Chapter twelve:
Both sides freeze in shock at this not having expected it, their hands dropping to their sides from the shock.
The light from the attack from both sides fades leaving just Near there now looking halfway to be falling to the ground.
Near's eyes are closed and mouth open in a silent gasp of pain. He falls to the ground laying there on his stomach completely limp as the others watch in shock and horror.
When he doesn't get back up Matt ends up falling to his knees from where he stood.
"No." Matt can't help but gasp and before anyone else could move he hurries to his feet rushing over towards Near stumbling a little. He falls to his knees with a skid next to Near shakily reaching out towards him. He carefully picks him up his heart pounding in his chest in desperate hope and moves the other onto his lap on his back. His eyes widen as he watches the young demon's limp arm roll away to land on the ground. "No!" He calls out tears coming to his eyes as he stares at the face of the demon he was trying to help. He sniffles as his shoulders begin to shake and even more tears come to his eyes. "I couldn't save you." He whispers to Near as if the other could hear him. "I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry. I tried to stop you from being killed but you were killed anyways. Everything turned out so wrong in the end." He closes his eyes his tears finally escaping his eyes and he hunches over Near's body his head bowed down. His tears streaming down his face and his sobs are not held back.
The other angels lower their heads closing their eyes with a hand raised to their chests like a sign of respect.
Always and Beyond begin to move towards them faces down in sadness over the loss. They only get a few steps closer however before they stop to look to the sky in surprise.
Though there are no storm clouds and the clouds in the sky aren't actually moving there is raindrops falling. It's almost as if the heavens above are all crying for the young demon.
The two turn to each other not sure what to make of all of this.
It's like everything is just happening all so fast.
….
Near groans blinking his eyes open slightly as he finds himself floating in darkness. He silently wonders to himself in his head, his thoughts sounding like they are echoing in his head, on where he is right now. He can't do anything but float there slightly curved backwards like he's kind of laying on a ball on his back with his head up instead of tilted completely upwards. His eyes half open as he stares off into the darkness around him wondering to himself if this is the place he is to be for the rest of eternity. His eyes open slightly more when a light appears above him which feels like right in front of him to him. He wants to reach for it to escape the darkness surrounding him…. But he can't…. He can't move towards it so all he can do is watch it ever so slowly approach him.
This goes on as it gets brighter and brighter for Near until white takes up his entire vision.
He waits for a few moments hoping that it'll die down. He finds his body slowly moving so it's like he's standing on thin air in the white space. His eyes open fully when something appears in front of him.
It's a ball of yellow light but somehow the light doesn't hurt his eyes no matter how bright it looks. It feels warm and protecting not to mention accepting.
"Who or what are you?" Near questions the light as he manages to find his voice as he is able to speak as well as move. He stands on the seemingly invisible platform he seems to be on. His arms hang at his sides as he watches the light that is in front of him.
"I am the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." The light speaks slightly shinning brighter as it speaks like the brightness is on a soundwave with some parts being brighter than others. "I am being made of their power and wishes, so that I may do some things that are needed to be done. You are here after your death so that you may make a very important choice. Your sacrifice has had quite the effect. It is your path to choose now. We would like to open two paths for you to take. Your fate is truly in your hands now."
Near slightly jumps then spins around to notice a creaky door opening to show darkness behind him.
"Which way shall you choose?" The being asks him. "Will you return to the underground from once you came or will you challenge fate to test another path?"
Near pauses for a moment as he debates over it in his head, he doesn't take long though as soon he turns around to look back to the being. He reaches out seeing the light go between his fingers and around his hands as he tries to cup the being with his hands.
"Your fate has been chosen." The being tells him then it glows so brightly it surrounds Near in it's warm soothing light.
….
Matt finally calms down and he opens his eyes that let a few final tears fall down his face. His eyes look to Near's face that hasn't changed at all even still tilted away from him as it is as limp as the rest of him. He gently moves the smaller male to be placed back on ground this time on his back. He sits there on his knees for a moment longer looking at Near before he finally gets up to his feet. He wipes his eyes and nose with the sleeves of his striped shirt as he gets up to look more presentable. He looks to the demons just in time to see the female jumping into the air only to go right through the ground.
Right back to Hell where she as a demon belongs.
Matt turns his attention to the remaining demons. "We will let you do whatever it is you do with the bodies of those of yours who have fallen."
Always looks down closing his eyes as he takes a deep quiet breath through his nose while Beyond gives the angel he's looking at a small nod.