The grand figure collapses, his previous wounds splaying wire and cloudy fluid across the floor. He remains motionless in the jumbled heap - his once graceful visage replaced by a broken scene of lifeless agony. After a moment the death lights begin to flicker off of his artificial skin. You have killed Michael. Once he was a symbol of the best this world had to offer, now he lies twisted on the floor like one of the common thugs that die each night in brawls and scuffles.
You hear a sharp yell from back stage, and a desperate Clara comes rushing out. She ignores you as she collapses over Michael's body, weeping as the ghostly petals of light begin to stream from his remains like you have never seen before. Soon the entire room is alight with the silvery sparkles of Michael's passing. Clara pleads with the corpse, shaking it as she sobs loudly, “Don't go….give me your visions….don't take my only purpose for existing away from me…” But it is to no avail, he is gone. She turns to you all, crawling on the floor, out of breath from her crying. “Please kill me, ” she implores, “Don't make me live alone. It's ok - it had to end this way. Please, do it.” She dutifully wipes the sweat-and-tear-soaked hair from her forehead to give you a clear target, and waits…
The sharp crack of the gun echoes off the walls of the enclosed room, and Clara slumps involuntarily to the floor. You see as she falls she wears a face of shock - though she begged for her death she was still surprised when it came. The death lights come even before she hits the ground. They intermingle with the flood of those emanating from Michael's corpse.
Soon a torrent of her own are released, even more numerous than his, and the room is as if the sun was rising in the middle of it. You hesitate for a moment over the two bodies and contemplate the tragedy that has unfolded. Though you caused it, you comfort yourself with the thought that it was for the greater good. Wherever fallen angels go after they die, perhaps even to The Pit, at least they are together now. You silently watch for a moment more, then turn to leave. You see Reiko Arthen standing a few feet away, her face contorted as she holds back tears. Michael, her ancestor, and Clara, her source of answers about her lineage; are now both dead. You slowly file past her towards the front exit, yet Reiko remains, frozen by shock.
Then she turns back at you and explodes, “How could you do something like this!? It didn't have to end this way! Are you all insane!? Do you think you're God!? You had no right to end her life - that was not your decision to make! You're no better than he was, you think you have all the answers and that you can use any means you like to bring them about. We once tried to stop the spread of chaos and hatred, and this is supposed to be how to bring that about!?” She stands shaking in her anger, then turns to face away. “Go. I'm sure you'll do just fine out there without me, but I refuse to be a part of this anymore. I'll find a better way…”
You stand silently in shock for a moment - you had never seen Reiko truly enraged like this before. Standing with her arms crossed and her back to you, you realize that she is beyond reason - she will not hear any argument you might give at this moment. Though it might be painful, you think that perhaps this is for the best. She is a singer, not a warrior. She would not understand the compromises needed during a war such as this. You turn to leave, looking back as you file out the door one-by-one. The last of you to leave sees Reiko finally succumb to her grief, crashing to her knees as she begins to weep.
Walking out into the street you begin to hear the sirens of the police approaching from far away. You hurry down the road until you are sure the authorities will not find you. Ducking into an alley-way you peer at the scene you left behind. You see the death lights from Micheal and Clara streaming from the building like a ghastly inferno that has engulfed it. It would be beautiful if were not so sad. Your thoughts wander momentarily to why the world around you is in it's present form, and why you are fated to do deeds such as this. You thoughts ring out, but they return without answers.
Shaking of the recent doubts you flee into the night city, heading onwards towards your destiny. You know the path ahead of you will be filled with difficulties, but you are confident you have the strength necessary to overcome them.
You holster your weapons, refusing to take part in cold-blooded murder. Clara gazes back at you with shock, “But I helped him; I'm just a guilty as he is!” She cries out as you all turn to leave. Though her pleas cause you to pity her, you know that taking her life is not the answer. Life is precious, and it should not be given up so easily.
She may have had everything she was taken from her, but you see now that you have given her something much greater. Now she can experience life for herself, and not simply watching through the eyes of another. A gentle breeze, a warm summer's night, these are things that you have no right to take from her, even if she must endure the grief of Michael's death to feel them. It might be painful now, but you know in time she will thank you. That is what you know to be true as you continue on towards the door, ignoring Clara's almost incoherent ranting. She rushes ahead of you, spreading her arms and wings to keep you from passing. “No!!! You can't do this to me!” You move past her with ease, her fragile frame presenting little resistance. Then she dashes over to Michael's body and grabs his sword.
“See, now I'm armed! You can kill me now, right!? I gave you my visions so you would end our madness; end his pain! But if you refuse to let me be with him then…then I'll kill you!” You turn to see a face contorted with rage and soaked with tears. Reiko steps forward, spreading her arms to present a clear target, “No more. It's over Clara. Even if you kill us it won't bring him back.” Clara awkwardly raises the sword above her head, almost falling backwards in the process. But you see real murderous intent in her eyes. You ready yourself to defend Reiko should the situation become dangerous.
Suddenly Reiko dashes forward. You instinctively draw your weapons, but you know they are both moving too fast for you to do any good. The moment seems to last for an eternity- Clara heaving the claymore down over her head while Reiko lunges forward, ducking slightly to avoid the oncoming blade. You can only watch in fear as the distance closes.
They finally meet when Reiko grabs Clara in a warm embrace. The weight of the sword causes it to slip from Clara's hands as her elbows hit Reiko's shoulders. As it thunders against the ground Clara collapses into Reiko's hold weeping loudly. Reiko cranes her head to you all and nods.
“It's alright now. I'll take care of her. But this war won't stop just because Michael's gone. There is still much we need to do. Go On! I'll catch up later.” You hesitate for a moment, but then heed her instructions and run out into the street. You hear police sirens in the distance as you quickly move away from the building. A few blocks down you stop and catch your breath, and turn back to see the death lights pouring out of the windows as if the building was ablaze. It is a sight that fills you with awe.
You take one last look before leaving, the brilliant scene providing a somber backdrop as you walk forward towards your destiny. What and where that is may be unknown, but you hope you will not have to endure an experience such as this again.