“Fuck” the whisper left his lips as he clutched his wounded leg.

The “fight” hadn't even begun. He had just shown up and one of the shadows pointed and a hole was ripped thru his leg.  

Lance crumpled to the floor easily and without resistant. He started at the orange sky. Its beauty was slowly dyed black like the rest of the world around lance.

“Why..did...I...come?!” he panted. His choice still baffled him. Sure he resigned himself to taking his newest beating, but he could still question himself till the end at least.

“Dying like a dog so soon?” He threw his head back and got an upside down view of the shadow slowly surging toward him.

“Better move a little”

The “fight" came as it was to be expected. With no start.

The group launched projectiles of condensed magic. He only had one choice in the matter.

“Son of a bit...AGH!!”

Lance barely dodged the first volley of attack. His wounded leg caved under the sudden strain of pressure. His jump to the side was pathetic. He barely rolled to safety.

Sweat poured down his body, almost matching his blood loss. His body was heavy and he could only kneel before his oppressors.

And yet the crowd cheered.

The shadows all cheered. It was like a big show to them. Bastards. He could've spit on them if only they were closer and he didn't have a hole in his leg.

The group that was attacking him finally moved toward him.

Lance couldn’t count the punches or kicks that hit him. His vision went black many times. Pain roared through his body, but it never escaped his throat.

His consciousness barely held on.

“Fucking trash!”

Lance lost track of everything. Insult fell like rain on him, but they failed to register. The hard thuds were just barely keeping him conscious. He used pain as a way to tell if he was still alive.

….dying….

Then everything stopped. It took lance a few moment to realize they had stopped and he was still alive….Well mostly.

Hot blood flowed out his nose. One of his eyes was puffed up badly. One hand was broken and the rest of him was covered in dirt and his own blood.

Am I dead yet? No...it hurts too much for death.

The shadows moved away except one, who stood with a foot on his back keeping his chin in the dirt. His vision was halved, but he could still register one thing. The one thing in the black world that retained color.

“A...l….ice” the broken words may have come from his mouth, but even Lance wasn't positive it was him talking. It was like hearing a recording of his own voice.

Alice, held up by one shade, stood in front of him. In a rapid motion, at least to Lance, it delivered a slap to her face. Lance could tell it was hard, by the sound it gave off.

Like plates smashing to the ground.

It crushed Lance's, heart. His limp fingers shook as he gripped the soft dirt below him.

Leave her alone. Just punish me damn it!

The desperate shout never reached his throat.

Lance couldn’t move, but he could hear it all too well. “Do you defend this beast woman?” the “male” shouted.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Alice only response was spitting blood on the ground and look at him with a fierce look. She never did give an inch.  It was one of her best qualities. One that had saved him, but put her in a perilous spot.

The Shadow above lance saw his slight movement. A hard impact came from his side.

“Gah!!” air jettisoned out his throat. His insides burned, but he couldn’t scream. His throat was constricted by pain.

Stop!!

In front of him, the slaps rained down. Lance could tell. She was hurting, more than he was. It was her eyes that told him.

She blames herself, but-

-This is all my fault!

What kind of world is this!?

Lance meet blow after blow as he tried to move. He wanted desperately to stop the injustices coming to Alice.

What kind of despair does it need to be happy!?

Before he could even try, her legs gave, and she was practically kneeling before the shadow.

It drew a sword from its side. The sharp point rest close to Alice's throat.

“I will ask once more. Do you defend this monster abandoned by God?”

It finally sunk into Lance. He had been enjoying their time together so much he never wondered.

How was she doing in class?

It chilled his blood. His broken fist tightened. “I’m so FUCKING Stupid!” he shouted at the ground. It sounds only reaching his own ears.

I’m so stupid.

Lance never saw the signs. How could he? Alice hid them like a magician hiding their tricks. He never knew anything.

I just lived in the bliss she gave me! Like a fucking idiot!

Lance never saw it, but Alice was assaulted daily by classmates and teachers. Horrid things scribbled on her desk. Tacks were placed in her shoes and her gym clothe were always ripped to pieces. She was absolutely alone.

All because she held on to his hand.

“We warned you many times, but you never listened! Why go so far for a reject like him?”

Alice responses were just a glance at me.

Time seemed to slow for me there. Her smile was a sad one, and she mouthed it.

The one thing reserved for just me.

“Sorry.”

No, don't apologize! It all my fault!

She turned to the show and smiled evilly. “Please don't look down on the one I love.” Lance scream filled the void, as Alice's chest was pierced.

“AH!!!” Lance's head shook side to side.

Time slowed. Blood droplets filled the air as the sword was yanked out. The dull sound of her body hitting the ground broke something inside of him.

“God damn it.”

What the fuck do you want from me!

“I don't have anything left!”

What the hell do you want from me!

Tears broke free, and Lance held his head down cursing like never before. He didn't even realize he was smashing his head repeatedly into the ground. A blood splatter slowly growing bigger every time he struck the ground.

His broken hand was nothing compared to his heart.

Slowly turning black.

“Get up here you, monster.” Lance was hoisted up. His arm in a vice grip, but the pain was far way. The only thing left in his cold world was dead. He felt the chillness of death suddenly welcoming.

But then he heard them.

“Yeah, the Satanist is dead.”

“Good, now I can sleep better.”

“Can we just kill the monster now!?”

The Lance felt it. A searing pain emanating from his chest. The world was solid black, like an artist has dabbed it with nothing but black. Lance looked and felt nothing at the blackness.

“We better end this  Demon” Those words resonated out of thin air. But Lance eyes never left her. His free hand reached toward her.

Then he looked at his own hand.

Broken and bleeding. It was not the hand of a human

So I am a demon?

Maybe I should just stop being human?

No words would bring her back. He was alone once more.

The place he belonged to no longer existed. Then a dark emotion he been holding on against for years was set free.

Ah, that's right….

I hate this world. His body went cold.

“I was never living in the first place.” His words fell on silent ears.

He was a corpse. One pushed along by hate and despair.

“I curse you,” He looked the sky “I hate everything” This world had robbed him of his light. It stamped it out just because "God" wasn’t in him.

A world like that doesn't need to exist.

This kind of world doesn't deserve to exist.

A fire burned in his body. His body was limp, but he was still very much alive.

I hate this world!

Tick

A sound shattered the his world