June 10, 2020 Story Excerpt

1

Clouds covered a wet sky. Two figures were atop the edge of a cliff. One was lying on the rocky ground, her right hand resting on her stomach. Fresh blood dripped out of her mouth and arm. A large gash ripped through her thigh and red gushed from the wound she had on her stomach. She clenched her teeth trying not to let the person hovering over her know how much pain she was in, both physically and mentally.

A boy, rested the girl's head on his lap. She was growing colder by the second. He stroked his free hand gently through her fire like red hair, brown roots starting to show on the base of her head. He looked into the girl's beautiful hazelnut eyes then said to her, "Azel, I forgive you."

"No, no, there's no way." The boy nodded and smiled kindly at her. Azel looked away from him an into the grey sky above. Then she said, "That's just not possible...Don't you remember? Don't you know how much pain I've put you through?"

Her companion said, "Even if it takes a lifetime, I will find a way for you to know I forgive you."

Azel frowned, but she remained silent as fresh tears came to her eyes. As her expression relaxed she finally looked at him. Really looked at him. "Diego, thank you....for everything."

She went still.

After the scream, raw and full of disbelief, tears refused to come. All that was left was silence. He remained on his knees. As a gentle wind blew through his oak brown hair he felt as if Azel's soul was carried away with it to a world beyond anyone's comprehension. He sighed and got up. He looked down the cliff, into the ocean below. Then he dragged her body over the cliff. At least this was a better burial than what would await her if the government found her.

Then he shoved his now blood stained hands into the pocket of his grey hoodie. He walked aimlessly down the cliff as he heard a splash in the rushing rapids below. His footsteps took him back into the city and the contrast of life between this bustling place and the empty cliff was rattling.

Clouds rolled over the sky, fortelling an evening storm. A news reporter was on a skyscraper's TV. She spoke saying, "A battle that could have possibly ended the horrible reign of The Red Princess has raged on today. We have no results yet, as the heroes have not made themselves public...."

Diego averted his eyes from the large screen. He didn't want to listen to the reporter's news. What good would it do anyone to have Her gone anyway? No one understood. Everyone and everything just revolved around the Mist Knight Order. Day in and day out, it was always the MKO. It was always the same. It could drive some mad at the thought of it, well at least, it drove Azel mad and as far away from the Order as she could. She recognized the flaws and she sought change. It was better than anyone else could say for themselves.

Diego grit his teeth in frustration and balled his hands into fists in his hoodie pocket. He didn't want to think about Her. About the life they could've had together if She hadn't died. A fresh wave of rage sparked within him. But he knew it would make no difference no matter what he did. This was just the world they lived in.