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An echo in his winged ears. A slaughter. A massacre. The once cold stagnant air of the End was now violently being pulled around by the people fighting.
Echo was now louder. Saps stood, frozen. A citizen of his ran towards him, desperate for aid. Saps reached for his hand, only for Sharpness to slide in behind and stab him through the chest. The citizen fell, the red splattered against Saps’ angelic figure. His wings began to hug his sides, trying to comfort him, trying to distance him from the blood that was being spilled. This can't be happening again… Not again…
“sa… SAPS LOOK OUT.” His hearing sharpened as an arrow pierced his head, popping his totem and consuming him in darkness.
—
Evo watched Saps fall to the ground, sparks from the totem working overtime to heal him. Supzec kneeled next to him, carefully pulling the arrow out of his head.
Evo watched as Flow charged his bow again, but before shooting Supzec, Evo dive bombed him, macing him in the head. Totem sparks flew. Flow pointed his crossbow at him, the arrow missing Evo’s neck by a hair.
He stared at Flow, who was feeling the back of his head, somewhat surprised someone managed to land a hit on him.
“Evo..?” Supzec said, fear rattling his voice.
He turned, Sharp’s blade pointing up against Supzec’s hair, awfully close to his skin. His helmet laid on the ground too far to grab without being struck down. The reloading of a crossbow sent a shiver down Evo’s spine as Flow pointed the weapon point blank against his head.
He checked his inventory for totems… none.
“Stop this.” He said, his voice stark.
Flow brought Evo over next to Supzec and Saps. He pushed down on his shoulders, forcing him to sit down. Supzec looked over at him, his eyes filled with hope for a plan. For anything at this point. Evo looked away, not wanting to see that hope fade.
The angel began to stir, his eyebrows twitching.
“What do we want to do, Sharp.” Flow asked his partner in crime. “Kill them, or let Death deal with them?”
“I want to bully them.” Sharp said with a little too much enthusiasm. He reached out for the stirring Saps. Evo pushed him back, protecting the angel.
Sharp’s eyes filled with anger. Sharp dragged him away, slashing his achilles heel to keep him from moving. Evo fell, swallowing his yelp.
—
Saps’ eyes opened as Flow raised him slightly above the ground and popped his last totem. The angel let out a yelp, his head spinning.
He dropped him, his limbs aching and head throbbing. He let out a small whimper, his wings trying to disassociate himself from the Council members.
“You have nothing left, do you?” Sharp asked, already knowing the answer. He pointed to the remains of items on the ground, then looked back at Saps. He just wanted to see the helplessness on the angel’s face.
“Yeah..” Saps answered, his voice low and broken. All he saw around him was the items from his friends and citizens littering the floor. The blood that stained the ground.
He closed his eyes, not wanting to see this anymore. It didn't seem to help. The scene was now burned in his memory.
Sharp smirked, satisfied with his work. “Well, I think it's time we take this bridge to Death.” Flow told Sharp.
Supzec sat next to the broken bird as the two Council members backed off. “We’ll see you guys around. Goodbye birdie.” Sharp waved to Saps, though he couldn't see the gesture. His wings are still hugging him.
Once the two disappeared out of sight on the bridge, Supzec stood up. He gave Evo a healing potion. Evo poured a bit on a bandage and wrapped it around his ankle, his face relaxing. His blood stopped spilling on the rocks.
—
Saps stood up and walked towards the bridge, his wings dragging against the endstone. He refused to look back. To look back at the people he used to call home.
He looked out into the void once he reached the massive purple and white bridge. He stopped, purple glass-like petals falling around him. The air was stagnant once again, calm. Quiet. Like nothing had happened minutes ago.
He ruffled his feathers, not realizing the pieces of endstone that got stuck in them. He moved closer to the edge. The stars littering the black sky. His hands touched the rails when he heard landing behind him.
—
Evo looked at the broken angel with compassion. His wings were drooped, dirty with endstone and dried blood, his hair a mess. He sat down on the rail, letting his legs dangle over the void.
“Hey…” Evo started but didn't know how to finish. He took a step towards him. The angel didn't move, his halo a dull orange colour floating above his head.
Another step. Then another.
Saps tapped the spot on the rail next to him. Evo looked back at Supzec and Supzec looked at him then back at Saps.
He sat down next to him, holding his mace over the void.
“All of this.” Saps said. “All of this bloodshed and death was just for the reaper. Just for this damn bridge.” he fidgeted with his fingers.
His glow that Evo had seen when entering the civilization for the first time was now dwindled down to a measly candle flicker. His halo was losing colour, and so were his eyes.
Evo stayed silent. He didn't know what to say to make him feel better.
Saps pulled out a small dagger from his belt. The carved hilt looked like a place he'd never seen before. The shiny blade seemed to have the same glow Saps had before–
“I want you to cut my wings.”
Evo froze as Saps placed the small blade in Evo’s open hands. “I can't do that.” He said, thick with emotion. He couldn't take the ability away from this bird to fly.
“There's no reason for me to stay here. It's an empty void, empty, cold…” Saps muttered. “There's nothing for me here now. My friends–my people are in the overworld. And there's no way to make it back without…” he stared down at the black abyss.
“Saps… the void is a painful death.” Evo said, looking at his luscious feathers. “Not to mention you would lose two more hearts.”
Saps sighed. “It will be worth it. I can make a safe place for my friends in the overworld. A new kingdom, hopefully away from any danger.” Evo watched the angel close his eyes and his figure becoming light and illuminating. “I have to stop my human instincts of safety. My wings… they won't help me here.”
“Will you lose them forever..? Even after you respawn.” Evo whispered. He couldn't believe he was actually thinking of going through with this. “I-I don't know.” His eyes swelled with tears. “But I need you to do this. For me. Please.”
Evo stared at the gorgeously crafted blade in front of him. A tear fell from his cheek, landing on the glowing dagger.
Be strong for him.
He stood up; Saps stretching his wings. This is for him.
He plunged the blade into the first wing. Saps let out a cry, one so full of sorrow. Evo winced and dragged it all the way down through the feathers gilded with gold. Evo tensed as Saps let out ugly sobs. He yelped as Evo pulled the blade out.
This is for him.
He plunged the ceremonial blade in the second wing. He dragged it down quicker this time, to keep the angel from feeling the pain for much longer. But even with him doing it faster, the angel let out louder and more painful cries.
When Evo was done, he placed the blade on the rail. The gorgeous blade he was looking at minutes ago was now drenched in a mix of red and gold blood.
He refused to look at his work.
He closed his eyes as the sobs became more quiet. When he opened them, Saps was standing on the rail, right in front of him, his back to the void.
All he could see were the stunning feathers that were now covered in red. The wings that were whole now split in two. The red. Red.
“I'm so-” Evo started, his own tears now blurring his vision.
“Don't apologize. I asked for this.” Saps answered, his eyes puffy. He picked up the blade, holding it to his chest. “Thank you. Go stop Death for me.”
—
Saps leaned backwards off the rail. His wings immediately wanted to save him, to help him balance but all they did was drag him down. Down.
Down.
Down into the darkness that ate away at the remainder of his wings.
Down into the oblivion that stripped his physical pain away.
Down into the abyss that ripped his senses from his skin.
Down into the black hole that devoured his emotions.
He felt empty as he kept falling through the layers of void. It seems angels can't die to darkness so easily.
Dark hands grabbed his legs and covered his mouth. As if he still had the energy to scream.
His eyes fluttered. Darkness infecting his eyes. He blacked out with nothing but a husk.