Life After Death (Final Chapter)

M saw the saw blade that missed his head by inches bury itself in the concrete floor behind him, he ignored it. His keen eyes scanned the people that were currently running around in a panic, looking for Chelsea. A cold feeling crept up his spine when he didn't find her there, amongst the others, the cold feeling turned into a full body shiver when he finally found her: At the wall, next to her usual roost. She peeked over and shot, pulling and closing the bolt on her rifle with expert speed. M knew every shot was a kill, she was a good sniper, but she needed to get away from the wall. He screamed at her, trying to tell her to get down, but the fervor and noise of the people running and shouting drowned him out. 

He waved at her, trying to get her attention, while trying to keep his balance as others pushed by him, either trying to find their way to the fight or run from it. She began to peer over the wall while reloading, he screamed louder. She withdrew from her peek over the wall, her rifle full of bullets and ready to fire again. She finally looked at him, she drew a breath and looked like she was going to shout something. A spear, the thickness of an arm, tore through the sheet metal wall, the strut holding it, and Chelsea's chest. M's world went silent, the people around him disappeared. The people in Hadley's Hope were scurrying around like ants in a panic, but he was focused on her, and he got to her. 

Her eyes were wide, nearly bloodshot, her lips stained red, her teeth coated with blood. M was trying his hardest not to cry, not to panic, “You're okay, Chel, you're okay...” he tried so hard not to let his voice tremble, but it did. He examined the sharpened metal spear that had her pinned, looking for a way to try and save her, there was none. She looked at him, her face strained, she tried to speak, but could only get out a grunt and some wet gurgles. Tears filled M's eyes, turning the world into a melting painting as he tried to fight the hysteria that was building inside him. “Don't speak, Chel, I can fix this, I can fix this, I can fix...” She finally did speak, “Don't...let this....change...you...I love...” She went slack, her arms hung lifelessly, her vibrant eyes closed. 

M cried out, the only word he knew at the moment was 'Please', and he repeated it, over and over. It was like a bad dream, it was like finding his brothers and mother, again. He reached out for her, but her body was pulled through the sheet metal, to the world beyond the walls of Hadley's Hope. He screamed as she was jerked away, his hands finding his weapon and shouldering it. The world was covered in a red fog, no faces, no identifying marks, just bodies for his bullets. No words were said as he fired his silenced rifle through the hole that was just created, screaming at the top of his lungs until his throat was dry and raw.

Chests exploded into red, heads turned into flying chunks of grey, if one bullet didn't do the job another quickly followed. It seemed like a never ending sea of bodies, every one that fell was quickly replaced, and it wasn't until he had to reload that the attackers spotted him. Shortly after, flying blades and objects aimed to maim were flung at high speeds towards M and his perch, some flying by, some burying themselves in the thin metal next to him. His rain of fire and lead had ended and he leaped from the perch to the floor below just as two metal hooks were slung over the edge of the doors to the community.

Engines and savage voices joined together in a song of shouts and roars, the doors groaned while trying to hold on, M ran for the back of the community, unable to do anything but watch as the women and children were shoved into the awaiting cars and trucks that were setup for an escape, should this kind of thing happen. A thick red line of paint ran across the entire settlement, it was their marker, their last line of defense, but for some it was the point of no return. M joined the other men at the line, armed to the teeth, ready to defend their settlement when the gates went down. Adrenaline, liquid rage, pumped through every vein and muscle in M's body as he stared at the metal structure that would give way any second. While they waited for the inevitable others were still running around, trying to decide what to leave behind and what to take. 

Spears, sharpened saw blades, butcher cleavers, and all sorts of sharp pieces of metal were launched over the wall, aiming to harm and disarm the ones inside. They all fell short of the red line, some skipping along the pavement and spitting sparks. Somewhere to his right there were orders being barked, giving direction to the men, instructing them on what should be used first. It was all just buzzing in M's ears, he couldn't hear them, he was focused on the incoming threat. The gates gave their final metallic scream and gave, falling outward and landing with a huge thud, kicking up snow and dust alike. For a moment the world was still and silent, the view from inside the community was obscured by the plume. The young man with tears in his eyes searched for the first sign of life; to end it.

Chaos had come. The plume lit up with truck lights, what looked like dozens of them, screams, muzzle flashes from guns, and various objects thrown. All at once they came pouring into Hadley's Hope, men and women, dressed for the winter, but savage at the same time: mohawks, warpaint made of dried blood, animal hides, various bones that were easily identifiable as human. Some brandished axes, others machetes, some bats with various blades attached. The people that were still scrambling and trying to get to the evacuation point were lost. The savages descended like rabid dogs, tackling the ones still fleeing. Few were lucky, having their heads bashed in or their throats cut, others weren't. They were still screaming as the raiders began to eat them. Some cried out for help, others just screamed as they tried to fight off their would-be devourers, it was all in vain. 

M opened fire with his rifle so did several others, bottles with trails of fire flew over his head, landing and lighting several attackers on fire at a time. M finished off the few on the ground that were still alive and bleeding, waiting for a death that would've been slow coming, otherwise. More people were coming out of the settlement, some were able to dodge the gruesome savage, others were carried away, past the gates, into the outside world, still screaming and pleading. That wasn't the only form of attack, M and the line of the other men were still firing, as blades and other weapons flew at them. Some of them connected, some didn't, grunts and screams of pain from both sides of the fight filled M's ears as he kept firing, he was indifferent to them. 

The first truck grill push through the wide gates, it was adorned with lights, the same war paint, and lastly, the bones of people. Some of the decorations still had flesh attached, grizzly trophies of the past settlements conquered. Several of the other men stopped at the sight, M aimed his scope at the driver and pulled the trigger several times. The windshield turned white with the holes, then the glass was splattered with red when a bullet found the driver. That truck was pushed further in as another emerged from behind it, decorated just the same, the windshield was armored and hidden under bleached bones, except for a small slit in the makeshift protection. It was enough for M and his skills and soon the driver met the same fate as the first, the spray of blood just as violent as the last.

More of the raiders ran around the trucks, some underneath, all trying to get inside Hadley's Hope, screaming their battle cry of 'Fresh meat!' The savages were nothing but moving targets to M's angry rifle, fueled on by his untethered rage that was directed at no one, he dropped his empty magazine, replaced it and hit the bolt catch. He was concentrating so hard on taking down the incoming horde he didn't feel the three nails, launched from someplace beyond the two crippled trucks, bury themselves in his left shoulder. The marauders were easy prey for him, the ones running, the ones trying to climb the tires of the trucks, trying to gain control of them, the ones still eating citizens of the settlement, they were all prey. His mag ran empty, again, but there was no more to replace it.

The furious young man unstrapped his rifle and laid it on the ground, then ripped out the nails in his shoulder. For the first time this entire fight he felt the weight of all the blades he carried, he took stock, counted each one, planned something gruesome with every inch of steel he had. He stood and dropped his outer coat, revealing his cache of weapons to enemies and allies, alike, he delved deeper into rage as he pulled the first two blades, rushing headlong into the oncoming crowd. Somewhere behind him there were shouts, probably cautionary, but he didn't care, he wanted to use what he had in his hands. He wanted to cut through them. The other denizens, still fighting for their lives, tried to shoot around the charging young man, sometimes missing him only by inches.

His rage had given way to instincts and training, he moved almost silently, the occasional clacking of one of his knife sheaths was all that gave him away, but he doubted they were trained to listen for that. The first three he met died with a look of shock on their faces, two cleaved nearly in two, more came, M welcomed them. He never missed, never made a mistake, never paused. The raider's sloppy and wild swings left them open to be butchered, cut open, sometimes to the bone. They were fodder, he was the cannon, and he destroyed them all, just the same. When he lost a blade he simply produced another, if he threw one, he'd recover it. He moved through the small horde like an arrow fired through rain drops, unstoppable.

With only a few weapons left M had finally come upon the final truck, where he could smell the bodies of the victims trying to rot, but the cold wouldn't let them. He saw bodies laid out by the back tire, some of them dead, some unconscious, and Chelsea, herself. He had sustained a few hits during the fight and they became more and more apparent as his rage subsided, but it was all turning numb as he walked to her, wanting nothing more, than for this to be a bad dream. The baseball bat that collided with the side of his head shattered, knocking M into the snowbank next to the truck. He recovered quickly, rolling and facing the threat. The man was huge, at least a foot taller than M, muscles thickening his limbs, a shaved head, colored with what looked like dry blood. The man tossed the stump of the bat aside and roared at M, his teeth had been ground down into points, like a shark.

M could feel the blood start to trickle from the impact wound on the side of his head as he stood and faced the raider, “I got something special for you, big boy!” M drew one of the last of his blades, a tomahawk, but with a modern make-over: a longer handle, a broader head, the blade forged in sharp angles. The man produced a machete of his own, rusted, and chipped. M stood, challenging the savage, who responded by opening his arms in a threatening gesture, baring his naked chest at the smaller man. It was the opportunity M needed. As fast as he could, as hard as he could, M threw his tomahawk and buried the angled edge in the sternum of the savage. The shock of the attack brought the giant to his knees as he struggled to try and pull out the blade, but it was stuck fast.

The young man walked around the marauder, picking up the dropped machete, and stood behind the man. “This is for Chelsea.” He uttered before he focused all his energy, all his frustration, all his rage, on this man. He finally had a target to direct himself at and he planned to take it all out on the giant savage, the machete broke only a few heavy chops later. M walked back into Hadley's Hope with Chelsea in his arms, he was covered in gore, sweat, blood, and was obviously exhausted from what he'd done and the head of the giant raider was stuck on his axe. The few people left standing, more than M had expected, let up a cheer. He remained silent as his tomahawk thumped on the floor, the head a prize to put atop the gates. He made his way through the bodies of friend and foe, knowing how much they'd all lost, yet he could only think of Chelsea and her kindness.

It took hours to clean up everything, the marauder's bodies were piled atop each other and burned, family members of the fallen gathered themselves to mourn. People in charge loudly argued about how to improve the strength of Hadley's Hope. It took all this time for M to bury Chelsea in the frozen ground, so many offered to help him, but he declined every time. The remaining doctors patched him up, cleaned his wounds, and even asked if he wanted to help them even further. He appreciated their offer, their genuine care, but there was nothing left for him in this place. He packed his things, and Chelsea's rifle, and walked out of Hadley's Hope at dawn the next day. He swore to himself that it was the last time he would be around other humans. The road greeted him with a blast of cold air and a flurry of snow that danced past him. His journey began again.

An Immortal's Tale: Final Chapter

An Immortal’s Tale

The Man In The Black Suit

Part 12
“The End Of All Things”

He didn’t remember the impact, the flames rushing into the cabin, or the screams of people around him. It was drowned out by the cacophony of the plane he was in, being torn to shreds and falling to the ground below. Hands roughly pulled Jon from the flaming wreckage. The Cult shot it down, they had been watching him, and now they were retrieving their prize. Jon’s eyes fluttered open and shut, between consciousness and blacking out. His last thought before the world turned black was, “The air is on fire.” 

Sounds couldn’t push through the fog of the crash or the pain he was feeling. He would slip back into the black, and resurface only for a moment to take in what was around him. He heard voices and felt hands tearing at his clothes. Nothingness returned. A silencing muzzle was forced over his mouth, his hands were wrenched behind his back, and there was a smell of ancient iron. Back into the void. Orange light, chanting, winds. He awoke.

He was on his knees in the dirt, upon a hill overlooking Bethlehem. The horizon was red with the violence below. Pillars of smoke and fire crept up from the city. If Jon concentrated his hearing, he could discern screams, heavy rocks falling from different structures and thudding to the ground below, crushing many. Mushroom clouds from things exploding would rocket up. Tears stung the immortal’s eyes as he watched, but couldn’t speak. He couldn’t believe it was happening again.

“Do you like the ritual, Paladin?” a voice behind him growled. The iron muzzle stopped his speech, the mittens of the same material stopped his powers, but he looked over his shoulder and leveled a smoldering gaze at the hooded man. Jon’s powers were suppressed, but his physical strength wasn’t. Despite all the cuts, bruises, and possible broken bones, hidden beneath his torn and tattered black suit, he began to twist and pull at his restraints. He would be free. He would avenge the innocent. 

The hood, flanked by four Cult members, looked down at the Paladin on his knees and laughed, “What’s the matter, Judas? I thought you enjoyed a little chaos?” The other hooded ones chimed in and repeated that name. He growled at them all, trying to let his eyes do the talking. He told himself to keep twisting, keep pushing, you’ll be free. “No? It’s OK. Only a few thousand or so need to die. Then you. And it’s all over.” Jon could hear the smile hidden by the hood. 

“Let’ssss kill him now! He owesss me an arm!” It was the scratchy, inhuman voice from the bar where Ricky worked, that reptilian creature that named him Judas. Two of the others hissed their agreement, but the one at the head of the group silenced them with a wave of his hand. Jon was taking inventory: one woman, one creature, two men, one leader, and the others doing the dirty work. “Get our guest up. It’s almost time.” The two men grabbed Jon under his arms and hauled him to his feet. "Keep twisting," he thought.

They began dragging him away from the horror he could do nothing about. One of his captors whispered in his ear, “Soon you’ll meet the one that made all this happen.” His arms were wrenched harder for no reason as they went. It was barely dusk as they set out, walking on and on until dawn broke. They walked through miles of desert, the dawn breaking a hearty red in the distance. Only then, against the glowing crimson, did he see other pillars of smoke, other cities burning to ruin.

With the day banishing the night, Jon saw their destination: a pile of rocks in the middle of the sand, golden colored to blend in, with a crack through the middle to act as a door. He said silent prayers for all the souls lost in the fires and the Cult’s acts of destruction. Just as the first rays of gold crawled over the distant mounds of smoke and sand, it was all taken away again as he was shoved head first down a long staircase.

Each carved, sharp rock step bit into his flesh and muscle, bruising here, cutting there, ripping his clothes further, as he descended the near hundred stairs, landing with a grunt on smooth stone. He was too dizzy to count the broken bones and whatever other damage he’d received on his trip down. Everything was a blur in his beaten vision, only the laughter coming down the same steps behind him rang true. His mind scattered again, but his body was already healing itself; he could feel it. He was suddenly being dragged; to whom, what, or where, he didn’t know.

He heard his name. Heard his name being spoken by a voice that was from long, long, ago. He figured he must have passed out. Then it came again. “Jon. Oh, Jon. Jon, Jon, Jon. Look at you, my son, you’re a mess.” With the world spinning in his head, the immortal opened his eyes and peered up at a face that couldn’t exist. The world stopped swirling, his body and its aches were forgotten, and even the iron clasps were a distant memory. Smiling down at him was Arthur’s face. King Arthur. 

The young ward that Jon had escorted to London stood before him; same head of curly hair, same boyish looks, the same height, and smile. But where there should be a childish charm or a kind of exuberance, there was age and hate. Behind those shimmering blue eyes, where there had been life, lurked evil. The Boy King knelt down, dressed in the Cult’s robes, and caressed the iron mask over Jon’s mouth as he spoke.

“Oh. I know you’re confused, but I did promise to never let anyone try and unite the three kingdoms again. And I intended upon keeping that promise. But the Cult, or the Brotherhood, or the Order, whatever name you choose to give them, took me under their wings, unlike you. You abandoned me, left me to a life of a king, a puppet on the strings of the church. But they told me about you. About what you were. About how you’re the greatest betrayer of them all: Judas.”

As the boy king walked away, Jon finally looked at his surroundings. The room was a circle, with runes, ancient and dangerous, drawn on the floor. Twelve circles, carved and not drawn, were amongst the runes. The stone that made up the room was amber in color, rough and dry. The ceiling soared fifty feet above, runes also drawn into it. Torches hung in iron braces and colored the rough stone with greasy, black smoke. This place was a ritual chamber designed for a great sacrifice. As Jon took it all in, Cult members dragged in others, placing them on their knees in the various circles. Twelve, including him. 

“You see, Paladin, I promised to never let anyone unite the three kingdoms, but after you threw me into a life of contrition and servitude under the guise of a church, the Cult began to teach me the truth. They gave me eternal life, and showed me that uniting the kingdoms would bring peace to this world; end its violence. But there needed to be a sacrifice: the blood of the twelve apostles of the Son of God.” Jon studied the other people in the room, all different ages and sexes, each with a Cult member behind them. 

Jon tried to protest, but his voice was nothing but murmurs, muffled by the muzzle. “Oh? You don’t think we should? Well...WHAT DO YOU KNOW?” When Arthur shouted, a wind swept over the immortal, hot as fire, scalding his unprotected skin. “YOU’RE A TRAITOR!” Another blast. Jon could feel his forehead and cheekbones begin to blister. 

The young man fixed his hair, the rage leaving his youthful face, then adjusted his dark orange robe. “No matter. It ends now. All of it. And now the three kingdoms will be one. And I, King Arthur, chosen by God, will have done it and given this horrid world peace.” He walked to the center of the room and pointed at the twelve to be sacrificed. 

“You eleven are descendents of the men who walked the Earth with the Son of God. He, however, is of the bloodline of Judas Iscariot, an immortal soul brought back to serve for eternity. Since the Great Betrayer did not have descendents, we reached to his lineage before him. You’re paying penance for that bastard grandchild of yours, named after you.” Oddly a great sense of relief washed over Jon, but at the same time he was filled with dread as the young man threw his hands up and began chanting. 

Torch flames flickered as the words poured out. Jon could only gaze in horror as each apostle was named, a person pointed at, then a stone blade was pulled hard and fast across their throat. As bodies fell and blades became coated in the spilled blood, the members of the Cult, one by one, gathered around Jon. A buzzing sound in the back of the immortal’s head suddenly appeared. It grew louder with each second. It was a voice, whispering to the Paladin. “Do you want to live, Jon?” 

More chanting and spilled blood glimmering on stone knives was all the muzzled immortal could think about. But the voice kept nagging. “Do you want to save the world, Paladin?” Six dead. Jon screamed against the iron clasped over his mouth, trying every spell he knew, ancient and new, forgotten and fresh. Nothing happened. 

Seven dead. Tears of desperation flowed. “Do you want to save them?” Eight dead. More hoods circled him. He pulled as hard as he could, his muscles screaming with pain as some tore, trying to break the iron mitts, but they didn't give. 

Nine hooded figures surrounded him now, hands holding him in place, as he stared at the wide eyes of the recently dead. “Jon, you can save them all. Do you want to?” The voice was almost as loud as Arthur’s as he chanted. Ten knives, dripping with the blood of the innocent. The immortal screamed as the last blade was pulled. Arthur now faced him, still chanting, his voice thundering like hundreds. The boy king’s arm descended and pointed at the iron-clad immortal and stopped chanting. 

The shock of the first stone blade plunging into him arrested his breath. “Jon, do you want to save them and yourself and the world?” Another knife. Then another. Each one going to the hilt, into his flesh. The pain began anew as more were plunged in.

Eleven handles stuck out from the immortal on his knees. A twelfth joined the others. Jon’s vision narrowed into blackness, like the shutter of a camera slowly closing, as he slumped to his side. As he landed, fresh pain from every blade shocked him.

Now the hooded figures gathered around Arthur, arms raised, and the chanting began again. “Save them all, Paladin. Do you want to save them all?” Jon’s view was now a pinhole in a black velvet blanket. With his last breath, Jon finally answered, “Yes.” His eyes closed. The world was gone; only darkness remained. Breath became a faint memory, heartbeats slowing to nothing. Immortality never meant not dying. 

Ululation joined the chants, with Cult of Altu’rang members raising their voices in celebration. Their work was done, their goal accomplished. They didn’t notice, in their jubilation, Jon’s body twitch. They didn’t see it stiffen. Nor did they witness the iron restraints glow white hot and melt, as the blades dissolved into molten glass on the floor. In fact, they only turned around when the final handle clattered to the ground. All of them now paid close attention as the immortal’s body stretched and bent in inhuman ways.

They were speechless as the man in the black suit began to right himself, limbs and head dangling and jerking randomly, like a marionette with certain strings cut. Jon was on his feet, his head thrown back, his body arched backward. A moan slowly rolled forth from the once-lifeless throat, that finally escalated into words as he stood straight and peered at the ones in hoods, his eyes now black as pitch.

“Oh, it feels so good to breathe in the dirt of this world again.” The once raucous crowd stood in muted awe. Arthur shouted “KILL HIM!” and the followers obeyed, shouting war cries. They brandished powers and new blades pulled from hidden pockets, but halted mid-stride and shouted. The man in the black suit raised his hand and mocked them with a frown, “Ah, ah, ah.” Legs that were once stiff now stepped closer. “I bet you’re confused, let me explain,” the man in the black suit said with a voice that was no longer Jon’s. 

“Allow me to introduce myself. I am the first betrayer. I walked the ashes of Pompeii. I swam through the rivers of blood that drowned Babylon. I am the Morning Star.” The man that was once Jon bowed at the waist, one hand tucked under him, the other thrown back in mock grace, “I am Lucifer.” Pitch-black eyes fixed themselves on Arthur as the oldest evil stood erect. The boy king yelled, “You cannot be here! This place is-” His voice choked off and was replaced with strangled noises as he lifted ten feet in the air. Lucifer sauntered over to the first member of the Cult, “Were you about to say ‘holy’? It’s OK. I’ll clarify.” 

The Devil leaned in and carefully inspected the first member as he spoke, his voice smooth as honey, yet grating as granite grinding against itself. “You see. I’m not unholy. Nor am I unwelcome in any holy place. I’m still God’s child.” He blew on the one he inspected, like blowing out a candle. With a scream that could only be described as pure agony, the hooded figure burst into flames and fell into a pile of smoldering ash. He looked up at Arthur, a look of question on his face, “Does it bother you? All those sacrifices. All that searching to find the descendents. All that time. Dashed by me?” 

The boy king couldn’t answer, and Lucifer made his way through each Cult of Altu’Rang member, reducing them to ash and screams. Finally, the Devil stood before Arthur, suspended in the air, hands clutching at his throat to try and pry loose something that wasn’t there. “You see, Arthur... can I call you Arthur? Ah, it doesn’t matter. Look. I can appreciate your little plan, here, but...” Lucifer let loose an exaggerated sigh, “It just doesn’t jive with my plans.” The boy king floated down to eye level with the Devil. “This world, Arthur, is...MINE.” The last word resounded in a voice so dark and powerful, the very walls cracked with its release.

“In time, that is. I know you’re wondering why I’d prevent this happening. How saving this pathetic world would be God’s work. Well, anyone can do God’s work. Anyone. However, since you wanted to unite the three kingdoms, I’ll be more than happy to give you a tour of Hell. Every. Square. Inch.” Lucifer’s hand shot out and gripped Arthur by the throat, smoke and a sizzling sound coming from the touch. “Let’s get started.” One last scream echoed through the chamber of sacrifice, longer and louder than all the rest.

Jon woke with a start. He found himself in the same strange room as before; however, the Cult was gone. His hands were free, as well as his mouth. The immortal searched his body for the knife wounds, only to find none. He looked around for the bodies of the eleven, but they, too, were gone. With confusion heavily weighing on him, he found his way back into the desert, where the sun was setting. Jonathan Ross stepped into the dusk-colored world and walked away from the rocks that should’ve been his tomb. He stopped when he saw a man sitting upon a random boulder.

He was tall, with long, perfect blonde hair cascading down his shoulders. He was clad in a red suit. The man turned to Jon. “Hi, there.” The Paladin was more than confused as he returned the greeting, “Uh...Hello...Who-” The man stood and straightened his suit, facing Jon with a sigh, “I’m the most beautiful of God’s angels. I’m the shadow that roams the earth. I’m-” Jon had to interrupt, “Lucifer. I get it.” The man sagged, this time the sigh real and filled with disappointment, “Oh, come on! I don’t get to do this often.” Jon shrugged his indifference and readied all his power, but it was Lucifer’s turn to interrupt, “That won’t be necessary. I’m not here to hurt you.” 

Jon relaxed himself, but only slightly, as the Devil went on. “The Cult is gone. The eleven returned to their former lives.” Apparently the immortal could not hide his confusion and Lucifer explained, “Their plan was cute. But it just doesn’t coincide with mine. Or God’s. So I took care of it. Had to borrow your soul and your body for a while, there, to get the job done.” The Devil approached Jon and patted him on the shoulder, “Don’t worry. The world is safe. Bethlehem didn’t burn, yada, yada. Your soul is yours again. I have no need for it. All is well. No need to thank me.” The immortal was more than uncomfortable with the gesture and it showed.

“Uh...thank you,” Jon spouted as Lucifer strolled away and peered into the sunset. “I said there was no need for that.” Jon again shrugged, eyeing all that was around him. “Well, it seems my work here is done. I’ll see you later, Jonathan Ross.” He turned and winked at the Paladin. “I don’t understand,” Jon, again, spouted. Lucifer turned to him and smiled, “You will. See you in a few years.” With a wink, the man with the blonde hair and perfect physique, dazzling smile, and voice of nothing but honey, disappeared. 

The immortal, the Paladin, the defender of all, Jonathan Ross, was now alone in the middle of the desert. With a heavy sigh, he headed toward what he thought was civilization, pondering all that had happened. Night was heavy and so were his thoughts as he walked, both breaking, like waves upon a rocky shore, as he finally entered a city. He made his way to the airport and bought a ticket home. 

As the plane took off, Jon adjusted his tie and looked out upon the world below, clouds and blue and people. He sighed a small sigh and crossed his arms, snuggling into his seat, ready for a peaceful sleep. The final thoughts that ran across his mind were, "I almost died. And it would’ve been worth it." His eyes closed and he fell deep into a restful sleep for the first time in a long time, knowing the end of all things is yet to come.