My heartbeat was free from my chest. A thud, thud, that drummed through existence. Maybe it's not a heartbeat at all. Trembling at the depths of emptiness, alone with the rhythm of a song I couldn't comprehend… is this death?

The air was cool but not cold, no shivers along my arms. My skin was clean, no dirt under my nails, no splotches of blood. Hands that were barely recognizable as my own. Taking deep breaths of air, my lungs strong again. Any sliver of an ache was gone. My fingers pressed against the wound, a scar ripped along it, an old scar.

My eyes squinted at the light, a heavy glare. Surrounded by white nothing, no floor, no walls. Flashes of colour moving like streams. Vivid lines circling me, moving along with the current.

We fell into the gateway.

I gasped, the atmosphere pouring down my throat. My eyes watered, stinging, they burned. I coughed, choking on the bitter taste. Gloria's gone, I'm all alone. My head hollow, weightless. The light twisted out, the white abyss stretching endlessly. I'm not sure if she's here somewhere. If anyone's here.

Something in the distance, a dark speck, suspended like me. I waved my arm below, my fingers slipping through whatever held me up. Should I try and stand? Or would I fall into the neverending depths.

Carefully, I rolled over, lifting myself up. So far so good. The nothing supporting my feet, I walked towards the speck. Colours shifted their dance towards the cloaked stranger.

I recognized the cloak, the tattered corners moving along with the current. I froze in place. His face left towards the sky. The guardian.

Deep breaths I wandered closer. Kicking him with my foot, I muttered, "I should've listened to you." The hood brushed away from his face, sullen and sunken cheekbones. Such a pitiful creature. Grayish skin, wispy hair. Eyes dead, open to the sky. Guilt clawing at me, I swallowed it back. What's done is done, there's no going back. I turned, a slight glimmer of gold returned to his eyes.

What? I leaned closer, peering at the light. Gold outlined the edge of his irises, the fire of the sun. My lips parted, staring at the firelight. His snicker sent me flailing back. Scattering as the guardian lifted his head, giving a weak cough.

"You're not dead!" I whimpered.

Another snicker, his breathing swallow. "You can't die when you're already dead." He coughed again, the golden fire filling his eyes. "Although, I would prefer death to this." He pointed to the hole in his chest. "Damned mirror blade. I will remain like this till the end of time."

"...I'm not sure I understand."

"No, I shouldn't think you would." He motioned to the space beside him. "Sit, young man, you seem troubled."

I hung my head, crouching beside him. "I'm sure you know exactly why."

"I know why?" He blinked. "Have we met before?"

"You don't remember?"

His head shook. "You are a blank slate to me. But now that you mention it, that is a strange thing...I don't think I've ever met anyone who's past and future is misplaced."

I frowned, staring at my hands. "Gloria had me cut myself out of the gateway, something about taking me from its gaze."

"Gloria…" he hummed, "now that is a name that sounds familiar."

I nodded. "She was the princess of Omen, daughter of Gregoroi-"

He raised his finger "Ah, yes...then she has done it."

"Done what?" I tilted my head.

"The beginning of the end, doomsday, death to all mortality." He laid his head back, his breathing wheezing. "She was very clever, clearer than most souls that end up in this place. Always asking questions about anything and everything...It was nice to have someone to talk to." The light in his eyes dimmed. "It was unfortunate, her fixation with death, the end. If I ever expected she would leave...I would've never told her." He shut his eyes. "I'm guessing you're to blame for that, and for this-" he pointed to the sword in his chest "- and here I thought I was too old to be naive."

" I love her," my voice quivered.

The guardian laughed, "So to hell with the world then, yes."

"That's not what I mean." I shut my eyes. "It's complicated, I thought I was doing the right thing."

He shook his head. "it's not complicated."

I wrung my hands through my hair. "How is this not complicated! There is no way I could've known. Now I don't know if it's too late, or how to get out of here-"

"You will soon return to the surface, and Gloria will come with you." I blinked at his answer. He sighed, turning over again. "This is not a place meant for temporal things. The gateway will reject your mortal shell, and because both your souls are tethered to that form..."

"So we'll just be where we left off, and Gloria will finish her plan." I hung my head.

"Now you're concerned with doing the right thing?" He scoffed at me.

"It's just-"

"Complicated?" he hissed, "It's always complicated. The world will always be against you, and the enemies will always be strong. The difference is getting up on your own damn feet and doing what needs to be done."

I shook my head. "I don't know what needs to be done."

"Yes you do."

"No…" My head spinning, the colours spiraled away. "It won't work, it won't."

"Then watch the world die," he sighed, "it would end my agony sooner."

"I don't want this to happen!" I shouted. He shut his eyes, staying stiff. "I don't want the world end," I repeated, my voice going off. No response, his face still as stone. I shook him, fighting for anything. "Listen, there must be another way...please."

"Another way?" His eyes cracked open, "Maybe for the world but not for you." His lips barely moved, words fading….No, wait!

The heartbeat grew louder, the pulse disrupting the current. It hurt, my vision warped. I reached after the guardian, disappearing before my eyes. Falling through the abyss, the darkness consumed everything. I'm not ready for this. The pain fell back like a ton of bricks.

Back to the surface.