Fade to Black

She hums a solemn tune, wordless and incoherent.

The sound reaches deaf ears and a closed heart, pounding on hard double doors and shaking the dust from its corners.

Her touch is warm against his cold, icy skin.

Heat radiates from somewhere, he knows not the origin, but his lips curve into a small smile of silent appreciation.

Water drips on his forehead, trailing down his face and leaving the taste of salt on his chapped lips.

He frowns somewhat. The taste is unpleasant… Like bitter salt, only, much, much worse.

Without warning… He falls.

Like Icarus whose wings are scorched by the smoldering heat of the sun.

He falls.

He’s heavy. Numb. Can’t scream. Can’t move. His arms are made of marble, strapped to his sides.

He falls.

Bitter crimson spills from his mouth. The aftertaste is sweet, but he abhors the red that stains his face.

Thud.

The ground is hard on his back, painful and cold… but he feels lighter than before.

It’s dark.

But he can still see. Vague silhouettes. Shades of gray. A spark of the whitest light.

A voice calls out in harsh, strangled whisper. A silver bell’s sound pierces through the blackest night.

“Goodbye, goodbye.”

FADE TO BLACK