fade {Derecho vs Vraven} Day 6

As the sun starts setting beneath the horizon, Derecho gives up his search for his friend. Kaius is nowhere to be found, and Derecho knows he can't spend every waking second looking for him. On one hand, he's happy he can't find him, but on the other, he worries the worst might've happened, and while it's for the best if he died, Derecho can't bring himself to accept the horrible reality of knowing someone else he cares for died.

But he might not be dead.

For a moment the world feels completely relaxed as he lowers himself onto the hard ground hiding in the midst of the smoke and fog. It doesn't offer much protecting, and it makes it hard to breathe, but for now, this place will make do.

Even as the visions start penetrating his mind, he tries fighting them away with every ounce of strength he has because tonight's anthem is more important than he ever could've imagined. Knowing who died is important, but most importantly, Derecho yearns to find out if he's alone or if he has a chance of reuniting with a friend, or if Kaius has joined Quinn.

Thinking of Quinn is hard, and its worse since every night he replays her death over and over, and the screaming grows louder and louder.

I promised to protect her.

Every part of his life has been a big mistake -

You're a failure, Derecho. That's all you'll ever be.

No.

He tried, he gave it everything he had, but in this game where she had to die anyway -

I tried, but I can't protect everyone.

But his silent screams grow louder as the night grows darker. Icy, cold chills move up and down his spine. Beads of sweat drip from his brow - all he sees is his family dying over and over, and he sees Quinn and Kaius and himself dying, and nothing he does can put an end to it.

He claws at the crown trying to remove it from his head, yet it feels as though it digs deeper and embeds itself further into his skull, and then they stop for a moment.

Yet his heart is galloping inside his chest, and right now the only thing on his mind is forcing these thoughts away for as long as he can.

It's only the beginning.

The silent screams grow louder inside his mind, and he's trying to push the thoughts away, trying to lift the weight higher than he's ever done before because as his face turns towards the sky, the anthem is playing.

And he sees him.

A heavy heart slams into the pit of his stomach -

It's just a vision.

Only it isn't, and it feels as though the entire world is squeezing the life out of him. A shaky hand wraps around the letter he found before picking up the crown -

Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
Can you bear the weight?
-S.B.

The weight is heavier than everything he's ever imagined, but it's holding him back, it's pushing him down -

I don't think I can bear it anymore.

A steady stream of tears leak from the corner of his eyes, and he's trying to push them away, but he can't stop them. It's almost as if his body is out of his control.

You're weak, Derecho.

But the words of a friend echo through his ears;

"You're stronger than you give yourself credit for."

Quinn.

Kaius.

I've let them down.

Protecting them proved too much, and he knew eventually they'd have to die anyway.

I can't save them all.

Drawing his knees to his chest, he takes a deep breath -

But I can save myself. I can make sure their memory never dies.

Exhaling, he wipes the tears away before curling into a ball in hopes that exhaustion will take over, but his night, once again, is filled with nightmares and terrible visions of everyone he cares for dying.

A loud crack of thunder brings him jumping from the restless sleep. It plagues his body, and his eyes are even heavier than before. Keeping them open is damn near impossible, yet somehow, he jumps to his feet prepared to move because nobody knows what the day will bring.

For a moment, he feels as though his knees will crumble under the weight of his body.

But once he has his balance, he starts moving forward with the hammer resting on his shoulder when something terrible sores overhead casting a shadow down below. Wide eyes, Derecho turns towards the sky as he lifts the hammer high into the air -

Trusty hammer, you haven't failed me yet.

Taking a deep breath, he follows the creature knowing the dangers of what could possibly swoop into his way, and when he exhales, Derecho finds his momentum, and swings with his might knowing if he fails, this could easily be his final farewell.