User: AvengingDemigod

Name: Maris Gold

It was down to the four of us, Roman, Crysalis, Luke, and me. Not looking forward to this. Luke and I have formed a friendship through our time together, Crysalis has proven to be stronger than most I've met, and Roman... we had whatever we had.

It was all too clear in my mind what had to happen next and my stomach flipped with anxiety. Only one of us was going to make it out of this alive, the rest sent into whatever limbo they were placed in before resurrection.

I take comfort only in the knowledge that no matter what happens I'll get to see Roman and Andreana again.

Roman was sitting at the river cleaning his wounds while Luke stared blankly at me, appearing deep in thought. Crysalis was quiet for the hours we were up on the mountain top. She never moved just stared at her reflection in the water with the same blank expression as Luke. These tasks have finally broken them, broken me as well. There is no way someone could come out of this unscathed, wether physically or mentally. The people who have never been killers had pieces of their soul lost every time they take another apprentice out. The people who have died have had to face death and then will suddenly be brought back to life. I'm honestly amazed that the keeper Kate had kept her sanity. I wonder if any before her had lost it.

"Maris," Roman looked over at me and smiled lightly.

I tried to smile back but I couldn't find the strength to show any optimism. He was going to die here on this mountain in front of me. I don't know if I'm ready for that pain, not after all the others.

"Well," Luke clapped his hands and I stood up. "I think we all know what has to happen."

Crysalis stood up and nodded. "Guys we can talk about this," Roman said holding his hands up. I did smile at that, he was a man of peace, I don't know if he could handle the position of a leader if he survived this.

Crysalis looked at the three of us and bowed her head in respect. "It has been an honor fighting with you and against you," she said. Luke and I bowed our heads as well and Roman just crossed his arms.

"No one has to die," he said.

"You're wrong," Luke said. "Death is the only way this will end."

"He's right Roman," I said quietly. He looked at me, sadness in his eyes. "It's the only way this can end. It has been an honor." I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "Atcay." Claws grew from my hands and I lunged at Crysalis, who jumped back into the river. Small water tornadoes swirled up around me and I ducked under the water to avoid the storm. I went back to the surface and with a quick word became a shark. The claws faded away and gills formed on my neck, my teeth sharpening. I dove back under and swam like a bullet to Crysalis, pulling her under. She screamed, her lungs filling with water and quickly formed an air bubble around her head. She tried throwing the ground at me but I jumped up onto the grass. I changed into an elephant and when she climbed out I tackled her throwing her back in. She gasped struggling for air and I pinned her arms down preventing her from summoning her magic. I held my breath, not willing to turn lest I lose my grip on her. She looked at me, fear in her eyes, then smiled lightly. She went still and I let her go, her body floating to the top. I swam back up and coughed violently on the surface. My vision was foggy but though my gasps for air I saw Roman and Luke staring at each-other, trapped in a physic battle. I climbed out the water and ran at Luke but suddenly there was a sharp snap and I was thrown back in the shockwave.

The breath was knocked out of me and both the boys were lying on the ground, still and not breathing. "Roman!" I ran over and slid next to him. "Roman..." I felt his pulse and tried to hold back tears, he was dead. I stood up and looked at Luke who was holding himself up.

"Sorry kid," he said quietly. "I just used his nightmares against him."

"Which were what?"

"Loosing you, him killing you," Luke said. He was holding his chest, breathing heavily like a rib or two was broken. "I made him kill you thirty times, in thirty different ways until his mind finally snapped."

I clenched my fists and choked back a sob. "I guess I should thank you," I said quietly. "Now I don't have to do it myself." I kicked him in the stomach and he grunted as my foot connected with his ribs. Luke quickly jumped up and managed to touch my cheek.

I felt the static filling my mind but just smirked. He raised an eyebrow in confusion and I rested my head against his hand. "You're not-"

"You used your only bargaining chip when you killed him," I said. "I have nothing left to be afraid of. I have no nightmares left for you to use." I punched him in the jaw and he fell back. I got my hands around his neck and pulled him down, driving my knee into his chest. He fell, gasping for air and I sat across his waist pinning him down.

"Everyone fears something kid," he said touching my cheeks again. "Even you." The static filled my brain and we were in a different world. There was just emptiness and the two of us. "So this is Maris Gold's brain."

There were occasionally splashes of color mixed with random roars and screams. I walked around in confusion, the ground underneath rippling like water.

"Why are we here?" I asked, my voice echoing despite the vastness.

"Everyone is scared of something," Luke said. He was looking at the ground; watching, waiting for something to approach. He suddenly stabbed his hand into the ground and pulled out a small squirming snake. "You were at least somewhat right, your fear is very small. But it's there."

I looked at the small black snake and wanted to grab it but I suddenly filled with terror. My heart sank to my stomach, everywhere else became numb. It felt like my legs wouldn't move but I desperately wanted to run somewhere and hide.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Your fear is almost too easy," Luke laughed. "Something a lot of people feel. Your fear kid, is death itself."

"I have come face to face with-"

"But you've never actually died, you're scared you're gonna end up like those others." The snake is his hands grew bigger and he put it on the ground. It continued to grow and it roared, then turned to snarl at me.

"What did you do to it?"

"I did nothing, your fear is feeding off, well your fear," Luke looked at the snake. "Have fun, I'll see you when I'm the boss." He snapped his fingers and vanished. The snake launched at me and I quickly moved out of the way. My limbs felt like jello, I couldn't push past the terror that filled my veins. The snake came at me again and I jumped up, landing on its back. I held on as it thrashed around and managed to land a few solid punches before it knocked me back off.

"Leave me alone!" I cried. The snake hit me with its tail and I screamed. I was tossed back a few feet and held my stomach as I coughed up blood. The snake wove around me, like a boa constrictor. I began to panic and the snake squeezed tighter. The more I panicked the tighter it squeezed and soon I could no longer breath. This was it, I was going to die. I am going to die inside of my own mind.

I froze and soon the realization hit me. The snake squeezed again and I closed my eyes to wait for the inevitable with success of my idea or death awaiting me. When I opened my eyes again the snake shrank back to its original size and I picked it up, throwing it far away from me. My head stung and I closed my eyes and was brought back out to the physical world. I stayed still as Luke felt Roman's neck and when his back turned I jumped up and kicked him.

"How?!" He cried out.

"I conquered my fear," I said. "Once again I thank you for doing something you'll soon regret." I kicked him in the chest again and then tackled him. "Ipervay." Fangs grew in my mouth and I leaned over his neck. "Thanks for the idea as well." I bit him and he thrashed around in agony as the venom poured from my mouth into his body. I stood up and changed back, wiping the blood off my mouth.

Luke laughed quietly, his skin turning pale. "I underestimated you kid," he coughed. His mouth started to foam and I almost wanted to save him, but I knew I couldn't. "You'll be a good leader." I knelt down and he grabbed my hand. "It's been nice knowing you." He took a few more strangled breaths and then went still. I kissed his forehead and closed his eyes, trying not to cry.

"This better be it!" I shouted at the sky. "I'm not killing for you psychos ever again."

I ran over to the river and pulled Crysalis out, then laid her next to Luke. I put Roman next to them and then put flowers next to their bodies. I felt hollow on the inside, if there was any love inside of me it was gone now.

"When I see you next," I said quietly, finally allowing tears to fall from my cheeks. "I will apologize, to all of you. To the people I let down, to the people that I killed. I never wanted to be apart of this, I never wanted to have to kill people I considered friends." I rubbed my cheeks. "May the souls watch over you, may you find peace before you wake up again."

The sun faded from the skies and I looked up at the stars. I did it, I won.