Paladin ran at the left of the abomination, while the Star Lancer flanked it from the right. With a simple blink, they both attacked.
Unfortunately, though the movements of the monster seemed sluggish, the surprising speed was a powerful element. Black managed to stop both strikes, though the counter attack wasn't effective.
Both Warriors stood silent and breathing heavily at the sides of the thing, circling around it. Riesz then tried a quick piercing strike at Black, but the General sent a downwards punch at the weapon, succeeding in burying it in the heavy Rolantean ground. Riesz then jumped and did a flying roundhouse kick, robbing the monster of its stability, while Duran slashed it on the back, sending it back a few steps, though the beast stood on its feet.
Jessica woke up to find the nice face of the Bishop, and immediately asked "What's going on? Where is Ludwig? Where is Black?"
"Stand down, girl" said the Bishop "Ludwig is fine, though quite dizzy. Black is fighting with Duran and Riesz. Stand down!" screamed Charlotte, unable to impede the girl's attempts to get up. Jessica then grabbed her bow and arrow and started shooting arrows at the beast, which seemed to have its guard down.
However, no visible damage seemed to come from the shambler. It simply stood there staggering but still on full health - or fully undead -.
The three warriors then saw their weapons enchanted by the Priestess,
glowing on white holy energy, and both Duran and Riesz smiled.
'This should do it.'
Riesz and Duran jumped at the beast again, while Jessica sent her last arrows aiming at the head of the thing. Slash after slash, nothing seemed to work against it. The thing stood still imponent, apparently unharmed by the attacks. For a few seconds, Riesz felt totally lost,
but then, she recalled Kevin...
"It's not the end
Not the Kingdom come
It is the journey that matters the distant wandering..."
Nightwish "Wanderlust"
CHAPTER 10 (II) - LOST MEMORIES IV -
-
Oh my Goddess. Is this the end of it all?
After all we have fought?
I cannot believe this is it. We have gone so far. I cannot let this stop me. But... not even Ludwig was able to deal with this abomination... And... Kevin... where are you?
I cannot see anything with this dense sand storm. I would like to hope you are up there, waiting for the exact moment to save us, but...
why? You did not save Hawk, or Angela.
For the sake of heaven! You could not even save yourself!
Oh no. I cannot cry right now. I cannot. I have to stand strong. This is the final battle, and it is right here, in my homeland. But I feel so bad... so disappointed. I mean, i have to win! This is my turf, this is my time of glory. I will take you down, Black!
Come on Duran! Carlie! Jessica! Come to my side! We are the last beacon of hope for humankind! We need to win! Come to my side,
my dear friends, for all the battles we have fought will mean nothing if this one is lost!
Do not cry for Ludwig! He will arise! He will not die! He has been our savior, but it is time for us to take the arms!
Do not cry for the fallen!
Do not cry for the pain!
Do not cry!
This will not be the end! We have so much to live for! We are so much to live for, friends!
For a moment of clarity, Riesz shrieked and sent her weapon at the head of the monster... and much to her surprise, she scored a hit, swift in the head...
"You can win a thousand battles, but you can only lose one."
Zun Tzsu "The Art of War"
Chapter 10 (III) - Sweet Revelation II -
-
Black staggered back a few steps, this time visibly injured, and tried desperately to plug the spear out of its left eye, screaming with its horrifying voice in despair and pain, elevating the will and fervor of the defenders of humankind.
"YOU BITCH! YOU HAVE HURT ME! NOW YOU WILL DIE!"
Without even bothering to take off the weapon anymore, the beast ran at its offender, and send a powerful and swift strike with all of its resting three arms, hitting the Star Lancer fully in the chest, causing multiple injuries on her stomach, and sending her against a wall, crashing violently and screaming. Then Black turned around and used the momentum won by the turn to hit Jessica in the face, knocking her down, and finally trampled the Paladin.
However, Duran was able to stop it.
Both combatants stood silent at the scene. Cold sweat on his face, Duran was still suffering from his scars, but he was a battle-hardened warrior.
It would take a lot more than that to take him down.
"Congratulations, Paladin. You have survived a single hit. It seems as if you like to suffer." taunted General Black. Duran merely smiled and muttered "Go to HELL, thing!"
"Well, of course I will. I have no other place to go. I've done a lot of evil here."
Duran used his superior speed to circle around the beast and slashed it a couple of times on its back. Then blocked a few strikes using his shield,
but, much to his surprise, his shield was starting to get broken by the strikes of the monster.
"You will not be able to hide behind that piece of metal any longer, Paladin! It will eventually fail, as you will!"
The beast was right, and Duran knew it. Still, he had no better idea at the moment. With careful, precise hits, he planned to wear the beast down, though his shield might not make it.
Duran succeeded in hitting the beast a few more times, but, unaffected by the pain, the beast continued to hit down on the warrior. Eventually,
a powerful punch broke the Sacred Shield on Duran's face. Surprised, the Paladin jumped back, hoping to catch the next strike with his sword.
Lucky as he was, he did not think he would survive. But a shadow cut the beast arm clean, and it stood in front of it.
It was Ludwig, who was staggering, but it seemed to be healthy. Well, as much health can one have after such a struggle. He stood firm, though weakened, determined to take down the doppelgänger and to defend his friends, his sight cold as always.
Black smiled and send all of his body mass at the two warriors. Ludwig waited and stuck his sword in the chest of the monster, but was unable to stop it and the beast collapsed on top of them, knocking them unconscious.
Ludwig and Duran were out of the battle.
Jessica laid out of her senses on the ground.
Riesz was convulsionating on the ground, having vomited blood from the impact.
Only Carlie was left.
As the beast walked towards the Bishop, Charlotte grasped her mace.
She had never faced in direct combat anything bigger than a Goblin.
Breathing slowly, she watched the beast on its eyes.
"YOU ARE DEAD NOW, GIRL!"
Black jumped against Carlie, but Carlie merely lifted her arms and turned the undead beast away, using her holy powers. The abomination seemed to be in painful suspended animation for a few seconds, until Carlie let go of him, running at Ludwig.
She tried unsuccessfully to wake him up, but he was out of it. She then tried to heal his body, but his arm was letting out a ridiculous amount of blood. He was cold and shaking, obviously he was passing out of blood lost.
Black got up. He began chanting "Bishop, Bishop, where are you? Where are you?"
"Gotcha"
He jumped again at Charlotte, missing the hit by inches before she could stop it again. "You won't get me that easily, beast! I am the bane of the undead made flesh!"
"How long will you be able to keep me from killing you, uh? I doubt you will resist as much longer as I can keep trying to shred you down!"
"Try me, Black. Just Try me."
Carlie sent Black down against a wall. He was powerful enough that she could not destroy it, but he could at least keep it at bay. Black tried once again, and she successfully turned him away, however, she was overwhelmed by the feeling of despair against the monster that she failed to regain her balance, and fell down.
At that moment, she felt a cold piercing pain on her stomach. When she looked down, she had a piece of metal from the scraps of the spider robot going through her belly. The very thing that made her a woman.
She felt all of her heat go down from her head. All she could mutter before falling out was "Friends... I've failed you", but she caught the small glimpse of a figure jumping on the back of Black. Then it was all white.
The girl had fallen. She was slowly dying as the metal piercing her body took her life. Piece to piece. A little bit of life essence went away per second.
Suffering. Was there a purpose for it? Nah. But who cared. This was the end, he had won, he was right. Duran was down. Riesz was down. Jessica was down. Hawk was dead as well as Angela. And Ludwig... uh...? Where was he? Wasn't he with the Palad-
Suddenly, Black felt cold steel piercing his back and going through his chest. He looked over his shoulder to see the small frame of the Hell Knight.
"Surprised Black? It seems as if you hadn't dealt with me before. You know, I'm bound to live for all eternity to suffer. Or something similar, ask the Demon Prince. I frankly don't care. I'm starting to get a liking to kill wretches like you."
Ludwig moved forcefully his sword to cause more pain at his enemy.
"GET OFF MY BACK!" was all he could scream as the pain tore him from the inside.
Ludwig closed his eyes and began chanting his own lines...
Then he whispered "dark banishment"...
A huge tornado of black energy began to emerge from his sword,
making the hole on the back of the beast wider with each passing moment, inflicting tremendous amount of pain on the undead general.
Eventually, the tornado would eat him up.
"Stop it Hell Knight! We're supposed to be on the same side!"
"It doesn't matters anymore. I suppose, then we'll find out on another plane or time... It doesn't matters to me!"
By the time those words were spoken, Black was nothing more than a pile of ashes.
Ludwig reached the dying Carlie, who was still barely breathing,
and tried to get her out of that situation, but Charlotte refused.
"No."
"What?"
"Don't do that: It's my time to die already. Besides, if you take me out of here, the blood loss would kill me any way. I am sorry,
Ludwig, there is nothing you can do for me... except joining me on these last moments..."
She smiled, that easy going smile he had been used to see by now. From all of them, she was the one to believe him from the start.
"How is that you're even alive, Ludwig?"
Ludwig looked at his right arm and said "I just feel like that piece of me isn't mine anymore. I supposed that includes the blood.
Don't die... please..."
"And what are you...*cough* going to do about it, Hell Knight?"
"Indeed, what are you going to do?" sounded a familiar voice.
Ludwig looked up and it was the Death Hand, who was looking the scene, slightly amused by the whole thing. He laughed and said "Hello Carlie"
Charlotte merely coughed blood.
"I'd give my own damn life to save her. I brought all of this destruction here. If I could save someone, it'd be she..." said Ludwig.
"Then so be it, Hell Knight"
"What the hell do you mean?"
"You are destined to die from the start. You were even sent this big freakish undead legion and you've managed to trump them. I'd said you've earned a reward, or so to speak..."
Ludwig then coughed blood. He fell to his knees, unable to stop the flow of liquid coming from his mouth, and crashed his head against the floor.
He then looked at his chest, where a huge hole had been ripped, and blood was pouring out from it. He managed to detail how Carlie's face, a few seconds before was pale and now was recovering her then screamed out loudly, and suddenly fell down, cold.
And dead.
The metal on Charlotte's belly snapped, and she opened her eyes. After blinking several times, she looked up and found the Death Hand staring at her.
"That was too good of a guy to be a Hell Knight. Let's see what happens..."
Carlie, not understanding, gestured several times before asking "What happened Death Hand?"
Kevin smiled, and said "He decided to finally die. Your life was spared, for this war was pointless. Feel free to speculate why did he gave his life for yours, and how did the events of this war happened. As you won't see me again."
She merely opened her mouth, but Kevin cut her "Tell Riesz I said 'hi'"
He then turned around and vanished.
Carlie looked at the dead body of the Hell Knight, and kissed him on his cold lips.
"He was right. You were too much of a good guy to be a Hell Knight."
"I believed in you
I gave up everything just to find you
I have to be with you to live to breathe you're taking over me"
Evanescence "Taking over me"
Chapter 10 (IV) - This is the end of it all -
The next day, the survivors took up their work of burying the dead bodies of the fallen. Only Ludwig was held up for a special funeral. The reason?
His corpse simply disappeared when Charlotte went to try to wake up the rest of the heroes on the battle. Even more disturbing was that there was a trail of blood to be followed until a splash of blood was met on a wall of the castle, suggesting that the corpse had risen up, and ran away until, for some reason, was splattered against a wall. Charlotte believed it to be a sick joke from Kevin, whose message left me cold and emotionless. Obviously, this was something that was better forgotten, I believe.
We buried, though, his Doombringer, his bastard sword. The eye had also stopped moving. Duran, on his speech, noted that this should have been a lesson for us all, to learn and trust people who have no bad intentions. He had also proposed that the surviving population from Rolante, Altena and Forcena joined together to build a new kingdom, an idea which was met enthusiastically by the people, afraid that a new menace would finally kill them all.
Charlotte and Jessica cried the whole ceremony. Jessica left in the middle of it, screaming that she loved him, and that no one would ever fill up the gap left on her heart, the void on her soul, and blamed it all on everyone for not paying attention earlier to his words.
Charlotte took up and talked about the dangers of Hell raising over. But then she suggested that perhaps there was a lot more time than what was expected. So she asked everyone to move on and try to work hard to pick up civilization. Her usual warm smile had been substituted by a face wallowing on sadness by the lost of someone who gave his life for her.
A little tear fell of from my eye. I was the Queen of Rolante. I couldn't lose my composure so easily. I asked everyone to pay their respects to someone who saved us all. Ludwig, someone who would be remembered. I also began the plans to build a statue on his memory... But I had the burning sensation that he was still around, and in the group of people watching the ceremony, I had the feeling I always saw him somewhere, but I couldn't precise where was he.
We never found anything from General Black. Charlotte insisted he had turned to dust, but I was paranoid that he had survived once again. What few magicians survived from Altena helped out moving out the bodies of the inert undead, for the benefit of us all.
That night, I surprised myself drinking a glass of wine looking out of the window. I couldn't sleep. The bed seemed so big without that someone to fill it up. I left my room, and eventually asked Charlotte and Duran to sleep on the same bed. Duran found the idea amusing, but agreed.
Jessica didn't, though. She left the castle early in the morning to search for Ludwig's dead body, and failed. Poor girl. We all lost all we held dear. But I suppose life moves on.
Using whatever resources we had left, we took control of the biggest ships available, in order for all of us to settle on the more fertile lands of Forcena. Riesz, Charlotte and Jessica all seemed somber, and I understand: Only the faith these people have on me as a Paladin keeps me from breaking down and die.
I still wonder what did Ludwig had in mind exactly. He had come here for a reason... but not even Charlotte wanted to search an answer.
Perhaps it's just a social rule, and all that people had to die? What had they to pay for?
I'd love to find a reason for this all. But I guess only Ludwig had such answer, even if he didn't knew it.
I tried talking with Jessica, but she refused to talk with anyone about it. I caught her crying on the ship back home on a lonely corner.
I was unable to find anything which would sound good enough for her to cheer up, so I quietly left, hoping she wouldn't notice my pressence.
When we got home, Charlotte left the ship and kissed the earth, and promptly left for Wendel, saying we would find each others later,
as now, there were other pressing needs.
Personally, I always felt like people were elemental spirits. Duran was the spirit of fire for me, dangerous and always ready to burn it all in a fit of reckless emotions. Riesz would be water, maternal and life-giving, protecting us all from the start to the very end.
I always felt like air. Wise, always there, always everywhere. I am a priest, for Mana's sake.
But Ludwig was earth. If I'm always there, there was something that always reminded me of Ludwig. Below that mass of water, below our very feet, allowing us to ride on his memory, he was there.
But if there was a fifth element, it would be the spirit. And in this moment, Jessica was that element. She was the part of us that always shown our true feelings. For a moment, in that gruesome battle, we were a homogenic group that I don't even think with Kevin, Hawk and Angela were. With all due respect for their memory.
But it might be because Jessica was someone we all cared for and wanted to keep her safe, and it might be because Ludwig was actually around. We may never know.
"I must be strong and carry on,
'cause I know I don't belong here in heaven."
Eric Clapton "Tears in Heaven"
Chapter 10 (V) - Oblivion Awaits -
As Jessica arrived her room in Forcena, she threw herself on the bed, and hugged the pillow. A few tears came out again.
She still couldn't believe he was gone. When she met him, she heard his story, and told him that even while dead, Michelle would live on her heart. It was pretty ridiculous that she couldn't really follow her own advice. But it was so difficult to believe he would live on when he probably wouldn't.
He wasn't meant to live on history. He was made to be erased from memory, as the true scourge that brought all the suffering to Forcena.
But he wasn't responsible for it all! He didn't choose to bring it all! He was just thrown here!
Was he?
She turned around with the pillow on her arms, for a moment wishing it was Ludwig but for a moment fearing what might have been the guy she held dear next to her. She wondered what was his intentions,
what was the true history. Who was Ludwig...
"Someone who made us better persons. That's for sure."
She then felt a strange smell on the room. She turned around on the bed to watch the window, and was striken by a strange presence on the room, holding a cigarrete, and dressed on fairly odd clothing.
It was Ludwig, sporting shorter hair and a bizarre scar on his neck,
like someone had tried to cut his head off and missed by a few millimeters. He was watching off the window, and turned his head around to see Jessica, and suddenly vanished.
Jessica blinked and thought to herself it was just a mirage. She then walked towards the balcony when she reminded the smell...
"That was NOT a mirage..."
"Of course it wasn't girl."
She turned to her left to find Ludwig standing there. He was wearing a long coat, dressing pants and a suit, as well as a tie. The Doombringer was tucked inside a sheath to his back, the eye looking at Jessica firmly, occasionally moving around. His hair was a bit shorter, now held on a tail and the scar on his neck was definitely unsettling.
Jessica ran at him and held him, and this time, he received her and held her tightly, and said "Don't get used to this".
"Ludwig! You're back, you don't know how much I've missed you! What happened?!" she asked, insistently holding him like there was no tomorrow.
"I am not back, Jessica."
She opened her eyes wide and asked, incredulous "What?"
"I am not back."
He moved back a few steps and led the cigarette to his mouth. "I died. And no one gave her or his life to save mine. And I did not deserve it.
I don't think it would have worked anyway. I have another mission, Jessica. And, unfortunately, i can't bring you with me on this one."
"it's okay, I mean, I will see you again, right?"
"That is... very unlikely." He sighed. "I don't think you will ever see me again."
"What do you mean?"
"I have a mission, Jessica. And that is to lead an army. An army which will one day oppose all life and all that is order. I am a Hell Knight. That wasn't something I was able to choose...
... but we will perhaps meet again... just not now..."
"You're contradicting yourself, kid." said, mockingly, Jessica.
"I'm just trying to make the news easy to hear. Listen, do you really think it would be the same if we meet again? Do you really think you even know me?
I'm a freaking killing machine, I only live for the battle and everything surrounding it. Don't make me sound like a hero. I didn't do nearly as much as you all think I did."
"You gave your own life for Carlie's."
"She deserved it. She believed in me from the start. Think of it as a very strange 'thank you'. It isn't something I would do for anyone."
"Would you do it for me?"
An uncomfortable silence was heard, and Ludwig hung his head down for a second, before raising it again, and saying, harshly "No."
"You're lying" Jessica replied immediately.
"No I am not. For Hell's sake, Jessica, have you been listening? I'm a HELL KNIGHT, I am made to CRUSH, KILL, and DESTROY. Nothing else! Everyone I loved has slowly withered away in my memories, dying violently or worse!"
"HAVE I FUCKING DIED, LUDWIG?" screamed Jessica, grabbing her own shirt in desperation of making him hear. Ludwig thought for a second, and blinked several times. he then sighed and answered:
"You've been quite close."
"But I haven't died yet, Ludwig! What makes you think that darned jinx of yours will even touch me? Because Michelle and Lise died? Because you killed your parents out of your own conscious negligence? Because you brought that fucking plague here and killed Hawk and Angela? Are you listening? That doesn't make any sense!"
"Look at me, Jessica! Look at my eyes? Do you like it? The blood red that colors them now? Touch me! TOUCH ME I SAID!" screamed Ludwig as he grabbed her hand and put it on his chest "Do you feel any warmth? I AM DEAD, Jessica. I no longer feel anything! I no longer bear any feelings! I'm out of it! understand me now?!"
A tear fell from Jessica's eye as she noticed Ludwig's chest, cold as ice, and looked at Ludwig's eye, crimson red as blood.
"Ludwig..."
"Don't call me that. Ludwig is dead. I'm what's left of it: A Hell Knight."
"Why did you came, then, Hell Knight?" asked Jessica looking down.
"To give you this."
Ludwig grabbed Jessica's hands, which now were trembling, and handed her something. He then caressed her cheek, which nearly flinched from the contact, and when Jessica lifter her view, he was clearly in pain.
"What's wrong, Hell Knight."
"It will protect you."
She raised her hand and touched his cold face, and he was the one flinching now. She, confused, retired her hand and noticed a red burnt on his cheek, as if he had been marked by hot iron. He closed his eyes, and said slowly "Goodbye, Jessica. You were the only thing that kept me alive. Now, I will be the only thing that will keep you safe... from myself."
She looked down to her hands, and it was a pendant. A rune she had learned long ago it symbolized earth.
He then kissed her, leaving Jessica to wonder what was happening in the loneliness of the black night, and then she suddenly blacked out.
"She shines In a world full of ugliness
She matters
When everything is meaningless
Fragile
She doesn't see her beauty
She tries to get away
Sometimes it's just that nothing seems worth saving
I can't watch you slip away...
I won't let you fall apart.
She reads the mind of all the people as they pass by
Hoping someone would see
If I could fix myself I'd-
But it's too late for me...
I won't let you fall apart.
We'll find the perfect place to go where we can run and hide
I'll build a wall and we can keep them on the other side ...
But they keep waiting...
... And picking...
It's something I have to do
I was there too
Before everything else
I was like you...
Nine Inch Nails "The Fragile"
Author Notes:
Just the epilogue to go. Personally, I hate long goodbyes. Much more so when I'm the one who has to write them. Poor couple.