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(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

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I turned from them, reaching a hand out in<strong>to</strong> the empty space in front <strong>of</strong><br />

me. With a wrench <strong>of</strong> my wrist I twisted the threads <strong>of</strong> existence, and the<br />

area in front <strong>of</strong> me turned in on itself, warping in a whirl <strong>of</strong> blue and white.<br />

The portal hung like a curtain, and revealed the perfumed quarters <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Clerk's Ward.<br />

I felt a pang through my chest. For a short time that had <strong>be</strong>en home, and I<br />

could never return.<br />

One by one they went through, gazes kept forward. They left me in<strong>to</strong> the<br />

folds <strong>of</strong> life, and it would shelter them for the rest <strong>of</strong> their years, long as<br />

they may <strong>be</strong>.<br />

But <strong>not</strong> as long as mine, I smiled <strong>to</strong> myself.<br />

Only Annah turned <strong>to</strong> me then, the last <strong>to</strong> leave. Her mouth opened, she<br />

reached out, but <strong>be</strong>fore she could run back <strong>to</strong> me I snapped the portal shut.<br />

I closed my eyes, and waited for the end.<br />

~~~~~<br />

I could feel it gnawing at the walls, clawing at the protective wards my<br />

mortality had placed when we were apart. I looked up <strong>to</strong> the sha<strong>do</strong>ws that<br />

swirled, and shuddered, <strong>not</strong> knowing whether I was their master or foe.<br />

With a sweep <strong>of</strong> my hand they scattered. I hoped they would find their<br />

rightful rest.<br />

And then I focused, knowing the protections that barred my <strong>death</strong> from me.<br />

They snapped like overstretched sinews, and with each one that broke the<br />

Fortress shuddered. Far in the distance I could feel the regrets crumbling <strong>to</strong><br />

ash, swept in<strong>to</strong> the <strong>not</strong>hingness <strong>of</strong> the void that lay <strong>be</strong>yond. Words unsaid<br />

and stillborn dreams... the mortar and brick <strong>of</strong> my palace, my prison,<br />

cracked. The pillars <strong>of</strong> sorrow fractured and broke.<br />

The Fortress was falling apart.<br />

I could feel the foundations raining away <strong>be</strong>neath me, dissolving in<strong>to</strong><br />

<strong>not</strong>hingness. Each floor and <strong>to</strong>wer shattered and melted away like ice in<strong>to</strong><br />

the sea <strong>of</strong> black, and with each barrier that fell my <strong>death</strong> clawed closer,<br />

howling with voracious fangs.<br />

1209

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