The Haunted ships and one-shots!

Armen x Luke

Lots of inspiration from JaceLikesToWrite! Hope you enjoy!
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Luke's point of view-

My arrow was locked on target, my bowstring pulled back as I prepared to attack from afar. With one eye closed, I took in a steady breath, relaxing before my fingers lifted from the string and let the arrow fly past the trees at a blurred speed before my ears perked to the sound of a human scream. I watched my prey drop to the ground, blood pooling around his limp form, waiting for him to attempt to stand or even to give the slightest twitch. After a minute or so, I found it safe to assume that my mission had been completed.
Another heavy breath breached from my lungs as I secured the wooden bow onto my back, preparing to head down and get the body as proof of his assassination. I held no sympathy, knowing that the man was a wanted murderer in the empire, whom had escaped and nearly reached the badlands. Thankful it seemed that I had cut him down before he could enter that wasteland that was now not even a mile away. I was able to see the barren, dried out dirt littered with occasional dead shrub from where I stood.
As I walked to the corpse, I cracked my neck as I tilted my head from side to side. Once I was next to it, I kicked it to ensure of his death. Thankfully, it remained completely limp as it bled out, releasing a single breathe. Good. Filthy killers don't deserve life, and while I may be a killer, I might as well drag a few others down to h*ll with me before the lights go out and I join them in eternal despair.
This was what life was. Purge those as filthy and unworthy of life as I was. As I am. Chained by my own hypocrisy and greed. Honestly, I did not feel worthy of life I had. Even now, I hunt my old best friend as if he were a monster... I regret what I did, but even though I deserve death, it is only human nature to fear it. No matter how badly you find yourself yearning for it. If I don't take him out, he'll be the one to take my life instead... and I hate that I'm afraid of that.
I was tired of feeling like that, ashamed of who I was; my best ally yet my own worst enemy. I was like a puppet to my own mind; no feelings, no true goal worthy of carrying on, even if I was eliminating those as horrendous as myself. I would eventually burn too. I had surrendered to the idea of my impending fate long ago; ever since that night... I no longer felt anything, no longer cared. I had no hope.

"Pity." I spoke to the lifeless corpse on the ground before me. "If it makes you feel any better, I'll be joining you down there in h**l sooner or later."

Suddenly, my heart felt like it had stopped and the blood in my body froze over. I heard a scream ring out from the forest, immediately sparking panic in my being. For the first time in awhile, I felt worried about another person, so worried that I had actually abandoned the body of my prey; the key to my reward, and dashed into the direction of the second scream that called out.

"Help!"

I ran into the forest, going as fast as my legs could manage. I was swift, agile, and light on my feet, allowing me to bolt through the vegetation with ease. Of course I had a job to do, but it was also my duty to protect the innocent. I may have failed many times before...allowed the innocent to die because of my own selfish actions, but I do not intend to let that happen again.
I breached forth from the bushes and low tree leaves, reaching what seemed to be a clearing, the canopies of leaves overhead blocking out much of the dark, clouded sky. The cold wind rushed past me, causing my hair drift back and stay out of my eyes, for the most part. Some hair pinned down by my hat continued to wave in front of my right eye.
I stopped in my tracks when I saw what appeared to be an old abandoned temple, moss and vines growing on the cracking stone. What drew my attention, was the male figure hunched in beside one of the pillars, leaning against one of them with his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes eyes were shut tight and teeth were beginning to grind. He looked like he was in severe pain.
For a few more seconds, I found myself to be frozen in place as my eyes scanned his form. His raven hair was a tangled mess, his clothes burned and torn to just rags. His shirt hardly hid his torso, revealing red, raw skin, his charred flesh covered in wounds and stale blood. He was whimpering and gasping, tears streaming down his face.