1 Before the Darkness

The sky is blue.

How ironic when the ground is soaked with the color of crimson. The breeze is heavy with the scent of metal, blood, and sweat. It carried the sounds of the battle that is slowly taking a turn for the worse.

My lungs expanded with each breath I gulped in. I can't seem to get enough of it.

I could feel my legs burning as I wove in and out of the fight, dodging weapons and bodies alike. My arms move on their own, whether it's to block an attack or counter with one of my own. Every second seemed to stretch and pull. I don't remember how long I've been fighting. It could have been minutes, hours, days...

Suddenly, I'm in a clearing. Strangely, there was nobody fighting in this empty space. A lone figure also burst from the other side.

Beloved eyes met mine. I didn't realize when I moved but I found myself in his arms. The world could have torn itself apart and I wouldn't care. I pulled back--

And then...pain.

Just for an instant before my body felt hot and then cold. My head felt light but for some reason I was hyper aware of the man in front of me. The way the sunlight made his hair look like fire and his eyes that always saw through the veils in mine. His body was warm and solid, forever the support when my strength failed me. But my vision seemed to be playing tricks on me. His beloved face was painted with horror at something that caught his attention.

I looked down, following where his eyes were desperately trying to unsee. My gaze landing on the blood-stained spearhead sticking out my chest.

I felt the exact moment my heartbeat slowed, drawing time itself with it in its ever slowing tempo. We were falling--my beloved and I. It wasn't so bad when he holds me in his arms. My hand reached out and cupped his face, painting his sculpted cheeks with a dark shade of red. The universe burned bright for a blissful moment. I wanted to say something but nothing came out.

Then there was darkness.