Mitch's heart pounded with panic as he searched desperately for any sign of Astor. The smaller boy had fled into the night after their last horrific encounter, and Mitch was terrified Astor would get lost or run afoul of more monsters.

Despite everything, Mitch knew he couldn't abandon his friend, not when Astor was out there alone and hurting because of him.

After hours of fruitless searching, Mitch finally spotted a small figure curled up beside a crumbling wall. Astor lay there asleep, a protective arm wrapped around his cat, Mittens.

Mitch rushed over but froze when he noticed the swirling purple portal inches from Astor's sleeping form. Creeping vines snaked out from its edges, sprouting thorns and leaves before Mitch's eyes.

This thing was bad news. He had to get Astor away fast. Mitch slowly reached down to grab Astor's shoulder.

Suddenly Mittens hissed and leapt from Astor's arms. But instead of scampering away, the cat shapeshifted into a tall, willowy man with cold eyes and a cruel smile.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," the stranger purred, sounding almost amused. Mitch instinctively shielded Astor's body with his own.

"Who the hell are you?" Mitch demanded. His hands flared with red aura, ready to fight this new threat.

The man laughed. "I am Vex, master of this realm. And you two have provided such entertainment with your anguish. But it's time you fully embraced the darkness now."

Vex waved a hand, and the vines slithered rapidly toward Astor's prone form. Mitch blasted them back with a bolt of sizzling aura, yelling "Run Astor, now!"

Astor awoke and scrambled back with a cry of fear. Vex scowled in annoyance. "Cease your meddling, boy. You cannot resist my power."

"Yeah? Take your best shot, freak!" Mitch shouted recklessly. If he could buy Astor time to get away, he would gladly give his life fighting this monster.

With an enraged snarl, Vex transformed into a massive horned beast, charging straight for Mitch. He braced himself, ready to meet his fate and save his friend. This was the heroic sacrifice to atone for his sins.

The next moments were a blur of claws, fangs, blows, and blood. Vex was impossibly fast, shifting forms rapidly to stay unpredictable. Mitch was tiring, but he would not yield. Through the pain, one thought alone kept him going:

Protect Astor. Save him from the darkness I failed to conquer in myself.

The epic battle raged on as Mitch called on depths of strength and courage he never knew he possessed. Come what may, he would triumph over his own demons at last or die trying.

Vex barely flinched as another of Mitch's aura-charged blows glanced off his armored hide. The boy fought savagely, but his attacks grew weaker by the minute. Soon Vex would crush his futile human resistance once and for all.

But the physical victory was never his true aim. The utter ruination of Mitch's spirit - that was the real prize.

So Vex continued leading Mitch on, gradually maneuvering them toward the area where the human soldiers were gathering—a perfect stage for the grand finale.

At last, they broke into a demolished plaza just as an armored convoy rolled up. Grinning cruelly, Vex cast an illusion spell turning the startled soldiers into horrific beasts in Mitch's eyes.

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"More of them! I’ll kill all these monsters!" Mitch yelled, charging forward. Vex contained his glee as Mitch began smashing and burning his way through the hapless men.

By the time the berserk fury passed, Mitch stood panting amidst the broken bodies of the soldiers he'd slaughtered. The boy's eyes widened with shock and horror as the illusion lifted, revealing the truth.

Vex sauntered up behind Mitch, savoring his anguish. "How does it feel to be the real monster now?" he mocked.

Mitch dropped to his knees with an animalistic howl. Rage, pain and self-loathing poured off him in waves. He had passed the point of no return; the darkness had consumed him fully at last.

Vex threw back his head and laughed. "You are mine now, boy!"

Just then, running footsteps approached. Vex turned to see Astor skid into the plaza, taking in the horrific scene with dawning comprehension. The fear and heartbreak in the boy's eyes sent a new thrill through Vex.

"Ah, our final guest arrives," Vex purred, flashing his pointed teeth in a gruesome approximation of a smile. "Now, where were we?"

He began stalking toward Astor with malignant delight. Everything had aligned perfectly. Now, for the grand finale...

Astor sprinted through the ruined streets, his lungs burning. He had to get away, to think. Mitch was spiraling out of control, turning into a monster before his eyes. And that cruel demon Vex seemed to be pulling the strings.

Astor skidded into an alley and collapsed against the crumbling brick wall, struggling to catch his breath. What was he going to do? He couldn't fix Mitch's fractured mind, not without utterly destroying his free will. But if Astor didn't act, Mitch might be lost to the darkness completely.

Tears stung Astor's eyes. "Please Mitch, I know you're still in there," he choked out. "Don't let the demons win."

A cold laugh echoed from the alley entrance. Astor's blood turned to ice as he looked up to see Vex sauntering toward him, eyes glinting malevolently.

"Still clinging to false hope, boy?" the demon purred. "You know as well as I he is too far gone. The darkness has already claimed him."

Astor scrambled back as Vex loomed over him, trembling. "N-no, I can save him! Let me go to him!"

Vex's smile turned cruel. "Oh, you can still 'save' him, little pawn. Simply make his mind and heart completely yours. Erase all free will, so his existence centers entirely around worshipping you."

Revulsion rose in Astor's gut. "I would never do something so evil! He's my friend!"

"Is he?" Vex replied mockingly. "The 'friend' who has attacked and abused you time and again? You owe him nothing."

Astor shook his head vehemently. "You made him this way by preying on his weaknesses! But I still believe Mitch can defeat you if he sees I haven't given up on him. He just needs to find the light again."

Vex threw back his head and cackled. "How delightfully naive! I think a demonstration is in order."

His face morphed into a mask of adoration and devotion. "Oh Astor, you are so wise and kind! Your faith has shown me the error of my ways. I am utterly devoted to you now, my lord!"

Astor recoiled in dismay. "Stop that! I know it's a trick."

Vex shrugged, his expression returning to its usual cruel amusement. "Perhaps, but how can you be sure? Either way, your paltry powers are useless against me."

He grabbed Astor by the throat and slammed him against the brick wall, grinning viciously. "Now, let us go witness the final fall of your dear friend Mitch!"

Astor struggled in vain as Vex dragged him back toward the plaza where the ruined Mitch waited. He had failed, both Mitch and himself. The light could not withstand this crushing darkness. They were lost.

Wolfe gritted his teeth against the pain as he struggled to his feet. The fall from the crashing plane had knocked the wind out of him. Beside him, his teammate Raven was already standing, gripping her katana.

Wolfe blinked, triggering his power to glimpse five seconds ahead. He saw a devastated plaza, two boys - and a demonic entity looming over them.

"We have to move, now!" he barked, breaking into a limping run with Raven on his heels.

They reached the plaza just as the demon seized one of the boys by the throat. Wolfe drew his pistols, firing off shots enhanced by his future sight.

The demon roared as the bullets peppered its body. It whirled, dropping the boy. "You pathetic mortals dare interfere? I will annihilate you!"

"Not today, monster!" Raven yelled, her sword blazing with red aura as she slashed at the demon. It recoiled from the burning blade.

Wolfe hurried over to the boys crumpled on the ground. One was unconscious, the other stared up at Wolfe with pleading eyes. "Please, help him..." the boy rasped.

Nodding, Wolfe restrained the larger unconscious boy's hands while Raven continued driving the demon back. "What's your name, kid?"

"A-Astor," he stammered. "My friend Mitch, something's controlling him..."

"Alright Astor, stay down. We'll handle this." Wolfe glanced back at the raging battle. Raven's aura-fueled strikes were clearly damaging the demon, but it refused to retreat.

With a thunderous howl, the demon transformed into a hulking beast and barreled straight for Raven. She barely dodged its massive claws.

Wolfe focused his power, targeting the weak points he previewed. His bullets hammered the beast's joints, slowing its charge.

" Wolfe, now!" Raven shouted. As one, they unleashed their full might - her blazing aura blade, his enhanced pistol fire. The demon staggered back with a scream of rage.

"You have not seen the last of me!" it snarled as it dissolved into sulphurous smoke. "My puppets will still fall!"

Wolfe hurried to help Raven stand. Astor slowly rose too, eyes wide with shock. They had driven back the darkness for now. But Wolfe knew the battle was far from over. This demon clearly had larger schemes at work.

Looking down at the two damaged boys they'd managed to save today, Wolfe swore this town would not fall completely to evil. Not if he and Raven had anything to say about it.