As the Champion’s blood spilled across the bone-littered earth, the Villain looked on and laughed, believing that the end had finally come. The temple of the Saints shattered; the sun hid her face so that only the stars would see her tears; and monsters gathered around a lonely hill to watch the Champion die. But Death, waiting in the wings, was caught by surprise at the words that floated from the Champion’s dusty, blood-caked lips.
“It is finished.” The Earth shuddered at the whisper. Sick of the blood that watered her flesh, for an instant she dared to hope.
“It is finished.” A woman stood crying at the edge of the crowd. Struggling against the monsters who held her, she watched the man who had promised to save her crumble like shattered glass. A cold hand slipped into hers and she turned to look. Doubt, with pity in his eyes, laced his fingers with hers. But there was another, to her left. Faith, with his eyes fixed firmly on the Champion.
“It is finished.” Death dropped to his knees beside the broken man, pressing his hand to the faintly beating heart.
“Why?” His voice shook. “Why would you do this?” Brown eyes fluttered open and Death found himself captivated by a gaze so full of pain that he thought surely the weight of the world must be on this man’s shoulders. Death turned away to point at the Villain, standing with a cruel smile on her red lips and a hammer in her hand. “Why would you die for her?
The brown eyes shifted, softening in love. “She is my beloved,” came the murmur. “She knows not what she does.”
Death shook his head. He pulled his hand away from the Champion’s chest, watching blood drip from his trembling fingers. “A sacrifice,” he whispered. “You’ve come to set her free.”
The Champion said nothing. His eyes never wavered from the face of the Villain. Death stood unsteadily, his gaze shifting to the monstrous crowd gathered at the base of the hill. They were watching, waiting. Grinning manically up at the fallen Champion and the dark angel. Death reached down to the Champion. “I must take you. My master has a great price on your head.”
The Champion didn’t shake as he clasped hands with Death. “Take me.” A smile touched the corners of his mouth and a sliver of fear slid into Death’s cold, dark heart. “I’m ready.”
