(I know I'm updating earlier than usual, but why not?)

One Last Chance:

Chapter Nine

"Actually, I'm quite glad you survived, my Prince; it will allow me to have the pleasure of killing you," Hesam stated as he stared at the Prince, who stood still.

"Where is Kamal?" the Prince demanded, readying himself for anything. The older man chuckled. "Our superior is fulfilling his destiny, and at the same time condemning the world's."

"What do you mean!" The Prince felt his anger growing. All he felt like doing was to murder the man in front of him; the man who betrayed his father and family.

"Now, what does it matter to a man who is going to die? Yes, you must have an answer for that; am I right? If you can answer my question I'll surrender some information."

The Prince could not hold his fury in. He quickly struck the guard to his left and stole his sword, impaling him and removing the sword from the bloodied body. He let out a battle cry and dashed at the man, preparing to strike him down. Hesam grinned widely and dodged the attack, kicking his opponent to the floor.

"You really are pathetic, just like you're family. Your father was a coward and weak man; he relied on his colleagues and friends to wage wars and make decisions. Did he ever face an opponent? No, he did not, rather, he hid behind his "majestic empire"."

He bent down and grasped the younger man by his throat, raising him into the air so they were at eye- level.

"I have to thank you, really; it was because of you that our superior was born, and he will now send the world through its rebirth!" He began to laugh. "But, we need a sacrifice, and our Empress, unfortunately died, so this young lady will have to suffice."

The Prince ground his teeth and spat into Hesam's face. The older man took a cloth from a pocket and wiped his face, shoving the man down.

"So, you want to die quickly, eh? Fine the, you can join your father in Hell!"

He unsheathed his sword and was about to pierce the Prince, but his adversary swiftly blocked the attack and rose up, grabbing his left arm and shoving the blade through his abdomen. Hesam choked as the metal sailed through his spine.

The Prince thrust the sword farther through the older man's body. His hatred began to pour out of him as he watched the man grin as blood seeped from his mouth. "I suppose I underestimated you… but you can't stop… My Lord; he will… bring the world into a new era!"

"Why?" the younger man muttered through ground teeth. Hesam chuckled again. "He does this… out of hatred and revenge. You… stole his destiny, and he is returning the favor, but you're too late," he whispered, moving his eyes towards the three soldiers who were already running out of the room with Farah in their arms.

"Farah!" the Prince exclaimed as Hesam laughed loudly. "You cannot stop it you fool!" The younger man kicked the man to the ground and sheathed his sword. "Farah!" he shouted again while chasing after them, while the other guards were left in bewilderment.

Kaileena awoke groggily, trying to focus her eyes. She was lying down on a bed, and there was a small mat on the wooden floor. The room was evidently small, and Massoud was beginning to awaken on the floor.

Light was flowing in from the open doorway, and she slowly stood up and walked outside.

The room she was previously in was really a small hut, lined up with many others. The road before her was dusty, and different papers and trash were littered up. It seemed to be dawn, and great buildings and palaces could be seen in the distance.

"Where are we?" she muttered as footsteps could be heard. "Babylon, Kaileena, Babylon."

She spun around to see Saeedeh walking towards her, a smile on her face. "Babylon? But that's impossible! That city has been destroyed!"

The girl giggled. "Why, it is not the Babylon you know, but the one I know. This is the home I once had before the accident happened."

Kaileena approached the girl and kneeled down to face her. "What do you mean, 'your Babylon'? Who are you?"

Saeedeh sighed and walked away. "This is not a real place; it comes from my memories. Those memories are gone though; I never met my mother. Have you?"

"No, I did not have a mother; I was just 'there'."

"How can you be just, 'there'? If you are mortal, you require a mother to be born."

Kaileena rose to her feet and sighed. "I cannot explain it, but how did you bring Massoud and I here?"

The girl glanced around. "If you truly want to know, I am only a ghost, a lonely ghost who wanders this world. I've been searching for my mother, but I haven't completely found her yet; no, not yet, but I am close."

The Prince ran as fast as he could through the hallway, jumping and running on walls when necessary. Flight after flight of stairs descended downwards, each spiraling at the end and leading to another doorway.

He began to grow irritated with this, his patience draining when he approached a sixth staircase.

Finally, however, the seventh staircase led to a hallway, which extended to another room, much larger and wider than the previous ones.

A huge altar rested at the center of the chamber, and the three soldiers seemed to be tying or pinning a body up on a cross over the altar. A crimson colored sword was wedged into the altar, and Kamal was watching all this, barely noticing the Prince had arrived.