In a blink of an eye
It feels so unexpected.
He thought that redemption would be at the end of his road. But it isn't.
He thought he won this battle. Yet, he knows he lost the war. All in all.
It's been too long. He's gonna die, here, now.
The pain in his belly hurts like hell; the same hell he's been living in for years. Whatever, he thinks he deserved it. Today is the last day of his life and somehow, he feels relieved. The fight is over at last.
When their eyes met, they both knew. They both wanted another life. And they certainly didn't expect their adventure would end this way.
Somehow, when they looked at each other, they understood they were bonded: through crime, hate, revenge. Two souls in fury, unleashed, out of control. But who's the winner in the end? They both lost so much more than peace, joy, family. They lost their sanity on account of a relentless hunt to kill. They've played cat and mouse for too long, yet who's being the mouse now?
Tyger, tyger, they'll both burn in hell!
Breathing becomes arduous. Seeing becomes useless; their inner light has already died out. Listening becomes superfluous, only the sound of their heartbeats reminds them life is still flowing in their veins. They touched, for a brief moment, long enough to decide upon each other's future.
Blink once. Blink twice.
Who knows who says what at this point?
- Who are you to take control over the other's fate?
- Who said you were in control? Who gave you the power to destroy me?
- We are cut out in the same material, you and I, we are fighters. Over Life. Over Death. No winner this time. And you know it.
- How can you be so sure?
- You're right. I can feel it. I can feel death through your dying body, already. And I know I'll follow soon. Because I lost the only purpose I've been pursuing for so long. Revenge. Retaliation? Redemption?
- Who's gonna care, now that we've reached the final destination? We've both obsessed with the same hunt, find the other and destroy him. Today, it's a face to face, no escape, no denial, no excuse. You know I was following you like a shadow. You knew we would end up here, at some point.
- Take one last breath, then I can watch you slowly die. And my quest will be complete. I will have destroyed everything that you are, I will have annihilated every bit of humanity left in you. Go ahead, look at the sky and remember… we'll join in hell, soon.
..
..
The man lets go of his grip. He watches the other exhale for the very last time.
Stands up. Stumbles away. Notices the blood on his shirt. And understands.
The other one is dead.
He's gonna die too.
Soon.
He walks a few steps… and collapses.
The blood on his shirt is his own. He put so much intensity in killing the other that he hardly felt the knife.
He looks once last time at the blue sky… and painfully smiles.
Brief memories flashes before his eyes: green eyes, shiny hair, sweet smile.
The only thing he'll regret while his life is draining out is the one he'll leave behind. Although he now knows that she will be safe.
The trade was his life in exchange for hers.
He wishes he could have told her…
Too late…
Te…