Brendon's heartbeat sounded like a faint drumbeat when consciousness began to creep back onto his senses.

Thump...

Thump thump...

Thump...

Thump thump...

"His heartbeat is fading, doctor."

"Get me some help in here!"

Thump...

Thump thump...

Thump...

Doctor? Brendon couldn't think of why he would need doctors. He had been home... No, traveling... Wait...

Thump...

Thump thump...

Thump...

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

Brendon felt hands all over. He tried to fight, but his body was stiff. He couldn't move himself, the hands were moving him. Brendon struggled to even open his eyes. Nothing was working except for that steady beat.

Thump...

Thump thump...

"Doctor!"

"We're going to need to move him into surgery, now!"

Surgery? Brendon tried to shake his head in protest, but he still couldn't move. He fought to sit up and prove he was fine, but nothing would give. He was trapped in his own skin as worried voices argued back and forth above him.

Thump...

Thump... Thump...

Brendon focused, trying to find whatever strength he could before pushing himself upright. He gasped as nails dug into his skin, pulling him back. He tried to fight them, but he wasn't strong enough. He slammed back down, crying out in silent pain. The hands felt like ropes tying around his limbs.

"He's not going to make it!"

"Give me..."

The doctor's voice faded away.

Thump...

...

Thump...

Brendon fought against the ropes slinking around his body. They were everywhere. It even felt like they were wiggling around inside of his stomach, wrapping his guts the same way as his limbs.

"C'mon, don't loose your fight, kid." A scared voice encouraged.

"Schneider! Get the IV!" A different voice barked.

The voices were swimming in and out of Brendon's consciousness.

...Thump...

...

...Thump...

Brendon felt exhausted. He was being tied into place. His head was swimming. He didn't feel like he could hold on to whatever this was.

Living?

Dying?

Something in between?

He felt his breathing catch as the ropes round their way to his lungs. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't hold on...

Thump...

...

...

...thump...

Brendon's eyelids grew heavy. Something encouraged him to let go. His fight was over. It was his time.

He exhaled one last time, relaxing just before a white cloud surrounded him.

The ropes dropped and vanished. Brendon was finally able to open his eyes. The white clouds remained, swooshing around him like something out of a movie.

Brendon spun around, unsure what to make of the scene. Was he dead? The sound of his heartbeat no longer played like a drum. He looked down, finding himself wearing dress pants and a button up shirt. Everything looked normal.

What had happened? As much as Brendon attempted to wrack his brain for answers, much of what came back was blurred and distorted. The last thing he really remembered was an unexpected knock at his door. It began to fade after that, however long he went on after that...

He attempted to take a step, ending up stumbling forward. He panted, feeling a sudden and complete lack of enery. What the hell was happening? He wanted to question where he was, but the sound of creaking metal stopped him. Brendon looked up, finding golden gates pulling back in front of him. Beyond the gates was a bright light, almost blinding Brendon as he stared at it.

Heaven? Brendon stared at the marvel, feeling a smile hook the corner of his mouth. Heaven. He never thought he'd make it up here. He was a thief for hire. Though he never killed anyone, he had delt his fair share of injuries to those that stood in his way. He never imagined he could end up somewhere so-

The thought was cut off by the sound of a trapdoor swinging open, and a sudden emptiness under Brendon's feet. His eyes widened and his smile immediately disappeared as he began to fall.

A wicked cackle filled his ears as he began to fall. He cried out, hearing his voice echo as any light was consumed by the darkness that had swallowed Brendon. He reached desperately for the last bit of brightness above him, but it went out and took all of Brendon's hope with it.

He cried out as he continued to fall until the darkness swallowed him into nothingness.