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He needs to go. He can't be late. The time will soon be out. He needs to make the sacrifice before the next full moon. To save his beloved from meeting his fate.
But... why can't he see anything? Why can't he move? The entire world was dark around him and he was floating there, like his body was frozen. He couldn't move neither his arms nor his legs. It was like they didn't even belong to him anymore, but for some reason, they were still attached to his body. He wanted to cut them down and break free, but his mind was not strong enough to free his body. Why was he held back? The seconds kept passing and passing! He has a duty to do!
Or... was he dead already?
He stopped to think the option through. It would explain why he can't move and why it was so dark. The sacrifice was already made, he was dead and his beloved could continue living. Oh, how could he be so stupid to not realize that he died! It made him feel relief, knowing that no one will harm the love of his life. The prophecy can never become true after he spilled his own blood for protection.
Then he suddenly heard a voice. It was merely a faint murmur at first - but as it became louder, he recognized it immediately. It was the familiar, beloved voice, the voice of his love. He tried to comprehend what he was talking about, but the meaning of the words reached his mind slowly.
"Will he get better?"
After a short silence, another voice sounded.
"Unfortunately, I can't tell it, Mr. Milverton. It seems that Mr. Ruskin thinks that you are in some kind of danger and he needs to make a sacrifice to protect you. It is important to keep him restrained and sedated until he has this belief. You were lucky for the first time to find him in time and I could stop the bleeding - but if he gets the chance to try again, he might manage to kill himself."
"Can't I talk some sense into him?"
"I'm afraid not. He has gone too far with this belief already. The restraints and some medical therapy might help, might not, but that's the only thing we can do. I will come back tomorrow."
It was hard to understand the discussion, he had no idea how much time had passed until he finally got it, but his heart immediately shrank from the fear. So he was... not dead. He was tied up and they didn't let him finish what he started.
His beloved wants to stop him!
He started aggressively jittering. He was able to move his body, but only a bit - at the same time, the sound in his throat broke free. He began to shriek from the pain and the terror.
"Don't do this, sir! Let me make the sacrifice! I can't let you die! I need to save you! Let me go!"
He felt a touch on his face, then the beloved voice spoke again.
"I am sorry, Ruskin, but I can't let you go."
He felt a prick on his arm. His fighting got weaker and weaker. The darkness embraced him again, stronger than before. I can't save him, he thought painfully before his consciousness disappeared again.