My Hero Origins- Artemis Divil Story

Chapter 8

After witnessing the horrifying scene between Artemis and his father, a heavy silence settled over the group. Some of his friends stood frozen in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief and fear. They exchanged uneasy glances, unsure how to approach the boy who had once been their ally, now shrouded in darkness. But Rikku's heart swelled with determination. She couldn't stand by while Artemis spiraled deeper into despair. With a brave resolve, she rushed toward him, throwing her arms around him in a desperate embrace. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she sobbed,

Rikku: "I'm so glad you're okay, Artemis! I was so scared!"

Artemis stiffened at her touch, the warmth of her embrace feeling alien against the coldness that had taken root in his heart. As he pulled away slightly, Rikku searched his eyes for the familiar spark of the boy she knew, but all she found was an unsettling darkness.

Artemis: "Why did you come back for me?" he asked, his voice sharp and distant, devoid of the warmth and camaraderie they once shared. The coldness in his tone sent a shiver down Rikku's spine, a stark contrast to the boy who used to be her friend.

Rikku: "Because you're my friend!" she replied, her voice trembling. "I couldn't just leave you like this. We care about you, Artemis! We want to help you through this!" Artemis stepped back, the shadows in his eyes deepening. "I don't care about what you've done! You're still Artemis. You're still worth fighting for. We're here for you, no matter what!" The others hesitated, but Shino stepped forward, his expression earnest. 

Shino: "We're all in this together. We've faced darkness, and we've fought our way back. You don't have to face this alone." But Artemis's gaze was steely.

Artemis:  "You don't understand. The darkness I've embraced is a part of me now. I can't just walk away from it. It's not that simple."

Rikku: "Then let us help you fight it!" she urged, her voice rising with emotion. "You don't have to surrender to the darkness!" The tension hung thick in the air, and the rest of the group watched, caught between fear for Artemis and the desire to pull him back from the edge. 

Blake: "Artemis, we love you," she said, stepping forward with conviction. "We believe in you. You can still choose your path." But the walls Artemis had built around himself seemed insurmountable.

Artemis:  "You think love can change everything?" he scoffed, bitterness lacing his words. "This world is cruel, and I've learned to survive in it by accepting my darkness. That's the truth. You can't change me."

Yuki: "Please," she pleaded, tears in her eyes. "We're not asking you to deny your pain. We want you to confront it with us. You don't have to carry this weight alone."

As the pleas of his friends echoed around him, Artemis felt a flicker of something—perhaps regret, perhaps sorrow—but it was quickly swallowed by the overwhelming darkness he had come to accept as part of himself.

Artemis:  "I can't go back to who I was," he said, his voice low but resolute. "That person is gone. Rikku stepped closer, desperation creeping into her tone.

Rikku: "You don't have to change overnight. Just take one step at a time. We'll be right here with you, no matter what." But Artemis looked at them, a mix of sadness and resolve in his eyes. 

As he took a step back, the distance between them felt like an insurmountable chasm. His friends stood in silence, the weight of their failure pressing down on them. Despite their love and determination, it was clear that the boy they once knew was slipping further away.

Rikku: "Artemis, please," she whispered, her voice breaking. "We're not giving up on you! He turned away, shadows enveloping him once more.

Artemis: "You should," he said coldly. "It's better for you this way."