*This snippet is a scene I’ve had in mind for a long time. Not sure if I’ve posted something like this before, however I feel as though this one came across quite nicely. I am struggling to get back into writing at all but my lovely girlfriend has accepted the challenge to draw something every day, and it’s nice to be doing something creative together- even if it’s not the same project! Hope you enjoy and I’d love any and all feedback!*

The ruins of a once great city lay before us; a sprawling metropolis ground into large shards of concrete and metal. It had been nearly a decade since the first demons entered the world of men, the flames licking forth into the sky from their demonic gateways and those demons tore the sky asunder and lay waste to concrete and flesh alike.

Global warming. We all thought that we were responsible. We couldn’t have been more wrong.

“Sergeant, are you there?” The voice is young, the line crackling, but I read Evan loud and clear. “Yes, of course I am.” I gaze down from my perch atop a mountain of stone to the courtyard below. Ridding the world of demons was a hard job, but someone had to do it. “Team, are we in position?” I glance across to Fiona, her sniper rifle laid flat across the angled rooftop she balanced precariously upon. She nodded and I turned to Geoff who was standing cloaked near some statues down at ground level. I glanced to Steven’s position, with no man in sight.

“Steven, do you copy?” I released the small button on my earpiece and waited. Nothing. I always knew he was a goddamn liability but I always stuck my neck out for him. Wanted to give him the best chance at making a difference. Too bad he didn’t give a shit. Evan’s voice crackled through, panic echoing in his tone, “Steven isn’t there, he’s bailed.”

“That son of a bitch!” I spat and shook my head. Eye on the prize. I leaned forward and four small demons gathered around a horse carcass, feasting on its remains. “I’ll take two.” Fiona’s voice was calm, but concerned. She knew once she fired, we’d have mere seconds to dispatch the others and escape.

“You’ll remain as back up unless I give the order.” I glanced across and felt her icy stare across the night sky. “Geoff, we each take two, silent. Understood?” A small laser flashes from his direction and I glance down. This meal will be their last. “On three… one, two-”

A shot rings out and my eyes immediately jump to Fiona, who is fending for her life. The bullet buries itself deep into the dirt near the demons in the courtyard below me, and my breath escapes me. “Three!” I fall two stories and my left blade cleaves clean through one of the demons as the robotic implants in my armour take most of the fall damage. My other blade skims demon skin, but it leaps back and screeches. Exactly what we wanted to avoid.

Geoff fells his two from the comfort of stealth and tosses a blade into the screeching demon’s throat. Both of our attentions turn to Fiona who is dangling lifelessly on the sloped roof beneath the demon who attacked her. I feel my rage building as this is all Steven’s fault.

“Sergeant, you need to reclaim her rifle. There’s nothing you can do for her now.” Evan’s voice is empathetic, but not sad. After all, this isn’t the first loss in the war. Nor will it be the last I’m sure. “I understand.”

I spot the rifle on the ground below the building and Geoff grabs my shoulder. “I’ve got it. I’ll use my cloaking to get in and out safely. Just start heading back.” I stare at him, a boy of nineteen. He should be worried about what girls to date yet instead he brandishes a scar deep across his face from a demon wielding a sickle. My head nods as the boy enters cloak and rushes to the gun.

Steven. Most likely dead, but if not, most likely to die at my hands. Fiona was a great sniper, and Steven was her cover. His willingness to avoid his duties had finally taken their toll. A sudden movement catches my eye and I notice a Stalker in the trees near Geoff. “You’ve got company!” I whisper into my mic as Fiona’s rifle joins into his cloaking.

The Stalker leaps in the direction of the fading rifle and the pair tumble across the pavement. My feet hit the ground almost as fast as my heart pounds, the distance between Geoff and I closing with every pump of adrenaline. I can’t lose him. Not Geoff. I trained him. I saved him. I will save him again. My blades bite through demon flesh and armoured carapace as I tear the beast from the young soldier. I land on top at first but the demon writhes in agony, twisting and forcing me beneath it, all the while with me thrusting dagger after dagger into its body. Eventually the convulsing stops and I push the damned thing to the dirt beside me.

I sit up and look to Geoff, a mess of blood, flesh and bone; His foot still twitching. Dizzy, I move to his side and look down at the boy. His throat has been torn open and even if I were a doctor with all the right tools, I couldn’t save him. I use the only tool I have at my disposal and end his suffering and stand, holding the bloodied rifle.

My heart, slow and heavy, pounded with every footstep as I made my way from the courtyard. An empty fire escape reminds me that I must find Steven and deal with him accordingly. Screeching from the courtyard sends chills down my spine and I take to a run until I reach the safety of the front gate of Fort York. The gates open slowly and I slide in past the young guard on duty, shoving the rifle into his chest along the way.

Evan stands before me, a thin pasty thing of a man, his head shaking. “I’m so sorry Sergeant.” I push past him and head toward the bar. “Me too.” I grumble, my focus solely on finding Steven. People stare at me as I push past, until I force my way through the doors. I spot him sitting at the bar talking to some woman. Somehow he doesn’t seem to notice me. Which is fine for me. By the time he does see me, it’s too late.

“Sarge-” He doesn’t finish his thought. I can hear the woman scream as I thrust my dagger through his eye and into his brain. Quick. Painless. More than he deserved. He goes limp and collapses to the floor as I remove my blade and stare down upon him. People begin to gather and the guards stare blankly at me. I won’t kill them, but they won’t stop me. Exiting their establishment I head to the church, and make my way downstairs and toss aside my breastplate and daggers. The armoured leg pieces come off and I walk towards a dark room before me.

“You know this changes nothing. Meditating on your loss is meaningless.” I turn to see the bold priest who is simply shaking his head, his thin lips drawn tight in disapproval. “Turn to God and live in the light of his redemption.”

Uncontrollably, I scoff aloud at the thought. “I’m not here for meditation or your God’s redemption.” My pride forces a lump into my throat and I swallow it hard. “I’m here to mourn.” As I enter the darkness of the room before me, I stare at the flickering candles before me. Seventeen candles. Seventeen people who died because of my failure as a leader. My choices. My mistakes. “Lock the door behind me.” I call out to the priest, but he is already a step ahead of me as the beam falls heavy into position on the other side of the door.

I grab two new candles and turn them over in my hand. Seventeen days of mourning, one day for each individual who died under my command. Now as I light another two, I sigh as the burden grows heavy upon my shoulders. I feel it in my jaw first. Clenched and tight, teeth grinding. Then my cheeks tense as I position the candles at the right side of the others.

I’ve failed them. From my wife Alison all the way to these two souls… I’d gone and failed them all.

The ruins of my life lay before me. All nineteen victims reduced to mere candles dancing with an invisible breeze. One day of mourning for each, never enough but it had to be. I thought I could protect them… but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Ridding the world of demons though… it’s a hard job, but someone’s got to do it.