I ruled the world.

With these hands I shook the heavens to the ground.

I laid the gods to rest.

I held the key to the kingdom.

Lions guarding castle walls.

Hail the king of death.

Then I lost it all

Dead and broken.

My back's against the wall.

Cut me open.

I'm just trying to breathe,

Just trying to figure it out

Because I built these walls to watch them crumbling down.

I said, "Then I lost it all."

And who can save me now?

I stood above

Another war,

Another jewel upon the crown.

I was the fear of men.

But I was blind.

I couldn't see the world there right in front of me.

But now I can... (yeah)

'Cause I lost it all

Dead and broken.

My back's against the wall.

Cut me open.

I'm just trying to breathe,

Just trying to figure it out

Because I built these walls to watch them crumbling down.

I said, "Then I lost it all."

Who can save me now?

(oh)

I believe that we all fall down sometimes (oh)

Can't you see (can't you see it) that we all fall down sometimes? (oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh yeah)

I believe that we all fall down sometimes (oh)

(Can't you see, yeah) Can't you see that we all fall down sometimes? (yeah, we all, yeah, we all fall down)

Yeah

I believe that we all fall down sometimes

Yeah

Writer(s): Jacob Mark Pitts, Martin Johnson, Ashley Purdy, Andrew Biersack, Jeremy Miles Ferguson, John William Feldmann Copyright: Ashley Purdy Music, Martin Music Inc., Abiersack, Jinxxed For Life Music, Emi April Music Inc., Jacob Pitts Music

~~~**~~~

The first thing that I felt, aside from pure anger and hatred was the floor shaking. I looked at the painting on the wall, an image of a landscape that was filled with lush green pastures. As the wall began to shake the picture rattled against it, I turned and looked out the window. The horizon showed a mass of figures walking towards the castle.

Completely fascinated, I moved closer, hauling the lumbering brute with me. The sky was black, casting a shadow over the once pretty land. They were slow to approach, and I couldn't understand why until I saw the first few hands break through the surface of the ground. It was like some bizarre zombie movie where the creatures were rising from their graves. Only in this world, they were rising from the pit.

One by one they broke through, the land cracking open around them as they emerged through the leaves. Their gaunt and hunched postures made them look like they were a pushover but I saw differently when one of the soldiers attacked.

Lightning struck, and I watched Anton's eyes widen, a feral glint in his eye and the damned struck back, weapons in hand. The damned were the first line of defense, flanked by the dragons and Cerberus. Crows flew in and out, annoying the soldiers at times that benefited the damned. All the while the demons waited, eager to make their master pleased, they hungered for the battle. I could feel their yearning to approach; I could feel their annoyance at having to hold back.

"The first brave soul," Anton said with delight as he watched. "And the first to fall. My, what a worthy cause."

He turned to look at us, or rather to Michael.

"All of those that were damned shall rise up against you Michael, against your legions. Do you really wish to fight a battle you will not win?"

Michael turned away from the window and from Anton, who I noticed was getting paler by the second. I tilted my head with a frown as I looked at him, all he did was smile.

Beware of the smiling devil, Sarah.

It was a battle that looked like something out of a medieval movie. Soldiers in metal armor with long swords, fighting against an enemy that was equally protected.

Another lightning bolt lit up the sky as it finally broke open. Rain began to patter down gently.

I looked at Igor who was standing guard by Brannon, refusing to leave his side.

"Come on Michael!" Anton growled. "You can finish this forever, just send them away."

As Michael continued to cough up blood, Anton passed him a handkerchief.

"I can't." He rasped, nearly choking on the blood in his mouth. "I have to protect."

"Protect what? I'm not going to storm your world, Michael."

He shook his head, lowering with defeat.

"I had a vision; the message was not a threat, it was a warning."

Anton looked at me with fear, his eyes darting out to the land. It wasn't exactly an open field, but it was open enough. Like the weather matched Anton's mood, another bolt of lightning struck, and the rain became heavier. Regardless of the weather, the battle continued.

"You had a vision of Sarah dying out there?"

Michael nodded. "You wouldn't listen to me; I tried to tell you. I tried to stop her from coming here, you have to send her away, or she will die."

"It's a lie." I interrupted. "He's trying to break the trinity Anton, don't listen to him."

Anguish filled his face as he looked at me. The expression said so much to me, and I knew that he would send me away, just to keep me safe.

"Don't do it, Anton." I pleaded.

"How?" Anton implored. "What did you see?"

"You, angry. It looked like an accident, the land cracked open, and she was standing at the edge of it. Sarah was holding onto your hand as she teetered. You let go."

I shook my head; it was wrong. Tears welled in my eyes as I looked at a desperate man, one that was believing the lie.

"No Anton, you would never let go. Don't believe him."

"How can I not Sarah?" He asked, watery red welling in his eyes "It is a risk, too much for me to handle."

I turned to Igor, hoping that he would see reason. The man looked just as upset; I wordlessly begged him to help me.

One glimmer of hope was what he offered, he linked his thumbs together and flapped his fingers like a bird. I frowned at him, watching as his eyebrows raised and his eyes intentionally darted to the sky.

Looking out to the window I saw the dragons swooping; a mighty roar bellowed out from the male as the flames erupted from his wide mouth.

Turning back to Igor I frowned, unable to understand what he meant by the dragon. He made the gesture again and looked to the sky. When I looked back to the window, I understood. The crows. No death.

"The crows!"

Anton looked at me curiously, glancing for a moment at his beloved birds.

"What about them?"

"They aren't reaping Anton, no death."

Michael sighed with defeat as he broke the end of the poker and pulled it through. The movement was so fast I didn't realise it had happened until I looked at the handle in my hands.

"Well done Sarah." Michael offered as he turned to me.

I watched as the blood seeped back into his body, slowly returning the shirt to its former state.

"Igor, actually."

Michael grimaced at the man and then turned back to us.

"Time to negotiate."

I looked out the window, and everything had frozen, the crows and dragons still in the sky, the damned locked in battle with the soldiers. A woman appeared, similar to the one that had turned up in my apartment. She held a scroll out to me, and I shook my head.

"No Michael, no paperwork. I don't trust you, so we will agree verbally."

Michael raised an eyebrow with a slight grin, staring at me for a brief moment.

"Alright, what do you want Sarah?"

"Leave me and my family, our demons, the damned and hell in its entirety, alone. And you can restore my shop to the way it was; you will need to be careful, there were cops sniffing around the place. And you are not to put any form of recording devices in the shop or in any of our residences. Anything else you want to add Anton?"

He shook his head, still with that amazed smile.

"No my love, what you have demanded is sufficient."

"Alright." Michael offered. "Your demands are agreed to provided that you do not storm heaven, leave the angels and heaven alone, continue to do the tasks assigned as expected."

I looked at Anton, and he nodded with a supreme grin.

"Agreed."

He held out his hand, waiting to shake on it. I was wary as always, looking to Anton he offered a nod. Abruptly I took Michael's hand and shook it, squeezing it as hard as I could. He winced under the pressure and looked at me with shock as I pulled him into a whisper.

"If you threaten us again we won't stop at a broken nose. I will break every bone in your body."