II. Gods and Monsters

23. Till Death Do Us Part

Oliver winced, before coming into the room as asked, finding himself face to face with the sight he'd dreaded since it had come into his head. The room was exactly how he'd seen it. The peeling paint, the brickwork, the dark, dank atmosphere, it was all here. And there, in the centre, stood his worst nightmare. Hades himself, dressed in full battle armour, the claws of his left-hand gauntlet digging into Charlotte's shoulder. She was paralysed, out of fear, magic or other reason he couldn't tell. He could see the blood staining her clothes, the bruises across her face and arms.

"Ghost Rider, the moment of your punishment is finally upon us."

"No, you let her go."

"Now why might I do that?"

"Because if you don't, I'll make sure you suffer an eternity of pain."

"I HAVE LIVED IN HELL. I SPENT AN ETERNITY SUFFERING TORMENT BEYOND YOUR DARKEST IMAGINATION! YOU HONESTLY THINK I WOULD ALLOW FOR THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN?!"

Hades' eyes burned with an increased fury. Charlotte flinched in his grasp.

"Your kind has subjected me to an eternity of hell! Now, I welcome you to yours."

Oli raised his hands in front of him.

"Let her go!" he cried.

"I promised you I would destroy everything you love. Now I hold everything you love in the palm of my hand!"

"Oli, I love you. You hear me?" Charlotte told him, her tears streaming down her face.

"Don't talk like that, everything's gonna be fine," he soothed, "Please! Just let her go. She's innocent!"

"Now, I will finally be free of your kind; once and for all!"

"Oli..." Charlotte breathed.

"I'm begging you, for God's sake just let her go! You want me to beg? I'm begging! You have me! Do whatever you want to me! Please!"

"Oli..." she cried.

"You lose, Oliver," Hades announced, menacingly, his forearm blade springing forth.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Oli screamed, running towards Charlotte.

It was as if the world had slowed down. The space between them so far. As he ran towards her, he couldn't help but take in every inch of her face. Memorising it as if it was the first time he'd seen her. Or the last time that he ever would. Her long brown hair flowing over her shoulders, her soft eyes, the ghost of her dimple on her left cheek. All of her beauty. Her captivating, living beauty. Each footfall is agonisingly slow, the distance shrinking way too gradually. He watches as Hades raises his blade high above his head, aiming it at a point on Charlotte's back. Oli can feel the adrenaline burning in his muscles, driving him forwards with all of his might. But it's not enough. He can see the blade begin to fall. His screams still ring out, his eyes never leaving hers. He can't look away. Neither can she. Charlotte wants to savour his eyes for as long as she can before this is all taken away from her. Oli watches as the blade is thrust into the small of her back, droplets of blood flying out in all directions as Charlotte lets out a gasp. The ring glitters on the third finger of her left hand, in the first ray of daybreak, as Oliver Knight collapses to his knees. Defeated.