A/N: I was honestly expecting for this to remain as a oneshot, but then this idea hit me, so I was like, why not? It's about the same length as the last one, just 30 extra (429, if you couldn't be bothered with maths). So, consider this a treat.
I'm sorry I haven't updated Reminders, but it's summer here in Australia, and I've been enjoying my break. After all, I can't work the whole year. Sorry for the wait, or any inconveniences or something.
Enjoy, and try not to cry.
You can feel the sweat trickle down your back as you block the hellhound's swipe of claws. You've never understood the saying, I just saw my life flash before my eyes. If it applied to you, you'd have relived your whole life by now.
The next hit almost connects, but you dodge, and duck and weave and swerve. Even you are impressed by the fancy footwork. The hellhound bares his fangs in frustration. It lunges at you, ready to chomp your head off, but you block it with your stygian sword. As you do so, you catch a glimpse of one of your beautiful scars. You remember how the shiny blade cut into your pale olive skin, producing a thin line of magnificent red...
The hound catches you while you're reminiscing, and you just barely dash out of the way. You remember the scar again, and you recognize a warm wetness on your cheek, but you brush it off like it's dust, and you keep drifting off into space. Your body goes onto autopilot as you weave through the hellhound's legs, and get a lucky slice to its thigh. However, it's not enough to turn the monster into dust.
You have finally found a worthy opponent. Maybe this time, just this time, it would be enough to end your pain -
You forget what you were thinking about as you recall the beautiful blood seeping through your flesh, and onto your skin. The contrast of it captures your attention, and you don't think about what you're doing.
Stab (miss), sidestep, lunge (blocked), duck, swerve-
You lose track of time as you continue dueling with the monster.
Oh, come on, I want more blood, more pain, more blood, more pai-
You barely feel the golden dust raining down on your face (why is monster remains more like fairy dust?) You come back to the real world with a dumbstruck expression, with tears trickling down your face. You hadn't realized that you were crying while you were fighting. You struggle to recall what happened when you were busy imagining. You remember flashes - grunts, attacks and defensive stances.
You're suddenly hit with the mental picture of the stricken, pained face of the hellhound as it turns to dust. The face was so sad, but a littlerelieved ... Almost like it wanted to die, but when it was happy.
You know that you don't want to end up like that monster. You vow to yourself silently that you'll never be like that monster. You want to die on your own terms.
And, as it turns out, you keep that vow.