What can I say?

"Please..."

What can I do?

"Wait..."

Please, I don't want to die.

The guards ignored him, staying silent as they dragged him up a long staircase. Well, at least it felt like a long staircase. He couldn't really be sure with the bag draped over his head. The coarse fabric clung to the sweat on his skin, scratching his face with every step. He strained his eyes, for what felt like the hundredth time, struggling to see through the fabric, but it was no use. He couldn't see anything. There was only darkness.

What could he do?

It's not like he had the strength to resist. Besides even if he did where would he go? The only person he knew was nailed to a wall, and he didn't even trust him. What could he do?

He felt the staircase end as his feet began to drag along a hallway floor. Where are we going? He thought to himself. It seemed like the guards were dragging him through a maze of corridors. They made a left, then a right, then... he winced as another headache came. He might not have known where they were going, but if his head kept throbbing like this, he knew it was going to be a long day.

Suddenly they stopped. He heard small stones grinding against each other, then big ones right in front of him, as a draft lulled into the room. Did they open the wall? The guards carried him through the gateway, stopped as it closed behind them, then continued down another hallway until he heard a set of footsteps walking in front of him.

"Where was this guy?" the voice in front of him said.

"Somewhere private," a voice next to him said.

Both men paused.

"Fair enough," the voice in front of him said after a moment. "Stand him up."

The two guards holding Clergy hoisted him up. The guard in front of him locked some shackles on his wrists then walked away. He heard another metal door swing open in front of him, as light, bright enough that he could see it through the bag, poured into the space around them. The guards pressed on, pulling him forward. He could feel his feet begin to drag along dirt, as a light breeze eased its way past him. Eventually, the guards stopped, lifting him onto his feet again. One of the guards tore the bag off his face, and everything turned white as Clergy's head started to spin again.

"Go stand with the others," one of the guards said in his ear before they both shoved him forward.

Clergy stumbled ahead a few steps before toppling over onto the ground. He laid there for a moment, waiting for the world to stop being a white, spinning mess.

"Come on, stand up," a man's voice next to Clergy said, as another pair of hands tried to stand him up.

"No!" Clergy said pulling himself away. "I'm not going! I don't want—"

"Listen!" the man cut in, "however you're feeling right now it'll be a whole lot worse if those guards come back!"

Clergy felt the man's hands grab him again but he wasn't having it. He lunged up, clawing at the man's arm, until suddenly he heard metal bashing together. He calmed down. There was no point being angry. The man was wearing shackles too.

"Whoa, easy," the man said, reaching out as Clergy's lunge quickly turned into a fall. After a moment he found his footing and looked up at the man holding him.

He seemed to be about middle-aged, with a full head and beard of unkempt salt and pepper hair. He was wearing the same run-down clothes as Clergy, with light cuts and bruises along his hands, and more marring his face. A look worsened still by the dark bags looming underneath his brown, bloodshot eyes. His built physique and firm grip made it seem like he'd been a strong man once. One look in his eyes though and Clergy knew he was not that man anymore.

"Can you stand?" the man asked.

Clergy nodded.

"Good," he said, leaning in as he placed his hands on Clergy's shoulder. "Then I suggest you do what the guards tell you, and don't look any of them in the eye." After that he stood back up and started walking away.

"Wait!" Clergy said, reaching out but the man was already a few paces away. "Please, I just woke up here. I have no idea what's going on."

"Just do what they tell you. That's the only thing worth knowing."

Clergy kept trailing behind him. "I—I don't need much. I just want some answers."

The man kept walking.

"Please! I really need your help."

The man stopped. He looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh before turning back around and walking toward Clergy.

"What's your name?" the man asked.

Clergy hesitated. He never thought it would be so hard to answer such a simple question. Especially not twice in one day. He didn't want to be rude, but he also didn't feel like having to convince someone else that he didn't remember anything. So, he gave the only answer he could think of.

"Cl-Clergy."

The man eyed Clergy for a moment. Then he seemed to notice the mark on his arm and chuckled.

"You want my help but you don't trust me enough to tell me your name?" he asked.

"That's not—"

He raised his hand. "It's fine. Honestly, it's probably better if you don't trust people so easily."

Clergy looked down and shrugged. Was that the real reason he was still using Clergy? No, but it sounded a lot better than, 'it's actually the name some guy nailed to a wall gave me, and I've hit my head too many times today to think of a better one.' Yeah, going with 'trust issues' was a good call.

"What should I call you?" Clergy asked.

The man looked surprised. "Really? You don't—" he paused. "Never mind. I'm David."

David reached out his shackled hands and Clergy gave the best handshake that two wrists strapped together could. It was odd. It was such a trivial little thing, just a handshake, but after the day he'd been having that trivial little thing meant the world to him.

"You said you wanted answers?" David asked.

Clergy nodded.

"Then take a look around."

Clergy did as he was told.

The outside was a ruin. It seemed like where they were standing had once been a square courtyard. It was surrounded by four castle-like walls, stone with manned ramparts. Each one was flanked by two sets of stairs on either side leading to their walkways, while the one behind him housed a small archway that seemed to lead into the forest around them. Two guards were stationed there though, and Clergy doubted he could make the run. A small fort was staged in the center of the yard; but something... powerful had happened here.

The fort was crumbling apart. It sat to his left, but most of the side facing them had collapsed inward, taking much of the building with it. Stones from its structure were piled before the wreckage and littered the field of dirt and dead grass.

The adjacent wall had been battered. Bits of its rampart were broken, like they'd been smashed, and some stones were even lodged into it. Lodged from inside the courtyard. An odd sight Clergy was surprised to see was shared by so many people.

At least two dozen were scattered around the open space. There were more guards patrolling around of course. Most wearing the same gear as the ones inside, although a few had a bow and arrows slung over their back; but there were others too. People dressed like him.

There was a woman with tan skin and long ratty hair, who stared unmoving at a large stone in the ground. Her eyes were distant. Her lips were bleeding and chapped. She still hadn't moved.

Another was young. A man, maybe in their twenties, with olive skin and dark brown hair sitting down and sobbing into his hands. Both marred with filth and wounds and blood.

There were a few more idling around. All different ages, builds, and complexions. Some huddled together, whispering amongst themselves. Though it seemed like even more stayed apart. They idled in the space, either wracked with grief or aloof and indifferent, but all of them seemed... normal. None of them looked like the hardened prisoner type. None of them looked like Amos.

As they milled around the compound, trees poked their heads comfortably above its walls, watching the fractured scene unfold, and staring at what Clergy feared most. Staged just before the fort's broken wall, for all to see... was a gallows.

David placed a hand on Clergy's shoulder. "Yeah, I know," he said, obviously noticing the horror in Clergy's eyes.

"That's for us," Clergy said, hoping it was more of a question than a fact.

"In a way it is," David said, "but to answer your real question no, they're not going to kill you today."

Clergy nearly buckled over as he let out a deep sigh of relief.

"Eventually they will, but today they just want you to watch."

"What?"

"Clergy—"

"No— no I don't understand. Why would someone do this? Why do they want me to watch?"

"To intimidate you."

"For what?" Clergy asked his voice wavering.

David stayed silent as his eyes drifted away.

Clergy scowled. "Why are they doing this David? Why am I here?"

David sighed. "I don't know."

"Ok, then why are you here?"

"I don't know."

Clergy's heart sank. He should've realized sooner. "Did you... did you lose your memories?"

"What? No—no, it's not that it's just..."

"What is it then?"

He paused again.

"David! Tell me what's going on!"

He shook his head. "This was a mistake—"

"David!" Clergy said grabbing his arm.

He snatched it back. "You want to know what's going on? Then look!" he said pointing at the gallows. "All you need to know, all there is to know, is right there in front of you! I'm sorry there's no explanation for your death, but you're gonna watch some people die and then they're gonna kill you too. That's the only answer you're gonna get from this place so I suggest you come to terms with it."

David started to storm off, but as he did Clergy felt the air crackle with heat.

"You're lying," Clergy said. He wasn't sure how he suddenly knew that, but he knew.

David kept walking.

"You're lying because you're afraid!"

David stopped at that. "Afraid?" he said walking back. "How old are you? Seventeen? Eighteen? What the hell do you know about being afraid? You don't even know what the real world is like, and you think you know something about being afraid?"

Clergy walked up, staring David in the eye until they were only a breath apart. "I know enough to recognize a grown man too scared to admit the truth." He didn't know why he was so sure of himself, but he needed answers, and this was his only shot at getting them.

David glared back. "I told you the truth."

"No, you're still hiding something."

"And how do you know that?"

"Because you keep hesitating. Because you keep telling me 'I'm' going to die and not 'we're' going to die. Because you walked back over here to help me, and then it took you five seconds to get scared and shut me out again!"

David stepped back, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I am helping you. I'm telling you not to get your hopes up and to accept the fact that the noose is already around your neck!"

"Keeping me in the dark isn't helping me, it's helping you! Because you're too scared to admit what you did!"

David got right back in Clergy's face. "I'm not afraid boy."

"Then tell me the truth! Why are you here?"

"Fine! You want the truth? Here it is! The truth is I used to be a naïve, stubborn little shit just like you! I thought I was too important to get hurt and tried to take on the world and you know what happened? I picked a fight I couldn't win. I made enemies, and I underestimated them at every turn. But y'know what was my worst mistake? I trusted people. Trusted them to do the right thing when it mattered most, and it got me thrown in here. Now after my ego trip blew up in my face it turns out I was right. I'm too important for them to just finish me off, so I'm spending the rest of my life rotting in this cage, watching everyone around me die, until they finally decide I'm not useful anymore and kill me too! That's why I'm here!"

Clergy stayed silent, struggling to find the right words to say.

He took a breath.

"I'm sorry about what happened to you David," he finally said, "but I still don't understand. Why are you too important to kill? Who is 'they'?"

David waved him off. "It doesn't matter," he said with a sigh. "It was a lifetime ago. Now... now I'm just tired. Tired of all the schemes, all the bullshit, all the lies. I just want to put my mistakes behind me and move on."

This time, Clergy didn't know what to say.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what this place really is or why they want you here," David said after a moment. "But I'll let you make your peace in private." With that David turned to walk away for the last time.

"Hang on," Clergy said grabbing David's arm. He turned around. Clergy looked into his face. Into his eyes. The air crackled with heat again but this time something sparked in Clergy's mind. He couldn't explain how, but his intuition knew what this was. These were David's feelings. His intentions. For a moment they felt as deep and real as his own.

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"I don't really know what you did but... you're not a bad person," Clergy said. "Trying to help people is never the wrong thing to do."

David looked at him and smiled. Smiled like he had never known what a true smile was until now. He grabbed Clergy's hand.

"Thank you."

They stayed like that for a moment, until David took back his hand and cleared his throat.

"So, you really don't remember how you got here?"

Clergy shook his head. "Honestly, I don't remember anything."

David gave him a surprised look. "Really? Nothing at all?"

Clergy shook his head.

"Damn, I mean that's just... damn."

They both shook their heads.

"Although," he said grabbing Clergy's head and turning it over, "that does mean there's one thing I can tell you."

"What is it?" Clergy asked, doing his best not to be creeped out.

"Someone beat the shit out of you."

Clergy pushed David's hand aside. "Yeah, I noticed," he said, giving David a look.

"No— just, shut up and listen," David said. "Do you see any other prisoner beaten up like you?"

Clergy looked around again. As far as he could tell the worst injuries anyone else had were just cuts and bruises. "No, not really."

"That's because they don't do that here," David said. "Here they're subtle... or at least more subtle than this. They'll take fingernails or teeth. If they leave bruises they're hidden or light enough to be explained away. Whatever someone did to you though is just..."

He placed his hands on Clergy's shoulder.

"Clergy, I don't think someone was trying to hurt you. I think someone was trying to kill you." He leaned in giving Clergy a serious look. "And to be honest, if it wasn't for the fact that you were standing here, talking to me, I would've thought they did."

Now Clergy looked serious. "What're you saying?"

"What I'm saying is that if you're serious about getting answers, and somehow don't end up getting killed in the next couple days, then you need to be careful." David squeezed his shoulder. "Because whatever truth is waiting for you out there is the one that almost got you killed. Ok?"

Clergy gave a slight nod. "Ok."

"Good," David said patting Clergy's shoulder before dropping his hands. "Oh, and was 'Clergy' you're idea? Cause I'll be honest, that wouldn't have been my first choice."

Clergy laughed at that. "No, another guy here kinda gave it to me."

"Another guy?" David looked around. "He's not out here now?"

Clergy shook his head. And thank God he isn't.

"Do you know his name?"

"Yeah, it was Amos."

David froze. "Amos? That's what he said his name was? You're sure?" His head snapped around the crowd, fear setting into his eyes.

"Yeah, I'm sure. David what's going on—"

"Listen to me Clergy. I don't know what you said to him, but that conversation never happened. You've never seen him before, and you for damn sure never talked to him. In fact, your gonna forget his name. Right. Now."

"I don't understand—"

"That's right. You don't understand. Amos is dangerous. Very dangerous. Exactly the kind of guy I'm trying to get you to avoid."

"Ok, I get that, but you don't have to give me some spooky threat, just tell me why he's so dangerous."

"No, you don't get it. You don't know why you're here now, there might not even be a good reason for you to be here, but if I tell you about him then there will be. So, stop getting curious and just forget what you saw."

"But—"

"Forget."

"I just—"

"It."

They both went silent.

"Alright, but can you just—"

"Geez, you really are stubborn aren't you?"

Clergy shrugged.

"Well, guess what? I can be stubborn too."

Clergy went to speak again but David shot him a stern look.

Clergy closed his mouth.

"Thank you," David said with a satisfied look.

Clergy rolled his eyes. Great, like I don't have enough questions already, he thought to himself. He knew David was just trying to protect him but, come on! It's not like he was safe here! How much more dangerous could it get than a prison where everyone dies? There was no convincing David though, Clergy could see that much.

He let out a sigh.

"Everyone's out, get the prisoners in line!" a guard suddenly shouted across the courtyard. All the prisoners started walking closer to the gallows, as the guards moved to box them in.

"Come on Clergy," David said. "We'd better go too."

Clergy followed David as they walked toward the gallows and joined the crowd.

"Warden's here, stand at attention!" a guard suddenly shouted. The guards and prisoners immediately straightened up as another man walked up onto the platform.

The warden, at least Clergy assumed he was the warden, was definitely different from the other guards. For one, he wasn't carrying any weapons. He didn't even have on a helmet. He let his dark, oily hair sway unabated down to his shoulders. There was an almost regal air to him that clashed with his sunken eyes and pale skin. The expression he wore gleamed like an invitation. A smile that said he'd seen death more than a few times, and he'd be happy to introduce you if you stood in his way.

"Oh, please, there's no need for all that," the warden said waving his hand. His tone was surprisingly pleasant. "This shouldn't take too long anyways, just bring him up."

Two more guards walked up dragging along another shackled prisoner. His starved, unkempt features made it clear he hadn't known dignity in a long time. He was struggling against their grip, kicking and screaming as they brought him up. Clergy shuddered as he came closer. He was missing his fingernails.

"No, please, you don't have to do this! Please!" the prisoner said.

The warden walked over to the edge of the platform where another guard handed him a wooden box. "Oh, but I do, I do, and you know I do," the warden said, placing the box by the prisoner's feet. "You know why this has to be done."

The two guards holding the prisoner hoisted him onto the box. The warden reached up, moving with an eerie grace, grabbing the noose, and fastening it around the prisoner's neck.

"Wait, wait! I'll do anything else alright? Anything!" The prisoner said. He was crying now. "Just... just not that. Please, I can't... my—"

The warden suddenly slammed his hand on the prisoner's mouth, clamping it shut while he raised a finger to his own. "Shhh! Don't ruin the surprise for everyone else!" He leaned in close, his lips almost grazing his ear. "Pull a stunt like that again and we'll go back inside and I'll cut out your tongue. Then, I'll skin you nice and slow until morning, and tomorrow we'll just hang what's left. Ok?"

The prisoner nodded.

"Great!" the warden said, stepping back as he clapped his hands together. "So, are you going to help us out?"

His legs were trembling as he started to whimper. "I can't!"

"Well, that's a shame isn't it?" the warden said. There was a long pause. "Bye then!"

"Wai—" the prisoner began but the warden kicked the box out.

The rope went taunt. His eyes bulged. Chains clashed as his neck contorted. Spasms. Convulsions. His face turned blue.

Clergy stared into his eyes. At the veins and tears as they begged for life. Drool rolled down his chin. Gagging turned to silence. Spasms. Convulsions.

Something whistled through the air.

The rope snapped. The prisoner hit the ground, coughing and wheezing. Silence turned to shock.

Had there always been an arrow in the stage?

"In the trees!" someone shouted.

Clergy looked up. Behind the gallows, the guards, and the stone wall, two lights were glistening in the treetops, like stars shining in a green sky.

The air whistled again. A guard fell, spitting up blood as an arrow pierced through his neck. The warden spun around as another guard dropped. His sunken eyes glared. He went to scream, but the air whistled again and he stumbled off the platform, falling into the crowd with an arrow in his gut.

Prisoners screamed and ran as the guards drew their swords, struggling to contain the panic.

"The fuck are you doing?" the warden barked from the ground, holding the arrow as blood spilled from his mouth. "Get up on that wall and kill them!"

The guards rallied and raced across the courtyard as arrows hunted for skin. One went through a neck. Another caught a leg. Four down. Five. Guards finally made it to the wall.

Two guards got there first, rushing up either side of the walkway. They drew their bows, livid and afraid, hunting for targets in the trees. Another arrow rushed out but this one missed. The only one that had missed. It struck the stone walkway by one of the guard's feet, but Clergy was confused. Not only did the arrow miss, it had a rope attached to it too.

Suddenly, a man draped in a dark cowl and leather armor burst out from the trees, with a short sword on his hip and a quiver on his back, riding down the rope using a bow.

The startled guards took aim, letting panicked shots lose, but it wasn't enough. The man swung his weight from side-to-side dodging arrows as they came. Left. One guard drew his sword. His gaze fixed on the rope. Right. Arrows whirled past. Left. The guard swung down. Right.

The man let go.

The swing's momentum launched him high into the air and barreling toward the guard. There was no time to react. The guard could only look up stunned as the man spun in the air before kicking him hard in the face. The guard went toppling off the wall as the man landed crouched on the walkway, putting a hand down to balance himself.

One guard left on the walkway.

More racing for the stairs.

The guard went for another arrow but the man was too fast. He reached behind his waist, pulled out a dagger, and launched it at the guard as he dashed toward him. The guard cried out, buckling forward as the knife landed in his leg. He tried to find his footing but the man was already there. In one movement, the man grabbed his wrists, jumped up, and kneed the guard's chin, sending him toppling back as blood spilled from his mouth.

Three more guards made it to the stairs. One was quick and pulled out his bow, firing a shot. The man was caught in the air. He couldn't dodge. He didn't dodge. Instead, he grabbed the falling body in front of him and turned it to block the shot. They fell. He rolled forward, snatching the bow from the body, and a second later three shots left his hand, and the three guards were down.

Clergy watched the fight, stunned. As the man finished dropping the last of the guards Clergy caught a look at his face. Under the cowl was a white mask of a ram with gold horns looping tightly on the sides of his face. Now that Clergy had a better look at him though he did seem a little slender for a man.

The guards rallied again. The last dozen by the stairs were angry and organized. The man side-stepped a shot, then reached for his own, but he only grabbed air. His quiver was empty. Guards were charging up both stairs. He was trapped.

Unfazed, the man threw down the bow, drew his sword, and dashed toward the nearest stairs, while motioning toward the far staircase. Arrows flew out from the trees toward the far end, while the man pounced at the guards in front of him.

Metal clashed as swords collided. The man was fast. His movements were sharp, and the stairs kept guards coming at him one at a time, but the momentum didn't last. The guards found their rhythm and arrows stopped coming from the trees. The man was being forced back. Guards from the other side made it up to the walkway.

He really was trapped after all.

Suddenly a horse drawn wagon rushed through the archway on the opposite wall. Two more figures jumped out the back of the wagon. One of them and the driver pulled out their bows and unloaded into the backs of the unsuspecting guards. The other one was massive. When a guard tried to stab him he caught him by the wrist and neck and just tossed him aside.

"No! Turn around idiots! Behind you!" the warden screamed.

The guards were distracted. The man on the stairs took the opening and kicked one of the guards down the flight. The guard stumbled back into the others, and the man jumped down from the stairs, rolling as he landed in the yard. He pounced after another guard, but something was off.

It looked like he was stumbling.

It didn't matter though. Confusion was setting in. Some guards raced to cover their backs while a couple remained and tried to corner the man. Their numbers were being stretched too far. Even Clergy could see where this was going. The guards were going to lose. The warden must have noticed too, as he watched the scene unfold with a bitter look on his face. His eyes landed on the prisoner who'd almost been hung. He was struggling to stand, trying to make his way off the platform. The warden sucked his teeth.

Clergy jumped as he felt a pair of hands grab his arm.

"We have to go! Now!" David said, trying to pull Clergy along. Clergy obeyed absent-mindedly; his focus still latched onto the chaos around him.

The warden got up, ripping the arrow from his stomach. He held the wound with his hand, grumbling to himself as he grabbed the sword off a dead guard and climbed onto the wooden platform.

"Come on Clergy, let's go!" David said.

The prisoner tried to stand but the warden stormed over and kicked him down again. He stepped to the side and stomped on him again and again before flipping him over with a final kick. Anger brewed in his eyes as he looked down at the helpless man. His grip tightened on his sword.

Clergy wasn't paying attention as he walked, and lost his footing, stumbling onto the ground.

"Get up Clergy, get up!" David said helping Clergy to stand. Once he found his footing, David grabbed his wrist, pulling him along as they ran from the gallows. Clergy could feel the sweat on David's palm. He must've been afraid too. David yelled something else at Clergy, but he couldn't hear it. His mind couldn't turn away from the gallows.

The prisoner was shaking his head with his hands up, pleading for his life. Tears were streaming from his eyes as they went wide watching the warden raise his sword.

The sweat on David's hands made him lose his grip. Clergy stopped. He couldn't think, couldn't speak. He'd never seen someone die. Not like this.

"Clergy!"

The warden brought down his sword, plunging it into the prisoner's chest.

"This place is dead! Kill them all!" the warden said.

Panic flooded Clergy's mind. He turned to run and looked up just in time to watch a guard in front of him grab David and stab him through the chest.

"Cler...gy," David said, as blood ran down from his mouth. Clergy watched as the guard pulled his sword from David's chest, and let his body hit the ground.

"Da—" Clergy began, but he stopped as he felt the guard's gaze fall on him next. Clergy looked up. Their eyes met.

Another wave of emotion crashed over him. He could feel everything from the guard. His anger, his fear, his desperation. Clergy could tell the guard didn't want to be here. That he thought his life was unfulfilled. That he wanted a family. That none of this was what he'd expected from the job. Greater than any of that though was his desire to live. It defined him in this moment. Clergy could tell that this man had dreams. That nothing would stop him from walking away from here. Nothing.

Clergy hesitated. How could he fight someone like this?

I... can't.

Clergy got ready to run but then he looked down at David again. David was an ass, Clergy knew that, but... he was kind too. Kind, when he didn't have to be. Honest, when this place should've robbed him of that. A friend, when Clergy needed one most.

David didn't deserve to die. Not like this. Clergy took a breath.

Courage was swelling inside him now. He looked back up at the guard. He knew that the guard wanted to live. That he would do anything to make that happen. That he would kill to make that happen. But Clergy's friend, his only friend was lying on the ground dying. David needed his help, and Clergy would let nothing stop him from saving his friend. Nothing.

Clergy stood up straight, raised his head, and glared back at the guard.

I will save David.

"I will!" Clergy shouted, charging at the guard.

Suddenly, time stopped. Color faded from the world. Arrows hovered in place as sparks clung to the air where swords met. Everything was silent.

What the hell is this? Clergy thought. He tried to move but he couldn't. Tried to talk but he couldn't. He was as trapped as everything else in this black and white world.

His focus was pulled back to the guard. He was as colorless and frozen as everything else but there was... blue smoke surrounding him. Not only was it still blue, it was moving too. It flowed and pooled around him like it was emanating from his pores, until suddenly it lurched up in front of the guard. It formed a pillar that spun around and refined, until standing in front of Clergy was a blue, misty figure that looked exactly like the guard.

It looked up at Clergy and glared. It's gonna stab me. The thought just came to him suddenly. The figure braced itself. Oh shit, it's gonna stab me! It stepped forward, lunging its sword. Wait, wait, wait, wait—

The vision faded. Color returned to the world. Screams and swords echoed across the courtyard again. Clergy found himself still charging at the guard. What was that? His heart was racing. He could barely— wait, what was he doing? This was no time to think! The guard was right there! He was already mid-stride. He couldn't turn back now. The guard glared at Clergy, braced himself, and... Clergy knew what would happen next.

Right before the guard could finish his lunge, Clergy spun out of the way of the sword. The guard was stunned, but Clergy kept running. With the spin's momentum he clasped his hands together, let out a roar, and cracked the guard on the head with his cuffs. The guard crumbled to the ground and Clergy stood there panting, waiting for the guard to get up, but he didn't. He was out. Clergy had knocked him out.

He took a breath. Holy shit I did it.

Then he remembered.

David!

He ran back over to him. David was still breathing. He looked at him with near lifeless eyes, as he coughed up more blood.

"Oh... now you want to come," David said, doing an odd mix of laughing, coughing, and dying.

Clergy was mortified. Is this my fault?

David laughed again. "I'm only teasing Clergy," he said, "you gotta stop being so easy to read." He did that odd mix again before he finally managed to catch his breath. "I know there was a lot going on." He nodded toward the guard. "Besides, you did alrig—" He heaved and spat up more blood. This time he was just dying.

"David!" Clergy said. He looked down at David's chest. The front of his shirt was stained a deep red as blood continued to flow from the wound. Clergy put his hands over it, pressing down hard to try and stop the blood.

"Clergy lis—" David began before another cough cut him off. His breathing was hard, and it was only getting worse.

"David... maybe you shouldn't talk. You have to save your strength."

David shook his head. "Just... shut up and listen," he said. "I have a little girl... Mariam. I know... this is crazy but... you're the only one... I can trust right now." He grabbed Clergy's wrist. "I need you... to find her...watch out for her... can you do that for me?"

"David I—" Clergy began but he stopped. What am I supposed to say to that? What could he say to that? This was insane. The visions, the death, the blood, and now a kid? How could he even begin to think about taking care of David's—

He stopped.

"You're giving up," Clergy said.

David paused. "Clergy—"

Clergy shook his head. "No—no you can't give up! I'm not giving up!" What am I doing? He thought to himself. He didn't fight that guard and almost get stabbed so he could watch David die. He did it to save him, and that's exactly what he was going to do.

"Just... listen..." David said.

"I'm not letting you die David," Clergy said. His voice was firm. "Now, shut up I'm trying to save you!"

He looked down at David's body. "Ok, I just..." he began but his word's trailed off. David's blood was pooling over his hands. Clergy's face turned pale. "No, I'll... I'll think of something." Sweat was dripping down his face. "I'll think of something." He closed his eyes. Please, just one more time, Clergy thought to himself. Just let this work one more time. He'd done it before. Back in his cell he knew what was wrong with him. If he pushed himself now, maybe he'd know how to help David too. He shook his head.

No, not maybe. He had to.

He took a deep breath. He felt his heart pounding behind his eyes as he struggled to summon all of his focus. This would work. He would save David. He looked deep inside himself, praying for answers.

There was nothing.

"Clergy..." David muttered.

"David stop talking!" Clergy said. "I just need to focus! I can save you!"

"Promise me—"

"No! This can't be happening! You're going to be fine we just—"

"Clergy," David said, tightening his grip on his wrist. "Please."

Clergy looked into his eyes, and the wave crashed over him again. He could feel David. All his fear, his anger, his confusion, his love. His love for his little girl. All his life David had wanted to do something right. To leave the world better than how he'd found it. To make amends for all his mistakes. Now, here he was at the end, and he felt like he'd failed. That the world was still as dark and filthy as he'd found it. All he wanted was to leave knowing he'd done one thing right. Knowing that some mark he left on the world would be bright. Would be beautiful. Clergy started to cry.

"Ok," Clergy said. "I'll find her. I promise."

David struggled to raise up his hand, covered in his own blood. With the last of his strength, he held Clergy's head and smiled.

"Thank you."

Then he was gone.

Clergy looked up at the sky and cried as he felt the life fade from his friend. Exhaustion suddenly bombarded him. He couldn't move. Couldn't think. Couldn't— he passed out.

For a moment he woke up and saw figures moving around him.

"I found him he's over here!" a voice said, then Clergy passed out.

He woke up again as he felt himself being dragged along the ground. Someone with a hood was holding his legs. He passed out again.

He woke up one more time and felt the ground bumping underneath him and the sound of horse hooves. He looked over and saw hooded figures sitting around him. Before he passed out again, he looked up and saw that they were in a forest. A forest of giant trees.