The Fallen Prince: A Prince's Mistake

Life, Death and Curses

Life. Death. Both always compete against each other. Most side with Life, hoping to live long. When I saw Archie's body get closer and closer to me, I was on Death's side. I wanted the assassin to pay. Once they saw me, I saw their unarmed hand clench. Both of mine did. As soon as I got to them, I struck at the side of their temple. It made contact, but they tried to stab me. I sidestepped and punched their wrist. They dropped their weapon as I kicked their leg. They bent down in pain. Whilst recovering, I spun around and kicked, using the momentum. I, again, didn't give the murderer time to recover. They staggered back from the hit, but I jumped on top of them, and we fell. My knees were on each side of their hips. I punched them over and over. My knuckles ached from the clash with the nose, head and lips. It didn't stop me. I kept punching. I ripped off the mask and hood and saw the hazel eyes accompanied by blonde scruffy hair. The menace's entire face was bloody. That didn't stop me. I kept punching. Both hands were hitting and hitting. Killing and killing. My knuckles were stained with blood. That still didn't stop me. Their breaths were becoming wheezy. I could feel their heartbeat slow down on their wrist. That still didn't stop me. I felt tears stream down my face. I cried out in pain and heartbreak. I looked at Archie. Next to me was the assassin's blade. It was cracked and ancient. But it had power. I reached for it, my right hand still punching. I soon felt the assassin's body become limp. That didn't stop me. I pulled the sword toward me. I put both bloody hands on the hilt before holding the blade five inches above the killer's heart.

I yelled out once more as I struck the sword down. Their heartbeat abruptly stopped. Their body bounced up as if they had been electrocuted. That stopped me. I dragged my body off the corpse and crawled toward Archie. I collapsed on top of him and clutched his shoulders. Tears clashed with blood. Life clashed with Death.

'Archie! Wake up! I'm sorry. WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!' I screamed again.

No reaction came from the boy's heart, mouth or any part of his body. I closed my eyes, the moisture from the tears making me think I was underwater. I thought I was imagining it. But I wasn't. 'You're heavy,' a hoarse voice murmured into my ear.

I shot up. Below me was a somehow smiling Archie Hearne. For the first time in my life, I didn't smile back. He began coughing up the blood that had choked him. I got off him and placed his head on my knees. I placed my hands on his wound. They weren't big enough. 'Shit. How do I stop the bleeding?'

'My bag. There's bandages and rags. Get some water too. Where would you be without me?' he croaked.

That time, I did laugh. I picked up Archie and placed his arm over my shoulder. His entire weight pushed me down, every step slow and heavy. After twenty seconds, I placed him against a log near our campfire. I searched through his bag and found the supplies. When I turned around, his eyes had closed again. I tried not to let the panic win even though his breaths had become delicate and wheezy. I grabbed a bottle and uncapped it, pouring the entirety on the wound. My hands were shaking from worry and immense hope. Archie's breathing came to a halt, forcing me to hurry up. I got cloth and wiped away as much blood, dirt, and water as I could. They had become painted in crimson instantly. Archie's wound was still wide, but it was no longer filthy, bloody, or wet. I readjusted Archie and placed the rags on the gash to avoid infections. The rags were easily turned from brown to red. Archie's first aid worked, and the bleeding had stopped pouring out of his body. I swiftly grabbed the bandages and began wrapping his entire torso. I thought that there wasn't going to be enough for the wound, but I only just managed to double-wrap it. I tied the knot of the bandage and picked him up, placing his arm over my shoulder. I lay him down on one of the tent beds and checked his heartbeat. It was slow but was good enough to be alive. I grabbed another bottle of water and forced it down him. His body chocked it back out, but he stayed still.