“Damien!”

The voice pricked his attention, the voice he thought abandoned him to his darkness.

“Cass? Is it really you?” He called, hopping off the ruins of the town hall.

The woman instinctively flinched back, her hazel eyes flickering to his blackened hands, where the demons corruption had affected him.

“It’s okay, I have him under control. He can’t hurt you.”

“If it’s okay with you, I’ll stay here.”

Damien nodded before crossing arms, trying to hide the marks. “My brothers?”

“They’re safe. They’re worried about you after this outbreak, but they’re still researching ways to reverse the curse.”

“Good. And you?” He asked, taking a step towards her.

“Just like them. Worried.” Cassandra replied, taking another step back.

“Cass. Please don’t run away from me like this. You know me, I won’t let this hurt you.”

“I know.”

“Then come here!” He begged. “It’s bad enough the town had to evacuate because of me, I don’t wanna lose you.”

Cassandra let out a sigh, fidgeting before looking down to her feet. “You’re gonna hate me for saying this, but I can’t help it. Damien I love you, but your powers are too strong…they scare me.”

“What do you mean? Cass, I’m still me! I’m not this monster!”

“Damien, look at your damn hands! They’re rotting! Your brothers and I are working as fast as we fucking can, but this corruption is faster! It’s going to claim you, and when it does-“ Her voice shook, as anger rapidly turned into sorrow and heartbreak. “You won’t be you. Any potential cure will dispel the demon, but you’ll be gone.”

“I can fight it! I swear!” He howled as tears rose and fell down his cheeks. “I’ll come back to you, and the others. Just…don’t leave me.”

He desperately reached for her, yet she kept moving away from him, unable to offer him the aid he clung onto.

“I’m sorry, I have to go.” She whispered, leaving the shattered remains and the sounds of ragged screams behind her.

She didn’t realize that would be the last time she would see him. After all, that was the last time she would go to the ruined town to see him. Her tears, her pain was invested in the efforts to reverse the curse while he had time. In the moments when she would escape for fresh air, wails and distorted cries came from the town.

Until one morning they stopped.

Cassandra chose to head out to an expedition with Damien’s older brothers, Sebastian and William to see if the curse had finally claimed him.

Yet the town was empty. Sorched handprints adorned the ruins of houses and trees, yet the man was nowhere to be found.

That was until they reached the old mine.

The mine was the pride and joy of the town, Cassandra’s father was the supervisor of the mining company and frequently worked with the crews.

Yet as she looked to the mine now- she couldn’t recognize it.

Someone had forced a cave in.

Cassandra didn’t want to fall apart at the moment. Didn’t want to scream-like the man she knew did in the evenings before.

Yet she felt the agony of heartbreak once again as the realization that Damien-the man she knew…the man she adored….had taken things into his own hands