The Weight of His Chains

Chapter 19

With scythe in hand, Sky vanished from the cave and into The Between, the twin cliffs tall and still like sentinels. The air reeked with molten metal and dust, the ceiling is indistinguishable and unseen, its ending nowhere near. Pebbles float in the air, held by some unseen force. A small sliver of light pierces the oppressive darkness on the horizon, illuminating little of the daunting world.

The scythes curved blade scraped against the stone ground, its metallic shriek echoing through the desolate landscape. Sky's slit eyes locked onto Yuu's distant figure, his gaze burning with a malevolent intent.

A maniacal laugh burst forth, Skys voice rising into a frenzied scream. "Yuu!"

The sound carried through the cliffs as Yuu turned back, taking in the sight of Sky's twisted smile.

"Times up, monk," Sky spat, his voice dripping with malice. "You'll soon know the true meaning of 'grinder'."

Yuu's pace quickened, his feet stumbling as fear took hold. Sky walked behind him from afar, his gait unsteady from wounds. The laughing continued, Sky's eyes gleaming with unnatural light. The landscape seemed to close in on them, as if embracing the malice that's about to unfold.

The scythes shriek grew louder, its scraping echoing through the silence, a death song creeping behind Yuu.

Sky's smile twisted as he took out two pocket knives from his pants pocket, the blades flashing in the dim light. The knives twisted through his fingers, scraping against his pale skin.

"You ruined everything!" Sky screamed, his voice dripping with delirium as he flicked his arm out, releasing one knife.

The blade bit deep into Yuu's leg, just behind the knee. Yuu's cry echoed through the landscape, dragging his wounded leg with fear.

"You took away my only chance!" Sky screamed, his eyes narrowing and welling with tears of anger.

"Aspen will never love me because of you!" The second knife followed, its stab identical, striking Yuu in the other leg.

Yuu collapsed, his body scraping against the stone ground as he dragged himself away from Sky, his legs useless.

Yuu's fleeing grew frantic, his hands scrabbling for something to pull him forward.

Sky grew closer and closer to Yuu, his dragging slowing down as his hope for escape wilted with every pull. His dragging ceased, his body shutting down from exhaustion.

Sky's hoof-like foot descended on Yuu's bald head, pinning it to the ground.

"Now all Aspen thinks of me is a sadistic," He pauses, the pressure increasing on Yuu's head.

"Awful," he pauses again, his voice cracking as the pressure increases.

"Faun!" He shouts as the scythe's curved blade sinks into the ground, mere inches from Yuu's face. "Please, Sky. I beg you. Forgive me, spare my life!" He stuttered, his tiny body trembling under the weight of Skys hoof.

Sky's face hardened, his features colder and sharper than stone. His eyes, once bright with insanity, now stare at Yuu with an icy indifference.

"Mercy?" Sky's voice was arctic, devoid of warmth. "I lost that long ago. It withered and died, like the love I once held."

"No, Sky. That's not true. You still have it in you. Look deep inside your heart, warmth still exists in you. I saw the warmth you had in your eyes when you looked at Aspen." He whimpered, his voice trembling in fear.

Sky's eyes widened, his eyebrows curling. His breath faltered, his gaze drifting as if recalling a distant memory.

"What about your sister, Aspen? You loved her, right?" He trembled under the hoof of Sky.