That night, something died inside of him. The darkness crept up on him like a thief in the night, silently and swiftly. It wrapped its cold, bony fingers around his throat, squeezing tight until every last drop of light had been extinguished. He felt like he was drowning in an ocean of blackness, gasping for air. It was as if a part of him had died, leaving behind nothing but an emptiness that echoed through his entire being. The darkness had consumed him, body and soul, and he was left feeling lost and alone in a world that had suddenly become so much darker.

"Do it." A voice taunted, echoing through the void before him.

Was this what lurks behind Death's eyes?

Is this what it's like to die?

Rhazien's thoughts were as tumultuous as the turbulent tides beneath. The enigma of what lay beyond the veil of mortality had long been a subject of deep contemplation. The question of what secrets lurked on the other side of existence had been a persistent mystery in Rhazien's mind, leaving them with an insatiable curiosity that he couldn't shake off.

The inky blackness seeped through the vast emptiness, looming over him with an ominous presence. It felt as though he was shackled to that spot, unable to move from the grasp of the encroaching darkness.

Trapped.

Shot in the dark.

Left for dead.

The weight of guilt was crushing him as he couldn't stop thinking about how he had failed to protect all those people who had perished. He was haunted by the memories of Lilith, Mr. Blanks, the rookie, and Callum, all of whom he could not save. Despite his best efforts, he felt responsible for their untimely demise and couldn't help but wonder if he could have done something differently.

In his darkest moments, he couldn't help but think about his past mistakes. Specifically, he regretted not being able to protect his three dear friends - Crain, Renwick, and Aria. He often wondered if things would have been different if he had gone back for them when he had the chance. The thought of their fate weighed heavily on his mind, and he couldn't help but question if he could have made a difference in their lives.

His ship was sinking, and it was a matter of time before he drowned along with it.

Rhazien knew of the risks. The more he treaded in the dark, the more likely he was to become the very things that lurked beneath. It resulted in him getting bitten, slowly turning, and being stabbed in the back by his best friend. 

It was a game he could not win.

He always knew a bullet was waiting for him. Even in the face of death, he couldn't shake the feeling that an ominous presence was lurking just beyond his line of sight. It felt like time was ticking away each second, counting down until it inevitably reached zero and pulled the trigger, unleashing an explosive force that would change everything irreversibly.

As his lips parted, a thin veil of dread enveloped him, consuming his very soul. He blamed himself for every failure, every misstep. If he hadn't taken that leap of faith, the boy would have perished before his very eyes, and all his efforts would have been in vain. Alas, fate is a fickle mistress, and sometimes, the very act of chasing it can lead to one's downfall.

He often wondered if he was doing the right thing by protecting the child, the Lazarus vessel.

"The Lazarus vessel," Rhazien mumbled, wondering what Crain saw in Callum, knowing he mentioned something about Callum threatening the balance of their world. 

Did Crain know more about the boy than he did?

Even if Crain saw a fragment of darkness lurking beneath Callum's gaze, he wouldn't let Crain make his mark on Callum.

His morals spoke louder than words itself. In a selfless act of heroism, he fearlessly stood in harm's way, putting his own life on the line to ensure that Callum could live and have a chance at a fulfilling life.

Rhazien stood at the crossroads, his heart heavy with the weight of his decision. He knew what to do, but the thought made his stomach churn with disgust. It was a betrayal of everything he stood for, a violation of the code he had sworn to uphold. Yet, he couldn't deny the gnawing feeling of doubt that had crept into his mind like a parasite that refused to let go.

He looked around at the desolate landscape, the barren wasteland that stretched out for miles in every direction. It was a fitting backdrop for the decision that he was about to make, a bleak and lifeless place that mirrored the emptiness in his soul. He had come here seeking justice, but now he was about to throw it away.

He was losing himself. Memories flashed before him and faded before his very eyes.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly opened them again. The world seemed to have lost its colour, vibrancy, and vitality. Everything he knew was muted and dull, as if a thick fog had descended over it. He knew that it was just his perception, his own mind playing tricks on him, but it felt so real until. . . he started laughing.

A sick grin pulled at the corner of his lips as darkness consumed him again. He gripped the blade of his guilt and thrust it into the darkness. Madness was consuming his very soul until he could not control his movements anymore.

The fallen's hope was his vengeance, and he wouldn't allow justice to hold him back from fulfilling the dead's wishes.

"Do it!" the voice screamed loudly inside his head, piercing through his eardrums and jolting him back to reality. As the sound reverberated inside his skull, his blurry vision slowly cleared, and he found himself gripping Crain's throat with one hand and a blade lurking in the other hand. 

It seems like life wasn't done with him yet, after all.

Rhazien's eyes glimmered like a pair of ghostly blue flames, casting a ghostly glow on his face. A sudden realization dawned on him as he looked down at Crain lying beneath him, causing his eyes to dim slowly. Crain's once fierce expression contorted into a mix of anger and disappointment as if he was trying to process the fact that his adversary had finally accepted his fate.

"Rhazien! What are you waiting for?! Kill me if you must. It won't change the conclusion of the monster that lurks beneath your flesh," he replies in seeping anger in each breath, struggling to breathe.

Now, he was starting to understand Crain's riddle.

Bury me in the curses that still hold me.

Rhazien's eyes narrowed by half an inch as he watched the life slowly drain from Crain's eyes. Each breath seemed to be a struggle for survival, and Crain's body writhed in Rhazien's grasp as he fought to break free. Despite his desperate attempts, Crain's gaze met Rhazien's with a look of fear and resignation, knowing that his fate was sealed.

Was this power?

To watch a life slowly fade before him by his hand.

The storm raging with all its might just moments ago began to dissipate into a gentle shower. The dark and ominous clouds that had been looming over Rhazien just a little while back had now transformed into a light shade of grey. He could feel the cold droplets of rain seeping through his clothes as the shower continued to fall gently on his back. His dark locks were now drenched, sticking to his face as he loomed over Crain, torn between his morals and the line of duty.

How many more would die at Crain's hand?

"My hand was forced by my will to protect those who couldn't protect themselves. I often wondered if this is justice, to hunt those who choose to rein chaos and calamity," he paused, looking into Crain's eyes as the grip on his throat tightens, "I promised myself I wouldn't kill those driven out of anguish and only to hunt creatures of the night. Now, I am not so sure. Besides, justice is a tool, and my vengeance is lethal. Maybe we aren't all different; after all, it takes a monster to kill a monster." With a fierce look in his eyes, he tightly clutches the blade in his right hand and raises it, ready to strike Crain's heart before thrusting it down.

Thrusting the blade downwards to strike Crain's heart, a small but firm grip on his forearm stopped him. Curious, he turned his head to see the boy using all his strength to restrain Rhazien from losing himself to a murderous act. As the sun rose, the sky transformed into a breathtaking canvas of golden and pink hues, illuminating the once-murky atmosphere.

Rhazien's hand quivered as he looked down at Callum. The boy's innocent, forest-green eyes were fixed on him in a mix of fear and determination. Rhazien could see tears welling up in the corners of his eyes, threatening to spill over. The sight made Rhazien's heart ache with guilt. He wanted to reach out and comfort the boy, to tell him that everything would be alright, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Instead, he stood there, frozen in place, his mind racing with thoughts.

"Don't do it. Please, Rhazien. Don't do it," his words quivered as tears began to run down his cheeks.

"It isn't right. . ." the boy's voice crackles as his voice begins to weep.

Rhazien was consumed by a realization that slowly dawned on him as his chest burned with fear and guilt. The thought of losing himself was unbearable. He was drowning in darkness, and the tides threatened to consume him whole. But at that moment, Callum cast a line for him to take, preventing him from sinking deeper into despair. He was the light that lit Rhazien's way in the darkness. As Rhazien struggled to keep his head above water, feelings of shame and regret washed over him. He never expected to become the very thing he feared, the monster that lurked in the dark. And now he had to face the consequences of his actions. 

In that tense moment, Rhazien's eyes darted to Crain for a split second before locking back onto Callum. His fingers slowly relaxed their grip around Crain's neck, and the sharp blade he had been holding slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground with a metallic ring.

As he stepped off the Crain, he noticed Callum standing at a distance, his tiny frame shaking with sobs. Without a second thought, he knelt to his height and wrapped him in a warm embrace, feeling the boy's tears soak through his shirt as he wept uncontrollably into his chest. Rhazien wrapped his arms around him, holding him tight and soothing him with gentle words. He held him and never let go, for he could never forgive himself if something happened to the boy.

"I. . . I thought you were dead-." He sobs, tears flowing down his cheeks, remembering the fall Rhazien took. Surprisingly, he no longer felt pain in his body, as if his transformation healed every crack.

"I know," Rhazien murmurs, running his pale fingers through Callum's earthy locks in a soothing motion.

"I'm not going anywhere. . ." he whispers, pulling away for a moment.

"When I took the fall, I failed you, Callum. I'm not a hero. I'm just a man trying to do everything I can to make the world a better place, but you," he paused and exhaled.

"You saved me Callum. Thank you." His lips pulled into a soft smile as Callum's tears faded away.

As the wind whistled past, a sudden squawk echoed through the air. Callum looked up just in time to see Corvus gracefully descending from above and landing softly on his shoulder. The bird's weight was barely noticeable, but the feeling of its delicate talons and feathers against his shoulder was tranquil.

"Now. Let's go home."