Another knight's body hits the floor, one of their legs removed via plasma fire. The bio-mechanical march won't stop for another casualty, but the Ferrymyn will. The stampede of knights pushes forward, leaving an opening for the Ferrymyn to preform their rituals. The Ferrymyn approach the fallen; minds sharing burdens of pain. The breathing of the wounded knight slows; both from her withering heart, but also the warm touch on her cheeks. In her delirious state she almost missed that her helmet had been removed. A gentle touch wiped tears from her eyes, granting her clarity. A Ferrymyn's hand was caressing her cheek. They were whispering something in a language the knight could only guess. She hoped it was a prayer. Talk of Ferrymyn was forbidden, as if that every stopped anything in the history of humankind. The knight knew what it meant for a Ferrymyn to bless you. This would be the day her days ended. Until then she would enjoy the first time that she felt the breeze play with her short hair. The cacophony of battle the only sounds gracing her ears without filter. The smell of death lingering with an ocean breeze, a mixing of salt and iron on the tongue. Though the most striking sensation was that of another humans face. No armour, no augmentations. Just a person with a smile. They would carry her beyond. And the knight hoped someday she would do the same. Become a Ferrymyn for another, and feel touch once again.

"Thank you"

A dream begins, started anew Eager and optimistic, ready to fly The dream goes by, forgotten when due

Plans are formed when skies are blue When hope is strong, and spirits are high A dream begins, started anew

But fleeting thoughts begin to coup I will begin tomorrow, said with a sigh The dream goes by, forgotten when due

But in this cycle, I've always had you Believing in me when spirits are dry A dream begins, started anew

But I will always have you

I decided to try one last gamble with an old friend and stepped outside. I was greeted with a red dot on my chest belonging to a Remington M24. I didn't need to see the weapon to know what was trained on me. I had gifted it to him last week after all. Heartbeats passed as I stood there with my arms raised. In my hand I held a sign with words I wished were not true.

"I know where Claire is".

I held a second sign hidden behind the first. Two phone numbers, one on each side. One number would reveal truth held back. The other was a another lie upon lie. I hadn't had time to consider which gambit was better, so I wrote down both and hoped this would buy me time to think. I closed my eyes and hoped the light would be gone when they reopened. Maybe I could continue running if it was. It wasn't, of course. I had to give him a number. One would vilify me even more. One would do the opposite. Was it justice to be forced to choose after what I've already done? I closed my eyes and made the cowards choice, and showed the truth.

I waited. Thinking out the seconds of pain this bought me. He would be taking out his phone. Bring.. bring... Bring.. bring... Then Claire's voice. A few words on an answering machine was all that remained of the truth. I waited for the choice to be made for me.

Bang.

Echo.

Birds scattering from the trees.

Silence.