{The Heart Of Enki}

Recommendation: Attain minimum safe distance.

Warning: Two minutes and three seconds until maximum destabilization.

“Take my hand.”

Something stirred in Rayne, here on the brink of Eternity. Something warm and full of life. It was familiar and lifted her soul.

Nox, enormous as he was, held out his hand, greater still for the pure kindness in his offer.

And what an offer. It was freedom from a torment so visceral Rayne would’ve sworn she was born with it. Lightning struck beside them, a spark echoing the significance of the moment inside her.

Nox’s rehabilitation was complete, and it killed Rayne that he’d never get the chance to reconcile with his brother and reunite with his best friend. It killed Rayne that she’d never see her brother or best friends again, either.

All those smiles and hugs they’d never have…

“No more being strong for everyone. No more martyrdom.”

Nox loved Rayne, and she understood. The ocean tempered the volcano, and with the fusion, created something new.

Rayne took Nox’s hand.

The massive warrior squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth, groaning on the edge of a scream and clenching his fists. He gave an unexpected laugh. “You were holding out on me.”

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Her laughter was hesitant and pitying. “I guess I was.” She’d been enduring the pain for so long, she’d acclimated to an extent. Easily, Rayne settled in beside Nox, staring out at the horizon. “I won’t leave you.”

But Nox was already failing. He opened his eyes, and the mirrors in them reflected a blazing sun. “What does it look like? Tell me. What does the end of Enki look like, Rayne?”

“Water is coming in from Enki’s oceans, littered with rocks and other debris from the continents. It’s gathering around us, collecting in a helix swirl. I think the orbit is wonky because we’re unstable. The light is spreading. It’s beautiful and deadly. Everything it touches—the satellites, shrines, clouds of gas—disintegrate into nothing. Soon, the phosphorous fireflies will come. Like when you died. I can feel them waking, taking me away.”

Recommendation: Attain minimum safe distance.

Warning: One minute, thirty-eight seconds until maximum destabilization.

Nox shouted out in agony and on the edge, he asked, “Have I… ever told you… that you’re a sight worth dying for?” All his muscles—and they were truly many and substantial—twitched and jerked involuntarily to the suffering.

Rayne smiled in her tears. “Yes, you have. Long ago when you were the King of Cinder and I was Earth’s General.”

Abruptly, Nox grabbed her hand. “You saved them then. You’ve saved them now.” He growled into the pain. “They’ll sing songs about you. Write literature on your deeds. You’ll never be forgotten.”

Rayne knew the end was close. The phosphorous fireflies had arrived. Bits of her escaping. She said, “I don’t want to be remembered.”

Nox licked blood from his lips and asked, “What is it you want? After everything you’ve done… All the lives you’ve saved. What is it the martyr wants?”

It was funny how little Rayne was asked what she wanted out of all of this. And sad.

The blood pumping in her veins slowed, her heart with it. The paralyzed muscles relaxed, but were no longer mobile. Her failing body took a shuddering breath, and Nox along with it, patiently gazing up at her for the answer.

“Right now? More than anything in the worlds, I’d take it all back for a hug from my mom.”

Rayne didn’t feel the final explosion.

Rayne didn’t feel alone or afraid.

The last thing Rayne felt was Nox’s arms pulling her in for an embrace.