They Would Burn The World

Carnage and chaos surround me, the wind blowing through my hair and tattered clothes as I stare across the battlefield at him. His expression is indiscernible from this distance, although even if he was near me I doubt I’d understand it. I hoist my weapon higher in my arms, trembling with the effort. 

“What now, Cap?” My best friend asks me.

“We do what we’ve always done.” I reply.

She goes to say something, but stops abruptly as...he...starts gliding toward us.

“Hello, Jules.”

“Don’t call me that.” I snarl, pointing my weapon at him.

He stops, hurt flashing unhidden across his face, and I flinch. “Don’t you understand why I’ve done this?” The same hurt laces his words.

“Destroy the world? I’d rather not try to unravel the mind of a villain, thanks.” I spit out the words, but they still leave the taste of bile in my mouth.

He sighs. “You know,” he pauses, “for a hero, they’d let go of you just to save the world. But a villain? They’d sacrifice anything, burn the whole world, just for one person.” He murmurs. “And yet, we are the ones seen as evil.”

I don’t want to think about it, I don’t want to think about how it was before, I don’t want to think about when we were friends—“I love you, Jules.”

“I love you too, Ie.” The words escape my mouth before I can stop them, and I back away, stunned, stumbling over my feet; but I can’t take them back. I don’t want to take them back.

“Captain?” She says, unsure. I can't look her in the eye.

“Then why don’t you give me a chance?” His voice is filled with hope. 

And it breaks me.

“I can’t.” I whisper, broken. “I’m so, so sorry.”

I close my eyes and pull the trigger.

*

The ensuing silence is deafening. I blink as a tear slides slowly down my cheek. 

He was right.

Am I really a hero?

Or am I just a puppet made of lies?

“What have I done?” I whisper, a trembling hand coming up to my mouth. “No. Nonononono! No! Ie!!” I rush towards him, dropping my gun. “I’m so sorry, Ie.” I whisper against his hair, cradling his head in my arms. “I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry.” 

“Jules,” He whispers. “I know. I know, Jules. I still...love...you.” He lets out a breath, and his eyes go blank.

I love you, too.

Tears flow down my cheeks and onto his face, and all I can do is scream into the sky, scream for that which took him. Scream for the blood I will never be able to wash off of my hands. I scream till I can’t scream anymore, till I am the only living creature except one still on this battlefield. This soil that is tainted with his blood.