Prologue

Pain...is everywhere. My sight is blurry and black spots dance before my eyes. The shouts of my friends and comrades seem muffled and so, so far away. All I can hear is the stutter of my rapidly dying heart. It's becoming harder to breathe by the second. I taste the coppery flavor of blood as it pools in mouth, choking me, before spilling out of my mouth and rolling down my chin. My chest is burning with excruciating, white-hot pain. I look down, choking on a gasp. My eyes widen as realization finally strikes me. Tears immediately start flowing down my cheeks.

It's over. After all the struggles, and hardships, and difficult decisions, it ends like this. But the pain in my chest is nothing compared to the pain of knowing it's the end. I'll never enjoy a happy moment with my friends again, I'll never get to fight for my beliefs, or to protect my home and family, or share my knowledge and skills with the younger generations. I will never win in a friendly race again, or be challenged to an eating contest, or plan and execute a prank, or be forced to endure 'girl talk'. I won't get to joke around and bicker with the ones I consider brothers, or listen to lighthearted 'lectures', or tease the most conceited jerks of the lot, or irritate my sister's boyfriend. I will never get to laugh with my best friend or listen to her rant about her day. All of my friends…I will never get to spend time with them again.

But the most painful thought of all…is that I won't ever see him again. I'll never see his rare soft smiles, or feel his gentle caresses, or exchange friendly blows with him. I'll never get to tease him, or receive his caring looks. I don't try to stop a sad smile that spreads over my bloodied and dirty face as I remember all the wonderful time I've had with him that now seems far too short. My only regret is never telling him that I love him.

I'm snapped out of my memories by a sharp, burning pain in my chest. I can no longer breathe and I'm choking on my own blood. The metallic taste of the thick red liquid makes me lightheaded. My body shudders as I cough up blood, while every part of me is screaming in pain and exhaustion. I look up at my attacker and a smirk forms on my lips despite my predicament. I gather all my remaining strength and grab onto his arm tightly, restraining him, hopefully for just long enough.

"Wh-what are y-you wa-waiting...for? K-Kill h-him." The words are harder to spit out than I imagined and I'm immediately assaulted with violent coughs, but I'd thankfully gotten through to my shocked team mates. They quickly snap into action.

The source of my suffering is suddenly ripped out of my chest and my battered body jerks with it. The black spots dancing in my vision explode along with the pain and darkness completely takes me. My racing heart is pounding in my ears frantically as my throat closes up entirely, preventing any oxygen from flowing. My legs give out and my entire body feels like lead as I descend to the hard ground of the battlefield. Through the steadily spreading numbness I feel soft arms catch me before I can make impact with the ground. I'm lowered carefully on my back and I know that my friends are trying to be as gentle as possible but everything hurts – every jar, every touch, every movement sends a fiery sensation through my body. I can no longer see anything, so I close my eyes. I can't breathe, my throat is tight and my already burning lungs are desperately screaming for precious air.

As if through a tunnel, I can hear screams and shouts all around me. The ground shakes slightly underneath me and I feel a wave of cool, soothing energy wash over me, before numbness finally swallows me entirely. All sounds fade, leaving only one – the stuttering beats of my heart. The rhythm has slowed drastically compared to its usual beating. I count the beats which I know will be my last. One…two…three…Everything starts fading and I know – this is it. And through the last bits of consciousness I make out three words, gentle whispers that echo through my mind even as my heart gives out the last beat, the words I will cherish in my death…

I love you.