《Begin the End》14- The Beginning of the End

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Nearly finished…

My vision blurred, the streets moving up and down like waves on a ship. Don't you damn let this happen again. Avis's last words circled around in my head. I'm letting this happen again.

The beginning of the circle, red blood dashed across the street ahead. Find the ending written in blood, there the mirror breaks. If only I knew the song was talking about my blood.

My legs faltered, falling to my knees. Right in front of the start of the blood trail. It's too late now.

"What will happen when the mirror breaks?" I whispered, the wind rushing in.

"The souls will be freed from the between," Gloria answered. The jar in my pocket moved, the buzzing louder.

"The between? You mean not all the dead are in the mirror?"

"Those in the gateway, must have one foot in life and death. Something that holds you in time."

I frowned, fingers tight around the wound. "What held you?"

"You, of course," her words, a bittersweet knife." I did love you, Alex…I wasn't ready to die, it wasn't my time." Her hand slipped into my pocket pulling out the jar.

Squinting at the light, I swallowed the rising fear. "I'm sorry," I whispered, eyes fixed on the jar. Pure energy between my fingers, the heat singed at my skin. "How does this end?" My grip weakened, the surface like fire.

"The dead are starving for life, they will devour it all," Gloria said, my hands shaking. "Let go Alex...you can't hold on."

I dug my fingers in. "I...can't...I can't stand by."

"This is my sin, Alex. Let it be," her voice so reassuring. My jaw quivered, the blaring pain at the forefront of my mind.

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"...No."

"Shut your eyes and dream….this will all be over soon."

I shook my head again, hissing at the sting. The jar slipped from my fingers. The world slowing down, the glass crashed on the ground. Shattering into a million pieces, the gateway poured out. A kaleidoscope of colours, spiralling into a whirlpool. A violent current, splashing after me. I scattered back, running away from the pull.

The glow illuminated silhouettes of moving heads. A wall of sheer will power. The fear pounded in my heart like a drum. The army was here. Carrick's army was here.

Thundering footsteps backing us against the wall. Warriors with hardened faces, dark armour pouring out from each intersection.

I have faced armies before...bigger armies, stronger. Surrounded by clashing metal and the cry of battle. My war songs were unlike all others...I longed to control the battlefield once more, to write a bloody symphony. A sick desire for destruction, never to be lived. My body shaking, consumed with terror. Any song would be drowned out here. The space was too great, my lungs too weak.

Better to die now while the world's safe. I shut my eyes, trying to think of happier things. There is no peace in my mind. The feel of the blade was the only thing I could imagine.

"They're too late," Gloria snickered. What? My eyes shot open. My foot smeared the blood together, across the stones. Ring complete.

"Gloria," I yelped. A glow started at the connection, traveling down the ring. Shouts from the men, a commotion growing. "What have you done?"

"This is something from your wheelhouse, Alex. Let the enemy corner you and rain down destruction." Her smirk across my face. Their confusion turned to screams, armoured knights collapsing to the dirt. Clawing at their skin as they fell.

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"How…?" I stammered.

"I promised I would avenge you," Gloria's voice in my head. The inside of the circle took on a hazy glimmer. "Screams pattering out to silence, black armour scattered over the streets. "A happy coincidence, that the circle can both kill our enemies and prepare the gateway."

"This is sick…vile."

"Necessary," she interrupted. Standing on edge, we stepped into the ring. Stinging needles on my skin, something stiff in the air. I wasn't dying? "It's already made of your blood Alex, no need to drain power it possesses."

The specks of blood on my hands glowed with the same light, the fatal wound radiating. The pain dulled, head foggy. Approaching the swirling current, dagger in hand. "Begin the end the watchman shouts…" Gloria hummed, flipping the blade in her hand.

"And what about redemption?" I spat, stalling my feet. "Maybe change is impossible but, what if we're forgetting something! You remember the last words of the song right, forgotten remedy. Forgotten remedy!"

"In time you'll understand," Gloria huffed, marching onward, leaning over the rushing water.

"What if this isn't the only way! What if you don't have to kill everything. Please, listen!"

"I'm done listening, Alex. I've spent my life listening." She gripped the edge, moving to lift up the mirror. "Not anymore."

"I can't stand by."

I pulled back, freezing my hand. Gloria fighting back, scraping at my hold. "You...don't get to decide," she growled. Vision cutting in and out, my hold slipped.

"Stop fighting me!" she roared. My body flew forward. Eyes wide, I tumbled into the current. The raging waters of the gateway swallowed me whole.

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