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“This is it, isn’t it?” Arthur said, taking steps up the impossibly long, black staircase, leaving behind a new face. The gifted dagger in the fragment’s hand was hot with his sweat, due to his strong grip on its hilt.
“One can hope.” He replied, as if either of them had any hope left. Arthur had lost essentially all the power he had over this body after losing his arm, the anger boiled inside him, especially while imaging the dagger in his hand. It was for him, and he couldn’t even have control over it, he sighed, once again feeling defenseless.
“The steps are turning into…well, nothing. A void of darkness awaits us. Tread lightly.” What Arthur would give to not be told what to do by some stranger trapped in his fucking head.
“It’s…the plateau, it’s clear we aren’t on the mountain anymore. The floor has turned to more of a dark violet now, the sky is—“
“I don’t care about the fucking color. I just need to know where to go to get the hell out of this place, why can’t you just understand that?” Arthur snapped, as he so frequently did.
“I just thought you’d like to know! You get so mad when I don’t tell you every minute detail, but when I do, I get berated again! Why should I even listen to you?! You are nothing compared to me, an annoying bug on my path of destruction. Could you just let me—“
“Sh—Shhh. I hear something.” A light pitter patter echoed around them.
“There’s…dancers.” It became evident that the noise was in fact footsteps, the voice continued, “Yes, yes, ballerinas, they’re the King’s—“
“Well, obviously. What are they doing?”
“Drawing closer, I’m not sure why, Arthur—“ Before the entity could react, a ballerina sliced Arthur’s side, a wave of pain caused him to growl like a hunted predator being shot.
“She fucking cut me, that thing!” Arthur ached.
“You need to move! They’ll keep cutting you—“ Another slash hit Arthur in the stolen arm. “AGHH—, move!”
“Where, you bastard, where?!”
“Go forward, now left!—“ Arthur groaned as another slice went through him, in his thigh, he could feel the blood running down his skin. “You didn’t move in time!”
“You didn’t tell me in time, it’s laughable that you’re blaming me, the blind man! God, you do nothing to help.”
“Nothing? Nothing to help?! Arthur—“
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t hear them anymore. Where am I?”
“You are at the throne. It’s for you.” The voice sounded almost in awe, as if he recognized it. A loud noise hit both of their ears and Arthur yelled in pain. The noise drowned out Arthur’s thoughts of how the entity didn’t even bother to dulcify him. The noise quieted down, as the voice continued,
“He is above us, falling down slowly.” Arthur could sense Him near him, a coldness filled the air.
“Well?” Arthur called out, his head tilted slightly up as if he was trying to look at Him in the eyes, but had no aim, instead looking at The King’s cloak.
“You want me.”
“Well…it seems you both know what I’m here for.”
“Yes, we do. How, how do I get this damned thing out of my head?! Just get it done with!”
“Desperate, it seems. It’s a bit amusing, in all honesty. You’ve been waiting for a chance to escape, and now is your time.” Arthur sighed, out of relief, this could all be behind him in just a few moments, he could finally have his body back. He could finally have control again. He could finally go home.
“What do I need to do?”
“I think you know… Leave him behind, and take his life.” The entity‘s hand grabbed the dagger tighter, he wasn’t sure what to do with it, the heat of his hand somehow raised impossibly higher, he stayed silent.
Arthur sat, eyes wide, and what was left of his body shaking. He felt as if he could scream, or argue, or beg, or cry like a child. He did none, he sat, in terror. Everything he had work towards…for this. His life in the hands of a villain, a horrid abomination he was cursed with, feeling nothing but pure hatred towards every word it said. But, even with that… they had worked so hard. Together. He knew Arthur just wanted to see home again, right? He knew Arthur deserved to live, just a few more years, right?
“You…You can’t…” Arthur managed to breathe out.
“Return to me, it’s where you belong.”
“You’re…right.” It drove the dagger in.
Arthur gasped, as the dagger broke through his chest. He didn’t process how deep it went, he couldn’t comprehend the betrayal that ran through his blood and pumped through his heart, the pain that made his soul ache at the realization he would now be alone, the Dark World would take him and swallow him whole, he had nothing and no one to his name, besides the dagger in his chest. He didn’t hear himself scream his daughter’s name.
“F—FUCK YOU! A—After…” He gasped for air. “After everything w—we’ve done?! After everything we’ve been through, you monster! How—How could you hurt me like this?!
“Arthur, it’s…It’s all I’ve ever known.” He breathed. “I…I don’t want to lie to you in your final moments.. I can’t say I’m sorry.”
“Goodbye, Arthur Lester. You’ve been a great host, but I’ll be taking over this little traveler now.” The King mocked.
With his last breaths, he choked out a cry, and felt his body slow, falling into a void. He closed his eyes and prayed. To what? He wasn’t sure. He felt his core break. He prayed that where ever he would wake up, he wouldn’t have someone. He felt the last parts of him grow numb. He finally accepted being alone, if it meant he couldn’t fail someone again.