Rewrite The Star

CHAPTER 49 : CONVERGENCE

CHAPTER 49: CONVERGENCE

"It's true that I used to kill people back in the past. But that was a thousand years ago," Creed replied, trying to control his voice.

"Once a killer, always a killer," Atlas spat, his eyes burning with fury. "Just like—once a demon, always a demon."

Creed felt a pang of heartbreak but forced himself to remain calm, though his face grew serious. "Why are you suddenly acting like this?"

Atlas, still catching his breath, shouted, "Because I hate demons!" Without warning, he hurled a lightning ball toward Creed, who stood there and allowed it to hit him. In a split second, Atlas tackled him to the ground, pinning Creed beneath him. Creed simply looked up, his eyes filled with something unreadable.

"Hooman, can I at least know why you're acting this way?" Creed asked, his voice unusually gentle, a tone that somehow managed to touch something in Atlas.

Atlas's chest heaved with pent-up emotion as tears began to well up in his eyes. "I hate demons! Demons like you took everything from me!" His voice cracked as the memories of his family and Keevin came flooding back. The tears finally spilled over, staining his cheeks as his hair fell across his face.

"What did demons take from you?" Creed asked softly.

"My family," Atlas replied, his voice trembling, and suddenly, he was lost in the memory of Keevin once more. The tears came faster, unstoppable.

"I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!" Atlas shouted, his fists weakly pounding against Creed’s chest as the weight of his grief overwhelmed him. "Just die already!"

Creed lay there silently, feeling his heart ache as he watched Atlas sobbing above him. For the first time, he felt something twist deep inside—something more than empathy. It was pain.

"I'm sorry," Creed whispered.

"Can your apology bring them back? No! So you should die!" Atlas screamed.

"Look," Creed said carefully, "I know demons have taken almost everything from you, and for what it's worth, I truly am sorry."

"Stop apologizing!" Atlas shouted, his voice raw with pain.

"Ever since I was born, demons have been after me. I don’t know if it’s just bad luck or if I’m cursed to suffer, but why does the universe keep me alive?" Atlas cried, his voice breaking under the weight of his misery.

"When I was a child, demons killed my parents. And now, Keevin... Keevin’s gone because of a demon! What is wrong with my life? And now look where I am—standing next to a demon like you!" Atlas sobbed.

“Keevin has died?” Creed repeated silently to himself, trying to process the agony he saw in Atlas.

"I don’t know what to do anymore, Creed," Atlas said, his voice barely a whisper. "I should’ve died with them. I can’t handle this pain. This quest—it’s driving me mad. The visions... they keep showing me the future. The more I follow this path, the more I lose the people I care about."

"Why didn’t you tell me about all of this earlier?" Creed asked, a note of concern creeping into his voice.

Atlas looked down, defeated. "Every time I see the future, I see everyone I care about dead. I don’t want to lose anyone else, Creed. I can’t lose... you."

"Atlas," Creed murmured, brushing a tear from Atlas’s face, their eyes locking in an intense gaze. "What else did you see in the vision?"

Tears fell freely from Atlas now. "I can’t watch you die, Creed," he whispered. "I can't lose you too." His hand found Creed’s, still resting against his cheek.

Creed’s eyes widened, stunned by Atlas’s words. "He can't bear to see me die? Why?" he thought, feeling his own emotions stir.

“You’re a demon, and yet, I don’t know why, but I don’t want to see you die,” Atlas continued, his voice shaking. "You’ve been at my side, and lately, I’ve felt at ease because of you. I don’t want that feeling to disappear. The more time I spend with you, the more I realize that I want to spend my life with you."

Atlas took a deep breath and finally said, "I love you, Creed."

Creed lay still, stunned, the weight of Atlas’s confession sinking in. His heart, heavy with centuries of torment and loneliness, seemed to lift for the first time. “A human... loves me?" Creed thought, a rush of emotions he’d never expected.

Without saying a word, Creed gently held Atlas’s head, slowly sitting up as their faces drew closer. The air between them felt charged, electric, as their breaths mingled. And then, Creed kissed Atlas, deeply and passionately, the world around them fading away into the scarlet sunset behind them.