**_MENTION OF SUICIDE

_**

I held her hand tight, and I wasn’t ever going to let go.

Tears fall from my eyes. The last time I had cried was when Tinka died.

This time will be different. No-one will be dying. We are going to get off of this cliff safely and tears will fall from joy — not loss. I will not lose my Clementine. No — not her. Not her. Not ever. I cannot lose her as well.

She’s holding onto me tightly as well. But I’m holding tighter.

She’s dangling off of the cliff of Mount Thantos — also knows Mountain of Death. We were chasing Kata and his group. They had led us to the mountain of death. We had tried to fight them, it was two against five. I’d say we had a pretty good chance of winning. Clem had trained all her life and I was a prince, I had the Pyron state on my side. So I used it. I managed to kill three of them. Two of them were still alive, Kata, the leader, and Thanos.

Thanos was relevantly weak so I have no idea how he managed to survive but there he was when my Pyron state died out.

Ten seconds after I had come back to my normal state, Clementine pushed him off.

We both looked around for Kata. He was nowhere to be seen. I don’t remember killing Kata and Clem said that she didn’t see him get killed.

We assumed that he had run away.

He didn’t.

Unfortunately, we learnt that after he pushed me and her off of the cliff.

He looked down at the cliff with those piercing violet eyes and he, luckily, didn’t see us. I was holding onto a rock right underneath the ledge — I’m still holding on and onto Clem.

I feel her start to slip and I adjust it and try hold on tighter. It’s no use.

"Alric.." Clem calls softly.

"No," I cut her off sharply. I already know what she’s about to say. "I’m not letting you go. We’re going to get out of here, sweetheart, I swear-" my voice cracks.

My other hand starts to slip from the rock’s edge.

She looks up at me with teary eyes and a small smile. "Alric, you can’t hold on for any longer-"

"Clementine, stop talking like it’s the end. It’s not the end. It’s not. It’s.." I trail off. She’s let go. Her weight adds now that I’m relying on her not falling on my grip on her wrist. _She’s let go_. "What are you doing?"

"Alric, we’ll both die. You can’t hold on for any longer to me and even if you do, you’re going to let go of that edge. If any of us are going to survive, it should be you."

"Why are you lying for?" I shout. "If anything, you’re the one who should survive. You’re helping people, you have a heart, you are making a difference to my kingdom-"

"Alric-"

"No!" I cut her off. "I’m not-I’m not letting you go! So stop trying to make me."

She draws an arrow out from her quiver.

I frown slightly, "What are you doing?"

"I’m sorry, Alric." She lifts it up.

"What-"

I scream.

She stabbed me in the back of my calf.

My grip on her tightens for a moment before I let go completely.

_I let go_.

"Clem- No! NO!"

I watch as she falls, disappearing into the fog.

"Clem!" I cry. "Sweetheart!"

I gasp for air before I start climbing.

I can’t feel the injury because of the adrenaline running through me.

I eventually climb to the top.

I look down.

I cannot see her.

I know that she’s most likely dead but at least I can hope that she landed somewhere safely — even if the chances are highly unlikely.

The chances are near impossible. Especially on this mountain.

For a moment, I consider jumping off myself.

I have no purpose here anymore.

My father is abusive, he kills innocent people and I’m supposed to carry on that legacy, the rebellion hates me, Anastasia and Eiran(my childhood best friends that also pulled away because of my father), probably hates me too.

Maybe if I just..

I scoot closer to the edge.

Wait.

I sigh deeply when I remember: Someone has to inform Clementine’s loved ones of her death.

I get up and limp away from the cliff — from Clementine.